Things I Think…

1. It would be wicked beyond measure for me to start back with anything but thanks for the Body of Christ and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have not just been carried through this operation, but carried from preparing for death to embracing life…and embrace it I will. I have seen the church at its worst and I have experienced its manifold graces at it’s best. The church is worth fighting for and is the only hope for all that ails us…because it is through the church that Christ Incarnate still works…

2. Let it be known that the reason why we are critical of the church is because all we do to diminish her (and the Lord who bought her) diminishes the hope of every soul on the planet…

3. My friends, this operation and my recovery are just the last events in a a very difficult few years…and those close to me know that it seemed a fitting time to die. I want you to know that if your life seems to have that same trajectory…that I have seen seen the goodness of God in the land of the living…and I pray that you will as well. I know that my Redeemer lives…and the redemption of all things is at hand…

4. One of the most important things I had to do before I went to the hospital was to choose an “advocate”. This person would have all the say over decisions that might have to be made when I was unable to do so myself. I made a hell of a good choice….my advocate not only had to walk me through waking up still intubated ( I was quite unhappy and thankfully, restrained), but she gathered a crew to make a place where I could recover afterward…while I was unaware of anything but pain, she was with others preparing a place for me. The application is obvious, but true…we have an Advocate and He is here with His people now and has also gone on to prepare a place for us…choose your Advocate wisely…

5. My chest has a foot long scar that starts right at my clavicle. Under that scar is a large hole where a drain tube was inserted. On my back is another hole where fluid was drained. You can’t see any of these wounds unless I show you and I have no intention of doing so. While I was in the hospital, every nurse, doctor, and CNA were wearing deep, unseen scars of their own from the last year…scars, that like mine, make it difficult for them to function. This is the fruit of being an angry and divided nation and a church that has decided to orgy with the angry…may God bless them and correct us…before it’s too late…

6. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7 ESV) I knew I was going to survive when a long time enemy came on these pages and prayed a blessing for me. The way of Jesus works…thank you, Chip.

7. I will admit that one of the best things about waking up after the operation was knowing that there will be those who are disappointed I did…

8. One day I will make a list of all the things that didn’t matter to me for the last couple of weeks…or you can just watch the news and make it yourself…

9. Pain meds are catching up with me…need to get this thing wrapped…or you will be reading glossolalia…

10. Thanks and blessings to each one of you that prayed a prayer, sent a cat video, or just held us in your heart. Thank you ,Duane for keeping the site up and being a priest to me. I’ve got a long way to go, but I go in great company. God bless you all…