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…
To God be the glory! Continuing to pray for you…..
Thank you, Patti!
” 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…”
LMAO!!!!
Yep. I was considering the possibility of contending with some of your critics post mortem. Glad you are still here to live, love and fight another day….
Remember that vision I had of heaven with Frisbee, Wimber, Smith, Hunt, and Manning all sitting together at a blackjack table, and happy to know they are not dealing you in. 😉
Thank you, pstrmike…the heavenly host is safe a little while longer… 🙂
Glad, thanking our Lord, that Michael is still thinking. 🙏
Thankful for your successful surgery, and continued prayers for your recover. Nothing to add to the thoughts except…Amen!
Thanks, Em!
Thank you, Josh!
Thank you Jesus and on again with Him.
Hi Michael. WIfe and I prayed for you and your recovery. Very nice thoughts here. Continued prayers for a good recovery!
BTW…thought #6…I remember that comment and day so well. Stunning how God can work.
Michael, so glad that you came through the surgery and are still here with us. Praise God!
God bless you Michael!
Thanks, JD!
Kevin, Bob, Dan…thanks for being here….thanks for your prayers!
Glad you’re still with us. You have helped me a lot over the years, and I am not ready to see you go yet. My hope and prayer for you is that your remaining years on this earth will be healthier and more comfortable.
Thank you, Parker…I plan on being here for some time now…
Michael, again, don’t rush things (aren’t you glad i don’t live nearby?)
These temps are an added incentive for me to pray for those headed for hell – it’s 112 in the shade here
No wonder God says he takes no pleasure in the deaths in the wicked! ! !
Michael
We’ve travelled some miles together. Thankful that there are miles yet to go… God Bless and Keep.
O Lord, your compassions never fail and your mercies are
new every morning: We give you thanks for giving our
brother Michael both relief from pain and hope of health
renewed. Continue in him, we pray, the good work you have
begun; that he, daily increasing in bodily strength, and
rejoicing in your goodness, may so order his life and conduct
that he may always think and do those things that please
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCP, 1979)
Duane,
I’ll say the amen to both…and thank you.
@ 1:51… Amen, Pastor Duane, amen
Em,
It’s down to 98 now…
Trust me, I’m not doing much…still sleeping most of the day…
Welcome back Michael!
I had to LOL at #7…
Thank you, Elena…you know I had to throw that one in… 🙂
Michael,
Your well-being was on my heart and in my prayers this morning. Such great news to read of now, brother!
Thank you, Dave!
Michael,
I’m so glad to hear that you are better! Cat lovers like you are needed in this world! Here’s to a speedy recovery.
Michael
It is good to have your own words back in the camp. The weather turned to fire and brimstone in your void. Now it can return to these pages upon the duly appointed.
Rise and walk my friend.
Thank you, Linn!
Thank you, Alan…I will try to keep us all warm my friend!
@ Nr. 7:
How can people be so cruel as to wish ill on you?
Do they not know that a black heart will eventually destroy them?
I am convinced that The Almighty hates the black heart of cruelty the most.
Thankful and moved to do better…
Praise be to God that you are on your way to recovery…so wonderful to read your words again Michael!
pslady, AMEN
Reminds me of an old saying:
“God isn’t finished with me yet!”
Michael…so good to hear from you and so good to know that you are on the road to recovery. We pray for you every day…
Thank you Muff, fil…glad to still have your company.
Thank you pslady and Linnea…today has been a lay down day but it will get better…
Blessings Michael! Praying for your continued speedy recovery.
It’s good to hear from you at more length, Michael of the Titanium Wrapped Ribs. To your #5, about that scar, my patient has similar tho they’re both in front, making an exclamation point. (We both call him “Exclamation man!” and use sound effects like the ones Victor Borge makes in this skit on phonetic punctuation. You may find your scar punctuation is different what with different locations. The sound I refer to happens within the first minute.)
Take it easy easy easy Michael of the Titanium-wrapped ribs, and do whatever rehab they have for you (walking?), and not much else. 💓
Yours in the fulness of wellness and a heart that goes glub-dub,
Outside T. Fold
drat. I forgot to paste the Victor Borge phonetic punctuation link. tee hee hee.
The kids and I, especially S11, who is the most sweet and guileless of us, continue to pray for you Michael.
I will share this Michael saved me, I would have given me up and Michael has far more intellectual integrity to let this one slid. I want those I have worked with to be “redeemed”, they don’t need to be redeemed if they do we better get a different God. I consider it all in what I view as God. I would be glad to this as well.
Thanks, Chris!
TNV,
Thank you and bless your children for me…that is a sweet picture indeed…
Brian,
Much love to you…the ones you love were redeemed before we ever got on the scene…and you will join them in worshipping the Redeemer…
Michael, it’s so, so good to see you back!! Much prayer has gone up for you and continues to do so. Prayers for your continued and hopefully expedited recovery.
Your surgery scars are pretty much exactly like mine, 9 years ago. Although my surgeon must have done an excellent job sewing me back up, the main scar has all but disappeared.
Take it easy, my friend.
Thank you, Owen!
My main issue now is exhaustion, but I hope that passes as the anesthesia and Oxycodone leave…
I remember the exhaustion well, Michael. It will pass in time. I think I remember mine lasting 2-3 weeks, yours might be longer as you’re quite a bit older than I was.
Did they add any heart meds? They had me on two different ones to lower my BP for recovery.
If one’s guide for living is the Bill of Rights and not the Beatitudes, one has a false Gospel.
Compare the Declaration of Independence with the Beatitudes. Very few areas of compatibility.
The best writing from you I can think of.
Hearing gratitude from you is such a beautiful thing (and that’s not a passive aggressive insult)
I’m praying for you,
Kirk
Thank you, jtk!
So great to hear that you are recovering from successful surgery. To misquote the title of a Charles Schulz show, “You’re a good man, Michael Newnham.”
EricL, more importantly, i think, Michael is a proper God fearing man …… ?
Thanks, EricL…I try… 🙂