A Blessed New Year!

In a few hours it will be 2010 with new experiences and adventures for each of us. As I reflect upon 2009 I am thankful for every moment. Truthfully, some were not as pleasant as others but just reminded me that I have not arrived at home, but am in a training period preparing for my eternal home.

I had a wonderful time with friend Keith and his family in Wake Forest for Christmas and look forward to his visit with me over New Years when we will do a bit of entertaining. What a blessing each of you friends are to me!

For over a month I have been challenged with some rather significant discomfort from congestion and neck/back pain. During my visit with the doctor yesterday I found that the infection is completely gone but I am dealing with some after-effects that are rather painful. I am currently on a brief round of Prednisone and a muscle relaxer. Hopefully that will be the end the discomfort.

As I was reading Indeed earlier this week, I was once again amazed at the glory of God as Ezekiel attempted to describe his vision in Chapter 1. I liked the statements that the author of Indeed made about the chapter:

“If we live without a sense of excitement, going through the routine of our days with rote motion and chilling apathy, we don’t have it. We aren’t living in the presence of God...[however] we can begin each day in the posture of Ezekiel’s response;...we can worship…If you are bored with life, lacking energy, and losing hope, try spending more time in God’s presence. Ask him to reveal His glory. Life will never be the same.”

I like that for my News Year resolution!

Have a Blessed New Year!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Christmas Eve

With the house filled with beautiful Christmas music today, my thoughts drifted back to many wonderful Christmas celebrations. What a blessing it is to recall so many memorable times with family and friends and look forward to that ultimate celebration with loved ones on the other side of that curtain of death. My heart especially goes out to those that will spend their first Christmas missing one of their loved ones.

I have been looking at several photo books today that Carol and I assembled, recalling many memorable occasions. I relived Carol’s 70th birthday celebration that we enjoyed together with the family on Cat Island in the Bahamas. What an amazing blessing it was for her, and for each of us, as God gave her strength to enjoy the trip in spite of fighting advanced cancer. I came to pictures with the family at out lake house in Indiana over the Easter holiday just three months before we would be saying goodbye to Carol. It was a special time enjoying each other and being entertained by our two great grandchildren. I then turned to precious photographs from Carol’s final trip, as we went to Michigan for Justin and Laura’s wedding, where beyond all odds, Carol was able to attend and even participate in the ceremony by reading Scripture.

I was especially moved by some final pictures that reminded me of the love of our family as they assembled here to say goodbye to Carol and give her an opportunity to have a tender time individually with each of them. Eight days later Carol took her last breath as our daughters and I were all at her bedside.

I find it amazing how such painful memories are also precious. As we Celebrate Christmas tomorrow, I trust that we will each experience the thrill of recalling the joyous birth of Jesus, that babe in Bethlehem. At the same time let’s not forget the pain and agony that He experienced some 33 years later as he was nailed to the cross making our redemption possible, giving up his earthly life, later to arise from the grave and take his place in Heaven..

As most of you are aware, Carol was a tremendous communicator, writing and editing numerous documents and publications over the years. As I turned to the final pages of pictures, a few words from her “Into the Light” farewell spoke volumes and expresses my feelings also:

"Thinking back on my life, I am filled with love and gratitude for you. Thank you for allowing me to share in your lives – I have treasured our time together. Cling to Jesus. I’ll see you on the other side of the curtain…I love you, Carol”

I will be spending Christmas in Wake Forest with good friend Keith and his family. I trust that each of you will have a blessed time with friends and family as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. May we welcome Him into our celebrations as Savior and Lord.

Love,

Chuck

Donna's Mom Arrived!

At about 12:00 noon today, Donna's mom passed through the curtain of death. As Stuart and I were talking about it, he said he was sure that she is dancing with Carol, Maxine and other friends and family members. It has been a special blessing that our guest load at the office currently is down, so Donna was able to be with her mom during her final days. We will miss those delightful visits with "mom" as we do with all of our loved ones, but at the same time are thankful to know that she is safe with Jesus and recognise that each day we are one day closer to joining her and our loved ones there. What a blessing it is to have that hope!

My congestion seems quite attached to me, but during my second visit to the doctor on Tuesday, he said; "We are going to get out the big guns now," so I am on new medications which we trust will take care of the infection. The lingering headache and congestion is getting a bit anoying but I do not want to complain when I see so many folks going through much more difficult times.

My family asked me to come to Michigan for a Christmas celebration, but considering that I saw several of them on Thanksgiving, and with uncertain health, coupled with reports of nasty weather in that part of the country, I have decided to stay here. I've had several invitations but friend Keith had asked me to join him and his family several weeks ago, if I happened to stay home, so that is what I plan to do.

Thanks for all that you do to encourage me!

Love,

Chuck

John arrived!

At about 6:00 am this morning, Carol's cancer buddy John departed this world and has joined Carol. These have been difficult days for Mary Ella as she continued to cover all of the "bases" at home while spending most of the days and some nights at the hospital with John. Do pray for her that she can catch up on rest and strength especially in these next few days before the anticipated service on Friday.

Donna continues to spend time with her siblings at her mom's side as her body appears to be shutting down. Her mom is sleeping most of the time but there are moments when she seems to be responding to the family members at her bedside. Please continue to lift that family up in prayer also.

As I deal with my own emotions while watching dear friends step into eternity, I often reflect on what that experience will be like for me. As a dear Christian friend said; "I am not afraid of death. I know that I am secure in Jesus Christ. The fear that I have is the process of dying."

What a blessing it is to know the One (Jesus) who is the Way, the Truth and Life! As we say good by to our loved ones and look forward to our own departure from this earth, it is a great comfort to know that our faith in Christ opens that new door of heaven for each believer. As I visualize a bit of what heaven must be like, I wonder why we fight so hard to stay here when our bodies get to "that point".

Thanks so much for praying! Also thanks for you prayers for me. I am just about clear of the congestion and feeling so much better.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Prayer needed

This has been a difficult week for me. I have spent the major part of it in bed with little energy or desire to get up as I continue to fight this persistent “bug”. Several friends are going through very difficult times and I find it a battle to even keep updated with them by phone while feeling so miserable. How much I miss being able to “be there” for them, but continue to pray for them during the day and often as I am awake during the night.

This morning as I was reading Isaiah 44 reminding us that our God is the One who can be compared to no other god, but there were those worshipping all sorts of those other gods. I like The Message version of Isaiah 44:18 that responds; “Pretty stupid, wouldn’t you say? Don’t they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all?” I had to stop and ask myself…how often am I putting my selfishness and some other man-made god ahead of the one true God? Ouch!

As I was reading, a call from friend Judy came asking for prayer. She too has caught the “bug” and is in the hospital getting all sorts of infusions, and was having a difficult time to even talk due to the congestion. You may recall that Judy lost her husband on January 27th from cancer.

Carol’s cancer buddy John continues to appear to be rapidly going down hill in the hospital, with Hospice helping to make him comfortable. Wife Mary Ella, staying by his side most of the time, is physically exhausted but spiritually strong as she realistically considers the future trusting God for wisdom and guidance.

Donna’s mom Phyllis has been moved to a new facility under Hospice which has a much more caring staff. She only briefly seems aware of her surroundings and Donna and her three siblings are with her anticipating that the Lord may be taking her shortly.

Last evening I had a call from a dear friend asking prayer for their 20-year old son who has “disappeared” and is not even responding to cell phone calls. What can be a greater heart ache than having our children going through very difficult times? There are attractions out there today that I was not even aware of when I was their age.

Please join me in praying for each of these dear friends and their families. As I pray for them, my personal problems seem so minor! Actually I am considerably better, but keeping a low profile while the antibiotics continue to do their work and also while trying to avoid any other nasty bugs.

Your prayers and encouragement a tremendous blessing!

Love,

Chuck