Tuesday (2/25/2014)

Update:

I met with my surgeon, Dr. Grewe, on Monday.  He said everything looked great with my stump and so he released me to be fitted for a prosthesis.  Dr. Grewe and I exchanged jokes at each appointment I’ve had with him, so Monday at our last appointment I gave him a joke book as a thank you.  I spared no expense—it cost $5 dollars and was easily worth $1.75 (the jokes are that bad!!!  Of course, that is my kind of humor).  He loved the book!  I pity his staff who will have to listen to his jokes—I guess that makes me his enabler. 

I no longer have to wear my leg brace when I sleep at night.  I’ve grown accustomed to its weight and rigidness at night.  It forced me to learn to sleep on my back.   At first I had to wear it 24/7.  Then a month ago, I only had to wear it at night.  Now I don’t have to wear it at all.  It has become a part of my nightly ritual for getting ready for bed, so that will be strange.  It is sort of funny, I have been wanting that thing off for a long time.  Now I am told that I am totally free of it, I am a little hesitant.  It feels sort of like I’ve been told all of my life not to stick forks into the electrical outlet and now suddenly I’m told go ahead and jam one in there!  J  I didn’t sleep all that well last night.  I think it was partially due to the fact that I didn’t have the leg brace on—it felt nice, and wrong, all at the same time.  I’ll get used to it being gone, just give me a few days. 

Dr. Grewe said that it takes about 25% more energy to walk with a prosthesis than with your natural leg.  That’s why there has been so much emphasis on doing my exercises every day. 

Next, I met with my prosthetist, Leah.  We took measurements of my leg as a baseline.    Every morning I have to measure my stump in three places, so we can see if my leg size is stable.  There isn’t any use in making a prosthesis if my leg keeps changing shape—then you’d have to start it all back over because it has to fit perfectly snug.  Leah felt that by next Monday I should be ready for making the cast of my leg. 

After taking measurements, Leah fitted me with a shrinker sock to ensure I don’t have fluid pooling in my leg. The shrinker sock is a tight elastic sock that fits over the stump.  Before stretching that puppy over my leg, I first put some strands of lamb’s wool on the front of my leg (down the tibia—the shin bone) and kneecap for padding and protection.  Then there is a nylon sheath that goes against my skin, and finally the shrinker sock goes over the top of it all.  The sheath helps protect the skin from irritation from the shrinker.  Think of thread count on sheets.  The sheath has an extremely high thread count whereas the shrinker, by nature of what it has to do, does not.  I only am supposed to take the shrinker sock off to put a clean sheath on, while I shower, and to take my measurements—so basically 23 hours a day.  I’ll keep wearing them whenever I don’t have my prosthesis on during the next six months.  After that we’ll see if my leg swells up without it overnight.  If my leg stays the same size, then I won’t have to continue wearing them.  Some people have trouble with swelling and are required to wear a shrinker sock for the rest of their lives.  The shrinker sock feels like a giant anaconda has swallowed my leg—at least it feels like how I imagine that would feel!!  It’s tight pressure on my leg; not uncomfortably so—but very noticeable.

Next, Leah had me try on my new shoe and the orthotic insert that was made for my right foot.  It looks like a regular black New Balance walking shoe.  But it is THE shoe I wear from now on.  It is designed to protect my right foot from having any of the problems that my left foot developed.  One thing that I learned by having my shoe professionally fitted is that I’ve been wearing a shoe one size too small in length and a size too small in width.  I’ve always had trouble choosing the right size at the shoe store.  New shoes always feel okay to me.  Who knew?

The plan is that next Monday (3/3/2014) I’ll have the cast made of my leg and then on Monday (3/17/2014) I will get to put on my new prosthetic leg and take my first steps!  I’ll be certain have a video camera rolling to capture that moment!  Who knows, I might make money off of America’s Funniest Home Videos! 

By the time we got home and unloaded, Karen had to take off for the evening.  I made a few calls to clarify some issues with two doctors.  I put the groceries away and then made myself some dinner.  After that I was so worn out from the day that instead of reading, I feel asleep in my recliner for 1½ hours.  I woke up and then talked to my daughter, Ruth, on the phone for 45 minutes and then got ready for bed.  That’s why I never got a “Thought for The Day” written yesterday—I was too tired to think thoughts!

Thought for the Day: 

I just finished reading Luke 7:36-50.  Jesus is eating at the house of Simon, a Pharisee (a religious/political leader of Israel).  While they are eating, a woman comes in and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair.  She kisses his feet and anoints them with ointment.  Simon is indignant because this woman is known to be sinful (a prostitute?).  Jesus asks his host a question (I’ll modernize it a bit).  Two men owed someone money.  One of them owed him $50, and the second man owed him $50,000.   The man forgave both of their debts owed to him.  Jesus poses the question, “Which of them will love him (the man who forgave the debt) more?”  Simon answered, “The one for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” 

In this culture everyone went barefoot or wore sandals.  The streets were dirt and also where the sewage ran.  Washing a guest’s feet when they arrived was a common courtesy (usually the job of the lowliest servant in the household).  That the woman used her tears, her own hair, and kissed his feet is extremely self-degrading.  The point is, she understood how sinful she truly was and demonstrated that by her actions.  The Pharisee on the other hand assumed that he himself was righteous and good.  He didn’t even offer common courtesy to Jesus.  He also mentally condemned the woman and Jesus for letting her touch his feet.  The Pharisee had absolutely no concept of his own personal sinfulness.  He was blinded to the truth of his own need.  He assumed since he was a religious leader that he was fine.  Jesus ends up telling the woman that her sins are forgiven.  The others at the table have still not understood their own spiritual needs and so they grumble among themselves, “Where does this guy get off telling people their sins are forgiven?”  These people make no admission of guilt or of personal need and so they miss the opportunity of forgiveness.

Luke 7:50   “And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

It’s easy to gloss over this story and move on without allowing it to touch our own hearts.  The best question to ask ourselves is, “Who in the story do I most identify with?”  Sadly I think that most often for me it is Simon the Pharisee.  I think that “I am doing alright.  I live a pretty clean life.  I am a whole lot more spiritual than most other people.  I don’t have the problems that most people have, etc.”  I can easily look down upon and judge other people, favorably compare myself to them and to their issues.  Yep!  I am a Pharisee at heart! 

One thing that should sink in when reading the gospels, the Pharisees never fared well.  Jesus gave them very poor ratings although they tried extremely hard to please God.  It wasn’t what they did that was so wrong; as much as it was their attitude and motivation.  They were self-reliant, self-assuming and self-deluded.   

Lord, let me learn to see myself as You see me.  Open my eyes to my true spiritual condition.  God, I don’t want my pride to stand in the way of our relationship.  I admit that it is hard to really humble myself before You; but I know that I must if I want Your forgiveness.  I find it easy to assume that I’m not so bad when I compare myself to others; but you don’t judge me by comparison to others—You compare me to Your own standards.  I don’t want to be a modern day Pharisee.  Lord, I am so glad that Your acceptance of me is not based upon my performance; but instead on your mercy and grace.  Just like you forgave the woman for her many sins because of her sorrow for her sins and for her faith in you; I ask you to forgive my sins as well.  God, help me to live my life in a manner that is pleasing to you.  Amen!

Monday (2/24/2014)

Update:

Overall, I had a very quiet weekend.  The big three things I did was I wrote Updates, worked on Sunday’s sermon, and did my exercises.

Sunday was Jon’s 23^rd birthday.  We all went out to Green Mill Restaurant for lunch after church where Jon got a deep dish pizza with extra cheese.  Afterwards everyone scattered and I went shopping with Jon at Menards and BAM.  He dropped me off at home where I promptly took a nap during the closing ceremony for the Olympics.  I found the Olympics very restful.  I don’t know what the big deal about them is—I think I earned a Gold Medal in Winter Napping without too much effort.  Wink…wink.

This morning I slept in until 7 a.m. then got up shaved and showered and started gathering things for the day.  After a late breakfast, I have to drop a piece of equipment off at the Fire Department in Altoona , Karen and I are going shopping at Sam’s, and then I have two medical appointments today.  One is with my surgeon who should release me so I can get fitted for my prosthesis.  The other is with the lab who will make my prosthesis to give me shrinker socks to remove any fluid buildup in my stump before casting my leg (hopefully next week) and should also get my prescription shoe and orthotics for my right foot today.

I’m out of time and need to leave.  I’ll send out a “Thought for the Day” later this afternoon.

Saturday (2/22/2014)

Update:

I am over my mental slump concerning doing my workouts.  I’m still sore in the abs and obliques, but I’m doing what I’ve got to do.  On Friday, every time I got on the weight bench it seemed like the phone rang.  Nobody called me the rest of the day, but every time I would just settle back down on the bench and the phone rang again. 

I spent Friday afternoon in my office at church. I took care of a number of housekeeping items and then began work on my message for Sunday. Then I enjoyed the food and the company at the Burger Blast Fundraiser.  It was weird not grilling the hamburgers this year.  I think that I’ve grilled them all but a couple of times over the past 18 years (I was either sick or out of town).  It felt much more relaxed for me since I wasn’t working and our attendance was down. 

With the snow and cold, I am once again held captive and have lost my independence.  Just a little bit of snow makes my ramp impossible for me to get up or even roll across the driveway on my own.  I am looking for those warmer temperatures that we should be having at this time of year!

I came home on Friday evening and did some reading and watched a little of the Olympics.  In my mind speed skating is a lot like NASCAR only the race is shorter.  It is pretty easy to read and watch TV at the same time.

Saturday will be spent doing some ironing and folding of laundry and working on my message for Sunday.  I’ll make some of my approved cookies for snacks during the week and then spend the evening with my wife.

Monday (2/24) is my surgeon’s appointment when I should be released to be fitted for my prosthetic leg.  All indications are that will happen and I’ll be taking the next step in my recovery journey.  I am looking forward getting his approval and moving on.  It has now been 82 days since my surgery and I am ready to go!!!  Right now the plan is for me to wear a “shrinker” sock for a week to ensure I don’t have any fluid buildup in my leg; then I will have a cast made of my leg that they will use to get the initial shape of my prosthesis.  I am not certain how long it takes to make my first “test socket” but I’ve heard only one or two weeks.  If so, I may be taking my first steps by mid-March. 

Thought for the Day:

When you think about God, how do you perceive Him?  I mean things like, “How much does He know?” and “How powerful is He?”  I think that I have a pretty high view of God and yet at times I find myself thinking that God isn’t all that much different than we are—just more of everything.  I don’t think “just more” even begins to accurately describe the difference between God and people.

 I’ve been reading Max Lucado’s book, “It’s Not About Me.”  This morning I read a very thought provoking chapter about how different God is from us.  It was entitled, “Holy Different.”  One of the illustrations that Lucado used to help us visualize the vast difference between God and man is a paper airplane.  We take a plain old sheet of paper and we create a paper airplane.  Now we challenge the paper airplane to some contests:  a math quiz, free throw contest, strongest man competition, karaoke sing off, etc.  Who would win all of these events?  We would—and it wouldn’t even be close.  There is no comparison between the creator—a human being and a paper airplane—a created object.   We so totally outclass the airplane in every category that counts.  This is a picture of the vast difference between God and people.  It is not close.  It isn’t even astronomical.  It is a difference so vast and wide that we realize that there is no real comparison.  We can say that a virus is alive and it may even be good at what it does, but does it compare to us in any real fashion? No, the differences are too significant. 

Isaiah 40:25  “ ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.”

Isaiah 46:9-11  “…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please… What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.

Power…  Intelligence…  Ability…  Knowledge…  Holiness…  Compassion…  Mercy…  Justice…  Strength…  Trustworthiness…  Patience…  Creativity…  Self-sufficiency…   In these and every other category you can name, God is infinitely superior.  There is no comparison.  He is Holy Different.  He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. 

Lucado says, “You and I may have power. But God IS power.  We may be a lighting bug, but He is lightning itself.”

I would encourage you to spend some time seriously evaluating yourself in comparison to the Lord God Almighty.  Read what the bible says about Him and see what it says about mankind.  Spend some time in worship of the God who is Holy Different!

Friday (2/21/2014)

Update:

The new exercises that were added on Monday have got some of my muscles and my shoulder joints screaming at me when I do them.  I’m feeling the muscles in my side ache all day as I bend and twist.  Dick Krueger gave me encouragement to go ahead and work through the soreness and pain yesterday.  His prompting got me over the mental hump and down on the exercise mat.  It is kind of strange to think when I am so near the time when I get my prosthesis that I am temporarily immobilized by a bit of pain and discomfort.  As I envision what is about to happen, I am going to discover all sorts of muscles that will be screaming at me as I work at learning to walk.  I also assume that there will be some discomfort initially as I strap on my new leg.  I’ve got to get my head back in the game and focus on the goal.

I am taking these verses way out of context—but mentally they sum up what I need to do:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18   “So we do not lose heart… For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen…”

I need to focus my mind on the goal of walking normally, resuming my activities, hobbies, and duties at the church, at home, and elsewhere.  These minor pains I am experiencing now are preparing me to get there.  I’ve got to walk through this pain to be able to walk without pain later (here I go again with those play on words).  This brought to mind the song in High School Musical “Get’cha Head in the Game.”  That was my favorite song/scene in the entire movie.  If you want to watch it, here’s a link. 

On Thursday night Karen and I were discussing how she was going to get to work by 6 a.m. on Friday morning.  With the heavy snowfall and the street already plowed, the mound of snow at the end of the driveway made it hard to get the car into the driveway after work on Thursday.  The way it was snowing, there would be no way for her to get the car out in the morning.  We talked about asking someone to come over very early in the morning to clear out the driveway; but we decided against it.  She was going to walk to work or shovel enough to get out on her own.  Once again the feeling of not being able to care for my wife weighed heavily on me.  Perhaps by next winter I won’t be so helpless.   Then about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night we heard a snow blower in our driveway and figured out that Dick came down and opened our driveway for Karen.  What a great neighbor!  I am so grateful for all the care and service that has been given me over the last couple of months.  It has been unbelievable!

Thought for the Day:

“Live long enough and you will suffer.  In this life, the only way to avoid suffering is to die…  Suffering will come; we owe it to God, ourselves, and those around us to prepare for it…  A faith that leaves us unprepared for suffering is a false faith that deserves to be lost” [Randy Alcorn, If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil].

Faced with the prospect of pain and suffering, people are either drawn closer to God or they falter and lose their faith.  Some folks will have their entire life unravel around them (tragic accident, devastating physical disability, abandoned and divorced by a spouse, loss of a job, loss of a home—sometimes all of these things at once); yet their faith remains solid and their joy increases.  Other people will fall to pieces and reject their belief in God and spiral down into a depression because they feel abandoned—abandoned by God.

Alcorn says that “Believing God exists is not the same as trusting the God who exists.  A nominal Christian often discovers in suffering that his faith has been in his church, denomination, or family tradition, but not Christ” [Randy Alcorn, If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil].

If you think about it, what we want to hear is that if we trust in God all of our problems go away.  If we have enough faith, then we won’t get sick; we’ll be financially secure; nothing will harm us or those whom we love; and we will live happily ever after.  That kind of so called “faith” is nothing more than wishful thinking.  Some people might experience that kind of life—but you probably have better odds of winning the hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery than living that kind of life.

Why is that?  Because God never promised us anything different than what we normally experience.  Somehow we’ve gotten this false idea that if we “trust Jesus” all of our problems go away.  That is certainly not the experience of people believing and following God in the bible.  Very few lived out their days in comfort.  Most every one of them suffered and many died for their faith.  Throughout history Christians have suffered and died for their faith. Check out “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” for accounts of people suffering for their faith.  And our current existence validates that people of deep faith are struck down with terrible life altering events. 

So why do we hang onto a false faith?  I think it is because we feel a bit more secure and at peace believing something that obviously isn’t true instead of facing the harsh reality of pain and suffering.  And perhaps pastors (such as me) haven’t done a good job preparing people for the inevitable; we haven’t been clear about difference between future bliss in heaven and a more difficult life on earth.  Maybe we’ve worked too hard to sell the gospel as a means to escape all of your problems in this world and not clearly taught the reality of a life of faith?

It would be easy to assume that since faith won’t protect you from every trouble or disaster that it isn’t worth it.  I think nothing could be farther from the truth.  My eyewear doesn’t protect me from having poor eyesight—but my glasses make a huge difference in how well I can see.  My wheelchair hasn’t restored my amputated leg (or kept it from amputation in the first place) but it is very valuable to my current mobility.  My faith hasn’t kept disaster from my door; but it has made it easier for me to handle what has happened to me.  You hear people say that “Christianity is a crutch.”  My response is that if you are hurt and injured, a crutch is exactly what you need! 

John 16:33   “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Notice that Jesus said, “you WILL HAVE tribulation.”  He didn’t say that He would make everything better; instead He said, “that you may have peace.”  God promises to strengthen us and remain by our side during difficulties.  He says that despite the things happening around us and to us that we don’t have to panic because He will give us peace.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart—but don’t try to hold Him accountable for things you wished that He had promised, or for those things that if you were in charge you would have made certain were the ways things worked.  Read the bible carefully and find out what He said and what He actually promised.  You’ll find that He is worthy of your faith and trust in Him. 

Isaiah 41:10   “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

2 Corinthians 2:10   “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Thursday (2/20/2014)

Update:

Wednesday was another beautiful day outside and I wanted to get out in it; but I chose to stay in and apply myself since the day before I was out all day.  I could tell that my hospital visitation trip on Tuesday drained my energy reserve; my stamina has increased so it didn’t deplete me but I felt like I had less energy for most of the day on Wednesday. 

I worked hard during my exercises and really felt it in my muscles and joints all the rest of the day.  For the longest time, most of my exercises were fairly simple for me.  Now most of them are taking mental and physical effort to perform.  I know that if I keep my routine up that soon these exercises will become easier too. 

On the Wednesday evening, I decided to sweep and wet mop our hardwood floors.  I got a lot of the winter grit up that we had tracked in.  It took me almost two hours to get it done and gave me a good workout in my shoulders too.  I made dozens of trips back and forth in my wheelchair to the sink to clean the mop; but I think the result was well worth the effort.

This morning we were able to reduce the amount of insulin that I take before breakfast each day.  As I get healthier and lose weight, the hope is that my pancreas will increase its output and I can continue to reduce my insulin amounts across the board.  So this morning’s small change to my usage chart is a step in the right direction.

The forecast calls for heavy snow this afternoon, so I am staying home today and not going to the office.  Trying to go anywhere in the snow with a wheelchair is at least a two person job.  It’s better for me to stay home so I don’t get stuck.  I cannot wait until spring when the weather shouldn’t be as big as factor for my schedule.  Spring is coming soon!  Yeah!

Thought for the Day: 

When faced with evil, great pain and suffering, people often wonder, “Why?”  Modern man has carried that question to a whole new level, and has made the argument that:

1. A truly good God would not want evil to exist; an all-powerful God would not allow evil to exist. 

2.  Evil exists.

3. Therefore a God who is both good and powerful cannot exist.

On the surface that sounds pretty conclusive; except there is a hidden premise in their argument.  This argument is based upon the assumption that God does not have any good reason to allow evil to exist.  “If God does have a good reason for allowing suffering and evil, then there is no contradiction between His existence and that of evil”  [Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].

A skeptic would then need to prove that God could not possibly have any reasons to allow suffering and evil to exist; that is a nearly impossible to prove.   We ourselves will often allow pain/suffering in someone’s life for a greater good.  As parents, we discipline our children by punishing bad or dangerous behavior.  Doctors will often inflict pain during a treatment knowing that in the long run the patient will be healthier.

“So the principle of allowing pain for the good reason of bringing about a greater happiness is valid and one we understand and use ourselves.  That means there is no automatic inconsistency between God and the existence of evil and suffering” [Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].

Keller also points out that there is “another implicit assumption inside the first hidden premise.  The assumption is—‘if I cannot see any reasons God might have for permitting that evil…then probably he doesn’t have any’”  [Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].

As a Christian, I believe that God is not only all-powerful, but He is also all-wise.  His knowledge and wisdom far exceeds our human understanding.  If God’s knowledge far exceeds our limited understanding, then it stands to reason that God could have morally sufficient reasons for allowing evil that we can’t think of.  Just because I can’t see them or can’t imagine there could even be a reason; does not make it so.  In fact, assuming that “if I can’t think of a good reason, then God cannot think of one either” is a mark of great overwhelming pride in our own cognitive abilities. 

So I am left with the decision whether to continue to trust in God’s wisdom, care, and power despite the reality of evil, pain and suffering.  As an alternative I guess that I could decide to not believe in or worship a God who will not remove evil, pain, and suffering; but then I would still have to face the reality of those things without the benefit and support of God Himself.  Seems like a no-brainer to me!

As I have stated before, I don’t like pain, suffering, or evil; but none of those things is a logical reason why I should question the reality of God, or question His loving care, wisdom, or power.   There are just some things that I will not ever be able to comprehend—but I trust in Him anyway.

Daniel 2:20-22   “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”

Job 12:13  "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”

Wednesday (2/19/2014)

Update:

After getting done with my morning routine on Tuesday, I loaded myself into the truck and headed north.  There are two women in my church who have been in the hospital for over 100 days.  Wow!  I thought 8 days was too long, I can only imagine how they must feel.  I do know that both of them are tired of being in the hospital and would like to improve so they could go home.  One is in the hospital in Bloomer and the other is in Stanley.  So my round trip was over 100 miles for the day.  Although I knew that the women of our church had been visiting them and sending them cards; I felt bad for never personally being able to visit them.  I know that they understood—I was on their prayer list after all; but I couldn’t shake that desire.  So with the weather forecast for 40 degrees, I set out to visit them instead of going to my office to work.  Both seemed pleasantly surprised by my visit.  After being in the hospital that long—family can’t be around every day so a visit, a phone call, or a card sent to them can really brighten their day. I know it can be inconvenient but I’d encourage you to contact someone you know is in the hospital or on the mend at home.  Doesn’t have to be too long—just enough to show you care.  It will brighten their day!

Once again I was struck by how much difference a caring nursing staff can make to a patient.  My thanks goes out to all in the medical profession—but especially to the nursing staff who handle the day in and day out patient care.  They can make all the difference by their attitude, their words, even their body language.  It seems like all the staff are competent with their nursing skills; but there are some nurses that instantly put you at ease; who help calm your fears and bring encouragement; who make you feel like this is more than a job to them.  Thank you!  Keep up the good work. 

As I was getting my wheelchair set up after taking it out of the truck, I was painfully reminded that there are certain places where you don’t want you fingers to be when you snap it open.  Oww!  I’m surprised that there wasn’t bruising today.  I am happy to report that I didn’t need stitches or a splint (although I was right at a hospital, so it would have been easy to get medical attention).  I did have a chuckle thinking about hurting myself enough to require medical attention while I am visiting people in the hospital.  I’m glad it didn’t happen!

I had a good workout on Tuesday night.  I did all of my new exercises, including the ones with the stretch bands. The hardest one that was added was a “lumbar sidebend bridge.” The starting position is you lie on the floor on your side, with your forearm supporting your upper body.  The knees are straight and ankles together. Then you raise your hips and thighs off the floor until your trunk and back are straight.  Wow!  I didn’t know some of those muscles existed until they were screaming at me!  “Well hello, neighbor!”  My goal is three sets of ten repetitions on each side.  Yesterday I got through one set on each side.  Give me a couple of weeks and we’ll see how it’s going. 

I am watching the village maintenance guys go by with the front end loader and dump trucks, clearing snow away from the curb on our streets.  They are forecasting up to 15 inches of new snow from Thursday to Friday (beginning with a chance of sleet and ice early Thursday morning), so the crews are making room for the next dump on our already snow-crowded street.  There are perks to living on the route that the school buses use!

Thought for the Day:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem entitled, "Rainy Day."   In it he wrote that “into each life some rain must fall.”  I’ve got to say that in my life I’ve had many sunny, bright days; but I’ve also had a number of rainy days.  And there have been a few days when it was storming with high winds and it rained ‘cats and dogs.’  In other words, it stormed so hard that my life was flooded by difficulties and troubles.  Fortunately those days have been few and far between.

We like to use metaphors when we are expressing ourselves.  There is something poetic about it.  Instead of just naming the cold hard facts, we paint a picture with words.  Pictures are easier to remember than words.  Metaphors often will give us something to hang onto and make our own; and to make it easier to talk about whatever we are facing.

The bible uses this metaphor many times throughout its pages.  We learn that ultimately God is in control of the wind and the rain and the storms both physical and metaphorically.  Even our insurance policies usually include some language about “acts of God over which we have no control.” 

Psalm 148:8   “…lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding…”

“This image of the storm teaches us that God is ultimately in control of circumstances…  We must keep in mind that God controls the storms…  He knows when we go into a storm, He watches over us in the storm, and He can bring us out of the storm when His purposes have been fulfilled.  At the right times, He can say to the storm, ‘Hush, be still!’ and make it a great calm (Mark 4:39).” [Warren Wiersbe, Looking Up When Life Gets You Down]. 

Isaiah 43:1-2   “But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…”

“God does not promise to keep us out of the storms and floods, but He does promise to sustain us in the storm, and then bring us out in due time for His glory when the storm has done its work” [Warren Wiersbe, Looking Up When Life Gets You Down]. 

In the midst of the storm, God will often speak to us if we are listening for His voice.  So don’t be alarmed when storms come crashing into your life.  Remember who controls the storm.  Trust in Him for your protection.  Whatever storms you face, God is with you.

Tuesday (2/18/2014)

Update:

I am down to one week before my follow-up appointment with my surgeon when I should be given the go ahead to begin being fitted with my prosthesis.  I am guessing that it will be mid-March before I actually receive my prosthesis.

Over the last month, I have been gaining strength and stamina through hours of exercise.  I had a physical therapy appointment on Monday to evaluate what changes I need to make in my routine so I am prepared for my prosthesis.  The therapist gave me a number of new exercises today to replace the ones which had become too easy for me. He also helped me remove some exercises that were targeting the same muscles.  A number of the newer exercises utilize stretchy bands so I can do those any time during the day.  Although I still have weight to lose; I am feeling much more fit and healthy than I have for years.  Here is a few pictures from my physical therapy appointment. 

I had a good discussion with the therapist about what the future may look like.  By 2053 we should have personal space ships… Oophs!  Wrong future discussion!  I meant the future about the process of me walking...  I will start out with walking with a walker, then move to walking with two forearm crutches and then to a single cane, and then walking with just the prosthesis.  The exact time table will be worked out between the podiatrist, the surgeon, and the medical rehab doctor.  One of the major factors that they will look at is protecting my remaining foot from injury.  Since the bones in the arch of my left foot collapsed, they are concerned that it might happen to my right foot too.  So it may be a long journey back to walking again.  I’ll just have to be patient and take it one step at a time (yes, I did mean to include that play on words).

I had an eye appointment on Monday and have been referred to a retina specialist.  I've got excess fluid in the eyes from the diabetes.  Otherwise my eyes looked fine—that was a relief to hear.  Once the fluid is removed (by laser surgery or meds) my vision should clear up substantially.   With my blood sugars being well-regulated now, there shouldn’t be any new damage to my eyes; we’re just taking care of old problems.  Unfortunately the first available appointment for the retina specialist is almost a month out.  I am hoping that there will be some cancellations so that I can get in sooner.  I am anxious to regain better vision; but I’ll have to remain patient to see how long that takes (another play on words). 

So recovery is slow but sure. Just taking the next step when it's time and trying not to rush it too hard or become impatient with the process.  If it quits snowing, I’ll have much more freedom to come and go on my own now that I can load/unload my wheelchair (I can’t get up my ramp with snow on it & I can’t clear snow and ice off the windshield of the truck).  Like most people in Wisconsin this year, I can’t wait for warmer weather and the snowfalls ceasing.

Here’s a quirky note to end the update: I woke up a few times last night.  Every time I was dreaming about parking in handicap parking spaces (I’ve got the permit so it’s legal).  In my dream everyone was nice business or restaurant with gigantic parking lots filled with hundreds of cars but there was always a handicap spot open right next to the front entrance.  I snickered as I pulled into the spot as everyone else had a long hike to the door.   What do amputees’ dream about?  The perks of handicapped parking spaces apparently!

Thought for the Day:

Think about all the bible stories that you know and you will recognize that God often sets up scenes that appear to be negative on the front end, but God has orchestrated these events for His glory and they turn out positive in the end [this idea comes from Os Hillman, Prime Time With God daily devotional email (2/17/2014) from Church Growth Institute].

-Without Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel at the Red Sea, there is no miraculous deliverance.

-Without Lazarus's death, there is no rising to life.

-Without the woman being ill with an incurable disease for years, there is no miraculous healing.

-Without giant Goliath’s challenges, there is not an astounding upset victory by teenage David.

-Without Peter stepping out of the boat and sinking, there is no miracle on the water.

-Without persecution arising in Jerusalem, there is no scattering of Christians to share of the gospel.

-Without the defeat and occupation by the Romans, there is no Jewish hunger for a Messiah.

-Without suffering from leprosy, paralysis, fevers, blindness, being deaf, etc., there is no miraculous healing.

-Without hunger, there is no feeding of the 5,000.

-Without the violent storm on the sea about to sink the boat, there is no calming of the wind and the rain.

-Without Judas' betrayal, there is no resurrection.

-Without the recognition of the hopeless caused by sin, there is no desire for a Savior.

I could go on and on with biblical examples and you could probably easily add to the list as well.  Often God uses things that are negative to set the stage for something positive in the end.  That principle is used in every movie you watch or book you read.  They present a problem or difficulty and then enters the person who will solve the problem or remove the difficulty.  Often it is a common person who rises to the challenge and becomes a hero.

And that got me thinking.  If this is true why then do I normally react with frustration and aggravation when negative things happen in my life?  Why do I assume that bad things are bad and have no redeeming value?  What if I had a change of attitude whenever these things happened and responded with anticipation and wonder?  “Okay, I’ve got a flat tire and I am going to be late.”  Who knows; maybe someone will show up to help me and be as a “ministering angel” to me.  I may never find out, but perhaps this delay keeps me from being involved in an accident further down the road. 

If I assume that there may be good somehow connected, then I might look for it and see it.  I will at least face this difficulty with a more positive mindset and not be hindered by negative emotions along with the situation.  However, if I assume life is rotten, unfair, and the whole world is against me; then I’ll probably find enough evidence to convince me and keep me in a perpetual bad mood (and that is so pleasant for everyone around you to experience—NOT!).

This is definitely not the normal fashion for how to react to events in our society.  I guess that if the world is truly a random, chaotic, haphazard experience; then a negative attitude might be appropriate.  But I don’t believe that.  I believe that there is a God and that ultimately He is in control.  It is not a perfect world; but it is not random either.  I don’t believe God is a control freak who has to dictate every minute detail of existence; but I do believe that nothing happens without His oversight and allowing it (why evil is allowed is a totally different discussion).  If that assumption is correct, then at a minimum God has a good result that may come about from a bad situation.  For instance, last night my wife told me that she believes that I am a better pastor/preacher since my amputation (and I have thought the same thing).  My medical situation (that could not be called good) has resulted in me being more effective as a pastor (greater opportunity to speak, new insights into life, more empathy for those hurting, a renewed relationship with God, etc.).

So when bad things happen to you today—how are you going to respond?  Will it be a knee-jerk negative one?  Or will you withhold judgment and seek to find a positive result and have a more positive attitude about the whole thing?  I know which one will be better for you in the long term.   As the phrase goes, “Don’t sweat the small stuff; And remember, it’s all small stuff.”