Surgery Date Set

My son, Christopher, as many of you now know, has testicular cancer. Today I spent the entire day with him at the hospital going through tests and seeing his urologist. Today they advised us that this coming Friday, June 1st, they will perform the surgery to remove the cancerous mass. Your prayers have been so appreciated, and the e-mail and comment response has been wonderful. Thank you, my friends.

John 15:13 for this Memorial Day

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Sometimes the faithful will believe that their sin is punished by God through the storms we meet in life, that somehow God has turned our lives upside down to teach us a lesson. This may be true of some storms, but tribulation does not mean that automatically. However, sin does open our lives up to circumstances that we may not have encountered had we obeyed God in the first place. In short, many of our trials and tribulations may simply be the result of our disobedience. In this way, we invite strife by allowing sin to beset us. Such is what is happening to our current society. The sin of the world has become so great that our society has convinced itself that sin isn't even sin anymore. Sinful choices have not only become acceptable behavior, but can now be justified by science or medicine or a warped version of what the world believes to be common sense that is so skewed that moral reasoning can no longer be recognized. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right.

The bible warns us of this. In Isaiah 5:20 it states: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Even in my own life I recognize strife to be brought on by past sinful decisions. And in the long run I realize that many of the storms I encounter are truly nobody's fault but my own.

Only dropping to our knees, asking forgiveness, and turning away from our sin can help us break the shackles that bind us and run the race as we should, pacing ourselves, matching stride for stride through obedience to Him the standards the Lord has set before us.

Don't Worry

A friend of mine, concerned over my anxiety regarding the situation with my son regarding cancer, sent me these verses from Matthew Chapter 6.

Matthew 6:25-34 (King James Version)

25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Galations 6:10 - Kindness towards others

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Many excuse themselves from the work of being a believer in Christ, though they may make a show of it by going to church and giving to charities, and professing it. However, many deceive themselves if they think they are fooling God, who knows their hearts as well as actions. He cannot be deceived, so he will not be mocked.

We shall reap what we sow.

Those that live a carnal, sensual life, must expect no other fruit from such a course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit, live a life of faith in Christ, and abound in Christian graces, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. We are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised. We should take care to do good in our life-time, and make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches. Our faith shall be apparent through our fruit.

Cancer's Agenda

GMRoper knows about cancer. He was diagnosed with lung cancer, and so far it looks like he's beaten it. Now cancer has decided to visit my home. My son has been diagnosed with testicular cancer (the young man's cancer) at the age of 22. Right now he is in considerable pain and we are doing all we can to get him into surgery as soon as possible. As with any form of cancer, there is a fear of the disease spreading to other parts of his body, in this case, through his lymphatic system. At GMRoper's An Army of Bloggers site, the goal is to unite bloggers in this worldwide battle against cancer. Your prayer is greatly appreciated, and you can just ask Mr. Roper, the power of prayer is amazing. He is proof.

I will keep you updated regarding my son's progress at Political Pistachio, and here at my Christian Site, Carried By Christ.

God Bless, and Thank You.

All things work together for good and His glory.

With God all things are possible.

Prayer Needed For My Son and My Family

Yesterday my son was diagnosed as having a tumorous mass that is cancerous. He is only twenty-two years of age. Yesterday my wife and I cried for him. His grandparents, all of our friends and family, and a number of my friends in the blogosphere, are praying for him. I am asking you to, my dear friends and siblings in Christ, to pray for my son as well. Pray for my family. Not only ask the Lord for healing, but for us to recognize his will. Thank you, and God Bless.

(Heb 12:1-3 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Farewell to Jerry Falwell

Christianity lost a moral voice in Jerry Falwell's death. Whether you liked him or not, he spoke, what I believe, to be the truth. Those that have criticized Falwell for his Moral Majority have allowed indiscriminateness to infiltrate their way of thinking. The bible is not indiscriminate about any issue, the rules are clear...it is wrong to murder, covet, steal, sodomize children, etc. To think otherwise is to accept the liberal line of thinking that all choices lead to good outcomes.

Homosexuality, of which Falwell was constantly hammered for being a critic of, is simply wrong AIDS and shortened lifespans among gay men is evidence to that.

God Bless Jerry Falwell, and may he rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord.

Happy Mothers Day

Proverbs 31:25-28

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

He who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forward as fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must still press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours. Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus, through him, that we are saved. Our lives become a pursuit of being like him. In these things there is a great difference among real Christians. Believers make Christ their all in all, and set their hearts upon Him.

Titus 2:14 (KJV)

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Christ is the Basis of Godly Conduct

We, as Christians, pursue a respectable and dignified life when we pursue faith and a Christ-like life.

In this verse Paul seeks contact with the outsider.

God's grace, salvation, transcends any non-believer's notions of help or deliverance from physical calamity. It is salvation from sin and sin's extensive, destructive results. God's grace is not simply beneficent in purpose, it means to save.

God's grace in Christ is offered to all. This verse describes the death of Jesus Christ as an offering/sacrifice that was made for those who could not make it themselves.

It cannot be said that Christ's death was an accident that took Him by surprise. This death had to occur; it was an intrinsic part of God's plan of salvation (Acts 2:23).

This offering by God was both representative and substitutionary. In giving himself as a sacrifice, the God-Man represented sinful humans. His death for us was a death rightly required of people; he stepped in as our substitute and suffered what is rightfully our punishment for sins.

Christ's redemptive death, understood in this way, is without question the ultimate illustration of God's grace. The act originated in God's plan, was executed in behalf of undeserving people and accomplished their salvation.



Also, go to Flag Gazer's post on the National Day of Prayer.