Body: Yesterday was a full day at Yale as I had a blood test at 9, a PET scan at 11, treatment at 12:30 and a doctor's appointment at 2:30. I'm getting to know the new Smilow Cancer Hospital very well!
Here is the bottom line on yesterday's activities. Blood counts were low enough that I was given a blood transfusion. How thankful I am for those blood drives that Calvary has and the people who are willing to give blood. I've always been on the "giving" end...this was a first, being on the "receiving" end...and I'm very grateful.
The PET Scan revealed that the cancer spot is smaller, but still there, clearly. The doctor, Andrea and I talked about various options which he is now weighing. He'll get back to me in a couple of days with that which he thinks is best. So it appears there will be another treatment step before the "intensive" step of the stem cell transplant (my own stem cells).
Thanks so much for your notes, emails, Facebook posts and calls of encouragement and prayer support. Each is treasured!
Spirit: "The Downside of Knowledge" Daniel 5
We frequently hear the comment that knowledge is a wonderful thing. Having knowledge opens doors; it allows advancement because that which is learned acts like a foundation or platform upon which we can stand to reach new heights; it advances careers, as those who know more are given prime jobs (see Daniel 1). Knowledge is always a good thing.
However, there is a downside to knowledge which this text illustrates. Knowledge brings responsibility with it. If you "know", you are responsible to act in light of that knowledge...and sometimes we don't want to act responsibly.
That's Belshazzar!! God treated his father differently, giving him a "second chance" because Nebuchadnezzar didn't know. He cut Belshazzar off immediately, without warning or second chance because he knew and was responsible but was disobedient. Daniel goes right after it in verses 18f in his preamble to interpreting the writing on the wall.
I have been given much knowledge...we all have. The church in America has more knowledge of Scripture available to it than any place on earth. With knowledge comes responsibility. I don't live up to that responsibility many times. The knowledge I emphasize is that God is gracious and forgiving. I know God is forgiving and assume He will give second, third, fourth....chances. I don't act on the knowledge that God is holy and in every situation I am to do His will.
Can anyone identify with this tendency? How does that verse go, "to whom much is given, much will be required"? I think that works with knowledge as well.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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Wow, it's so true to whom much is given much is required. How often in our lives we see the difficulty of living up to that standard of holiness. The "fruit" of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI thank my God upon every remembrance of you, how you are sincere in your walk with the Lord and your leading of the congregation at Calvary. You so often display the "fruit" of the Spirit. God is blessing Bill and I again with such a man of God, Pastor Pete Nelson, who reminded us again last week, as we study minor prophets, that what the Lord requires of us is to live justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
For Bill and I, you, Pastor Dave, exemplify this, not that you have walked perfectly, but that you have walked humbly, have shown mercy and do your best to live justly. We over the years have been grateful for your transparency. We praise God for who you are in Him and thank Him that even with all your experiencing you continue to minister to the rest of us. We "Praise God" for His continued instruction through you.