What’s got a 500-foot wing-span, flies at 90,000 feet and stays up in the air for five years without ever touching the ground?

If the Pentagon has its way, it’ll be the Vulture, its planned long-, long-, long-range unmanned surveillance and communication aircraft.

.... and, in some circles, SURVEILLANCE is a nasty word ....

Irene had a wonderful time meeting with Denise (Cauwels) Haikkila at a local Starbucks (where else??) today.  Irene’s energy was up, her nausea was present but bearable, and she was busy with household activities.  It was quite a contrast to yesterday’s fatigue and a much more encouraging day!!

Some call Him the “Hound of Heaven” because of His unremitting pursuit of man.  I call that pursuit “surveillance of the heart”.  Why, you ask?  Because God knows our deepest thoughts and longings, whether well intended or otherwise, and before we even dare to utter them to our lips, He is initiating activity all around us and drawing our hearts and minds to Him.

SURVEILLANCE of the HEART is occurring 24/7 by a loving and caring God, who surveys the condition of our hearts that we might be in right relationship with Him, for He calls us to an intimate, dynamic and fulfilling relationship with Him.

We need not fear God’s “surveillance of the heart” for He isn’t a vulture and doesn’t spy on us, but rather, He relentlessly pursues us in order to accomplish His purposes in us. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

This is what the LORD says —
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.”

Isaiah 48:17

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10b

This kind of “heart” SURVEILLANCE is welcome anytime!!!!!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:3-4

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment today but came home extremely fatigued and nauseated.  She took a 3+ hour nap and rested for the balance of the day.  The quick weekend to S. Cal and today’s dialysis treatment really took a physical toll.  Thanks for prayerfully intervening on her behalf.

The wonder of His care for us remains a mystery other than that which He reveals to us in His Word.

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Jesus transcends man-made DENOMINATIONS.

According to dictionary.com, TRANSCEND is defined as…

• to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed.
• to outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree, etc. surpass; excel.
• Theology (of the Deity) to be above and independent of (the universe, time, etc.).

Irene and I left S. Cal early this morning and arrived home around 2 p.m.  She then ventured to Trade Joe’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Her nausea was off and on again and her energy was somewhat diminished but she had a very fulfilling weekend.  There’s no place like home!!

According to Wikipedia there are five major branches of Christianity:  Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant ....

Denominationalism is an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels. Not all churches teach this. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches do not use this term as its implication of interchangeability does not agree with their theological teachings. There are some groups which practically all others would view as apostate or heretical, and not legitimate versions of Christianity.

Here is a list of man made denominations…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations

Denominations, in my humble opinion, have confused the core message of Jesus. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination

Jesus, as the God-Man, TRANSCENDS all man made denominations.  We keep our eyes on Him and on His Word.  We are to FOLLOW Him, TRUST Him, OBEY Him, and LOVE Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.  We are to love others as we love ourselves.  He is to be FIRST in ALL THINGS.  His Holy Spirit indwells all those who receive Him and we will spend eternity with Him when we pass from this world.

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Matthew 6:33a

It is in this God-Man that we HOPE and wait on for Irene’s complete healing and restoration on her journey of faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

We must remember that Jesus is a Jew…

NEW YORK (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope to visit an American synagogue Friday, bringing greetings for the Passover holiday and accepting gifts of matzo and a seder plate. Benedict, 81, stopped briefly at Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, near the Vatican residence.

“I find it moving to recall that Jesus, as a young boy, heard the words of Scripture and prayed in a place such as this,” he said.

The German-born pontiff then offered a gift of his own: a reproduction of a Jewish codex.

“In our lifetime, we have experienced the ravages of war, the Holocaust, man’s inhumanity to man and tasted the joy of freedom,” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who lived in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe.

“This momentous occasion takes places on American soil, where men and women escaping the clutches of oppression and religious persecution have built a nation of democracy and freedom. This is a nation which has allowed all religious communities to flourish.”

The Jewish community makes “a valuable contribution to the life of the city,” Benedict said. “And I encourage all of you to continue building bridges of friendship with all the many different ethnic and religious groups present in your neighborhood.”

Irene is thoroughly enjoying our S. CAL trip.  She was energized by spending quality time with JoAnna and having a fabulous dinner at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant in Newport Beach with our dear friends, Gary and Cathy Daichendt.  You may recall that they made a special trip to visit Irene when she was going through several very challenging days throughout the stem cell transplant process at UCSF and Gary even became a blood donor.  We’ll never forget that.  Since getting Gary’s blood, we’ve also noticed a dramatic improvement in Irene’s math, and executive business skills!!!!

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 5:17 (Jesus speaking)

Pope Benedict’s visit to an American Synagogue is inspiring.  It is more than symbolic; it is an exemplary example of bridge building and reconciliation.

Despite the distinctions between Jew and Gentile as well as Protestant and Catholic, Jesus, as the God-Man, is the manifestation of the invisible God that came to reconcile and fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
Ephesians 2:15b

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5

The Jewish nation, Israel, is dear to God.

Jesus is a Jew, and we are dear to Jesus.

…and Jesus is dear to us.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Update from AZUSA, and the Azusa Street Revival.

After Irene’s dialysis treatment this morning she came home, finished getting the house in order and we departed for southern California for the weekend.  It’s the first time we’ve been in S. Cal since October of last year.

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar and she was fatigued but determined to make the trip.

The Azusa Street Revival was a Pentecostal revival meeting led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher.  Today, the revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century. 

Caminando con Fé

Dave

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Irene soloed last night while I attended InterWest Board of Director meetings in Sacramento.  She did well and enjoyed having lunch with Jocelyn today.  Later this afternoon Shirley Churchill worked with Irene for 3+ hours on physiology techniques designed to wake up the kidneys.  The nausea remained at a low roar ,,,, an obvious answer to much prayer from people like the person reading this update!!!!  THANK YOU!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Hello Dave,

My daughter (Marissa) and I ran into JoAnna at APU about a week ago. Marissa has been accepted to APU, but the final decision has yet to be made. Since coming back home I have been reading about the journey you and your family has been on. An amazing and yet so difficult phase of life, yet your lives are so brightly pointing to Him in all that is going on. Chakasa Yesu!  (praise Jesus in Swahili)

You and Irene will be in Kit and my prayers.

(from the old “Starbucks Guy” now with a new coffee company)

Garth Tosello

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment today.  She came home, took a long nap and rested for most of the day.  Her blood pressure remains at acceptable levels and the nausea remains at a low roar.  She enjoyed the glorious, clear blue sky day!!

Washington DC is abuzz with activity hosting Pope Benedict, one of the most influential luminaries in the world.

“I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens,” Pope Benedict said at President Bush’s side.

Though it’s wonderful to have such ceremonial “circumstance” occurring at our nation’s capital it’s important to keep it all in perspective.  God reigns over the affairs of all humankind.

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Isaiah 40:15

He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
Psalm 147:4

For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 47:15

We worship Him who is above all nations and peoples.  We trust Him whose sovereignty reigns, who is concerned for all of humanity, and who demonstrates His love for us by sending His only begotten Son to die on a tree to release us from the bondage of sin.  We look to and revere Him who revives those who are of contrite and lowly spirit.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Irene,
You are in our prayers every day...we are always interceding for strength, miracles, health, healing, and God’s tender mercies around you...day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

You are beautiful.

Hugs my friend,
Laura Gschwend

Happy 10 MONTH Birthday!!!

Irene celebrated her 10 month STEM CELL TRANSPLANT birthday by sleeping in and later savoring her favorite Starbucks drink!!!  It’s hard to believe that it was June 15, 2007!!

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar and she was able to accomplish many items on her to do list.  She paced herself through the day and is grateful for the gift of LIFE and the prayers of so many.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

We received this email today and thought it was definitely worth sharing.  Enjoy.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tall, soy, green tea, latte, no water, no melon, no foam & 4 scoops tea!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave & Irene,

Several weeks ago now, a group of us ladies that have been bringing you before His Throne meet at Starbuck’s in your honor and ordered 4 of these special Irene drinks.  The Manager knew these weren't our drinks and wanted to know why the change.  We shared what we were doing and he gave the group a special cup for this drink.  This drink does require some getting use to.  We all barely got it down and were laughing so hard that we were crying and praise Our Lord for putting you in our lives.  I have to say we can only do this once a week Irene in your honor.  I’m so very glad that we can come before Jesus without drinking this special drink, uplifting you to His care many times during the day.  I wanted to share this story with you to know you are cared for and loved.

Much Appreciation and Love,
Carolene Drury

Breathtaking, panoramic views and a warm, balmy day on the Monterey Bay....

Shirley Churchill worked with Irene on physiology techniques designed to wake up the kidneys for about 3 hours while Ken and I casually strolled the Rio Del Mar beach.  Afterward, Irene and I valued an extended lunch at Stagnero’s on the busy Santa Cruz Wharf.

Irene’s energy was better today and the nausea was tolerable.  She did experience a severe early morning (4.45 a.m.) cramping episode in her right calf.  However, her blood pressure was within a more acceptable range of approximately 110/65 throughout the day, and, after a rest, she was able to enjoy the garden into the evening hours.

Irene is very appreciative for the continued prayer intercession on her behalf which gives her strength, day by day!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

In the original Hebrew, “choliy” is interpreted “disease” and is used several times in the following potent passage which prophecies about Jesus.

Isaiah Chapter 53

Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him. He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded because of our transgressions; he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.  And they made his grave with the wicked and with the rich his tomb; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.’ Yet it pleased the Lord to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of the Lord might prosper by his hand: Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear.  Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matthew 8:17 is the account of Jesus healing the sick and refers directly to the passage above, Isaiah 53.

“He took up our infirmities and carried (or bore) our diseases.”

When did Jesus bear our diseases?  The same time and place that He bore our sins .... on the cross!! 

Now consider this…

Psalm 103:1-3

Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits —
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

God declares to us .... ”do not forget ALL of His BENEFITS”?

He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases.

Irene and I were out early this morning running errands, and, of course, making a Starbucks run .... she’s actually converted me to her favorite drink .... a tall, soy, green tea latte, no water, no melon, no foam, with 2 extra scoops of green tea!!  Yum!!!

The weather today was spectacular ....!!!!!!!  We relished the low 80ish degree balmy day with a slight sea breeze and not a cloud in the sky.  While Irene rested I took an extended “beach bike” ride, riding directly on the sand next to the surf for miles… When I returned she insisted that I chill out on the hammock we occasionally suspend between two oak trees .... what a welcome respite ....

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar and her energy level was somewhat better today.  Because of the lower blood pressure over the last few days her physician has taken her off of all high blood pressure medication for the foreseeable future.  We obviously view this is a very positive development!!

The prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 53 is very germane.  If we believe that He forgives all our sins, we must also believe that He heals all our diseases.

We pray for relief from the chronic nausea and for the miraculous healing of Irene from the amyloid disease invading her bloodstream.

Thanks for standing in the gap with and for us .... and thanks for caring.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Irene soloed yesterday and Thursday night while I was in San Diego for business meetings.  Today was another day that the dialysis caused her to experience significant fatigue.  She rested all afternoon but we were able to go out for an early dinner in Seascape and took a short drive before settling in for the evening.  Irene’s blood pressure this evening is 83/49.  Obviously this is too low.  Since she’s on medication for high blood pressure (which was recently reduced) we’re in consultation with her physician.

The reality is that all of us are outwardly wasting away.  We just don’t want to admit it because we don’t want to die and we long to live forever.  And we can.  Personally inviting Jesus Christ into our hearts, confessing, renouncing and repenting from our sin ushers us into a new life in Christ, promising that we will, in fact, live forever.  Though we will lay these “tents” we call bodies aside someday, our Spirit will be with Christ in Heaven for all of eternity.  That is a long time.  That is the hope of the gospel.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Caminando con Fé

Dave

I came across this story recently and thought you might like it.

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Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer.  She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She’s my baby. 

When Freedom came in she could not stand.  Both wings were broken, her left wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office.  From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight;
and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her dowl cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle.  She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses (birding straps), and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV.  Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair — the whole bit. I missed a lot of work.  When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer.  This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant.  Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.  Yahoo!

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn’t said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don’t know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note:  I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom’s.  Hope you enjoy this.

Jeff

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Jocelyn