Dear Irene,

We are praying for you today. I can’t believe you have been home for two months. It does not seem possible. I am reminded how rapidly our lives can change from one moment to the next. The only constant in our lives is our Heavenlyl Father. I am so amazed and thankful for his unchanging grace that he bestows upon us.

We love you!!

1 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It’s also hard to believe that it was 2 months ago today that Irene was released from UCSF.  Time certainly does march on.  This is also the first day that Irene spent entirely by herself.  It was somewhat awkward to leave her at 4.30 a.m. knowing that I was returning this evening after a series of meetings in Sacramento, but both of us had peace about it.  She did well.  Irene moved slowly through the day and accomplished many household “to do’s”. 

Ecclesiastes is clear from the passage above; there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun.  Related to Irene’s healing and restoration, we wait for God’s perfect timing during this season, knowing that He is never in a hurry but is always on time. 

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Thank you for sharing your faith and your challenges through the daily updates.  Your testimonies reach far deeper than many sermons today.  Praise the Lord for your willingness to walk this road for His glory.  May the Lord continue to heal you and strengthen you each day!

I’d like to share the words to a song which captures the heart of a faithful follower of Christ in the midst of an overwhelming trial.       

*****

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer
by Margaret Becker and Keith Getty.

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor through this storm
You have called me to this passage
And I’ll follow though I’m worn.

    May this journey bring a blessing
    May I rise on wings of faith
    And at the end of my heart’s testing
    With Your likeness may I wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more.

    May this journey…(repeat chorus)

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne.

    May this journey be a blessing
    May I rise on wings of faith
    And at the end of my heart’s testing
    With Your likeness let me wake.

*****

Praying for you,

Julian and Hosanna Loh

A.W. Tozer makes this significant and profound claim .... “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

That’s a powerful statement worth meditating upon.  If you’re like me there’s a natural tendency to think about God and then approach him focusing on my problems, pains, and disappointments.  It’s not that he doesn’t want to respond in our time of need.  He does.  However, we’re challenged in scripture, over and over again to approach God on the basis of who he is and all that he has done in our lives.  It is imperative to have a RIGHT view and a HIGH view of God.

Here are a couple of questions to ponder:

• Do I view God in light of my circumstances or in view of His Character?
• Do I approach God with praise and gratitude for the many benefits that he has bestowed upon me?

Psalm 103 is a hymn of Thanksgiving written about the all loving God and points out the “many benefits” that God has bestowed upon us:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.
    Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Irene had a good day.  Jocelyn took Irene to dialysis this morning since I was traveling to S. Cal.  Sue Martinez picked Irene up from dialysis and took her to the Silver Spur for breakfast.  Afterward they wandered through Beverly’s (fabric and craft store) one of Irene’s favorite stores!!  She rested this afternoon and enjoyed somewhat of a reprieve from the nausea!!!

As we think about God, Irene and I want our perspective to reflect that of the psalmist.  We strive for a high view of God so that we rightly relate to him.  We praise Him for who he is and “forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

We also wait, hope and trust for God’s complete healing of Irene’s disease (Psalm 103:3b).

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Hey Dave and Irene,

I’ve been following the journey you’re on and want to add my prayers and appreciation for your faithfulness in trusting the Lord for his protection and provision. It’s hard for me to imagine the level of difficulty and stress this phase of your life must take on your family. A passage of scripture came to mind as I was reading about the crucible experience on your update page.

In Isaiah 1:25 the Lord says that “I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities” in talking to the children of Israel. The passage is a picture of the metal workers in ancient days who poured metal into big pots heated by hot fires. As the metal/rock melted, the impurities (dross) would rise to the surface. The worker would use a ladle to skim the surface of the pot and remove the impurities as they released from the hard and crusty rock. The workman would lean in and look into the surface of the pot. When the pot was cleared of all impurities the surface would reflect the image of the worker, like a mirror. At that point, the worker knew the metal was pure and usable, ready to be formed into a beautiful lasting treasure.

In the same way the Lord is working to cleanse us of impurities and imperfections in our life. He is allowing the “heating and stirring” of our lives to skim away the impurities. When he can lean in and see his reflection in our lives, he knows that we are truly usable and reflecting his glory. PTL! How beautiful the Dias household must be to the Lord!

Blessings to you today,

John

We’re forever grateful that we KNOW and SERVE the only true God who can sympathize with our pain and suffering .... although I am not sure that we fully appreciate the amount of excruciating pain that God himself endured, allowing Himself to be brutally executed on a tree for the sins of the world.

Most of us know from firsthand experience that a toothache can be very agonizing .... but in the big picture, it’s nothing compared to true pain and suffering, especially when compared to what Irene has endured with Amyloid.  She did, however, have a dentist appointment today for a troubling molar.  Thankfully they were able to solve the matter rather quickly so that after several days of discomfort, she’s now free of further grief.

Irene rested most of the afternoon and has tussled with lethargy and nausea for the last couple of days.  She continues to endure the drawn out, 24/7, uncomfortable feeling.  She remains undaunted, however, in her toil to appropriate the abundant and victorious life that she knows is hers by faith. 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles ....”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We trust in Him; thanks for caring.

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Dave,

Life is difficult — sometimes for an entire season — but the Lord remains faithful to His own. The battle goes on but in the end defeat is impossible. The victory is ours in Christ; it is assured. We shall all live with Him in eternity. There will be no disease, no pain, no tears ...

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a beautifully dressed bride for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling place of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

We can bet our very lives on seeing this day.

Blessings and continued prayer for you both,

Walt

As Irene has ventured out of the house more frequently she’s been sporting colorful scarves on her shoulder/neck areas.  Not only is she somewhat self conscious of her nearly black skin from the chemotherapy and stem cell transplant but she has 3 very distinct SCARS on the side of her neck from the temporary “Quinton” dialysis access port (3 lines) during the UCSF stay.  The Quinton was ultimately removed and replaced with the Tesio which is the existing dialysis access port which was surgically implanted directly into a heart artery.  (One quick side-note: please recognize that the darker hue is not a defining matter for Irene or me; she merely wants to return to her natural olive complexion).

As Irene and I examined her skin and discussed the scarring on her neck, this passage came to mind:

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Mathew 20:24-31

Over the last several months Irene’s FAITH has amplified to stratospheric levels. As we conversed about the scarring, she made the following observation regarding the steroid treatment wherein she lost vision in both of her eyes from detached retinas, completely baffling the UCSF medical team.  You’ll recall that she lost her vision for several months.

It is truly by God’s grace that I made it through those days, but God gave me contentment that I cannot explain .... my vision was so blurred that I simply had to trust Him and hope that I would see again ....

Consider Irene’s phenomenal perspective within the context of what she was facing at that time .... then contemplate the following:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6

Irene had an early morning dialysis treatment and rested most of the afternoon.  The nausea reared its ugly head in a way that it hadn’t for several weeks but she endured the episode .... thank you for your continued expressions of concern for Irene during this season of recovery.

While hospitalized at UCSF, Irene experienced the peace that transcends all understanding that can only be in God Himself.  Her anxiety was replaced with His Presence as she prayed and rested in Him.  She walks in that same place today, trusting Jesus to completely heal and restore her body.  The marks on Jesus’ hands and side are clear evidence of the price he paid for dying on the cross.  The darker hue and scars on Irene’s neck are visible reminders of the price she paid with the diagnosis of Amyloidosis yet also that of God’s faithful provision, using the medical miracles of our day to preserve her life. 

Caminando con Fé

Dave

CRUCIBLE defined:

 
1. A vessel made of a refractory substance such as graphite or porcelain, used for melting and calcining materials at high temperatures
2. A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial
3. A place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces

I would say that Irene qualifies under option 2 .... “A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial.”  Do you agree?  Personally, I am convinced that she PASSES the severe test with an “A+” for her poise and carriage throughout the entire ordeal.

I am mindful of this relevant passage:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 3:9

I was recently inspired after reading Walt Wilson’s (a good friend who’s wife Dee is battling cancer and also the author of the book, The Internet Church) account of several young Marines as they completed their own CRUCIBLE ....

.... These men witnessed the Commanding General’s Flag Raising Ceremony, the graduation of 3rd Battalion Marines, and the Emblem Ceremony for Lima Company, 2nd Battalion. Lima Company was on their return from the Crucible, the final test to become a Marine after 11 weeks of the toughest training of any military in the world, including Special Forces.

The Crucible is 54 hours of nonstop maneuvers, 40 miles of forced marching with a 65 pound pack, ten pounds of body armor, multiple obstacle courses with 30 caliber live firing across the barb wire crawl through thick mud, concussion explosives being set off all around them, carrying of wounded through simulated combat explosions, little water, no meals (just protein bars) and only two four-hour sleep breaks for over the entire 54 hours. They are in constant motion fighting their way through combat obstacles.

The Crucible is the final test to become a Marine. At 3 am they leave the simulated combat range and begin the long march to the Iwo Jima monument to receive their first Marine Corps emblem, the eagle, globe and anchor.

Our party assembled at the Iwo Jima monument at 7:30 am to await Lima Company’s arrival. From the distance we could hear them singing Marine marching cadence. Andy commented it sounded like lions roaring in the distance, even though we could not yet see them. Then an entire company appeared shouting their cadence, limping, many bent over struggling to make the moment. All were muddy and wet, but they were all smiles knowing they past the test. There is almost a 30% dropout rate among Marine recruits. These were the survivors, the victors, newly-minted Marines. As the entire company assembled at the Iwo Jima Monument the ceremony began with prayer then the handing of an emblem to each man while the Marine Corps Hymn was played softly in the background. Most shed tears during this time as they become Marines — a defining moment in their young lives.

Despite her nausea, Irene was up early this morning making breakfast burritos .... “Yum”!! .... Then, since we hit the three month mark since the stem cell transplant we began looking at several spa options.  The UCSF Nephrology Department strongly recommends using a spa as part of the recovery treatment for Irene’s renal failure (ESRD).  There’s also a growing body of evidence suggesting that Irene is feeling more independent .... she’s starting to think about the notion of DRIVING .... look out sidewalks and shopping malls!!  Her vision has improved enough since the detached retinas episode that the only concern is that of the defensive driving reaction.  The jury is still out in terms of when she’ll actually start behind the wheel again ....

I’m extremely grateful for Irene’s faithfulness through her own “CRUCIBLE”.  I wish for her sake that it was only “54 hours of non stop maneuvers” like the Marines because she’s been going through her CRUCIBLE since April.  Yet I am confident of this .... that she’s as tough and determined as any Marine there is.  Yet she inspires me not only with her resilience and courage, but with a gentle perseverance .... and keeps smiling through it all .... especially when she’s playing in the sandbox .... uh, I mean .... the “wisteria” garden!!

Thank you for your continued prayers for her complete healing and restoration!!!

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Hi Dave,

Thank you also for remaining faithful in your updates as hundreds of folk are being blessed by your words, the authors and Scripture you quote.  There are too many who do not finish strong or run a consistent race.

Women are amazing aren’t they?  You find Irene in her garden after ironing and doing loads of laundry and I just watched Dee spend over two hours decorating a butterfly cake complete with antennae, body (ding dongs), etc. for our one year old granddaughter who will be showing up here this evening for her birthday party.  I would have gone to Costco and if clowns were in, we would have had a clown cake.

Give Irene, Jocelyn and JoAnna our love and blessing.

Your friend,
Dave Neely

Hello Dave,

I have to say that I have been following Irene and you as you have battled this disease.  My admiration for you two is off the charts.  I am not sure why we have not e-mailed or called especially after all you did when I was down with the heart thing.  We have been in prayer throughout Irene’s ordeal.  There are many out there who I am sure like us are (silently praying and agonizing over what you are going through).  I have to say that what the Lord has been teaching you and how He has been faithful to sustain you has been inspirational.  I wish only that I had some words of substance to help in some way.  Irene is an amazing woman and as you say one of a kind.  So sweet and kind but so strong as well.  The peace of God really does pass all understanding.

Please tell Irene her prayers for Neil have been answered.  He and Jen (his girlfriend of 10 years off and on) will be married next week.  He is the most personable, loving and kind man you can find.  He works for ADT and is # 5 in the western US and in the top 30 in the whole US.  They live in Danville.  He knows the Lord and wants kids right away and to start going to church again.  Jenn is the best and feels the same way.  Marla always remembers Irene’s prayers and encouragement for Neil.  Irene always believed in Neil when others did not.

You two are admired and loved by so many more people than you can even imagine.  May He hold you in His arms.

With Love

David Sailer

Hey Bro,

As I do often, I was thinking about you guys this morning as I was reading the bible.  Job 42:12 just jumped off the page at me.

It reads “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.”

That is my prayer for you and Irene. May the Lord bless you for your faithfulness and testimony of His greatness.

Give Irene my love.  Love you bro.

Mark

To life, to love, to friends, to healing, to you Irene…still praying for you daily and believing in God’s provision for the process.

Yes to candles, three months of life since the stem cell transplant, and even shopping with your daughter…may the good time continue to out weight the nausea.

Courage is your new name my precious friend.

Love,
Laura

Today is Irene’s 3 month BIRTHDAY!!!! 

It was three months ago today that Irene had the stem cell transplant at UCSF, giving her hope for living!!  We recall the event as if it were yesterday.  (See the June 15, 2007 Update).  It is very sobering to realize that without the stem cell transplant, given the diagnosis and all that Irene has experienced, that she would probably already be in Heaven waiting for us to arrive. 

We are also reminded that Irene was discharged from UCSF on Friday, July 20, 2007.  That was another day which will be remembered in our household forever ....

Thus, we celebrate LIFE on this earth, fully appreciating the truth that our permanent citizenship is in Heaven.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20

As stewards sojourning the planet for a brief period of time, we live for one reason .... to glorify our God and Creator, Jesus Christ. HE gives us life and breath and purpose because we belong to Him. 

Irene and JoAnna were shopping and running errands early this morning and then rested the afternoon.  Irene’s nausea was at a low rumble .... it’s been a good day.

As we celebrate Irene’s 3 months of life since the stem cell transplant, we pause and celebrate the ONE who gives us life .... and earnestly praise Him in Spirit and Truth for all that He has accomplished in and through this experience.  Our LOVE for God has increased exponentially, our TRUST has grown momentously, our FAITH has gone to unfathomable depths.  We are confident that He orders and directs our lives .... including every step of Irene’s journey as he heals her day by day.  He is with us; He will never forsake us.  We are eternally grateful that He first loved us that we may love him in return by intimately walking with him and serving him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.

“Great is your faithfulness”
Lamentations 3:23

Caminando con Fé

Dave

6.30 p.m. ....

Author Bob Buford makes the following "confessions" related to the CONTENT used in his "Musings" e-newsletter entitled, "Life as a State of Perpetual Disorder" (September 14, 2007)

Does it ever seem that life just won't fall into place the way you planned? I keep calendars, I make appointments, I have daily plans, weekly plans, plans for my whole life .... But, much of the time, perhaps most of my time my life, and the lives of most of those I know, are much more spontaneous than our linear plans would describe.

.... I never plan for what comes next. Well, that's not entirely true. I make all sorts of plans, but what I use just happens. Stuff happens and I react to it.

I've been working with an editor trying to make an orderly, linear book out of these musings. It's very frustrating. Peter Drucker, the management guru of all time, once shocked me by saying, "....opportunity is unpredictable. Most of the time, opportunity comes in over the transom. And opportunity doesn't stay long. If you don't respond to an opportunity, it moves on." The same is true for problems. If you don’t change plans and react, they just get worse. As Shakespeare said, "Readiness is all." It's readiness and reaction.

Bob continues ....

So the nature of these musings is spontaneous and reactive. They can't really be put in order. I tried it and it didn't work because my life — like yours I expect — just won't conform to my plans. It is messy. It is disorderly. It is one surprise after another.

Bob goes on ....

My beautiful wife, Linda, has watched with bemused sympathy as I have twisted and turned in the breeze trying to solve this making-order-out-of-chaos issue. She came in this past weekend at the farm to tell me that she's taking a course on the Psalms. She said, "Your musings don’t have any order. They are more like Psalms. They are reactions along the road of life. The Psalms are not theology. They are more how people relate to change." Then she read me this (from the course material prepared by her friend, Verdell Krisher):

The answer is "YES."

Philip Yancey: "the 150 psalms are as difficult, disordered, and messy as life itself."

I really value what Bob has shared above given where we’re living today .... !!!

Thus, by now, you understand my point .... which is that many times my UPDATES could be described as ....

• "Difficult, disordered and messy as life."
• "They are reactions along the road of life"

....targeted especially to Irene's journey. The UPDATE is our best way to keep people abreast of Irene's ongoing progress (yes, progress, stated intentionally) as well as sharing her journey within the context of our confident faith in Jesus Christ.

Irene had a restful and relaxing day following dialysis treatment this morning. Sue Martinez, again, graciously picked Irene up and brought her home. Her nausea subsided somewhat and whenever that occurs there is significant relief to her well being .... JoAnna flew in this evening for the weekend so we're looking forward to having her and Jocelyn around the house!!!

So, when it seems that the author of the UPDATES is spontaneous, reactive and doesn't appear to have a linear view of how they come together, please realize that right now life is rather disorderly and we're doing a lot of "reacting" as we traverse along this new road we're learning to navigate called the Amyloid Highway ....

Caminando con Fé

Dave