Jean Katz, the Director of the UCSF Blood Center, left this voice mail message today.  I had delivered a case of Irene’s Journey of Faith to UCSF yesterday. Click on the arrow pointing to the right to hear Jean’s voice mail.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

I subscribe to Ken Boa’s FREE Daily Growth email and wanted to share today’s reading.  You can subscribe at http://www.kenboa.com.

Daily Growth for June 12, 2008

The Powers of God: Part 6

Handbook to Renewal

All a man’s ways are right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.  (Proverbs 21:2)

I know that whatever God does will remain forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.  God does it so that men will revere Him.  (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

God will bring every work into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.  (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

The Lord of hosts has sworn, “Surely, as I have thought, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.  For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who can annul it?  His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?  (Isaiah 14:24, 27)

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers and the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows on it.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.  (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or instructed Him as His counselor?  Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the path of justice?  Who taught Him knowledge or showed Him the way of understanding?  Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket and are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.  Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and worthless.  To whom, then, will I compare God?  Or what likeness will I compare with Him?  (Isaiah 40:13-15, 17-18)

God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  He reduces rulers to nothing and makes the judges of this world meaningless.  (Isaiah 40:22-23)

You are the Lord, and there is no savior besides You.  From ancient days You are He, and no one can deliver out of Your hand; You act, and who can reverse it?  (Isaiah 43:11, 13)

You have sworn by Yourself; the word has gone out of Your mouth in righteousness and will not return.  Every knee will bow before You, and every tongue will acknowledge You.  (Isaiah 45:23)

To whom can I liken You or count You equal?  To whom can I compare You that You may be alike?  (Isaiah 46:5)

Daily Prayer

As I approach Your throne of grace today, I am grateful that You care about the things that concern me and that You want me to offer them up to You.

May I be an example for other believers in speech, in behavior, in love, in faith, and in purity.  (1 Timothy 4:12)

May I keep the pattern of sound teaching that I have heard, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (2 Timothy 1:13)

Take a moment to share your personal needs with God, including your physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual concerns.

MY PRAYER

I will remind others to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to be peaceable and gentle, and to show true humility toward all men.  (Titus 3:1-2)

I will do all things without complaining or arguing, so that I may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I shine as a light in the world, holding fast the word of life.  (Philippians 2:14-16)

Lord, I thank You for Your goodness and everlasting love and for Jesus’ desire for us to be with Him and behold His glory.  I thank You for the discipline You send for my good, and I ask that I would pursue humility and purity in my character.

Daily Encouragement

Lord, I praise you because . . .

You are the author of our salvation.

A great multitude, which no one could number,

from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages

will stand before the throne and before the Lamb,

clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands,

and will cry out with a loud voice,

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb!”

(Revelation 7:9-10)

Lord God,

Salvation belongs to the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You chose us for Yourself, redeemed us with the blood of Christ, and regenerated us through the power of Your Holy Spirit.  You are to be exalted and magnified by the great host of Your creatures because of who You are and what You have done.

Amen.

LATE BREAKING NEWS ....

BONNY DOON, Calif. — Homes were evacuated Wednesday afternoon in the Bonny Doon area after a 50-acre wildfire began threatening nearby buildings.

CAL FIRE officials said the fire was first reported just before 3 p.m. just off Martin Road in an area of heavy brush.

Fire officials said they expect the fire to grow to as many as 1,000 acres.

CAL FIRE officials said more than 1,000 homes are threatened by the fire.

More than 1,400 residents have been evacuated from the Bonny Doon area.

Irene’s fistula pre-op visit to UCSF was uneventful.  I donated blood at the Blood Center while she was being examined.

It was an interesting day as we received word on several other fronts.  A colleague of mine at InterWest passed away from cancer.  Another colleague will be donating her kidney to her brother in the near future.  My cousin’s wife is in the hospital and learned that cancer has spread to her internal organs.  Our close friend and one that worked with Irene at Monte Vista Christian School learned that she has cancer.  Another close friend was hospitalized from physical exhaustion.

All of these reports are emphatic reminders that our days on earth are numbered.

Our physical bodies eventually waste away and we lay them aside.  However, our SPIRIT lives on .... forever.

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16b

because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
Psalm 16:10

We are HOLY in God’s sight by being clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  By His wounds we are healed and we are also redeemed for eternity.  We are inwardly renewed as our minds are transformed by knowledge of the Holy One. 

We are comforted by His Word that never changes and will last forever.

LATE BREAKING NEWS is always sensational and alarming, especially when it affects our humanity.  That’s why it’s imperative to keep our eyes on ETERNITY.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

8 a.m. ....

After dialysis this morning Irene and I will trek to UCSF for the Fistula pre-op.

The procedure is scheduled for next Tuesday morning.

Stay tuned ....

Dave

It was a weekend extravaganza....!!!!!!!!

.... and, fortunately, Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar ....

We attended Matt Dias’ (my brother, Greg’s son) Modesto High School graduation party with friends and family .... it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood ....

After the grad party Irene and I “headed for the hills” .... the gold country, that is, and were treated for dinner by long time friends and classmates, Ron & Debbie (Johnson) Richards.  Ron was the best man in our wedding and I was best man in theirs. After dinner we made a surprise visit to see our other long time friends Bill and Martha Silva.  However, as Paul Harvey would say, here is “the rest of the story ....”

In my previous law enforcement career Bill Silva and I became close friends as did our families.  Bill was a deputy sheriff at the same time that I was a city police officer.  We collaborated on many crime fighting efforts.  When Bill and Martha’s son, Troy, was getting ready to marry his fiancé Becky Richards, our DIAS name showed up on both wedding guest lists.  It was then that the realization of the common DIAS relationship was discovered.  Both the Richards and Silva’s live in Sonora, CA.

Irene and I stayed at a local B&B, the Barretta Gardens Inn in Sonora, CA.  It was a quaint and delightful experience.

And, of course, Irene HAD to stop at Liz Claiborne in Gilroy on the way home .... I took a nap in the car while she shopped .... she wore ME out from the rigorous weekend activities ....!!!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

According to Wikipedia ....

A monster is any of a large number of legendary creatures which usually appear in mythology, legend, and horror fiction. The word originates from the ancient Latin monstrum, meaning “omen”, from the root of monere ("to warn") and also meaning “prodigy” or “miracle”.

The term “monster” refers to a being that is a gross exception to the norms of some ecosystem. Usually characterized by an ability to destroy human life or humanity, more than an example of “survival of the fittest”, natural law, or innate evil. A person referred to as a monster is taken as exceptionally evil, grotesque, unreasonably strict and uncaring, sociopathic, and/or sadistic. The word monster connotes something wrong/evil; e.g.: a monstrous being is: very morally objectionable, physically or psychologically hideous, or a biological sport (a distinct sense of the word), i.e a freak of nature.

Early this evening Irene declared that “There’s a monster in my stomach that needs to be fed.” She was referring to the EXTREME and intense nausea that haunts her 24/7 and has to be managed by eating more frequent and smaller meals.  Today was particularly debilitating.  At dialysis this morning her blood pressure dropped significantly again; she took an extended nap after returning home.

We believe that the term amyloid nausea “monster” accurately reflects the “gross reflection of the norm”.  It is definitely a freak of nature.  I am not aware of too many people, similar to Irene, who have been challenged with chronic nausea for over one year, 24/7, and have responded with such grace.

Only Irene’s faith allows her to overcome the monster.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Dave and Irene,

Thank you that your lives are full of grace through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  I and Irene’s prayer group had Our special drinks today and feel that grace also.  We care ever so much.

Carolene

From Wikipedia ....

Auroras (North/South Polar Lights; or aurorae, sing.: aurora) are natural colored light displays in the sky, usually observed at night, particularly in the polar zone. They typically occur in the ionosphere. Some scientists call them “polar auroras” (or “aurorae polares"). In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis, named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas. It often appears as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if the sun was rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the northern polar lights, as it is only visible in the North sky from the Northern Hemisphere. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and from March to April. The Cree call this phenomenon the Dance of the Spirits.  Its Southern counterpart, the aurora australis/southern polar lights, has similar properties. Australis is the Latin word for “of the South”.

Benjamin Franklin first brought attention to the “mystery of the Northern Lights.” He theorized the shifting lights to a concentration of electrical charges in the polar regions intensified by the snow and other moisture.

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis today.  They were unable to remove the prescribed amount of fluid from her body today because of her radically decreasing blood pressure.  Dr. Kumar was vague in his attribution of this fact and speculated that perhaps it is related to the amyloidosis which may be invading her heart.  We hope to learn more in the weeks ahead following the fistula procedure and subsequent meeting with Dr. Damon at UCSF on June 26th.

The Aurora Borealis is fascinating.  It points to the wonders of space, time and the mystery of our galaxy that we long to explore and understand.  It also point to the infinite wonders of a created universe by an Almighty God.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1

.... and we trust in Him.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

This is not the path that was planned or conceived when their journey began…

MONTERREY, Mexico — A car plowed into a bike race along a highway near the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday, killing one and injuring 10 others.

The 28-year-old driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into the race, police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez said.

A photograph taken by a city official shows bicyclists and equipment being hurled high in to the air by the collision.

Irene had a reasonably active day which included exercising her right to vote in our free and sovereign nation.  The nausea came in erratic waves but she was able to successfully navigate through the various activities and we took a casual stroll at the beach this evening.

This is not the path that was planned or conceived when our journey began .... the amyloid journey, that is. Who would have imagined, in one’s wildest imagination, that such a circuitous path was even plausible, much yet the reality of life today.

Like the photo above, there have been times when both Irene and I feel like we have been hurled high in to the air by the “amyloid collision” and don’t have a clue where we will ultimately land; thus, the absolute requisite, at least for us, to walk by faith, and not by sight.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Irene came home from dialysis completely wrung out because the treatment removed an excessive amount of fluid from her body today.  The nausea was a brutal challenge.  However, after traveling to San Francisco, today’s Cimino Fistula consultation at UCSF went well.  We met with Dr. Charles M. Eichler who will perform the procedure @ 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17th. 

We return to UCSF next Wednesday, June 11, for the pre-op exam which evaluates Irene’s readiness for surgery.  Pre-surgical testing includes labs and x-rays.  She will also meet the anesthesiologist.

The amyloid journey of faith continues.

Stay tuned…and thanks for caring.
Dave

Tomorrow, Monday, June 2nd, is Irene’s CONSULTATION at UCSF for the Cimino Fistula, a type of vascular access for hemodialysis. It is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein in the forearm.

Irene’s nausea came in like a lion this morning but left like a lamb.  She was able to successfully navigate through the day which included shopping at the mall and accomplishing several “to-do” activities around the house.

Thanks for caring.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

I stand at the door and knock.
Revelation 3:20a

I did a live interview discussing Irene’s Journey of Faith at The Door Christian bookstore in Santa Cruz today.  Salinas radio station manager, John Dick of KKMC, interviewed me along with other local book authors.

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar and she was “out and about” for several hours today.  We ate dinner at Mangiamo Pizza’s new location in Deer Park Market Place next to Deluxe Foods in Aptos.  Our good friend, Frank Easterly, owns and operates Mangiamo Pizza. Yum....!!!!!!!!

Remember, Jesus Christ is a gentleman.  He only enters the house where He is invited and welcome.  And he’s standing at your door knocking today.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Own NOTHING; possess EVERYTHING.

I value home ownership but the privilege translates into LOTS of hard work.  Yard maintenance, painting, roofing, plumbing, electrical, carpeting and repairs can become a year round chore.  Not that we would trade buying a home for renting; we have to live somewhere and we would rather live in an appreciating asset.

Irene napped and relaxed all afternoon after driving herself to and from dialysis treatment this morning.  The extreme nausea and fatigue were a challenge but she overcame them by plodding through various activities around the house…including “playing” in the Wisteria Garden.

Spiritual OWNERSHIP, like home ownership, can also be burdensome because we’re not intended to spiritually “own” anything.  That’s because we’re designed to be stewards, not owners.  So, what’s the difference?

A spiritual STEWARD doesn’t OWN, but rather MANAGES another’s holdings.  The mental and philosophical distinctions are gargantuan.  Ownership brings burden; possession promises and delivers freedom.

And here’s a spiritual bonus of stewardship .... He possesses us and we possess Him through our faith and trust in His reliable Word.

As followers of Christ we STEWARD that which we POSSESS and has been entrusted to us.

Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 16:20

When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it,
Deuteronomy 26:1

But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever — yes, for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:18

.... having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:10b

Irene POSSESSES the promises of God in His Word and appropriates them into her life.  She enjoys the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit as He manifests Himself to her afresh and anew each and every day.  She breathes deeply and savors the smells and sights all about her.

Is it truly possible to own NOTHING and possess EVERYTHING?  We think so, even along the Amyloid journey.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Heroism defined: remarkable physical or moral courage.

Pa. Soldier Who Jumped on Grenade to Receive Posthumous Medal of Honor

Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., who died saving the lives of his comrades in Iraq, will be awarded the Medal of Honor June 2

WASHINGTON — The White House announced Friday that a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.

The nation’s highest military honor will be given to 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., on June 2.

McGinnis “distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism,” said White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto.

McGinnis was perched in the gunner’s hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. The grenade, which was lodged near the vehicle’s radio, blew up and killed him.

Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, said McGinnis easily could have jumped out of the truck and saved himself.

“The instinct is, jump out of the vehicle, but his four buddies were in the vehicle with him .... and he chose to place himself on top of the grenade and absorb the impact, and it saved their lives,” Edgecomb said.

McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.

He died on Dec. 4, 2006.

Three others have also been awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for their actions in Iraq. They are Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham.

Irene is my hero because she’s a person of great moral courage.  She has faced the enemy, the incurable Amyloidosis disease, with significant grace, joy, dignity, perseverance and courage.

She models to all of us how to face daunting circumstances and live the abundant and victorious life through them.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

An Amazing Way to Deal with CHANGE in your work and in your life, published in 1998, is a motivational book by Spencer Johnson written in the style of a parable. It uses four typical reactions to said change with two mice, two “little people”, and their hunts for cheese.

Irene has certainly faced colossal and catastrophic CHANGE over the last year.  Her dignified response to the radical “moving of her cheese” has been a model of patience and grace for all of us.

After driving herself to and from dialysis this Memorial Day Holiday, Irene came home fatigued and nauseated from treatment.  However, she plodded through the day and both of us rested and savored the slow-paced day ....

From Wikipedia ....

Allegorical, Who Moved My Cheese? features four characters; two mice, “Sniff” and “Scurry”, and two little people, miniature humans in essence, “Hem” and “Haw”, live in a maze, a representation of one’s environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans paired off, travel the lengthy corridor searching for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor in “Cheese Station C”. Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese slowly becoming arrogant in the process.

One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left but they are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands “who moved my cheese?”. Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both head home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, nixes the proposal.

Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found “Cheese Station N”, a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese, blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again knocks down the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C, the humans remain without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw begins laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling “If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct” on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.

Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots “What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?” on the wall and, after thinking about it, begins his journey. Still with worry, perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search, Haw finds some scattered cheese and continues his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a let down, an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw’s new mindset allows him to again enjoy life; he has even begun to smile again and is realizing “when you move beyond your fear, you feel free.” After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.

Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese to his friend’s dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Still going deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall, hopeful that his friend will be aided by them in his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N. Abundant with cheese, some varieties strange to him, he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. Pondering a return to his old friend, Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:

Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese

Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

Monitor Change
Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese

Change
Move With The Cheese

Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!

Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again
They Keep Moving The Cheese

One’s inimitable ability to successfully navigate through CHANGE is oftentimes the defining distinctive between success and failure, and perhaps, in some circumstances, the difference between life and death.  That’s why we need WISDOM each passing day to face the distinguishing circumstances that each of us face on our own faith journey.

For years prior to Irene’s diagnosis of Amyloidosis we have used “Who Moved My Cheese” as an allegory for responding to the ever changing environments we find ourselves in because we know that the only thing CONSTANT in life is CHANGE.

Caminando con Fé

Dave