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.

---

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

---

Jocelyn

Hi Dave,

Visiting grandchildren, our ministry, a tragedy and illness have kept me away from your blog for a few weeks until this morning.  It was good to catch up on your news, see a PJ party and enjoy Scripture God gave you.

Two weeks ago one of our brothers-in-law was murdered, actually executed, in a home burglary gone south.  The tiny town of Portis, Kansas will be reeling from this tragedy for a long time.  His funeral drew over 1200 people and had to be held in a high school gymnasium because no church could accommodate that size of a crowd.

Portis, a town of about 200, is just a blip on any map, if it appears at all.  The funeral message was basically one offering salvation.  Dave, people stood to receive Christ and hundreds of others stood when asked if they had renewed their faith or been drawn closer to God because of the tragedy.  There was no shouting, no histrionics, no sentimental “mish mosh,” no seeker sensitive terms from some approved list of emerging church leaders — just the quiet voice of reason sharing the gospel.  Sin, evil and death are not words one has to avoid when a closed casket and a grief-stricken family are staring you in the face as symbols of evil and the power of Satan.

Actually, my brother-in-law’s death attracted more people to Christ than did his life.  God was glorified.  I will never forget it.

Something that has continued to run through my brain in a constant stream for several days is that faith and predictability cannot co-exist.  It is true that our God can calm the storms in our lives, but it is also true that He can also put us “smack-dab” right in the middle of it.

Every time I can remember, the two words that angels first speak when they show up are “Fear not!” I say that we should recapture some healthy fear for this God because that magnifies His majesty, power, awesomeness and might.  I don’t want a “wussy” God and I know guys like you don’t want one of those either.

So many of the churches we encounter anymore have made God their buddy, their pal and their cosmic bell-boy at their beck and call to take care of the baggage in their lives.  We have compartmentalized God and grown very comfortable around Him.  The preaching of Oprah and her new age mumbo jumbo from books, some of which can be bought in church bookstores like Crystal Cathedral are lulling us to sleep.  Too many pulpits are sharing a “feel-good” gospel that attracts thousands, but transforms no one.

Right wing evangelicals continue to hammer home that the purpose of the Christian life is to stop sinning when it really is all about knowing Christ and following Him.

If the prosperity and health gospel was true, Irene would be taking those runs to the beach with you.  The fact is that you guys have invited Jesus to join you in your boat just as the disciples did 2000 years ago.  The picture I get is that He is either standing or sitting in the front of the boat so we can focus on Him and He can see the direction we are headed.

I wish that you and Irene could get off this roller coaster with its whips and turns and sit in one of those boats that gently take you on a serene ride.  But, I affirm and thank you for your testimonies and .... because God’s Word never changes and never returns void .... lives are being transformed.  May God continue to grant you the wisdom from His Holy Spirit that allows you to boldly proclaim your faith in Christ Jesus.

Your friend,

Dave Neely

In His sovereignty God allows human suffering to accomplish the purposes of His will.  Do you agree or disagree…?

Consider this…

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Job 1:8-19

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 2:-37

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis.  Today was particularly debilitating because the dialysis treatment really took its toll on her physically.  She came home and slept for almost 3 hours then rested because of severe fatigue for the balance of the day.  The nausea was also relentless and severe.

What was Job’s response to his circumstances ....?

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:20-21

As Irene has journeyed this last year the mystery of God’s sovereignty and what He allows related to affliction and suffering has certainly been a relevant topic on many fronts.

As Irene continues on her “bed of suffering” she follows Jesus and Job’s example by not blaming God for the challenging journey she’s on, fully realizing that He gives and He takes away.  And all the while she worships and praises Him.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Psalm 145:1-19

A psalm of praise of King David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. 
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ....
Jeremiah 1:5

.... the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes ....
Psalm 118:23a

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis this morning and rested most of the day.  We watched with intrigue the amyloidosis episode on the Discovery Health Channel this evening.  It was particularly emotional to see the program although Irene’s journey has had a significant degree of complexity beyond that depicted on the program.  What we’re most grateful for is the public exposure to this hideous disease.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

What we have concluded is this .... that before we were formed in the womb, God knew us.  Each of us is unique and God is the giver of life.  God makes no mistakes; He ordains our steps and directs our paths.  We are here on purpose.  In other words, we were born on earth for His purpose.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  We have complete confidence in Him, even with the challenges of the amyloid journey.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Saturday night Pajama Tea Party in Aptos ....

Irene’s sisters, Carmen and Jane, arrived Saturday evening and after dinner they relished each other’s company and took delight in a fun pajama tea party .... you can observe Carmen and Jane drinking from the world famous Azusa Pacific University mugs!!!

After a continental breakfast this morning they went out for shopping spree at West Marine!!  They’re seen below sporting their recently acquired totes and treasures ....!!!

Shirley Churchill graciously also worked with Irene for two+ hours on physiology techniques designed to wake up the kidneys.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Discovery Health Channel!!!

Monday, April 7, 10 p.m, Eastern Time, (that’s 7 p.m. CA time!!)
Mystery Diagnosis, Amyloidosis episode

Caminando con Fé

Dave

For PERSPECTIVE, compare and contrast Irene’s skin color as it has morphed along her journey .... it’s an amazing metamorphosis .... from turning BLACK in July of 2007 following the chemo and stem cell transplant to ....

Irene is putting weight back on and her skin is slowly returning to its natural olive complexion.  Despite the chronic nausea and the recent increase in amyloid value within her bloodstream, she’s enduring it all with JOY and a SMILE on her face!!  Her courage and attitude on this journey have truly been inspiring!!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the WIND……..

He makes winds his messengers ....
Psalm 104:4a

.... stormy winds that do his bidding ....
Psalm 148:8b

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
John 3:8a

It’s been a very good day for Irene!!

We were out of the house early this morning running several errands.  We had a terrific interaction with three cheery credit union employees who were stirred by Irene’s journey of faith after we gave them her book and told them some of her story.

After returning home she worked in the yard before the WIND brought her back inside the house!  She went out by herself to a couple more stores before returning home and resting.  I’m glad she rested because after she did, she baked a batch of my favorite cookies .... oatmeal smothered with chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts!!!!  Yuuuuuuuummmm ........!!!!!!  It’s a good thing that I had a good physical work out earlier in the day!!!

Late in the afternoon both of us worked in the yard after the WIND calmed.

Irene’s sisters, Carmen and Jane, arrived this evening and are spending the night at our house.  At the time of this writing all of them are outside in the flower garden!!!!

Irene’s unwavering, undoubting and foundational faith “grounds” her amidst the amyloidosis “wind”, resting assuredly that God answers prayer. 

.... he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the WIND, which retreats into submission at the command of His word ....

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:39

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the Amyloidosis.  We trust that He will rebuke the amyloid into submission at the command of His word.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the

Discovery Health Channel

on Monday, April 7, 10 pm EST (that’s 7 pm CA time) for the

Mystery Diagnosis

Amyloidosis episode.

Heaven His “throne” and earth His “footstool”!!

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment this morning sipping on a tall, soy, green tea latte from Starbucks on her way home.  Her blood pressure drops during dialysis treatment which leads to extreme nausea have led to a 50% reduction of her blood pressure medication for the next two weeks.  If it goes well she can permanently reduce the blood pressure medication.

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar but she was extremely fatigued from the dialysis treatment.  She plodded through the afternoon, rested, and enjoyed the backyard “Wisteria” garden.

God created lights in the great expanse.  Heaven is His throne and earth His footstool.  That’s a metaphor worth musing upon and gives perspective to the HIGH VIEW of God we diligently maintain on Irene’s Journey of Faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

First “NEW DO“ in a very LONG TIME ....!!!!

Irene got her hair cut today for the first time since being discharged from UCSF in July of 2007.  Her hair “thinned” through the chemotherapy/stem cell transplant process but she never completely lost it as many do.  It was cut short when she was hospitalized at UCSF in preparation for the journey.  Irene has been contemplating this haircut for a couple of months and finally scheduled the appointment for today.  Her nausea remained a low roar and she was able to get several things accomplished on her to do list.

We’re very grateful for Irene’s continued progress and the reason for it which is God’s grace and mercy answering the intercessory prayer offered by so many.

Caminando con Fé

Dave