To the Dias Family:

The Pomeroy’s (Peter, Kaycee, Piper & Pier) are wishing you all a wonderful Mother’s Day.  You probably don’t know it, but you are all an incredible example to me.

Peter

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,
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

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

Hello Dave and Irene,

My name is Millie Reith, and I have a sister named Irene Tsuha who is suffering from pancreatic cancer.  She is one of the most amazing, devoted Christians I have ever known, and we are constantly praying for her and her fiancé.  My battle cry has been “Irene is healed!” and so by chance, I googled that phrase, when I found your website. I want you to know my prayers are with you also.  Even though her suffering is great, my sister has been a source of strength to me, and I am thankful to God that her faith never waivers.  May God give you strength and great joy.

God bless you,
Millie Reith

Dave,

We just arrived home from Arizona late last night.  When Steve shared your message from Monday evening about the call you’d received regarding Irene’s amyloid level, we all (Steve, Holly, husband Riccardo and I) began praying immediately.  Words don’t begin to express how deeply we feel for you all in these circumstances.  We have prayed many times over the last two days over the situation, for healing, for clarity, for understanding, peace and strength.  From some of the medical issues we’ve dealt with over the years, we’ve found the up and down to be very trying and can only imagine how difficult it must be in such a serious situation as this.

We know that while we don’t have the words, God has the comfort, the answers and the power to change it all.  We’ll be continuing to ask that He will be working in an infinite number of ways to bring about all of that.  We know how much the Lord loves Irene, and we trust so very much in that Love He has for you all.

In His abiding love and with many prayers,

Steve and Sue

We are calliing upon the Lord this morning on your behalf.

Our love to you,

Devin and Veronica

Father,

In the name of Jesus please touch Irene’s body. Jesus, you took the stripes on your body for our physical benefit, Is. 53:5. By faith, we draw upon that grace for the complete healing of Irene’s body. Amen

You Are A Champion

Coach

Dearest loved ones,

I am praying for you this very moment. I am learning myself how to rejoice in the good as well as the bad. Sometimes I feel like the Lord is saying “Way to go”. Other times, I feel he is saying “tomorrow is a new day my child”. Each day is so different. We are rallying around you and know that God does hears each prayer.

The Eckhardt’s

Dear Dave:

It was a pleasure to meet you by phone this week as I represent Belhaven College.  Little did I know when we first spoke that I would be enriched by a man of great faith with a wonderful love and support for his wife during her illness.

Thank you for your Christian testimony.  Please know that I join you, your wife and so many others as we pray to God in behalf of your wife’s healing.  May you take heart in the reading of Romans 15:13 where it assures us that God is a God of hope.  May His hope surround you and Irene and give you courage, strength and that eternal hope. 

May you and Irene be blessed as you bless others,

Jay P. Chance
Belhaven College
Jackson. Mississippi

Dear Irene and David,

Christine and I have been out of town and just got back on my e-mail. What glorious news to hear that Irene’s Amyloid is in remission. Praise God. Your daily reports have become part of our devotion each day. You two bring such encouragement to God’s faithfulness in your journey with this illness.

Our prayers are with you.

Love from Christine and Tom Kobayashi

Hi Dave and Irene,

I have tears in my eyes at such joyous news. Thank you for continuing to keep us updated. We look forward to the day when Irene has improved kidney function and no nausea!!! We are so happy for you and your family. Take care. We send our love. 

Ron and Debbie Richards

Dear Dave, Irene and family,

Ever since we heard the GOOD NEWS we have been celebrating:  We celebrate YOU, we celebrate LIFE, we celebrate JESUS!! As we see EASTER SUNDAY coming it is so like JESUS to give us this great news at just the right time. All we can say or sing is: ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!!

LORD WE PRAISE YOU....

His mercies really are new every morning .... GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS.

We Love You,

Phyllis and Jack

Dearest Irene and Dave,

I am amazed by you guys and your journey. Your faithfulness to our Heavenly Father goes beyond measure. The certainty and hope we have in him gives us new breath each day. I am thankful for this hope. Today is a new day and each day is a gift unmeasured. We continue to lift you and your family up in prayer. Thank you for your example to me on living life bearing the torch of Jesus.

Veronica

for the inspiration of your smile, which reveals your peace and perseverance in Jesus through your suffering.  I have thought of you so many times, particularly after I saw you and Dave at Long’s in Aptos.  I had so wanted to say hello but was side-tracked by a woman who wanted to complain to me about trivial things, and I felt so sad when I turned to see you had gone. 

I had surgery in January this year and have been on medical leave since.  Recovery is slow, and added to some personal stresses, it has been a difficult road, but nothing compared to what you have been through this past year.  Sometimes it’s hard to trust and rest in Jesus, but you have reminded me that God is bigger than my struggles and fears. 

In His Grace, Carrie Thompson