Monthly Archives: May 2013

The Edge Zones

My brother and I share interest in sustainable agriculture and helping others to live their lives with greater freedom and meaning. One of the concepts he has mentioned to me is about ‘edge zones.’ These are the areas where one terrain type meets another: a forest meets a meadow, a meadow meets a farm, a pond intersects both. The edge zones are always where you will find the most diversity, excitement, conflict,and resolution. Years ago, before realizing this principle, I had the idea that wildflowers would just grow and take over. Of course, I soon learned that the edge zone with my lawn would provide an ever creeping force and the battle requires constant maintenance, which I am not willing to spend a life on. And so it works out its own degree of resolution: some flowers, some weeds and grass, seeming content to live together.

There are edge zones in our lives, places where we intersect with various tasks and people. Like the zone between work and home, between home and vacations, between grocery shopping and relaxation, between personal time and family. What there should NOT be is an edge zone between our life faith and our life. Myron Rush would say, “We don’t have a secular and a sacred life; we have but one life to live, wherever we are. (paraphrased) We live by faith where and while we work, where we play, while we shop, when we visit people. There are people waiting in the edge zones of your life.

Like young Antouin, whom we met while waiting at the U of Iowa Cancer Clinic. He was sitting by himself, confined to a wheelchair, lonely, almost in tears. We chatted for a while and prayed together. There were tears of appreciation in his eyes when we left. Or young Jonah, 6, who needs a bone marrow transplant to survive an autoimmune problem. Prayers are asked that the right person will be found. His parents and brother don’t qualify — there are possibly 200 people who have signed up but none the match he needs. You can read Jonah’s story here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jonahkolesar

People like Antouin and Jonah are waiting in the edge zones of your life. Don’t miss them. Pray. Seek out others God puts in your path. The edge zones are adventures where you Go Light Your World.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Be Thankful For What You Have Been Given

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In life it is easy to fall into the trap of bemoaning what has been taken away. Beware, it is a deep trap that leads to unhappiness, bitterness, and despair. Instead of focusing on what has been taken away, turn your energy to accepting what has been given to you. New opportunities filled with adventure to be explored, a new path suddenly revealed that holds untold treasure and insight, peace in a chaotic world, freedom to carve a new path.

One of my dear sisters draws this same conclusion: “Some folks might look at all you’ve been through since December and say they were dark days indeed. After all, no one would willingly choose that path. But God knew those days were ahead of you and He Himself has been the light in the darkness, and has worked mightily through your weakness so that ‘the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power in our lives may be shown to be from Him and not from ourselves.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) As I watch the way you let His glorious light shine through you, I am inspired to draw even closer to Christ.” (Thank you Edith.)

Our desire is that the light of JESUS shine brighter and brighter to encourage you to Go Light Your World wherever you are today. Live the life you are meant to live. It starts with being thankful for what you have been given.

“For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.” Psalm 18:28

Living the Adventure – 5/9/13 Update

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My counts are down today, but that is normal and explains my fatigue. My donor cells are working. They are just producing baby cells right now and it take them time to mature. With time I will have more and more mature cells in production and I will have more strength. It likes how you and I mature in our faith walk. My doctor thinks I am doing excellent. I tease her that she wants me to be the poster boy for my rare 10;17 chromosomal condition. I am number twelve in the world with this dubious diagnosis and it may warrant her a good research paper. She shuns with great humility when I suggest it is to her credit. Blessings on Dr. Silverman.

In the meantime, this adventure is like many, an always uphill struggle. But if it were not so, what would make it an adventure? A walk in the park is pleasant but not nearly the adventure as a mountain climb or a white rafting experience. Don’t settle for the easy life, content with whatever pleasures sidetrack you. The treasures of heaven are here now, not just when you die. Find your adventure. Stick to it. The ultimate adventure is living life with Christ in good times and in struggles. There is a sustaining joy, a supernatural strength to bear up under the challenge, a companionship that never ever abandons. It is found not only in the great adventures but in the adventures and troubles of every day living. It is yours for the asking: forgive me Lord Jesus, accept me, teach me, be with me.

Footprints In the Sand

Strength When You Are Weak

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Yesterday was exhausting. Fatigue is a way of way of life these months and may continue for an undetermined amount of time. Though each week I am stronger there are days when the fatigue is too much. Have you ever been so tired that it brings you to tears? But I am reminded of a truth; it doesn’t allow me to leap tall buildings or stop a locomotive but it carries me through this, and it will carry you too if your trust is in Jesus:

‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9

I have given up so much control over the last 5 months. All I have left is reliance on the promises of God. And in this matter I have found them to be true and reliable. His mercies are new every morning.

Tired of striving? Rest in the Lord for He is good indeed.

Would You Save A Life If You Could?

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You can. And it is easier than you think.

Life changes quickly. It’s cliché, but true. I was a really healthy guy who took good care of my body, mind and spirit. I took advantage of my company’s free annual health clinic and made sure my blood counts were all within normal levels. Two months after one of these tests I was diagnosed with AML, in my case an aggressive form of Leukemia. Chemotherapy rid my body of the cancer within two months, and twenty or so blood and platelet transfusions kept me alive during that time frame. But my prognosis was such that only a bone marrow/stem cell transplant offered a good chance of a cure.

A 19 year old man who doesn’t know me made a decision to be a lifesaver. He did so by joining the national marrow donor program and giving up some hours of his time and his blood. As a result, a month after transplant, I have a second chance at living out my life.

You can be a lifesaver too. Particularly if you are between the ages of 18-44, I encourage you to go to www.BeTheMatch.org and consider registering to be a bone marrow or stem cell donor. There are extensive FAQs on the site to guide you through the process. There is no cost to you and it is simpler than you think. You can register at a bone marrow donor event or register online. If you register online a swab kit will be mailed to you with instructions for collecting saliva samples from the inside of your mouth. If it is determined later that you are a match for a person in need, you will have one or more blood tests and a physical exam, at no expense to you. The actual collection process for my donor was a lot like giving plasma. You can always change your mind.

All the years I donated blood I always assumed that donating stem cells was more complicated than it now is. I was wrong.

Would you save someone’s life if you could? You can. Check it out at:
http://www.bethematch.org. You can also go to www.iowadonorregistry.org (or Google your state’s registry) to learn how to be an organ or tissue donor. Be a lifesaver. Go Light Your World!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives* for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16

* BT: (or at least give a few hours of our time…)

Listening

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A man feared his wife wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.
“Here’s what you do,” said the Doctor, “stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.”

That evening, his wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and the man was in the den. He says to himself, “I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens.” Then in a normal tone he asks, ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?” No response.
So the husband moves to closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Still no response.
Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again he gets no response.
The man walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again there is no response.
So, he walks right up behind her. “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
“James, for the FIFTH time I’ve said, “CHICKEN!”
(From www.CharacterCountsInIowa.org)

Have you ever felt that way in your conversation with God? You speak but He doesn’t answer? My experience is that God always answers the prayers of His children. Sometimes the answer is “Yes.” Sometimes it is “No.” Sometimes it is simply, “Not yet.” And yet why is it we don’t hear His response? Perhaps we should examine our own hearing and remind ourselves that prayer is a two-way conversation. Do you find yourself talking TO God with all your requests but not really listening for His response? Practice regular quiet time with Him throughout the day. I like to use transition times, when I am between tasks, like getting into a car, or before going to visit someone. Breaks and meals, arising and going to bed are also great times to set aside for listening. Dedicate some of this time for reading and reflecting on His Word.

But how will I hear His voice? God is completely unlimited to His ability to speak with you through His Word, through His Spirit, through other believers, and through circumstances. Take time to develop the habit of listening to God throughout the day every day. How else can you carry His light into the world?

What Age Would you Like To Be?

The Cost of Forgiveness

Why are you downcast oh my soul?

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You gotta hand it to King David. In good times and in horrendous times, he told it like it was. He was honest with God. When confronted with his own vices, he kept coming back to God. In his despair he would cry out to God…and trust Him. In his anger he shouted at God. In quiet moments and not, he praised God. Some people think you have to be careful in talking with God; not David. He just told God how he felt. And God called David a man after his own heart.

Throughout the Psalms David questions himself repeatedly, asking why you are downcast oh my soul. Each time he answers his own question with the solution he needs: put your hope in God. I think this is a model for us, not to ignore our pain and sorrow, but also not to dwell on it too long either. There is a season for hurting and there is a time for being well. David nailed it when he realized the time to look to God’s goodness was well before he felt that blessing.

I think we sometimes expend so much energy fighting what we cannot change, it wears us out. That characterizes much of my last week with the constant nausea and pain from the chemo burns. The solution God offers is to acknowledge our reality, to remember that this is not permanent; it will change. And to draw close to Him throughout each day, being honest with Him, and yet still trusting Him. For He is a good and gracious God.

Go Light Our World

Helping Families Discover God's Best For Them