In February 2004 I was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s indolent Lymphoma with mixed small and large cleaved cells. Stage four means that the diagnosis states that it is located above and below my diaphragm in multiple sites including the bone marrow. I am currently seeing an oncologist every three months and have also been seen by research oncologists at Johns Hopkins, and by an Oncologist with the National Institute of Health.
Meanwhile, I have sought the Lord and diligently sought His will and purpose. My beliefs in Divine Healing have not altered and I believe that all of mankind’s sorrows, sins, sicknesses, pains, diseases, mistakes, disappointments, etc, were carried by Jesus and overcome by his bodily resurrection from the dead. My stance is one of receiving that which has already been provided for through the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Multiple prayer sessions in various settings and with numerous groups have been enjoined. A large part of my devotional life is spent researching, learning, and applying God’s Word to all of my life.
I am experiencing God’s sufficient grace and remain in a position of reception of the full manifestation of what God has provided through the full atonement of Jesus Christ. Until I fully receive this manifestation, I seek wise counsel on “what next”. What next in my life has included increasing my physical stamina by training for and running at the ultra marathon level. It also includes spiritual disciplines that increase my faith. I am in a state of seeking God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge on the matter of health, healing, restoration, and wholeness. The current recommendation my team of doctors have come up with is no running for a season, (walking is fine), until it is conclusively determined what is causing the pain in my hip. Watchful waiting is the current option my team of physicians is recommending. This offers me the opportunity to continue to grow in faith and develop a walking regimen.
I firmly believe that through Christ all of my sins are forgiven, and all of my sicknesses have been healed. I firmly believe that Christ has done it all, and I am to enter into His rest and His precious promises. His sufficient grace has empowered me to live as if I don’t have any cancer, and to carry me forward in the face of multiple tests and doctor visits. God has sent me on various adventures of faith since my initial diagnosis including missions trips to the Congo, a 21 day study tour in Israel, missional ultra marathons, lengthy training runs and walks, grandparent opportunities, spousal special moments, fatherly experiences, Pastoral ministry, seminary student learning, etc. etc, etc.
All of life is a journey. An adventure filled journey that is lived by faith, not by sight. I pray that if you are seeking God’s will about joining our community of faith, or connecting in any other way, that you would be blessed to join in the journey, that doesn’t end when Jesus comes or we meet him after a very long and prospered life. This text is surrounded by a few of the pictures of a portion of the adventures of faith, God’s grace has allowed me to enjoy.
