Passions of the Soul

Blessed in order to bless

This post first appeared on January 24, 2009.  I liked it then, and I like it now.  I'll be away for several days and hope to post something new, next week.  In the meantime--as the old hymn says, "Count your blessings!"  And then pass them on.

Happy 4th!
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A common theme in our church says that "We are blessed to be a blessing."  Our lead pastor, Glen Elliott, preached again, this morning, about being blessed.  So often, when someone says, "I've been blessed," or "God has really blessed me," the person is talking about financial blessing.  Yes, it certainly can mean that, but it's a narrow application of the word.

Long ago, I heard that the word blessed, as used in the Gospel According to Matthew, chapter 5 (what are commonly known as The Beattitudes) means happy.  This morning, Glen shared his paraphrase of those verses; I'll shorten them, just a little, by quoting the first four words of each line only once:

"Blessed are those who...
    are totally dependant on God (v.3);
    recognize and embrace their brokenness (v.4);
    give control of their lives over to God (v.5);
    want God more than anything else and find satisfaction only in Him (v.6);
    learn grace and give grace away (v.7);
    see and experience God daily (v.8);
    value peace and pursue reconciliation (v.9);
    suffer and are persecuted for being like Jesus (vv. 10 & 11)."

That's a tall order.  And I understand that we aren't given a choice.  We can't say, "I'll take items 1-4," and skip the rest.  But the goal--again, according to Glen, and it makes sense--is not to treat each one as a goal; treating each one as a New Year's resolution misses the point and is a losing battle.  What we need to do is to pursue God (I know; He is actually the One pursuing us), to focus on knowing Him better, developing our relationship with Him through the spiritual disciplines, and letting Him transform us.

But one part of Glen's sermon, this morning, really evoked a loud "Yes!" in my soul: 

"Partially-born" children deserve protection of law

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Virginia's ban on the so-called "partial-birth abortion."  I so appreciate this judge's comments:

"A partially born child is among the weakest, most helpless beings in our midst and on that account exerts a special claim on our protection," Judge Wilkinson wrote.

“The fact is that we--civilized people—are retreating to the haven of our Constitution to justify dismembering a partly born child and crushing its skull,” his opinion continued. “Surely centuries hence, people will look back on this gruesome practice done in the name of fundamental law by a society of high achievement. And they will shudder.”

Not to speak ill of the dead...

I know.  We're not supposed to do that.  But some folks whom I know to be good people, with a good sense of values, are all broken up because a certain former star is dead, and it's all I can do not to gag.  Literally.

We have a real problem with hero worship, in this country.  Primarily, in my opinion, too many people make heroes of other people who are morally and spiritually bankrupt, but because they have some particular talent or skill and the resources to showcase themselves, the crowds go wild.  Scandals can arise and center on these stars, and they somehow get off easily, or at least, too lightly.  Their fans are all too willing to overlook the criminal activities, whether drug-related or involving such horrors as pedophilia or cruelty to animals, as long as their hero is allowed to continue singing/playing football (or some other sport) or doing whatever she or he does that drives the fans wild.

To put it another way, fans will tolerate, excuse or ignore behavior in their undeserving hero that they would not tolerate, excuse or ignore in a spouse or significant other.

There was a time, in this nation, when the heroes were the policeman, fireman, soldier, or any other person who acted in a selfless manner to the benefit of other people, known or unknown.  I'm thinking of the late Sgt. Eric Hite, who was a Tucson police officer.  Hite was killed last year in the line of duty by a young man who was well-armed and had led police and sheriff's deputies on a lengthy cross-town chase.  Sgt. Hite was a bona fide hero, and many people still mourn his death.  All who had known him spoke of his selfless commitment to his job--first in the Air Force, and then with the police department; his devotion to his wife and 1-year-old daughter; his concern for the officers under his supervision; and most significantly, his all-out commitment to Jesus Christ.

I will not be watching any of the displays of hero worship on television, tonight or at any other time, for a man who--again, in my opinion--did not deserve the kind of devotion lavished on him in life, and now in his death.  I suppose we will be treated to hearing about him every year, just as we hear about Elvis and other "icons" of entertainment, too.  And, one day, the U.S. Postal Service will create a new stamp in his honor.  Sigh.

Every child counts!

Compassion's blog has another post about the 1 millionth child currently sponsored.  It's a good post, especially because the point is well made that this child, a boy in Togo, Africa, named Fellows, is not a number, and he is not just one of a million.  He is one child, and that is what makes him special.  Just as every one of the 999,999 currently sponsored children before him are special, and every child sponsored since Fellows' sponsorship rang the bell is special.

I especially like the quote at the end of the post:

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him. - Pablo Casals

We just wrapped up our Compassion Sunday campaign at church* with three sponsorships:  one, on the first weekend, and two yesterday.  We had hoped for more and have always had more, in the years since I became involved and, I'm pretty sure, for several years before that.  Our high was 75, a couple of years ago.  *(See also our Compassion pages, there, just because I'm so proud of what I've been able to do, to date!)

But those are just numbers.  Every child counts.  I'm remembering a story that I have heard in Compassion about a boy who was walking along the beach, picking up every starfish he saw that had washed up and throwing it back into the ocean.  A man came along behind the boy and finally asked, "What are you doing?"

The boy answered, "I'm throwing the starfish back into the ocean, so they can live."

"But there are so many!" exclaimed the man.  "How do you think you're going to make any difference?"

The boy quietly bent over, picked up another starfish, threw it into the ocean and replied:  "I just made a difference for that one."

You could make a huge difference in the life of a child, for only $38 a month--about $1.25 a day.  Just click on the widget to the left, or go here to choose your very special child.  You can let Compassion choose a child for you, if you wish, or set some parameters; you might consider sponsoring an older child, or one with a disability.  Every one child counts.

Where Do You Think You're Going?

BOOK REVIEW:  The Principle of the Path:  How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Author:  Andy Stanley
Published by Thomas Nelson, 2008
204 pages (includes a Study Guide)

Where Do You Think You’re Going?

What grabs your attention?  Are you going in the direction that will lead you to your desired destination?  How are those questions connected?

Most of us have some idea of what we want out of life, out of a job or a marriage, but most of us also find ourselves frustrated, because we never seem to get where we want to go.  I wonder how many of us ever stop to ask ourselves if the direction we’re heading is leading us to our stated goal.  Usually, I think, we simply get frustrated, when we find ourselves someplace we didn’t want to be, whether it’s stuck in a job we hate or a marriage without mutual love and respect, or facing bankruptcy because we managed our money unwisely.  Or didn’t manage it, at all.

Andy Stanley has identified—not created—a principle that is at work in all our lives, whether we recognize it, or not.  It is neither a law nor a rule, both of which can be broken, although breaking them may have undesirable consequences.  A principle is at work, whether we are aware of it, believe it, agree with it, fight it or leverage it for our benefit.  It just is.  And it applies to every area of our lives:  job or career, marriage and other relationships, finances, academics, morality or spirituality; every area is either enhanced or degraded as a result of this principle and whether we apply it well or ignore it.  And it has nothing to do with our goals, desires or intentions.

As I read Stanley’s explanations and examples, throughout the book, my mind repeatedly responded with, “Well, of course!”  “That’s so obvious!”  It is all so simple, and yet I had never thought of any of it, myself, and never realized there was a principle at work.

Even if you are sitting pretty, right where you want to be, or know that you are on the right path to get there, you will benefit by reading this book.  And if you are like most people, frustrated because you can’t ever seem to make any headway, heart-broken because of a broken marriage or relationship, going deeper and deeper into debt, or dissatisfied in any other area of your life, this book is a must-read.  Every pastor, counselor and coach ought to read it, too.  It is that good.

The morning after...

Just read a great report from Stacy:

Good Morning..
Timmy had a great night last night. He slept soundly. He is still so sedated that he tried to use his fingers to pry open his eyes. Jim and I both stayed with him last night and took turns by his bedside  He had to have a little medicine to help with blood clotting, but otherwise it has been uneventful.  They started him on some pain medication to help with headaches and soreness around the incision. 

The Neurosurgeon came by today and said that the tissue he removed was very abnormal and was "doing him no good" to have it in. It was such a great confimation that surgery was the best option for him.  It was such a big decision for us knowing that it was not a slam dunk for taking away his epilepsy. 

We came so close to calling it off yesterday because we had last minute questions and Timmy had a seizure in the waiting room so we thought a flurry might postpone things.  It all came together.  He is likely to be very groggy today too.

Amazingly they are still talking about  discharging him Monday.  The rest of our family is planning to fly out since we already purchased their tickets and we will take a few days for him to heal a little more before jumping on the plane to Tucson.

I am amazed at how it has all come together, no grids/probes surgery prior, a dialed in resection ( that is surgery talk for extraction, nothing to do with the economy) of the abnormal tissue. The process, though emotional as a parent, has been flawless in how it all came together. I thank God this morning for how he paved the way.

We are tired today, but hopeful and actually joyful today to be on "the other side" of surgery.

Hopefully tonight I can get an eyes wide open pic of Timmy, but for now we will let him rest.

We feel INCREDIBLY BLESSED to know so many people are praying and encouraging us through this.  We are so grateful for all of you its crazy.
Stacy

So great to see through Stacy's and Jim's eyes how this all worked out.  Our prayers are still needed, however, as Timmy has a ways to go to heal, and for everyone to assess over time what kind of difference this surgery will make.  If you are a part of the army of pray-ers for Tim and his family, thank you so much!

He came through surgery!

Surgery that was scheduled for 10:30 this morning was delayed, and it didn't end until close to 7 p.m. (all times are EDT).  The surgeon told Jim and Stacy that the tissue they removed was definitely abnormal, but consistent with epilepsy.  I think one of their fears was that the tissue removed would prove to be abnormal, so that one is put to rest.

Tim has a tube through which his brain is draining; multiple IV's--saline with some simple sugars, anticonvulsant, antibiotic, Pepcid, and I don't remember what else; and a catheter.  He had not yet come out of the anesthesia, but he was talking and fussing--apparently, about the catheter.  IMHO, he has earned the right to fuss!

Again, he is expected to continue having seizures, but with some of the diseased tissue removed, there should be a decent reduction.  Don't ask me how decent; I'm not sure they really know.  Meanwhile, he has a long road to healing, so if you are praying, please continue!

Timmy's surgery - Updated 6/10/09

Six-year-old Tim will undergo a right temporal lobectomy, either tomorrow or on Monday.*  His parents, siblings and other family members will greatly appreciate all the prayer support they can get.

The surgery is not expected to cure Timmy's epilepsy, because the trigger points occur in multiple areas of his brain.  But doctors do expect a reduction of 30% to 50% in the seizures.  That may not sound like enough improvement, but this surgery is the only hope of any improvement for this child.

Please pray for this child and his courageous family.  They do know in Whose hands Timmy really rests.

*Surgery is scheduled at 10 or 10:30 tomorrow morning (Thursday, 6/11).  The surgeon will remove 4 cm of Tim's right temporal lobe.  Timmy knows he's going to the "hopipal" to "get some seizures taken out."  (Not absolutely positive that that's a strictly accurate quote, but it's very close.)

Congressman Forbes

It isn't often that I make a point of listening to Congressional speeches, but this one is worth it, and it's even brief.  May God bless this effort to counter some of the President's recent statements about this country.

More on Timmy

An update received this morning told me that Tim is still in Cleveland.  He had seizures in his sleep, last night, which the doctor is allowing to happen for the data that can be drawn from them.

Dr. Tuxhorn will go before the board on Tuesday morning and make a case for placing "deep brain electrodes" in Timmy's brain, as a diagnostic tool.  This procedure requires drilling holes in Tim's skull.  There is still a small chance that surgery may be viable.  If that is ruled out, they will probably try a special diet.

The decisions facing Jim and Stacy about their son's care, procedures and treatment seem overwhelming, to me.  In Jim's words, "These are HUGE days for us and HUGE decisions!!!"  He and Stacy appreciate all who are praying for them and ask that we "pray, please pray that these decisions would become crystal crystal clear!  We need clarity . . . too much is at stake to mess this up.  Pray that there would be no way to mess this up!"

I will add my own pleas for you to pray fervently for Jim and Stacy, for Timmy, for Dr. Tuxhorn and all of the medical team, and for the members of the board, as they hear Dr. Tuxhorn on Tuesday morning.  I'm not sure this is fair, but if it were your child going through this, how hard would you pray?

Also, if you would like to leave a note of encouragement and assurance of your prayers, I will pass it on to Jim and Stacy.

UPDATE 6/6/09:  I have heard Jim refer to possible surgery, many times, but had no idea what that surgery would entail.  Now I do, and I'm almost beside myself!

If electrodes are implanted, they will give the doctors an idea whether one side of the brain is triggering seizures more than the other, and what brain functions would be lost, if surgery were indicated.  Brain functions would be lost, because one or more sections of his brain would be removed!!

I understand better than ever, now, why Jim and Stacy need clarity, so badly.  Stacy's post at CaringBridge.org also refers to wanting unity from the doctors and medical board, in any decisions that might be made.

O dear God!  Are such invasive procedures the best you can do, for Timmy?  I know you gave up your only Son to die for us; but the Rodens will not be able to resurrect any part of Tim's brain that would be removed!  Please, dear God, have mercy on this child and his parents!  Heal Tim's brain and put the seizures and all of the questions to rest.  But if you allow this medical process to continue, please be certain that there is absolute unity in the decision-making, or such lack of unity that nothing will be done, at this time.

Lord, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy!

 

Heartbreak--read this.

Compassion's blog has a story not widely publicized, and far more personalized than any news item would be in Big Media.  Please read it, here.

Rate Increase

For the first time in several years, Compassion has made the very difficult decision to raise the rate for child sponsorship, from $32/month to $38/month.  No other monthly commitments are affected, at this time.

This increase is crucial, in order for the projects (aka "student centers") to meet the needs of the children they serve.  The drastic increases in the cost of food and other goods in the past 15 to 18 months have put staff members in a serious bind as they have struggled to meet those needs, as they have faced agonizing decisions over which services they could reduce.  The child development centers have pleaded for more money; at one point, last year, the aggregate amounts requested reached more than $15 million.  The needs have continued, while the projects have typically had to accept small fractions of what they had requested.

The staff at the student centers have not been alone in their agonizing.  As funds have come in to Compassion International, staff members in the U.S. offices have also agonized over how much they could send to the different countries.  When you're talking about abject poverty, how do you say, "This country needs more than this one"?

So...who is affected by the rate increase?  First, the rate has been raised for new sponsorships, starting June 1.  Sponsors who have begun sponsoring in 2009 are being informed of the new rate, but they are not formally being asked to meet it.  Existing sponsors (pre-2009) are being asked to increase their giving, effective August 1.

What if you don't want to quit sponsoring your child (bless you!), but you can't afford an additional $6 per month, right now?  Read on.

Whenever Compassion raises the rate, sponsors always have the option of staying at their current rate, if need be.  And in our current economy, that may be necessary for many people.  Those who need to continue paying the $32 have the option, at their discretion, to say, "I can't pay anymore, right now, but I will, as soon as I am able."

The little bit that we give means so much more in the countries where Compassion works that the additional $6 per month is going to make a world of difference.  And because of the remarkably high integrity within Compassion, you can be sure your gifts will be used properly.

Compassion has a Q &A section about the rate change on its website, under "My Account."

Remember?

The freedoms we still enjoy are increasingly under attack.  Please remember all of those who have fought and died, over several centuries, in order to keep this nation free.  We can never rest, we can never take our freedom for granted, we must never forget that freedom carries with it the responsibility to guard it and, when necessary, to die for it.  If we forget that, we don't deserve to be free. 

At least two of my uncles served in WWII:  James Whitaker and Carl Whitaker.  Like so many veterans of that war, they didn't talk about it.  It wasn't until Uncle James died, a few years ago, that I knew anything about his service.  I learned, then, that he had been at Normandy, one of the places in Europe that bears the white crosses of so many of our dead.  Uncle Carl is still alive, and I still know nothing of his service.  That's okay; I can't imagine wanting to relive one's experiences in war.  I want to thank them for their service.

We can never again afford to be as complacent as we were in the early morning of 9/11.  To our fighting men and women in today's war zones, thank you for the sacrifices you and your families are making.  May God strengthen and protect you.  To the families of those who have given all they had to give, may God comfort you and give you peace.  Thank you, too, for your sacrifices.

More on Compassion's big news

It's all over Facebook, but you can watch the brief video by Wess Stafford about the major milestone reached yesterday, in Compassion International.  He gives enough history that you might appreciate how incredible this news really is.

By the way, the child whose sponsorship has brought on all the celebration is a boy in Togo, where Compassion opened and began registering children just last year! 

Breaking the cycle of poverty

Anyone who has heard much about Compassion International must have heard the reference to "Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name."  To be more clear, we're about breaking the cycle of spiritual, physical, social and economic poverty, in Jesus' name.  Not only do Compassion's programs work, but they change the world for the next generation, as former sponsored children marry and start their own families.  If you would like to make this kind of a difference in the life of a child, either click the widget to the left, or go here to choose your child.

Compassion's blog often runs a story about a former sponsored child, now an adult, who was able to break the cycle of poverty through the opportunities afforded him or her because of a caring sponsor.  Read today's post about Henry and Xiomara and their family in Bogota, Colombia. 

UPDATE 5/20/09:  Also learned today - We now serve one million sponsored children!!  Many more are registered and waiting to be sponsored, but this is an awesome milestone!

Again, you could move a child from the "Registered and waiting" list to the "Sponsored" list.  Just go here to choose your so-special child who will love you, write to you and pray for you and your family.

Have a heart!

Compassion's blog has a post up today about Alexander, an 8-year-old boy in Africa, who needs surgery to repair his heart.  Please read about it and, if you are able, please consider contributing so Alexander can begin to live a normal life.  A link appears at the end of the comment, taking you to a contribution page specifically to this urgent need.  Any amount will help!

UPDATE 5/20/09:  Done!!  In less than two full days, contributors have exceeded the $8,303 needed for Alexander's heart surgery!  That is just incredible, and yet I'm not surprised; Compassion people are very . . . um . . . compassionate, and they're especially moved where children are concerned!

Tausi - 2009

I received a letter from Tausi, yesterday, with a recent photo enclosed.  The fabric across her shoulder is part of what she bought with her Christmas gift.

Tausi is 12 and shares my September birthday.  In the six and a half years that I have sponsored her, she has shown such a beautiful spirit.  She accepted Jesus Christ several years ago and it revolutionized her letters.  I wish so much that I could meet this young lady!

Another attachment to her letter is her academic report.  I have never received a snapshot or academic report from any of my other girls; I don't know if Tanzania is the only country that sends the academic reports, but of those countries where I sponsor children, it's the only one to send them.  I see that she has slipped from above-average work to average, but I suspect one reason for that is her mother's health.  She has chronic cardiovascular problems, for which she is treated, but she has also been treated for breast cancer, in the past year, or more.  Tausi writes that her "mother is still sick and I too ["also," I think] pray for her."  So do I.

Timmy - Update 5/16/2009

I have mentioned 6-year-old Timmy Roden several times, as a prayer request.  I saw his dad, Jim, on Thursday, and asked for an update.

The seizures that have been so uncontrolled and uncontrollable have, with a new medication, become a bit more controlled.  The flurries of seizures are shorter.

Jim and Stacy will be taking Tim to the Cleveland Clinic one more time, on June 1.  Some tests that have been done previously will be repeated, to be sure of the current situation.  The possibility of surgery is being discussed and might involve cutting out a section of Timmy's skull to put something--mesh??--over an area of his brain.  Jim explained a bit more, but I'm afraid I'm not clear on the details.  But we don't need to know and understand the details, because God knows. 

Jim and Stacy are asking that as many believers as we can reach will pray that the doctors will not open up Timmy's brain in any kind of procedure, only to come back to say, "We're sorry; we can't do anything to help."  They want any procedure to be done only if the doctors are certain that it will make a positive difference in Tim's seizures, bringing real improvement.

In a short two or three minutes, this man of deep faith used terms like scared and scary at least four times; I don't have to be a parent to understand that.  Please pray that God will give him and Stacy a settled peace that no parent in their situation could hope for or understand, that God will guide the doctors' thinking and actions with the full measure of His wisdom, and that He will protect Timmy from harm.

And please don't stop praying that God will heal Timmy, outright.  That's not an idle hat-tip to God's ability to heal; over and over in scripture we are told to ask for what we want.  What we really want is for Tim to be healed, fully and permanently.  We recognize that God often chooses to heal through medical intervention, so we ask for what we want and acknowledge that what God wills is supreme.

Not a post to cheer you up

The amount of time I spend at my desk, in this chair, on most days can be counted in hours.  Don't ask me how many, because they are broken up--by meals and preparation (not usually a big deal, around here), demands for attention from Kat, Hoagie and/or Bailey, other tasks, and so on.  But hours.

How many children die in those hours?  I can't really answer that, not knowing how many hours I'm talking about, but let me break it down and limit the scope to two major causes of death among children.

I have now sat here for about 5 minutes.  In that time, 60 children under the age of 5 yrs. have died of hunger-related causes.  Ten children in Africa have died from malaria.

That's right:

• 12 children under the age of five years die every minute of hunger-related causes.
• Two African children die from malaria every minute.

Dr. Wess Stafford, President and CEO of Compassion International, has said that one big reason more people don't get involved in the fight against poverty--which is a root cause of the deaths we're focusing on, here--is that they believe the problems are just too great, too overwhelming, and they don't know what can be done.  You have heard people say, and you may have said it yourself--I think I used to--"What can one person do??" or "One person can't do anything about all of the problems."

I was wrong, and anyone who says that is wrong.  I don't mean to sound accusatory, in saying that; they may simply be as ignorant, as unaware, as I was.  But Compassion offers a variety of ways, large or small, that one person can make a difference.  Here are just a few:

Donate any amount of money--any amount--to the Malaria Intervention Fund.  Ten ($10) dollars pays for a treated bed net and contributes to the costs of education, prevention, and treatment for the infected.

Donate any amount of money to the Global Food Crisis Fund.  Read how much you can accomplish for a small donation.

Donate any amount of money to the AIDS Initiative.  Read what your gift will do.

Sponsor a child.  Just $32 per month will provide the help a child needs to develop spiritually, physically, socially/emotionally, and economically.  Click on the link I just gave and choose your child, or sponsor the child shown in the widget (left sidebar).

More on sponsoring:  Some people want to sponsor a child for financial reasons, or simply as a financial transaction.  They aren't looking for a child to love, care for, encourage, pray for and write to.  Compassion-assisted children have only one sponsor; they crave getting to know us as much as possible, through our letters, photos, small gifts . . . and, if possible, a visit from us to their country.  If you want to help a child but without the personal involvement, I have two alternative suggestions:  One, sponsor a Compassion child, and ask Compassion to find a correspondent sponsor who will do the writing and relationship building.  Two, choose another child-sponsorship organization for your sponsorship.  I'm serious.

I've given you just a small sampling of things one person, one family can do.  So don't just sit there; do something!  Please!

UPDATE:  My math was better than my typing.  The statement (in bold) above about how many children die, per minute, from hunger-related causes has been corrected.

 

John

I recently posted about 8-year-old Alice of Uganda, who still needs a sponsor.

I also have the packet for John, of the Philippines.  John is 7 years old and not attending school.  Many children's parents are unable to afford the tuition for school, and sponsorship can make all the difference.  It is possible that, as a child registered in the Compassion-assisted student center, he may be receiving some instruction, such as in literacy, at the student center.  I don't know that for a fact, however; what I do know is that he needs a sponsor in order to progress on the path to fulfilling God's plan for his life.

If you will sponsor either of these children, shoot me an e-mail with your name and mailing address, so I can send the packet to you.  Your sponsorship will help both children to develop spiritually, physically, economically and socially/emotionally. 

Both packets are set to expire on May 29 and the children put back into the system to give them other opportunities to find sponsors who will love, encourage, pray for and write to them.