We had a busy afternoon. First of all I had a follow up appointment with my infectious disease doctor. Everything seems to be going good and I will not need to see this team unless I have another infection. It looks like my white blood count is perpetually in the high range. The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned considering some of my medications and health history. He feels that this count while out of the normal range, may become more “normal” for me. I am recovering from this cough that I have found the last ten days, so that is at least a good sign that I can overcome some normal bugs that seem to be going around.

Debbie and I ran a number of normal errands together going to the bank, Sears (to look at riding lawn mowers!), the cleaners, Hobby Lobby. We went in my car and took the regular wheelchair. It is nice to be able to get around with that to some degree with Debbie’s help, but I’m not sure it is any easier on Debbie having to lug the chair in and out of the trunk of the car. Of course the wind today didn’t help any.

It looks like the process is moving forward for me to have my evaluation appointment on Friday at Northern Colorado Rehab to begin my outpatient therapy. I received a call today from their office confirming their communication with my doctor on the referral. However, I did receive an email that I am losing my primary care doctor. I just hope that doesn’t hinder the final paper worked needed for this process. That is something that you can pray about.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:20,21

“…no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:11,12

If you find someone who believes they understand God and have all the ways of God figured out, run! Think of the knowledge that has increased over time, the minds that have made incredible discoveries in the fields of science, medicine and technology and to put them all together; God considers them foolishness in comparison to who He is.

If we understood the ways or God, we would be God and we are not, so we don’t! When I look at what God does,  even what God allows, I sometimes say, “if I were God, I wouldn’t do it that way!” Which is why it is good that I am not God.

One of the consistent things that we see in scripture from the beginning of time to today, is that God chooses and uses whom He desires to further His work. Even when Christ came to this earth as God in the flesh to reveal God the Father to us, He was born in a stable to a blue collar dad and a teen mother. When He chose those who would change the world, He ended up with a mix matched dozen of fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, brothers and betrayers.

In the life of any organization the question is asked, “What will happened when the leader is gone?” Good question. However, it seems God has always had a succession plan. One that isn’t revealed, but develops and emerges as He calls and works in lives.

Paul shares why God calls the “unlikely” to fulfill His plans: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

When God works in a person’s life that person and those around can see that what takes place is not based on individual personality, gifts or charisma, but it is God working through an individual, then God is glorified.

When Peter and John stood and boldly proclaimed the gospel in front of the religious leaders of their day scripture records, “…they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.”  (Acts 4:13)  Jesus had promised His disciples that He would be with them to give them power and the words to speak. As this took place not only what was said and how it was said had an impact but the messengers grabbed attention of the hearers and further testified to God’s power and reality.

Bottom line, anyone can be used by God in special ways, in supernatural ways, in natural ways to make His love and good news known to others. Trust Him to help you today, trust Him to use you today to be His light and life to others.

I am ready for the windy weather to cease, so I can get out and use my racing chair to get ready for the Colfax Charity 5K. Thanks to those who have donated for my effort and the cause of Teen Challenge. Your fight against substance abuse and support of those who are experiencing freedom from addiction is greatly appreciated.

This afternoon I had a different medical related appointment. I received a medical massage from Twyla (Hill) Osler. Debbie and Twyla have known each other for many years growing up in the same church in Fort Collins. Twyla experienced her own health challenges when twenty-four years ago she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given six months to live. Through God’s intervention and some successful surgeries she is doing well and helping others in their rehabilitation process.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ….But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12,20

See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!…That is where the Lord promised the blessing of eternal life. Psalms 133:1,3 (GW)

Paul writes to the Church at Corinth and uses this extended metaphor to challenge a Church which had its problems with unity. Christ in His work through the Church uses different people, with different gifts, but all for the same purpose.

It was interesting as I visited Twyla today and her comments about muscles and the need to ensure that the muscles that are supposed to be working together are working together and muscles that are to be working with different functions are working properly. (my poor wording about her excellent explanation) But basically, it was interesting that even within the structure of our muscles in order for legs and arms to move there is a need for muscles to function properly and to work together. Dormant and “lazy” muscles prolong disability.

Just that in itself can serve as a good illustration of the need of unity in the work of the Church and for that matter any organization. If nothing else during my time of illness and rehabilitation I have found out more about the function and interconnectedness of the body and what it takes for it to function properly than I would ever expect.

Debbie was explaining to me my immune system issues. She said basically, “Your antibodies instead of fighting infection are fighting each and putting your life at risk.” That is almost one of those “Selah” moments. That’s from the Psalms and it means, pause and ponder. Of course when I heard that I blurted out, “sounds like the Republican party!” It also sounds like many Churches. However, it can apply to a sports team or any organization. If you fail to understand your purpose and begin to fight each other over roles, value and petty issues the effort will be undermined and failed.

I recall hearing about President John Kennedy visiting Cape Canaveral during the early days of NASA. He met a janitor and asked him about his job. The janitor replied, “I am working to put a man on the moon.” When each person understands the goal, the mission and understands that what they do contributes to that purpose amazing things will happen. And when there is a failure of those in the organization to understand their role and begin fighting each other, “amazing things happen as well!” Obviously not good things. As someone once said about the Church, “when it works there is nothing like….when it doesn’t work there is nothing like it!”

 The unity the comes from understanding roles, calling and purpose is something that comes from God, the work of His Holy Spirit. As a result, we can excuse secular organizations and political parties when they fail. However, the Church has a different level of accountability. Should I say, “They should know better?” I guess I just did.

To sponsor Ken with a tax deductible donation to Teen Challenge go to: www.coloradogives.org/ksummers

I made my appointment today for my evaluation at Northern Colorado Rehab for outpatient therapy. I actually have some appointments each day of this next week. So, it will be interesting to see how I fare. I have actually been more fatigued today than I expected. I have been fighting this cough the past week and the loss of rest may be catching up with me.

However, it does feel good in the midst of it all to be feeling stronger and ready for the next step in my rehab process.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive…but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16,17

 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:27

The abiding presence of God in our lives is an assurance that we see in the ministry of Jesus. As Jesus spoke to His disciples He assured them that what He had been to them, the Holy Spirit would be in their lives after He ascended to heaven. As Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection once again He assured His disciples that as they went forward into the world that He would, “be with them always, to the very end of the world.” (Matt. 28:20)

The events we face in life can work to cloud the awareness of God’s presence and work in our life. My friend State Representative Spencer Swalm sent me an article entitled, “How Dante Saved My Life.” The article written by author, editor and blogger Rod Dreher is subtitled, “A midlife crisis is cured by The Divine Comedy.”

Through the article he reviews the lessons he learned from Dante’s trilogies. At one point he discusses Dante’s response to the death of a lover. Dreher observes, “When she died, Dante…allowed his eyes to be turned from faith – the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…to a misdirected love for the transitory and worldly.”

In this challenging moment of grief Dante allowed his focus to be turned from heaven to earth; from the eternal to the temporal. The words of an old hymn remind us that the Lord is with us in all that we face, good or bad. He is the Lord who is with us and will not forsake us.

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/486#ixzz30EdwDGCy

At all times and in every moment we need to focus our attention on the Lord and respond appropriately to that moment in our life.  Pastor Rick Warren, author of  “The Purpose Driven Life”  puts it this way:

 In Happy Moments

             Praise God

In Difficult Moments

            Seek God

In Quiet Moments

            Worship God

In Painful Moments

            Trust God

In Every Moment

            Thank God

Debbie and I have been enjoying a quiet and relaxing day. That means we have both been working on our computers. I have been catching up with some personal finance bookkeeping, Debbie is making sure her charting for patients is all complete. So for us quiet and relaxing means working I guess. What is interesting compared to the pace and focus of my life in politics it does seem more relaxing! I did get my amended tax return ready to mail. I am planning on another refund based on an oversight when I first filed.

Tomorrow begins an interesting week for me. I will call the Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital about my outpatient therapy. I have a follow up appointment with my infectious disease doctors and on Friday, Pastor Steve Harris will accompany me to Denver to the Capitol for me to open the House session in prayer. This for me is a special opportunity and timing. Those I was elected with in 2006 will be completing their final term. Not that many left considering I came into the House with the largest group of new legislators since Statehood.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…“The n I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.”   Jeremiah 18:3,4

This morning we attended the Traditions Service at Timberline. As a matter of fact, this was the first time I took a regular wheelchair to a church service.  Also, this is the first time I have been in this service since attending several years ago with my mother-in-law. We enjoyed the service and some of the older hymns and choruses. However, it did make me feel old when the songs did not bring up memories of my childhood as much as my young adult years!

One of the songs we sang caught my attention. It is called “Spirit of the Living God”. The lyrics say, “Spirit of the Living God fall a fresh on me, Break me, mold me, fill me, use me” As I sang that song, I couldn’t help relate it to my health challenges and the time I spent immobilized in the hospital.

As a follower of Christ, I like the “fill me and use me” part of that song. I have experienced the wonder of the presence of God in my life and working through my life at various times. God’s presence makes the difference in our lives. Not just the awareness that He is with us as a matter of truth and faith, but the experiential part of it that is difficult to describe and important to cultivate. Remember King David’s plea in Psalm 51?  “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

But to be honest this morning when we sang “break me, mold me”… that was difficult. In the natural I want to avoid that! Those are words that are easy to sing, but the reality of it can be hard. During my hospitalization, it was not just a physical breaking, but for me I viewed it as a big wake-up call from God. Confined to a bed provides opportunities for soul searching and reflection.

What does it mean to be broken? I think of the broken piece of pottery that is pictured in the Book of Jeremiah that is put back through the fire and reworked. I think of the idea of a horse being “broken” during the training process. I think of Jesus as the Heavenly Gardner, pruning branches from a tree to ensure its usefulness (John 15) I think of an individual who comes to the end of themselves, perhaps emotionally or spiritually or both.

In all of these analogies, there is the concept of change, redirection, vulnerability and openness. And that is what it takes for us to be ready for God to use fill us and use us. Our lives, our will and our minds surrendered to Him. That impacts our thoughts, our behaviors and our attitudes.

If I am going to be “worked over” as challenging as that process is, I can’t think of anyone I would trust more to ensure that what happens is for my good than the one who gave Himself for me.

It was nice to be home and sleep in my own bed. I have been fighting a nagging cough that has interrupted my sleep this week. I am hoping this dissipates soon.

I did have a follow up appointment with my cardiologist today. The good news is my ejection fraction is at 65% which is even on the high side. This is up from 32% when I was hospitalized two months ago. So I am off the heart medication. I do have some valve leakage and will have another test in a year to monitor that issue.

We picked up our lawn mower that was in for a tune up and we had our lawn mowed this afternoon. (No I didn’t do it)   Spring is ramping up and we are looking forward to the consistent change in weather after a long winter. Driving through the mountains this week, we observed a lot of snow and pray that we have a gradual thaw so the risk of flooding is minimized.

One of my newest ventures is serving on our HOA Board of Directors. I actually missed my first meeting when I was in the hospital in February. But I have several meetings in recent weeks on various issues. One of them for all things is mosquito spraying.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,…To comfort all who mourn.. to give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:1-3

This is the scripture that Jesus quoted in the synagogue in Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry. It not only got Him in trouble because Jews associated these verses with the Messiah, but it set the tone for His ministry and purpose on earth.

When Isaiah spoke these words he was addressing God’s people in a foreign land. They were poor, brokenhearted and in captivity. Their sin had caused them grief and suffering. However, God’s discipline was coming to an end. The prison clothes were ready to come off and the Lord was preparing to restore His people to Himself along with their status and dignity.

That is exactly what Jesus going to do for those who were spiritually and materially poor, those who were brokenhearted, under the thumb of the evil one, and those who were in mourning. Jesus Himself was the message of good news, the proclamation of hope and a new beginning.

When you see Jesus ministry, directed by God the Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit that is exactly what he did. He healed to deliver from sickness and disease, He cast out demons to free captives, He raised the dead and gave new life to those in spiritual death.  Lepers were granted a restored status and people went away rejoicing. As a result the Lord was glorified. This in turn outraged those of the religious system of the day and they sought to bring Jesus to captivity, and cause Him to mourn and through their actions they broke His heart and His spirit was heavy.

What the Lord promised to His people in captivity, what Jesus did for people through His ministry, He desires to do today. To those who are poor, powerless, captive and broken hearted He offers a great exchange. As you trust in Him He brings good news, freedom, joy, new status and stability. All of this for the glory of God!