Today we worked on cleaning up my wheelchairs. This included the new racing wheelchair that we picked up yesterday. After dismantling if for cleaning, I wasn’t sure if we would get it all back together, but it looks like we made it. I aired up the tires and even made a trial run down the sidewalk.

Today also marks the last day of antibiotic treatments. It has been six weeks since I was hospitalized and IV antibiotics were started in the intensive care unit at the hospital. This marks the longest and most intense round of antibiotic treatments that I have received. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with my urologist. So we will try to bringing him up to date and see if we can get some of the hospital MRI’s to him before our afternoon appointment. The visiting nurse will also come to remove the PICC line from my arm marking the official end to this multiple times a day regimen.

I am testing my limits on my journeys with my walker. I walked from my recliner in the living room to the bathroom. However, on the way back, I pushed it a little and began to get weak. Debbie was helping move my wheelchair my direction when my knees seemed to give out. So it wasn’t as much of a fall as a collapse. I was near the couch and was able to get myself with some assistance from Debbie onto the couch, so I just laid there for a while and enjoyed the rest before finally moving back to my power wheelchair.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…

There are several verses that come to my mind when I think of the change that Christ desires to bring into a person’s life.

“ Therefore,if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

“ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  (Colossians 1:13,14)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”   (Ephesians 2:4,5)

Following Christ is marked by and characterized by the word, “new.” Paul called us a “new creation” and declared “the new is here!” As a Pastor I would enjoy hearing individuals share their own story of their journey of coming to faith in Jesus Christ. The change they experienced and how that decision impacted their life.

Scott one of our graduates from our Teen Challenge men’s program (180 Ministries) recently wrote to update us on his life…

“…since graduating I have completed a YWAM missions training/trip as you are aware of. Somehow managed to graduate CCU with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and Global Studies, I got married,and as recent had a baby boy named Titus! And most recently accepted a job working for OMF international as the US short term Missions Coordinator for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.”

 When Scott came into Teen Challenge he was addicted to drugs and living a life without hope or direction.  But because of God’s grace and power working in his life he was made new, rescued and given life.

Scott goes on and says…

“As I look at my faith, my family, my future and my past I see the finger prints of Teen Challenge all over it. I am eternally grateful for being part of this ministry that changes the fabric of our society and gives hope to hurting individuals. Honestly had it not been for Teen Challenge and a very active God I’m 90% sure I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

I am thankful that God’s love and power changes lives today. You can find out more about the life changing programs of Teen Challenge at www.teenchallengerockymountains.org

You can sponsor me in my wheelchair efforts in Colfax 5K on May 17 and invest in changed lives through Teen Challenge by logging onto www.coloragives.org/ksummers

 Today my sister and brother-in-law and mom joined us at the Cracker Barrel in Loveland to celebrate my mom’s 89th birthday. We enjoyed our meal and time together. My mom continues to be in good health. When were together I told them about my physical therapist making some comments about speech therapy. I told my physical therapist that I actually had a few sessions with one of the speech therapists at Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital. He worked with me on my memory….but I couldn’t remember his name! I did recall it later though. I am at that stage where I tell someone if I can’t remember a name at that moment that “I will recall sometime in the next few minutes or hours.”

We also made a stop by the Good HealthWill store. This is a great place in Loveland with used medical equipment. We did pick up a “racing” wheelchair that I will use for some of my exercise. I have until May 17th to see if I can get ready to traverse as much of a three mile course as I can.Otherwise I will take advantage of my son and daughter-in-law and any others wh

Cracker Barrel Loveland 89 years old

o want to help push me along the course. You can donate to Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains and support my effort and the cause of effective recovery from drug and alcohol addiction at www.coloradogives.org/ksummers

In Jesus Today, Sarah

Young was commenting, “The Lord has good plans for you: Offer for a hope and a future. Many people fear the future, but ultimately yours is glorious – beyond anything you can imagine!” (Young, S. 2012. Jesus Today, pg. 230, Thomas Nelson Press)

Reading this reminded me of a question on the TV game show “Family Feud.” The question was “on a scale of 1-10 how much do you fear the future?” The greatest response of those surveyed was 10. When you look at the daily news, there is certainly cause to fear the future. Uncertainty seems to abound at every turn. When I heard this week of another shooting at Fort Hood, I wasn’t sure if it is was a current event or the anniversary of the previous shooting. We see the turmoil around the world with Russia and the Ukraine. The search continues for missing Malaysian flight 370.

But as we face the future we must make a choice between fear and faith. Fear will paralyze and create internal anxiety. It will impact our confidence and leave us in a perpetual state of uncertainty and dread. That removes the joy from living.

However, faith in the God who is in control and knows the future and holds our life in His hands brings confidence and joy. We may face tough times and times of difficulty, but when we trust a God who promises to be with us and give us strength and work in the midst of every situation, we can live life with confidence, peace and joy.

God’s love for us drives out fear.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…”  1 John 4:18

God’s care and watchfulness over our life removes worry  

“Therefore I  (Jesus) tell you, do not worry about your life…But seek first his (God’s) kingdom and his (God’s) righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   (Matthew 6:25, 33,34)

God promises His peace through Christ. Jesus said,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John14:27)

Today you can choose faith and face the future with confidence in knowing the God of the universe who knows the beginning from the end is with you and directing your steps. That is what I have been learning as I have been on a road that I could never have anticipated for my life.

 Pastor Steve Harris came by for coffee today. When you visit me you have to bring your own coffee. Thanks Steve, for doing that, along with a cookie! I decided to “take him for a ride” literally. He seemed a little hesitant to jump in the passenger seat of my car but he did. We made through the 1.5 mile drive safely and I even got the car back into the driveway. Of course I needed Steve to help me manage my wheelchair to make the trip possible.

This afternoon I had my cardiologist appointment. It is always good when a doctor says, “I have been reviewing your medical records and am trying to figure out why you are here?” I wanted to say, “That’s what I wanted to hear!” Then I realized the records for my last hospitalization with the septic shock and my heart function tests were not in his file.

So we did get things figured out and he ordered the follow up tests anticipated by the hospital when I was released. I will have a follow up appointment to review those test and any medication that I am currently taking related to my heart function. So you can pray that these tests will reveal everything is a okay with the old ticker. Thanks to Sue Schmidt for giving me a ride to the doctor’s office. (she wouldn’t let me drive.)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. Philemon 15,16

This morning I read Paul’s letter to Philemon. This is the most personal of the Apostle’s writings. Apparently Onesimus a runaway slave of Philemon’s had stolen from him and while on the run came in contact with the Apostle Paul and became a Christian.

Paul is writing this letter to help reunite Onesimus with Philemon. The basis of Paul’s appeal was love for Christ, love for Christian brothers and to see Onesimus in a different light. “No longer as a slave, but as a brother.”

In writing this letter and in verses15,16 and Paul gives a “big picture perspective.” God’s hand was working in this situation.  Even in these events that could have discouraged Philemon as one who was known as faithful to the Lord and as one who had shown love to God’s people.

Paul did not give Philemon a command, although he could have. However, he did remind Philemon of their relationship over the years. Paul said, “If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.  I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life.” (Philemon18,19)

Paul, as the aging apostle, had been through many experiences for the cause of Christ. One of those was many years ago with a young believer named John Mark. Mark had abandon Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. When Paul and Barnabas planned to return to the churches they established Barnabas wanted to take Mark. Paul was emphatic in saying no! So much so, that it resulted in a division between the two. Over the years Mark proved himself to Paul. So much so when Paul wrote to Timothy at a time when others were forsaking him, he said “bring Mark with you for he is profitable to me in the ministry.”                 (2 Tim. 4:11) At the end of his letter to Philemon Paul identifies Mark as one of his coworkers who is with him.

Paul, over the course of time, had seen his perspective of others change and to see how God worked in the life of others even when he experienced disappointment with that person. He was now appealing to Philemon to see how God had worked in this situation to turn it around.

We don’t know how long it was before Paul was reunited with Mark. We don’t how long Onesimus was separated from Philemon. It is hard to tell how many months or years it will take for you to see God’s hand in your disappointment, hardship or challenge. But if you hang in there you will.

I can think back over the years of ministry and identify some John Mark’s. It is important that we don’t write off people or circumstances as lost causes before the Lord has had the final word.

As I move through my recovery process, I continue to look for that “perhaps the reason…” insight into my situation. One thing I know now, is that I would not be writing daily blogs if it were not for my illness and disability. So for now my desire is to be like Philemon and to be faithful to the Lord and to love and comfort God’s people.