The Dragon!

I found this picture in CarePlace. This is a picture of the hepatitis-c virus inside the cell. Can you believe that such a squirmy little squirt could be called 'the dragon'?

Correction!!

It wasn't Pastor Maloney who said that Wayne Chelette had cancer. It was Bro. Barnett, and what he said was that he had full blown cancer of the liver. It doesn't matter who said it, Bro. Chelette needs our prayers.

I'm Better Now!

If you read my last blog, you know that I was not feeling so great, but I am better now. Actually, I was better Friday and Saturday, but I didn't take the time to enter another blog. This morning, Sunday, I was rather fatigued and a little wet around the eyes. All during the Sunday School class I felt like I was just sitting there. Almost in another world. The thought occurred to me that I might should tell our teacher, Marcus Hand, that I was sorry if I seemed to be so dull and not with it. You know, sort of an apology for looking sleepy, but I decided against it.

During church I tried to enter into the spirit of the service. I believe that I need church and the preached Word, whether I get all of it or not. Just sitting there will subject me to a touch of the hand of God. So, I didn't get very emotional during the worship service. I can tell you that for sure. But the pastor called for prayer and invited whoever to come to the alter and the prayer team would pray for them. In the past, I have felt like I was not supposed to go up for prayer, but this time I felt different. 'So down the isle I went'. I was prayed for. My eyes got all wet. I dried my eyes and went back to my seat. On the way back to my seat, I passed right by Bro. Hand. He was sitting next to the isle, about 3/4 of the way back. As I neared him, he stuck his hand out and hugged my neck and prayed for me. I told him that the old devil had taken all my strength but I was going to get it back. Really, I have felt better from that time on through this day.

I need those of you who believe in the power of prayer, if you will, be praying for me these next two weeks. July 5th. is my next appointment with the doctor and, of course, they will take a specimen of my blood for the lab. At this time, a reading of my viral count will be done and that will determine if the treatment is working satisfactorily or not. If it is not, then I will be taken off the medicine and I'll just live everyday by faith. Now, isn't that the way the 'just' are supposed to live? By faith! However, if the treatment is working and killing the virus sufficiently, then I must go on with the treatment for about 34 more weeks. I have decided that I should proclaim every day from now to July 5th. that "God is healing me and the viral count is coming down." Amen!!

A bit of sad news. Prayer request was made today by our pastor for Wayne Chellette. Pastor said that he was in some advanced stage of liver cancer. That just gripped me on the inside. Without God, that could be my fate. If you know him, you know that he is a good man. He has been preaching for over 50 years. Why do bad things happen to good people? I have preached a message myself using that question as the title. I think we know why. Bad things happen not only to good people, but to bad people also. But good people seem to have greater faith and hope during bad times and, in my opinion, they come out better off than bad people.

I know that if this blog is too long, you may not read it all. I understand. But you know how a preacher is - he can't preach for 20 minuets and stop and let the people go home and come back for more. No! We try to preach until we run out of material and that usually took me about 45 minuets. I tried to think in terms of 30 minuets, but, well, here I go. On and on. I've got to stop.

No. 12. Ouch!!

Last night was shot number 12. I knew when I arose this AM that I was beginning to feel the shot. Got a bath, fixed breakfast and got ready for the 9:30 AM Bible Study Class and 10:45 AM morning service. As the morning progressed I began to feel the fatiguing effects of the shot more and more. Went to church, and to the Chinese Buffet for dinner. I used to love to go to any Chinese restaurant but you know, this time I really didn't enjoy it. The food just didn't have the taste that it used to have. I know! It was the medicine working on me. When we got home, I went straight to bed. Slept for about two hours. Now, here I am, just a slight bit headachey feeling like my energy is still falling out through the pours of my skin. Owwh, I feel lousy!

As much as I love doing this blogging, I'm going to cut it short today. I just want to get an entry in on my blogspot. I'll return when I get a little more energy.

For those of you who have been praying for me, "Thank You so much!" Just keep it up. If you would, just ask God to help all my 'hepper' friends. I've meet several on the Internet and some of them are having a tougher time than I am and some of them do not have a lot of support. Pray that God will allow me to say something encouraging to them.

Again, thanks. And God bless you!

Campmeeting Days Are Here Again!

Monday night was the opening night of the Tennessee State campmeeting for the Church of God. Dr. Tim Hill, the Second Assistant Overseer of the denomination preached powerfully. Each morning at 9:30 AM we have Bible Study, and after the morning break we hear from a selected minister. The afternoon is free and then at 7:00 PM we are at it again with more good preaching by Bryan Cutshall.

Campmeeting today is not like what I remember and is not like what I have heard so much about from my Mother and Dad and my Grandmother. All were ministers. I actually remember 'camping' on the campgrounds for the campmeeting. Sometimes I become weary from hearing about how things are not like they used to be, so I'll try not to complain to my decedents about it. I know things are changing. It is inevitable. Thank God for change. I prefer padded pews to wooden benches; brick walls to wood lap-siding; automated heating and cooling systems to wood or coal burning stoves and funeral parlor fans; carpet to rough wood or cement floors; all of these modern facilities to those old, inconvenient and inadequate ones.

It seems fairly easy to accept cultural differences when we think about those who worship in another country, but it is more difficult for some of us old-timers to accept the cultural changes that are taking place in our own locale. It is happening. Our parents thought we were 'going to the dogs', so to speak. Now, we look at this new generation coming up and we think, "Oh, God! What has happened? Where did we fail? Our church is going down the road to destruction!" In those old campmeeting days, the preaching was different. The music was different. The program was different. And yes, the culture was different. These people of today are not just like those of yesterday. I must allow for this new culture to be captivated by the power of the Holy Spirit and let God do what He will with them. I have a feeling that God is big enough to preserve whatever He wants to preserve and to eradicate whatever He wants to eradicate. To my peers I say, "Let go! Turn loose! Quit holding this culture back from God. God is in control. It is His church, not ours. He promised that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' - His church, not our church." I am confident that He knows what He is doing and He is doing it right.

But I do miss those "good-ole-days". There are a lot of us old-timers alive and well. We could make up quite a number if you got us all together. Now, whoever is in charge will probably, and understandably, do it their way - as God allows them to. If you're talking about a church full of seniors, there will probably be some hymn book singing and KJV Bible reading, and some "Haah!" anointed preaching. Do you know what I mean? But, if it is a church full of young people like my sons and daughters, they will do it differently. Bear with me just a moment now. We older folks could just eliminate every position for young people and require them to just sit and listen, and that might solve the problem for some folks. On the other hand, the youth could just ignore the older ones of us, and do what they please while we grasp for anything to help us survive. What a problem! The solution must be in different ministries to all the different cultures in the church. OK! We will let the youth play their worship music and we will pick-and-grin while we use the old red back hymnal. But when and where with each one? I'm telling you, pastoring is not easy, but it can be done.

I see some great, exciting leaders emerging in this generation. I believe we can expect some good ole "campmeeting" days ahead. They will probably not be referred to as "campmeeting days", but call it anything you like, just let God be in control.

Sibil! This is For You!

I just received a comment from Sibil on my blog entitled, "My First Entry". I'm not sure how to email a message to her, so if my attempt to do so did not work and, if you're reading this, Sibil, this one is for you!

Even though you are scared, and I think all of us heppers are to some degree, you still seem to have the right attitude about this unknown journey. That is so important. I have read some comments at http://www.careplace.com/ and a few other comments from 'I don't remember where', and it seems that so many are bitter and negative about the situation, and some seemed justifiably so. I can only thank God that I have not, and you have not, gotten to that place. If you have read some of my blogs, perhaps you know that I believe in and trust in God and am confident that the Bible is the true Word of God. I believe the Bible, or God, gives us the right to be positive. I am not positive that I have hepatitis-c and am eventually going to die from it, nor am I positive that the treatment is going to deal me a severe blow, but I am positive that God has a plan for my life, and your life, and it is a good plan.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. - NAB
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. - NAB

Your faith in God is important, but you will probably need the support of your son and your brother and all of your friends whom you confide in, from time to time. I do hope your boss will understand and support you. As your learn more about this 'dragon', that's what heppers call this virus, you will see that you are not lazy. In your comment you said, "Been tired, work part-time, have to take...'"naps"', and just feeling blah. Figured it was my "'no routine'" routine." I can identify with that. I used to say that I was lazy, and I'll admit there were times when I believed that I was truly lazy, but so often I would say that just to laugh at the feeling of fatigue, caused by the 'dragon', that I lived with. I have found a few helpful sites that you may want to explore. Scroll down the right side of my blog site and you will see some links to "Web Sites For Your Health". Be sure to check out 'Be In Charge'. I have talked to them two or three times at length.

I would encourage you to continue to pray, get more involved in church, and read the Bible. It certainly won't hurt you. I believe it will help.

I have found that using these blog posts to report my progress has given me a lot of 'therapy'. Maybe something like this, or even just keeping a journal of your journey will help. I will pray for you and believe that God will do something good for you.

God Bless You!

A Sword To Slay The Dragon!

I didn't know until just yesterday that the hepatitis-c virus is referred to as 'the dragon' by heppers. Of course, 'heppers' are people who have the virus. If it is a dragon, then there must be a sword somewhere to slay the dragon. I have found it. This is a picture of it. I use this sword every Wednesday night after church. First I go to church and get charged up and then I come home and strike at the dragon with this sword. It is called the redipen. This is the needle that I use to give myself a shot of medication with. I also use (now use your imagination with me) four smooth stones (pills) each day to hit the giant dragon with. I believe the giant is beginning to teeter and is in for a fall.




This is a single redipen as it would be received from the druggist. The only difference between this and what I get is the quantity. I get four per week.










Here is a brief four-step plan of delivering the medication with the redipen. The solution is first mixed, then the needle is attached, the dosage is dialed and then of course, the medication is injected. Just thought this might interest somebody.

Theologically Incorrect, But Accepted!

In reference to a recent comment to my post entitled “I Don’t Want To Be Theologically Incorrect” and dated “Thursday, May 24, 2007”, I offer the following:

The theologian that I referred to was probably concerned with our faulty attempts to “prove” God. Our faulty attempts, i.e. our human reasoning, will never be adequate proof of the existence of God. As a matter of fact, human reasoning is not sufficient to bring a man into a personal relationship with God. It can introduce him to God, but the only thing that can bring a man to a relationship with God is “faith”. If we could “prove” the existence of God, where then, would “faith” be required?

As stated in the comment, “If I prove to someone God exists using facts and data and evidence, the chances are great that someone else will come up with their own facts and data and evidence to disprove.” That is so true, and because our human reasoning can be counter balanced by their human reasoning, we then have the grounds for ‘faith’, which God demands of those who come to Him. It may be referred to as ‘Divine Reason’, ‘His Spirit drawing us to Him’ or yet other references, but it is still because of ‘faith’ working in us that God is able to draw us to Him?

Faulty ‘proofs’ will not do the trick. It only introduces some doubtful, yet searching minds, to the possibility of the truth we intend to portray. Often, our human reasoning is, what appears to be, a hindrance to man when it comes to understanding the ‘true’ concept of God. Every time we preach, we are using human reasoning in our attempt to prove our point. Should we stop preaching? No, Of course not! So, what about those who are hindered by our human reasoning? It is ‘their’ responsibility now, at this point, to act in faith and step across the ‘gap’ between them and God. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

All of this that I have just said and all of our human reasoning is faulty. So, I am probably theologically incorrect, but what else can a non-theologian be? Could he be ‘Accepted’?

I believe that Kirk and Ray are helping to win lost men and women to Christ and helping some to believe in the existence of God, but I must admit, I don’t think a banana would have been adequate proof to me of the existence of God if I was searching for such proof.

Thanks ‘Mike’ for your comments. I checked out your blogspot and thought it was great. I would love to receive any comments to this posting.

I still love Kirk and Ray.

If I Can't Have Seven, I'll Take Three!

For the past two weeks, the reaction to my medication has been a little more consistent. Is that good? Maybe. But 'good' just doesn't seem to reconcile with extreme fatigue. Man! I know what it means to be fatigued. Every fiber of my being seems to cry out for rest sometimes, and that's just what I do. I stop and rest.

Walking from the church parking lot to the church, and then up the hallway to the church foyer, part of which is inclined, can be quite a task. Yesterday, as we were in the hallway, a 90 year old woman who walks two miles a day, came 'sprinting' by, saying, "Hello, how are you today." I told Janis, "You'll just have to wait on me while I take my time."

I really hope that this doesn't stretch out much longer. Four days a week is long enough, but that's about how it has been for the past two weeks.

This morning, I took Momma to the doctor. I am feeling stronger and I suppose I'll get stronger each day, but then comes Wednesday. After church Wednesday night, I will come home and 'shoot' myself again. Hey! That really sounds like a boring church service to have someone go home and shoot themselves, doesn't it? :) Really, Sis. Maloney is a great teacher and I enjoy it. But, I have to give myself the "Peg-Intron" shot with the "Redipen" once a week. If next week is like the last two, then Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be my worst days. Thank the Lord for three pretty good days. 'Seven is coming.'

My Progress Report

I feel like I should make a 'post' to let those of you who want to know, how I am doing. Well, physically, I'm doing OK I guess. Not perfect. Not super. But OK. My last doctor's appointment was this past Monday. The report! I lost another 7 lbs. but my blood count was within acceptable range. The nurse said that if it went any lower that she may have to reduce my dosage of medicine, but she thinks it has stabilized because the reading was the same as the time before. The nurse hinted at the possibility that this treatment is working for me. Of course she cannot commit herself to that until after the twelve week exam. Actually, it looks like it's going to be 14 weeks because my next appointment will not be until July 5th. Now, that will be an important time. The blood reading that they get at that time will be the determining factor as to whether or not I will continue therapy until the full 48 weeks have passed. I don't know if they are going to do something different to me at that time or not, but surely they must be going to do something more with my blood because they will read the viral count at that time. Pray that it will be down from more than 7 million to about 700,000. That's what they need to see. Or, if it is completely gone, that would be better. I don't understand it, but if the viral count is not reduced by that much (in 12 weeks) then they will probably decide that it will not prove to be a worthwhile thing to continuing the treatment. Does that make sense? No! Not to me either, but I'm not the doctor. Anyway, I'm believing that God is healing my body through this process. I also got a call from the doctor's office yesterday that the blood reading from the blood taken Monday, was looking good.

Well, that's the report, but if you want to know how I feel, I'll try to tell you. I 'shot' myself for the 10th. time this past Wednesday night. Yesterday, Thursday, started out 'OK' but before the day was very old, I felt like, uh, well, how do you describe it? Like, er, ah, no, I can't say that. I felt like a genuine, sorry, good-for-nothing, lazy teenager, living is an old worn out body. I didn't do anything yesterday, but sit at my computer and compute. I bought an external hard drive to add to my computer, a 160 gb Seagate external drive, and I have been trying to clean my C-drive so my computer will have more freedom. It was easy to hook up, but moving files from 'C' to 'F' can be frustrating. I'd do that for a little while, then add an old program that I hated to delete in the past, then I'd get up and talk to Janis, sit in the living room, or maybe eat something, then I get tired of doing that and go back to computing. That just let's you know how wonderful computers are. When I don't have the strength to do anything else, I can sit in my computer chair and compute. It's really confusing. Sometimes I think that computers are of the devil and sometimes I acknowledge that God had to give Bill Gates the wisdom to do all of this stuff.

I thought surely today, I'd feel so much better but this day is not starting out rosy. However, this morning I decided that I'd get fully dressed because I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, and because in a little while, Janis and I are going somewhere. Even if she has to drive, I'm getting out of this house. Oh, goodness! These two days, yesterday and today, have been 'fatigue-y' and wet-eyed. I'm trying to drink 'ensure' and eat chicken livers for protein, and I'm trying to stay ready for the wet-eye syndrome at all times.

Keep me in your prayers and I know that everything is going to be all right. I also still know that God has everything under control.

Fred & Frances Brannen - 50 Yrs. Together!

Saturday we helped celebrate the 50th. anniversary of my oldest brother, Fred, and his wife, Frances. That seems to be a more rare kind of event these days, but there are still some who know and understand the art of living together. Oh, yes! It's an art. Some men are real artists at some of the shenanigans they pull and then the cover-ups they hatch. :) I must not give all the credit to the men, however. Some women have perfected the art also. Can I get a good hearty "Amen" men?

Someone said, "The way to be married for 50 years is to never get a divorce." Fred and Frances never did get a divorce and continued to live together through the good, the bad and the ugly. Now I really don't know their personal lives that much, but I believe there has been more good than bad and ugly. I know they have really made an impact on a lot of lives, some of which were at the celebration Saturday and gave testimony to that fact. So many people had so many nice things to say about how they have been touched by the lives of Fred & Frances. Everyone had the opportunity to say something if they wanted to, and I should have made a short speech, but by the time I realized that I had something to say, it was really too late to do it with dignity so I thought, "I'll just blog my story and let everyone read it, if they want to." What follows is true.

When I was in the 10th. grade of high school, I had the misfortune of failing my English class. I went to summer school that year in Gulfport, MS, where Fred was stationed in the United States Coast Guard. I stayed with Fred & Frances in their small, eight foot wide trailer. They were very gracious in allowing me to stay with them during that time. You know, I don't remember any time that we got mad at each other or even had any arguments. I must have really been a good kid, huh? :o) Not really!

Here I was, a teenager, away from home, and Momma and Daddy didn't know what I was doing. The trailer was parked in the Ocean Springs (I believe that's the name of it) trailer park. There was a community bath house for the men and I guess, one for the women. I had the unhealthy desire to smoke cigarettes. Yes, I was the preacher's son but some deacon's kid somewhere taught me how to smoke. Err, ah, it might have been Fred who taught me to do that in Campaign, TN. At any rate, I enjoyed going to the shower so that I could indulge myself. Now, Frances was a 'little more wiser' than I was hoping for her to be. She just knew that something fishy was going on. Well, Fred came to check on me one day and caught me puffing away. He asked me, "What do you want to do that for?"

"I don't know," I answered. "I guess for the same reason you used to want to do it."

What I want to point out is that he didn't 'chew' me out or any thing like that. Further more, a short time later Fred & Frances were going somewhere, maybe to church, I don't remember, but they wanted me to watch Frankie while they were gone. Frankie was just a baby, maybe 1 or 2 yrs. old. Frances said to me just before they left, something like, "Now, Lowell, we don't want you to leave Frankie here in the trailer by herself, so if you want to smoke just use this cup to put your cigarettes out in." You know how smooth talking Frances is. And she said it with a smile on her face. No accusations! No blame! Just loving concern. And can you believe, they are the ones who let me, some years later, preach my first revival at their church in Tellico Plains, TN. They could have impacted my life for a bad memory, but they choose to love me anyway and I know they were, and still are, praying for me.

Thank you Fred & Frances for being who you are. Janis and I both love you.

Janis and I have 16 years to go before we can celebrate our 50th. I would be 80 years old. If the Lord tarries and we reach that milestone, I hope that it will be easy for my children to find something good to say about me. They won't have any trouble finding someone who can pin accolades on Janis, but I'm a little worried about me. I will expect some grand celebration if we reach that time, so kids (Stephen, Tammy, Jennifer & Jonathan), you have 16 years to think about it.