I Will Post Again!

Right now I am between a rock and a hard place when it comes to computing. My computer is presently down, and I am waiting on a part from Dell. Perhaps by the end of the week I will have my computer back on line. I am presently using my wife's computer. That should do, but I don't like the left-handed way she has the layout of her monitor and mouse and I don't like the way I have to open a drawer and slide out the keyboard in order to type. Also, her computer is sooooooooo sloooooooowww (I've got to get here a better computer). I know that is all trivial stuff, but I guess I just like my own computer. Besides, there is a vast amount of information on my computer that I can't get to because it is off line.

I am feeling very well physically. I believe that I am almost up to normal in strength and energy. However, if I've been operating on less than normal for years, while thinking I was normal, then I may have a little further to go, but I'm getting there. When I refer to normal strength, I'm not talking about a muscle bound athelete. I know I've got a lot to do on my muscles. I'm still at 185 lbs. Loosing 65 lbs. should make anyone feel better, don't you think.

I'll try to get back and post something when I get my computer back in operation.

That Was Close!

Whew! That's what I call close. My birth certificate from Florida arrived today. My liscense expires tomorrow. I went to the driver's liscense office this afternoon, expecting to spend about 2 hours of waiting, but wouldn't you know I didn't have to wait at all. How about that? Well, actually I didn't even go inside. You see.....they are closed on Mondays. Hey, they are off for the holidays Thursday and Friday also, so that means they will only work two days this week. It's not like 'there-is-no-business-therefore-it's-more-profitable-to-close'. If you've ever been to this office in Cleveland, you know what I mean. It's always been rather busy when I've been there. About three times. Now that's our state tax dollars at work. Oh, well. If I was working there, I'd be very excited about working only two days too. I don't want to point a finger at the local employees, but it's just a little example of how sluggish, 'big government' envolvement slows things down. Man! I believe me and you could tell Nashville how to run things, couldn't we? I know I could. That's why you can look at me and see all the success that follows me. Right?! hahaha! I am just kidding. I plan to be there first thing in the morning with my birth certificate in my hand. And, if I have too, I just might try the office in McMinn county. I just hope my eyes don't give me any problems!!

My Last Visit To The Specialist!

Well, well, well! What will I blog about now? Since I have been taken off my medication and the therapy has stopped, I should be feeling better. I am feeling better. Ain't that something? Off the medicine and feeling better! So "my progress" is just going to be gooder-n-gooder. I guess I'll have to blog more about "church, my family, sermon thoughts, theology, other and new things". (see my blog labels)

Let me just say this concerning the doctor visits to Dr. Buchner: It was kinda sad to say good-bye to those nurses. After seeing them so many times, I begin to think of them as my friends. So, why didn't I think of the doctor as my friend? Simple! Believe it or not, I never did even meet the doctor. I wouldn't know him if I bumped into him. I think he only comes to the Cleveland office once a week. Now, he could be comming more than that, but I still never met him and I don't know him. He sure has a good staff though, and I was well pleased with the care I received from them.

On this last visit, Monday, Nov. 12th., for the first time, I didn't loose any weight. As a matter of fact I gained 2 lbs. My blood counts were almost normal. I was almost out of the anemic stage, falling short of it only by a .2 (point two) reading of one of the four or five or more readings that they do. I knew I was getting better. In summary: It was hepatitis-c, geno-type 1b, I completed 28 weeks of the 48 week therapy session, beginning viral load of 7.2 million, mid-term load of 164,000, ending load of 1.02 million, I would not clear the virus, my primary care physician would receive a report of all that was done and he can do the same lab work if he desires. That's the doctor's report but there is another report to consider (See my blog dated Thursday, Oct. 18th., entitled "Whose Report Will You Receive?")

Should there be any important developments concerning my fight with the hepatitis-c virus, I'll probably post something about it on this blogspot.

Here's something new for you to feel sorry for me about. I have to renew my driver's liscense by Nov. 20th. This is the 16th. However, I can't do it yet. I'm waiting for the office of vital statistics in Florida to send me a certified copy of my birth certificate so I can prove to the liscense bureau that I am who I said I was five years ago when they issued me a Tennessee State driver's liscense. Mercy, mercy, mercy! I have my valid Tennessee driver's liscense, with my picture on it, and all the other important info, but that want do. The requirement is that since this is my first renewal, I must have my birth certificate. I ask you now. Does that mean that they are admitting to the possibility that they may have liscensed me illigally? Sounds like it to me. Well, the best way for me to respond to all that is just like I am doing now. I've put a rush order in for my birth certificate and I'm waiting. When it comes, I'll just go down to the liscense bureau office and take my number and go through the mill for my renewal. I'll not grumble nor complain. Err...ah, is that what I am doing now? Complaining? I'll get over it.

How To Burn Off Calories

OK, I know it's time I should have blogged already! I'm really trying to wait until my Nov. 12th. appointment is over, (I have a doctor's appointment - my last one to Dr. Buchner) but I just can't, so here's something to consider if you want to loose weight

If you rake leaves for 50 minutes you will burn approximately 210 calories.

If you lift weights for 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will burn approximately 257 calories.

If you houseclean for 2 hours and 35 minutes you will burn approximately 525 calories.

If you work in the garden for 35 minutes, you will burn approximately 165 calories.

If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes, you will burn approximately 400 calories.

If you ride a bike for 1 hour and 25 minutes, you will burn approximately 500 calories.

If you walk approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn 305 calories

If you vacuum for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes you will burn 310 calories.

If you play golf (while walking and carrying your clubs) for 1 hour, you will burn 350 calories.

If you walk the dog for 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn 400 calories.

If you do water aerobics for 1 hour and 15 minutes, you will burn 360 calories.

If you play tennis for 55 minutes, you will burn 380 calories.

If you wash the car for 1 hour and 15 minutes, you will burn 220 calories.

If you do aerobic dance for 1 hour and 5 minutes, you will burn 430 calories.

By the way, I now weigh 185 lbs. Just 10 more to go, then I may go to the Pizza Hut. No, no, now! I'm not going to start going to the Pizza Hut, I'm just planning on going once. Just once. Well, maybe after I wait a long time, I may go again. I can't afford to put that weight back on. I've already gotten rid of my larger clothes. I'll just have to be disciplined. Yeah, right! Help me ya'll.

I Was Wrong!

I hope the way I am handling the dissappointing news from the doctor will help to encourage someone. I know that I am not in pain and some of you may be. I really wish I could tell you how to get rid of the pain without taking the medicine. I can tell you that I believe in God and I believe that He can take your pain away. Will He? If you've never asked Him, you may never know, but even if you continue in pain, I believe that God will give you some kind of strong endurance to survive. Expect and believe that better days are comming. I am not always right about everything that I think I know, but sometimes, the alternative to faith does not work. What then can we do??????

(For about a year and a half now, I have preached only about once per month, so if what follows seems to be a little "preachy" maybe you will bear with me and allow me to say these things.)

I was wrong when 10 years ago the blood collecting agency in Lake Charles, LA tried to tell me that I had hepatitis-c. I decided that there was nothing wrong with me. I was wrong.
I was wrong when Dr. Sims, here in Cleveland, sent me to Dr. Buchner to see if the hepatitis-c was active. I told the nurse that she would see, when the results were in, that it was inactive and I was alright. I was wrong.
I was wrong when after 28 weeks of treatment for hepatitis-c, the virus had not cleared. I just believed, and said, that the virus was gone. I was wrong.
Now, I am saying that God has touched my body and I am going to be alright. Even if I should die with hepatitis-c, I am not going to die because of hepatitis-c.
No doubt, somebody will say, “You are wrong again.”
My reply to that comes from The Bible.
1 Corinthians 10:30 (TLB) If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why let someone spoil everything just because he thinks I am wrong?
As Job says in Job 19:4 (TLB) And if indeed I was wrong , you have yet to prove it.

Now I ask you? What do you think I should do? Lay down and give up, or roll over and play dead? That may be an alternative, but it's not for me.

Listen to Jeremiah 8:4-5 (TLB) … When a person falls, he jumps up again; when he is on the wrong road and discovers his mistake, he goes back to the fork where he made the wrong turn….
Proverbs 29:25 (KJV) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Psalms 118:8 (KJV) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Let me remind you (Hebrews, Chapter 11) of Abel, who offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice - Enoch who was translated that he should not see death - Noah, who being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house - Abraham, who when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went - and Sara who received strength to conceive seed.

And what happened to them? Hebrews 11:13 (KJV) These all died in faith , not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Conclusion: Job 13:15 (KJV ) Though (God) slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Here's something fun to do!!

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

Whose report will you receive?

I wrote this late last night (Wednesday night) but did not post it, so here it is!

I have anxiously anticipated this day when I could give you this 24 week report. Well actually, it has been more like 27 weeks. I really expected to tell you that the virus was totally cleared and I only had 20 more weeks of treatment to go. That is not the report that I have to give, however. Really, I have two reports to share with you.

The first report is what I received from the doctor’s office today (Wednesday). There is both good news and bad news here. First, the bad news. The virus has not cleared. The report says that my viral load increased from 164,000 to 1,020,000. That’s an increase of 856,000. So, the doctor feels that the treatment is not working and there is no point in continuing with it. That brings the ‘good news’, of a sort. I do not have to continue the treatments. That means when the medication works its way out of my body I should have no more side effects and get back to ‘normal’. My hair should stop falling out, I should have less dramatic emotional reactions, and hopefully, less extreme fatigue.

If that report is not good enough, then here’s the second report. Actually, I got this one earlier but I’ll call it the second one. The past week or so I have been feeling better and Sunday was a great day. Sunday night we were standing in the church singing. I can’t remember all the songs that we sung, but I definitely remember one of them. We were singing, “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus”. Do you know it? Well here it is on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe65um19-bw No, that’s not our church choir but it is the song we were singing. Anyway, I was feeling pretty good while we were singing and when we got to the verse that says, “He healed my body and He told me to run on,” I just felt so strong that it was for me. I looked over at Janis and I told her, while trying to keep from crying, “He healed my body and He told me to run on.” She agreed. I just knew that there was something going on. You know what I mean? After about another verse, I felt so impressed that I should tell my Mother what I felt, that I sat down and bent over to her and said, “I’ve gotta tell you what I feel like God has said. He healed my body and He told me to run on.” I had just as much difficulty, or more, trying to keep from crying that time as when I told Janis. Now, I believe that God was trying to minister to me. He knew what the doctors report was going to be today (Wednesday), based on the blood work taken last Thursday, but God’s report came to me on Sunday, based on faith in His Word.

I’m here to tell you that God has touched my body. I am off the medication as of today and I want you to help me to believe that I am healed. How can you help me? Don’t speak any doubt to me. Say only words of encouragement, and rejoice with me. Ironically, I can say that I may die “with” hepatitis-c but I do not believe that I will die “because” of hepatitis-c. Do you follow me? I was told when I received the doctors report that the nurse said something like what I just said, and I may have revised it a little but that’s the essence.

Whose report will you receive? Whose report will I receive? I shall receive the report of the Lord. I thank God for every ounce of health in my body and for every breath of air that I breathe. If the rapture doesn’t happen first, I plan on being around for 15 or 20 more years. To God be the Glory!

I'm Lonesome Today!

I’m lonesome today! Wednesday morning, my wife Janis and my mom left for Louisiana, leaving me here in the house all alone. Whoopeee! Right? When the cat’s away, the mice will play! Isn’t that the way I have heard it was supposed to be? I thought so, but it’s not working. I don’t know why, but the house seems to be a lot emptier now than when I’m here alone but knowing that Janis will be home about 3:30 or 4:00pm and knowing that my mother may call me at any time. Yesterday, I spent a lot of time on the computer, went to my brother-in law’s house and pestered Mike a little while, and then there was church at 7:00pm. I made it through the day ok.

Today is different. I had a doctor’s appointment this morning at 10:00am (I’ll speak to that in another blog) and after the doctor visit, I took my prescriptions to the drug store and then went to the library. Why not? There’s nothing else pressing to be done. I picked up a couple of DVDs dealing with cabinets, counter tops, and floors. I may learn something from these and they will take up a little of my time while it seems to be passing rather slowly. I decided that this would be a good time for me to go to the thrift store that our church, North Cleveland Church of God, has just recently opened, and see what it looks like. Besides I had a bag full of pants that are too small for me, thanks to my weight loss, and I wanted to give them to the thrift store. I looked around for several minuets and found that it was really a nice store with nice ‘stuff’. Of course, all the ‘stuff’ was used, but it was good. I may have to go back and get some clothes for myself that will fit me in my smaller size.

I left the thrift store and drove out to Grace Assembly, where I used to pastor, and drove around the church. It looked like no one was there so I left and went back by North Cleveland Towers where my mother lives. I know. She’s in Louisiana, but William and Wilbur also live in the Towers. They usually go to some restaurant to eat so I thought I might be able to catch them before they left and invite myself to join them, but they were not there. It was about 11:45am and I was right there at the church so I parked in the church lot and thought I’d just go in and check to see if a pledge I had made about a year and a half ago was paid. It was, so now I guess I’m cleared to pledge to missions and maybe to the “The Miracle Is In The House” campaign that our pastor is launching.

I came back home and heated up some good home-made soup that my wife had left for me and drank a slim-fast shake with it. No, wait! It wasn’t a slim-fast shake. It was an equate shake of some kind. Kinda like a slim-fast.

I guessed then, that I could work on the daily crossword puzzle and I tried, but I didn’t get too many answers, so after cleaning the dishes, I came to this computer and here I am. It’s just 2:00 pm, ya’ll! What am I going to do? Maybe after I post this blog, I’ll take a nap. That sounds like a good idea. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll stop this ‘jibber-jabber’ and do just that.

Oh! Don’t worry about me. I’ll be going to the Peacemaker’s fellowship meal tonight. It’s catered and cost free. I’ll post again in a few (or more) days. See ya later!

A God of Love

I am still reading the book Carpe Diem by Ed Madden, copyright 1993, by Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. I know! I'm a slow reader. Maybe that's the reason why I didn't go on to some higher level of education. I can see myself reading a book with many short chapters (like this one) instead of one with few chapters but long ones. I need a stopping place ever so often, where I can put the book down and pick it up tomorrow without loosing the value of the content. My 'hats off' to those of you who can consume a book in one evening. I envy you.

As I said in my blog on September 23rd., I would share some of the book with you as I travel through it, so here is something I'd like to share. Actually, I thought about posting this on Careplace, an internet site where people with health problems meet and support one another, but I thought it might be helpful if I could get some insight from some of you. Ed Madden was not a protestant, evangelical pentecostal, as far a I know, so I am really surprised to hear him talk as well about the love of God as he does. I would love to hear from you, and those of you who have some theological knowledge of the subject, your comment would be most appreciated.

"I went to Catholic grade school and high school and learned to fear God. I came to know a God who was always watching me, who knew my innermost thoughts even before I did and who would have no hesitation about punishing me for the least transgression of his innumerable laws, or even more importantly, the rules of the church."

Ed Madden goes on to tell us how he saw God some years later. He said, "I learned of a God who loved, and like any lover, was always ready to forgive. I studied a Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, who taught mercy, compassion, and above all, love....

"Those of us with terminal illnesses know that in a longer or shorter period we will be face to face with our God. I am not afraid. Jesus taught us to call God "Father." .... Who loves more than a parent loves a child? Should I believe that my love for my daughter, which I consider boundless, is greater than God's love for me? If so, I would be a better parent than God.

"No, my acceptance by God will depend not so much on how good or bad I've been here, but on how much he loves me. He loves me not because I am so loveable but because he is so loving. My sinfulness cannot discourage me when I read Jesus saying that it was for us sinners that he came. Some of the most tender moments in all the Gospels are the stories of his dealings with sinners. Never once did he condemn common sinners. Indeed he reserved his scorn for those who considered themselves righteous and law-abiding."

And in conclusion he said, "Our God is a God of love, of forgiveness, of mercy. Our God...is the God of the Scriptures; this is the God that Jesus described to us. This is the God I've come to know these many latter years. This is the God who will welcome all us prodigal children back home soon."

Am I missing some important theological error here? What do you think?

Go to this link if you would like to read more of his book. There, you can also order the book if you would like to buy it. I think it costs anywhere from $19.95 to about $26.00 - plus tax, shipping and handling you know.

More Weight Loss!

I'm still loosing weight. The last few days I have weighed in at 189 lbs. I think it's great that I am losing weight but Janis and momma are getting worried. Back in late January or early February when I started on a diet, and weighed about 250 lbs, I told Janis I would look older and people would say, "Oh, you're loosing too much weight," or "I think you've lost enough." Well, it's happening, and Janis is joining them. Now, we didn't know at that time that I would soon be on medication that would help with my diet (that's the way I look at it). I lost about 20 lbs. before medication and I've lost about 40 since beginning the medical treatment - a total of 60 lbs. since January.
I'm glad I'm loosing the weight but the medication has taken away that drive that's always demanding more food. I guess some would say that I have lost my appetite. I've gone from a size 44 waist to a size 38. Now, think about it. My closet was full of size 42s and a few 44s. I especially liked those pants with the additional few inches supplied by the stretchy waist band. Now, having a smaller waist, I go to the closet and pull out just about any pair of pants and they are too large. That means I've got to buy some new clothes. Well I did that and bought some 40s. Ah yes! That felt much better, but when the 40s began to be too large I decided to try 38s. Ah yes again! So now I have a few 38s and a few 40s and a lot of 42s. Who knows? Before my 23 more weeks of treatment is over, I may have to buy some 36s.
I can hear momma and Janis right now. "Oh no you're not. We're not going to let you lose any more weight. You are going to eat."
My reply is, "We'll see."
I am still overweight, so whats the big deal. Let me lose about 15 more lbs. and then I'll start eating some of those delicious, dripping with juice, Wendy's hamburgers, and frosties, and maybe even a few french fries. Oh, yeah! I know I could gain it all back when I'm off the medicine. Now, there's a scary thought. But by the help and grace of God, I'm not going to gain it back. You know when people gain back the weight they've lost, they always gain more. My prayer: "Oh Lord! Please help me to never gain too much weight again. Amen!"