"The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome...religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey'. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference." -Dr. Timothy Keller
Yep.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
My brother's continuing recovery
My brother Mark came through the surgery well. The facial surgery was performed through the roof of his mouth. He has two titanium plates, and fifteen screws, in his face. He is no longer on the respirator, but has a trachea through which he is breathing and coughing on his own. The MRI showed nothing significant so there has been no stroke. We were very excited Thursday as he began responding to our voices again after days of heavy sedation.
He hasn't opened his eyes, or been able to speak yet, but he responds to requests like "squeeze my hand", or "hold up two fingers". Mostly he sleeps, but we are being told that is the best thing for his brain right now. He becomes agitated when the nurses move him around, and also begins to move about at the mention of his daughter's name. We are anxious for him to open his eyes and recognize us, but are blessed that God has shown us mercy in that Mark will do this in time.
There is a growing suspicion with the authorities that he was not the only one involved in the accident. It had been believed that he somehow hit a neighbors mailbox, which was found knocked down, but his motorcycle is not badly damaged, and the front fender hardly at all. His motorcycle landed on one side, but it is the mirror on the other side that is broken. At the accident scene there are skid marks and tire tracks that do not belong to my brother, and we do not know who originally called 911. We had thought it was the neighbor in front of whose house the accident happened, but emergency team arrived just after she came outside to see what was going on.
When he awakes he may not remember, and we may never know for sure what happened. If my brother was hit by someone else we are thankful that at least 911 was called.
We are thankful for continued prayer.
We are thankful he is alive and recovering.
We are thankful that he will soon open his eyes.
He hasn't opened his eyes, or been able to speak yet, but he responds to requests like "squeeze my hand", or "hold up two fingers". Mostly he sleeps, but we are being told that is the best thing for his brain right now. He becomes agitated when the nurses move him around, and also begins to move about at the mention of his daughter's name. We are anxious for him to open his eyes and recognize us, but are blessed that God has shown us mercy in that Mark will do this in time.
There is a growing suspicion with the authorities that he was not the only one involved in the accident. It had been believed that he somehow hit a neighbors mailbox, which was found knocked down, but his motorcycle is not badly damaged, and the front fender hardly at all. His motorcycle landed on one side, but it is the mirror on the other side that is broken. At the accident scene there are skid marks and tire tracks that do not belong to my brother, and we do not know who originally called 911. We had thought it was the neighbor in front of whose house the accident happened, but emergency team arrived just after she came outside to see what was going on.
When he awakes he may not remember, and we may never know for sure what happened. If my brother was hit by someone else we are thankful that at least 911 was called.
We are thankful for continued prayer.
We are thankful he is alive and recovering.
We are thankful that he will soon open his eyes.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Prayer request
It's been a while since I've posted but a lot is going on.
I have three brothers. As I write one of them is going into surgery. He was in a very bad motorcycle accident this past Sunday morning at 3am. He was not wearing a helmet. He has several facial fractures, a broken rib, as well as being pretty torn up all over. The bone at the top of the nasal cavity and the forehead is broken, and they will be placing a metal plate at that point over the next few hours to keep it from spreading open. While they are in there the medical team will attend to the other fractures in his face as well.
He has not been fully awake since the accident, although he responds aggressively when being given a shot, or IV, etc. He is obviously in great pain. I do think he recognized my voice Sunday afternoon. As blood was being drawn from his arm he began to struggle. I told him I was there and asks him to be calm so we could work on getting him home. He started patting the top of my hand with the palm and fingers of his, and then squeezed my hand tightly as the nurse withdrew the blood.
That same evening the doctor loudly called his name, and asked him to raise both thumbs. He did, and thankfulness to God washed over me.
We are now being told that he may have had a stroke since he has stopped moving his left arm. An MRI will be done before the surgery to try to find out. All day Sunday, until the x-ray proved otherwise, everyone thought his left arm was broken. It is very badly beaten and bruised, and much skin has been scraped off. I believe he may be in too much pain to move it.
The doctors have told us that a cat-scan has showed some bleeding on the brain. They are unsure if this is from an old injury, or from the accident, but it is a place in the brain that cannot be reached. We are told where it is the brain will absorb it back in time. They have said they think there may be some brain damage, but believe it will be the kind that affects his short term memory. He may have trouble remembering where he left his keys, that sort of thing.
So I sit here typing to occupy myself as I wait to hear something. I know God has spared him. I know he will come home. It is not a matter of if, but when.
I am anxious to hear my brother speak.
God bless you my friends.
And pray for my brother.
I have three brothers. As I write one of them is going into surgery. He was in a very bad motorcycle accident this past Sunday morning at 3am. He was not wearing a helmet. He has several facial fractures, a broken rib, as well as being pretty torn up all over. The bone at the top of the nasal cavity and the forehead is broken, and they will be placing a metal plate at that point over the next few hours to keep it from spreading open. While they are in there the medical team will attend to the other fractures in his face as well.
He has not been fully awake since the accident, although he responds aggressively when being given a shot, or IV, etc. He is obviously in great pain. I do think he recognized my voice Sunday afternoon. As blood was being drawn from his arm he began to struggle. I told him I was there and asks him to be calm so we could work on getting him home. He started patting the top of my hand with the palm and fingers of his, and then squeezed my hand tightly as the nurse withdrew the blood.
That same evening the doctor loudly called his name, and asked him to raise both thumbs. He did, and thankfulness to God washed over me.
We are now being told that he may have had a stroke since he has stopped moving his left arm. An MRI will be done before the surgery to try to find out. All day Sunday, until the x-ray proved otherwise, everyone thought his left arm was broken. It is very badly beaten and bruised, and much skin has been scraped off. I believe he may be in too much pain to move it.
The doctors have told us that a cat-scan has showed some bleeding on the brain. They are unsure if this is from an old injury, or from the accident, but it is a place in the brain that cannot be reached. We are told where it is the brain will absorb it back in time. They have said they think there may be some brain damage, but believe it will be the kind that affects his short term memory. He may have trouble remembering where he left his keys, that sort of thing.
So I sit here typing to occupy myself as I wait to hear something. I know God has spared him. I know he will come home. It is not a matter of if, but when.
I am anxious to hear my brother speak.
God bless you my friends.
And pray for my brother.
Friday, August 12, 2005
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR GRACE HARBOR RESIDENTS
Note the subject line says residents, and not readers :)
Grace Harbor appears to be turning into a personal blog. My intention has been to form an online community, beginning with some friends, where we could converse honestly as Christians from a Christian perspective about anything we liked, but if that is not to be that is ok. I have several member listed, but almost no one is posting but me. In seven days from now if no one is posting then I'll begin removing folks from the list.
I appreciate the initial interest. If it is to be a personal blog then the occasional absence of one person is probably not as blatantly obvious as the continual absence of many. Perhaps you meant to join in and found you would rather be a reader than a writer -that's fine. You are welcome to read, and I hope you will, as often as you like! No hard feelings at all. If this is going to be a personal blog then we'll just go that way until such a time, if any, that others might want to join in.
In the mean time visit, read, and hopefully enjoy the time. If this is something you are interested in now then please post in the next week. Every week or two, or more, would be great - at least a couple of times a month. If you become interested later just let me know.
I appreciate the initial interest. If it is to be a personal blog then the occasional absence of one person is probably not as blatantly obvious as the continual absence of many. Perhaps you meant to join in and found you would rather be a reader than a writer -that's fine. You are welcome to read, and I hope you will, as often as you like! No hard feelings at all. If this is going to be a personal blog then we'll just go that way until such a time, if any, that others might want to join in.
In the mean time visit, read, and hopefully enjoy the time. If this is something you are interested in now then please post in the next week. Every week or two, or more, would be great - at least a couple of times a month. If you become interested later just let me know.
A New Drummer!
Things have moving within the band, and are on the upswing with the mighty ONE ACCORD. Our drummer of 15 years, Steve, felt that it was time for him to do something else. We have ministered together for a long time, and our prayers and best wishes are with him. He was, is, and will ever be our friend.
I sent out an email letting some folks know our predicament and requesting prayer for the band as we prayed about another drummer. We are a very good band with good songs. People really seem to enjoy us , and worship the Lord when we play. At this point in time we need someone who is a skilled drummer now, not someone who is learning. Someone we can hand our two Cd's to and have that person play it essentialy like that the next week. The new drummer must love the Lord, and be willing to work with the band as a team. We have a date scheduled in September, and I received a response from the drummer of another band we are friendly with offering to help out and fill in until the Lord supplied a permanent drummer. Very nice of him and them.
As it has turned out I was able to speak with a man who has already been part of the ONE ACCORD family in the past. A good and solid drummer who is the son of our guitar/keyboard singing married couple in the band. He has before played bass, as well as percussion, and occasionally drums. He knows the songs and is a natural fit. While we are We are excited to have him join us!
Welcome Brian!
I sent out an email letting some folks know our predicament and requesting prayer for the band as we prayed about another drummer. We are a very good band with good songs. People really seem to enjoy us , and worship the Lord when we play. At this point in time we need someone who is a skilled drummer now, not someone who is learning. Someone we can hand our two Cd's to and have that person play it essentialy like that the next week. The new drummer must love the Lord, and be willing to work with the band as a team. We have a date scheduled in September, and I received a response from the drummer of another band we are friendly with offering to help out and fill in until the Lord supplied a permanent drummer. Very nice of him and them.
As it has turned out I was able to speak with a man who has already been part of the ONE ACCORD family in the past. A good and solid drummer who is the son of our guitar/keyboard singing married couple in the band. He has before played bass, as well as percussion, and occasionally drums. He knows the songs and is a natural fit. While we are We are excited to have him join us!
Welcome Brian!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
