HEALING UPDATE - Are We Witnessing a Miracle?

Thanks once again, to all who have been diligently praying concerning my health situation.  I have seen marked improvement in many areas.  Pain and discomfort have been reduced to a minimum level and I am able to function, at least to the point of writing and posting articles on this 'blog' site (be sure you check 'em out).  Lately, it seems, the Lord has awakened me just about every morning at around 2:00 and I've been able to sit at the computer and write without distraction.  It's left me a little tired at times but God is good and restores me daily.

Not only have your prayers enabled me to "function" but I am convinced we are witnessing the progressive manifestation of a notable miracle.  Consider this...

Four months after my last radiation treatment, the tumor continues to shrink significantly.  The Oncologist says it is normal for that to happen for maybe six or seven weeks past the end of treatment, but it is unusual for it to continue this long.  In addition to the shrinkage, the CEA levels (tumor markers), which were the primary initial indication that this was indeed, colon cancer, are way down.

Back in August, when this was first diagnosed, the CEA level was 50.  Now it is .9 (nine tenths).  Since the expected rise in those levels (after the conclusion of the first course of chemo and radiation treatment) has not been happening, but they have continued going down and remained at such a low level, it had been determined a few days ago, that we would wait on the previous plan to begin a new and lengthy chemotherapy course.  We would simply keep a close eye on things, making sure there were no signs of the CEA levels rising again, and the tumor becoming more 'active'.

After the most recent CT scan, the oncologist and the surgeon, both, have now determined that a new biopsy should be performed.  Why?  It was so clear with the previous CEA levels, the location of the tumor, and the partial biopsy that was performed in August, that the diagnosis would be advanced colon cancer---no reasonable doubt whatsoever.   Now there seems to be some doubt---not a lot, but some doubt---that this is actually colon cancer at all, or even malignant cancer of any known type.

In other words, there seems to be evidence that the tumor was not (or is no longer) what they thought, and though they still cannot remove it surgically, evidence of shrinking shows that it may be on its way out of my body anyway.   We are still counting on a miracle, plain and simple, just like we always have been, and the manifestation of that miracle could very well be what we are currently observing.  In any case it is rather thrilling to me, to hear all the medical and scientific facts, testifying to the goodness and apparent intervention of Almighty God.

At work on my blogs in the 'wee hours' of the morning

Why it's all about getting "Back to the Word"

According to religion in America 'experts', quoted on a recent msnbc news video, there is currently, a major "shift from people belonging to a church because of a specific teaching, to people looking for a church with specific programs that meet their current needs".

Put in those words, this kind of news item stirs a sense of excitement in the minds of many Christians---certainly no alarm.  After all, doesn't it simply mean that people are searching... And isn't that good news?

Put in different words, however, such as the words of Amos the prophet, predicting a "famine of hearing the words of the Lord" (Amos 8:11 NIV), there is definitely a stirring of the sense of alarm, especially for the Christian who may be a little more connected to 'the world' than to 'the Word'.  This is particularly true, considering the fact that we may very well be living in the day of which Amos prophesied.  And even the 'searching' factor offers nothing to be overjoyed about, when we note how the same prophesy addresses that, in the very next verse, saying... "Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it" (Amos 8:12 NIV)

In other words, this major 'shift' we hear about and are witness to, in the church, is born of carnal desires for a more enjoyable lifestyle, rather than a more consistent and vital flow of the life of God which provides all our true needs and has its source in God's Word.  It's not good, when this 'shift' causes people to abandon any quest for the revealed knowledge of Christ in exchange for 'programs' that supposedly meet their current, individual needs.  It leaves the few who are still actually 'searching' for revelation knowledge of the Word, 'staggering from sea to sea and wandering from north to east---searching, but not finding'.

My prayer is that more and more of us will 'abandon' our fixation on our carnal well-being and come 'back to the Word' (while we still can), knowing that in it, we will rediscover God's provision for our needs along with the spiritual maturity and strength to overcome in the really tough days that lie ahead for many.