July 18 update

July 18, 2006

Dear Family & Friends,

I send greetings from Carol. I have been sharing your email notes and cards with her as we have had time between therapy sessions (about 200 notes). We are so grateful for your prayers and encouragement. You have blessed us immeasurably.

Today was Carol’s best day yet in therapy. She has been working hard to regain balance and to sit and stand without assistance. She has also been working on regaining coordination in her left hand and arm. We have seen considerable improvement in those areas over the past two days.

Until today she was able to take only a few steps with a walker and with heavy assistance from her therapist, but today she walked about 20 feet with her walker and with only moderate assistance. That was a significant breakthrough. Also, her pain level seems to have decreased a little so she isn’t requiring as much pain medication. That’s significant not only because it indicates healing at the surgery site, but also because she is able to participate more fully in her therapy sessions when she isn’t as groggy from pain meds.

Some of you have asked for more specific information about her tumor. It was diagnosed as a Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), also called grade 4 astrocytoma, which is the most malignant form of glioma or astrocytoma. If you would like to read more about it, you can do so at http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Brain/Typesofbraintumour/Astrocytoma.

The data is not at all encouraging, so rather than reading it, you may prefer simply to pray that the Lord will show special mercy and grant a healing miracle. As I shared with you in my last update, I know He has the power to do that, but He may choose otherwise for His own purposes, so please also pray that our wills will be perfectly in tune with His, whatever the outcome may be. We don’t have to understand His will, but we do need to be in the center of it with thankful hearts and prayerful spirits. That is our greatest desire.

Having said that, I want you to know that the Lord is sustaining us each day, just as He promised to do. However, despite the special strength and hope He gives us in our weakest moments, the fear and uncertainty can seem overwhelming at times, so please pray that we will remain focused on His grace and love instead of on the circumstances. This is the greatest spiritual test we have ever faced, and we don’t want to fail it or to squeak by with a “C+.” We want high marks, but we know we have no capacity in ourselves to achieve them. Your prayers and the ministry of the Spirit of God will have to accomplish what would otherwise be impossible. Thank you for such a profound ministry on our behalf.

I will update you again soon. In the meantime, I pray that the Lord will bless and encourage you each day.

Dennis

July 14 update

Dear Family & Friends,

Much has happened since my July 6 update. Carol spent three days in ICU and was then transferred to a section of the hospital that specializes in physical and occupational therapy. On July 10 she was transferred from Cottage Hospital to The Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara, which is a wonderful 25-bed hospital that provides specialized rehab. services (www.risb.org).

Things have been a little rough for her at the Institute because they are still trying to find the proper balance of pain control and functionality. She still has considerable pain from the surgery, but the more pain medication she has, the more loopy she becomes, which diminishes her ability to participate in therapy. At the same time, if her pain level is too high, she is unable to concentrate on therapy. It’s a delicate and difficult balance to maintain at this stage of her treatment.

I was encouraged this evening because for the first time she showed signs of having an appetite and was alert enough to feed herself. Perhaps she has reached something of a breakthrough. Time will tell.

Her left hand, arm and leg mobility is improving daily, but her left side vision is still gone. Her therapists are focusing primarily on life skill activities, with the primary goal of increasing left side involvement in each activity. They are anticipating her being at the Institute for two or three more weeks.

Carol’s sister Gloria and our daughter-in-law Kelly were here for a few days and have now returned home. It was wonderful having them here, and we are so thankful for their ministry to us. We have also had visits, calls and emails from many dear friends like you. Your compassion and concern are overwhelming and deeply appreciated.

Our friends Al & CC Doctolero live just a few miles from the Rehab. Institute and have made a room in their home available to me for as long as Carol is in rehab., so I don’t have to make the long trip home each day. May the Lord bless them for their kindness. I have my work with me, so being away from my home office is not a significant problem. Finding time and concentration to do the work is the greater challenge.

I do have some prayer requests to share with you:

That the Lord will be honored in our lives each day as we progress through this trial.
That the people whom Carol has talked to about the Lord will be receptive.
That Carol will continue to improve so she can return home as soon as possible.
That she will get well enough to travel to Virginia to see our beloved grandchildren.
That the Lord will prepare our hearts, and those of our loved ones, for whatever He has in mind for Carol in the future.

There are many more requests, but the hour is late and I must close for now.

With deep appreciation for your prayers,

Dennis

post surgery

My mother had to have emergency surgery on the 4th of July. Here is the update from my father.


Dear Family & Friends,
I'm sorry for the delay in getting a surgery update to you. Things have been a little busy here and I don't have direct access to the Internet. The hospital medical library has kindly let me use their computer for this update.

Carol's surgery went well in that they were able to remove most of the tumor without any noticeable damage to sight or memory functions. Actually, the ICU nurse told me Carol is the most talkative patient on morphine that she has ever had (why am I not surprised?). Her recall of events, names, places, dates, etc. is normal, with the exception of last Tuesday, which is a blank to her because of her weakened condition on that day.

The deficits Carol was experiencing when she went into surgery (weakness in her left arm and leg, and left side vision loss) are still present and may be temporary. They could, however, be long-term. They will be addressed through therapy at the appropriate time.
She is still in ICU but will be transferred to a hospital room later today. If all goes well, she should be released from the hospital on Monday, either to go home or to a temporary therapyfacility, depending on how she progresses between now and then.

As I mentioned, her surgical team was able to remove most of the tumor, but it had some feelers extending into areas that could not be addressed surgically. Pathology confirmed that it is cancerous but unrelated to her breast cancer. From what I understand, it is unusual for a second type of cancer to appear in a person so quickly after the first, but that is what has occurred here.

They will treat what remains of the tumor with radiation therapy and then an oral type of chemotherapy. I don't remember the medical name for this type of cancer, but it is not one for which they have a cure. Typically it will recur within a year, sometimes sooner. At that time a second surgery may be appropriate, depending on the precise location of the recurrence, but given the fact that the remaining feelers are located in such sensitive areas of the brain, a second surgery does not seem to be an option.

My prayer is that the radiation and chemo follow-ups to this surgery will be very effective, or that our Lord will, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, heal her for His own glory. In any event, I praise Him for the unspeakable gift of 38 years together, and will treasure every moment He gives us in the future.

I will get another update to you when I can. I have not had a chance to read all the emails we've received since Carol's surgery, or to respond to them, but eventually I will, and I will read them to her. I deeply appreciate your thoughts, prayers and good wishes.

Many of you have asked how I am doing. Thank you for your concern. Emotionally I'm a mess much of the time, but I have times of great encouragement and strength. We have many dear friends who are making sure I am taken care of and that I'm taking care of myself. You've all gone through trials and griefs of your own, so you understand the blessings of family and friends at a time like this.

Above all, I have the comfort and encouragement of the Lord in my heart. In His wisdom He doesn't always shelter His children from pain, but He always uses the pain to refine character and to produce deeper faith and a greater longing for heaven. Frankly, I don't like what is happening, but I take great comfort in its eternal significance. Maybe the Lord will even use Carol's condition to turn some hearts toward His great love and salvation. We talked about that before she was hospitalized, so I know that's Carol's prayer too.

I know that not all of you share the trust in the Lord that Carol and I have spoken to you about over the years, but I want all of you to know that the Lord is utterly faithful toward His children, and His promises are absolutely true. I know that He has the power to heal my precious wife, but the option is for her to be in His glorious presence. I am thankful that I
do not have to make a choice between the two; that's His choice to make. But in either case, she wins. I will pray for her healing but ultimately I will defer to the Lord's will for her. That's how it should be.

One final thought: Carol is still pretty heavily medicated, so I have not shared with her the precise nature of her medical condition. I will do that at the appropriate time. But for those of you who call or visit, please be guarded in what you say about her condition. I have shared that information with you because you love her and I want you to know for the purpose of prayer.

Thank you.
As always, I write with great affection for you all,
Dennis


Dennis P. McBride
PO Box 1500, Solvang, CA 93464
http://www.communitychurchsyv.org
http://www.yoyomaster.com

Update

July 3, 2006

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you so much for your gracious responses to our last email. We appreciate your thoughtfulness so much!

We received word today that Carol’s surgery is scheduled for next Monday, July 10 at 1:30 pm. The additional week will give her medications more time to work on the tumor and hopefully to shrink it a bit. It will also give us more time to pray and to address the various issues and implications of the situation. We are thankful for that time.

We will keep you posted on developments.

With sincere thanks,

Dennis & Carol

Prayer request for my mother

July 2, 2006

Dear Family & Friends,

Some of you haven’t heard from us for awhile, but we often think of you and the encouragement and prayer support you gave us during Carol’s cancer treatments. You have a special place in our hearts for having shared that experience with us in such a personal and beneficial way.

Carol has been doing remarkably well since that time, but now we are facing another challenge that we want to make you aware of. She has developed a sizable tumor on the right side of her brain, and her medical team has determined that it is cancerous and will require surgical removal. The surgery date has not been set yet, but it will likely be mid-week (about July 5). We will know more tomorrow when we hear from the surgeon’s office.

This situation arose rather quickly, following a few weeks of minor symptoms (i.e., mild headaches and low grade temperature). She has also had some visual disturbances and occasional disorientation while in familiar surroundings. Her most recent blood and cancer marker tests revealed nothing abnormal, but her symptoms, coupled with her need for an updated contact lens prescription, prompted us to visit our optometrist, who discovered an abnormal visual pattern and encouraged us to see an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist determined that her problem was neurological and consistent with stroke activity rather than with the eyes themselves. A subsequent MRI revealed a 4cm x 6cm tumor in the area of the brain most closely related to sight and memory.

The tumor is most likely linked to her previous breast cancer episode, although it does not have some of the typical characteristics of metastatic cancer, so it may be a new cancer unrelated to the breast cancer. In any event, it must be removed very soon.

Currently she is on anti-seizure medication as well as a medication to help shrink the tumor. From what we understand, radiation therapy is beneficial in shrinking a tumor in many situations, but in Carol’s case the tumor is too large to qualify for pre-surgical radiation therapy.

The surgery and potential side effects are deeply concerning to us, but the surgical team is optimistic and we know that ultimately Carol is in the hands of her Lord. Even at that, we are experiencing a great deal of fear and grief. Please pray that we will bring honor to the Lord through this situation, and that His grace and peace will govern our hearts, minds and actions. Pray also for the medical team as they do their amazing work. Ask the Lord to bless them not only with great skill, but more importantly with His divine favor and grace upon their souls.

I should add that Carol was hospitalized Friday night and was given a full-body CAT scan that detected no other cancer in her body. That is a great praise. She is now home and feeling well. The strong medications she is on have her a little more loopy than usual (she’ll forgive me for that comment, I’m sure), but otherwise she is doing well.

With deep appreciation for your prayers and concern,

Dennis McBride

July book

God in a box?

Last week, my wife was telling me about a conversation she had. The person she was talking to dismissed her side of the discussion by saying, "You can't put God in a box."

I have always been bothered by this statement. The Stand To Reason blog posted about the same "God in a box" statement here.

So what do you think? "God in a box", is it a valid argument or a last ditch argument for someone who has no Biblical support?

Tony Dungy

My father sent me this link about Tony Dungy, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. I have read interviews with him in the past where he talked about his Christianity, but this is the best yet.

ME Church

Thought this was kind of funny and sad all at the same time.
Thanks to Thoughts of a Wayfarer where I first saw this.

An Urge for Discernment

We are getting ready to study discernment in our youth ministry. It was not my first choice, but it is what the Lord showed me is the most needed right now. There are so many insidious influences attacking the church right now. I can empathize with Jude when he said in Jude 3, "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
Jude's entire message in his short letter is to be discerning and defend the faith.

Here are some of the issues we will look at in our study of discernment over the next few weeks.

What is discernment?

Is discernment or discrimination a bad thing? What makes it good or bad?

How can we grow in our discernment.

Where is the church being attacked? How do we respond to those attacks?

I pray for the leaders of the youth, that during this month, as we study through Jude and teach through discernment, that the Lord would give us wisdom and help us to grow in our discernment.

June Study Book

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Blue Like Jazz

Review of Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller

To the casual observer, this book appears to be the random narratives of a man in his search for Christian spirituality. You find that he draws upon his experiences as he learns who God is and begins to have a relationship with Him. However, careful reading quickly shows that this man, Miller, is not just searching for God, he his searching for a different kind of relationship with God. Miller writes about a new kind of “Christian spirituality” that seeks to show the love of Jesus Christ. He discusses his ideas about reaching out to a lost people, feeding the homeless, and having a relationship with those the church has abandoned. While the initial reaction of the reader may be, “Wow, I want this kind of faith.” one must giver closer examination to Miller’s understanding, assumptions, and propositions.

Miller’s overall point of the book is summed up near the middle of his text when he says, “the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and embracing Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained.” (p. 115). This becomes the basis for Miller’s thoughts on Christian spirituality as he bashes Christianity and the church. So you may be asking what’s wrong with being upset at how the church has treated people, or yes, the church has abandoned people and we should love them. The problem is not in the desire of Miller and others to reach out to a lost and hurting people. The problem is how they go about doing this. Miller believes that we need to live in community with the culture around us and we need to make God’s word relevant to their lives. Miller and his friends do this by participating with and looking like the culture. They believe that for people to see Jesus, they must see how He can be like them. This is backwards thinking. The Bible tells us to be in the world, not of the world (John 15:19; Romans 12:2). We should be in relationship with the world, but for the purpose saving them (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15). For example, we are told to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey God’s word (Matthew 28: 19-20). What Miller shows as the love of Jesus Christ, is not an accurate reflection of the love of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not make disciples by hanging out at tax booths or the lake and talking fish and money (Matthew 4:17-19). No, he called his disciples from those places to follow him (Luke 9:23). Their lives were changed by the Word of God whereas Miller believes that the Word of God should be changed by their lives. While Miller encourages many good works, such as feeding the homeless, he neglects to emphasize the importance of spending time in the Word and bringing our life into accord with it. If we truly want to show the love of Jesus Christ, we will not just give someone physical food, we will give them the living water (John 4:13-14).

The second major issue in Miller’s book is about the mysteriousness of God. True, we will never fully understand God while on this earth, but this can be taken too far to say that we can’t understand God at all. Miller holds that we receive personal revelation of God through our experiences so he cannot be explained because how I have experienced him is different than how you have experienced him. This is simply not true. God has revealed himself through His Word (1 Samuel 3:20-22). It’s not hard to see God in our experiences, but this is not how He defines himself. The nature of God is seen in who He tells us he is (in scripture) and we see him act, as he has already told us, in life’s situations.

Lastly, Miller spends a great deal of his book bashing the church. His anti-establishment/organization attitude is very clear. This is seen in how he responds to any authority over him and his thoughts on the purpose of church. Nowhere in the Bible, does God appear or act chaotic. God is a god of structure. Not to mention, we are clearly commanded to be obedient to authorities over us (Titus 3:1; Col 1:16; Romans 13:1). If we cannot be obedient to someone in the here and now, how are we going to be obedient to a God whom we don’t physically see and calls to us change our entire life?

This review is in no way a comprehensive dissection of Miller’s book. I would encourage you to read it and discern the message being sent. Please talk to me about it if you wish. Most importantly, apply the measure of God’s word to the book and see if it stands up.

Scott

Bloom

Thought I would leave you with something fun for the weekend.

Bloom

Lying? part 4

Other Resources

I know that this has been far from exhaustive. My goal has been to whet your appetite and get you thinking about practical application of scripture. We so often justify or discount sin in our lives. Lying even more so than some other sins. It is acceptable in our society and to a degree has become acceptable, if the "motivation" is right, in the modern church. All our sin grieves God. As we grow to be more like Christ, our view of sin should become more like His.

Here are some great resources about lying.

The Destructive Sin of Lying(Part 1) by John MacArthur
The Destructive Sin of Lying(Part 2) by John MacArthur

Question & Answers with John MacArthur

At what point does deception become sin? For example, Rahab was commended for her faith, but apparently she lied when she was hiding spies. And, more specifically, what would you do if you happened to be hiding Jews in your house, and officials asked you if you were hiding Jews, how would you respond to that?

I just got back from a summer with an organization where we took Bibles and books into Eastern Europe and Romania. And, one such problem I had to deal with personally was, what would happen if I got to the border with a load of books and Bibles and was asked point-blank, which, maybe, I was, and I did not know it. "Do you have any Bibles?" What would be your ethical answer to that?

I would like to know when it is okay for a Christian to tell a lie. For example, like Corrie Ten Boom, an underground church, underground police officer. Just when is it okay?

Speak Truth with Your Neighbor by John Piper

Lying? part 3

Rightous Lying?

When ever the question, “Is it ever alright to lie” comes up, it inevitably leads to Joshua 2 and the story of Rahab. As the reasoning goes, Rahab lied to the king to protect the spies, she did it for the Lord, and the Lord later commended her for it. Lets take a look at each part of that.


Rahab lied to protect the spies and she did it for the Lord

The point to this argument is, Rahab had right motivations when she lied. She lied for the Lord. The problem with this is the Bible never supports an “end justifies the means” philosophy of action. We have already recognized lying as a sin. Our motivation does not take away the sinfulness of the act. The Bible recognizes lying, deceitful actions, and flattery as sins.

What it comes down to is our faith. Do we have faith that God is in control of all situations. When we lie for God, we are in effect say “God, this will go wrong if I don’t help you out.” God desires our help, but He doesn’t need our sinful help. We show a lack of faith in Gods providence when we start sinning to help Him. As James 1 says, we take a righteous trial from God, and due to our fleshly desire, we turn it into sin.

This goes for Corrie ten Boom, the Underground Railroad, and anywhere Christians lie for God. God is never out of control in a situation.


The Lord commended her for it

When people try to justify Rahab’s actions, they look at Hebrews 11:31 and say “See, God said she was faithful.”

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31

They are correct, God said Rahab was faithful. But what action showed her faith? It was her receiving the spies peacefully, not her lying. God never commends her for sin.


Tomorrow I will try to wrap things up and give you some helpful links.

Lying? part 2

What does the Bible say?

Yesterday we looked at a definition of lying. Today I want to look at what the Bible has to say about lying.


What commands are we given about lying?

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:11-12

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 3:9-10

What is God's view of lying?

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. Proverbs 12:22

What should be our view about lying?

I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. Psalm 119:163

A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
Proverbs 13:5

For He said, “Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior. Isaiah 63:8

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalm 40:4

He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Psalm 101:7

Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. Psalm 119:29

What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. Proverbs 19:22

What kind of person is characterized by lying?

You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Psalm 52:3

They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Psalm 62:4

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Acts 5:3

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44

The Bible certainly is not quiet about lying. What are some of the truths we see in the text?

Lying is clearly forbidden.
Lying is not characteristic of a Christian.
Lying is characteristic of an unregenerate soul.
Lying should be dealt with seriously.
We find no statement from God commending lying or allowing lying.

Take the time to look up other references about lying. Here are some links that might be helpful with this.

Topical Index

Keyword Search

Tomorrow we will look at the example of Rahab. Is Rahab an example of "righteous lying"? Read Joshua 2 and Hebrews 11:30-31

Lying? part 1

A Definition

I guess there was a conversation at church yesterday that I missed. It was about lying. Is there ever a good reason to lie? Obviously God commands us not to lie, but as the question always goes, what about Rahab? What if I am a secret squirrel in the CIA? What if I don't want to hurt someone's feelings?

This week, I want to take a look at lying. What does scripture say about it and what are the practical applications.

So let's define lying. Here are some different definitions of lying.

Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary

lie noun
1 a : an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive
b : an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker
2 : something that misleads or deceives

lie verb
lied; lying
intransitive verb
1 : to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive
2 : to create a false or misleading impression
transitive
verb
1 : to bring about by telling lies 〈lied his way out of trouble〉

New Bible Dictionary

LIE, LYING (Heb. šeqer, ‘falsehood’, ‘deception’; kāzāb,
‘lie’ or ‘deceptive thing’; Gk. pseudos and cognates). Essentially, a lie is a statement of what is known to be false with intent to deceive

Harper Dictonary

lying, the act of telling falsehoods as truth.

So lying is telling someone something that is not true or telling something with the idea of misleading them.

Tomorrow we will look at what the Bible says about lying.

Miscellaneous Updates & People to Perfect

Well, my parents visit went well. They made it home safely. Pray that their next visit can come sooner than this past one.

I am done with the job at the secure government site.

These two things combined mean updates should happen more frequently.

We also have another person who will be joining our blogging team. He will be posting every other week for now. Keep an eye out.

I have enjoyed reading through Exodus. I am continually struck by the imperfect people God uses to minister to His people. Abraham, Moses, Aaron, the list could go on and on.

It brings me comfort to know God is not looking for perfect people, but people to perfect.

Expository Preaching

Here is an article from Grace Community Church's Pastor's Conference. It is about why expository preaching is so important.

Preach The Word: A case for expository preaching.
By Dan Dumas

Here is an excerpt from the article about what expository preaching is.

Richard L. Mayhue defines expository preaching as preaching that “focuses predominantly on the text(s) under consideration along with its (their) context(s). Exposition normally concentrates on a single text of Scripture, but it is sometimes possible for a thematic/theological message or a historical/biographical discourse to be expository in nature. An exposition may treat any length of passage.”

Preaching that is severed from the Scriptures is not Christian preaching!

“The regular proclamation of Christ through the close exposition of Scripture is more relevant in creating a worshipping and serving community than political causes, moral crusades, and entertaining services.”

Mayhue gives a helpful summary of the essential elements of expository preaching. They are as
follows:

1. The message finds its sole source in Scripture.
2. The message is extracted from Scripture through careful exegesis.
3. The message preparation correctly interprets Scripture in its normal sense and its context.
4. The message clearly explains the original God-intended meaning of Scripture.
5. The message applies the Scriptural meaning for today.

Richard L. Mayhue, Preaching: How to Preach Biblically

Small break

My parents are in town so my posts might be sporadic for the next 2 weeks.