The corny old action adventure show called the “A Team” always ended with the leader of the team saying, “I love it when a plan comes together.” In theology when we see the plan come together we call this the Providence of God. It means that God is in the details of life. Often Abraham followed God when he didn’t fully know the plan or how it would all come together. That’s how life works. We follow God’s providence and trust his plan. I love to see how Abraham trusted God to provide. Genesis 22:13-14 says, “When Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.
We have seen God’s providence demonstrated through my brain surgery and diagnosis of Stage 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer. When Karen told her 6th grade science class about my surgery and cancer a little boy came up to her and hugged her and cried with her. The next day Karen received an email from this boy’s mom that his uncle was one of the top ten Glioblastoma cancer researcher at world renowned Shands hospital in Gainesville, Florida. God is involved in the details of my treatment. It is quite possible that the radiologist who made my initial diagnosis of cancer is the parent of a child that Karen teaches. Also a parent of a child Karen teaches runs the 5th floor neurosurgery floor at Mayo that took such good care of me and got me home so quickly to be with my family.
THE PLAN IS COMING TOGETHER! I meet with my neuro-surgery team on Wednesday, Sept 22 at 11:00 a.m EST for them to remove the stitches from my surgical scar and give me the green light to start radiation and chemo treatments. The sooner we start in treating the cancer to stop its growth the better. I am scheduled for my first treatment of radiation and chemo on Thursday, September 23rd at 3:45 PM EST. The radiation blast is about 15-20 minutes long and one of the side affects is fatigue. I will take an oral chemo along with radiation. Radiation will take place 5 days a week for six weeks.
I find great comfort from the book of Philippians and Paul’s life. Paul knew what it was to suffer and experience trials. Here is what sustained Paul: I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, Philippians 1:3-4 I thank God for every single one of you who texted, emailed, called, encouraged and prayed for me and my family. You have nourished our souls and sustained us. We need you to stand with us, believe with us and like the paralytic bring us to the feet to Jesus
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP FINANCIALLY WITH THE MOUNTAIN OF MEDICAL BILLS WE FACE, HERE’S HOW. Friends we have done life together with for over 25 years from West Palm Beach will be managing a fund for us to help with medical bills. They will manage the fund with integrity and accountability. While we have good insurance, our deductible so far is $6200. No one knows the future in regards to clinical trial expenses and disability. If you would like to be informed of our needs, you can respond to this post by sending your email address in the comment section below. To be added to this email group, you can also email directly to a new email address that will be monitored by our friends: teamphelpsfamily@gmail.com. Our friends will communicate regularly about what our financial and medical needs are. I will be more transparent and open with this inner circle group of very trusted friends. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide and in no way presume anything of you.
I am a very blessed man. God has surrounded me with such good and Godly people. Many of you have walked with me through a lifetime of ministry and loved me well. No truer words could ever have been penned by the Apostle John of the people who have walked with me through life: Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18 Words are not enough to express my gratitude and thankfulness for life long friends, the men and women in groups, fellow staff members in churches that I have served, students that I have taught. You have refreshed my soul and had my back during hard times.