It has been wonderful to hear from so many friends over this Christmas season. There have been so many asking "how are you doing?" and assurances "we have been praying for you and continue to pray for you". These relationships are invaluable riches.
This past week, over Christmas, has been so enjoyable with Jennifer and Kevin and 2 of our grandkids filling the house with stories and laughter and squeals of delight.
I have been home in recovery mode for about 3 weeks and I'm so grateful that strength is returning, I would estimate to perhaps the 33% level. The healing continues with the help of the visiting nurse every other day who changes the dressing on the wound from the surgery. And, as always, hovering over and above, just slightly lower than the angels, is my personal nurse, Shirley nee Booth. With all of this care, orchestrated by the Lord, I am of all men most blessed.
Some of you have been looking for this, another segment of the blog arising out of this "health issue", as we euphemistically call these crises. This will probably be the last in this series of reports and musings. It's time to rest and continue to let God do His work in my body and spirit.
But there is one last passage of Scripture that has captured my attention in a big way these days. It's about this "work" of God which is invisible on one level (only nurses and doctors see under the dressings to where the body is being re-knit together) and visible on another level. The Apostle Paul talks about the work of God being manifested openly, visibly as we lives our lives submissively and obediently under His good hand.
mo
The passage of Scripture is 2 Cor. 4:11-15 where Paul speaks about "death working in us but life working in you" (v.12). There are deep truths to be mined from this text. My experience cannot be equated to the Apostle's. He was facing death because of his witness for Christ in a hostile culture. My recent struggle with cancer has a very different source - living in an earthly physical body that is subject to disease and decay. But the phrase still fits: "death is at work". This is not a morbid lament but a realistic statement about the reality of life. It is passing and brief. We only have today that we can be certain about.
So the issue is "do we really understand that reality?" and "what do we do about it?" I know that that past few months have helped me to learn some of these lessons a little more deeply than ever before. I understand that God wants to use this season of facing "death at work" in my body to manifest His "life at work" for the sake of others coming to know Him better. My prayer is that every life that my life touches will be drawn closer to the Lord so that it can be truly said that when our last day comes (however and whenever) "the Lord Jesus will raise us up and present us with you." (v.14). That will cause great thanksgiving to about to the glory of God (v. 15). Amen. Thus endeth the lessons.
With love, prayer and thanksgiving. KEN
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
LEARNING THROUGH WEAKNESS
I'm not one to dwell on the negative. If you know me at all, you know I'm basically a positive guy. I've never gone through this kind of experience before and I now understand how quickly you can become preoccupied with suffering. I'm determined not to go there. But neither do I want to live in denial. Balance is an illusive goal.
Last Saturday we moved back into a positive space physically. I/we were released to return to our home in Nanaimo, complete with drainage tubes attached, dressings to be changed every day, enough drugs to start a pharmacy... and my own beautiful nurse to insure that I keep things in order. What a blessing to have this retreat (our new home) in which to convalesce and recover.
With the physical pain basically managed, it is an interesting and difficult experience to deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of recovery. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus , even being the very Son of God "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." Who can plumb the depths of that statement? It's all part of that amazing reality that he "humbled himself and became obedient..." I certainly would not want to be interpreted as pretending to duplicate the experience or holiness of Jesus.
But as I reflect on "learning obedience through suffering" I'm wrestling with the reality of limitations. I have been called upon to be a leader in various situations in life and ministry. I hope I have exemplified the Jesus style of leadershp: servant leadership. But leadership involves control of one kind or another. Suffering usually involves not having control.
Illustration: a young woman, hardly out of high school (or so it seems) is speaking loudly in your ear as you emerge from the anaesthetic: "wiggle your toes, Mr. Birch... wiggle your toes...!" She's the nurse in the post-op recovery room. Talk about not being in control. And that's just the beginning. Your body can't perform the things you have always done, almost instinctively, within your sphere of control. The energy level is barely 10%. And now the nurse is in control. I'm such a lucky guy to have Shirley looking after me. But everything within me says "I should be doing that for her. She shouldn't be doing that for me!"
I could add to the examples. But I've rambled on enough. Simply to say that if and when you are praying for me, pray that I will learn these lessons of submission, patience and obedience. And pray for Shirley that she will continue to have the grace to handle her husband who is used to be in charge. On the medical side, we have appointments in Victoria on Friday for the Dr. to assess and confirm (hopefully) that there are no interruptions on the road to recovery.
As I think about it, I am really a slow learner. None of us was designed to be a control freak. Six simple words from Jesus sum it up: "without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Some of us have thicker heads than others.
Last Saturday we moved back into a positive space physically. I/we were released to return to our home in Nanaimo, complete with drainage tubes attached, dressings to be changed every day, enough drugs to start a pharmacy... and my own beautiful nurse to insure that I keep things in order. What a blessing to have this retreat (our new home) in which to convalesce and recover.
With the physical pain basically managed, it is an interesting and difficult experience to deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of recovery. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus , even being the very Son of God "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." Who can plumb the depths of that statement? It's all part of that amazing reality that he "humbled himself and became obedient..." I certainly would not want to be interpreted as pretending to duplicate the experience or holiness of Jesus.
But as I reflect on "learning obedience through suffering" I'm wrestling with the reality of limitations. I have been called upon to be a leader in various situations in life and ministry. I hope I have exemplified the Jesus style of leadershp: servant leadership. But leadership involves control of one kind or another. Suffering usually involves not having control.
Illustration: a young woman, hardly out of high school (or so it seems) is speaking loudly in your ear as you emerge from the anaesthetic: "wiggle your toes, Mr. Birch... wiggle your toes...!" She's the nurse in the post-op recovery room. Talk about not being in control. And that's just the beginning. Your body can't perform the things you have always done, almost instinctively, within your sphere of control. The energy level is barely 10%. And now the nurse is in control. I'm such a lucky guy to have Shirley looking after me. But everything within me says "I should be doing that for her. She shouldn't be doing that for me!"
I could add to the examples. But I've rambled on enough. Simply to say that if and when you are praying for me, pray that I will learn these lessons of submission, patience and obedience. And pray for Shirley that she will continue to have the grace to handle her husband who is used to be in charge. On the medical side, we have appointments in Victoria on Friday for the Dr. to assess and confirm (hopefully) that there are no interruptions on the road to recovery.
As I think about it, I am really a slow learner. None of us was designed to be a control freak. Six simple words from Jesus sum it up: "without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Some of us have thicker heads than others.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
'IN HIS HANDS"
"... in His hands." I've had so share words of encouragement along this journey, most including a passage of scripture. Probably the most quoted would be this one: "our days (times) are in His hands." I've spent hours meditating on these words during these weeks in Royal Jubilee. Everyone is believing with us that healing is coming and I have many days of earthly life still to live. This affirmation ("in His hands") is not fatalistic. He is the living, all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing God. He is sovereign over the universe, all history and last, but not least, over each of our individual lives.
Think of the Sovereign Lord with hands! The biblical writers are led by the Holy Spirit to express the character and work of God in human terms that we might understand who He is and what He does. (The theologians call these anthropomorphisms). His hands are strong, loving, creating, protecting, correcting, directing, healing...the list goes on. And I am in those hands.
I'm so thankful that He is not just a distant, unknowable God. He is my God. To put it in the words of perhaps the most memorable Psalm in the Bible, "The Lord is MY Shepherd."
I'm in His hands! My heart overflows with thanksgiving!
It's understandable that most people think of this truth ("our days are in His hands") with reference to facing some point of vulnerability, such as a potentially fatal illness, and that is appropriate. But my thoughts have moved far beyond that in these days. Perhaps these words can enlarge your thoughts as well.
--------------------------
It has been 5 weeks since I entered hospital although you haven't heard much from me on this blog in the last week or so. That's because neither I, nor the doctors, know exactly what to say.
There has been another return to the site of the original surgery. More small cancer sites were found and removed. Beyond that, it can't be said with Melanoma that "that's all there is or we got it all". The good news is that at this point the scans examining the rest of my body show no signs of the disease.
And so we have decided that it's time for me to get home, get strong again, and get on with life. It's certainly true that our lives will never be the same again. What mine will look like, time will tell. We are mapping out plans for the first months of 2010. (Participating in the Winter Olympics will not be one one them.) But returning to Africa is on the agenda. And there are invitations for teaching and ministry in Canada which await. Mostly we look forward to renewed fellowship with so many of you good friends. Whatever other changes may come along in the future, I know that I'm a better, bigger person spiritually than before all of this began. God's hands have been at work. God bless.
KEN (AND SHIRLEY)
Think of the Sovereign Lord with hands! The biblical writers are led by the Holy Spirit to express the character and work of God in human terms that we might understand who He is and what He does. (The theologians call these anthropomorphisms). His hands are strong, loving, creating, protecting, correcting, directing, healing...the list goes on. And I am in those hands.
I'm so thankful that He is not just a distant, unknowable God. He is my God. To put it in the words of perhaps the most memorable Psalm in the Bible, "The Lord is MY Shepherd."
I'm in His hands! My heart overflows with thanksgiving!
It's understandable that most people think of this truth ("our days are in His hands") with reference to facing some point of vulnerability, such as a potentially fatal illness, and that is appropriate. But my thoughts have moved far beyond that in these days. Perhaps these words can enlarge your thoughts as well.
--------------------------
It has been 5 weeks since I entered hospital although you haven't heard much from me on this blog in the last week or so. That's because neither I, nor the doctors, know exactly what to say.
There has been another return to the site of the original surgery. More small cancer sites were found and removed. Beyond that, it can't be said with Melanoma that "that's all there is or we got it all". The good news is that at this point the scans examining the rest of my body show no signs of the disease.
And so we have decided that it's time for me to get home, get strong again, and get on with life. It's certainly true that our lives will never be the same again. What mine will look like, time will tell. We are mapping out plans for the first months of 2010. (Participating in the Winter Olympics will not be one one them.) But returning to Africa is on the agenda. And there are invitations for teaching and ministry in Canada which await. Mostly we look forward to renewed fellowship with so many of you good friends. Whatever other changes may come along in the future, I know that I'm a better, bigger person spiritually than before all of this began. God's hands have been at work. God bless.
KEN (AND SHIRLEY)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
If you come to visit me at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria you will find me in the Burn Unit. (By the way, you are all welcome, just don't all come at once.) It's not that I am a burn victim. But in this unit they deal with skin grafts that are part of various surgical procedures including, in my case, cancer. This is a wonderful oasis of treatment and healing. The nurses and doctors are outstanding.
Skin grafts are something else. While you are under the anaesthic they lift healthy skin from some part of your body (usually a leg or thigh) and place it over the operative site. So far my big right leg has 'donated' (that's the word they use) about 40 square inches to my shoulder and back. Then the healing power of God in the body takes over. It's another amazing example of how our bodies are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.'
But when surgery is over and the anaesthetic wears off, watch out! Every day the nurses have to change the dressing and that process exposes the nerves to the air and then to new, sterile
bandages. It's a painful experience like none other I've ever experienced. Some of you have been there and will know what I'm talking about. It makes you want to scream. Many people do. Some of the nurses have told me they have had to be excused from this responsibility from time to time. It's just too hard to know you are putting people through this experience.
Carol Burnett was once asked to help men understand the pain of childbirth. She replied "take your lower lip and stretch it over your forehead." Skin grafts are at least that painful.
On Friday I will have another (hopefully the last) surgery for the Drs to go after any remaining rogue cancer cells surrounding the site of the original surgery. I shared this development in my last blog. And there will be another skin graft. I need say no more about the need for prayer.
My greatest desire is that my attitude and reactions will emit "the fragrance of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15-17). I'm no strong man or hero. I may not scream on the outside, but on the inside... The Burn Unit feels every bit as much like a mission field as the Kibera slum in Nairobi. That's my next instalment on this blog.
Thanks for walking with me through this journey. God bless.
KEN
One of my favorite metaphors for the influence of the Christian life is "fragrance".
Skin grafts are something else. While you are under the anaesthic they lift healthy skin from some part of your body (usually a leg or thigh) and place it over the operative site. So far my big right leg has 'donated' (that's the word they use) about 40 square inches to my shoulder and back. Then the healing power of God in the body takes over. It's another amazing example of how our bodies are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.'
But when surgery is over and the anaesthetic wears off, watch out! Every day the nurses have to change the dressing and that process exposes the nerves to the air and then to new, sterile
bandages. It's a painful experience like none other I've ever experienced. Some of you have been there and will know what I'm talking about. It makes you want to scream. Many people do. Some of the nurses have told me they have had to be excused from this responsibility from time to time. It's just too hard to know you are putting people through this experience.
Carol Burnett was once asked to help men understand the pain of childbirth. She replied "take your lower lip and stretch it over your forehead." Skin grafts are at least that painful.
On Friday I will have another (hopefully the last) surgery for the Drs to go after any remaining rogue cancer cells surrounding the site of the original surgery. I shared this development in my last blog. And there will be another skin graft. I need say no more about the need for prayer.
My greatest desire is that my attitude and reactions will emit "the fragrance of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15-17). I'm no strong man or hero. I may not scream on the outside, but on the inside... The Burn Unit feels every bit as much like a mission field as the Kibera slum in Nairobi. That's my next instalment on this blog.
Thanks for walking with me through this journey. God bless.
KEN
One of my favorite metaphors for the influence of the Christian life is "fragrance".
Saturday, November 28, 2009
WHAT A DAY BRINGS
WHAT A DAY BRINGS
“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
It has become such a familiar verse that it loses it’s impact. Robert Schuller does a nice job of dramatic embellishment. It’s a great verse to speak out loud every day, with the appropriate emphases.
If this were a daily blog, this day (Nov. 27) would be day number 24 since checking into hospital on the 2nd for surgery on the 3rd. Who knew? First we were told 2 days post-op. Then a week. Now here we are, 3 weeks and counting. My blogs have diminished in the last 2 weeks because the waiting has become harder.
Now is the time to bring you up to date. There have been a total of 4 surgeries in this journey. The last 3 were “search and repair” operations to confirm that the initial big hit did the job and that the healing was progressing as per expectations. Complications have been found. The knitting together of tissue has been slower than expected and some repair (revisiting the wound) has been necessary.
But it was not until today that we got the final pathology report as to the results of the surgery. We have been told up to this point that, as far as could be seen from the normal tests, they “got it all”. What we heard just yesterday is that there is another level (microscopic) of testing the results of which would be known today.
“This is the day” has taken on a whole new meaning. The Dr.’s report was “the pathology report was not good. We didn’t get it all.” He gave us a thorough review of the entire situation. The details are too technical to get into here. “Not good” says enough. Melanoma is a nasty, unpredictable business.
This is a very critical weekend for the Birches. Your prayers will be more needed than ever. We will be praying and discussing and calling out to the Lord for His strength and direction. We have a couple of options, one being another surgery to push back the margins of the first surgery and complete the original plan to get it all.
We continue to stand in faith that God is with us and He is able to do all that He has promised. Thank you for standing with us one more time. God bless.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
It has become such a familiar verse that it loses it’s impact. Robert Schuller does a nice job of dramatic embellishment. It’s a great verse to speak out loud every day, with the appropriate emphases.
If this were a daily blog, this day (Nov. 27) would be day number 24 since checking into hospital on the 2nd for surgery on the 3rd. Who knew? First we were told 2 days post-op. Then a week. Now here we are, 3 weeks and counting. My blogs have diminished in the last 2 weeks because the waiting has become harder.
Now is the time to bring you up to date. There have been a total of 4 surgeries in this journey. The last 3 were “search and repair” operations to confirm that the initial big hit did the job and that the healing was progressing as per expectations. Complications have been found. The knitting together of tissue has been slower than expected and some repair (revisiting the wound) has been necessary.
But it was not until today that we got the final pathology report as to the results of the surgery. We have been told up to this point that, as far as could be seen from the normal tests, they “got it all”. What we heard just yesterday is that there is another level (microscopic) of testing the results of which would be known today.
“This is the day” has taken on a whole new meaning. The Dr.’s report was “the pathology report was not good. We didn’t get it all.” He gave us a thorough review of the entire situation. The details are too technical to get into here. “Not good” says enough. Melanoma is a nasty, unpredictable business.
This is a very critical weekend for the Birches. Your prayers will be more needed than ever. We will be praying and discussing and calling out to the Lord for His strength and direction. We have a couple of options, one being another surgery to push back the margins of the first surgery and complete the original plan to get it all.
We continue to stand in faith that God is with us and He is able to do all that He has promised. Thank you for standing with us one more time. God bless.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Saturday, November 21, 2009
THE WAY FORWARD
So we’ve done the waiting room. I’m still in the recovery room but I’m more than ready to move on. In my mind I’m out-a-here. So it’s onward and upward. I’m going to keep blogging the journey. You’re welcome to join me. In fact, I’d be honored if you do.
One of the huge lessons which I have (re)learned along the way is about the words we say and the way we speak. There’s nothing quite like being in a helpless position, your life in the hands of other people, and then listen to what those people are saying about you. Sometimes they know you can hear, other times not. A few words (“looks good”, “maybe the day after tomorrow…”, “still some areas of concern there”, “that was major” “he’ll be fine’, etc.) Like pebbles of gold, or crushing boulders.
Of course, most words come to us in more mundane situations of daily speech. Christians have been schooled by James about the power of the tongue to build up or tear down. Always with the potential to change our lives for better or worse.
Our first meeting with a cancer surgeon was in August when the C word was fully on the table. The dear man, probably the most respected ENT surgeon in the city, said “before we get into this, you know this is melanoma. You’re not going to beat this. It’s going to beat you.” Yes, we knew the nasty nature of the disease and the real odds of winning (or not) this fight from reading the literature. But talk about being hit by a boulder! The good Dr. has obviously seen hundreds of people like us and that had deeply affected his spirit and outlook. Or maybe he was just having a bad day.
Thank God for who He Is, and what He does, and what He has promised!! Our faith held us strong. It has smashed the boulder of doubt and defeat! For reasons which God orchestrated our case was transferred to two younger doctors, an ENT cancer surgeon and a plastic surgeon. I don’t think either of these men are believers but we’re working on that. Just as important, however, is that they have a whole different attitude to the challenge of melanoma. They have a vision of hope and a future for our situation (sound familiar?). And everything we see tells us they do excellent work.
I have a follow up word to this observation/lesson about encouraging words. But that’s for the next time as we take the steps forward from here. Thanks for being there.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
One of the huge lessons which I have (re)learned along the way is about the words we say and the way we speak. There’s nothing quite like being in a helpless position, your life in the hands of other people, and then listen to what those people are saying about you. Sometimes they know you can hear, other times not. A few words (“looks good”, “maybe the day after tomorrow…”, “still some areas of concern there”, “that was major” “he’ll be fine’, etc.) Like pebbles of gold, or crushing boulders.
Of course, most words come to us in more mundane situations of daily speech. Christians have been schooled by James about the power of the tongue to build up or tear down. Always with the potential to change our lives for better or worse.
Our first meeting with a cancer surgeon was in August when the C word was fully on the table. The dear man, probably the most respected ENT surgeon in the city, said “before we get into this, you know this is melanoma. You’re not going to beat this. It’s going to beat you.” Yes, we knew the nasty nature of the disease and the real odds of winning (or not) this fight from reading the literature. But talk about being hit by a boulder! The good Dr. has obviously seen hundreds of people like us and that had deeply affected his spirit and outlook. Or maybe he was just having a bad day.
Thank God for who He Is, and what He does, and what He has promised!! Our faith held us strong. It has smashed the boulder of doubt and defeat! For reasons which God orchestrated our case was transferred to two younger doctors, an ENT cancer surgeon and a plastic surgeon. I don’t think either of these men are believers but we’re working on that. Just as important, however, is that they have a whole different attitude to the challenge of melanoma. They have a vision of hope and a future for our situation (sound familiar?). And everything we see tells us they do excellent work.
I have a follow up word to this observation/lesson about encouraging words. But that’s for the next time as we take the steps forward from here. Thanks for being there.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
VIEW FROM THE RECOVERY ROOM Part IV
“When life gives you lemons, make hospital lemon pudding.” Or your wife can sneak our and get Swiss Chalet lemon pie.
And now for today’s lemon concoction. My last ‘view” was just before the second surgery. The report was “success’ (the surgeon said he cleared out the infections which landed in a couple of places in the surgical wound). He planned to go back into to look at the site on Thursday (today) and do a final check and put the final bit of skin graft on.
More lemons. After another look today he said “I can’t be absolutely confident yet. So we did some more tweaking and I will do that final work in two days.”
At the end of the journey, you’re always happy your surgeon is a perfectionist. Right?
So we have yet more days to work on lemon recipes.
In the meantime I have work to do. I have been commissioned by a group of pastors in Kenya to write a book teaching the biblical of view of sexuality geared towards high school students. (When I say “commissioned”, this is not a $$ deal to support time in an ivory tower (or hospital room.) This is “Brother Ken, we know you can do this and Canada will support you…”
In fact, however, teenage sexual understanding and behavior is a very huge problem and need in Kenya society right now and it seems that God has given me this unexpected side track to do this work. I have co-opted the help of an excellent Kenyan Psychologist and Counselor, Dr. Gladys Mwiti, to advise me in the work,
That’s the latest for now. The Bible says “GOD works all things together for our good…” Many of you have reminded us of that in your words of encouragement.. We take that to mean God gives the makings of lemonade. Our part is to come up with the recipes.. Somewhere in our future there’s a knockout lemon soufflé. I believe it. Blessings. KEN AND SHIRLEY.
And now for today’s lemon concoction. My last ‘view” was just before the second surgery. The report was “success’ (the surgeon said he cleared out the infections which landed in a couple of places in the surgical wound). He planned to go back into to look at the site on Thursday (today) and do a final check and put the final bit of skin graft on.
More lemons. After another look today he said “I can’t be absolutely confident yet. So we did some more tweaking and I will do that final work in two days.”
At the end of the journey, you’re always happy your surgeon is a perfectionist. Right?
So we have yet more days to work on lemon recipes.
In the meantime I have work to do. I have been commissioned by a group of pastors in Kenya to write a book teaching the biblical of view of sexuality geared towards high school students. (When I say “commissioned”, this is not a $$ deal to support time in an ivory tower (or hospital room.) This is “Brother Ken, we know you can do this and Canada will support you…”
In fact, however, teenage sexual understanding and behavior is a very huge problem and need in Kenya society right now and it seems that God has given me this unexpected side track to do this work. I have co-opted the help of an excellent Kenyan Psychologist and Counselor, Dr. Gladys Mwiti, to advise me in the work,
That’s the latest for now. The Bible says “GOD works all things together for our good…” Many of you have reminded us of that in your words of encouragement.. We take that to mean God gives the makings of lemonade. Our part is to come up with the recipes.. Somewhere in our future there’s a knockout lemon soufflé. I believe it. Blessings. KEN AND SHIRLEY.
Monday, November 16, 2009
View From the Recovery Room (Road) - Part III
Sunday night, Nov. 15/09
Dear Family and Friends:
The Birch hotwire has been dead for the last few days for reasons I’ll share below.
I’m not sure where each of you will be in the communication loop, but I will start with last Tuesday (the 10th). I was discharged from hospital exactly one week after the 8 hour surgery. I was massively taped up in the back and shoulder and somewhat doped up from meds but all agreed I was fine to return home for recovery with community nursing coming in each day to change the dressings, etc. Of course, hovering over all was the Sister Superior Shirley, just a little lower than the angels. And above all else, our Heavenly Father was in the Executive Director’s chair.
I was scheduled to return to the hospital on Friday for a close up inspection by the Dr. and experts here. We left Nanaimo at 10 a.m. planning on 4 to 6 hours before retreating to our nest on the hills overlooking the Strait of Georgia.
Welllll… it appears a bump in the road had risen up. The clinic nurse took one look at the site and said “I think the Dr. should have a look at this.” He was there in 5 minutes… so much for a short visit to Victoria. They re-admitted me Friday afternoon with the plan that I would go back into surgery as soon as possible ‘to clean this thing up’ and here we are, Sunday night. Finally, now, they are definite – the surgery will be first thing tomorrow a.m. Sounds like fairly’routine’ surgery to deal with infection. But they will probably keep me here until at least Friday to keep a close watch.
So there you have it. Having lived in Africa for 10 years I’m used to bumps in the road. But it’s a set-back none-the-less and we’ve had our down moments. We continue the feel the need for prayer just as much as we have all along this journey. And dozens of you have told us “we are with you”.. Thank you and God bless you.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Dear Family and Friends:
The Birch hotwire has been dead for the last few days for reasons I’ll share below.
I’m not sure where each of you will be in the communication loop, but I will start with last Tuesday (the 10th). I was discharged from hospital exactly one week after the 8 hour surgery. I was massively taped up in the back and shoulder and somewhat doped up from meds but all agreed I was fine to return home for recovery with community nursing coming in each day to change the dressings, etc. Of course, hovering over all was the Sister Superior Shirley, just a little lower than the angels. And above all else, our Heavenly Father was in the Executive Director’s chair.
I was scheduled to return to the hospital on Friday for a close up inspection by the Dr. and experts here. We left Nanaimo at 10 a.m. planning on 4 to 6 hours before retreating to our nest on the hills overlooking the Strait of Georgia.
Welllll… it appears a bump in the road had risen up. The clinic nurse took one look at the site and said “I think the Dr. should have a look at this.” He was there in 5 minutes… so much for a short visit to Victoria. They re-admitted me Friday afternoon with the plan that I would go back into surgery as soon as possible ‘to clean this thing up’ and here we are, Sunday night. Finally, now, they are definite – the surgery will be first thing tomorrow a.m. Sounds like fairly’routine’ surgery to deal with infection. But they will probably keep me here until at least Friday to keep a close watch.
So there you have it. Having lived in Africa for 10 years I’m used to bumps in the road. But it’s a set-back none-the-less and we’ve had our down moments. We continue the feel the need for prayer just as much as we have all along this journey. And dozens of you have told us “we are with you”.. Thank you and God bless you.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Monday, November 9, 2009
VIEW FROM THE RECOVERY ROOM - Part II
THINGS I DON'T DESERVE
It was a tough day towards the end of last week. A lot of post-operative pain, all predictable but still no fun to go through. During that day a good friend came by to visit. It was obvious he was having trouble sorting out in his mind what I was going through. “You don’t deserve this” he said. And then he recounted a number of things the Lord had helped us to do in our life and ministry. It was a classic attempt to develop a balance sheet of accomplishments only to find at the end it didn’t add up. In his mind I should have ended up on the plus side of the ledger, not fighting cancer.
It’s great to have fans – people who think you are good stuff and cheer for you along the way. The problem is that the perspective of fans is usually unbalanced. Remember, the root word of fan is fanatic.
A very big truth of the Bible, repeated many times, is that God does not deal with us according to what we deserve but “according to His mercy”. The word is “grace”. It’s a critical difference of perspective. Mankind is by nature self-centered. We start the ‘what I deserve’ column focusing on our positive qualities and accomplishments. Grace focuses on the love of God which covers our sin and then showers us with His favor.
In response my heart is lifted up with worship and thanksgiving. A thankful heart beings with an awareness of what I don’t deserve.
Here are some things that I don’t deserve:
- to see the light of this new day with its blessings and opportunities,
- to live in a great country like Canada with its freedoms and privileges,
- to be married to a beautiful and loving wife for 43 years (don’t get me started…),
- to have 2 loving and caring children who have given us 4 great grandkids,
- to have lived 66 years with hardly a day of sickness.
- to have a large and wonderful family of Christian friends in the churches I serve, and have served, who are praying fervently for me,
- to have a comfortable home to live in with a fantastic view of the ocean,
- to have a place of service waiting for me when I recover which allows me to fulfill the calling of God upon my life to serve Him and people.
But in fact I HAVE ALL OF THESE AND MORE because of God’s grace.
I’m sure you understand that part of this perspective comes from living among people, most of whom live on less than $1 a day, eat one meal per day (sometimes with meat), have no access to health care, are vulnerable to wars, famine and disease. I pray that my life will be a constant testimony of thankfulness to the God of all grace.
KEN
It was a tough day towards the end of last week. A lot of post-operative pain, all predictable but still no fun to go through. During that day a good friend came by to visit. It was obvious he was having trouble sorting out in his mind what I was going through. “You don’t deserve this” he said. And then he recounted a number of things the Lord had helped us to do in our life and ministry. It was a classic attempt to develop a balance sheet of accomplishments only to find at the end it didn’t add up. In his mind I should have ended up on the plus side of the ledger, not fighting cancer.
It’s great to have fans – people who think you are good stuff and cheer for you along the way. The problem is that the perspective of fans is usually unbalanced. Remember, the root word of fan is fanatic.
A very big truth of the Bible, repeated many times, is that God does not deal with us according to what we deserve but “according to His mercy”. The word is “grace”. It’s a critical difference of perspective. Mankind is by nature self-centered. We start the ‘what I deserve’ column focusing on our positive qualities and accomplishments. Grace focuses on the love of God which covers our sin and then showers us with His favor.
In response my heart is lifted up with worship and thanksgiving. A thankful heart beings with an awareness of what I don’t deserve.
Here are some things that I don’t deserve:
- to see the light of this new day with its blessings and opportunities,
- to live in a great country like Canada with its freedoms and privileges,
- to be married to a beautiful and loving wife for 43 years (don’t get me started…),
- to have 2 loving and caring children who have given us 4 great grandkids,
- to have lived 66 years with hardly a day of sickness.
- to have a large and wonderful family of Christian friends in the churches I serve, and have served, who are praying fervently for me,
- to have a comfortable home to live in with a fantastic view of the ocean,
- to have a place of service waiting for me when I recover which allows me to fulfill the calling of God upon my life to serve Him and people.
But in fact I HAVE ALL OF THESE AND MORE because of God’s grace.
I’m sure you understand that part of this perspective comes from living among people, most of whom live on less than $1 a day, eat one meal per day (sometimes with meat), have no access to health care, are vulnerable to wars, famine and disease. I pray that my life will be a constant testimony of thankfulness to the God of all grace.
KEN
Saturday, November 7, 2009
VIEW FROM THE RECOVERY ROOM
Greetings from the Recovery Room. I should wait another day before writing to clear my brain. But I have an irrepressible compulsion to communicate good news. The fog in my head won’t let me be clever or witty in this report. But there is wonderful good news from the ‘theatre’, as the post-colonial Africans refer to the OR. The moment the surgeon saw Shirley after the operation he uttered those great words “we believe we got it all!”
I’ve only been under a general anaesthetic once before in my life, and only briefly so I can’t tell you what happened during those 8 hours (except the Maple Leafs lost again.) Seriously, I have tried to explain to people what happened as I regained consciousness. It was an experience of the presence of Jesus like I’ve never had before. There was a complete hour where they left me alone and I just waited in the presence of God. The theologians call it the experience of the ‘ineffable’ – can’t be put into words.
There have been some pretty intense periods of pain since then. But nothing beyond what God has helped me to bear. Shirley tells me the incision which they had to do to make the skin graft is about a foot long,,, and deep… well let’s not go there. I won’t go into the gory details. But the healing is going well through the first critical days. Liter after liter of drainage… well, let’s not go there either. All I need to say here is that I am so incredibly glad to be alive, in the hands of our loving God, expert surgeons and care-givers and surrounded by not just a heavenly host of well wishers but an EARTHLY host as well. I was told there might be some significant change in my physical appearance after this. I don’t think that will be the case (no nips or tucks from the plastic surgeon) but you can be sure there’s a new man on the inside.
Must close for now. They are saying I will be in hospital until at least next Tuesday. More views to come from the recovery room. Yours in Christ’s love and care.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
I’ve only been under a general anaesthetic once before in my life, and only briefly so I can’t tell you what happened during those 8 hours (except the Maple Leafs lost again.) Seriously, I have tried to explain to people what happened as I regained consciousness. It was an experience of the presence of Jesus like I’ve never had before. There was a complete hour where they left me alone and I just waited in the presence of God. The theologians call it the experience of the ‘ineffable’ – can’t be put into words.
There have been some pretty intense periods of pain since then. But nothing beyond what God has helped me to bear. Shirley tells me the incision which they had to do to make the skin graft is about a foot long,,, and deep… well let’s not go there. I won’t go into the gory details. But the healing is going well through the first critical days. Liter after liter of drainage… well, let’s not go there either. All I need to say here is that I am so incredibly glad to be alive, in the hands of our loving God, expert surgeons and care-givers and surrounded by not just a heavenly host of well wishers but an EARTHLY host as well. I was told there might be some significant change in my physical appearance after this. I don’t think that will be the case (no nips or tucks from the plastic surgeon) but you can be sure there’s a new man on the inside.
Must close for now. They are saying I will be in hospital until at least next Tuesday. More views to come from the recovery room. Yours in Christ’s love and care.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Saturday, October 31, 2009
View From the Waiting Room - Part VII
VIEW FROM THE WAITING ROOM – PART VII
This will be the last “View” before surgery on Tuesday. If you’ve been following the blog you will know that I’ve been reflecting on values, truths, etc. that seem to come into sharper focus when you’re waiting for major surgery. Yesterday I had my final pre-surgery interview with the anesthetist. When I stood up to shake his hand as he walked into the room I could read his thoughts from the look in his eyes: “we’re goin’ to need a megadose to put this guy under.” Actually, his parting words were “you’ll be fine.”
As we left he gave us (Shirley was with me) some instructions about what to bring to the hospital on Tuesday morning. To sum up: “only the bare essentials. You’ll probably want a toothbrush…” Interesting how at the critical turning points in life the stuff you really need becomes very minimal. We did go out and buy a new terrycloth robe and some slip-on slippers. But the hospital even provides one of those gowns with rear air conditioning and paper slippers if you don’t have your own.
It reminds me of what Jesus said: “a person’s life does not consist of the abundance of things which he possesses.” We spend so much time and attention and money gathering stuff. We have so much in our great country… so much to be thankful for. Shirley and I have lots of stuff in our house. It’s no sin to enjoy the material blessings God gives us as long as they don’t become idols. Under normal circumstances this would be the time to lay a heavy on about how little people have in the developing world and how we should be giving more to missions and to relieving poverty. (“Every head bowed…every eye closed… bring the offering plates…”).
But at this point I’m simply thinking about how simple life becomes when you are staring your own mortality in the face. I’m so grateful that I will have all I need on Tuesday morning – the love and prayers of my family and a host of friends, good surgeons and medical workers, and a great future to move into on the other side of the anesthetic. And, yes, I’ll be thankful for the gown, the slippers and the toothbrush. But at the end of the day, it’s God and people who make life abundant. I’m blessed.
KEN
(My next blog installment will be a view from the recovery room.)
This will be the last “View” before surgery on Tuesday. If you’ve been following the blog you will know that I’ve been reflecting on values, truths, etc. that seem to come into sharper focus when you’re waiting for major surgery. Yesterday I had my final pre-surgery interview with the anesthetist. When I stood up to shake his hand as he walked into the room I could read his thoughts from the look in his eyes: “we’re goin’ to need a megadose to put this guy under.” Actually, his parting words were “you’ll be fine.”
As we left he gave us (Shirley was with me) some instructions about what to bring to the hospital on Tuesday morning. To sum up: “only the bare essentials. You’ll probably want a toothbrush…” Interesting how at the critical turning points in life the stuff you really need becomes very minimal. We did go out and buy a new terrycloth robe and some slip-on slippers. But the hospital even provides one of those gowns with rear air conditioning and paper slippers if you don’t have your own.
It reminds me of what Jesus said: “a person’s life does not consist of the abundance of things which he possesses.” We spend so much time and attention and money gathering stuff. We have so much in our great country… so much to be thankful for. Shirley and I have lots of stuff in our house. It’s no sin to enjoy the material blessings God gives us as long as they don’t become idols. Under normal circumstances this would be the time to lay a heavy on about how little people have in the developing world and how we should be giving more to missions and to relieving poverty. (“Every head bowed…every eye closed… bring the offering plates…”).
But at this point I’m simply thinking about how simple life becomes when you are staring your own mortality in the face. I’m so grateful that I will have all I need on Tuesday morning – the love and prayers of my family and a host of friends, good surgeons and medical workers, and a great future to move into on the other side of the anesthetic. And, yes, I’ll be thankful for the gown, the slippers and the toothbrush. But at the end of the day, it’s God and people who make life abundant. I’m blessed.
KEN
(My next blog installment will be a view from the recovery room.)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
View from the waiting room - VI
(The waiting will soon be done. Surgery is nexts Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. The original intention of this blog was to provide information for those who wanted to follow up the surgery. With the delay, it became something else - a platform for me to reflect. Thanks to those of you who have been following and encouraging these musings.)
I guess most of us don't fully recognize the passing of time in our lives. When you are forced to state your age, it's usually followed by "... but I don't feel 66 (or whatever age). In my mind I still feel like 35." It's true for me and I know for many others. It's not denial, it's fact. "In my mind..." that's really how I feel. But when I'm forced to look at the evidence (my driver's licence, my sometimes creaking joints, my slower memory... etc.) I know it's true. The years have passed.
Perhaps the most jarring reminder of aging is when you encounter other "young" people who aren't so young anymore. You can't kid yourself. I'm in the midst of one of the times today. I'm at a conference in Manitoba talking to pastors and church leaders about what God is doing in Africa and elsewhere around the world. Many of the pastors I'm talking to are ones whom I taught in Saskatoon back in the '70s and '80s. Most of them have grey hair (or no hair) and thicker bodies. Some of them are talking about the recent weddings of their kids. Yikes! These guys (men and women) were "kids" back in the day.
The most gratifying part being in the 'seniors' section of the waiting room is to see and hear what has happened in many of these lives since Saskatoon days. One is the district superintendent. One is the pastor of one of our largest churches. Another 30 to 40 are serving God faithfully in other places where He is using them to build the lives of people into the likeness of Christ. There's no experience quite like having them come and say "I want to thank you, Dr. Birch, (they can't shake the authority title of college days) for your part in my shaping my life in Bible College." I can't say that back in the day I felt like I was shaping a man or woman of God. I was running hard as a young man just into my 30s trying to keep up with the responsibilities of running the College. But obviously God was in the experience both for me and for them. I'm incredibly grateful.
I've just re-read what I've written. I'm reminiscing like the old man I've become. Shirley would protest at me calling myself old. My mind protests. "I don't feel old." Shirley will tell you "he's not old. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Cheers. Yours forever young,
KEN
I guess most of us don't fully recognize the passing of time in our lives. When you are forced to state your age, it's usually followed by "... but I don't feel 66 (or whatever age). In my mind I still feel like 35." It's true for me and I know for many others. It's not denial, it's fact. "In my mind..." that's really how I feel. But when I'm forced to look at the evidence (my driver's licence, my sometimes creaking joints, my slower memory... etc.) I know it's true. The years have passed.
Perhaps the most jarring reminder of aging is when you encounter other "young" people who aren't so young anymore. You can't kid yourself. I'm in the midst of one of the times today. I'm at a conference in Manitoba talking to pastors and church leaders about what God is doing in Africa and elsewhere around the world. Many of the pastors I'm talking to are ones whom I taught in Saskatoon back in the '70s and '80s. Most of them have grey hair (or no hair) and thicker bodies. Some of them are talking about the recent weddings of their kids. Yikes! These guys (men and women) were "kids" back in the day.
The most gratifying part being in the 'seniors' section of the waiting room is to see and hear what has happened in many of these lives since Saskatoon days. One is the district superintendent. One is the pastor of one of our largest churches. Another 30 to 40 are serving God faithfully in other places where He is using them to build the lives of people into the likeness of Christ. There's no experience quite like having them come and say "I want to thank you, Dr. Birch, (they can't shake the authority title of college days) for your part in my shaping my life in Bible College." I can't say that back in the day I felt like I was shaping a man or woman of God. I was running hard as a young man just into my 30s trying to keep up with the responsibilities of running the College. But obviously God was in the experience both for me and for them. I'm incredibly grateful.
I've just re-read what I've written. I'm reminiscing like the old man I've become. Shirley would protest at me calling myself old. My mind protests. "I don't feel old." Shirley will tell you "he's not old. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Cheers. Yours forever young,
KEN
Saturday, October 24, 2009
View from the Waiting Room - Part V
I'm thankful that in this waiting period I've had no pain or limitation of ability to work or do whatever. I'm writing this in the Vancouver airport as I wait for my flight to Edmonton for meetings over the weekend. And then next week I will spend some days at a District Conference of our churches in Manitoba representing PAOC missions and ERDO.
As a pastor/teacher one truth you try to communicate often is that of “faith”. One of the most effective ways to teach is to use analogies – real-life experiences of your students (children, congregations or whoever) to convey something you want them to understand. Jesus did it with parables. Using “object lessons” has been a common teaching strategy in school classrooms.
For me, taking an airplane flight has been one of the most powerful illustrations of faith.
I’ve taken hundreds of them. It’s such a common experience I hardly think about it anymore. But when I do I’m always struck by the huge leap of faith that is involved in boarding an airplane. The flight attendants and staff are trained to communicate an air of confidence. Two important looking people disappear through the little door at the front and you wait for the soothing voice (male or female) saying “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. My name is …. Welcome aboard.” And then, on a good day, follows the usual routines of take off, flying and landing.
When you think of it, an airplane flight is a powerful lesson in faith. It’s a one hundred percent commitment of your life into the hands of a machine and the people who fly it. There are dozens of trust issues involved in following the simple instruction: “sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.” You have relinquished all control into the hands of others.
Of course, I’m thinking of the upcoming surgery experience these days. It, too, is a comparable step of faith and commitment. When the anesthetic kicks in you are totally in the hands of others. You trust their skill and experience to bring you through to the other side of disease to health and healing.
We know that aviation accidents happen. We know that even the best doctors are human and fallible. They make mistakes. But over and above all, Christians have faith in a never-failing God who never makes mistakes. He has all knowledge and power. Most of all, His love never fails. The Psalmist repeats it over and over: “His love endures forever”.
Whether in an airplane or in the operating room, we have this confidence: “underneath are the everlasting arms.”
KEN
As a pastor/teacher one truth you try to communicate often is that of “faith”. One of the most effective ways to teach is to use analogies – real-life experiences of your students (children, congregations or whoever) to convey something you want them to understand. Jesus did it with parables. Using “object lessons” has been a common teaching strategy in school classrooms.
For me, taking an airplane flight has been one of the most powerful illustrations of faith.
I’ve taken hundreds of them. It’s such a common experience I hardly think about it anymore. But when I do I’m always struck by the huge leap of faith that is involved in boarding an airplane. The flight attendants and staff are trained to communicate an air of confidence. Two important looking people disappear through the little door at the front and you wait for the soothing voice (male or female) saying “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. My name is …. Welcome aboard.” And then, on a good day, follows the usual routines of take off, flying and landing.
When you think of it, an airplane flight is a powerful lesson in faith. It’s a one hundred percent commitment of your life into the hands of a machine and the people who fly it. There are dozens of trust issues involved in following the simple instruction: “sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.” You have relinquished all control into the hands of others.
Of course, I’m thinking of the upcoming surgery experience these days. It, too, is a comparable step of faith and commitment. When the anesthetic kicks in you are totally in the hands of others. You trust their skill and experience to bring you through to the other side of disease to health and healing.
We know that aviation accidents happen. We know that even the best doctors are human and fallible. They make mistakes. But over and above all, Christians have faith in a never-failing God who never makes mistakes. He has all knowledge and power. Most of all, His love never fails. The Psalmist repeats it over and over: “His love endures forever”.
Whether in an airplane or in the operating room, we have this confidence: “underneath are the everlasting arms.”
KEN
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
View From The Waiting Room - part IV
I sent part III on Monday but it doesn't appear on my blogspot. Did anyone out there get it?
My musings were basically related to the fact that as this delay of surgery drags on some may be asking "is it really going to happen?" My response was (think of the infamous "balloon boy" farce) "yes, it's really going to happen and no, it's not going to be part of a reality TV series".
Shirley and I, along with a host of wonderful friends, are praying:
a. God will miraculously remove the cancer and nothing will be found when the surgeon goes in;
b. or the diseased tissues will be contained and the surgery will completely deal with the problem.
The surgeons are predicting the result will be either 'b' or something that will require further treatment. Medical experts are divided on whether chemo and/or radiation is effective for melanoma. The usual response is "every melanoma is unique..." As a result they won't commit as to the out come of any chosen path of treatment.
In the midst of this, we remain at peace, trusting God for whatever outcome. Somehow He has it all under control. Our family doctor continues to battle on behalf of our situation but the surgery date continues to be fixed for Nov. 3rd.
In the meantime, I will be travelling to Edmonton and Winnipeg to represent the Missions Department and ERDO in various meetings with pastors and church leaders. I'll be gone from the 23rd (this Friday) until the 29th.
We continue to follow Paul's direction: :in everything give thanks..."
Blessings.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
My musings were basically related to the fact that as this delay of surgery drags on some may be asking "is it really going to happen?" My response was (think of the infamous "balloon boy" farce) "yes, it's really going to happen and no, it's not going to be part of a reality TV series".
Shirley and I, along with a host of wonderful friends, are praying:
a. God will miraculously remove the cancer and nothing will be found when the surgeon goes in;
b. or the diseased tissues will be contained and the surgery will completely deal with the problem.
The surgeons are predicting the result will be either 'b' or something that will require further treatment. Medical experts are divided on whether chemo and/or radiation is effective for melanoma. The usual response is "every melanoma is unique..." As a result they won't commit as to the out come of any chosen path of treatment.
In the midst of this, we remain at peace, trusting God for whatever outcome. Somehow He has it all under control. Our family doctor continues to battle on behalf of our situation but the surgery date continues to be fixed for Nov. 3rd.
In the meantime, I will be travelling to Edmonton and Winnipeg to represent the Missions Department and ERDO in various meetings with pastors and church leaders. I'll be gone from the 23rd (this Friday) until the 29th.
We continue to follow Paul's direction: :in everything give thanks..."
Blessings.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
Friday, October 16, 2009
View from the Waiting Room, part II
Music has always been a huge part of my life - a constant accompaniment. That appreciation seems to be intensifying in the waiting room.
I think I know where I got this compulsive need to have music in almost every part of my life. My mother loved music. She never became an accomplished musician but she could sing the words of every song in the 'hit parades' of the 40s and 50s. It hit me when we brought our first-born, Kevin, only a few months old, home from California where we were studying in 1971. It was the first time my folks had ever seen their first grandchild. We weren't in the door of our little family home in Victoria more than 5 minutes when Mom grabbed Kevin out of Shirley's arms and began to dance around the living room with him her arms to the music of whatever song was on the radio. Those were joyous, rhythmic, bonding, loving moments. And I knew that was it! That was the genesis of this love of mine for music. And, yes, her grandchildren have that same love deeply embedded in their DNA too. But I have digressed...
Our faith is a singing faith. That doesn't mean that participation is limited to those who can carry a tune with their voices. Non-singers are also more than welcome. A"singing faith" is one that is a tightly-woven tapestry of words and music, head and heart, truth and tunes. It just oozes from Paul's words: "...speaking to one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:19). It's in the DNA. He couldn't keep a lid on it. It bubbles out to "one another" and if there isn't someone else around then it's just in our hearts. [I've written an article on these 3 types of songs which sits in my files. I guess I should see if it flies somewhere.]
I've had a lot of bubbling in my heart these days in the waiting room. Of course the words of Scripture in music are the most uplifting and faith-building. Not surprisingly, the words "Give thanks, with a grateful heart..." were in my heart all day last Monday, Thanksgiving. Music comes from the mind ("understanding") and the heart ("Spirit/spirit"). Music gives expression to the emotional or "feeling" side of our worship. But it must never be separated from the truth that our song comes from God and is given back to Him in praise. I must resist the impulse to preach here. But music ministers with power, often with power that surpasses the bare spoken word.
I need to confess here that it's not just Christian music that fills my days in the waiting room. I enjoy many different kinds of music. I hope it won't lower my spiritual stature in your eyes to tell you that I really enjoy jazz and classical music. I feel enriched when I hear Beethoven's 9th Symphony or Oscar Peterson playing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
It's sounding like my life these days is all idleness and quiet meditation. Far from it. I'll share more in the coming days. Must run. I feel a song coming on. Wanna dance? Blessings. KEN
I think I know where I got this compulsive need to have music in almost every part of my life. My mother loved music. She never became an accomplished musician but she could sing the words of every song in the 'hit parades' of the 40s and 50s. It hit me when we brought our first-born, Kevin, only a few months old, home from California where we were studying in 1971. It was the first time my folks had ever seen their first grandchild. We weren't in the door of our little family home in Victoria more than 5 minutes when Mom grabbed Kevin out of Shirley's arms and began to dance around the living room with him her arms to the music of whatever song was on the radio. Those were joyous, rhythmic, bonding, loving moments. And I knew that was it! That was the genesis of this love of mine for music. And, yes, her grandchildren have that same love deeply embedded in their DNA too. But I have digressed...
Our faith is a singing faith. That doesn't mean that participation is limited to those who can carry a tune with their voices. Non-singers are also more than welcome. A"singing faith" is one that is a tightly-woven tapestry of words and music, head and heart, truth and tunes. It just oozes from Paul's words: "...speaking to one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:19). It's in the DNA. He couldn't keep a lid on it. It bubbles out to "one another" and if there isn't someone else around then it's just in our hearts. [I've written an article on these 3 types of songs which sits in my files. I guess I should see if it flies somewhere.]
I've had a lot of bubbling in my heart these days in the waiting room. Of course the words of Scripture in music are the most uplifting and faith-building. Not surprisingly, the words "Give thanks, with a grateful heart..." were in my heart all day last Monday, Thanksgiving. Music comes from the mind ("understanding") and the heart ("Spirit/spirit"). Music gives expression to the emotional or "feeling" side of our worship. But it must never be separated from the truth that our song comes from God and is given back to Him in praise. I must resist the impulse to preach here. But music ministers with power, often with power that surpasses the bare spoken word.
I need to confess here that it's not just Christian music that fills my days in the waiting room. I enjoy many different kinds of music. I hope it won't lower my spiritual stature in your eyes to tell you that I really enjoy jazz and classical music. I feel enriched when I hear Beethoven's 9th Symphony or Oscar Peterson playing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
It's sounding like my life these days is all idleness and quiet meditation. Far from it. I'll share more in the coming days. Must run. I feel a song coming on. Wanna dance? Blessings. KEN
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
View from the waiting room
There will be no literal "waiting room" for me when surgery day comes. The time pressure is so tight for hospital room here in Victoria that I am instructed to arrive at the hospital at 6 a.m. on November 3rd and by 9:30 I'll be counting backwards from 10 as the anaesthetic kicks in ("10..9..8.... see ya"). That will leave Shirley in the waiting room.
And so these days are my "waiting room" experience. I should be good a waiting after all those hours in African airport waiting rooms. But I'm not. So I've been asking the Lord to teach me again how to deal with delays. And He is doing it with a lot of help from my praying friends.
Perhaps the greatest lesson is on prayer (again). I've been re-reading Yancey's book on Prayer which is one of the best (along with Richard Foster's "Prayer, Finding the Heart's True Home"). I resonate with the truth that prayer is primarily a relationship with God where, when we draw close to Him, the Spirit, who knows our hearts, prays for us "with groanings that cannot be uttered". Paul calls it 'praying in the Spirit' in Romans 8. Prayer then morphs into worship and the exact words or forms of prayer become secondary to just being in His presence.
Of course, there are specific requests in prayer. I don't do well at praying for myself. I can't shake the feeling that it's a selfish thing to do. But the Bible has lots of exhortations and examples of that kind of prayer. And so I'm doing better at it. But most of all I'm thankful for time in the waiting room to pray for others. I think there are more people on my list than I've had at one time in my entire life. That's because I've heard from SO MANY who have called or emailed to say they are concerned and praying for me. It has been an incredible experience of being cared for by the Body of Christ. That moves me to pray for these people and others who have needs as great or greater than mine.
Another blessing of the waiting room is time to write. More about that in my next blog.
Pardon my lengthy musings. I don't think blogs are intended to be extended trains of thought. But I'm new to this. Hope you enjoy reading these thoughts. God bless.
KEN
And so these days are my "waiting room" experience. I should be good a waiting after all those hours in African airport waiting rooms. But I'm not. So I've been asking the Lord to teach me again how to deal with delays. And He is doing it with a lot of help from my praying friends.
Perhaps the greatest lesson is on prayer (again). I've been re-reading Yancey's book on Prayer which is one of the best (along with Richard Foster's "Prayer, Finding the Heart's True Home"). I resonate with the truth that prayer is primarily a relationship with God where, when we draw close to Him, the Spirit, who knows our hearts, prays for us "with groanings that cannot be uttered". Paul calls it 'praying in the Spirit' in Romans 8. Prayer then morphs into worship and the exact words or forms of prayer become secondary to just being in His presence.
Of course, there are specific requests in prayer. I don't do well at praying for myself. I can't shake the feeling that it's a selfish thing to do. But the Bible has lots of exhortations and examples of that kind of prayer. And so I'm doing better at it. But most of all I'm thankful for time in the waiting room to pray for others. I think there are more people on my list than I've had at one time in my entire life. That's because I've heard from SO MANY who have called or emailed to say they are concerned and praying for me. It has been an incredible experience of being cared for by the Body of Christ. That moves me to pray for these people and others who have needs as great or greater than mine.
Another blessing of the waiting room is time to write. More about that in my next blog.
Pardon my lengthy musings. I don't think blogs are intended to be extended trains of thought. But I'm new to this. Hope you enjoy reading these thoughts. God bless.
KEN
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm sure most of us heard some good messages and got lots of reminders yesterday about the importance of giving thanks. Shirley and I just want to share a few words to say how thankful we are to the Lord for all the good gifts He continually showers on our lives.
These blessings would be similar to the ones that most of you will rehearse over this weekend - family, friends, daily bread, a roof over our heads, a great country to live in, health...
Ah yes, health. There's nothing like a health threat to make you appreciate the blessing of good health which we have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, each day. Except for a bit of a stiff neck, I have no manifestations of the disease which the scans tell us is at work on the inside.
I have often said over the years "every new morning is a gift from God". The truth of that has never meant more than it does these days. I have great confidence in the promises of God which include physical healing. But whatever He has in mind, the greatest confidence I have is that my life is hid with Christ in God. "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." (Psa. 199.165) Happy thanksgiving, indeed! KEN
These blessings would be similar to the ones that most of you will rehearse over this weekend - family, friends, daily bread, a roof over our heads, a great country to live in, health...
Ah yes, health. There's nothing like a health threat to make you appreciate the blessing of good health which we have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, each day. Except for a bit of a stiff neck, I have no manifestations of the disease which the scans tell us is at work on the inside.
I have often said over the years "every new morning is a gift from God". The truth of that has never meant more than it does these days. I have great confidence in the promises of God which include physical healing. But whatever He has in mind, the greatest confidence I have is that my life is hid with Christ in God. "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." (Psa. 199.165) Happy thanksgiving, indeed! KEN
Friday, October 9, 2009
A date has been set
There is news in this waiting room on the journey. On Wednesday we were told that we are confirmed for surgery on Nov. 3rd. Our GP immediately said "this is not the last word..." but today he had to accept that, in fact, it probably is the last word. I assured him of our continuing peace about the situation, including the delay. It was obvious he couldn't understand how that could be. But, of course, that's exactly what the Word promises, a peace beyond understanding.
He has asked me to become an ally in crusading with him to address the medical establishment to address this dismal situation - the delay of urgent surgery for weeks and months beyond acceptable time frames. He is asking "if you don't feel you want to do it for yourself, do it for the dozens of others who are caught in the same intolerable situation." I'm thinking about working with him on this. But my impulses are pastoral, not political.
We continue to receive messages of concern and encouragement from so many friends, especially our missionary colleagues. Yesterday a phone call came from Pastor Raha in Bukavu, Congo, assuring us that his family and the congregation of Bethsaida Church were praying fervently for us. I've had the privilege of being in some of their 6 a.m. prayer meetings. Their fervency puts us western Christians ('wazunga') to shame. And then we received a very welcome email from our dear friend Simon Peter Emiau, the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Uganda. Faith and brotherly love exude from this good man.
Most of you will know that Africa and our friends their have a deep place in our hearts. Africa and its people do that to you, especially if God has called you to be part of their lives. And that is perhaps the greatest frustration (pain!) of being side-lined temporarily with this disease and surgery. Simon Peter gave us this encouraging word in his email: "just as the cries of the disciples woke Jesus in the storm, that's what the prayers of the saints will do for you in this situation." We don't understand all of the 'mysteries' of prayer but we do know that He still answers prayer and calms storms. Thanks for standing with us.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
P.S. We now have an email account set up in our new place. Shirley will be the primary user. It has the same address that we had in Sooke: ksbirch@shaw.ca.
He has asked me to become an ally in crusading with him to address the medical establishment to address this dismal situation - the delay of urgent surgery for weeks and months beyond acceptable time frames. He is asking "if you don't feel you want to do it for yourself, do it for the dozens of others who are caught in the same intolerable situation." I'm thinking about working with him on this. But my impulses are pastoral, not political.
We continue to receive messages of concern and encouragement from so many friends, especially our missionary colleagues. Yesterday a phone call came from Pastor Raha in Bukavu, Congo, assuring us that his family and the congregation of Bethsaida Church were praying fervently for us. I've had the privilege of being in some of their 6 a.m. prayer meetings. Their fervency puts us western Christians ('wazunga') to shame. And then we received a very welcome email from our dear friend Simon Peter Emiau, the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Uganda. Faith and brotherly love exude from this good man.
Most of you will know that Africa and our friends their have a deep place in our hearts. Africa and its people do that to you, especially if God has called you to be part of their lives. And that is perhaps the greatest frustration (pain!) of being side-lined temporarily with this disease and surgery. Simon Peter gave us this encouraging word in his email: "just as the cries of the disciples woke Jesus in the storm, that's what the prayers of the saints will do for you in this situation." We don't understand all of the 'mysteries' of prayer but we do know that He still answers prayer and calms storms. Thanks for standing with us.
KEN AND SHIRLEY
P.S. We now have an email account set up in our new place. Shirley will be the primary user. It has the same address that we had in Sooke: ksbirch@shaw.ca.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Closer... but still waiting
(This is my 3rd attempt to get this off. Hope it works this time.)
The title says it all. We were supposed to receive the call on Friday with a date for surgery this week. This was the message to my Dr. from the powers-that-be in the hospital system here. When it didn't come he was seriously annoyed. But we believe that this timing thing is in God's hands.
In the meantime we reached a significant milestone this weekend when we moved into our new home. This has also been a long journey of over a year. But the final result is wonderful. We are grateful for God's provision. We have a million dollar view. We didn't pay for the view, just for a small lot and a medium sized house. You are welcome to visit when you are in the area. The address is 5413 Jacobs Lane, Nanaimo. Our new phone number is (250) 585 8510. Shirley's cell is (250) 816 3335. She expects that line will be busy in the coming weeks.
In the meantime we wait.... but with God's peace that passes understanding. KEN AND SHIRLEY
The title says it all. We were supposed to receive the call on Friday with a date for surgery this week. This was the message to my Dr. from the powers-that-be in the hospital system here. When it didn't come he was seriously annoyed. But we believe that this timing thing is in God's hands.
In the meantime we reached a significant milestone this weekend when we moved into our new home. This has also been a long journey of over a year. But the final result is wonderful. We are grateful for God's provision. We have a million dollar view. We didn't pay for the view, just for a small lot and a medium sized house. You are welcome to visit when you are in the area. The address is 5413 Jacobs Lane, Nanaimo. Our new phone number is (250) 585 8510. Shirley's cell is (250) 816 3335. She expects that line will be busy in the coming weeks.
In the meantime we wait.... but with God's peace that passes understanding. KEN AND SHIRLEY
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Waiting for surgery
This is our first shot at blogging. It seems like the most effective way to get news across as we go through this challenging season of our lives. I'm assuming that those of you who access this blog will know the basic situation of our cancer diagnosis and long wait for surgery.
We have been deeply moved by the number of people who have communicated with us letting us know of their concern and prayers. It is a huge encouragement to experience the love of friends at times like this.
Most of you will know that our surgery has been delayed for weeks because our BC health system is "stressed to near the breaking point," in the words of our GP. He has become a good friend and fierce advocate in our circumstances. His pressure brought word yesterday that we should expect the surgery to come late next week (between Oct. 8 and 10?).
Just a word about the type of surgery. It's called a "neck dissection". (Any similarities to your high school science lab classes are purely accurate.) The melanoma has affected an area on my right shoulder, causing a lump the size of a marble, and the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. The surgery will excise these affected tissues.
I think that's enough of Ken pretending to be an MD for now. The irony is that, except for the lump, I have had no physical symptoms and can honestly say I'm feeling fine. There are going to be after effects of the surgery (some change of speech, loss of muscle on the right side, etc.) but putting off surgery is not an option for melanoma. So we wait, but with strong assurances that it won't be much longer. Talk to you again soon. KEN
We have been deeply moved by the number of people who have communicated with us letting us know of their concern and prayers. It is a huge encouragement to experience the love of friends at times like this.
Most of you will know that our surgery has been delayed for weeks because our BC health system is "stressed to near the breaking point," in the words of our GP. He has become a good friend and fierce advocate in our circumstances. His pressure brought word yesterday that we should expect the surgery to come late next week (between Oct. 8 and 10?).
Just a word about the type of surgery. It's called a "neck dissection". (Any similarities to your high school science lab classes are purely accurate.) The melanoma has affected an area on my right shoulder, causing a lump the size of a marble, and the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. The surgery will excise these affected tissues.
I think that's enough of Ken pretending to be an MD for now. The irony is that, except for the lump, I have had no physical symptoms and can honestly say I'm feeling fine. There are going to be after effects of the surgery (some change of speech, loss of muscle on the right side, etc.) but putting off surgery is not an option for melanoma. So we wait, but with strong assurances that it won't be much longer. Talk to you again soon. KEN
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