We are home! Friday 6:30 p.m. Update

WE ARE HOME!! Glory! We got home about 12:30 today and are settling in. Things are going well. Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

We would welcome any visitors in our home but we are asking for the first two weeks or so to come between 4-7 p.m. in the evening. This way it gives us time for rest, out-patient therapy and doctor's appointments. Blessings

Update on Roxanne 6:30 a.m. Thursday

I'm sorry I didn't post about Roxanne last night. She had a good day and we are planning on going home in the morning. Concerning the storms - the one that came through Bham missed us although the whole Rehab was in the hall way for almost two hours. We were about 10-15 miles from the storm and did not even get rain from it. Weird. But we were safe. Blessings

Update on Roxanne 9:00 p.m. Tuesday

Update on Roxanne - another good day in therapy. Things are moving along well and we are seeing improvement which is encouraging. It will just take time. Friday still seems to be the day to go home - just getting some minor things done to the house and ordering equipment to come home with. Thank you for your prayer support. With love....

Update on Roxanne 5:00 p.m. Monday

Roxanne has had a very good day of therapy. First, there is improvement in her foot movement. Second, she was not as "worn out" from therapy today as Saturday. She has had less pain today due mainly to a better pain med regiment. And her youngest son, Kevin, came to visit before flying out to New York City.

Our doctor told us today that he felt she would regain the full use of the foot. We also anticipate now that we will be dismissed from here on Friday to come home!!

Roxanne actually said to me today, "I feel better than I've felt in a long time." God is good and healing and restoration is on the way!!

Resisting Consumeristic Temptations

Resisting Consumeristic Temptations: How’s that for a snooty title for an article? But the article itself is not so snooty. I’ve been reading John Temple’s little book Family Money Matters and found a handy list of ways to resist the temptations of living in our high-pressure world of advertising and consumerism. It seemed worth sharing. Here is what he suggests.

• Do not read the glossy “good-life” magazines. These are filled with temptations to buy or consume what may not be remotely necessary. I have stopped even opening the airline magazines, which depict a way of life which is presented as normal but is not even close.
• Do not watch the “lifestyle” TV programs that extol glamorous or extravagant living.
• Hit the mute button when the commercials appear on TV and try to ignore what they are showing.
• Avoid impulse buying. When you go shopping, draw up a list of what you need to buy and wear blinders for everything else. Never buy anything from the displays at the checkouts.
• Don’t buy anything that is a bargain if you do not need it. It is no bargain if you can do without it.
• Politely decline any salesperson who comes to your door. He or she is almost always selling something that you do not need.
• Do not be tempted to have the latest in anything. This includes fashions, electronic gadgets, computers and cars. The list is endless. Keep your old one until it makes economic sense to replace it. I still wear suits that are twenty years old. They have been in and out of fashion a few times, so I am not always out of date! While ladies may be more tempted in the clothing arena, men will be subject to more pressure with gadgets and cars. Watch yourself.
• Do not spend ostentatiously. I recall a pastor’s wife noting that many people who have money often live frugal lives and shop carefully, whereas some people tend to spend freely even if they should be more careful. The writer of Proverbs knew this long ago! “One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth” (Prov. 13:7).

Temple also offers up this challenge (or rebuke): “Women tend to control daily needs such as food and children’s clothing. I have noticed that they are generally very good at saving on these items. However, I have also noticed that men are very good at spending all their wives’ hard-fought savings! An entire year’s discounts, grocery coupons and special offers go on a single new digital camera, mobile phone, TV set or computer. Men ought to be examples to their families, leading in frugality and not succumbing to the temptations of the materialistic market.”

Update on Roxanne 5:00 p.m. Sunday

I've been gone most of the day from Roxanne as I went home to preach. I got back to the Rehab about 2. She has had a good, restful day - i.e. no therapy. Keep praying for her hip pain of where they removed the bone from her hip for the fusion - it is what is causing her the most discomfort.

I was thinking a few minutes ago how blessed we are to have Rehab facilities like this and the health system we have in the U.S. Most of the world would not have the access she has to be in this fine facility.

Love to all. We'll check back in tomorrow afternoon/early evening.

Update on Roxanne 5:30 pm Saturday

Roxanne did her therapy but is rather tired and has gone to bed. She is watching the Saturday night Easter service at First Baptist Church , Woodstock, GA with me since we won't be together in the morning for Easter services.

I am looking forward to being to preaching at CrossRoads in the morning at 10:15. I'll not update again tonight but just wish to say thanks again for your prayers and support. Happy Easter to everyone.

50 Reasons Why Jesus died by John Piper

In this book, John Piper has gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons behind the crucifixion of the Christ:

The most important question of the twenty-first century is: Why did Jesus Christ suffer so much? But we will never see this importance if we fail to go beyond human cause. The ultimate answer to the question, Who crucified Jesus? is: God did. It is a staggering thought. Jesus was his Son. And the suffering was unsurpassed. But the whole message of the Bible leads to this conclusion.

Download the book for free.

Update on Roxanne 12 Noon Saturday

Roxanne just got her first shower since Monday so she feels better. She has her first therapy session at 2. She is already experiencing some more movement in her right foot. When she was getting on the bed a few minutes ago she got her legs on the bed by herself. This is the first time this week. And all of this is prior to her therapy beginning. God is already in the process of healing.

I have learned it is called "foot drop." I'm not a "medical person" so I've just called it numbness.

Her doctor here at Lakeshore told us this morning that by Tuesday he should be able to tell us his opinion on how quickly the leg, foot will be restored.

How to pray? That Roxanne will have strength for the therapy. That the hip (where the bone was removed for the fusion) would heal quickly. (The hip is giving her more pain than anything). That the new regiment of pain meds here at the Rehab will go more smoothly this afternoon and tonight.

Who Killed Jesus?

“Who killed Jesus?” Charles Spurgeon explains:

“There was a day, as I took my walks abroad, when I came hard-by a spot forever engraven upon my memory, for there I saw this Friend, my best, my only Friend, murdered. I stooped down in sad affright, and looked at him. I saw that his hands had been pierced with rough nails, and his feet had been rent in the same way. There was misery in his dead countenance so terrible that I scarcely dared to look upon it. His body was emaciated with hunger, his back was red with bloody scourges, and his brow had a circle of wounds about it: clearly could one see that these had been pierced by thorns.

I shuddered, for I had known this friend full well. He never had a fault; he was the purest of pure, the holiest of the holy. Who could have injured him? For he never injured any man; all his life long he ‘went about doing good;’ he had healed the sick, he had fed the hungry, he had raised the dead. For which of these works did they kill him? He had never breathed out anything else but love; and as I looked into the poor sorrowful face, so full of agony, and yet so full of love, I wondered who could have been a wretch so vile as to pierce hands like his. I said within myself, ‘Where can these traitors live? Who are these that could have smitten such a One as this?’ Had they murdered an oppressor, we might have forgiven them. Had they slain one who had indulged in vice or villainy, it might have been his desert. Had it been a murderer and a rebel, or one who had committed sedition, we would have said, ‘Bury his corpse; justice has at last given him his due.’ But when thou wast slain, my best, my only beloved, where lodged the traitors? Let me seize them, and they shall be put to death. If there be torments that I can devise, surely they shall endure them all. Oh! What jealousy, what revenge I felt! If I might but find these murderers, what would I not do with them!

And as I looked upon that corpse, I heard a footstep, and wondered where it was. I listened, and I clearly perceived that the murderer was close at hand. It was dark, and I groped about to find him. I found that, somehow or other, wherever I put out my hand, I could not meet with him, for he was nearer to me than my hand would go. At last I put my hand upon my breast. ‘I have thee now,’ said I; for lo! he was in my own heart! The murderer was hiding within my own bosom, dwelling in the recesses of my inmost soul. Ah! Then I wept indeed, that I, in the very presence of my murdered Master, should be harbouring the murderer, and I felt myself most guilty while I bowed over His corpse, and sang that plaintive hymn:

“‘Twas you, my sins, my cruel sins,
His chief tormentors were;
Each of my crimes became a nail,
And unbelief the spear.”

My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorns those bleeding brows. My sins cried, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ and laid the cross upon his gracious shoulders. His being led forth to die is sorrow enough for one eternity; but my having been his murderer is more, infinitely more grief, than one poor fountain of tears can express.”

Who killed Jesus? I did. You did. We all did.

Update on Roxanne 1:00 pm Friday

We have just heard we have been approved to go to Lakeshore Rehab for seven days. We were simply trusting our Father with this decision. Both our doctor and the Rehab representative is surprised our insurance company approved. But apparently our Father wanted it for her. We are leaving the hospital this afternoon.

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!

I thought here at the noon hour it would be good to remember that it is Friday, but Sunday’s coming!

Rejoicing in the Lord

One of Roxanne's favorite Scriptures is Hab. 3:17-18. We were reading it and she forgot about verse 19 "The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills." GLORY - we receive it in Jesus' Name.

And on this Good Friday, "By His stripes we are healed."

What a morning of rejoicing in our GREAT GOD and His sovereign will over our lives.

Update on Roxanne 7:00 am Friday

Good morning from Bham - We both went to sleep early last night but Roxanne work up with a lot of hip pain during the night. Its where they took the bone from her hip. They became a little more aggressive with the pain meds and she slept well and woke with the pain under control. We don't know what the day holds (Rehab? home? staying in the hospital?). But I will let you all know when we know. Love to all and again, thanks for your prayers.

And "It's a GOOD FRIDAY" no matter where we are because of our Jesus' death. Gonna miss being at the David Platt Simulcast tonight with our church.

The Power of the Cross

What a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty "The Power of the Cross" as we prepare for Good Friday.

Update on Roxanne 5:00 p.m. Thursday

We've had a good day today. We got the brace for her foot about noon and she had one therapy session with it this afternoon. Roxanne seemed to walk with more confidence with the brace and walker. We have not heard a decision on Rehab and been told it will most likely be morning now for us to know whether we are going home or to Rehab. If you have not read other posts, we are waiting on approval from insurance.

I doubt I will update again tonight unless we should hear something.

Again, thanks for your prayers. Love to all

Update on Roxanne 9:30 am Thursday

Sorry for the delay this morning - it has been busy since 7. We are not coming home today. Her doctor wants her to go to Rehab and we want it. We hopefully will find out an answer today. He has told us it could take months for the leg to respond so we're needing to prepare for the long haul.

Otherwise, she is doing well. She is getting out of bed on her own and walking to the bathroom with a walker. The pain is remaining under control with the meds.

I will update as soon as we hear about Rehab. Thanks to all for prayers and love.

Update on Roxanne 9:30 pm Wednesday

Tonight has been a busy night. They removed her cath and drainage tube, but had to replace her IV (which was a bummer). They said everything was looking good. Also the "special brace" they ordered for her right foot and ankle arrived about 6 tonight. This will help stabilize the numb leg and foot while walking.

They are moving forward for us to go to Rehab tomorrow or Friday, but the BIG catch is if insurance will approve it. We will just wait and see. If not, we will have some home health rehab. If we don't go to Rehab, we may come home late tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning.

For the first time, she thinks she can detect where the doctor took the bone from her hip. At least he did not have to do a separate incision but he did use her own bone for the fusion.

As posted earlier, this has been a sleepy day for her. Even when the children and grandchildren were here she fell asleep. She has slept a good bit tonight; so hopefully she'll sleep good tonight.

Until morning....we have so much love for all who are holding us up during these days.

Update on Roxanne at 5:00 Wednesday

Update on Roxanne: We got to walk this afternoon and she walked around the hall. They have now told us they want her to go to Rehab but it will be determined if her insurance will approve it. We are hoping all the tubes will come out tonight. She has slept alot today even with the grandchildren here. We are blessed with the Lord's presence, the many wishes of our friends and the presence of family.

update on Roxanne Noon Wednesday

Just a brief update. The morning has been tougher today than yesterday. Walking was a more challenging. Keep praying for her right leg and foot - it is still numb. We are definitely not going home today. The good news is that she is sleeping (which shes needs) and both grandchildren and families have been here this morning plus her Dad. Thanks for your continual prayers. Love to all

Update on Roxanne 7:00 am Wednesday

Update on Roxanne: we had a good night except she slept too long and woke up hurting s badly as she has in 24 hours. However, after getting some pain meds, she went back to sleep. Keith, Kimberly and Brooklyn Jane proved much joy last night as they came to see her. We are so grateful for God's grace evident through all of your prayers and love.

Update on Roxanne at 6:00 Tuesday

Roxanne has had a good afternoon. She walked outside the room with a the help of a walker and got a good, long nap. The doctor said she would need no blood and that everything medically was looking good. At this point, we believe the better odds are we'll go home Thursday. We are waiting for the grandchildren to come tonight for a visit. Yahoo!!

Update on Roxanne Noon Tuesday

Roxanne had lower back fusion surgery yesterday at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Clinic in Birmingham, Dr. Nichols, surgeon. She went into surgery about 2:00 and got out at 5:15. She made it to her room at 7:45 (which concerned me).

The doctor said he did everything he was hoping to do. The good news was he used her own bone and did not have to make a second incision. The bad news was he said the nerve damage was more severe than he expected - they (the nerves) had taken a real beating over the years. He expects them to recover but it will take time. Also, he expected her left leg (that was the side of the worse nerve damage) to be numb but after surgery it is her right leg that is numb. In fact, about 90% numb with minor feeling in her foot and toes. Again, this should recover but it will take time.

We are very blessed with the pain treatment. They got her last night to where she only had to have two pain pills (no shots) from about 10 pm to 7. She slept very well when they would let her.

They have her up sitting in a chair for the first time. She had to use a walker but with the help of the Lord, pain meds and two therapists, she made it.

The doctor told us this morning it may be Thursday before she goes home.

Thanks for all the prayers, texts, Facebook messages, emails and calls. Your support make us even stronger. Love all

Dr. Johnny Hunt on Easter

My friend, Boyd Bailey, President and Founder of Wisdom Hunters, is doing a three-part interview with Dr. Johnny Hunt, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA on the meaning and message of Easter. Here is part one.

Make Holy Week Holy to the Lord

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is not intrinsically holy, except that all time is holy, since it belongs to God. But we can make it holy by setting it apart for sacred focus.

John Piper wrote: May I encourage you to do that, for the sake of seeing more of the greatness of Christ. He reveals himself through his word. Take up his word and focus your attention on him in his last hours. Set aside some time this week to fix your gaze steadily on him as he loves you to the uttermost (John 13:1).

The passages in the Gospels that record his final hours are:

• Matthew 26:17-28:20
• Mark 14:21-16:8
• Luke 22:1-24:53
• John 13:1-21:25

You may find that a volcano erupts in your soul. Like it did for me 28 years ago.

Martin Lloyd-Jones on the folly of seeing God as only a God of love

Lloyd-Jones could have been saying this for the 21st Century not the 20th. There really is nothing new under the sun:

“All this modern preaching on the fact that God is love is an indication of the same attitude and spirit. We are told today that the old sermons that preached the law and talked about conviction of sin and called people to repentance were all wrong because they were legalistic . . .So it is said that we must return to the message of Jesus. We must get rid of all our theology, our argumentation and doctrine—it is all unnecessary. The business of preaching is to tell people that God is love. It does not matter what they are, or what they have been, or what they have done, or what they may do—God loves them. Nobody will ever be punished. There is no law; so there is no retribution and no hell . . .

Dignitaries in the church tell us that what we need is a “religionless Christianity.” One of them has written a book in which he says that if you really want to find God, do not go to places of worship. He says that he has found more of God in the brothels and beer parlors of Algeria than he has ever found in a church. Kindness, love for one another—that, we are told, is the message. This is all just a very clever, modern, sophisticated, philosophical way of saying, No repentance!

. . . If you know the message of the Bible at all, you will be in no difficulty about answering this question. Repentance is essential to salvation. There is no salvation without it . . . If you say you need a Savior, it must be because you realize that the life you have been living is wrong and sinful, that it deserves the judgment and punishment of God and of hell . . . the object of that death upon the cross was to reconcile us to God. It is a personal reconciliation. Christ’s death does not just put us right with a law—it puts us right with a person . . . to have this relationship, this communion and fellowship with God, we must be like Him. We see that we must be righteous, for there is no communion between light and darkness—that is impossible, and therefore we must be delivered from all that is wrong and evil. That is repentance . . .

The world needs to be reminded of judgment. This country [England) is becoming lawless—all countries are—and it is no use trying to solve the problem by passing acts of Parliament—you cannot do it . . .you need to change human nature. The trouble is in the human heart, on both sides of industry. Because people have no idea of the judgment of God, they ultimately have no sense of responsibility. Every man is out for himself, trying to get the best for himself . . . The world needs to know that it is rushing in the direction of final judgment. Only the prospect of judgment can sober it and bring it to its senses, and it is the business of the preaching of the Gospel to tell the world that, and not to say that God loves everybody and therefore everybody is going to heaven. Our Lord preached judgment, as we have seen; that is the sole explanation of why He died.”

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Victorious Christianity, 1st U.S. ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2003), 66-74.

Difference between a believer and non-believer

What is a distinguishing mark of a believer? At our 2009 Pastors Conference Mark Dever gave us a helpful and memorable word:

The difference between a Christian and non-Christian: When a non-Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with his sin. When a Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with God, against himself."

Some misc. quotes

"Jesus loves me" is a great statement as long as the emphasis is on Jesus and not me. His love for me is not due to me, but Him. He is the one and only to receive any praise or glory.

God's love is not just unconditional - but counter-conditional. His love was not just passive (as unconditional might lend us to believe), but it was active. Deuteronomy 7:7 "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;..."

Speaking of churches, Charles Carrin writes, "The chimney is still there but the fire is gone."