Selfishly, I need to point out that those of you who are paying subscribers really make it possible for me to take a week off writing about politics to do this and I thank you tremendously and hope some of you who are not paying subscribers might join the effort.
I benefit way more than $5 or $6 a month by reading here. This is a most unusual place-- like a library, bookstore, or newsstand of the spirit-at work, our work and its, or his, or...
Two crucial perspectives meet over the question how to make the world,and our individual selves, work right. I’m so fortunate to be able to stop by. My day is improved. Hope returns. And love.
No matter how many times I hear or read Erick's story I am always ministered by it. It exposes the reality of the fragility of life. As well an even bigger truth, the win is not necessarily a long and seemingly trouble free life, but rather Jesus himself.
A number of years ago I sat with my dear friend and Pastor as he explained he had been approached by the former Elders at the church he left to start a new church. I looked in his eyes and in my heart and told him "I really don't sense this for you but I do believe God has something planned for you, but it isn't a church." I am not a Prophet but I felt those truly were the words I was supposed to speak. Six months later an elderly woman slams into his car and the visit to the hospital exposed advanced cancer. Even worse they couldn't find the source and it was essentially undetectable. After more testing at a University Medical Center they excitedly informed him "We have found the source and we can target the treatment. If we hadn't found it you most likely at 6 months to live." He asked the obvious question "So how long do I have with the treatment?" The answer from the doctor "Well, most likely a year."
So in the midst of these dark days he started a blog to reach out to friends and family to share what was going on. Yes, the usual stuff, but also sharing his strange and funny sense of humor as well as sneaking in Jesus." A trial of a new medicine worked amazingly well and in a twist, he became the patient spokesperson for the drug as they introduced it to the US market. They flew him to speak at their national launch before thousands of their researchers, employees, and staff across the world. As a pastor he knew exactly how to craft this speech. It led to now thousands of people across the world reading his blog posts weekly.
Three years later we sat at our last dinner together and were amazed at what God had done through this horrible disease. He had been a successful pastor but through some evil things that occurred in a few churches had effectively decided to leave pastoring. Yet, at the end, his outreach was more than he could have ever imagined in a building.
Did God cause the cancer? No, but we live in a broken and sinful world and cancer is part of it. I do believe that he did work to orchestrate the next three years until he called my friend home.
So, that's the win.
My prayer for Erick and his family is the greatest success and wonderful health in these coming years. I believe God has placed Erick where he can have an amazing influence not just on our little corner of Georgia but across the country. But I also know that we are not omnipotent and not in control. What I learned is there is something freeing about losing the fear of death. Our perspective changes and you speak more honestly and live more transparently. I think this is part of Erick's super power. He has seen God's goodness and is resting in his plan whatever that may be. Blessings to Erick and his show to continue to grow and share this great story with many more people.
Sometimes I think the best thing we can do in difficult times is to reflect on the ways He has worked in our lives before. I'm in a liminal space myself--going on a year without any path or direction. It's frustrating and I, too, have said "How long?" And then He gently reminds me that He is at work in me. He reminds me of the years my daughter struggled with depression, anorexia, and self harm without anyone believing me that she was ill. How He moved us 2600 miles from everything we knew--without connections, without a job, without anything other than faith--only to learn that our new home was near one of the best outpatient centers for eating disorders in the country. It saved her life. He reminds me of another unexpected move, this time me leaving my family for a year to take a position at a university. The university job ended, but the church He led me to there showed me what the love of Jesus looks like in a way I had not experienced in a church before. When I returned home, my husband and I sought out a church that knew how to love well. There are countless ways the Lord has brought me through uncertainty; this season will also end and I will have gained what I need to participate in whatever He has planned next.
As the good Father the Lord is to us, sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes", sometimes "no", and sometimes "not now". I look back on my life, on the prayers He didn't answer the way I wanted Him to at the time, and I thank Him for His infinite wisdom and grace, because He knew better what I needed, as opposed to what I wanted, than I did myself.
As a young man and a younger Christian, I often fantasized about being a "warrior for Christ." It was a term I heard thrown around a lot within the church, and I imagined myself going out and slaying demons in far-away lands in His name. I'm much older now and have seen God working on my behalf many, many times, always in the ways you describe; sometimes at the very last minute, sometimes down to the penny, but always in such a way that I knew it was Him. And through the darkest of times I learned that being a warrior for Christ sometimes means just getting out of bed and putting your left foot in front of your right. Keep getting out of bed, brother. Excellent piece, Erick. Synopsizes faith perfectly.
I never get tired of hearing you relate this! Often the future unknown are understood & calmed by a backward glance at the steps of the known. We are not God. Yet He is proving you have a purpose for His kingdom. Onward!
I've been along for the ride, Erick, listening wherever I could find you. Even when Rush was still on I would work to listen to your program but catch Rush when I could. Why? You are the very definition of transparent on the radio. Your faith is worn on your sleeve as is your heart. I cherish that about you. If you ever change that, you will lose one listener. May God bless and keep you, and thank you for doing what you do THE WAY you do it.
You are a Blessed man and I am as well. My wife of many years did have a rare type of cancer that even Mayo had never seen. Only two ladies in Australia had had it and it took both of them in 4 1/2 months as well. But on the 7th night at 7pm as I was praying "Why Lord did you take her so early" as she was only 57, the room filled with light so bright I had to close my eyes, and I heard this voice say "She has finished her race, she has finished well, now she is enjoying the fruit that she laid up in Heaven, now you go out and continue your race and I will give you peace from this day forward". And He has. I was Blessed by Him bringing the Executive Producer of Focus on the Families half hour radio program, into my life over 20 years ago. Only He could have done this the way it happened. He is a wonderful God and we ALL need to worship Him each and every hour of each and every day. He is there at ALL times. Bless you Erick for all you do. Blessings to your family and what He has done for them as well.
Erick,
Thank you for your faithfulness, even in times when all seems lost. Keep up the great work!
You are so right that God is always at work in our lives. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding each of us of God's leading and providing.
I benefit way more than $5 or $6 a month by reading here. This is a most unusual place-- like a library, bookstore, or newsstand of the spirit-at work, our work and its, or his, or...
Two crucial perspectives meet over the question how to make the world,and our individual selves, work right. I’m so fortunate to be able to stop by. My day is improved. Hope returns. And love.
Keep on, E.W.E.!
No matter how many times I hear or read Erick's story I am always ministered by it. It exposes the reality of the fragility of life. As well an even bigger truth, the win is not necessarily a long and seemingly trouble free life, but rather Jesus himself.
A number of years ago I sat with my dear friend and Pastor as he explained he had been approached by the former Elders at the church he left to start a new church. I looked in his eyes and in my heart and told him "I really don't sense this for you but I do believe God has something planned for you, but it isn't a church." I am not a Prophet but I felt those truly were the words I was supposed to speak. Six months later an elderly woman slams into his car and the visit to the hospital exposed advanced cancer. Even worse they couldn't find the source and it was essentially undetectable. After more testing at a University Medical Center they excitedly informed him "We have found the source and we can target the treatment. If we hadn't found it you most likely at 6 months to live." He asked the obvious question "So how long do I have with the treatment?" The answer from the doctor "Well, most likely a year."
So in the midst of these dark days he started a blog to reach out to friends and family to share what was going on. Yes, the usual stuff, but also sharing his strange and funny sense of humor as well as sneaking in Jesus." A trial of a new medicine worked amazingly well and in a twist, he became the patient spokesperson for the drug as they introduced it to the US market. They flew him to speak at their national launch before thousands of their researchers, employees, and staff across the world. As a pastor he knew exactly how to craft this speech. It led to now thousands of people across the world reading his blog posts weekly.
Three years later we sat at our last dinner together and were amazed at what God had done through this horrible disease. He had been a successful pastor but through some evil things that occurred in a few churches had effectively decided to leave pastoring. Yet, at the end, his outreach was more than he could have ever imagined in a building.
Did God cause the cancer? No, but we live in a broken and sinful world and cancer is part of it. I do believe that he did work to orchestrate the next three years until he called my friend home.
So, that's the win.
My prayer for Erick and his family is the greatest success and wonderful health in these coming years. I believe God has placed Erick where he can have an amazing influence not just on our little corner of Georgia but across the country. But I also know that we are not omnipotent and not in control. What I learned is there is something freeing about losing the fear of death. Our perspective changes and you speak more honestly and live more transparently. I think this is part of Erick's super power. He has seen God's goodness and is resting in his plan whatever that may be. Blessings to Erick and his show to continue to grow and share this great story with many more people.
Always appreciate your BEAUtiful testimony. When I am at a loss for words, I pray the prayer that never fails: “Thy will be done…”
Sometimes I think the best thing we can do in difficult times is to reflect on the ways He has worked in our lives before. I'm in a liminal space myself--going on a year without any path or direction. It's frustrating and I, too, have said "How long?" And then He gently reminds me that He is at work in me. He reminds me of the years my daughter struggled with depression, anorexia, and self harm without anyone believing me that she was ill. How He moved us 2600 miles from everything we knew--without connections, without a job, without anything other than faith--only to learn that our new home was near one of the best outpatient centers for eating disorders in the country. It saved her life. He reminds me of another unexpected move, this time me leaving my family for a year to take a position at a university. The university job ended, but the church He led me to there showed me what the love of Jesus looks like in a way I had not experienced in a church before. When I returned home, my husband and I sought out a church that knew how to love well. There are countless ways the Lord has brought me through uncertainty; this season will also end and I will have gained what I need to participate in whatever He has planned next.
Thank you for your witness. So moving…..
As the good Father the Lord is to us, sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes", sometimes "no", and sometimes "not now". I look back on my life, on the prayers He didn't answer the way I wanted Him to at the time, and I thank Him for His infinite wisdom and grace, because He knew better what I needed, as opposed to what I wanted, than I did myself.
As a young man and a younger Christian, I often fantasized about being a "warrior for Christ." It was a term I heard thrown around a lot within the church, and I imagined myself going out and slaying demons in far-away lands in His name. I'm much older now and have seen God working on my behalf many, many times, always in the ways you describe; sometimes at the very last minute, sometimes down to the penny, but always in such a way that I knew it was Him. And through the darkest of times I learned that being a warrior for Christ sometimes means just getting out of bed and putting your left foot in front of your right. Keep getting out of bed, brother. Excellent piece, Erick. Synopsizes faith perfectly.
I never get tired of hearing you relate this! Often the future unknown are understood & calmed by a backward glance at the steps of the known. We are not God. Yet He is proving you have a purpose for His kingdom. Onward!
I've been along for the ride, Erick, listening wherever I could find you. Even when Rush was still on I would work to listen to your program but catch Rush when I could. Why? You are the very definition of transparent on the radio. Your faith is worn on your sleeve as is your heart. I cherish that about you. If you ever change that, you will lose one listener. May God bless and keep you, and thank you for doing what you do THE WAY you do it.
You are a Blessed man and I am as well. My wife of many years did have a rare type of cancer that even Mayo had never seen. Only two ladies in Australia had had it and it took both of them in 4 1/2 months as well. But on the 7th night at 7pm as I was praying "Why Lord did you take her so early" as she was only 57, the room filled with light so bright I had to close my eyes, and I heard this voice say "She has finished her race, she has finished well, now she is enjoying the fruit that she laid up in Heaven, now you go out and continue your race and I will give you peace from this day forward". And He has. I was Blessed by Him bringing the Executive Producer of Focus on the Families half hour radio program, into my life over 20 years ago. Only He could have done this the way it happened. He is a wonderful God and we ALL need to worship Him each and every hour of each and every day. He is there at ALL times. Bless you Erick for all you do. Blessings to your family and what He has done for them as well.
Glory to God for all things!
No words. Just tears. Thanks for the encouragement today.
Thanks be to God!
Good article. I appreciate your thoughts on life with God at the center.