Suffering and Faith

The following are some really helpful points from Tim Stafford's writings on suffering that Darryl will be discussing at a local church this morning:

• What is it about suffering that forces us to focus on central issues of life?

• Suffering is one of the loneliest experiences; it is also one of the most purifying.

• How is it that suffering is one of the loneliest experiences and yet unites us
with other people?

Here’s Stafford's quote:

"Suffering purifies this human material, cutting away layer after soft layer until only firmer stuff remains. All the dross goes: the ambitions, love of money, vanity about appearance, everything that sets us above others in our own mind. Suffering purges everything that is not central to life."

Also, suffering teaches us the absolute limit to our abilities and our total dependence upon Christ. It unites us with others going through similar circumstances. That might be the key — not an “answer” to suffering, but humility and grace in the midst of it.

Suffering in whatever form it takes, personal, communal, national, is a great mystery. The Bible does not provide a running commentary on why “this happened here” or “this occurred there.”

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Suffering ultimately becomes a test of faith. Do we believe that God is the essence of holiness, goodness and compassion even when we cannot see it clearly through our pain?

Lord, I believe...please help my unbelief!!!

Paul Talks About Suffering...

The Apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians 4: 6-18 about suffering and serving Christ:

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

~ II Corinthians 4: 6-18 [New Living Translation]


More to come on suffering and faith...

Update on Sue's Mother

Please continue to support Sue and her family in your prayers. Sue provides us with an update below.

Sue writes today:

What a long, long week ... My mom said today that this was the worst week of her life.

I just wanted to give you an update on where things stand:

This morning she went to the hospital for a MUGA scan, to see if her heart will be strong enough to handle the course of treatment (chemo, etc.). We won't find that out until sometime next week -- all we know is that the tests came back "clear." My question is this: if her heart is NOT strong enough, will they go through it anyway? It seems our choices right now are limited.This afternoon she went to her breast doctor/surgeon to see if she could figure out what is under her arm, in the lymph area. While her oncologist was concerned about it, her breast doctor didn't think it was anything to worry about. My mom had an ultrasound done, and the doctor didn't see anything -- certainly nothing with any defined shape to it. She thinks it's just the way that her body is healing in that area -- not "normal," necessarily, but because she had an extreme amount of radiation in that spot her cells are messed up to start with, so perhaps that's why the healing is coming in a different way (i.e. scar tissue, harder tissue, etc.).

However, while she is not convinced there's anything to worry about, she is going to talk to the oncologist on Monday. If he insists that he is concerned and that something should be done, the breast doctor will concede and will then operate ... again ... to remove whatever it is. I guess the "best" scenario would be to open her up, determine for sure that it's nothing, and sew her back up again. So ... while it wasn't bad news, it certainly wasn't the kind of news that can make you breathe a sigh of relief ... we still don't know what's going on, and that "not knowing" isn't easy. Lots of "what if's" involved. I guess we'll know more next week — the discussion on Monday between the two doctors, the results of the heart scan, etc. Her oncologist also recommended that she get a second opinion, but that means more waiting. And if the cancer is as horribly aggressive as they say, waiting is the LAST thing you want to do.

The week is over, we have a free weekend (relatively speaking) to rest up for what's coming. A very specific prayer request is for extra strength for my mom. She is SOOO exhausted — she cries of it sometimes. My concern is that if she literally has the fight of her life ahead of her, she's going into it extremely weak and tired. Right now, she almost needs some kind of superhuman strength. And please pray for my dad — he doesn't say how he feels (at least not to anyone other than my mom), but I know he cries a lot (I can see that his eyes are always red). He too needs a tremendous amount of strength just to be there for her, to truck her around to appointments — she's his best friend and this is taking such a tremendous toll. And please pray for lifted spirits — I felt so good (finally!) after Grace's [Sue's daughter] birthday party (we all did), and now my spirits have sunk to a depth of such sadness. We're all just so, so sad. It would be great to just get a shred of good news, a glimmer of hope in all of this, after a string of bad news.

Thanks, as always, for your loving support, friendship, and prayers — it means the world to us.

More later ...Sue

Again, as a reminder, comments posted on this blog will reach Sue directly. She checks this blog daily.

I'll continue to post any updates and share at Inward~Outward on Sunday evenings.

The Suffering of a Dear Friend

Dearest Living Room Community,

Just was we rejoice that Lois does not have cancer, our dear friend, Sue, wrestles with the devastation of recurring cancer in her mother. Please read her email update in the text below and cry out to God in prayer for her entire family...

Sue writes today...

My mom just got back from her oncologist [follow up visit to radical mastectomy surgery last week] and the news was much worse than we had anticipated. The cancer she has is completely different than the one from two years ago. This one is extremely aggressive and our fear is that they've been moving a little too slowly on it. Whatever this cancer is, it could very quickly spread to her ovaries and elsewhere — and even though the PET scan was clear, he needs to go over it again, just to make sure. He's not convinced it hasn't spread. She also recently felt a hard lump under her arm, in the same spot as the surgery (where they removed the lymph nodes) — he didn't like that at all (a new tumor? Already?!) and told her to call her surgeon and request an emergency visit. So ... they're going to try a different kind of chemo (I think) - much, much more aggressive, every three weeks for the next several months. Along with that will be two drugs: herceptin (which could damage her heart) and taxo-something (which could cause severe allergic reactions). He stressed the importance of this starting A.S.A.P. -- there is absolutely no time to lose.

We are scared. Tremendously scared. My mom came home with a look of shock on her face. It's hard not to cry. You can't help but feel that this is so sinister, just really out to get you. We have no idea what other scans will show. She has to have a muga scan tomorrow a.m. to see how her heart will hold up with all of this. This truly was devastating news today. Just when we were starting to feel better about things ... wham. It's getting to be rather cyclical! Please, please keep us all in your prayers — for my mom, that she will have an extreme dose of strength to get through this, to fight this, that her spirits will be up, and that she will win and be healed. For the rest of us, that we will be strong for her and be able to do what needs to be done. Above all, please pray for healing — we can jump through fire, walk over coals, do whatever it takes, just to beat this horrible thing. I'm sure we'll know more in the next few days — I'll keep you posted.

Thanks so much for your prayers.
-Sue

Dear Living Room Family Members,
Please post comments to this email as responses to Sue. She checks this blog daily and may find comfort and encouragement from knowing that you are joining with many others in prayer and concern for her dear mother.

Thank you so much.

All Praise to God! Joy and Relief...

Lois Hackman does not have cancer!

1 Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
3 Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
4 For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.
~ Psalm 113: 1-4 [New Living Translation]

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Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
~ Psalm 115: 1 [New Living Translation]

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26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me because of your unfailing love.
27 Let them see that this is your doing,
that you yourself have done it, Lord.
~ Psalm 109: 26-27 [New Living Translation]

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For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.
In those days when you pray, I will listen.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
~ Lamentations 29:11-13 [New Living Translation]

Yearning for God

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart,
I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
~ Psalm 103 [New Living Translation]

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When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
~ Matthew 9:12-13 [New Living Translation]

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1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon,
the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
~ Psalm 42:1-8 [New Living Translation]

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O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.

Oh, How Great are God's Riches

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!
How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power
and is intended for his glory.
All glory to him forever! Amen.

~ Romans 11:33-36 [New Living Translation]

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Alleluia!

Continual prayers are being offered for our extended Living Room Community in health, safety and ministry. Our God is ever-present, all-powerful and all-knowing. He is bigger than all of our concerns. He'll care for His children. To Him be the glory for His infinite love!

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

Because the LORD is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors him the most.Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.

~ Psalm 23 from The Living Bible

Inspiration for our Living Room Community

Paul admonishes us in Romans 12: 9-13:

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

[New Living Translation]

May this be our mission and vision for the days ahead...

A celebration of the arts in Doyelstown PA

We have been invited to join with several local communities in a celebration of the arts on Sept 7 of this year.

We will need several artists to showcase there work, free food, and people who will enjoy hosting this event.

When: Friday night September 7th (the week after Labor Day)
Where: Main Street Baptist Church in downtown Doylestown
Time: 6 pm-ish to ??


tell your friends...

The God of All Comfort...

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 [The Message]


May we all be sensitive to ways that we can show our Savior's love through comforting dear Lois Hackman, Scott Camilleri and Judy VanHeemst and their families as they battle with cancer in the days ahead.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, dear brothers and sisters...

Comfort from Nooma Lump

A thought for comfort and reflection after viewing and discussing Rob Bell's Nooma Lump:

"There's nothing you could ever do to make Me love you less...Nothing. Nothing. Nothing!"
~ Rob Bell in Nooma Lump

I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. ~ Romans 8:38-40 [The Message]


NOOMA Lump 010 Rob Bell: Copyright 2005 by Flannel, P. O. Box 3228, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-3228. Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 49530. www.nooma.com

Last night was a gift

Last night was a gift,
In the way we share a meal,
A drink, A laugh and a prayer.

I love this community,
And I am ready to share it with the world.

The news of my mom has been hard,
But when I think of how this is an oppertunity,
For the Kingdom to be scene,
I get excitted.

You are the people I want to experience this part of life with.
People who will enter the awkward and not be moved.
People who will sit and be ok with silence.
People who will prayer and be ok with something other than their request.
This is a communit of faith I have dreamed of.

Thank you...