“Your true life is not made up of the things you own,
no matter how rich you may be.”
~Luke 12:15 TEV~
Chapman Progress and Prayer Needs
Emma – Ability and desire to eat, lungs, skull fracture
Ann – Waiting for custom brace, sitting up with halo, shoulder
Krisa – Home today using a walker
Quincy – Disoriented
Deloy – Got to sleep in a hospital guest room last night thanks to a friend staying with Emma
Dukes
Another Week
In a couple of days this experience will be four months old. If I had looked at this ahead of time, I would not have thought we could make it four months. However, with the help of a loving, gracious God who has made himself known to us in some unique ways, the love of a family that has been the mainstay of our support, and the support and prayer of thousands of friends, we are here and looking ahead to whatever the future holds.
This week has been, well, a week. I was able to make a visit home to Orlando for some meetings. All went well. When I went through the security at the airport, all the metal in my elbow and legs did not even cause a stir in the machine. It was as quiet as a mouse in both New Orleans and in Orlando. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. It was great to see some good friends I have not seen since the accident and to get some things accomplishe
When I left here Tuesday, I felt Retia was making some wonderful improvements. We had gotten her off some of the medicine that seemed to cause her confusion. However, when I got back, I realized that she had not made as much progress as I thought. We will likely have to return her to both the medications because of other problems that hinder her therapy and her recovery.
In addition, I also discovered today that she has two new infections. The doctor (logically) will not operate on her head as long as she has any infection. As you know, we have been battling infections for months. I am not sure what these are or how they will affect her, but I do know that they will hinder the surgery to protect the bedsore and the surgery to replace the skull cap. We are probably looking at least at three more weeks before getting a date for the surgery. That means at least another month or more in New Orleans.
As you might guess, that is a big disappointment. We were looking forward to getting home in a couple of weeks or so.
I do not blame God for this situation. I believe it is the consequence of a broken world in which a person made a wrong choice or maybe several. We have been caught up in those consequences.
I believe God can overcome these infections in an instant. I also believe he can bring Retia back to her full health in every respect in an instant.
But I also realize he may not. And I pray my trust in him will not wax or wane based on the perceptions I have of his choice.
I believe he has given us the wonderful privilege of prayer. Through this wonderful gift we have the right granted by him to ask him anything our heart desires. But while we have the freedom to ask what we will, I do not believe he has given any of us tools to manipulate him into doing what we ask him to do.
Every once in a while I hear someone say, “Prayer is powerful.” I do not believe that. I believe it is God who is powerful. Prayer is communication. We talk to him and express the desires of our heart. He already knows both what we desire and what we need. He acts in power to work out his purpose and bring glory to himself. That is the right thing to do.
He is busy working out his purpose, and as he works it out, he will do what is right for him and what brings him glory. If it is right for him, it must be right for us. We do not always understand his choices or his actions, but we can trust him to take care of us in every way.
I do trust him. I trust Retia to him. I will continue to pray for her healing, and I am grateful that there are many of you who will do the same. Pray for whatever you desire for her. But pray as though it were Jesus praying. If we seek to have the mind of Christ in our praying, we will be closer to praying for the will of the Father to be done. As Kingdom citizens we want his will to be done on earth just like it is done in heaven.
We can make outrageous requests of him knowing that he, in his outrageous love, will give us what is best for him and us.
I told someone in the early weeks of this experience that we do not know how this will come out. I still do not know. But as it was then, it is now. He will walk with us through all of it. We can still trust him whether he chooses to still the storm or take us through the waves.
Join us both in lifting Retia up to him and in trusting him to be God.
blessings
jdukes
Friday, July 31, 2009 7:32 PM, CDT
Blood pressure hanging in there.
Thx or praying.
love
Saturday, August 1, 2009 12:41 AM, CDT
It is about time for me to switch out with Jinny. Maggie Lee is resting comfortably in her new room, not having much acitivity with her BP and having her temperature down with the help of the cooling blanket (I’m thinking of taking one of those home with me, by the way).
It is nice to be in a room(thanks, Dr. Christ–yes, that’s her name), though we are still in PCCU and still needing constant attention and monitoring. Maggie Lee is as frail as before moving in here and still in need of constant prayer.
We are finding more conduits of God’s love each day.
Lord, may You bless Maggie Lee with Your healing touch as she rests tonight. May she know of Your amazing love for her, especially as provided by loving nurses, doctors and through the prayers of Your people. Amen.
Died on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at his residence in Greensburg, LA. He was a native and resident of Greensburg, LA. Age 75 years. He was a U. S. Army Veteran of Korean Conflict and received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Southeastern Louisiana University. Visitation at Greensburg United Methodist Church, Greensburg, from 1 p.m. on Thursday until religious services at 4 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. LaMarylis Cotten and Rev. Kevin Smith. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. Survived by sister, Doris H. Travis and her husband, Billy, nephew, Terry Travis and his wife, Dell, nieces, Betty T. Day and her husband, Lynn, Marilyn T. Taylor and her husband, Randy, great-nieces and great-nephews, Melissa Day, Travis Day and his wife, Grace, Brantley Taylor and his wife, Brandi, Ryan Travis and his wife, Beth, Anna T. Bullinger and her husband, Trey, Courtney D. Passman and her husband, Michael, Brent Travis and his wife, Holly, Angela Kimball and her husband, Paul, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, Blase River Taylor, Emma Day, Bella Taylor, George Taylor Bullinger, Michael Charles Passman II, John Travis Day, Sean Capella, Reagan Kimball. Preceded in death by parents, Cleon T. Hutchinson, Sr. and Mattie Smith Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Greensburg United Methodist Church. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.
Please continue to pray for the Welch families.
KneEmail
Conductor
PEOPLE OFTEN PAY high prices because of one man in the concert: the conductor…
He enters to the applause of the audience. A hundred instruments are poised by a hundred tense musicians. Each player is prepared to make a special kind of musical response to his beat; each section will produce melodic lines and rhythmic patterns different from the others. It is the conductor who will weave all the differences together and insure that the orchestra keeps faith with thecomposer’s intentions. He will establish a standard tempo and a standard volume. He will bring out the solo parts, insuring that the orchestra colors the background in just the right musical hues so that the soloist reaches the anticipated excellence. Without the conductor, the finest musicians and the most expensive instruments produce only inartistic chaos.
Like the orchestra, a family needs someone to set the tempo. When the tempo has been set and the soloist steps into the spotlight, the conductor gives him opportunity to perform; so does the father. Without an effective father, a family struggles (Gordon McDonald).
“Every day Mordecai walked in front of the harem
to learn how Esther was and how she fared”
(Esther 2:11).
“Now Esther had not made known her people,
as Mordecai had charged her;
for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him”
(Esther 2:20).
The Prayer Link 