My Journey With Cancer, Part 43 By David Maddox
Medically last week was uneventful which always is good news for a cancer patient. We deal with residential effects of long term chemo treatments such as occasional stomach and intestine issues, a level of fatigue, and the numbness in hands and feet. But so what – as each day brings an increased appetite – and food begins to taste good – and you feel well enough to go and see other people – and minister – and exercise etc. And best of all for me I have a whole additional week yet before chemo begins again. For larger parts of some days it is almost as if you don’t have cancer although that is never really far from your mind.
Last week we got to spend time with friends almost every day. Monday we had dinner out with our eldest son and his bride to celebrate his birthday while a Young Life group met at our home. Tuesday a faithful friend who has come to spend time with me every chemo cycle throughout this journey came over and that night our small group met and we got to hear about and see God mightily at work in and through these special young people. Thursday was a highlight as I got to meet another Christian cancer patient going through exactly what I am going through. It was such a joy to share how God is blessing us and using us and enabling us to make this journey – and to learn that as I am – he is blessed to have so many people praying for him and supporting him on the journey. Friday night we got to have dinner out with special friends and play cards at home. We dug through the old records (yes those round things you still can play on a turn table) and found a true worship album which we played and just celebrated the Lord together. I don’t know if any of you ever heard of Don Francisco, but his “The Live Concert” album recording in the 80s is real worship music – the kind that brings you into God’s presence with reverence and awe. If you are older you may remember “Got to Tell Someone” or “Since I Met Him I Can See”. Thankfully on his website under “Classics” the album is still available – now on CD.
Sunday we got to go to church for the first time in a very long time and have lunch with another special friend. Then later that afternoon we went to see the move “Risen”. It was wonderful and worshipful. Seeing the disciples act like kids with such joy at seeing the resurrected Jesus is exactly how I imagine they would be. The portrayal of Jesus is also how I imagine He was during those days. You just wanted to jump into the story and walk with Him – or sit with Him – just be near Him – if only for a moment. Go and see the movie. It is an Easter treat.
During the week God was gracious to give us opportunities to share His love with waitresses everywhere we went out to eat. One particularly stands out for me as to how much you can do with so little. After she took our order I told her that when she brought the food we would be praying and for her to tell us when she came how we could pray for her. She did – open and honest about real needs – we prayed as she asked – and her face lite up with a brightness and smile that was almost other world. She made a point of coming by to thank us for praying for her several times during the evening. What joy to see how we can be used to share the love of Christ with anyone – and how they need that touch.
Reality returns on Thursday as I go in for blood work and then next Monday as the next round of chemo begins. In the meantime though – we have a whole additional week to enjoy all that God has planned for us while feeling near normal. That is a blessing you can only understand if your life is always under the influence of something like the invader within. It gives you a new definition of thankful and a new understanding of God’s goodness.
For several weeks now God has had me focused on the word “daily”. Scripture reveals that the First Century Church was active daily (not once a week) such that it records that “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily” (Acts 16:5). We know that ministry for the Church was an everyone process, and that it was focused on three locations: – (1) public places where people gathered (the Temple in Jerusalem – synagogues elsewhere – other places where they met once kicked out of the synagogues) – (2) “in the market place every day with those who happened to be there” – and (3) house to house [Acts 17:17, Acts 5:42, Acts 20:20]. Today few churches follow the example of the Book of Acts, but does the failure of our local church to follow that example mean we are released from the Great Commission and the example set for us which God clearly blessed?
I certainly don’t think so and for me I am searching for how God would have me available and active daily in sharing His love with an increasingly dark world. Clearly the Acts example meets with the Biblical expression of God’s heart that He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) – and that He does “not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Check the Greek – “all” means all – and thus our ministry goal individually must be to be a part of all Believers together (the big “C” Church) reaching everyone with the Gospel and seeking to make them disciples (Acts 1:8) (Matthew 28:19-20). To accomplish this will require us to change the way we think so we will change the way we act.
I believe that God is actively gathering His remnant and calling them (us) to follow Him in seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10) based on the Acts model regardless of what our local church may do or not do. When we stand before God our accountability will be individual – not based or protected by what a local church may do or not do. Please do not misunderstand me here. I am NOT against the local church, but I no longer believe we can simply wait for the local church to lead out on what God clearly commands us as individuals to do. Remember Revelation 2 and 3 which are the Lord’s letter to seven local churches most of whom He is critical for their lack of obedience. Yet He clearly assures us of His love saying, “those whom I love, I reprove (rebuke) and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19). Rebuking a church for its failure to obey Scripture is actually an act of love, but that love must be followed by your faithful example of individual obedience. The church will not always lead, but once it sees God at work in and through you it will follow (Acts 11:1-18).
So the prayer request is that God reveal how I can be active and available to Him to seek and save sinners – to make disciples – DAILY. That will be my prayer for you as well.
Thank you for your partnership along the journey.
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.
