My Journey With Cancer, Part 48 By David Maddox
Last week was one of those wonderful medical non-events. I remained in the valley of reasonable normalcy for the most part – enjoyed meals – and the side effects remaining were minimal. We were so busy with work on the house, computer repairs, work on the book and other events that I skipped a week on the update. I did have a CAT Scan for which we have not yet gotten a report and a blood test which showed that my red cell count was still low so another shot to increase red cell production. More fatigue than I would like, but no complaints. I will send an update when we hear the report on the CAT Scan.
God gave us a gift these last weeks. It all started with a negative which God turned into a positive (isn’t that just like God). We had a water leak behind our refrigerator which came through a wall and flooded a portion of our “great” room resulting in trashing the carpet by the wall. Our insurance company not only replaced the carpet in that room, but because of line of sight from that room they replaced the carpet in two other rooms and in the hall to the end of the house. Wow! Thousands of dollars of new carpet we could not afford and all as the result of one big mess. Thank you Lord.
Last Sunday we attended the vision class at New City Church (their new member’s class), signed their member’s covenant, and now have a new church home. We are so thankful. Their mission statement reflects an understanding of the obligation of the Great Commission to go and tell and make disciples where you live, work, study and play. Already they have agreed to let Revive Arizona meet at the church and then go out and share in the neighborhood this coming Saturday – and they have send someone to me to disciple. The sermon series is on the book of Acts – not as a history lesson, but rather as a “how to” manual. The worship is worship not just singing or performance by a “worship” team singing songs we don’t know. This is really home. Again – thank you Lord.
I ended up investing a lot of time with a computer tech to separate my home system from the old law firm system I had used since 9/11. What should be simple can really get complicated. Now with a new email address and new software on my phone I am hopeful that I will be able to continue as before. Have had some issues and may have lost some emails, but as they say – “hope springs eternal”.
The publishing process continues as they work on final layout and I am working on getting people to review the book. In the midst of all this one night God began to give me the outline of another book – a sequel or the continuation of the story. I set up with pad in hand and wrote out the ideas and outline. Since then my mind has been flooded with more. I have actually started playing with a draft first chapter while praying whether this is something God wants me to do. It only took nine years to write the first one. Why someone with stage four cancer would undertake such a venture when Book 1 of the original trilogy isn’t even out makes no sense. But then God doesn’t have to make sense. Please pray with me as to whether I am to undertake this project.
I am writing the first draft of this Update on a plane returning from a visit with our youngest son Seth – his bride Meredith – and the kids – Sofia and Hazel. What a joyful time it is every time we get to visit family. I am so thankful that God enables me to make these trips and for what He shows me about the kids when we are there. It is frankly so encouraging to see God’s hand at work in their families and to sense His purpose for their lives. Everyone is different. We have a mini-reunion planned for July for the whole family in the Northwest – Can’t wait.
My Bible study this past couple of weeks has been time and time again affirming that last verse in Mark as a promise. Jesus seems to be saying “follow me faithfully and speak what I give you to say boldly and I will work with you and will confirm my word”. Confirm seems to be the new key. The Lord has always worked with us when we were faithful, but the confirmation that is apparent now is different. It seems to be a time of open doors and obvious confirmation – exciting. God’s word speaks to that in numerous places – both Old and New Testament. It seems that God is mightily at work with a miraculous agenda. It is a great time to be alive and in His service.
is service.His
I am reading a book our Pastor quoted in a sermon a couple of weeks ago – “Who is This Man – The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus” by John Ortberg. WOW! You may not read a lot of books, but this is one you should read. It explains how radically the life and teachings of Jesus changed the Roman culture and laws. You would be shocked at all that would not be were it not for Jesus. Many years ago I thought about writing a book on what if Jesus came now not when He did, but I found it impossible to conceive of what a society would be like today had Jesus not lived and taught and died and rose again. Now I am gaining a better understanding of what that might look like, but no one would believe it because He does not get the credit He deserves. One thing is for sure – those who follow my Facebook posts will get to read a lot of what is in that book.
A final thought – Sometime people say to me something about “my suffering” as a cancer patient. When that happens I honestly sort of “fog” over wondering to what they are referring. When I see how others with the same diagnosis endure so much worse than I – and remember how God has walked with me every step of the way – and how so many people pray for me – and how my precious bride loves and shares this journey with me – the support I get from my family and friends – I don’t feel I have suffered at all. Rather I have rather been richly blessed.
We are thankful for your continued prayers and partnership on this 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.
