God Is Faithful

Do you ever have those days that you just wish you could go to sleep and not wake up until all the storms have passed? I have had a few of those days and to be honest, I did not handle them very well. As a believer, I know that during the tough times that God is always right beside me...helping me to persevere. I also know that I am still a work in progress and I have those times where I am blinded by the stresses of everyday life.
I have always been one that when I love you...I love you for life. There may be days that I don't like you a whole lot, but that doesn't change my love. I would do anything for those I love! There are those times when those who mean the most to us aren't very lovable and that is what I have experienced over the past few days visiting with my dad. I have had firsthand experience with someone's realization that they have a terminal illness. I have had firsthand experience with the terrible side effects of different medicines in combination. I have spent 3 1/2 days in mental misery trying to cope with something I don't understand.
On the other hand..I have seen God demonstrate his love in ways that my dad doesn't understand. He doesn't undersand how, at last count, he has received Chrsitmas cards and notes of prayer/encouragment from 36 different people. He doesn't understand the phone calls of support, paryer, and encouragement. He doesn't understand how the cashier at the grocery store where he has shopped for years stopped long enough to send him a christmas card. He doesn't understand how his son can be so emotional he can hardly speak because his father and hero only has a short time left here on this earth and how anxious he is to know that his father knows he can spend eternity in heaven.
It is a difficult time for my dad. It is a difficult time for my sisters...whom I love very much. It is a difficult time for our families as well because when we hurt...they hurt as well.
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

My Pops!

Some of you know that this time last week, my dad found out he had a tangerine sized tumor embedded in his spine. Things happened quickly when he was diagnosed. He immediately began radiation treatments and oral steroids. At this point he has had 7 radiation treatments and yesterday, had a scan done to determine if this awful disease was anywhere else in his body. If it is, he tells me he really doesn't want to know. His concern is comfort!
I'm heading to Wilmington on Saturday to spend a few days with him and take him to some of his treatments. We had already planned a trip down the week after Christmas with the whole family and we won't change that.
I'm still somewhat overwhelmed at what has transpired over the past week, but I know that none of this caught God by surprise. None of us know how this will all work out over the days ahead, but I do know my dad is strong and my dad is my hero. God is in the miracle business and my prayer is that his treatments will be effective and there will come that day that we can say, "thank you Lord for all that you have done."

Sunday School

My good friend, Bubba, asked me to stand in for him today and teach his Sunday School class. The lesson, Acts 4:32-37, tells us about the "grace of giving." It was a lesson on generosity and authenticity. As I studied last week to prepare for today, God raised many questions about my own life and where I stood in relation to the "grace of giving?"
I consider myself a "giver." However...when I give...do I give reluctantly or with a cheerful heart? When I give, do I give things that aren't wanted...such as advice???? When I give, do I put unspoken requirements on the recipient??
God has impressed upon me that I am still a work in progress. He is still chiseling away to make me more like Jesus. I'm thankful He has not given up on me. He is working on me and my attitude of forgiveness and understanding. He is impressing upon me why He allows bad things to happen to good people. He is helping me to continue to love those that are acting unlovable and doing things that I just don't understand. When I think about it....He is constantly holding up a mirror so that I can see clearly who I really am and contrasting it with who He wants me to be.
"We are saved by grace." Grace is God's unmerited favor. We don't deserve His grace. We can't be good enough or do enough good works to obtain His grace. There is only one way and that way is through Jesus. It doesn't matter how many SS classes we teach. It doesn't matter how many discipleship programs we participate in. It doesn't matter how many times we go to church. If we are counting on these things and our "goodness" to get us into heaven...woe be unto us. No, all we have to do is to pray....admit that we are sinners and can't save ourselves, repent or turn away from our sins, and ask Jesus to save us. Scripture says that if any man call upon the name of the Lord, he will be saved. Doesn't say a thing about being a "good" person. We can never be good enough.

Reflections

It has been a day of reflection. Yesterday we received the news that my dad has a 2" tumor embedded in his spine that has already displaced his spinal cord. He was told that it would have to come out or he would face paralysis. Today he had a biopsy on the growth and we won't know for 24-48 hours what the results are. I know my dad has lived a long life. He has outlived my mom, his brother, his sister-in-law, many friends and other acquaintances. My dad is a proud man and puts on a facade most of the time that nothing phases him. While we have had our differences over the years, there has never been any doubt in my mind that if I ever needed anything...he would always be there. He is a member of the generation that was born shortly before the Great Depression and as a very young man...signed up to serve his country in the Army Air Corps during WWII. I know my father is awfully proud of his service to our country and I am equally proud of him. He is a patriot! My dad is literally the smartest man I know. He seems to know something about everything. He and I have had many great times together...typically on a beach somewhere from North Carolina to Alaska trying our best to catch a fish. My love for the ocean and fishing comes from my dad. My love for history....for flying and airplanes....for the woods and hunting....for putting family first.....for initiative....for hard work....for purpose....for speaking my mind and being my own person comes from my dad. I want my dad to live forever. I don't want my dad to be in pain or to suffer. I often think about how lonely he has been over the past 10 years since my mom passed away, but he insists on staying by himself and taking care of himself. One of the hardest things he has had to do over the past year was to give up his car when he couldn't get his license any longer because of failing eyesight. Like I said, he is a proud man. It's always been his way to do it his way. That's the way he rolls whether my sisters and I agree with it or not.
I'm praying for my dad. I know God's will shall be done. I'm prayerful that God will continue to soften his heart that he may grow receptive to talk about spiritual things more openly. I'm praying that regardless of what the doctors say, God will show him His mercy and allow him to live out however many days he may have left without pain or any discomfort.
I'm thankful to be Ed Sheneman's son. I'm thankful that God has allowed our relationship to be one that we can share our love for one another openly. If he were to never speak another word to me, I know that he loves me and that he is proud of me because he has told me so. To a son....that's all that matters!

"Hey Lord, just wanted to say thank you."

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving! It was a early day for me as I got up at 4:30AM and went to the store for a few hours to check on things. By the time I got home, everyone was up and moving. I had made and baked two pecan pies the night before, so all we had to wait on was Willingham's Restaurant to get the main course cooked. What was supposed to be ready at 10:30AM, finally got loaded in my car at 12:30PM, but boy...was it GOOD. Baked ham, turkey breast, dressing, gravy, macaroni & cheese, brocolli & rice casserole, green beans, leseur peas, crescent rolls, deviled eggs, potato salad and Stacey's new recipe with rice, onions, and mushrooms. We also had pound cake, pumpkin pie, and a custard pie. Don't forget the sweet tea! Notice no sweet potatoes for our bunch.....we don't like them.
I'm mindful of how God has blessed each of us in the past year. I am ever thankful for my family each and every day. Debbie and I have had over 30 wonderful years together. We have two wonderful children who love God and love others before themselves. We have been blessed with answered prayer in regards to the soul mates for our children. Our grandchildren are the smiles in every morning and the sunshine in every day. I'm thankful for my dad and my sisters and all they mean to me. There just aren't enough words. I am humbled by how God has smiled on us.

You Go Doc!!

Ok, so the cardiologist appointment went very well. I really like Dr. Sekar. Based on what I could understand as I navigated his Indian dialect, I am in pretty good shape. Bottom line is...I'm fat! I knew that! Second thing is...if I wasn't fat...my Type 2 Diabetes would probably disappear. If my Type 2 Diabetes disappears I probably wouldn't have the slight swelling in my ankles when I'm on my feet all day and.....I probably wouldn't be running to the bathroom every 1 1/2 hours 24/7. My blood pressure was good. Even though Dr. Slavico had told me my "bad" cholesterol was too high, Dr. Sekar told me it was actually pretty good so he recommended I not increase my meds for it as Dr. Slavico had ordered. So, I will have to take that up with Dr. Slavico when I see him Wednesday. He did a EKG and a Echocardiogram. What he sees in the EKG shows the previous heart attack and he says the echo was really good....no leakage, valves all good, no enlargement, and no damage. Heart is functioning at about 88% which is good. He said if I can run as a basketball official without any chest discomfort....I am ok and that is stress test enough for him. I get to see him again in 2 months. His recommendation is to lose weight and handle the diabetes, so...if Trey can do it...Pops can do it. He said no meats (hard on the kidneys), no sugars (including the fruits that have natural sugar)basically.....no carbs. Eat your vegetables son!!
You go Doc!

Doctor, Doctor...have you heard?

I went to have my prescriptions refilled last week and found out the doctor wouldn't fill one of them less I see him. So, last Monday I went and saw my good friend, Dr. Slavico. Now, you know and I know, you can't go to the doctor without dropping off some blood, so that I did. So, let's start with any good news....

My AC1 was better than the last time, but he still wants me to take a med to help with my Type 2 Diabetes. My blood pressure was excellent...must be the two meds I take for it are doing the trick. He didn't mention total cholesterol or tryglicerides, so I assume they are OK. He did mention my "bad" cholesterol was too high so he upped my meds for that. My liver enzymes are stll high and they have been for years. Some of it's due to being overweight and having a "fatty" liver and some of it's due to the meds I take on a regular basis. My one good kidney is still dumping allot of protein into my bloodstream so he wants me to check it out with my nephrologist, so I need to make that appointment. Since moving back to Georgia, I have never established a relationship with a cardiologist, so he gave me a referral to a cardio guy that goes to church with us and I see him for the first time tomorrow. He currently treats our Pastor's dad and another good friend of mine and comes with high recommendations. I go back to Dr. Slavico on Wednesday to see about the Meds for the diabetes. Finally, I have had a fit with my left hip for years and it has finally gotten to the point I am looking for some relief, so I'm off to a Ortho guy on December 10th.

With all of that said....I don't need any further advice or opinions from family or friends. I know what I know. I'm a big boy and know what I need to do. I'm just keeping everyone informed. Past all of that....I feel pretty good....good enough to run some basketball officiating last week.

"no more monkeys jumping on the bed."