This is an amazing interview:
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Thanks. I own my weaknesses. God was merciful to me and allowed me to find a niche where I could find success, whereas I would fail utterly in many other ministry contexts. I belonged in a jungle maybe. I am thankful to have found a place where I could be useful. Now that I am older, God has removed me from that niche and has taken away that identity and I am left reminded of who I truly am and that we should only rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Although I do have an immigration lawyer working on my case even now so I can return to the jungle (some people never learn). My transparency and stubbornness has been both a strength and weakness. Telling a Charismatic lady that gives me a "word from the Lord" about my illness that she is a "crazy wild-haired zealot" is admittedly not the best long-term strategy for keeping friends. I am sure God intends to smooth me out with this illness and not merely flatten me like a semi-truck over the wandering neighborhood dog. But the short-term result has been that I am cynical and bitter and jaded at how people treat the sick. Folks bet money on a winning horse and admire them; but what do folks do to a lame horse besides pity them and then shoot them. I hate being an object of pity. So there is a pressure to sound triumphal in all of our trials (and we ARE triumphal objectively) and yet, we often feel beat-down and betrayed and misunderstood.Perg, I deleted my post because it was not that funny and definitely not encouraging.
I would like you to know that your testimony has greatly encouraged me over the last 13 years. Missionaries like you and Joel edify those of us at home as much as you bless God's lost sheep in the field (maybe more). Your particular personality fits you for your particular work, even though it may cause struggles in other areas. I am truly thankful for you and what you do. I will continue to pray for your health.
I wish I could find the podcast a number of years back where a Pastor facing terminal cancer ran into several people who would not accept that his cancer might kill him and encouraged him to have faith that he might overcome the illness.Thanks. I own my weaknesses. God was merciful to me and allowed me to find a niche where I could find success, whereas I would fail utterly in many other ministry contexts. I belonged in a jungle maybe. I am thankful to have found a place where I could be useful. Now that I am older, God has removed me from that niche and has taken away that identity and I am left reminded of who I truly am and that we should only rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Although I do have an immigration lawyer working on my case even now so I can return to the jungle (some people never learn). My transparency and stubbornness has been both a strength and weakness. Telling a Charismatic lady that gives me a "word from the Lord" about my illness that she is a "crazy wild-haired zealot" is admittedly not the best long-term strategy for keeping friends. I am sure God intends to smooth me out with this illness and not merely flatten me like a semi-truck over the wandering neighborhood dog. But the short-term result has been that I am cynical and bitter and jaded at how people treat the sick. Folks bet money on a winning horse and admire them; but what do folks do to a lame horse besides pity them and then shoot them. I hate being an object of pity. So there is a pressure to sound triumphal in all of our trials (and we ARE triumphal objectively) and yet, we often feel beat-down and betrayed and misunderstood.
I did not take offence at your reply but thought it was funny and appropriate.
Pergamum, I know you are rightly suspicious of 'self help' books. But one book I believe would be a blessing to you is Edith Schaeffer's "Affliction: a compassionate look at the reality of pain and suffering". I was personally blest by it. She counselled and supported countless numbers of people suffering at L'Abri, and helped a number of family members with serious illness. It has a tremendous blend of theology, compassion, practical wisdom, and genuine sympathy - if I may add the opposite of some of the responses in your own suffering. I loved this book.That is sort of a jerk thing to say to somebody suffering intensely, though.
Thanks. I will buy it now. You are the second person to recommend this book to me.Pergamum, I know you are rightly suspicious of 'self help' books. But one book I believe would be a blessing to you is Edith Schaeffer's "Affliction: a compassionate look at the reality of pain and suffering". I was personally blest by it. She counselled and supported countless numbers of people suffering at L'Abri, and helped a number of family members with serious illness. It has a tremendous blend of theology, compassion, practical wisdom, and genuine sympathy - if I may add the opposite of some of the responses in your own suffering. I loved this book.
Os Guinness said of Edith Schaeffer " Edith Schaeffer was one of the most remarkable women of her generation, the like of whom we will not see again in our time. I have never met such a great heart of love, and such indomitable faith, tireless prayer, boundless energy, passionate love for life and beauty, lavish hospitality, irrepressible laughter, and seemingly limitless time for people – all in a single person."
A woman of that caliber is worth reading.
Pergamum, I know you are rightly suspicious of 'self help' books. But one book I believe would be a blessing to you is Edith Schaeffer's "Affliction: a compassionate look at the reality of pain and suffering".
I'm actually preaching on Romans 8:1-11 on Sunday.
I don't think I wrote that we ought not pray for healing or for the well-being of others. I've slowly lost my central vision over the last 13 years and now it's pretty much gone. I've always thanked people who tell me they are praying for me because it has been very frustrating and scary at times. I've only had a few people tell me they are going to look up whether there is some homeopathic cure to Stargardt's disease but I would smile and thank them for their concern.I had one pastor remind me that we never read a Pauline prayer asking God to make his physical health easier but only that the kingdom be expanded. That is sort of a jerk thing to say to somebody suffering intensely, though. And we read Paul's account of him praying for others who are sick and also him praying for his own affliction from Satan. And for some strange reason his 2 companions Epaphroditus and Trophimus were very sick and even unto death and left behind as well, but Paul asks no prayers for them nor heals them with his apostolic gifting. But it is safe to assume prayers were said for these.
I typically copy the relevant text from Logos into a Word document for each commentary.Rich, I would be interested in how you prepare with your eyesight the way it is.
You mentioned a few weeks ago about a traveling doctor who was able to somehow alleviate your nerve pain... and you seemed very encouraged by it. Any updates on this? Has it held up or regressed?Thanks. I will buy it now. You are the second person to recommend this book to me.
... If only I could read.
Yes, it is called an RFA (Radio-Frequency Ablation) of the shoulder and within 10 minutes about 95% of the pain vanished. This was 2 weeks ago and I have slowly started to sleep better, but my adrenals and Central Nervous System are still wrecked from parasites and the stress of the field, followed by severe agonizing pain this year for months on end (pain severe enough to make me black out). Now I have slowly started to sleep better, though the insomnia is still severe. At least I can think clearly most of the day now.You mentioned a few weeks ago about a traveling doctor who was able to somehow alleviate your nerve pain... and you seemed very encouraged by it. Any updates on this? Has it held up or regressed?