He didn't bring us out this far to take us back again

Things were going so great in our family. A new baby is on the way, we all get a long and are pretty tight knit, and best of all, everyone was healthy again. For those of you who don't know, last January, my Dad was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He was given a clean bill of health by June. The last few monthly checkups were great. He was almost 100% of what he was before the cancer.

Last Friday my Dad had to go in for a few tests because they saw a "shadow" during his monthly checkup. Monday when I got home, we were eating dinner and I nonchalantly asked, "Oh did you get a good report today?" "Nope, it's back and I need four treatments", my Dad said almost as casually as I had asked. Instantly the mood at the table changed and things were awkward. I didn't want to ask anymore questions yet. I was shocked.

Last night my Dad and I looked at his C-T Scan on my computer. Today my parents went to to Barnes Jewish Hospital to pass along that CD with his information on it, and have a four hour meeting with a specialist. Probably not how my Mom wanted to spend her birthday. The Dr.s are extremely hopeful, and are wanting to try a different, and stronger procedure than last time.

All that I ask of anyone reading this is that you don't speak anything negative about it. We are all praying, some are fasting, and we believe that he will be healed. He is most likely starting treatments this Monday. If you get a chance, please keep him in your prayers.

God Says: So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth:it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless],but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose,and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
-Isaiah 55:10-11

That means that each of the Words in the Bible will do what it says. It actually has the power to produce results that we can see here in the physical realm!

God also says: I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
- Jeremiah 1:12

Believe and receive!

The B-I-B-L-E...

As I mentioned before, I'm reading the Bible in one year. Starting with this post, I'm going to write about what I read. Today's entry covers several days worth because I was behind on my reading. My One Year Bible carves out a daily helping of "Bread" from the Old and New Testaments, Psalms, and Proverbs (everyone's favorite).

I've been in the book of Joshua for the past few weeks, and I'm actually quite disturbed by it. It is filled with battles that are extremely violent. Hangings, beheading, slaughtering, and such. I'm just glad it's never been made into a movie.

Parts of the Old Testament I feel completely justified in rapidly skimming over. Take Joshua 15:21-20:46 for example. It is just a list of names of cities and possibly people (I don't remember at the moment). If you're looking for a unique baby name such as Ziddim, Kadesh, Kesil, or Ziph, this is a wealth of ideas. Also, I recognized the name Beth Shemesh in Joshua 15:10 and 20:38. An Israeli archaeologist spoke at William Jewell College a few years ago, and that is his main dig site. He said, "No I'm not as cool as Indiana Jones", and I instantly liked him. I interviewed him for the school newspaper and told him I was going to come over to dig. Still a life goal by the way.

I really liked reading Luke 18:6-8. "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes , will he find faith on the earth?"

Finally, I was reading in Psalms and saw the word Selah for about the 100Th time. I decided to look it up. I found this: It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen". "Let those with eyes see and with ears hear" is most concise. "Selah" can also be used to indicate that there is to be a musical interlude at that point in the Psalm. The Psalms were sung accompanied by musical instruments and there are references to this in many chapters. Thirty-one of the thirty-nine psalms with the caption "To the choir-master" include the word "Selah".

A new idea...Maybe

Warning, this post is going to be a spattering of updates on old posts.

After a long stint, I'm finally done with another book. I started, "My Life in France", by Julia Child in November and I just finished tonight. Granted, I was reading about six other books simultaneously. It was a very fun read. I love France, and I love food so how could I go wrong here?! I would like to try cooking a few of her recipes some day. Some sound gross, but I think others would be great. Julia said something that made me have one of those, "exactly", moments. She said, "Nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should". Of course she was talking about food, but like so many things, a deeper meaning can be found and applied to our lives.

I'm currently shuffling through "Intercessory Prayer", and about to start a few new books as well. I'm trying to read the Bible in a year on top of that. I should blog about that. Yeah I think I will. I literally did start January 1 and am still going strong. Of course there have been days I skipped and read double the next day but I'm OK with that. Maybe if I blog about it, it will help me read no matter what.

PS: I'm up to running 4 miles now :)

Times are a Changin...

We've been a pretty boring group for about 1o years now. When you have all grown ups in a family, the excitement of Christmas morning somewhat wanes. You see no point in an Easter egg hunt. Luckily, something in humans allows us to live vicariously through others and be excited for them. When there is a child in the family, for instance, things can become much more fun again. Watching their eyes light up triggers those childhood feelings of excitement about things we now take for granted.

Well things are about to be shaken up in the Brase family (or the Brave family as my mom likes to call us, but that's a whole other post). This isn't on Facebook yet. I'm telling my dedicated readers first, so listen up both of you :) This fall I will be Aunt Kristina!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo! That's all I've got :)