SURGERY TIME – Thursday I had my pre-op testing and learned the actual time of the surgery, 7:30 A.M. Tuesday. That means being there two hours ahead of time. I hate those early appointments, as I normally don’t function too well that early anymore. Actually I never did, I worked swing shift at Boeing Aircraft a number of years. That is my excuse anyway. They had pictures to show me of what was done to prepare me and it was nothing more than what I pretty much knew anyway from all the hospital visitations I have done over the years. I hate all the tubes, etc. and being a bit claustrophobic adds to that. My daughter Patty Armitage is flying in on Monday to be here and to help out, something for which I am very thankful. I also have Gary and Donna nearby; it is always comforting to have family near at times like this. I also appreciate all the emails many have sent to be an encouragement and tell of their many prayers on my behalf.
BETTY’S TREATMENTS – I had Betty to the oncologist on Friday but they didn’t give her a treatment as her blood count was down. They want to take more bone scans, etc., to see if things have changed, something they did about four months ago. I always have concerns about all the radiation as that is not a good thing either. They gave her last month off on her chemo because she has been so tired from all of this. Your continued prayers for her are appreciated.
THE CONVENTIONS – Both the Democratic and Republicans Conventions are over and I was able to hear the major speeches. I would have liked to have heard some of the earlier speeches too but Fox News managed to talk over them, very frustrating. Though I have not been a great fan of John McCain, I do have a better opinion of him than previously and adding Sarah Palin to his ticket, as vice president was a shrewd move that should give him a better standing with conservatives. It has been interesting to see and hear all the flack the liberals gave Palin but she stood out well as she spoke, pretty well revealing how little they really knew about her. She gives a whole new and refreshing perspective to the campaign for the remaining two months. Then won’t we be glad it is all over?
BLOGSPOT – I haven’t mentioned it before that I do have a blog that you can go to and read previous “Musings.” My grandson Tim started one many months ago for me. Now my granddaughter Laura Lee keeps it up for me, adding the new “Musings” as they go out. So, if you want to tell others about them they are easy to get to at www.newellsmusings.blogspot.com. Isn’t it nice to have grandkids that help you? It is hard for us oldsters to keep up with all these modern opportunities.
MATTER FOR CONCERN – I print out far more information than I get around to commenting on, having trouble keeping up with it all. An IBD Editorial reported back in April 10, 2008 of a Minnesota Madrassa. “Islamofascism; As school officials and secularists turn a blind eye, Muslim radicals in Minneapolis take a publicly funded charter school and turned it into a madrassa. Flagrantly violating the constitutional ban on state promotion of religion, the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, or ITZA, herd’s children into bathrooms to perform ritual Islamic cleansing before leading them in the school gym to pray to Allah each day. In three visits to the K-8 school, the Minnesota Department of Education never noticed a problem, even though the tax funded school is located at a mosque. And the ACLU didn’t bother until a Minneapolis columnist exposed the madrassa earlier this week.” The article told of a daily scheduled prayer led by an imam, classroom instruction in the Quran, compulsory “after-school” Islamic Studies (busses don’t leave the school until after Islamic Studies is over), Halal cafeteria food, observance of Islamic holidays and early release for Friday mosque. “The school, named after an 8th century jihadist who invaded Spain, shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society (MAS) of Minnesota, whose mission is “establishing Islam in Minnesota.” The FBI says MAS, based in Washington, D.C., was founded by members of the radical Muslim Brotherhood.” Can you imagine tax monies paying for this? Do these things upset you? One thing is certain, Islam is quietly making it’s inroads into our nation and one of these days we will wake up to some very serious threats to our freedoms. Just try to get those same privileges established for Christianity in our public schools that have removed prayer and the Bible. God save us!
MISSING CHURCH – I’ve missed a lot of church lately and it leaves me feeling that things aren’t quite right. For nearly sixty years I have attended every service. That was true before I was in ministry and since. I’ve always felt the need for hearing more of God’s Word and fellowshipping with His people. Professing Christians who seldom attend church has often puzzled me. How do they manage spiritually? How do they feed their souls? How do they obtain healthy fellowship? Don’t they sense something lacking in their lives? The reality is, they don’t give much thought to spiritual matters and they find their fellowship in the world. They are either carnal Christians or they were never truly saved. True Christians, as they get older, and are physically handicapped, have a keen sense of loss from their earlier days when they experienced regular edification and sweet fellowship. I wonder how professing Christians will handle heavenly fellowship when they have rejected it throughout their lives? Some may well wake up surprised, finding themselves at a different destination. Some may find my evaluations wrong but one thing is certain, something is out of order for those who so profess but don’t seem to possess.
PREVIOUS HOSPITAL STAYS – (You can tell where my mind is these days.) Thinking back over previous hospital experiences I have found other patients or hospital staff people who were Christians. I have also found those who were not. I shared a room one time with a man that when he found out I was a Baptist preacher he asked to be moved to another room. I don’t even recall having said anything spiritual to him. Once I was in the University Hospital in Omaha for about 10 days for some tests to find out why I was having some stomach pain. On that occasion several different patients came through my same room. One was a longhaired young man and I had the privilege of leading him to Christ. You always wonder how real such decisions are. About two years later some of his family visited my mission church and thanked me for leading him to Christ and told me he had gone on living for the Lord and was now a deacon in his church. Sometime you have an opportunity to encourage others in their time of difficulties. So, as Christians, God allows the events in our lives to carry out His purposes. Please pray God will give me such an opportunity again.
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