Visitation will be limited to immediate family for now. It seems the over stimulation might be having adverse effects on Al.
As he is back in the Trauma unit, they will be doing a trachiotomy because he is having difficulty with the brathing again, and needs to be on the ventilator assist. They will be also inserting a feeding tube plug, to insure that he is getting the proper nutrition. Additional tests are scheduled for today, including an EKG to see what is going on in Al's head (something we have always been curious about). These all appear as setbacks, but we all need to take heart as God is in control.
We only see the picture before us, and as 'dim' as it might seem, we do not have the eyes of God. His plan is much bigger and He controls the unseen. As i have said many times before, the waiting is the hardest.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back
Chuck Swindoll's book by this title is exactly how life is for us. I remember reading this book when it was first released, back in the 80's and it is true for us today as well.
Last night Al got moved back to the trauma unit and back on the breathing tube. I am not sure of all the details of what is going on but they said he will be in the ICU and will be sedated because of the situation. This will allow the staff to give him more direct care. Two days ago He was really looking around and trying to get up with Kristen, but yesterday did nothing. They will be running a series of tests and will find out what is going on.
This raises a concern, but we were told from the beginning that this could be a roller coaster ride. Al is now in room J214, and we are limiting visitation to immediate family. Kristen will be discussing with the doctors today the impact of this, and what the best steps moving forward should be.
God is amazing, and in control. Coninue in Prayer........................
Last night Al got moved back to the trauma unit and back on the breathing tube. I am not sure of all the details of what is going on but they said he will be in the ICU and will be sedated because of the situation. This will allow the staff to give him more direct care. Two days ago He was really looking around and trying to get up with Kristen, but yesterday did nothing. They will be running a series of tests and will find out what is going on.
This raises a concern, but we were told from the beginning that this could be a roller coaster ride. Al is now in room J214, and we are limiting visitation to immediate family. Kristen will be discussing with the doctors today the impact of this, and what the best steps moving forward should be.
God is amazing, and in control. Coninue in Prayer........................
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
New Photos Posted
Just found a few photos of Al and I in Johnstown, thought it would be good to share them (see the right column). These wwere pretty good, because everyone 'saw' Al when he rode down the street in his 'top hat' It was a great time just riding behind him and watching the reactions of everyone.
Sitting Up and the "Steel Force"
This morning i visited with Al, who was in and out of sleep while I was there. They told me they had him sitting up on the side of the bed. Now that is amazing. He has three other 'roomies' and I am sure the others do not know what is in store for them. This will offer yet another opportunity to show that not all bikers are 'bad dudes' but we can extend care and compassion as 'regular guys.'
As I sat with him and read the Psalms to him, I gazed out the window and saw the top of the Steel Force roller coaster at Dorney Park, and remembered that Kristen had mentioned it. I thought of the 'steel horses' we ride and how, unlike riding the roller coaster, there are no rails to guide us. It is sort of like life itself, with no rails to guide us. However there is an instruction book to help us in the journey of life. The Bible. When you think of how the Bible came about, and has lasted centuries through many 'twists and turns' along the way, it still stands as the number one seller of ALL time. In order for us to ride our steel horses, there was an instruction book, both for riding and for the equipment. We read, applied the principles, and moved forward. Just like life. The Bible - Life's Instruction Book.
As I sat with him and read the Psalms to him, I gazed out the window and saw the top of the Steel Force roller coaster at Dorney Park, and remembered that Kristen had mentioned it. I thought of the 'steel horses' we ride and how, unlike riding the roller coaster, there are no rails to guide us. It is sort of like life itself, with no rails to guide us. However there is an instruction book to help us in the journey of life. The Bible. When you think of how the Bible came about, and has lasted centuries through many 'twists and turns' along the way, it still stands as the number one seller of ALL time. In order for us to ride our steel horses, there was an instruction book, both for riding and for the equipment. We read, applied the principles, and moved forward. Just like life. The Bible - Life's Instruction Book.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Getting Up?
Today, after Al was in his new room, a lady next to him was in pain and vocal about it. At one point Al attempted to sit up in order to get out of bed to help her. Al is looking good with his new hair dew, or lack of hair, and all clean shaven. I wonder how long it will be until he wants his beard back? As far as the swallowing test, it went better this time than the last, and there will be another one tomorrow.
40 Healing Scriptures
These come from friends in Indiana. They are from a book of a woman who had cancer and was healed of cancer.
Proverbs 4:20-22 The Word of God will save your life
My son give attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.
Joshua 21:45 God's Word will not fail.
Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.. All came to pass
Philippians 2:13 God's Will, healing is working in you.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Romans 8:11 The Spirit of Life is making your body alive.
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
2 Corinthians 1:20 God is for you.
For ALL the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Matthew 8:2-3 It is God's will for you to be healed.
When the leper came to Jesus he said Lord, if YOU are willing you can make me clean. And Jesus said these simple words, I am willing, be cleansed.
Exodus 15:26 Obey God's Word and be healed.
If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals YOU
Exodus 23:25 Serve the Lord and healing will be yours.
So you shall serve the Lord your God and He will bless y our bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
Deuteronomy 7:15 God takes all sickness away from you.
And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known but will lay them on all those who hate you.
Malachi 3:10 Obey All God's commandments and receive All His blessings
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house and prove Me now in this says the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be enough room to receive it.
Psalm 103:1-5 One of God's benefits is healing.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.. Who forgives all your iniquities who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like eagles.
Psalm 107:20 God's Word is healing
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 118:17 God wants you to live
I shall not die, but LIVE and declare the works of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 30:19 Choose to live and be a fighter
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may life.
Psalm 91:16 You will live a long life
With long life, I will satisfy him, and show him MY salvation
Isaiah 53:5 Jesus bore your sins and your sickness.
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah 30:17 God will restore your health
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.
Matthew 18:18 You can take authority over the sickness in your body.
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:19 Agree with someone for your healing.
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven.
Mark 11:22-23 What you say will make a difference
Have faith in God for assuredly i say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Mark 11:24 Believe, and you will receive
Therefore, I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.
Isaiah 43:25-26 Plead your case to God.
I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sin. Put me in remembrance, let us contend together, state your case that you may be acquitted.
Mark 16:17-18 Have someone lay hands on you for healing.
And these signs shall follow those who believe... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
John 9:31 Worship God
If anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
John 10:10 The devil wants to kill you; God wants to heal you.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly.
Galatians 3:13-14 You are redeemed from the curse.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 10:23 You will not waiver in your faith
Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35 You can have confidence in God and His Word
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Joel 3:10 You can find strength in God and in His Word
Let the weak say, I am strong.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ has never changed. What He did in the Bible, He will do for you today.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
3 John 2 God's highest wish is for you to be well.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
James 5:14-15 Be anointed with oil by a Christian who believes in healing.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of the faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
1 Peter 2:24 Jesus has already paid the price for your healing.
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.
1 John 5:14-15 Be confident in your prayers
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 3:21-22 God answers the prayers of those who keep His commandments.
Beloved if our heart does not condemn us and we have confidence toward God, and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
2 Timothy 1:7 Fear is not of God. Rebuke it!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of Power and of Love and of a Sound mind.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Cast down those thoughts and imaginations that don't line up with the Word of God..
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-13 Be strong in the Lord's power. Put on His armor to fight for your healing.
Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against the rulers of the darkness of this age. against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day and having done all to stand.
Revelation 12:11 Give testimony of your healing.
And they over came him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony
Nahum 1:9 Your sickness will leave and not come back again.
Proverbs 4:20-22 The Word of God will save your life
My son give attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.
Joshua 21:45 God's Word will not fail.
Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.. All came to pass
Philippians 2:13 God's Will, healing is working in you.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Romans 8:11 The Spirit of Life is making your body alive.
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
2 Corinthians 1:20 God is for you.
For ALL the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Matthew 8:2-3 It is God's will for you to be healed.
When the leper came to Jesus he said Lord, if YOU are willing you can make me clean. And Jesus said these simple words, I am willing, be cleansed.
Exodus 15:26 Obey God's Word and be healed.
If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals YOU
Exodus 23:25 Serve the Lord and healing will be yours.
So you shall serve the Lord your God and He will bless y our bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
Deuteronomy 7:15 God takes all sickness away from you.
And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known but will lay them on all those who hate you.
Malachi 3:10 Obey All God's commandments and receive All His blessings
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house and prove Me now in this says the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be enough room to receive it.
Psalm 103:1-5 One of God's benefits is healing.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.. Who forgives all your iniquities who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like eagles.
Psalm 107:20 God's Word is healing
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 118:17 God wants you to live
I shall not die, but LIVE and declare the works of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 30:19 Choose to live and be a fighter
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may life.
Psalm 91:16 You will live a long life
With long life, I will satisfy him, and show him MY salvation
Isaiah 53:5 Jesus bore your sins and your sickness.
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah 30:17 God will restore your health
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.
Matthew 18:18 You can take authority over the sickness in your body.
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:19 Agree with someone for your healing.
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven.
Mark 11:22-23 What you say will make a difference
Have faith in God for assuredly i say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Mark 11:24 Believe, and you will receive
Therefore, I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.
Isaiah 43:25-26 Plead your case to God.
I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sin. Put me in remembrance, let us contend together, state your case that you may be acquitted.
Mark 16:17-18 Have someone lay hands on you for healing.
And these signs shall follow those who believe... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
John 9:31 Worship God
If anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
John 10:10 The devil wants to kill you; God wants to heal you.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly.
Galatians 3:13-14 You are redeemed from the curse.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 10:23 You will not waiver in your faith
Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35 You can have confidence in God and His Word
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Joel 3:10 You can find strength in God and in His Word
Let the weak say, I am strong.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ has never changed. What He did in the Bible, He will do for you today.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
3 John 2 God's highest wish is for you to be well.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
James 5:14-15 Be anointed with oil by a Christian who believes in healing.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of the faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
1 Peter 2:24 Jesus has already paid the price for your healing.
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.
1 John 5:14-15 Be confident in your prayers
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 3:21-22 God answers the prayers of those who keep His commandments.
Beloved if our heart does not condemn us and we have confidence toward God, and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
2 Timothy 1:7 Fear is not of God. Rebuke it!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of Power and of Love and of a Sound mind.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Cast down those thoughts and imaginations that don't line up with the Word of God..
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-13 Be strong in the Lord's power. Put on His armor to fight for your healing.
Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against the rulers of the darkness of this age. against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day and having done all to stand.
Revelation 12:11 Give testimony of your healing.
And they over came him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony
Nahum 1:9 Your sickness will leave and not come back again.
Moving on Up !
Last night during my visit with Al, the nurses came in and told Kristen that a bed is opening up in the Transitional Trauma Unit, and they would be moving him ! This is good news, as he is now pretty much operating on his own with a few 'wires and tubes' but nothing unusal for anyone in the hospital. He was finally settled in around 10:30 last night. It was truly a busy day for him.
The Transitional trauma Unit is located in the main building (from the main entrance go straight ahead to the Elevators) on the fifth floor, room TT06, Bed A. He is in a dorm type room with three other beds. The hours for visitation are from 11am to 8pm. You MUST sign in at the front desk and get a Visitor's Pass prior to going upstairs.
Our visit last night included Al smiling at Deb when she walked in and said hello, as well as several joking matters with him. When we heard the news about being moved, I commented that "maybe there would be some good looking nurses there." Kristen came back with "Maybe you could get a hot date." A large smirk and frown came over his face and Kristen laughed hysterically. The look was as if Al was saying "you got to be kidding!"
The Prayer Vigil is filling up. We also are leaving a Bible in the room, where we are encouraging everyone to read one of the Psalms to Al while you are there. Thanks to Deb for this, as well as many other ideas. She completes me, keeping me in line.
Al's recovery to this point is physically impossible to comprehend. The speed of progress is baffling the nurses and attendants. We know how powerful God is. He is in control. His will is foremost. Most of the time we forget these things. We try to be in control, then get frustated when things don't work out. When we let God be in control, amazing things happen. This is an amazing journey in which we are all participating. Watching God work is amazing. How He uses circumstances and people in our lives is amazing.
It is my priveledge to be just a small part of sharing this journey with all of you, the readers of this blog. I trust you are benefiting from the read.
AMAZING!
The Transitional trauma Unit is located in the main building (from the main entrance go straight ahead to the Elevators) on the fifth floor, room TT06, Bed A. He is in a dorm type room with three other beds. The hours for visitation are from 11am to 8pm. You MUST sign in at the front desk and get a Visitor's Pass prior to going upstairs.
Our visit last night included Al smiling at Deb when she walked in and said hello, as well as several joking matters with him. When we heard the news about being moved, I commented that "maybe there would be some good looking nurses there." Kristen came back with "Maybe you could get a hot date." A large smirk and frown came over his face and Kristen laughed hysterically. The look was as if Al was saying "you got to be kidding!"
The Prayer Vigil is filling up. We also are leaving a Bible in the room, where we are encouraging everyone to read one of the Psalms to Al while you are there. Thanks to Deb for this, as well as many other ideas. She completes me, keeping me in line.
Al's recovery to this point is physically impossible to comprehend. The speed of progress is baffling the nurses and attendants. We know how powerful God is. He is in control. His will is foremost. Most of the time we forget these things. We try to be in control, then get frustated when things don't work out. When we let God be in control, amazing things happen. This is an amazing journey in which we are all participating. Watching God work is amazing. How He uses circumstances and people in our lives is amazing.
It is my priveledge to be just a small part of sharing this journey with all of you, the readers of this blog. I trust you are benefiting from the read.
AMAZING!
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