Tuesday, March 28, 2006

A Little Consistency, Please

Wasn't it a liberal Democrat who proposed, "It's the economy, stupid"? A former President Bush was defeated because, the liberal politicians and liberal media said, he was touting his foreign policy record rather than tending to the business of economics at home.

Today there is a shake up in the current President Bush's White House staff and the reason pressed upon us by the press is that this is necessary due to the low approval ratings W enjoys. Then the same major news outlet reports (almost as a "by the way") that consumer confidence is at a 4-year high. Consumer confidence, let's see, that's an indication that the economy is good, right?

So the libs pound one Bush because the economy is sour and don't give props to the other when the economy is good. Rather than blast the headlines with the good economic news they choose to promote the poor approval ratings (likely a product of the media anyway).

Politics and the reporting of it needs a dose of consistency.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

It's Maddening

I've picked 35 winners out of the 57 games in the tournament. Not too good. But I still have two teams in. And one already in the Final Four. We'll see how it goes from here.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Of Mice and Men

Last week I blogged about a long week ahead of me waiting for a biopsy and then the results. It hasn't worked out quite like I had planned. At the moment, I'm still waiting a call from the pulmonary specialists to give me the results.

What's God doing? I am certain he hasn't turned away from me. Nor is he playing games with me. He is acting out of his purpose and will. The difficulty is that I don't often know what that is. So the waiting for me is simply part of God's unfolding plan.

The Bible tells me that God exists on an eternal platform from which he sees and knows all things: past, present, and future. He also is not bound by time or the passing of time. The waiting is all on my part while I pass through time to get to what God already knows.

I find peace in that. He already knows! He knows the biopsy results, he knows the correct treatment of whatever it is, he knows the outcome of that treatment, and he knows what my family and I will need each step along the way.

You can say that the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray, but God's plans never go astray.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

The Difference

One father taught his son the family business. Then he sold it to his son with the burden of supporting the father's family and the son's family. The result was bankruptcy and estrangement.

Another father learned he had a terminal illness. He prayed that God would give him two years so he could teach his son the business. The father died just a few weeks short of two years later.

The difference? One father passed on the family business so he could retire comfortably. The other father passed on the family business so his son could retire comfortably.

Both sons are separated from their fathers but one has a much happier memory.

Motive is supremely important. God knows the motives behind our thoughts and actions and will discipline and judge us accordingly.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Waiting

The RN said the biopsy results would be available in 24 hours. The pulmonologist said it would be Friday. The family practice doctor said it would be the middle of next week.

And the winner is...the family practice doctor.

David Jeremiah says that when our timetable and God's do not match it is often because God is developing our trust, faith, and patience.

OK. I'm told that I am a pretty patient person. My response is always, "Well, you just don't see what's boiling beneath the surface!" But God does and he knows how impatient I am. Even now. So he's working on that.

All my life I've heard people say not to pray for patience because God will send trouble your way. I say you better pray for patience because problems are definitely on the way!

Marching Home

Thursday was a good day in the tournament but Friday was awful. The Razorbacks lost, as did most of my other picks. I picked 14 of 16 winners on Thursday but only 9 of 16 on Friday.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

March Madness

I'm not a gambler. I believe it is poor stewardship of the resources God has given me. But I always fill out the NCAA brackets just to see how I do. I don't do very well. But it's fun.

Eleven games are complete and I've picked ten winners. Duke, Illinois, Syracuse, Washington, and Indiana are my remaining picks for the day. I stand a good chance of doing extremely well.

You have to feel sorry for some of the teams. They come from small conferences, won their conference tournament, and then get matched with a powerhouse. But games are played on paper so the boys suit up and take it to the hardwood.

We get to watch it all. CBS has a $6B package with the NCAA for tournament rights. The premier announcing team for CBS raked the NCAA selection committee over the coals for some of the teams picked for the tournament. You'd think Jim and Billy would just do their jobs.

ESPN is no better. They invested $s in this Bracketology thing and their guru ripped the committee. Would you like a little cheese with that whine?

I guess I should be living in another time. I don't appreciate anything about an announcer ripping a player, coach, team, another analyst, etc. I may boycott the CBS broadcasts and listen on the radio. CBS probably gets a cut of that, too. It takes a lot of money to pay Jim and Billy to act like they don't care that they have jobs most guys would love to have. I just don't get it. It's madness.

Monday, March 13, 2006

One More Day to Pray

"Do not be anxious about anything," the Bible says. OK. How about anticipatory? Antsy?

The bronchoscopy is delayed until Wednesday morning. 24 hours. 1,440 minutes. 86,400 seconds. I guess I'm a little anxious!

The reason? Something came up and the doctor needed to move the appointment. Could I get away with that? "Hello, doctor? This is Bob and, well, something has come up and, well, uh, I'm moving the appointment. I'll be in the next day." I'm not irritated about that. I understand that I'm being worked into his schedule because of the possible severity of my condition. A regular situation would have resulted in an appointment being set a couple of weeks away. So, one day is really no big deal. I assume that someone came to him with a much more obviously severe situation than mine. I gladly give up my spot to that person.

It's just the idea of having to wait. My family practice doctor is playing it safe by saying it's probably Sarcoid but could be Lymphoma. Then he goes on to tell me that there's also a chance that he'll have a bike wreck and crack his skull or a chance that I'll have a wreck on the way home from the doctor's office. But just in case it is lymphoma, he has to play it safe.

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking it was the worst case scenario: cancer. Now I'm feeling like it's Sarcoid. BUT I NEED TO KNOW!

And I will know either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday. Of course, that could have been Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday...but we rescheduled.

"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6.

I guess the doctor just gave me one more day to pray. I'm doing very well, by the way, praying for and trusting God's will.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Big Week

Monday
  • Pastors breakfast
  • Pick up X-ray films and CT scan prints
  • Pick up new glasses - stylish: the lady said my wife would love them
  • Put in a full day's work
  • Spend the night at in-laws'

Tuesday

  • Bronchoscopy
  • Wait for biopsy results

Wednesday

  • Wait for biopsy results
  • Take Riley to the doctor to check hearing
  • Put in a full day's work
  • Services at church

Thursday

  • Wait for biopsy results
  • Chaperone K4 field trip to Krispy Kreme & Fire Station
  • Put in a full day's work

Friday

  • Wait for biopsy results
  • Put in a full day's work

Saturday

  • Wait for biopsy results