George Bush in 2005??

Piper and his amazing journey

The following is a letter from John Piper to his church Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis.

This is amazing how his faith endures all........

"January 6, 2006

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter will encourage your prayer, strengthen your hope, and minister peace. I am writing with the blessing of the Council of Elders of Bethlehem Baptist Church to help you receive the news about my prostate cancer.

At my annual urological exam on Wednesday, December 21, the doctor felt an abnormality in the prostate and suggested a biopsy. He called the next day with the following facts: 1) cancer cells were found in two of the ten samples and the estimate is that perhaps 5% of the gland is affected; 2) my PSA count was 1.6, which is good (below 4 is normal); 3) the Gleason score is 6 (signaling that the cancer is not aggressive). These three facts incline the doctor to think that it is unlikely that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, and that it is possible with successful treatment to be cancer-free.

Before going with my wife, Noël, to consult in person with the doctor on December 29 about treatment options, I shared this news with the Bethlehem staff on Tuesday morning, December 27, and with the elders that evening. Both groups prayed over me for healing and for wisdom in the treatment choices that lie before us. These were sweet times before the throne of grace with much-loved colleagues.

All things considered, Noël and I believe that I should pursue the treatment called radical prostatectomy, which means the surgical removal of the prostate. We would ask you to pray that the surgery be completely successful in the removal of all cancer and freedom from possible side effects.

With the approval of Bethlehem’s executive staff and elder leadership, we are planning surgery in February. The recovery time is about three weeks before returning to a slow work pace, and six weeks to be back to all normal activities.

This news has, of course, been good for me. The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. I thank God for that. The times with Christ in these days have been unusually sweet.

For example, is there anything greater to hear and believe in the bottom of your heart than this: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)?

God has designed this trial for my good and for your good. You can see this in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” And in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6, “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God . . . If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation.”

So I am praying: “Lord, for your great glory, 1) don’t let me miss any of the sanctifying blessings that you have for me in this experience; 2) don’t let the people of Bethlehem miss any of the sanctifying blessings that you have for us in this; 3) grant that the surgery be successful in removing cancer and sparing important nerves; 4) grant that this light and momentary trial would work to spread a passion for you supremacy for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ; 5) may Noël and all close to me be given great peace—and all of this through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.” I hope God will lead you to pray in a similar way.

With deep confidence that

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Pastor John"

This past week on the Pale Blue Dot....

Note the tiny dot.

What is it? It is a picture of the planet Earth, from roughly 4 billion miles away. The furthest picture ever taken of Earth. This picture was taken from Voyager in 1990. NASA has named this picture, the Pale Blue Dot.

This week, I purchased my first home. I'm very excited about this and the opportunities it will bring in the way of service and ministry.

This week, I got sick. Sick, like, every muscle hurts, and you can't keep anything down, and you don't want to get out of bed sick.

This week, I heard my favorite speaker, Louie Giglio. This is a true man of God! (In case you aren't placing the name...he helped start Passion!)

This week, the winter Olympics started in Italy.

This week, two of my best friends from college got engaged. Kevin asked for Teresa's hand. It was so romantic how he did it. I'm so proud of both of them, I love both of them very much. Christ has worked through both of their lives in an obvious & brilliant way, as only the Creator can. The effectiveness of their individual ministries will be beautifully blended together by the Supreme Author into an awesome unified ministry. Glory abounds in the future of these two souls, brought together to serve Christ as one. God Bless you Both! (Please see Teresa & Kevin's Blogs for more details on the engagement).

This week was definitely a rollercoster. This week, I had ups, and I had downs. This week I was reminded of the HUGENESS of God. (Thanks to Louie Giglio for pointing out these pictures, facts, thoughts!) My father, who is so huge that he measures the galaxy with is fingers.

Take a look at this Galaxy, it is called the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Those red things...stars being born. Isn't that amazing?! It is 31 Million Lightyears away from Earth. It is 30,000 Lightyears across!! Now, take a closer look at the center of this galaxy, with this zoomed in picture taken by Hubble...

NASA calls it an X. But, I think I take note of something else in this creation...

But, despite the Greatness of my creator, he still cares for me. Who, by the way, if God is holding collections of stars in His palms, makes me very, very, very, very, very, very small. Do you know how big the universe is? I don't. It was explained to me by Louie this week that our galaxy, our home neighborhood, the milky way, could be represented by a U.S. Quarter. The 'known' Universe, the North American Continent. Feeling small yet? I know I do. Yet, a God that Big...(Bigger than the collective thoughts of anyone who could read this)...loved me the same. He came down to Earth, a speck on that Quarter, and died for me. He died for you too! He took on our form, experienced our life, and took on all of our sins. All the sins of the Pale Blue Dot.........

Thank You Father!

Let the Games Begin.....

My House

Phase One of my new house....

My Favorite Super Bowl Ad

What's the Buzz?

Mr. Mason was apart of the Hornets crew that I watched, cheerfully, take down the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA puts on a heck of a show. This is not my first Hornets game, nor will be my last, but while watching the NO/OKC crew dismantle Kobe (who drinks Sprite) and the other Lakers I got a great sense of pride for my home state and my current residential city. Many 'Coasters' may dismiss Oklahoma, and its charm, but I'm excited about the possibilites that await Oklahoma City. Sadly, we did lose GM & Six Flags recently, but we have gained Dell and at least momentarily the NBA. The teal words shown off the hardwood, Oklahoma City. I never really thought I'd see it, and I hope it becomes permanent. As I wondered through the streets of Downtown after the game, I reveled in what my fair city had to offer to me. What, though can I offer to my fair city...? At least I can post of Oklahoma on this World Wide Web and hope that I can educate those not in the know about OKC and all it has to offer. I don't consider myself a bandwagoner, cause, what do you call it when a team visits your city? But for now, I'm happy with my team, and there now winning season. So...enough rambling...who's ball is it??

HORNETS BALL!