One of the problems I’m dealing with now is that I have to make frequent trips to the bathroom which interrupts my sleep. Once I’m awake its hard to get back to sleep. My wife informs me women have to deal with that all the time. I hope I get adjusted to the nights before I go back to work next week.

I spent a couple of hours with my Dad and Mom yesterday, helping them understand some financial issues that confused them, and picking up Dad’s guitar. He is the original owner of a 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, and I’m taking it to a classic guitar dealer in Nashville on Friday, while we’re down there, to have it officially appraised. Then we want to have it insured to protect his estate.

If you haven’t yet heard, Max Shumaker passed away last night. Max played a major role in the early days of New Hope Christian Center. He sang in the choir, worked with the youth ministry, drove a bus, and worked on the sound board. We will miss him. What will you remember about Max?

Today is the 21st day since surgery. I went to church last night and after standing and singing for twenty minutes I was exhausted. I just don’t have much stamina yet. But, [Name Withheld for Security] did a great job talking on stress, and it was good to be in fellowship again with God’s people. I had intended to stay with my Dad Sunday morning so my sister could take my Mom to church, but Dad decided he wanted her home with him.

My Dad is 84 and has prostate cancer (its hereditary) that has spread to his bones. Its no fun to watch him suffer as he is. When he was my age they had no way to detect prostate cancer early, and my Dad is resistant to any kind of medical treatment, anyway. One stubborn and independent guy!

I intend to go over and visit with them both this afternoon while Anita is away for the choir concert in Kokomo.

I think its a healthy part of life for us to be caregivers for someone else. It helps us get outside of our own problems. Who are you helping to care for and how has it helped you grow?

This morning I got up early and went to the men’s breakfast at church. Joyce Summers and her volunteers did a great job with the meal. I shared for 40 minutes on what I have learned through this process. I did OK, but if I had to do that three times I would be exhausted, so I know I’m not ready to get back to preaching yet.

Now that the catheter is out I’m aware of some dull pain I still have in my abdomen. I’m moving slowly, but can pretty well do the things I did before the surgery. The difficulty I had in sitting is now gone since the catheter has been out. I did my morning stretches for my back today for the first time since surgery, and that felt great.

I shared at the men’s breakfast this morning the statement that God made in Exodus 15:26 where He declared, “I am the Lord that heals you.” That was in the context of the Lord showing Israel what to do to heal the bitter waters of Marah. God’s healing requires us listening to His advice and doing it. If we don’t take our problems to Him, He can’t advise us. So, take your difficulties to Him, and expect Him to direct your steps. What are you trusting the Lord to help you with?

This morning I had my appointment to remove the catheter. The Dr. wanted us to stop back in later to make sure the plumbing was working OK, so we went out for breakfast, and spent a little time at Glenbrook Mall, and I really enjoyed walking without the catheter. When we returned to the Dr.’s office, he wanted to measure my output, and it took me 5 minutes to empty my bladder from all the internal swelling! That’s not good, but he sent me home and gave me instructions on what to do over the weekend if we had more problems.

When I got home I tried again and this time had a normal flow. Go figure. I guess God no doubt had something to do with that. So, I guess its all getting better from here on. Tomorrow morning I’m planning on going to the men’s breakfast at church and speaking to the guys about lessons learned through this whole process. I’ve got one more week off to finish recuperating, and, if I feel up to it, Anita and I plan on a drive to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit our daughter and family. We won’t see them for Christmas, so this will be our time to spend time with the grandkids.

I really appreciate everyone’s support through this whole process. I’ve been receiving a couple of get well cards every day. You all are a real blessing. I pray I will soon be able to be a blessing back to you.

Today is the 18th day since my surgery and the last day with the catheter. I think my biggest problem with this process was the unrealistic expectations that I had. I heard from others that I would be laid up for four weeks off work for this surgery, but when I asked the Doc how long before I went back to work, he asked what I did for a living. I told him I was a minister and most of my work was working at a desk. He said, “Maybe in two weeks if you take it easy.” So, I was thinking I’d be up and about and doing what I wanted to do part time in two weeks and not push myself.

But, its not that easy. Externally, I feel strong and healthy, but internally the healing continues. At 18 days into this, I’m still wearing an uncomfortable catheter and having difficulty sitting up straight. If I had just accepted the four week healing period as a time to just rest, I would be right on schedule. But my unrealistic expectations were just not realistic, and that’s what discouraged me. My advice to others in the future will be to just plan to wait it out at home for a full month. Then good news looks good.

Just two days left with the catheter, according to my short-timer’s calendar. I’m doing better each day. Spent a little longer at my desk yesterday than the day before. In doing the laproscopic procedure, they made six smaller incisions in my abdomen. They super-glued them all shut, and now the glue is beginning to peal loose from the skin around the incisions, as it is supposed to. Everything looks normal there, healing going well on the outside, and I presume well on the inside, as well.

I’m reading Henry Cloud & John Townsend’s book Boundaries. Its been out for 16 years but I’ve never read it before. It applies to so many of the common issues I have dealt with in counseling. I’m glad to know this resource book is available because I’ll refer it to people in my assistance to them. Great book.

I just got my first referral phone call. An old friend of mine has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he wants to talk with someone who’s been through it. I’ll call him tonight after he gets home from work. If my experience can help others, it will be worth it in the end. And I expect many more open doors as a result of this procedure.