A Big Scare!

I had a bit of a scare last week with an acute heart attack. PTL, I am home feeling great, recovering well and working toward the 2nd life I've been given. I am grateful for everyone's thoughts and prayers over the past 5 days that knew. (We were pretty quiet about it while it all unfolded).

I suffered through a 7 day acute heart attack, before I called, drove myself down, and went in. When the Dr. examined my EKG and consulted with a Cardiologist, he came back into the patient room and said "You are having a heart attack. We have called an ambulance and you will have surgery immediately". I was in shock.

Seven days earlier, I had been suffering temporary waves of pressure on my chest, fluttering heartbeats, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, etc. Sometimes they were mild and short, other times more sustained and severe, but I never thought it was a heart attack because I wasn’t experiencing any arm pain, or chest pain. Advil, Pepto-Bismol, antacids were all helping relieve symptoms, and I thought whatever it was would pass through my system. Day 7, Friday, May 24th I had a terrible night sleeping that include some sharper pain in my chest and nausea, so I finally called for an appointment. Finally.

I was loaded up on the Ambulance drove to the other side of the hospital (I am still upset that they didn’t get to speed through lights with their lights and sirens going, seriously, my first chance in ambulance and I only get to go 5 MPH through a parking lot, bummer), and they delivered me to Emergency Department. The medical staff went to work like a NASCAR team. With a whirlwind of questions, sticky pads, IV’s, and information about exploring my arteries, going up through my groin, ballooning out the affected artery and putting in a stent, I was ready for surgery.

During surgery they found blockage in my right coronary artery. All went well, no complications and they fixed everything. But my heart had suffered some damage while it was being starved it’s nutrition. Everyday I waited to go to the Doctor I was losing muscle tissue in my heart. Good news, my heart is operating at normal functioning, and I should fully resume all physical activities of hiking, riding my motorcycle, playing disc golf and working out at the gym.

While I was in the Doctor’s office being given my initial news of having a heart attack, Charlene was in Spokane for a surprise Birthday Party for her sister. I only had a minute to call her, while I was being loaded into the ambulance. She was six hours away. I am so grateful for her love, care and support each step of this recovery, and I know she is just as exhausted as I am.

I am grateful to all of you my family and friends and your warm thoughts, love and prayers.

I am comforted by Psalms 121:5-8 (NLT)

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

The Dentist, Dorf & Barnacle Boy

Yesterday (May 14^th), we were saddened by the news that a beloved actor and comedian, Tim Conway, had passed away at the age of 85 in Los Angeles. He truly gave us a gift of comedy and acting that demonstrated wholesome, side-splitting, pant-wetting entertainment for all ages. In direct contrast to today’s foul and obscene comedians and sit-com actors, Tim Conway pursued true laughter without the shock of filthy language and sex/drugs/violence themes. In his interview with Bob Fishbach World-Herald’s GO in 2010, he shared why he doesn’t use profanity 

“I came from a small town where you didn’t do that. I was a big fan of Don Knotts and Steve Allen. And I became good friends with Don. We used to discuss a lot what you owe an audience when they come see you. I’d never do anything to offend an audience. They come to see what they saw on TV. If I lay language on them, they’ll be disappointed. It’s so much more gratifying when people come up after a show with their kids, and everybody loved it. But even the movies now are so gross. I sound like an old prude, which I’m not. But everybody goes for the joke that ends with profanity. We didn’t do that. We tried to get people to laugh rather than just be in shock.”

I remember, sitting cross-legged on my living room floor with our black and white tv watching the Apple Dumpling Gang with Amos (Tim) and Theodore (Don Knotts) trying to strike it rich in their bumbling adventure. Our whole family would anticipate and gather around my grandparents tv after dinner and laugh all throughout the Carol Burnett Show as Tim’s characters as Mr. Tubball, a Dentist, Fireman and oldest man would be the highlight sketch of the show. Fellow actors Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett would often struggle to stay in character as Tim’s improvised antics would crack them up. One of my favorite characters was Derk Dorf as the short-legged athlete with a Scandinavian accent, and few know he was also the voice of Barnacle Boy on SpongeBob SquarePants. He is an Emmy Award winning actor and was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame and his life and work is being honored this week as a comedic genius with a high moral standard.

Tim’s life and work makes me think about the challenges we face as men living in a profane and obscene culture where a man’s “manliness” is often defined by that same culture. Young men (12-18) casually use the F-Bomb and other cuss words as masculine speech. They listen to music full of obscene, violent and sexualized lyrics and their masculine screen heroes treat women as objects to be lusted after, kill & brutalize all, and live an immoral life to the fullest. No wonder we men have an identity crisis, because masculinity is defined by an immoral culture and our young men are being entrapped and bound by pornography, violence, profanity and obscenity.

Men of God are called to have a much higher moral standard in their words and actions. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be imitators of God and walk in love.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” – Ephesians 5:1-4 ESV

The timeless wisdom of Proverbs states:

A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul. – Proverbs 18:7
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. – Proverbs 13:3

James Chapter 3 gives instruction on the power of the tongue:

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,^[a] and set on fire by hell. – James 3:5-6

My Brother, Tim Conway is more than a slapstick sketch comedian, he demonstrated that you could be a highly successful man in a profane and obscene vocation and maintain a high moral professional standard. He did it to respect his fans of all ages and to honor his comedy profession. We can demonstrate a high moral standard in our language and speech at home, at work, in the community and with friends as worship honoring our Lord and Savior. We can be a living masculine role model for our boys and young men in our speech and conduct. We are men of the Spirit full of love, wisdom and self-control and our world needs us now more than ever. 

The Tireless Service of Mothers

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Sunday, May 12^th. Mother’s Day is a time to honor and celebrate, or fondly remember, our mothers and their sacrificial service and love offered freely to us. We may have special memories of our mother’s care and attention when we were sick or injured or in special birthdays and holidays, but there are countless more acts of service that have gone unnoticed that have faded in our memories over time: the hundreds of changed diapers, washed bottles, sleepless nights, washed clothes, prepared meals, worked hours, chauffeured miles, prayers, read stories and numerous words of correction, encouragement, comfort and wisdom. 

Many mother’s worry they were not the ideal or perfect mother presently or while raising their children. One mother aptly said it this way, "I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."- Unknown  Mother’s Day is not about perfection, never making a mistake, or being “Mrs. Cleaver” (a very old TV reference). Mothers make a difference by their unselfishness, fight to the death commitment and protection over their children, their unwavering love and support, and their tireless service.

If we have found wisdom, success, and blessings in life we owe in large part to our mother’s influence upon us as the following individuals have stated.

“I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."- Abraham Lincoln

"My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back."- Denzel Washington

"My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier you'll be a general; if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."- Pablo Picasso

“Men are what their mothers made them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You may not be President of the United States, a famous actor or artist, but your character, health, education, and spiritual maturity is due to how much you listened to the wisdom of your mother. Proverbs 1:8-9 sums it up well “…and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” We can all say “Thanks Mom!”

So, for this Mother’s Day make sure to let her know how much you appreciate the forgotten service she lovingly gave to you from your very first breath to the present. Father’s lead your children of all ages in showing love and appreciation to their mother, your wife, for as she has served and continues to serve your children, she serves you as well.

Deeply Rooted Treasures

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

I thoroughly enjoyed our Hillside Men’s Retreat and the set aside time we had for fellowship, encouragement and instruction at the beautiful Camp Magruder in Rockaway Beach this past weekend. I was able to discover and take away a few beach treasures from our retreat. Not necessarily agates, although I did find a few, shells, or drift wood that looked like Gandalf, but treasures from trusting in the Lord and in getting to know you better.

It is at these set aside times where I hope to find a treasure of rest and rejuvenation. Sometimes just getting away from my daily and weekly routine of work, chores, responsibilities, cares and anxieties and resting in the Lord is vital. I found rest at taking a long walk on the beach with the warm sunshine, gentle ocean breeze and healing waves. It was as if with each step in the sand the layers of stress and anxiety fell off my shoulders. I felt light-hearted and at ease playing Uno with various guys and in learning a new card-matching game with Adam and Gary. By Sunday, I felt tired and needing to sleep in my own comfortable bed without all of you snoring around me, but I still felt completely rested.

In our times of devotions, services and small groups I found treasures of God’s Truth and worship with brothers. I am encouraged when men sing and worship together and I was blessed by Pastor Dennis and Ruben leading us in praise and adoration to our Savior. I felt encouraged and challenged by our Deeply Rooted theme and messages. Pastor Dave challenged us to be deeply rooted Godly men, submitting to God’s governance, impacting our roles as a husband, father and friend. Pastor Matt shared how we can be deeply rooted in our spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study with the morning sun shimmering across the lake behind him. I hope my messages of being deeply rooted in love in working with difficult people and in your leadership role in the church and the mission of God encouraged you as well.

My favorite treasure from our men’s retreat over the weekend, however, was the opportunity to get to know you. You, your story, your friendship, your laughter, your care, your service, your time is what I treasure the most. From playing card games, trying to throw discs against wind and make it into a chain basket, sitting in the awesome beach fire-pit-fort sharing stories, having coffee around the fireplace, grilling dogs & sausages, eating lasagna and steak together, and through small group or one-on-one heartfelt conversations. Those are the moments I treasure. Thank you, my Brothers, for making this retreat one to remember, and I hope you feel refreshed in being deeply rooted in the Lord and with one another.