Diane and me at the Sidney Opera House.

Okay! I broke the cardinal rule of blogging.  I haven’t blogged for over 8 weeks.  I didn’t really disappear from the face of the earth, I disappeared from cyberspace. I  owe you an explanation because you have been so faithful following my blog, So let me bring you up to date.

1. BOOK!   Most importantly I have been working almost continuously writing my new book “Fully Alive.”  Every obstacle I could imagine threatened to derail this project, but I am convinced that this book will be a life changer.  My agent and the Thomas Nelson team believe in this project.  We all  put our shoulders to the wheel and worked around the clock to make it happen.  I can hardly wait until “Fully Alive” is released Keep watching for more information.

A unique phenomenon that had everyone looking up!

2. THE MOVIE!  We are in full swing marketing the limited theater release of the film “Fully Alive.” The Erwin Brothers, who just finished filming “October Baby,” did an amazing job shooting our movie. I thought that once the film was in the can the work was over.   I was wrong.  Someone kicked the can (not the bucket) and we have been chasing it ever since.  I am thrilled with the initial response to “Fully Alive the movie”  and look forward to seeing it in theaters all across the United States. Lot’s more about this as the release time gets closer.

3. CURRICULUM!  Concurrent with the movie and the book we have created a curriculum that groups can use to inspire one another to live “fully alive.”   Joy Groblebe and Brian Scheer are heading up this project and Thomas Nelson has unleashed some of their top talent to bring it to life. Keep watching for details.

4. TOUR OF AUSTRALIA!  In the middle of all this we did a 17 day concert tour of Australia.  On the way to Australia we actually lost a day.  Unfortunately it was Sunday.  I had an uneasy feeling that God was not happy because I lost His day!  Australia is a beautiful country with amazingly friendly, happy people and Kangaroos everywhere.  My wife Diane came with me on this tour and if she has anything to say about it, we will definitely be going back to Australia.

5. THE SEARCH!  Since coming back I have been writing constantly and during breaks I have been looking for that Sunday we lost!  If you see it,  please leave a comment as to where I can find it.

One of the many beautiful trees found in Australia

I’M BAAAAACCK I look forward to being here with you again.  I promise to be regular with my blogs.  I hope you will find them entertaining and inspirational.

Can’t wait to hear your comments again.   Got to go. The dog is barking.  I think something is outside the door……   it might be Sunday!

First, thank you to all of you who responded to my post

To date there were over 467 comments on the post.  I had no idea that this issue would touch such a cord in the hearts of so many people.  I also had no idea how many people are living with the heartbreak of family and friends facing Alzheimer’s disease.

Because I am unable to respond individually to the hundreds of comments I received, I will address them here.  This will be my last post concerning Pat Robertson’s comments.

1. To those of you who have watched a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and to some of you who courageously shared that you have been diagnosed with one of these diseases:  Your honesty and courage inspires us all.  My prayers are with you.  Thank you for blessing us by sharing your story and helping us realize we are not alone.

2. To those who suggested that I had misunderstood Mr Robertson’s statement: I must respectfully disagree.  I read and re-read the entire transcript as it was sent by CBN in response to a letter written by Mark Robinson.  The letter, the transcript and CBN’s response can be found here….. OntarioPC    My readers can judge for themselves what Mr Robertson actually said.

3.  To those who suggested that my post was an attack on Pat Robertson:  I promise that was not my intention.  Considering what my dad had gone through, what the scriptures say about divorce and the solemn nature of  “till death do we part,” I was compelled to respond to Mr Robertson’s statement.  A public statement such as this invites a public response. I responded with our family’s story.

4.  To those who suggested that I had been influenced by the media:  I am sure the news media covered this, but I never saw it.  My response was based on the transcript of the show and CBN’s response to Mark Robinson’s letter.   I never intended to jump on any bandwagon.  I didn’t even know there was a bandwagon.

5.  To those who expressed sorrow and/or anger in response to Pat Robertson’s statement:  For the most part these were not enemies of Pat Robertson or CBN.  In fact, many of the responders were people who had been blessed over the years by CBN’s ministry.  I certainly understand your frustration and would ask that you pray that the valid aspects of CBN ministry will continue to touch lives.

6. To those who questioned Pat Robertson’s Salvation or wished him ill will:  I would ask that you reconsider that position for the same two reasons that caused you disagreed with his statement in the first place.

• Pat’s is a believer in Christ and his place in the Kingdom was assured on the Cross and sealed by the Holy spirit.  He is loved by the Father. He will be in heaven. He is my brother.  I am free to disagree with him but not to condemn him. If Mr Robertson has lost his salvation because of his errors of judgement or theology, then my sins and errors certainly condemn me as well.  Thank God, such is not the case!
• Pat Robertson deserves the same compassion we insist that he give those we sought to defend.  

Thank you for all your comments and I am grateful for the support shown toward those who cannot speak for themselves. With a only couple of exceptions the comments were thoughtful and without vitriol.  Yesterday I received a very gracious comment from a friend of Mr Robertson that I would like to share with you. In the face of the what I believe is justified critique of Mr Robertson’s statement, only one thing balances the scales and gives us all hope……. that thing is GRACE!

Pat Robertson’s friend Malcolm gave me permission to reprint his comment.  May the spirit of grace evidenced here be present even in the midst our strongest disagreements.

    When Pat Robertson stands before the Lord, God will say, “Pat, you said a lot of things right, and you said a few things wrong; you sometimes let the pondering of your mind escape through your lips before you had it worked out with me in prayer. This embarrassed those closest to you, and it angered a great many of your enemies.
But also let me say this to you: Thank you for giving your life to me as a young man. Thank you for heeding my call to walk away from what could have been a lucrative career in Law to enter the ministry and start a tiny little television studio in Tidewater Virginia when everybody thought you were crazy. Thank you for pioneering a Christian TV channel that was the first of its kind, and that I was able to bless and project it around the world in many different nations. And thank you, Pat, that because of your visionary spirit and heart of obedience, the 700 Club has been a tool in my hands to bring hundreds of thousands of people into My kingdom. Pat, I also want to thank you that you allowed me to birth Operation Blessing through you and your wonderful staff of sincere and committed people. Together with our supporters, we have given spiritual and natural aid to tens of thousands of devastated people worldwide.
So Pat, other than those few times you really stuck your foot in your mouth, I am happy to say you did most things well. You have been a good and faithful servant who stands or falls before Me alone, and before no other. Enter now, my son, into the joy of the Lord.”

I can only add… “Say those things for me too, Lord.  For me too!”

Today is Alzheimer’s day.  Please pray for a cure and for comfort to all who face this horrible disease.

I had been traveling relentlessly

About 100 in the room of 400 were affected with some form of mental or physical disability.  There was constant movement in the room as many were assisted with frequent trips to the restroom. Involuntary moans and vocal sounds echoed throughout the audience.  I grumbled inwardly thinking how all this commotion would disrupt my “important talk.”  I also noticed the lighting was poor and wondered how that would affect my “performance.”

As I ruminated on these things, the presenters called seven year old Andrew Roach to the platform.

And what was this beautiful little boy’s achievement? 

Over the past year, he’d learned to sit in his seat long enough to complete a task and he had learned to count to fifty.  As Andrew clutched his award, the look of pride on face of his parents was luminous.

Maybe I didn’t need as much light as I thought I would.

Terry Molrand received the next award for Resident of the year.  This young man’s  body was bent from Cerebral Palsy.  Although he was seated less than fifteen feet from the platform it took him nearly a minute to get there. He used a walking stick and it seemed that each step required excruciating effort.  Yet I seemed to be the only one in the room who noticed.  Terry turned to face the audience with a beaming smile that lit up the room.

I stopped thinking about lighting all together.

Terry’s smile not only lit the room it cut through the selfish and inconsiderate rumbling in my soul. After receiving his award and reveling in a barrage of flash pictures, Terry whispered something to the presenter who then announced that Terry wanted to say a few words. With a face that could barely contain his joy, Terry spoke in a strong confident voice.

“I want to thank you for this award,” he said, “And I want to thank God for another day.”

The audience rose in a thunderous ovation.  I was on my feet, applauding wildly, tears streaming down my face.

Mr Rosenburg received the next award. He had run a clothing shop in Vincennes, Indiana for forty six years and was receiving a plaque for donating a building to KCARC. Marshall his disabled adult son accompanied him to the platform.  His voice trembling with emotion, Mr Rosenburg said that shortly after becoming a resident at KCARC his son had blessed him with two simple but profound words.  “I am happy.”

I began to wonder who was disabled.

Just before it was my turn to speak, I leaned over to my host and whispered, “No message I could deliver would be more inspirational than what I have just heard.”  I had allowed a delayed flight to ruin my day while a this group celebrated a little boy’s ability to sit quietly and complete a task.  I have lamented over a missed golf game, while Terry thanks God for another day. I was the one disabled by a lousy attitude. 

The next morning, as I awoke, I acted on the lesson I’d learned from the three MEN who had received awards the night before.  The first words from my mouth were these……..

“Thank you God for another day.  I am happy!”

Tell me your story.  I look forward to your comments.

This post adapted from, A story by Ken Davis in his book “Lighten Up”  Zondervan

Me and my Dad

This may be one of the most personal blogs I have ever written.

I was stunned by Pat Robertson’s recent proclamation that  a man is free to divorce his wife if she has Alzheimer’s disease, on the pretense that “She is not there.”  I am compelled to respond because if I remain silent, I do a disservice to my family and my father.

My dad admires my watch.

You see, my dad went to heaven after suffering from Alzheimer’s for over five years.  In the end he recognized no one, and could carry on no meaningful conversation.  His every need had to be taken care of by others.   He spent much time staring blankly into space.

One of the last times I visited dad, he simply held my hand and ran his rough, work hardened fingers over the face of my watch.  “That’s a nice watch,” he said, over and over again.  This was the man who survived the Bataan Death March and spent three years as a prisoner of war defending my freedom. This was the man that taught me how to hunt and ride a horse.  This was the man loved to take us fishing.  The fingers that gently traced the outline of my watch were the  same fingers that showed me how to put a worm on a hook.

What would Pat Robertson have done with my dad?  Would he have denounced him as a father?  Would he have concluded that the Biblical admonition to “Honor your father and mother” only applied to those in excellent mental health. I can only assume from Robertson’s latest proclamation that because my dad’s spirit had been dimmed by this horrible disease I was free to disclaim him as my father, walk away and leave him to fend for himself.  After all he “wasn’t there anymore.”

This blog is written with deep empathy for those who have cared for a  loved one with Alzheimer’s.  I understand the toll this disease takes on caregivers.  I saw my mom suffer profoundly as she watched my dad become a shell of the man he had once been.  I watched her suffer trying to care for his daily needs and grieve when other caregivers had to be found.  Eventually loving professionals were enlisted to take care of dad, but to the end, he was mom’s husband and our father.

I think the following story by an unknown author captures a more compassionate and Biblical scenario than that suggested by Robertson.

_____________________________________

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80′s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed suppclies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease.

As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him. “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”

He smiled as he patted my hand and said. “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”    Author Unknown

I am so thankful that no matter what our condition, God still knows who we are.  No matter how decrepit or deranged he remembers the price that was paid for our redemption.  Because of who He is he will never leave us or forsake us.

Dear friends,  If at some future date you find me staring into the distance because this disease has wracked my mind and body.  I ask you not to cast me off. 

Please visit me. 

Hold my hand.

Let me touch your watch and sense from some deep place in my soul that you love me.

I ask you to believe that until I go to heaven and look into the face of Christ………….

I am here!!

Dads grip and his faint smile tells it all. He knows he is loved.

Tyler, The prayer warrior!

Yesterday my daughter Traci dropped a heavy block of wood on her foot and broke a toe.  The pain was agonizing but there a was a deeper disappointment that drove her to tears.  She had trained and raised support to run a half-marathon to benefit “Coopers Troopers” an organization dedicated to helping the families and siblings of children who have faced life threatening disease.   As she sat on the couch sobbing with her face in her hands, she heard tiny voice of her three year old son, Tyler.  “You want me to pray for you?” It is hard to hear and sob at the same time so she asked him to repeat himself.  This time he said each word loudly and distinctly so his mother would understand.  “DO  YOU WANT ME TO PRAY FOR YOUR TOE???”   Traci responded, “I would like that very much.”  Tyler bowed his head, and with the sincerity only a three year old can express prayed, “Jesus loves me this I know, please help my mommies toe……  AMEN!”  Then he went back to playing.

What did I learn from Tyler’s prayer?

• Little hearts are very sensitive to the needs of people around them.  He was genuinely concerned.
• Little people go straight to the heart of the matter.  No religious gobbly-gook…..  Just help my mommies toe!
• Little hearts believe that their prayers are heard and will be answered.  No need to hang around. God is going to take care of it.  Might as well get back to Thomas the Train. 

No wonder Jesus loved little children. They are really have the biggest hearts of all.

Have you ever been touched or tickled by a child’s prayer?  Leave a comment, I would love to hear the story.