haven't updated here medically speaking for a while.  started a new round of chemo this past week to deal with a cancerous growth that we've been dealing with since late summer/early Fall.  It took a while to diagnose as Lymphoma and start the treatments.  The growth has already responded to the medicine by shrinking and the side effects have been minimal thus far with fatigue being the main issue.  Some great news is that my Cleveland Clinic doctor has coordinated this with a cancer center in Findlay which is less than an hour from home instead of the 3+ that Cleveland is.  I took a day off of school for the first part of the 4 week cycle which took about 5 hours but the next 3 weeks involve only a weekly shot so I'll be able to do that after school without missing any more teaching!!!!  I'll have a week off and then repeat the 4 week sequence before heading back up to Cleveland to be re-evaluated.  As always, if Kim and I have the privilege of your prayers, please focus not on my health but that God help us to "count it all joy" (1 James 2.8ff) and that we be focused on praising Him by seeking out sin in our lives and replacing that sin with the righteousness that honors and pleases Him.

I can't believe it's the middle of October already.  Kim and I are enjoying the routine of my teaching at Apollo and her job in the kitchen at Lima West Middle School.  I've also enjoyed continuing to teach Sunday School.  We're still in the book of James and though we've spent almost 4 months on it, we're only in chapter 3 and I believe the unruly part of the class (and that's most of them) are in secrete laying odds on whether I'll actually finish the book by the end of December!  In all seriousness, though teaching daily and teaching Sunday School leaves me dead tired and daily naps are part of my life, I'm invigorated when I teach and love my job, my church and my teaching ministry.  God created work for mankind BEFORE sin meaning that work and structure in our lives is a good and necessary aspect of godly living.  God bless.  Also, if you are not SURE that you are a born again believer and are not SURE of your eternal life with the God of the Universe, I'd love to talk with you about it one on one.  E-mail me (robkimratliff atsign yahoodotcom).

Matthew 7:16-23

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

7/18/2013 update

alright, alright.  it's been, once again, WAY too long since our last update so now I've been encouraged (i.e. "shamed") by a good friend of mine who shall remain nameless (craig h*ll) to write an update.  this nameless (craig h*ll) person also called me out publically via e-mail but, in all honesty, I appreciate very much that at least this nameless person (craig h*ll) cares enough about me to want information.  When I last left you I had been released from having to stay close to the Cleveland Clinic and have been at home since.  I received the okay at the 100 day mark after the transplant to go back to teaching as my strength allowed and was back at school in mid April.  As usual, the staff and leadership at Apollo were very kind and helpful, encouraging me to take time off as needed and helping me get my feet back on the ground.  I didn't go back to the classroom since we knew I'd be missing some days but spent my time in our Assessment Center where I tutored kids in a variety of subjects.  I averaged probably 1 1/2 days off per week and was able to finish out the year.  It was tiring but doable.  Our summer starting in June has been spent mostly resting.  I've been weaned off my morning and evening doses of morphine and that has helped my stamina greatly.  For the first 4-5 weeks of summer I was sleeping ALOT during the day as well as getting a good night's sleep at night.  Since reducing my morphine dose (I still take immediate action morphine when needed), I've been able to stay up most days and have gotten into a better routine.  We've been up to the Cleveland Clinic every 4 weeks or so for blood work and consultation with my doctors.  So far, there have been no surprises and I seem to be progressing according to schedule.  Kim and I have gotten to the point of realizing that I probably will never be completely and irreversibly cured of this disease but we are grateful for the present season of having some form of "normalcy" in our lives.

More importantly, I've been able to begin teaching Sunday School again.  I'm currently teaching the book of James and am blessed with the time I've been able to spend in the Word preparing and with my class on Sunday mornings.  My class is SUCH a blessing to me!  They actively participate by asking question and giving input as we study the Word.  My "style" is what it's always been when teaching the Bible:  look at the text first digging deeper and deeper to understand the meaning of the verses in the context of when they were written and who they were written to and then progressing into personal application.  A question we ask ourselves each week is "What do we do with this on Thursday?"  In other words, how are we going to apply what God is/has taught us, what are we going to put off and put on, replacing unrighteous thoughts and actions with righteous ones, and what is God up to in our lives as He gives us understanding and application of the text.  We remind ourselves to:

^22 But ^ybe doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ^23 For ^zif anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ^24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ^25 But ^ahe who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, ^bthis one will be blessed in what he does.

 

y Matt. 7:21–28; Luke 6:46–49; [Rom. 2:13; James 1:22–25; 2:14–20]

z Luke 6:47

a [John 8:32; Rom. 8:2; 2 Cor. 3:17]; Gal. 2:4; 6:2; James 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:16

b John 13:17

The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jas 1:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

God bless everyone.  If we have the privilege of your prayers, I remind you that our desire is that you not focus on my physical needs but that you pray for God to help us seek out the sin He wants to address in our lives and replace it with His thoughts, words and acts.  THAT is what Kim and I both continue to rely on God for and we are comforted by the fact that He has, is and will provide all we need.  We don't know what God's will is for my physical life (or for the lives of any of us for that matter) but we do know that His will is that this trial be used in our lives to bring about growth.  We also continue to be reminded that this growth does not come from simply going through our trial but through obedience.  Please pray that God would help us obey in all situations.

 

In Love,

 

Rob

We had an appointment with our doctor yesterday (Tues) and he released me to go home.  Yay!!!!  Things are progressing as expected and 100 percent of my blood cells are now from my donor.  The possibility of some kind of rejection is still very real and won’t subside for another 50 days or so.  Though I am home, I have to stay away from crowds and won’t be released to go back to work until mid April.  It’s a blessing to be home with Kim and to also have some time ahead where I can devote more time to my current study of the Book of James.  Pastor John even sent me a commentary on James that is a favorite of his and that I just received on our last day at Hope Lodge.  I really look forward to digging into those pages.  Please keep praying that Kim and I would continue to rejoice in our circumstances and exam our lives in the illumination of His Word.  There have been some awesome changes that God has brought to us as we’ve wrestled with the disease while being blessed with His Word.  That change has been, and continues to be, very painful at times as, of course, the amputation of sin must be.  Pray that God continue to help us and change us, as of course we know He will, and that we would seek to obey Him and to bask in His loving grace and protection at all times.

Hello dear friends and family,

I spent 3 days in the hospital last week.  Woke up Sunday (1/27) with a fever and was admitted Sunday afternoon.  They found out I had pneumonia so I was bombarded with fluids and antibiotics until it cleared out.  The roughest time was Sunday night, Monday morning when I had quite a bit of chest pain and couldn't sleep.  They finally knocked me out cold with a bunch of morphine and when I woke up, I felt a lot better.  We got out on Wednesday and I was pretty weak and lethargic until Saturday/Sunday when I felt a lot better.  Monday's blood work (2/4/2013) looked real good so no hydration or transfusions were needed.  This Friday the 8th will mark the 30th day since the transfusion.  Thanks for all of your cards, e-mail and facebook notes, etc.  Thanks especially to the church for a wonderful care package they sent with food for our stomachs (my favorite Lindt chocolate troufles among the treasures!) and food for our souls in the form of Spurgeon's day and night devotions.  Kim and I both have been reading the entries as part of our study/quiet time.  We were also blessed with a visit from our dear friends Tina and Larry for the superbowl this past Sunday.  Our time with them is always joyful!

Love to all.

Rob and Kim

The stem cell transplant itself took place yesterday (Weds).  Once they got the bag hooked up, the infusion itself only took about 30 minutes.  They kept me an hour afterwards for observation and then released us to go back to the Hope Lodge.  It was really wierd for both Kim and I knowing everything that we'vre been through leading to this dinky little bag that looked just like about a half a pint of dark blood which contained the donated cells.  Our nurse said that there's not much chance of anything eventful happening in the next 5-7 days so I've got today off, labwork tomorrow (Fri), and then if everything checks out, the weekend off.

BTW, 31 years ago today I was a 17 year old high school senior literally freezing my butt off at the coldest NFL game in histrory.  -59 wind chill but a great Bengal win over the Chargers and a birth in their first Super Bowl.   There's NO WAY I'll ever do that again!!!

And now over a year later and so much has happened.  The rest of my 2011-2012 school year was better than I could have hoped for health wise.  No unplanned trips to Cleveland and I taught my first full year after 2 years interrupted by my stem cell transplant in December, 2009 and the spinal meningitis in the Spring of 2011.  My summer of 2012 was a bad one.  Very[ low blood counts led to weekly transfusions and cancelled vacations.  They couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with me.  I had my spleen removed in late July but the counts did not go up.  Finally, it was determined that my stubborn lymphoma was back and in my marrow and blood system.  More Chemo started turning things around and my doctor recommended we try another bone marrow transplant but one using someone else’s cells and not my own like the first one.  Doctor Dean soberly explained to Kim and I the high risk of such a procedure.  The risk isn’t in the process itself which actually takes place as an outpatient, but after the process as my body will naturally try to reject the donor’s cells.  The key to the process is allowing a “good” amount of rejection that actually helps my body hopefully reprogram itself to kill off cancer cells while keeping the rejection at a point where it’s not life threatening.  Doctor Dean, while aware of the risks, also shared his firm belief that without this process, traditional means of chemo could not continue to hold my cancer in check.  The decision was not hard as from the beginning Kim and I have told our doctors that I want to be as aggressive as possible in fighting the cancer and don’t want to leave anything on the table.  We decided to go ahead with the transplant.   

The first step was finding a suitable donor.  My sister was tested but didn’t prove to be suitable so a search was made of the international databank of marrow donors.  Kim and I are actually part of this database as we were tested as part of a church drive years ago for someone in the community receiving a transplant.  Shortly after my search was initiated, which is done with my information anonymous, I received a notice from the donor bank that I was a possible match for someone looking for a match.  I realized right away that I was actually being matched to myself and called the databank number to let them know.  My search turned up a really close match of a 42 year old European man who has graciously agreed to be a donor.  I don’t know who he is and don’t know whether I will ever know on this earth but am so grateful that he agreed.  With a donor in place, we began the road to the transplant.  More treatments followed to get my cancer as much in check as possible, scans were made, the insurance company was consulted and all this has resulted in a green light to proceed.  We were able to get into the Hope Lodge where we stayed before during my last transplant (Kim and I together in the prep phase and then Kim here by herself when I was in the hospital for a month).  The Hope Lodge is a blessing.  A cozy room to ourselves and shared kitchen and laundry facilities and all of it donated.  Kim and I moved up here on New Year’s Day and the next day I began more chemo.  On Monday the 7^th I start full body radiation and on Wednesday the 9^th the transplant is scheduled. 

With all of that in mind, Kim and I covet your prayers and again want you to PLEASE spend the vast majority of your time for us, if not all of the time, praying that God would help us see the truth of this trial.  That it is a blessing from Him and that we are to rejoice about the opportunity that God has graciously given us to grow in His grace.  Seeing this as a blessing and focusing on the wonderful truths of his Sovereignty and eternity with God (amongst many other things) does not come naturally to any of us which is why Kim and I believe that this is where prayers should be centered.  I won’t repeat a lot of what I’ve already written in this blog about that subject but do ask that you go back and read it if you desire.  

Pray as well for a study I’ve started on the book of James (appropriately!).  I contacted our pastors with my desire to begin teaching Sunday School again and requested a list of what has been taught and preached on during the last few years.  James has not been touched recently and that is what we decided would be a good one to focus on so I’ve begin using my time up here in preparation.  We’ll leave you with the following verses that I’ve been focusing on the past 2 or 3 days in James.

 

James 1:2-8 

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

wow. I can't believe it's been over a year since I added anything to our blog. I guess that's good news medically! I taught full time last year until the end of March when I had a serious reaction to a lumbar puncture that I had. What followed was a couple of life flights to Cleveland, only one of which I remember, and hospitalizations in Lima and Cleveland. I lost alot of my mobility as a result and gained some physical issues that have become a permanent part of our lives. Mobility wise I slowly regained my strength and am now walking about like I was before last March. I went back to work in mid May and finished out the school year working half days. Our summer was a good one as we were blessed with vacation trips to Myrtle Beach and a western excursion that took us to the Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone. We were able to share some great pictures of that trip on my Facebook page. Went back to work in late August and have been teaching full time since. I wish I could say that spiritually our lives have shown steady growth but that nagging problem called personal sin keeps getting in the way! Our paths are more like a rollar coaster but we are reminded daily of God's goodness to us and still covet your prayers in that area - that Kim and I would continue to grow in Christ and glorify Him in our circumstances. If you are saved, we wish the same for you and if you're not, we pray that you will bend your knee to a Holy God who sent His Son to pay the price of our sin through His sacrifice on the cross. Praise God that His children are forgiven! We were blessed today with a wonderful testimony to the Good News by my brother Dan Bruns as we remembered the life of his mother Connie who went to be with her Lord last Friday the 23rd. Thanks Dan for sharing the gospel today. Your commitment to Christ was not in doubt today nor was the assurance that you have, because of what Christ did, that your dear mom is with her Savior in heaven.

treatments

Had the 3rd of my lumbar punctures/treatments today and it went well. Set a record and got out of there a little after 11 a.m. - only 2 hours and 15 minutes after they scheduled me to arrive!!! They scheduled me to arrive at 8:45 with the procedure scheduled for 9:30. Two weeks ago I arrived and checked in initially at 8:30 and didn't get out of there until 12:30. The big delay usually (and last time) comes in the mixing of the chemo agent they inject in my spinal fluid. They can't begin mixing until it's confirmed that I've arrived and sometimes it takes a while. Today we arrived at 8:15 or so and after checking in initially, I went on back to the actual radiology surgery desk - though I hadn't been called back yet - and let them know I had arrived so that they could call pharmacy and tell them to mix up the agent. Seemed to work like a charm as they called me back around 9:00, took me back at 9:30 and the procedure was done by 10:00. The manatory hour wait laying down afterwards and we were out of there at 11:00. It's nice when days like this work out like they did today. Also enjoyed the time with my son Sasha who was off work and went with - driving most of the way home.

I have a 4th treatment schedule for the 30th along with an appointment with my doctor. The plan then is to move these to monthly trips/treatments.

Cleveland visit 8-17

Hello dear friends,
I'd just like to give an update as to what's going on in our lives. We went to Cleveland Clinic yesterday for a treatment and to meet with Rob's oncologist. He thinks Rob should continue to receive chemotherapy - at least 2-3 more sessions every two weeks and monthly thereafter. And radiation is being scheduled for the spot on Rob's spine. We really didn't receive any new information except for the ongoing chemo. But we do feel that we are getting some of the best medical treatment available and we really like and trust our doctor so we think we're doing all that we can. The chemo and/or steroids are really helping Rob's symptoms too. He feels better than he has all summer and that's good because he goes back to work tomorrow (teaching math at Apollo). I go back (lunch lady-Lima City Schools) on Friday and although we've enjoyed our summer of rest it will be good to be on a schedule. We genuinely appreciate all the prayers, thoughts and kind words from our family and friends. We were reminded in church on Sunday that all good gifts come from God above and we see Him providing gifts to us through all your encouragement.

necessary update

Well, looks like it’s time to update the blog again for a few reasons. One, I’ve had some changes in my health that I need to share and two, and unfortunately, that ugly, ignored, glossed over sin called gossip has once again begin to rear its ugly head and information is being shared about me without my knowledge and consequently I have no idea whether is true or not.

Bluntly, medically, it appears as if my lymphoma has returned somewhere in my central nervous system. We’ve been back up to the Cleveland Clinic for some tests and conversations with my doctor. The basis of the diagnosis is mostly symptomatic – I started feeling some weakness on the right side of my body, difficulty swallowing, etc. Tests of the spinal fluid have not been real conclusive but my doctor does believe that something is there because of the symptoms. An MRI of my spine taken in Lima does show evidence of an abnormal growth on the side of my spinal chord. My doctor in Cleveland did begin treatment in my spinal fluid when we were there on Tuesday, August 3 and we’re looking at hopefully continuing those treatments and perhaps adding some radiation to deal with the abnormal growth. My doctor has put me on a regimen including steroids which have made a huge difference in the symtpoms I’ve been experiencing. My swallowing is almost back to normal and my voice, which a week ago was weak and scratchy, is much better.

That aside, Kim and I continue to covet your prayers be directed PRIMARILY in the area of my spiritual life. Although obviously if I had the choice to be healthy or not I would choose to be so but to be honest, my greatest struggle (and Kim adds her greatest grief) lies in the area of simply being obedient day to day. Pray that God would help me to be a godly father, husband, church member, friend, worker and patient throughout this and/or any other trial our Gracious God has lovingly placed in the lives of my wonderful wife and I. Speaking for Kim, I know that her desires are the same. I ask you to reread – or read for the first time perhaps – some of the older posts in this blog to get a sense of what Kim and I are trying real hard to remind ourselves of what is true regarding our physical health and the relative lack of importance of it in God’s eyes. As always, we deeply appreciate, and are many times humbled by, the love and care of so many of our brothers in sisters in Christ who God has graciously put in our lives.

Rob and Kim

Wack to bork!

Couldn't resist that Diane Chambers reference from Cheers. I've got the okay to get back to the classroom and plan on being there tomorrow the 25th and Friday the 26th to observe with the intention of begining to teach next Monday, March 1. As usual, Apollo is bending over backwards to help. The wonderful sub who has had my classes all year will be with me in the classroom next week to help and as a standby should I find the need to rest or go home for any reason. Again, I can't begin to convey my appreciation to Apollo for their genorisity and care.

Kim and I have enjoyed worshipping at our church this past month and hope to expand that to attending Sunday School soon as well as our mid week group that meets every other Wednesday. Our church has also been, and continues to be, an incredible blessing to us and we look forward to getting more and more involved.

sheepish monthly update

I'm definitely getting worse and worse at updating this blog. My sincere apologies. I appreciate so much though that despite my failings, the incredible ministry from you to us through prayer and other means continues. We appreciate that so much.

Had our one month checkup at Cleveland Clinic last Tuesday the 26th. The bloodwork levels all look good and Dr. Smith removed the dietary/social restrictions I was on for the first month so we celebrated by going to the Beer Barrel on Friday and were blessed so much by returning to our wonderful church family for worship on Sunday. Again, Kim and I cannot begin to express our gratefulness to our church. It was wonderful seeing everyone again.

Dr. Smith "strongly" recommended I take another 4 weeks before returning to work so I'm now aiming for a March return to the classroom and will use this month of February to continue to regain strength and easing back into public/social situations. I set up 3/weekly physical therapy today so that will also be part of this month of transition.

We love you all and continue to covet your prayers for God's work in our lives.

Rob

Back home!

Got back home on Monday. Now the hard work begins! We continue to covet your prayers and your e-mails, cards and comments have been enouragements beyond description. Actually feeling weaker now than last week in the hospital but that's to be expected according to all of our literature. They want me to steer clear of public places for at least a month until our next meeting with our doctor in Cleveland.

TRANSPLANT DECEMBER 21

Dear Friends, It's day 4 after the transplant infusion. Rob's counts are very low - as expected and in his words it's "kicking his butt". His energy/strength is very low, the chemo is continuing to affect him from one end to the other (sore throat and digestive issues) and he doesn't feel like eating. As I said, all of this is expected but we are obviously hopeful that he will turn the corner soon. And as soon as his blood counts begin to recover (the stem cells take 7-10 days after infusion to mature and to be released into his bloodstream which then improves his counts), the symptoms that I listed above should begin to change for the better. The visits from family and dear friends, the cards, emails and prayer have certainly been an encouragement to us. We realize that all those things are part of what God uses to help us. We also continue to realize that God means every minute of this to be used toward our sanctification. We hope that we will be better servants on the other side of this and that we won't forget the many ways (in areas of trusting Him, being concerned about others and realizing that a relationship with Him is all that matters here on earth) that God is currently dealing with us. We also think that underlying all of this, He has drawn us closer to Him. Not in any mystical, undefinable way but in that He is changing our thoughts to reflect His Word. Please know though that we have our struggles also. We have fears and times of anxiousness. Many times we feel that we are almost out of strength. But we remember that the apostle Paul spoke of having difficult times yet in the end, he did not despair. And that is because he was upheld by God's "gracious, omnipotent" hand. And so the same for Rob and I! God never lies, He always sustains us and never leaves us. His goodness is constant and His power unending. We love you all and are so blessed through all your support and ministry. Merry Christmas! Kim

Transplant - Day 10

The actual reintroduction of my stem cells took place yesterday and was actually kind of anti-climatic. Only took an hour or so and then, poof, I'm finished. Now it's just a matter of recovery. My blood counts will all continue to go down for another week or so they tell me and then begin to gradually increase. I've had a lot less nasuea than I expected so that's been a blessing. Spiritually my biggest stuggles have been with my thoughts. I've got LOTS of time on my hand here and I'm finding it harder to read, concentrate, etc. Sometimes I can't imagine two more weeks of this. I don't think I'd do well in any kind of solitary confinement situation!

We were blessed with a wonderful visit from our dear friends Rick and Kim Snyder the other day who, among many other ways of ministering to us, gave us some great books. Among them is a great book on Puritan writings entitled: "The Valley of the Vision". Following is an entry entitled "The All God" which was particularly challenging and encouraging to me. Kim and I covet your prayers that these pure and godly thoughts may be ours as well:

MY GOD,Thou hast helped me to see,that whatever good be in honour and rejoicing,how good is he who gives them, and can withdraw them;that blessedness does not lie so much in receiving good from and in Thee,But in holding forth Thy glory and virtue:that is an amazing thing to see Deity in a creature,speaking, acting, filling, shining through it;that nothing is good but Thee,that I am near good when I am near Thee,that to be like You is a glorious thing: This is my magnet, my attraction.Thou art all my good in times of peace,my only support in days of trouble,my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good Thy will is in all,and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it. Grant me to feel Thee in fire, and food and every providence,and to see that Thy many gifts and creatures are but Thy hands and fingers taking hold of me.Thou bottomless fountain of all good,I give myself to Thee out of love, for all I have or own is Thine,my goods, family, church, self, to do with as Thou wilt,to honour Thyself by me, and by all mine.If it be consistent with Thy eternal counsels,the purpose of Thy grace, and the great ends of Thy glory,then bestow upon me the blessings of Thy comforts;If not, let me resign myself to Thy wiser determinations.

Transplant - Day 8

Rob is experiencing more of the chemo effects today so I (Kim) have been assigned the blog. We are so thankful that Rob has just received the last of his chemo today because although he still has a long way to go it's just very good to have this part of the transplant behind us. As Rob might have mentioned, the first 4 days (starting last Tuesday) were pretty good but then the side effects began in earnest on Saturday. We knew in advance of these side effects but it isn't easy to watch as the drugs do their job. But while that is true, we think that we are truly blessed to be able to have this treatment and a possible cure. I can also honestly write that these times of suffering have helped both of us draw closer to God and see that submission to His great truths (Trust His sovereignty, His commands are not burdensome, His will accomplishes glory for Him and good for us) is not only possible but is God's goal for us. I certainly don't claim to understand how God accomplishes all His purposes through trials but He addresses this subject many times in His Word and Rob and I are grateful that He teaches and comforts us with His words. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your cards and prayers. The Bible does say that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much," and we believe we are the recipients of God answering those prayers as He strengthens and helps us. And I also want all of you to know that your concern for us has been and continues to be a source of great encouragement to us. Tomorrow we will celebrate our 20th anniversary and although we're in the hospital I think it will be one of our most special anniversaries as we have been challenged to concentrate on what really matters in life. I'll sign off for now wishing you all a Merry Christmas. I'm also including Rob's address as some have asked for it, with much love, Kim.

Rob Ratliff
G110 Bed 5
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195

Transplant - Day 2

Arrived in Cleveland yesterday (Tuesday), was admitted and began receiving the first set of chemo last night. The first chemo drug (busulfan) is the mildest one and usually doesn't cause nausea, etc so that's encouraging but the next two are more powerful and more likely to cause side effects.

Reading through the Psalms so you'll probably get a dose of those as I keep you updated during the transplant:

Psalm 13:6 "I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me."

This is my prayer today. That I would not only agree with Scripture that God has and continues to deal bountifully with me no matter what my circumstances but that I will praise Him ("sing" to Him) for His past, continuing and future goodness to me. David pens these words not in a relative time of prosperity but in the midst of an incredible trial as related in verses 1 and 2:

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?"

May our testimony in trials be like David's - not only reliance and trust in God but praise for His goodness despite circumstances.

New admittance date

We're only moved back a week. I'll be readmitted for the stem cell transplant on Tuesday, December 8. Kim and I are currently enjoying the blessing of a weekend at home and we'll be here until leaving on Tuesday. Here's my new schedule:

I will be admitted on December 8 with chemo beginning then and accelerating on Dec 12. Great care is taken during the chemo part to insure that infection does not complicate things as the chemo will be destroying my natural immunity system making the dangers for infection increase. The return of my harvested stem cells is scheduled for the 17th followed by two weeks of monitoring and testing to assure that no complications are arising. If all goes well, according to the current schedule, I'll be released for home on New Year's Eve, the 31st.

Two great devotions - Spurgeon and MacArthur

Two awesome devotions today challenging believers with a Godly view of trials. As Kim and I reminded ourselves of today, it is not enough to not despair in trials but we are commanded and equipped to REJOICE in them! Not easy but wow!, what benefits when proper focus and thinking is in place and joy is the result. Here they are. Spurgeon's is first followed by MacArthur's:


“Thou hast made summer and winter.”
— Psalm 74:17

My soul begin this wintry month with thy God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind thee that he keeps his covenant with day and night, and tend to assure thee that he will also keep that glorious covenant which he has made with thee in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to his Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world, will not prove unfaithful in his dealings with his own well-beloved Son.

Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon thee just now it will be very painful to thee: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy: he casteth forth his ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, he is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore thou canst not murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord’s sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases; they break up the clods, and sweeten the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!

How we prize the fire just now! how pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw nigh to him, and in him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of his promises, and go forth to labours which befit the season, for it were ill to be as the sluggard who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall beg in summer and have nothing.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (December 1 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.



The Measure of Spiritual Maturity

In this I rejoice, yes; and will rejoice. Philippians 1:18

A believer’s spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal his joy. Joy is a fruit of a Spirit–controlled life (Gal. 5:22). We are to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16). In all circumstances the Holy Spirit produces joy, so there ought not to be any time when we are not rejoicing in some way.

Change, confusion, trials, attacks, unmet desires, conflict, and strained relationships can throw us off balance and rob us of our joy if we’re not careful. It’s then we should cry out like the psalmist, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Ps. 51:12).

Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), and the apostle James said, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). God has His own profound purpose in our afflictions, but He never takes away our joy. To maintain our joy we must adopt God’s perspective regarding our trials. When we yield to the working of His Spirit in our lives, our difficulties will not overwhelm us.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (362). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.