prayers

i know i don't update this often, and for that i won't apologize. i have no kids, and that seems to be what blogs are mostly about. also i know of no one who reads this.

that being said, for the 1 (maybe 2) person/people who will read this, i would like to ask for you to pray. my brother-in-law's best friend has had a rare form of cancer for some time now and is not doing well at all. i won't go into all the details - if you like you can follow their story here.

this situation has caused an UNBELIEVABLE wave of emotions that have overtaken me as of late. i cry, and cry often. i was in a fantasy football league with brad for a couple of years before i had the chance to meet him at the golf tournament to raise money for his overwhelming medical bills. i'm not close to him in any way, shape or form. i am saddened not just by his story, but by the effect it is having on my brother-in-law, scott. brad is easily his best friend, and it's so hard to see him hurting so much. scott recently accompanied brad to germany on a trip for some experimental treatment and i am so thankful he got to go. i know God blessed that trip with good and bad times - i'm thankful scott was there for both.

i wrestle with a lot of things. why is this happening? why brad? why scott's best friend? and even more so, why not scott? why not me? the truth is, if it is in God's will for some sort of tragedy to strike so close to home, how would i react? i wrestle with this. would i react in the same way the wims are? to give God glory even in the darkest of times - this is the peace that passes all understanding.

far too often i take my life for granted. i have an incredible wife who is committed to doing life with me - the good and the bad, i have a great group of friends i share my life with, i have food/shelter, 2 cars and a dog. living the dream, some would say. more importantly, i take for granted the blood of Christ that covers all of my sin - past, present and future. i take this for granted by forgetting this on a minutely basis.

so, to bring this somewhat full circle, i can see how this situation is glorifying God. if something this undeniably huge for people miles away from me that i've met once can stir my emotions and affections for God's great love, then i HAVE to believe that He is in control of all things and He holds everything together with a word.

again, please be in prayer for brad, his wife jenny, and his two small children zeke and kaelyn. brad is continuing to suffer well, enduring all for the sake of Christ. he is an amazing example to his family and to all who hear their story. please pray and believe that the Lord will heal him. one way or the other, He will heal.