A Matter of Importance
 

A Matter of Importance

Somehow, over the past few weeks of my absence on this forum (which was more than likely , unoticed, and, understandably so), certain things have lost their importance in my thinking. Have I changed my views? Have I given up my Apostolic Heritage?

No, not at all, but, well, recent events have caused some of the issues that are constantly hashed and rehashed here to lose their importance and have been replaced with others. Certain words have been replaced with new ones. Words like cancer, biopsy, seizure and tumor have always been distant words to me… used in passing… with little if any significance. But today, for about two months now, those words have taken over my mind and vocabulary. My wife has terminal cancer. She is dying. Everyday… every minute, death draws nearer. In fact, Sunday night of this week. Death was there. She went to sleep. And wouldn’t, couldn’t, wake up. No matter how much I shook her and called her name, she never moved. Death had a hold. But prayer. A simple, desperate prayer, stayed deaths hand for a while longer. She woke up. Her first words: “I want to go home”. I don’t know what she meant.

To her home in heaven, with the Lord she loves with all her heart? Or to our home on Sand Mountain in Alabama? I don’t know which of the two she was referring to. But, if it was her request to come to her earthly home, she got her wish. She is home now. She has been sent home to die. However, if it was her request to go to her heavenly home, then that request is very soon to be answered. And that one simple answer to my desperate plea for just a few minutes to tell her how much I love her has shown me just how much God is in control of this situation. And the knowledge of His control makes everything alright.

So, if I am absent , that is why. If I don’t find the significance of debating water baptism and standards (matters which should have been settled long ago) seem unimportant and trivial to me, that is why. Those issues are settled for me, and have been long ago since they were first written. I have never seen the need to rehash them and discuss them and to debate them and to argue about them. And I certainly don’t see the need of it now. What I do see is the need for us… ALL OF US… to see how much we need one anothers fellowship and support. And prayers. And compassion. And understanding. I ask you to pray for us that God’s will be done. Thank you.

I'm so sorry! My prayers are for you and your family. I lost my dad almost two years ago not to cancer, but another terminal illness. It's hard, real hard to see someone you love dying. Again my prayers are with you.

Wow Bro! First let me say I have noticed you were gone and really was concerned but figured you too had left just because of all the other stuff going on. Now I am brought breathless and to tears... let me say I am so sorry you are going thru this. I know its hard. I cant imagine losing my husband!!! We faced that thought and situation a week ago and the fear of it was earth shaking enough... I cannot imagine. Please know that our prayers are sincerely with you and that no matter what you have friends here who are sending up prayers for you!

I'm so sorry so hear this! May Jesus Christ wrap his loving arms around you and your wife. You all are in my prayers.

Deeply, sorry to hear about your wife, may she have an abudant homecoming with the Lord Jesus Christ, and my the God of all comfort see you through this difficult time.

OneAccord...

I am very sorry to hear about this...Our Prayers are with you...and your family...

Our prayers are with you. The next time I am on Sand Mountain, perhaps we can meet.

God is the healer and as long as there is breath there is hope.

Brother, you are a part of the AFF family here...know that you and your wife will be brought before the Throne by many here. :praying

I'm so sorry ... We will be praying.

Bro I will be praying for you and your family.

1A ... I am the first to debate ... usually 4 sport ... but also conviction....
but you have put things in there proper perspective.

God give you peace and strengthen you during this heartrending time.

2 Cor 1:3-4

Wow. What a way to have your priorities change. Praying for you! :praying

Can Admin make this a Sticky? imo it needs to be...

I agree

It sure does...sorry I didn't do it sooner, I came back to take care of just that!

I hope our AFF family will rally around this family, and pray God's presence down around them! :heart

OA, I'm so sorry to hear about what you are going through. In my profession, I see your scenario played out over and over again, but when you are one of the players, it takes on a totally different meaning and perspective.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. God truly is in control.

And the clamor comes to a momentary halt as we take in, for a moment at least, the fact that life is more than we make it out to be sometimes.

How interesting is it that death brings us that reality more than anything else.

He came that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly.

You are so right. These endless debates do not bring us abundant life. Nor do they facilitate our bringing that abundant life to anyone else.

God's wise and able will be done in your life and that of your lovely bride my brother. Only He knows what path will serve best.

In the interim....savor the moments.

And thanks to you for sharing with us the sobriety that real life has a way of giving us.

One Accord, no debate, no discussion is more important that our common need for the hand of God in our lives.

You family is in much need now, and I pray for your family. My the peace and comfort of the Lord be with you and may the Hand of our compassionate God direct every event.

You have asked for nothing more or less than the will of God, and I think you have here in this place a group of people willing to stand with you, united in the purpose of pleading that case to the One Just Judge. My Gods will be done in your life, and the life of your dear wife. May you find comfort in the arms of a loving and compassionate God.

Peace my friend.

We live our lives with one goal in mind- to make Heaven our home and to hear the Master say "Well done". I am praying for you and your wife during these difficult times. I pray that our Heavenly Father comforts you and your family.

One Accord,

I'm so sorry for what you are having to deal and very glad that you have come to share your burden with us.

We are here for you and to hold you and your wife up in prayer!

Thank you, 1A, for being totally honest and for putting all this stuff on here into perspective. I have seen many times on this forum when everyone (regardless of beliefs/convictions) united together to bring needs before God's throne. Be assured that we will be praying for you and your family during this horribly difficult time. God is peace.

OneAccord,

I remember when Walt was in ICU with the aneurism last year that when I would log onto this place, I loved everyone here, but I could not bring myself to read thru the threads and keep up on the arguing. It was too much. In fact, even now, it is too much. If I learned anything during that time, I learned that as long as I know what I believe, I don't have to change what anyone else believes. That's up to God. I just have to love them - and be willing to be loved by them.

That's what we want to do for you now. We want to love you. We want to hold you and comfort you and share our strength with you. Going through what you are facing is incredibly hard. I know that. Lean on us. We will hold you up before God in prayer. We will reach out to you with our loving arms. Don't feel like you have to bear this burden completely alone. We can't take it from you. But we can hold you up as you carry the weight of it. God bless you TODAY. And tomorrow, we will pray for your needs for tomorrow.

May the Lord bless and keep you and your family. The AFF family certainly holds you in our prayers.

So true, brother, so true. God bless!

I will be praying for you and your family....

As I just replied to RevRandy...I have much to be thankful for. Right now, with tears running down my face, I am thankful to be part of a family... a family called New Faithchild Forum.

I debated about posting because I didn't want it to be construed as calling attention to myself... This isn't about me. Its about my wife Lola. But I am grateful for your prayers and compassion.

We cry w/ you and lift holy hands to Him that can do ALL THINGS.

I am very sad to know this Brother.

I do not know what to say.

God have mercy in Jesus name.

One Accord,

I am praying for your wife, you and your family. May the God of Peace comfort you and abide with you throughout this trying time!

Call me a baby, but I as well am almost at the point of weeping.

OneAccord, may the God of comfort hold you and help you in this very trying time. You are in my prayers as well, friend.

Bro B

Believe me, over the past few weeks, I have shed a lifetime of tears. But none more than today as I have read these replies. Tears of gratitude. What a great bunch of folks.

In 1988 my first wife died. Actually she was murdered. Not only am I weighted down with the uncertainty of what could happen at any moment, I also deal with the memory of my first wifes death. This is almost to the point of being more than I can handle. And I can't handle it. Not alone. Thats why I am so blessed and thankful to have God's help. And yours. God bless you all.

On top of it all, just after we got home from the hospital yesterday, my brother called. His grandson ( my great-nephew) fell off a tractor and his head was crushed by the wheel in Florida. He's alive but brain damage is almost certain. But, he's alive. For that we give thanks.-Rick

Bro.... I know we have said it over and over but as I sit here crying I want to say again.... We are praying... I am taking this request with me tonight to church and we will pray for your wife, for you and most of all for Jesus to wrap his arms around you and give you the peace that even though you cannot take it right now... He is there taking it for you and holding you up and being everything to you... May you feel His presence right there in the room now with you and may you know that his huge arms are wrapped around you right this very minute.

I had been reading through the various threads...to TV or not to TV, are you saved at repentence, and on and on...

Then I came upon this thread. It was as if I could hear the chatter from the other threads suddenly go quiet, as the absolute reality of what is important in life hits home.

I also am acquainted with how our priorities change when faced with death. You find yourself getting exasperated with people, and you just want to scream "WHAT DOES THAT MATTER??? IT IS SOOOO NOT IMPORTANT!!!"

But isn't it amazing how, in spite of the bickering and bashing, everyone comes together when a "family member" is in need? I've always said that if I have an emergency, I will immediately post my request on AFF.

You have a group of believers who KNOW the power of prayer, and we (myself included) will keep you before the throne...not just today, but in the weeks to come.

This post is so so true...

I want you to know that my prayers are with your wife and yourself as you go through this trial. My heart is broken for you!

I'm also praying for Lola, and for you. My heart goes out to you........may you all find comfort and peace, in Jesus' name.

Lisa, you've hit the nail on the head. I say this with all of the conviction I have within me - if it had not been for my friends here (NFCF at that time), I don't know how I would have made it through Walt's aneurism.

That's why I feel sooooooooooo strongly about our need to be here for each other when someone else has a crisis. Like this. And why I am sooooooo grateful when I see the troops rallying around like they are here.

Brother, OneAccord, you are not alone. We're here for you.

:hug3

Praying for you here in Illinois OneAccord

Our hearts are heavy for you and Lola.

OneAccord, Praying God's mercy to cover you and yours, In Jesus Name.

P.S. Do you have a support group around you? While we love you and will pray for you, I can see the need for close physical contact with those you love in Christ.

Steve Hoover