O--H--

Interesting Opportunity

We were contacted by the Cleveland Clinic about doing a story on Chaia. Apparently from time to time, the Marketing/Public Affairs folks from the Clinic ask doctors/staff about inspirational stories that they could capture either for local or national release.

Our geneticist friend who probably saved Chaia's life by finding the diagnosis mentioned Chaia's story.

It's inspiring because of you. Because you've prayed from all over the country and even the world for this little lady. Because you've believed that the story isn't finished. Because you believed that long shot prognoses are the perfect scenarios for a God who takes now giants with slingshots and cities with shouts. Because you rallied together, keeping Hallmark in business by sending hundreds and hundreds of cards to Chaia in the hospital.

It's inspiring because God is bringing Ezekiel 36:26 to life in this little girl.

And Chaia's story may get to captivate more hearts yet.

So this news story may or may not take place. But, we have prayed since the beginning that this hard situation involve more hearts being redeemed than just Chaia's.

And it is happening. Holy Frijole is it happening.

Penny for Your Prayers

If you have been journey with us since Chaia first went into the hospital, you may remember this post.

Well, Chaia's penny donor, Cohen is back in the hospital with some possible infection. He needs us on our knees.

Well, what are you waiting for. You know the drill.

Pray

I feel like big things are happening at every turn right now in our corner of the world. So please don't take your role in prayer lightly.

Pray for Shaina and I as we will be heading to Columbus on Thursday for a follow up interview. Things are moving in the right direction. It just is taking a lot longer than we want. (If there are any takers for watching Chaia on Thursday, we could use some help!)

Pray for clarity for the Thompson clan as we finalize plans for where we will live. The neighborhood we put our roots into is such an important part of this church planting journey. We need God to speak.

Pray for us as we each get to have a significant role in our friends Jake and Holland's wedding next weekend. I will be marrying them and Shaina will be doing to music. We are excited for this couple and honored to be part of it. Pray for us to enjoy this time.

Pray for Chaia...still nothing orally...but she is getting closer and closer to mobility (God help us!) No hospital visits for two more weeks.

Thanks!

Stake Your Claim

God promised Abraham that he would be made into a great nation and would be given a Promised Land.

Then the years went by.

Abraham tried to force the issue by manipulating his circumstances. (Fail).

They doubted God's plan.

They laughed at God's plan.

And then Sarah died.

Abraham was left with a choice. Bury Sarah where he was currently living. Bury her where his family was from back in Ur. Or bury her in the land that God had promised to His descendants. He decided to do the third.

With all that had happened over the years to make Abraham doubt whether God would come through, Abraham still believed what God had promised. And he didn't just believe in it with wishful thinking or cognitive ascent. He staked his claim on God's promise by purchasing a spot for Sarah to be buried.

If you are listening for God's direction, there will inevitably come a time where what He is prompting seems inconceivable or isn't materializing in the time frame you desire.

And in that moment, you can 'have faith' and simply passively believe and hope God will bring it about. Or you can 'faithfully live' and actually take the initial steps God wants you to take in obedience to Him. It's not that you will it into happening, but it is trusting and believing in action.

If you don't stake your claim on the promises of God, there's no telling what you might miss out on.

So hear his voice, believe his voice, and follow actively his voice.

Because it's a better way.

Some Thoughts on Simon of Cyrene

I love the Bible. I am familiar with the bulk of stories and yet every once in a while when I start digging, God gives me gems that made me giddy.

So as we near Easter, here is a little bit of work with a guy who doesn't have much ink spilled about him in the Scriptures but had a pretty significant role...His name is Simon of Cyrene.

Matthew, Mark and Luke were the three gospel writers who mentioned Simon. Mark gives us a slightly modified couple of verses, because he adds mention of his sons that were with him:

Mark 15:21-22
"They compelled a passer-by who was coming in from the country to carry his cross, it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus..."

That's it. Dude carries the cross for Jesus presumably because Jesus was so beaten and broken that he couldn't do it alone.

And dude is 'compelled by the soldiers'...we don't know what that means, but when I think of a Roman soldier compelling someone to action, it is with violent threat of force.

Anyways, why does Mark mention the two sons while Matthew and Luke omitted them from the story?

Perhaps the answer is that Mark is appealing primarily to a Roman audience in his writing, whereas Luke and Matthew had their own respective audiences they were writing to. "Big Deal", you might think. And I would say you are exactly right...it is a big deal.

Simon was from Cyrene (North Africa). It is quite possible that this Simon is the same guy mentioned in Acts 13:1-2 as 'Simeon called Niger'. Simeon was a derivative of Simon (Simon Peter, the disciple is referred to as Simeon in Acts 15:14). He was called Niger, which means black, likely because of his darker complexion. If Simon of Cyrene was from North Africa, this could be the same guy.

So what?

This guy was a leader of the Antioch Church (that ultimately sent Paul on his missionary journeys.) Not only was he a leader, but he may have helped found the church in Antioch. Acts 11:19-29.

Simon is barely mentioned by name in Scripture and we don't know for sure what happened to him after he carried the cross with Christ, but, if this is the same man, he was transformed by Jesus and gave his life to following His lead.

So back to the kids and the Roman audience? Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes in Romans 16:13, "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother--a mother to me also."

So (potentially), Simon of Cyrene came to Christ, started the church in Antioch and also led his wife and son to Christ. Then somehow the family went from Antioch to Rome and helped start the church at the center of the Roman Empire! Not only this, but Paul saw Simon's wife as his own mother in the faith. It is possible that this guy who was basically thrown into Jesus' last moments of his journey to the cross was forever changed by that encounter and then forever changed the world by church planting at Antioch and Rome and his wife nurtured the apostle Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament in his own faith, like a mother!

This just pumps me up.

Because we have no idea what God can and will do in us when we get caught up in His story rather than our own!

It starts with an encounter.

It continues with surrender.

Because you've prayed...

Recalled this when thinking on prayer this morning.



Because you've prayed, we are still pursuing God's call.

Because you've prayed, we still have a daughter we get to steward back to God.

Because you've prayed, hearts have turned from stone to flesh.

Because you've prayed, the light has begun creeping into dark places in Columbus.

Because you've prayed, our marriage is getting stronger through trial and adversity.

Because you've prayed...we are still here.

Keep at it friends.

This week is Housekeeping Week.

We should find out from the management team whether we've got the final green light or not. Ask God to speak clearly to all of us.

I am preaching for the final time at Pulse in Plain City this Sunday. I feel like I've got a pretty interesting insight into Simon of Cyrene. Pray for my prep time (that God would wreck me to wreck others) and pray for Pulse to be receptive to the message of the cross.

Chaia is fairing pretty well. She still laughs at my basketball game (she's not the first). She is still not taking food/milk orally. She still is growing developmentally. Pray for her heart. She also has a couple shots and a blood draw this week which aren't on her top ten list.

And to help me in my prayer time this week (and to give us the privilege to pray for each other as a group),

What is one area you need prayer coverage in?

HopeFull

I believe that the God of the Bible is accomplishing exactly what He said He would, even now.

I believe that the depth of God's grace goes exponentially deeper than the depth of our shame.

I believe that the best years of the Church are ahead of her, not behind her.

I believe that Columbus, Ohio is the seedbed for a revival that will move to multiple cities.

I believe that the answer to many of our country and world problems isn't found in better government, but better church.

I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, conquering the grip of sin on His people.

I believe that people who love and follow Jesus are in love with His Bride, the Church.

I believe that Chaia's story will continue and bring LIFE and JOY to more and more people.

I believe that the wickedness in me was, is being and will be redeemed by the beauty of God.

I believe that you underestimate what God will do if you simply surrender it all to Him.

I believe a wave of church leadership that is theologically rich and spiritually awake like no generation before is on the horizon.

I believe God is on the move.

And I am hope-full.

What we believe about God and His Church deeply ingrains itself into what kind of story we live out.

So...what do you believe?

Today's the Day

Heading to Columbus this morning. Got a pretty important meeting with the church plant management team. It's not until 1:30 so I thought since the weather has been nicer, that me and the ladies should finally get our zoo trip in. It's a big day. Should be a fun day. Hopefully when we get home this evening, my bracket is still in tact. Prayers welcomed (not for my bracket as much as for our day today!)

(Since posting, we've decided to postpone the zoo...again...haha. Stupid stormy weather.)

The Best

It's the best moment of the day. It usually comes after some eye rubbing, some cranky, tired fussing and a last effort of resistance. But then it comes. The moment that I pick up Chaia and she puts her head on my chest, nestles into me and finds rest. It is the absolute best feeling for me. To know that she has found rest and security in my arms. That she is finally comforted and that moment, we are both right where we want to be. It simply never gets old. And it is a window into God's heart. Though we resist, fuss and rebel. Eventually, we yield, we connect, and we find unparalleled security, unmatched peace and undeniable intimacy with a God who has waited for us to exhaust all other options. I'll be the first to admit that I spend way more time resisting, fussing and rebelling, because I am fearful of what darkness may come to light in His presence. But when my fears are overwhelmed by a torrent grace, I find the best of me, crafted in His image, made for His presence. Everyday, I wait for Chaia to get to that point. Everyday, I wait for that moment where she just melts into my embrace. And everyday, He waits too. No time like today.

Prayer This Week

Thank you for praying. This week we have some exciting things happening that we need prayer coverage for. We have multiple appointments to invite people to be IN with us in planting this week. We are looking for people to go INto the city with us, INvest financially with us and INtercede daily for us. If we can get another 20 financial partners coming on at $100/month for 36 months, we would be in a great spot. I also have a couple of important meetings this week (Tuesday and Thursday) that are related more to the big picture of church planting. On Thursday, I will meet with the management team of the Columbus Church Plant. It serves as basically a final interview, so pray for me to be clear in communicating the vision God has placed on our hearts. Lastly, pray for Chaia to tolerate a slight adjustment in her feeds. We eliminated the 7th feed at midnight and have added volume to the 6 feeds. She has been on and off over the last week with throwing up (sometimes half to all of her feed).

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Chaia appears to be getting amped up for some March Madness. Have a good day!

Little Dude

(Note: The Blog site lumps every post into one large paragraph...I have contacted the site to troubleshoot, so hopefully we can remedy this soon. Sorry!) Little Dude was one of Chaia's cojourners in the heart department at the Clinic. When we left in January he had a Berlin Heart, a pretty amazing device that does the work of the heart, outside of the body. It is essentially used as a bridge to transplant. At the beginning of February we stopped in to see some of the PICU staff and Little Dude got the heart he was waiting for! Little Dude, a little five year old was Chaia's neighbor in the Step Down Unit and he was mostly confined to bed and would just yell "Hey Nurse" to get someone to pay attention to him. There was one nurse assistant who would sit with him and play games from time to time and Little Dude told him he was his best friend. A couple weeks ago Little Dude, with his new heart were slated to move from the PICU to the step down unit (for the second time). And then something happened. Little Dude didn't make it. And that is the way this journey goes. For every miracle, there is a heart broken. For every victory, a defeat. For every two steps forward, two steps back. This is why it is so important that our faith be built on something more concrete than our circumstances or feelings. Chaia has gotten some good news, some tough news over the past few months. The point is, God is good, in both contexts. God is faithful if He continues to heal or if He takes her today. His track record trumps our experience. When bad things happen, we are inclined to ask if God is good or if God is present...and this is pretty shortsighted...that I would indict God on one tough experience after He's shown Himself glorious for millennia? That seems pretty arrogant and self absorbed. Your circumstances give you opportunity to give glory to God. It's up to you whether you go for it or not.

Update

Well, here's the deal. There is improvement in the carotid and iliac arteries, which is a promising sign. There remain no calcifications in her brain (also a good sign). Her proximal arteries are unchanged to this point, but the fact that it is working in other arteries suggests it may only be a matter of time before we see progress here. This is good news. We like good news. Chaia will likely be on this treatment everyday for the rest of her life, so its a marathon more than a sprint. Thanks for praying.

Good Day

So far so good today. CT Scan went really smoothly. No sedation. Not sure when we will know main results, but they were able to tell us before we left that there were no calcifications formed in her brain which is fantastic. We got home from the hospital and found a great present in the mail...Chaia's photoshoot pics! So here are a few melt-your-heart-shots to get you through the day! I cannot say enough about Sarah Ishler, the photographer who has captured Chaia's story and captivated your hearts through her lens. Best way you can say thanks to the gift she's been in this journey? Schedule your own session now!

Prayer this week

Pray specifically for Chaia's scan tomorrow. Pray protection over her little body from the radiation and pray that she would be still for the scan. They are hoping to get the scan without sedation. I'm not sure how that will go. And pray ultimately for a miracle in the scans. We likely will not get results tomorrow so don't fret over no news on this. Pray also for the church planting process to go full speed ahead this week. We have been in a bit of a holding pattern in some areas so we need to see God provide breakthrough. I have been selected by Stadia and Compassion International to go on an all expense paid trip to Ecuador. I will blog in more detail about this later but I ask for prayer to discern if the end of August is a good time to leave Shaina and Chaia behind to do this. Need clarity. Pray for the couples I am counseling as I have the privilege of marrying three couples between now and september. Thank you for prayers for our marriage and for house hunting. Both areas are filled with hopefulness this week! Your prayers are powerful and effective. Don't stop. Scan at 10 a.m.

The Final Countdown

We've come a long way.

Chaia has been receiving treatment now since the end of September to combat the calcifications in her arteries. The goal of the treatment is to stabilize or even reverse the calcium collections in her major arteries that have collected in many of her vital organs. In some cases, the calcifications are irreversible, and will continue to increase until her vital organs/systems begin to fail. This often presents in the heart (which is where Chaia's symptoms began to present), but the calcifications were also found in her kidneys, stomach, etc. In some cases, the calcifications stabilize and the body adapts to functioning with what it has left to function. Especially in babies, the adaptability and resiliency of the human body is remarkable. In some cases, the calcifications actually reverse to where vital organs and systems don't just have to adapt to a 'new normal' but begin to increase in function. In any case, Chaia's heart has taken on a lot of trauma and remains damaged. But there are some long shot possibilities that the healthy part of her heart will continue to grow and sort've swallow up the dead parts of the heart. And there are long shot possibilities that if the calcifications reverse, some of the non-functioning parts of her heart might begin to revitalize. So Monday is the day that we find out which of these is Chaia's case. Even in the long shot scenarios, Chaia's long term prognosis appears to be heart failure before she reaches adulthood. But, she is 8 months old. It was widely assumed she would not make it to 3 months. Then 6 months. And so I guess what I'm asking from you all is that you pray to God by the power we have in Jesus' name that her name (which means 'life') would be her destiny. Because He is the God who is the Great Physician. He is the God of dead hearts coming alive. He is the God of stony hearts becoming flesh. He's the God of the long shot. And I like our odds.

Losing Well

Well, a bet is a bet. And so Shaina, winner of our marriage Super Bowl bet (she picked the Giants at the beginning of the playoffs), elected to go to Fiddler on the Roof at EJ Thomas Hall last night. Grandma and Grandpa watched Miss Chaia and we had a scintillating night of romance that began at ChickFila with dinner and then ended with a show. I lost out on a Cavs game (which we ended up getting tickets for anyway). But I am a gracious and humble loser and suffered through getting dressed up with my hot wife, getting away from our little lady for 5 hours, and doing things like talking and even holding hands. It wasn't easy...but I'm thinking about losing bets more frequently.