Not bidding for sainthood. Just simple humanity.

You've heard it. Usually at funerals.  Friends are asked to share a eulogy, usually their thoughts or remembrances of the dearly departed.  And I know how hard that can be to get up in front of a crowd of people, with emotions stirred and unstable.  Nerves also kick in.  A little note page is unfolded and away we go.

Invariably, on all but very rare occasions, you will hear comments like, "She was always smiling."  "She never complained."  "He had nothing but good things to say about people."  "She was always so sweet."

I think to myself. Wow, this person is a saint.  She ALWAYS smiled?  She NEVER complained?  What? She never got upset when the toilet backed up all over hallway carpet and down the stairs?  She was smiling even through that root canal?  She didn't complain when she had to work those eleven hour days? Really???

In my occasional role conducting funerals, I've coached folks who are encumbered with the responsibility of delivering the eulogy.  "Please," I say to them, "don't use the words 'always' or 'never' in your description of them.  Because it's rarely, if ever, true.  And it also carries the sense that you're trying to single-handedly get them into heaven."

This was brought home to me early in my ministry when I pastored in San Diego.  A young woman had passed away of a particularly painful disease, and her good friend brought the eulogy.  I distinctly remember the words, "Despite the daily battle with pain, she never cried. She never complained."  Wow, I thought.  That's a strong woman.

But after the service, as we were having lunch together and all the funerary pretense was dropped, this same friend, talking to her friends laughed as she talked about how the deceased woman monku'd (complained) all the time.  It was in direct contrast to her comments during the eulogy.  And to be fair, this was another example of an extreme.  As unlikely as it was that she NEVER complained.  It was also unlikely that she complained ALL the time.

I don't know what it is about death.  It may give us a momentary glimpse of a person's value and importance in our lives.  As you watch television interviews and hear people talk about someone who was taken abruptly by death, you will invariably hear those words:  always and never.  

I will bet you money!

As author Wendell Johnson says, "Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use."

My own medicine

After receiving the news regarding my kidney situation and the impact on my overseas travel, I probably need to hear some of my own teaching from Scripture.  

Changes in lifestyle, in financial status, in employment, in family, in health, can lead to struggles with uncertainty about the future and depression.  A message recently preached on depression may be helpful to you if you are facing this challenge.

May God bring encouragement to your heart today.

Health Update

A tradução portuguesa está escrito em baixo.
La traducción al español se escribe abajo.

I had an appointment with my kidney specialist last Thursday.



As I've shared over the course of the last few years, I have been amazed at God's care and provision as I've dealt with both back and kidney issues. I was diagnosed with 4th stage kidney failure back in 2006.

Each year that has gone by without significant changes has been very much attributable to your prayers. Even with physically (and spiritually) intensive mission trips taken twice yearly, the decline in my kidney function has been minimal.

However, it looks as though the new year will bring changes. My kidney function numbers have dropped significantly. Kidney function is not recoverable in my case (chronic kidney disease). Therefore my nephrologist is recommending that I begin dialysis sometime after the beginning of the year. 

The other issue is that with dialysis treatment, once I begin, the treatment will require visits to the dialysis center 2 or 3 times a week. The nature of insurance for this type of disease is that I would be unable to travel outside of the US.

My doctor is also recommending that I forego my January mission to Argentina. The primary concern is my project being in two very remote areas outside of Buenos Aires city, it would make accessibility to a hospital an issue if a medical emergency came up. I am in agreement.

I would appreciate your prayers as I consider how I am to repurpose and reposition my ministry with JEMS. Discussions with Pastor Rick will begin after his return from sabbatical.

* * * * *

Encontrei com meu nefrologista ontém. Desde 2006 tenho sofrido com uma condição chamado falência renal crônica. Agora o médico está falando que estou começando com falência renal aguda. Depois do ano novo, tenho que começar tratamento de diálise. Quando começar esse tratamento, continua para sempre. Pois o seguro de saúde não cobra tratamento fora do país e vou precisar fazer 2-3 vezes por semana, vai ficar impossível para viajar mais ao Brasil. 

O médico me avisou para não arriscar mais minha saúde com uma viagem em janeiro. Principalmente sabendo a situação em Argentina que o lugar do acampamento e da creche fica longe do capital Buenos Aires. Se tiver alguma emergência médica durante o projeto, vai ficar difícil para mim chegar num hospital na hora adequada.

Por isso, acho melhor para mim não participar. Falando nisso, agora eu tenho que conversar com a JEMS sobre o futuro do ministério na América do Sul. O papel de meu ministério vai mudar numa maneira imensa como eu não poderia viajar mais fora dos EUA. É provável que eu vá começar tratamento de hemodiálise em janeiro ou fevereiro.

Peço suas orações que eu não fique deprimido. Se tiver perguntas, por favor entrar em contato comigo.

* * * * *

Como he compartido a lo largo de los últimos años, me he quedado sorprendido por el cuidado y la provisión de Dios como yo he tratado con los dos números anteriores y los riñones. Me diagnosticaron insuficiencia renal cuarta etapa en el 2006.

Cada año que ha transcurrido sin cambios significativos ha sido en gran medida atribuible a las oraciones de los amigos. Incluso con viajes misioneros física (y espiritual) intensivos toman dos veces al año, el descenso de mi función renal ha sido mínima.

Sin embargo, parece que el nuevo año traerá cambios. Mis números de función renal se han reducido significativamente. La función renal no es recuperable en mi caso (insuficiencia renal crónica). Por lo tanto mi nefrólogo está recomendando que empiezo a diálisis después del comienzo del año.

El otro problema es que con el tratamiento de diálisis, cuando que comience, el tratamiento requerirá visitas al centro de diálisis 2 o 3 veces a la semana. El seguro para este tipo de enfermedad es que yo sería incapaz de viajar fuera de los EE.UU..

Mi médico también está recomendando que renuncio mi misión de enero a Argentina. La principal preocupación es mi proyecto de estar en dos zonas muy remotas fuera de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, tendría acceso a un hospital en un problema si una emergencia médica se acercó. Estoy de acuerdo.

Mi gran tristeza es que no voy a ser capaz de visitar por última vez. Es una gran pena. Los amo a todos ustedes y voy a extrañar muchísimo!

Le agradecería sus oraciones ya que considero como soy de reutilizar y cambiar la posición de mi ministerio con JEMS.

Abrazos,

Pastor John