Tag: Cancer

Sunday Morning Thoughts From a Christian American Conservative….And When It’s All Been Said and When It’s All Been Done…

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, Politics3 Comments

Christ on a park benchBlessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This morning, as I am writing this, I am dictating into my android phone and thinking about my own mortality.

You see, I’m 55 years old. Nowadays, that is considered to be middle aged, I know. However, the fact of the matter is as I’m getting older I’m realizing that life is unpredictable. As I sit here, one of my family members by marriage is losing her battle with cancer.

She is a wonderful young woman, who will be leaving behind three teenagers, a boy and two girls, and a husband who worships the ground she walks on.  They are wonderful Christian people who, before we were married, asked my wife to come live with them, as she took in this young lady, her niece, to live with her years before.

This remarkable young lady was active in her church, sang on the praise team, home schooled her children, and kept the books for her husband’s business.

To say that the effect of her loss on her family will be hard, would be an understatement.

The thing is, just as sure as I’m sitting here, I know where she’s going.

Soon, she will be face to face with the Savior.

There will be no pain…no fear. She will be surrounded by Heavenly Glory, safe in His arms.

But, what about the family? It will be up to those of us left behind to comfort them and assure them that God loves them and we do too.

Of course, everyone has heard that God does not give us more than we can handle. Another member of my wife’s family, her 50 year old cousin said exactly that this week, after losing a leg to poor circulation.

She then proceeded to ask the poor young technician, who came to her room to tell her about her prosthetic leg that they were going to fit her with, if they were going to give her a “sexy” leg to match the other one.

God has gifted her with a indomitable spirit and a determination to go on living.

And, I guess that’s why I’m writing this blog this morning.

God gave us this life. He guides us through it. He presents with opportunities and gives us free will to make choices, right or wrong.

There are so many times I’ve seen Him move in my life .. so many times that he has made a way for me… so many times that He has shown His Gracious Love for me.

I know that I’m not the only person that feels this way. if you look back now and you’re around my age, you realize what I am trying to say this morning.

God wants us to be happy. God wants us to live and enjoy the life which is given to us

He wants the best for us. He also wants us to take advantage of the opportunities which He presents to us throughout our life, so that when we stand before Him, we can hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

But what does that mean? does it mean we have to live a life locked away in a monastery somewhere away from the temptations of the modern culture around us? Of course not.

However, we have to keep the main thing the main thing. We cannot sacrifice of Christianity for the sake of political expediency. Heaven is a far bigger tent than any political party could ever be.

I would rather find favor with God than favor with man.

Am I an extremist? You betcha.

God said it. I believe it. That settles it.

For in the end, like the popular Christian song from a few years ago, says,

And, when it’s all been said and when it’s all been done, He’ll ask me, ‘Did you find your way, child? Did you know my son?’ And, when it’s all been said and when it’s all been done, He’ll ask me, ‘Did you find your way within, my son’?

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Trey Erwin’s Story: Celebrating a Young Life, Well Lived

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity4 Comments

Like everyone else in America, I have lost family and friends to the thief known as Cancer.

In fact, I know three who are bravely battling it as we speak.  One, I have known for most of my 53 years…in fact, our fathers were friends and attended the same Sunday School Class, and we went on to graduate high school together. The second fellow, I worked closely with for almost 7 years, and is a good Christian husband and father.  The last individual is my niece by marriage, another strong Christian, who is, along with her husband, home schooling 3 teenagers (2 girls and a boy).

Cancer knows no race, nor station in life.  It attacks the young and the old, the rich and the poor.

However, even when we are in the throes of this life or death struggle, the love of Christ shines through.

A very special young man, who shined his light for everyone to see, passed away last Thursday in Collierville, Tennessee, right outside of Memphis.

WREG.com tells us his story:

Fifteen year old Trey Erwin has lost his battle with accelerated pancreatic cancer.

Trey’s story started inspiring people all over the country when his message went viral on Twitter hash tag ‘pray for trey’. That has since been replaced with ‘pray for the Erwins’ on Twitters most commonly tweeted phrase list.

Trey’s story has captivated the community and is impacting so many people his last name Erwin is trending right now on twitter as one of the most commonly tweeted phrases. The teen’s bravery and wisdom is continuing to inspire others.

When doctors gave him less than a year to live his story started a campaign of prayer in Collierville. Trey told a production crew with his church Germantown Baptist and Highpoint Church the support is overwhelming.

“The support that I’ve had from all the people has been crazy. Having the signs in the yards and the bracelets and t-shirts and little kids with lemonade stand for me. And people I don’t even know supporting me. It’s overwhelming. And it just shows me how blessed I am,” said Erwin.

But a few weeks ago Trey’s treatment stopped working. Despite the somber news Trey remained brave through his faith.

“I know I’m going to be ok. If I’m going to be ok here on Earth or in Heaven with him. That’s why I’m not worried about it as much,” said Erwin.

Trey’s story went viral on the social networking site Twitter and used the site to inspire others with tweets like “Things can change in a blink of an eye, but knowing that it is nothing that my God can’t handle, takes away all unnecessary worries!”

A humble Trey says he is not an inspiration.

“I’m not inspiring anybody. I’m being used by God, and I’m just wanting all the glory to go to him and none to me,” said Erwin.

Trey inspired a lot of people, per WMCTV.com:

People across the Mid-South spent their Fridays remembering Trey Erwin, a Collierville teen who died Thursday from cancer, but area firefighters have a special tie to Trey and his family.

The mayor of Memphis, the Memphis Grizzlies and even NFL star Tim Tebow sent their condolences to the Erwin family Thursday and now a group of Memphis firefighters are sharing their connection to a boy who they say fought his own fire with faith.

As the community learned of 15-year-old Trey Erwin’s death, a special salute went out over the airwaves by Memphis firefighters.

Trey’s father, Jerry “Jay” Erwin, is a firefighter and paramedic for Station House 24.

“A lot of people that have worked for Jay don’t even know him and have never met him,” said firefighter Lt. Shane Rhodes.

For the past 5 months, as Trey battled pancreatic cancer, Rhodes and Tony Cain helped organized the schedules to allow Erwin to be with his family.

While social media used the hashtag PrayForTray, Engine 24 created its own hashtag movement: WorkForJay.

“We’ve been very fortunate that the administration has allowed an exception to allow people to work for Jay longer than what is normally permitted,” said Rhodes.

Many firefighters say they’ve known the Erwin family for more than 10 years and they were amazed at the strength and faith that Trey had during his fight with cancer.

“I remember the kids from a very young age and they were very proud of their dad for being on the fire department and being a paramedic and a firefighter,” said Rhodes.

“Trey was like a son,’ said a crying Tony Cain.

The firefighters said working for Jay Erwin is part of the special brotherhood firefighters share, but ultimately they had simple messages for the Erwin’s.

“Y’all raised a heck of a son,” said Rhodes.

“We’re here for you and anything you need,” said Cain. “We’re just a phone call away.”

The Town of Collierville has declared July 31st, 2012, Trey Erwin Day. It would have been his 16th birthday.

Trey Erwin’s funeral was held yesterday at Germantown Baptist Church.  It was packed.

It was a celebration of a young life, well lived.

Like Trey, we never walk alone.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16