Sat. -04/27/07\8

Good dialysis Thur. Lot of joint pain the last 2 days. Doctor says its from the kidney failure.

Thanks for your prayers. Hope to see many oif you Sunday!

note: Back from dialysis. Went pretty well, just whipped but otherwise okay.

While I was in dialysis the technician taking care of me was busy hooking me up and I looked at her and said, "How's your son's teeth"? She said okay. Later I realized that I was talking to another lady whose son had his wisdom teeth out last week. Great!

Towards the end of dialysis The lady with the sons' wisdom teeth came by and I said "How's your sons' teeth"? I did it again! It was the same lady! I said, "I'm so sorry, I was thinking you were this other tech". She still had a puzzled look and said "I was wondering why you kept asking me about my sons' teeth".

For some reason when I told the girls on the way home they just cracked up!

Thurs. 04-26-07 - 6:45 am!

I'm at dialysis trying out my laptop. Unfortunately my battery is about run down. I'll have to get a new one eventually.

I've been feeling good.

Went to the surgeon yesterday and he said my 1st of 2 surgeries went well. 2nd one in 2 months to complete it and then another month or so before we can use it. Use what? My fistula (click on this link if you care to learn more)

Boy, it's been nice feeling better. Thanks for your prayers. They mean a lot to me.

Let's make a concerted effort to pray for our friends who are sick at CBC. When life seems out of control, I know who IS in control!

I was looking for a picture to put on today's blog and typed in "God is in control" to look for a picture and found some that said "If God is in control why do we pray" and such other sayings to put a bad light on God. First, God IS in control. Second, we pray because it's a way we can talk to God. It's a way we can reaffirm our faith in Him. God doesn't need us to do His work. He just allows us to be part of it.

I watched a movie "Facing the Giants" tonight. Worth watching if you like movies.

Well, I'm ending the day. Good dialysis, nice lunch with some friends. Rough afterward.

I am so glad that I am a Christian. This adventure I'm on would be hopeless without Him. It has made me aware that so many people have so many needs. My prayer for them is that they would draw closer to God through their most difficult times. He has all the answers. He is in perfect control. Nothing comes as a surprise to God. He the be all and end all.

Good Night and may God bless!

Tues. - 04-24-07

Dialysis went well today.

Still having some pain from the arm surgery.

Will see the surgeon tomorrow to see how it's progressing and probably schedule the 2nd (and I hope last surgery) for this permanent access site.

I'm finally starting to feel better during dialysis so spent some time praying for Pastor's father-in-law and Carolyn's husband and others that come to mind. I'm looking forward to more good times like these.

Another blessing- Sher and Joy hooked me up so I can have internet access at dialysis. I'm hoping to use it to maybe update my blog, etc. We'll see how long the laptop goes. We have electricity there of course but they don't encourage using it. I think my laptop will go 10 minutes but we'll see.

I'm usually at dialysis for about 6 hours so I'd like to be more productive. Right now, I can sleep, watch tv, or listen to my satellite radio that I got from the girls for Christmas. It also let's me record the Sunday messages and listen to them. I put Phillipians on it that Bonnie gave me on DVD to listen so I can meditate on it. Last week I listened to Pastor's message on "Good for Nothing". Boy that was a good message on grace vs. works and a good salvation message. Coming from my religious background that was works-based I really enjoyed it. If you have someone you're trying to witness to, send them a link to the CBC audio pages on the website. http://www.communitybaptist.to/CBCMedia.htm .There's probably a hundred or more of the past messages. Each one is about 5 megabytes (on a cable hookup that takes about a minute or 2 to load) and are a great tool when you're trying to explain something about Christianity to a friend. Of course, first hand testimony is always a good way also.

It was good to hear Tracy's mom had somewhat good news from the doctor. Friends, you've been so good to me to pray for me, please pray for our friends at church. If I learned one thing through this adventure, is that besides the people Pastor asks us to pray for, there are a lot of "silent sufferers" in our church that aren't in the public eye. Take a moment even right now to pray for them before you leave this page.

Love in Christ,

Dan

Sun. - 04-22-07

Had a good day today
It was great to get out and go to church.
Feeling good overall still

no words necessary

Sat. - 04-21-07 - Dialysis

Good dialysis. Week started out rough but ended up great! Looking forward to church tomorrow.

Welcome Friends!

Last year I was told I had kidney failure and it was necessary to go on hemodialysis to live. So this blog is for those of you who are praying for me (I appreciate that so much), for those who encourage me (hey we all need hugs!), and for those who take me to dialysis or doctors' appointments (couldn't do it without you!).

Initially my 2 daughters took me everywhere (and they did it willingly, and still do I might add), but they were missing so much work some friends volunteered to help drive.

If you're not familiar with dialysis, you generally got to dialysis clinic 3 times per week for 4-6 hours). Here's a link to the place I go and has many informative articles and videos on the kidney and dialysis if you're so inclined - http://www.davita.com

One of our church members, Tracy volunteered to keep a schedule of the drivers and email them to take some of the load off my daughters. She did such a good job that on my dialysis day, I don't normally even know who's picking me up. I just go down to the main floor about 5 minutes before they come and wait to see who will drive.

This blog is about considering one another to stir up to good works, but actually for the most part the last several months quite a few people have been doing that to me. I'm so grateful for their help and find myself scratching my head almost daily about the enthusiasm of the 18 or so people who volunteered to drive along with many others! What a great God we have!

So, I'm going to try to update this through the week and let you know how my adventure is progressing and fill you in on upcoming special attractions (like surgeries, etc).

Along with the status of my adventures, I'm going to try to give you some things that may encourage you also.

Once again, thank you so much to my daughters, Tracy, and the many people that have gotten involved. It humbles me, and makes me thankful for such a great God that watches over me and has sent so many to encourage me.

I hope I may be an encouragement to you through this all.

Dan