Real Danger

A blog post by Noah Kaye (noahkaye.com) which I felt worthy of reposting:

Many people worry about their safety and security. We happen to live and serve in South Africa, a country bound by fear and crime and loaded with gates, locks and alarms. But we also serve in a missional community where many people are preparing to go to hostile places around the world where the gospel has not yet reached. So, danger is a very real thing for many of our friends who are counting the cost of giving their lives.

Last week, I was listening to Floyd McClung (our leader here) teach on values and he started talking about danger in a way that stirred my heart.

• Living in constant disobedience to Jesus…that is dangerous.
• When our greatest goal is to work 70 hours a week for 35 years so we can have a nice house and a pension…that is dangerous.
• When a Mom and Dad compromise the will of God while their kids watch on…that is dangerous.
• When you are more interested in insuring your life on this earth (70 years if you’re lucky) while you do nothing to insure your life for all eternity….that is dangerous.
• Wanna hear something else dangerous? Dangerous is when you install gates, alarms and locks all around you and your family while you open your doors wide to the father of lies, the great destroyer and accuser, satan.

Perhaps it would do us all some good to consider the differences between danger in the world and danger in the Kingdom.

Update on Matt

Matt continues to make improvements although he is still in the ICU.  He is working on learning to drink a little and eat some applesauce as he has not had anything for a month (IV liquid food).  He is able to talk now although some of what he says doesn't make sense.  But we're hopeful that he is on a good path and will come out of this, so thanks for your prayers.  :)

Praying for Matt

As some of you know I'm now back on the Mainland after an emergency trip home.   My step-brother went into the hospital thinking he was just sick from the flu but instead discovered he had one of the rarest gastrointestinal diseases (superior mesenteric artery disease) on the book.   Mortality rate is 1/3.  In addition he developed heart problems, respiratory failure, kidney failure and pneumonia.  He was put on a ventilator.  On Friday he took a turn for the worse and the doctors called the family and told us if we wanted to say good-bye to him we needed to come now.    I flew in last night to Georgia where I'm writing this.

While I was in the air on my way home his vitals that have been so bad began to stabilize so they decided to take him into surgery.  My mother and step-father had just arrived so they were able to see him off.  Miraculously he lived through surgery and instead of repairing the problem which often proves fatal with this disease, the surgeon was able to reroute things.  He went from saying 'it's time to pay your last respects' to 'he may yet live through this.'  He's not out of the woods and we are still in prayer, but hope is growing.  He's still on the respirator and unconscious but they are going to try to wake him up tomorrow.

It's not been an easy time for my family.  In addition we received a call tonight that my kitty of 14 years has taken a turn for the worse since we've been away.  She is not expected to make it through the night.  Our animals feel like members of the family and it's been hard to deal with this on top of what is going on.  Thank you to our dear friends and neighbors who are having to handle this situation for us.

But even in this hour there has been beauty.  You, the body of Christ, stepped up and made it possible for me to come home.  Before I left, the cost of my emergency plane ticket was covered as well as my bills for the next month.  I don't know how long we will be here but I'm able to stay as long as needed.  So thank you dear friends.  You have given richly and in the hour of need, that has taken a burden off.  You are the most beautiful bride of Christ!

Please be in prayer for Matt and my family.  While he has had nothing short of a miraculous turn around, things are still very much on shaky ground.  The pneumonia is still a huge issue and he is at high risk of sepsis.  He is still in ICU and will be there for some time.

Thank you again for all your love, prayers and support.