United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?

United States of America
Looks like another silent night

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Gerald Ford

"Well, I’m here to remind you that you’re going to fix the economy because your personal economy is up to you. It's not Washington's job to fix what's going on with you. If you are waiting on Washington to change something, you've got a long wait!

You’re going to give yourself money as a result of your hard work and persistence. Waiting for money to be taken from others and given to you is a spirit of envy, and it's wrong.

I’m not here to tell you who to vote for. But I am here to tell you that the government doesn’t have the capacity to fix your problems. Washington is full of bozos, and I am doing my part to send a lot of them home!

This economic mess is a reality, but we can each only control one thing—our reactions. Does this stuff define you? Only if you let it. The weird thing about the economy is that YOU are the economy! I learned this the hard way. I got my real estate license when I was 18 years old. By the time I was 21, interest rates had risen to 17% fixed-rate … and I still sold houses. How? Because I worked hard." Dave Ramsey (complete comments here)

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)

"We continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and prayers that have been put forth on my (our) behalf. We are so blessed!!! I am just now getting a hint what the following scripture means as a result of all your prayers, cards, well wishes and prayers.

'Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.' Romans 13:7-8

Updated information:
The majority of the past week has been spent navigating through MD Anderson’s admission process and occupational therapy on my left hand.

MD Anderson update first. I have been scheduled for another MRI tomorrow May 5 and we have been working to get previous films and reports and tumor samples gathered and in MD Anderson’s hands for our consultation visit Tuesday May 6. In short we are stepping through the process and hopefully soon we will know the timing of chemo and radiation or whatever other treatments they recommend.

Occupational therapy has done wonders on what I can do with my left hand. Although I despise little pegs and pegboards, I can now manipulate them around and put the two together. Don’t ask for patience, this might be a very cruel answer. My hand is getting stronger and is getting more normal in its abilities, for that I am very thankful and thankful for the therapy.

I am doing well, but probably overextend myself daily. I find that around 3:30-4:00 I require 2-3 hours of rest, but continue to try to convince "D" that daily I am rebuilding stamina.

My spirits are continually raised high just simply in the way you all have just shared in this with us. Thank you all. I truly did not appreciate how many friends I have in my corner. But it has been evident in how we have been blessed and the prayer coverage you have provided. I cannot thank you enough."

"Patience is not indifference; patience conveys the idea of an immensely strong rock withstanding all onslaughts. The vision of God is the source of patience, because it imparts a moral inspiration. Moses endured, not because he had an ideal of right and duty, but because he had a vision of God. He 'endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible.' A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it; things come with largeness and tonic to the life because everything is energized by God. If God gives you a time spiritually, as He gave His Son actually, of temptation in the wilderness, with no word from Himself at all, endure, and the power to endure is there because you see God." Oswald Chambers - "THE PASSION OF PATIENCE," May 2nd Devotion

"'A' is out of surgery and all went well. The doctor is hopeful that they removed 100% of the tumor, but they can't tell at this time. The doctor feels he should have a full recovery. He is in the recovery room at this time and will spend the night in ICU. They anticipate moving him to a room tomorrow and begin physical therapy as well. 'D' [his wife] is there with [his] parents and 'B' [another family friend] said that she sounded as though she was holding up well."

"I just received a call from 'D' with another update. She said that they had allowed her in to see 'A' and that he was awake and alert. Although she said he was in some pain as you would expect, he was able to respond to the doctor and perform basic movements as well or better than the doctor had expected at this point. [GOD IS AWESOME!] He will stay in the ICU tonight and they still plan to transfer him to a regular room tomorrow. It sounds like things have gone very well so far."