Surgery has begun...

This is John Duval for Pastor Mark: Mark arrived at the hospital at 5:30am this morning. They started anesthesia around 8:15am and surgery began around 10am. We have been told to expect a 7 hour surgery. Please continue to pray.

Leigh Ann shared the following with family: “I have a scripture I would like to share with you. I have always found the PSALMS to be of great comfort, but especially so through these last few days.”

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help , Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Psalm 27:1

Final Pre-Op Post

Well, tomorrow is the surgery. There are certainly lots of thoughts that run through your mind once inside the 24 hour window. But honestly, I have such a peace. I wonder how much better life would go if I could learn to completely let go of control to the Lord 24/7 like I have regarding this surgery. You see, I don't have an option. I can't do the surgery on myself. I can't control the recovery and healing. It really is all in His hands.

I have thought ALOT about life after surgery. It will take me a few months to back to complete strength. I will count this as my mid-life crisis. Most men (or women for that matter) are not given the opportunity to push the pause button at 48 with the incentive I have been given to consider ... really consider ... what is important during the second half of life. I have been given just such a privilege.

No doubt, I will not be the same. I have said a few times I was afraid I would not be the same after this surgery. Now, I would say, I would fear being the same. I want to walk through all the changes God has for me. I want to be in a position for Him to use me more than before. Why else could I or would I ask for health beyond September 8? The only reason I desire health is to be better able to serve Him.

To all of you who read this who are part of the ClearView family, we are blessed to have capable and Godly staff who will continue to lead in my absence. I thank God for all of them. In order for me to heal as quickly as possible, I must trust them to continue leading. I do so without hesitation!

I thank God I am pastor of such a great group of people. If a guy has to walk through this kind of situation he could not ask for more support and prayer than I am receiving. We have heard from many of your personally and I know there are many more. We are being lifted up in prayer by churches and individuals all over the world. I have heard from Africa and from Australia, as well as many around the USA.

You should continue to have updates posted here in the days ahead. Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you for the support we have been and will continue to receive.

You will hear from me again as soon as they will let me back on this thing :-).

I love you!

Mark

Greatest Fear

I would be lying if I said I have had no anxiety at all about this upcoming surgery. I have had some of the thoughts and feelings you might imagine. I have had some of the "what-if's" any human being might have.

Of course, one of the initial thoughts was, "There is a chance I don't make it through surgery". But as honest as I know to be with myself, I have dealt with those feelings and death is not a threat for a Christ follower. Would I want to die? No. I have the same desire and drive to live as anyone! Do I fear death? Absolutely not. Just so I am clear, I am going into Wednesday with no thoughts of not coming out of surgery.

So, do I have any fear(s) going into this "procedure" and recovery? I do. My greatest 'fear' (if that's what it would be called) is that I would fail to learn all God has for me to learn as I walk through this. This is the biggest opportunity for growth in my life (to date). God is sovereign. This test was custom designed for me from before the beginning of time. After all, I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I don't want to waste it. I surely do not want to repeat this one :-).

What do I need to learn about God? What do I need to learn by experience that I currently only know intellectually? How can this make me a better husband? Father? Pastor? Preacher? Obedient follower? Most of all, how can I learn through this to bring great glory to God?

1 Peter 1:6-7
6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials 7 so that the genuineness of your faith —more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What trial is distressing in your life? It will prove the genuineness (or lack of genuineness) of your faith. It will drive you to what God has for you ... or away from Him. Ultimately, as Christ followers we want our trials to result in praise, glory and honor of Christ.

Grace for today

When most people think of grace they think of saving grace. That is, it is God's grace that saves us. True. And for those of us who have trusted Him for that salvation, what a truth it is!!

But there is more to God's grace than the moment of entering His Kingdom. It is called sustaining grace. It is the grace we need to walk through the difficulties of life. Paul spoke of it when he said in 2 Corinthians 12 he had a thorn in the flesh he had asked God to take away 3 times. This was God's answer: 2 Cor. 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'"

Can I just be honest and say I would prefer God's power be perfected in some other way than my weakness? But, I know it to be true: It is when I am the weakest I become most aware of His power, because it is at those times I am most dependent on it. It is at those times I experience God's sustaining grace that gives me the strength (power) to see see Him do His greatest work in me.

I was reminded a few days ago in a piece written by John Piper in his book A Godward Life that you and I are only given enough grace for today. We are only given enough resources for today. This is why it is foolish to worry about tomorrow. We haven't been given those resources yet.

Now within 5 days of surgery, I know I will need more of God's sustaining grace each day before me. If I try to jump ahead and worry about tomorrow today, I am not given that grace yet, thus leading to anxiety. I am grateful for the grace of God in my life to allow me enough for today. I will have what I need each day that stretches out before me.

Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Whatever you are anxious about facing in the days ahead, you can know God is already there and He is waiting with all the mercy and grace needed to face your challenge. Trust Him in this and you will find a supernatural peace that goes beyond understanding.

The Game Slows Down

Sports announcers and coaches often talk about the game slowing down for their quarterback. The more playing time a player gets, the more he understands the game and he can see things develop around him. It certainly doesn't mean the other players play at a slower pace. It simply means the quarterback has a different perspective and he can see things more clearly than before.

Well, my diagnosis and pending surgery have slowed the game down for me. Suddenly, there are things that might have distracted me a few weeks ago that do not seem like a big deal any more. My thoughts seem clearer. My focus is sharper. My time with the LORD is sweeter. My prayers are more God centered. My Bible study is more meaningful.

I think maybe part of what God is doing in my life through this detour is slowing the game down for me.

I pray for this kind of clarity of mind and focus to carry through beyond recovery.