{See more than one update at the bottom of this post.}
He's never heard the Gospel, but his culture embraces Buddha, so it is not so surprising that his religious expression is played out by him hosting a Buddhist gathering in his home on weekends. He's well-mannered and polite, and if you knew him you would want him as a friend. He lives in another city, and I have no way to directly contact him, but he desperately needs our prayers.
He's never heard the Gospel, but his culture embraces Buddha, so it is not so surprising that his religious expression is played out by him hosting a Buddhist gathering in his home on weekends. He's well-mannered and polite, and if you knew him you would want him as a friend. He lives in another city, and I have no way to directly contact him, but he desperately needs our prayers.
He's about my age, and he lost his only child -- a son -- to a drunk driver last year, sending he and his wife, understandably, into a pit of sorrow. But he got another blow a few days ago when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (a recurrent tumor that he first tackled 15 years ago) and is scheduled for surgery early next week. I know everyone has to die some time of some thing, but if he dies now, he will die without Christ; that's a great tragedy, so I am praying that he will live, and that when he does live, he'll know that he was healed by the mighty power of God. I don't have an opportunity to share in person, but as far as I know I'm the only Christian that would know the family, and the Lord has laid this burden of prayer on my heart. I'm praying that God will work it out some other way so the whole family will have a chance to hear and believe. So I guess I am praying for a miracle, which just means I am asking God to do something that only He can do. Will you join me in praying for this guy we'll call Dan? Seriously? I would love it if at least five people would spend a minimum of five minutes a day for the next five days (starting now because time is short) praying like Elijah for this man and his extended family (his wife, his elderly parents, his brothers, his nieces and nephews, etc.). Send me an email or leave a comment if you will pray with me...I won't make it public. Really, in the whole wide world, we'd be the ONLY ones praying for them.
Let the words of James 5 embolden you to pray with me:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. (HCSB)
Update of June 8: Dan is in ICU, in a coma, and getting the best human care available. Prognosis is not good from a human point of view -- his tumor is large and not safely operable -- but I am pleased to announce that humans are not in control. Though five days have passed since I asked for people to pray for five days, your prayers for Dan are still very much appreciated. Please believe, and pray. (Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.")
Update of June 14: Dan came out of his coma after about 24 hours. PTL! Fluid was drained out of his brain cavity and that released pressure and made him more stable. The doctors' prognosis is not good whether Dan has surgery or not though. They think surgery could be very dangerous, expensive, and will end up with the same result as if he has no surgery. Nonetheless, surgery is scheduled for Monday. The family wants to do something proactive and not just let him go home in his current condition...not that he is in any condition to travel home anyway. Please keep praying and believing. There is no tumor that is bigger or more powerful than God.
Update of June 8: Dan is in ICU, in a coma, and getting the best human care available. Prognosis is not good from a human point of view -- his tumor is large and not safely operable -- but I am pleased to announce that humans are not in control. Though five days have passed since I asked for people to pray for five days, your prayers for Dan are still very much appreciated. Please believe, and pray. (Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.")
Update of June 14: Dan came out of his coma after about 24 hours. PTL! Fluid was drained out of his brain cavity and that released pressure and made him more stable. The doctors' prognosis is not good whether Dan has surgery or not though. They think surgery could be very dangerous, expensive, and will end up with the same result as if he has no surgery. Nonetheless, surgery is scheduled for Monday. The family wants to do something proactive and not just let him go home in his current condition...not that he is in any condition to travel home anyway. Please keep praying and believing. There is no tumor that is bigger or more powerful than God.
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