Cora has been asking to ride the train downtown to the stadium to visit Fredbird.
Yesterday we obliged.
We bundled up and walked to the metro link station (only blocks from our new house) and took the train downtown, visited the stadium, then headed back to Union Station for some lunch.
Last Thursday I was playing my violin at a corporate event when I started feeling something very very wrong going on in my abdomen (excruciating pain, the inability to breathe, etc.) Within 2 hours I was in the emergency room being medicated, giving blood, getting an ultra sound, and x-rays.
3 prescriptions later, the pain was gone.
All week i've been able to feel the same abdominal action happening, but the meds were keeping the pain at bay.
Today I went into the gastroenterologist for an endoscopy. That involved some amazing drugs and a 5-10 minute scope of my stomach. The doctor found "4 severe ulcers." He did some biopsies and said we'll talk again next week.
So, for now I'll lay off the habaneros and 1/2 chipotle Tabasco sauce bottle per 1 burrito...
Here's another little excerpt from my book, Outsourcing God.
This time we'll discuss the implication of BELIEF...
Belief encompasses a large spectrum of ideas, thoughts, history, and forward momentum. Belief is not something to be taken lightly. Belief is defining. And by saying belief; unbelief, and doubt, is also part of the equation. The amount of doubt one carries, the wrestling soul, the questions of the mind, all play into one's belief. But what I'm finding all too often is that our belief has been hijacked - not by conflicting faiths or organizations, but by ourselves. Rather than growing, binding and loosing, sharpening us in seeking true transformation, our belief has become stagnant, status quo, and eventually fades.
The misnomer of this conundrum is that my belief is predicated on the belief of a single leader, or staff of leaders; but in truth, I choose to listen to and follow. And even though that leadership position (person and/or position) should be respected, should teach, should form, and should sharpen, it should not be the single determinant of the state of my belief.
Belief (should be) the result of the collective of a community that gathers, a community that serves, a community that listens, that grieves, and that rejoices together. In the book of Acts, the Bible tells us how to live together in true community. It describes people gathering together, unique on their own, but working together towards a common purpose. If for one minute we believe that our belief isn't affected by this community experience, we begin to kid ourselves. The community where each individual is authentically pouring over one another with grace, mercy, and love, has profound effects on what and how we believe.
Sadly though, we’ve entered a time where the hired leader of our community, the leader of our congregation, our small group, etc have named our beliefs. We've quietly squelched our ability to doubt, wrestle, and believe. Because the gods of convenience have for too long said, "do what you're told,” “act a certain way,” “behave like this or that," we have essentially given up our freedom and understanding of belief.
On Wednesday, Kate took Olive to the pediatrician because she'd had a cold since last Saturday. She'd slept almost all day on Tuesday, and was more lethargic on Wed. As soon as Kate arrived at the Dr's office, the Dr immediately became concerned and told Kate to go to the ER.
She said that Olive would need to stay overnight, get IV's, get chest xrays, and run tests on her mucus.
Naturally, we were very concerned!
Cora was asleep at home, so I was there watching her when Kate called with the news. I immediately posted on FB and Twitter and in a matter of minutes, friends from church, college, KC, and family - all kinds of people began to pray.
Kate rushed Olive to the ER. As soon as she entered, the Dr's were asking what the problem was. Olive was bright red and breathing extremely fast - it was obvious that something was severely wrong.
They got her a room and were prepping everything else.
All of a sudden, Olive made a 180 degree turn. No meds, no nothing. Just one second looking terrible, and the next looking like our normal Olive.
They went ahead and ran the chest xrays, but she was perfect.
There was no explanation. They expected her to stay overnight and need much more care.
Thanks to all that prayed. In my opinion, you worked a miracle!
Saturday night I performed at The Verve in Terre Haute, IN. But before I left Chicago, there were still a couple things I wanted to do:
#1, grab a pizza from Giordano's...O-MAZING pizza!!! I think the pic does a little justice...(if i could only make my blog scratch & sniff)
#2, swing by IKEA and pick up some stuff for the new house. 3 hours later, I had indulged as much as I could, I succumbed to the gods of consumerism, and left broke.
My GPS took me to Terre Haute in an interesting fashion. I think it took the "crows flight" pattern as closely as possible. I was on county road after county road. I passed through Beaverville and Effner (enough said).
I went through a 10 mile stretch where the landscape was nothing but massive windmills. It was like something from a sci-fi movie.
But alas, the GPS did not deceive. I arrived in time to The Verve, played in front of a great crowd at a great venue!
CHICAGO FANS ROCK!!! Thanks to everyone that came out to last night's show - and thanks even more for making some noise!
Chicago is a great city (even in the cold & snow). Its always fun to play shows here and last night was no exception.
I got in yesterday evening, just in time for slow traffic, snow, and frigid temps. I always worry a bit that, that will become a factor and keep people away. But last night I was surprised by the turn out - great showing, great music, lots of CD sold, which means we're closer today than yesterday at building our well!
Click the widget below and bring us even closer (AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD!!!)
Tonight i'll be Terre Haute, IN at The Verve. So Indiana-er's, plan to come out for another great night of music - get your super bowl sunday kicked off to the right start :-)
Thanks again Chicago. I am humbled by your kindness!
Each day that we pray with Cora, its fun to see her become more and more excited. Some days we cuddle up in her room, on her big chair. Other days we just hold hands in a circle and pray. But until yesterday, either Kate or I were leading each prayer.
Yesterday though, Cora decided it was her turn to lead the prayer. It went something like this:
**Quick note: to get the full dramatic effect, please read with the voice of a 2 year old and when it says ....... break for a L-O-N-G pause.
Dear Deedus (Jesus)...
thank you for.....daddy thank you for.....olive thank you for....mommy thank you for....andre (the drummer at our church - she's a big fan) thank you for.....paul (guitarist at church)
(....long pause, then she started picking items on her dinner plate - which is essentially her daily bread)
thank you for.....milk thank you for.....meats-a-cheese thank you for.....raisins
........
not sure what to do in summation, we chimed in with, "in Jesus' name we pray"
My parents had an old manuscript of this framed for me before college and I've had it on my desk ever since.
There's a ton of truth just seeping from it.
Enjoy!
My Symphony by Celia McClure (1914)
To see beauty even in
the common things of life.
To shed the light of love
and friendship round me.
To keep my life in tune with the world
that I shall make no discords in the harmony of life.
To strike on the lyre of the universe
only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace.
To appreciate every little service rendered.
To see and appreciate all that is noble in another,
Be her badge what it may.
And to let my lyre send forth the chords of love,
unselfishness, sincerity.
Saturday night I performed at The Verve in Terre Haute, IN. But before I left Chicago, there were still a couple things I wanted to do:
#2, swing by IKEA and pick up some stuff for the new house. 3 hours later, I had indulged as much as I could, I succumbed to the gods of consumerism, and left broke.
CHICAGO FANS ROCK!!! Thanks to everyone that came out to last night's show - and thanks even more for making some noise!
