04/24/2024
Dear Friends in Christ,
Monday was a wonderful day of blessings at Emory Winship at St. Joseph’s. I was blessed to have Jan and our son, Jonathan, with me as we learned of our next steps. Some of you may not know that I have been working through a clear diagnosis of what type of lymphoma I have. Many of you have already joined us in prayers all along this journey and we cannot adequately express our deep thanks for every one lifted on our behalf.
Here are the highlights of where my journey is taking me right now.
▪ We now have a final diagnosis of Large B-Cell Lymphoma, DLBCL.
▪ I met with my own oncologist who is a leader in lymphoma cancer treatment for Emory Winship and has a fine team.
▪ Today I’m at Emory Winship Midtown having dual delivery ports implanted that will be used for something called Pola-R-CHP chemotherapy which will be administered during 6 sessions, one every 3 weeks to begin on May 6. Tomorrow I’m back for additional testing - nearing the end of all that comes before the actual treatments can begin.
▪ All the staff I’ve met throughout this diagnosis period - which began in February - have been wonderful and encouraging. The NP who I am working closely with is a person of prayer and she led us in a powerful prayer time before we finished Monday, trusting God for healing through this journey.
While this journey varies in how different people respond to it, there are three key priorities that I will keep my focus on as we go forward:
1) Life calling and purpose: To love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. To love neighbors as myself. To draw strength from the Holy Spirit and encourage others around me to come to know or walk more closely with Jesus each day. I will cherish time with Jan, our family, friends we have, and new friends who God will continue to provide. Continue to live relational evangelism. (Romans 15:13)
2) Eat healthy, continue to move & exercise consistently as possible, and pray for & with others as the Lord opens doors.
(I Corinthians 6:19-20)
3) Be thankful to the Lord and friends, cherish all the spiritual power that comes through many prayers, and further the joy of the Lord in sharing when and how I am able. (Consistent worship, lots of Zoom visits & teaching, early morning Bible Fellowship Net (daily via ham radio), and continued ministry coaching sessions online which always bring tremendous joys. (Psalm 95:1)
Together let’s continue to pray for one another, those who are all around us, our families, our friends and those God will place in our path each day. There are so many amazing opportunities for each of us to touch lives for Jesus and see Him make all things new.
In the Love, Grace and Joy of Jesus,
Jim