A Sad, but joyous day lies ahead for Mercy Ships, as the baton is passed to Africa Mercy this June in Tema, Ghana.


Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy Retire - Mercy Ships

I took this from Reuel's blog. Reuel is an amazing person who lives radically for God. Check out his blog sometime (see links). I met him in KC a couple of years ago, and have enjoyed reading about his life since.

Below is a challenging piece (for me anyway) to meditate on.


Excerpted from:
The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss


Proud People Vs. Broken & Humble People


Focus on Failures of others
Vs.
Overwhelmed with sense of personal spiritual need


Critical & fault-finding spirit; looking at other’s faults with a microscope; own with a telescope
Vs.
Compassion- being able to forgive much knowing how much Grace has been given


Self-righteous; looking down on others
Vs.
Esteeming others better than self


Independent spirit; self-sufficient spirit
Vs.
Possessing a dependent spirit; recognizing need for others


Claim entitlements; Rights & possessing a demanding spirit
Vs.
Yielding rights; possessing a meek spirit


Have to prove “I’m right!”
Vs.
Willing to yield the right to be right


Self-protective of own time, rights, and reputation
Vs.
Self-denying


Desire to be served
Vs.
Motivated to serve others


Desire to be successful
Vs.
Motivated to be faithful and to make others a success


Desire self-advancement
Vs.
Desire to promote others


Possessing a drive to be recognized and appreciated
Vs.
Having a sense of personal unworthiness; thrilled that God would use them at all


Wounded when others are promoted & them overlooked
Vs.
Eager for others to get the credit; rejoicing when others are
lifted up; promoted


Have subconscious feeling, “This organization is privileged to have me and my gifts”
Vs.
Heart attitude of “I don’t deserve to have a part in this thing”


Thinking of what they can do for God
Vs.
Knowing they have nothing to offer God except brokenness


Confident in how much they know
Vs.
Humbled by how much they have to learn


Self-conscious
Vs.
Not concerned with self at all


Keep others at arms’ length
Vs.
Willing to risk getting close to others and take risks of loving intimately


Quick to blame others
Vs.
Accept personal responsibility and seeing own wrong in situations


Unapproachable or defensive when criticized
Vs.
Receiving criticism as constructive; with humble spirit


Concerned with being respectable; what others think;
Vs.
Concerned with being real; only what God thinks, matters


Working to protect reputation
Vs.
Willing to die to reputation


Find it difficult to share spiritual need with others
Vs.
Willing to be transparent; open with others as God directs


Careful that no one finds out when they’ve sinned- constant cover up
Vs.
Once broken, not caring who knows or finds out; willing to be exposed because of nothing to lose


Have a hard time saying “I was wrong; could you please forgive me?
Vs.
Quick to admit failure and seek forgiveness needed


Tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin
Vs.
Able to acknowledge specifics when confessing sin


Concerned about the consequences of sin
Vs.
Grieved over cause of sin at it’s root


Not remorseful over sin, but sorry they were caught or found out
Vs.
Truly genuinely repentant over sin, evidenced in forsaking same


Wait for others to come to ask forgiveness when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationship
Vs.
Taking initiative toward reconciliation when misunderstanding or conflict in relationships (inevitable) occurs- quick to get to the Cross, no matter how wrong the other


Compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor
Vs.
Comparing themselves with Holy Standard of Almighty God; feeling desperate need for His Mercy


Blind to their true heart condition
Vs.
Walking in the Light


Think there’s nothing to repent over / of
Vs.
Realizing continual need of heart attitude of repentance


Don’t think they personally need revival, but everyone else sure does
Vs.
Continually sensing personal need for encounter with God; for refreshing or His Holy Spirit

Isaac Solverson: 6 weeks old

Pacific City--My most favorite beach

Janelle and I experienced a warm "spring-like day" on January 24, 2006

The rugged dunes in the background give Pacific City its lure

The Sunset

Whoop der it is!

Good article on women's rights. Check it out.

It's THE weekend...
So Friday night after work I got on a plane and flew to SeaTac International Airport where I met up with my friends Dan and Jo and their new baby Isaac...

On Saturday morning Janelle drove up to meet us and we spent the day enjoying Tacoma's waterfront and having fun with the camera

Is the chase over?

I hope so, and make the move-in...

A few hours later we had dinner over looking the Tacoma city lights and bay, and then returned to Dan and Jo's for what Janelle believed to be dessert with Seth's friends, but when we arrived it was just us, some candles, flowers, dessert, music, memory slide show, and me on one knee...

Janelle's Response...First-- "Are you serious?!"

then...Yes!

MORE WEDDING PHOTOS

The BLENDING of families

I have been very slow in posting lately, but below are photos from my week in Colorado for Caleb/Katie's wedding.

Hope you enjoy!

What an awesome pair!

Cousins

Now there is a couple...

A match made in heaven, for the earth's sake, and ultimately for heaven's sake!!!!

Three hours prior to the big ceremony

A moment

Fun times!

Red rock photo shoot at Garden of the gods

Maid of Honor

The lambert bro's

I love these two...like nothing else

Obviously... we are awe struck by the bride

Sarah and Jean (Katie's fellow Anastasis crew members)

Luke, David, Jesse, Havah, Chris

My friend and fellow surgery resident, Trung

My first Christmas Tree, but I succumbed to a faux tree. Who would of thought a northwesterner would have a fake tree?

Thanksgiving dinner at Dean and Rhonda's house

I am over half way through my month of working nights in the hospital. I can't wait to be done and feel human again! When I get some time I will have to post a couple of the highlights of my month. A hospital at night can occassionally be a quiet place, but it more often than not becomes a bit of a psych ward. :o)

A month of nights has definitely matured me as a physician though. You grow up fast when you are it!

For those of you with blogs out there, I love staying up on your lives via them, so thanks for posting often.

General Motors Building

A classic view of Detroit landscape when looking in the opposite direction of the GM building and waterfront. The city is being revitalized but there are many reminders of the Detroit Riots and the mass exodus to the "burbs."

Burning Bush in Front Yard

 

Bonzai in Autumn

 

My Walk in Elizabeth Park Today...

"Still Life"

Swamp Grass --Gone to seed & basking in the autumn sun

Symbiosis or Parasitosis? Who is benefitting? The tree is made beautiful by the vine, but the vine is given its life by the tree

Autumn's "Chili Pepper"

Winter creeping in

The typical "Monet" shot

"Aged Beauty"

cold weather breaks up cement, much like all the local roads in the area

The end of the thissle's life cycle: Full of character despite it's nasty reputation

 

Want to be inspired...Checkout this blog. Part of this group of people are former Trout Lake residents, now Portlanders.

http://lahash.blogspot.com/

PATHOLOGY of DETROIT
I am sure many of you have heard me say that Detroit is not the most desirable location to live, but one of the best places to see pathology and learn medicine. This past week has confirmed that for me once again. Surgery was consulted to see a head and neck cancer patient, concerning the placement of a feeding tube into the pt's belly, so I went to the floor between surgery cases to meet the pt. What I found was truly a "Phantom of the Opera" picture. This pt has had face cancer for over a year, and has never been to an MD/DO for care. He is barely able to speak anymore as the tumor has completely overtaken the right side of his face from his eye ball to his jaw. This patient's tumor is equal to the worst cancers I have seen in Africa. This patient is a real lesson in the importance of building rapport and trust with your patient. He has a complete distrust of physicians, and believes that we are not there to serve his best interests. This patient has been cared for solely by a naturopathic physician, who unfortunately has done a disservice to this patient. I don't want to harp on alternative medicine, for I will be the first to say that it has its place in medicine, but when distrust of western medicine leads to the neglect of a patient's care something is clearly wrong. Not only is this patient in complete denial of the extent of his disease, but he was even slow to sign a consent form for the placement of the feeding tube because he thought we might harvest his organs. Everyday is a complete education for me!

Good news for PIH!

Click on this photo

If humanitarian projects inspire you, I highly recommend you read the book about this organization called, "Mountain Beyond Mountains." For more information go to "links" and click on "Partners In Health-Paul Farmer"