9. October 2007 by Wayne.

Who are the least of these and what should we do with them? Scripture says that the least of these are those people who are strangers, they are hungry, they are thirsty, they are in prison and they are sick. Matthew 25:31-46. Do we as believers really care about the least of these? Jesus stated that those who did not care for the least of these would be thrown into the eternal fire. Matthew 25:41. Should our motivation be out of fear or out of love?

James 1:27 states that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” As Christians, we need to reach out to those who are lowly and destitute, those who are poor and those who are hurting.

I recently read the book “Under the Overpass - A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America” by Mike Yankoski. Mike and his friend, Sam spent 5 months living as homeless people in Denver, Washington D.C., Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego. They spent time with the least of these. One thing that really stood out to me through their journey is that most “Christians” and “churches” they encountered had little or no desire to help the down trodden and homeless. It was quite a wake-up call. Why would we as believers ignore commands from Jesus to help the least of these. We should be the first to give a cup of cool water and the coat off our back.

A. W. Tozer in his book “Of God and Men” calls our methods into question when he states “We hear a Christian assure someone that he will ‘pray over’ his problem, knowing full well that he intends to use prayer as a substitue for service. It is much easier to pray that a poor friend’s needs may be supplied than to supply them.” We should pray and then act, displaying our true intentions of reaching out to the least of these. Remember, not only the poor need you help, but so do those whose illnesses cannot be seen. Being a disciple of Christ is intentional. We need to show the world that we are followers of Christ by our love through action in reaching out to the least of these!

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

It has been a while since I have written on this blog as you can see. This past month has been a wild ride. As I have mentioned before, my wife suffers from multiple chronic illnesses and as of today, she is recovering from bronchial pnemonia. Last week she was extremely ill and thanks be to God that she has take a turn for the better.

Speaking of chronic illnesses, I wanted to share with you about a fantastic book I just finished reading. “Being Sick Well, Joyful Living Despite Chronic Illness,” is probably one of the best books I have ever read. As someone who is a care giver of a chronic illness sufferer and the Founder & President of two chronic illness support & awareness organizations, The Invisible Disabilities Advocate (http://www.myida.org/) and Where Is God Ministries (http://www.whereisgod.net/), I was moved with a wide range of emotions and challenged with new ideas and wowed by the insight of the author, Dr Jeffery Boyd. In “Being Sick Well,” Dr Boyd states “When I talked with people who had chronic illness but remained upbeat, I discovered that they developed methods to help them get through the day.” These methods which Dr Boyd gleaned from case histories are mentioned throughout the book and are insightfully turned into 20 strategies for joyful living despite chronic illness. The book is full of stories of sufferers and their care givers. There are even detailed statics and conclusions surrounding the continuing rise of chronic illness in America despite the notion we are getting healthier. Dr Boyd tackles these issues surrounding chronic illness with experience, intelligence and compassion.

Far from being dry, I cried and cheered and laughed. The stories are moving and what they teach in regards to “Being Sick Well” are practical and inspiring. Since my organizations do not target any specific chronic illnesses or disease, I wondered how they could have an greater impact on our world. Most people are drawn to a particular organization that deals with one specific disease or chronic illness such as the Arthitis Foundation or the MS Society. Dr Boyd addresses this issue by stating the following:

What is lacking is a sense of common cause among the different disease constituencies. If the families afflicted with diseases X, Y, and Z would cooperate instead of competing with one another, there would emerge an advocacy group representing a majority of the public, and suddenly the healthcare finance system would be forced to change so as to recognize and treat chronic illness. That would make life with chronic disease much more tolerable for everyone.

After reading the above statement, I knew that The Invisible Disabilies Advocate was formed to help become that advocacy group Dr Boyd just mentioned. I was not only moved by his book, but I was also encourged and energized to rise to the challenge he set forth. Since currently “At least 45% of all Americans have a chronic condition” there is a lot of work to be done and I thank Dr Boyd for leading the challenge in “Being Sick Well.” I’ll leave you with the final thoughts from his book.

“The basis for joy in the midst of all these wilting flowers and aging grasses is God, who is eternal. He is the foundation on which this book rests. God is the source of vitality and healing, the Author of Life (Acts 3:15).”

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

As I continue to learn about suffering, I’ve been reading Joni Eareckson Tada’s book, “The God I Love.” Joni writes about her whole life in such a vivid and touching style. Joni leaves out no details of the struggles she has had in her life before and after her accident which led to quadriplegia. She literally paints a picture of true suffering and her day to day wrestling with pain, sorrow and her God.

Everyone is talking about suffering today because of Terri Schiavo. Of course there are some people including her husband who would want her life to end because she is suffering. I have shared before about how my wife is in constant pain and has bone crushing fatigue from her struggles with chronic illness. Suffering is a daily burden for my wife, but she still wants to live this life.

As I read today, Joni zeros in on a true view of suffering as she writes about a trip to Africa.

Here in the sub-Sahara, it seemed that the weaker people were, the harder they had to lean on God - the harder they leaned on him, the greater their joy. It was so different in America, I thought. In the West, we think God exists to make our lives happy, more meaningful and trouble-free. Suffering is a hateful word, and we do anything to eradicate it, medicate it, circumvent it, or divorce it, building hospitals and institutions to alleviate suffering. But in Ghana, people seemed more ready to come to God in empty-handed spiritual poverty, taking from his hand whatever he might offer.

Societal elites would have you believe that suffering is always wrong and should always be avoided. But how can we grow without pain. I remember my coach in high school always pointing out to that ‘without pain there would be no gain.’ Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Paul states in Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed unto His death.” If we as Christians in this life are to be like Christ in all things, we must suffer as he did. Pray for Terri and be thankful for her as she truly is being ‘conformed unto His death’ and as Paul continues in verse 11 “in order that she may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

We must all daily bear our crosses, real crosses with real pain and suffering, in order for us to be real humans. Pray for those who currently suffer. Remember that one day you will have trials and tribulations too and just as they people in Ghana, come to God empty handed, ready for what he will offer in Christ.

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

I’ve heard many of the arguments. Would you want to live if you were like Terri? What does “like” Terri really mean? Does it mean that a person is unable to take care of themselves? Babies are in that position and as Americans, we don’t withhold food and water from them. There are others in the world that would starve children who are not ‘up to’ their standards. Where are we as humans to draw the line? It currently appears that judges have all of the power and will make the final decision especially in Terri Schiavo’s case.

I am grieved myself as I watch a life slipping away. Terri is a life that is worth saving. People rush into burning buildings and defend life with all of their might. At those moments, we don’t consider what quality of life the one whom we save might end up living. We know innately that life is precious. We spend billions to prolong life and to find cures from illnesses that can take life from us.

Even though the one constant and guarantee for all of us is that we will eventually die; death is not something we pursue. As a believer, death is not something that I fear even though I am constantly trying to cheat it by avoiding danger and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If I become ill and need care, I would hope that someone would see my life as one worth living and would reach out and help me.

I agree with Joe Carter when he says that “The dignity is in how we live as we near the end of our lives. No matter what physical condition a person may be in at the end of their life, they are still alive. They still have the dignity of being created in the image of God.” We need to continue to help those who are unable to care for themselves and allow them to live. We are not allowed to play God.

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

“But You LOOK Good” is what people always say to my wife after they find out that she suffers from both Chronic Progressive MS and Late Stage Chronic Lyme Disease. Even though she is daily in pain and overwhelmed by fatigue, she still “Looks Good”.

“Looking Good” is a description of what our society sees as a part of a quality life. But is what “healthy” people define as quality of life the only standard for some one to be alive. The old adage “At least you have your health” has helped reinforce this mindset. What if you lose your health? Do you give up on living? No! You fight back because life is worth living no matter what the cost and you know that life is a precious gift to be cherished.

I wonder would we starve Terri Schiavo if she “Looked Good”. Or maybe a person has to have a certain number of Quality of Life aspects whatever they are. Life is not about “Looking Good” or being “Healthy,” it is about being human and having the RIGHT to live. By the way, “Looking Good” doesn’t have anything to do with how a person feels. After all, most of us will “Look Good” at least one point in our lives, when we’re lying in a casket.

As the Founder & President of The Invisible Disabilities Advocate and Where Is God Ministries, I believe we must fight the most for those who suffer and can not fight for themselves. I don’t want judges to ever take my wife’s life away!

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

Are we the new Netherlands? Has America sold out and decided that human life or death is best determined by fellow humans. The Netherlands and many other European countries appear to think so.

We say we are different, but in Florida we are following the same path of those across the pond. All life is sacred. Only the Creator has the power over life and death, not His creation. Where do we draw the line. The doctors in the Netherlands at Gronigen have decided where their line is or where it is for now. Who knows next week what criteria will be used?

As one who trys to help those who suffer invisibly to be recognized as equal members in our society, I am outraged that we would try to play God! There are those who want to stop the killing of lobsters because they might feel pain, but they would withhold food from Teri Schiavo and have her starve to death. We sound like Dr Eduard Verhagen, “Do we have them continue life in suffering or do we end the life and end the suffering?” Verhagen would kill babies that he deemed unfit for life. What will stop him and others like him from using the same set of rules on those children and adults whom are unable to care for themselves.

My wife suffers greatly from multiple chronic illnesses and I will cherish every moment of her life no matter how hard it becomes to care for her. I married her for who she is as a human and not her illness. I have learned to cherish my health and my life through her suffering. Suffering produces all of the great virtues we so greatly aspire to have such as love and patience and kindness. We can not play God with each other’s lives. We must stand up for those who are unable themselves. Say a prayer for Teri and for those around the world who rely on us to be there for their help and support.

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9. October 2007 by Wayne.

I was glad to hear about Joe Carter’s job opportunity at The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. I am very pleased to learn that there are organizations that value life and dignity as much as I do. Since my wife suffers from multiple chronic illness’s, I am very sensative to how people are treated who are not in good health. I founded two organizations, IDA and WIGM to help bring comfort to both those who suffer and their loved ones. When Hugh Hewitt talked about the Groningen Protocol I was miffed to say the least. I sent the following to Hugh in an email.

Over 125 million Americans live with some sort of chronic illness. Not all are disabled, but their normal life activities suffer.

My wife, Sherri, suffers from chronic progressive MS and late stage Lyme disease, I wonder if she would even be allowed to live in the Netherlands. People always tell her that despite all of her excruciating pain and fatigue, well, she at least “Looks Good.” What if she stops “looking Good?” Should we get rid of her since she is no longer pleasing to our eyes.

We have thousands of visitors to our two organization’s websites and many of them would fall victim to the Netherlands independent committee because they are no longer “Productive.”

A missionary friend of ours has an autistic son who was in diapers until he was 14, I am sure the committee would have “murdered” him as well. Now he is 19 and working as a stock boy at the mall.
We need to fight for those who suffer greatly and not destroy them. Without suffering, we will never grow. As a believer, in order to be like Christ, we must suffer as well as He did until death. His strength is also made perfect in weakness.

Everyone is important and only God should decide when we are to leave this earth to His glory!

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