A Fighting Chance

Last night I learned of a young man, Benjamin Martin, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma--a cancerous brain tumor on April 23, 2009. He's eight years old.

Since being diagnosed Ben has undergone several brain surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. He was doing well for a short time, but at the beginning of September, the tumor returned with a vengeance and is now near the brain stem. Doctors do not feel like he is a candidate for further surgeries, so the family is seeking alternative treatment at the Burzinski Clinic, a major international cancer center providing alternative cancer treatments such as antineoplaston--the treatment Ben is undergoing. The problem? Like many stories of American medicine, Ben's insurance will not cover the treatments, and his mother, determined to help her self-proclaimed superhero son fight, is making the sacrifice.

As with others, this story really tugs at the reins of my heart. Not only because he is so young, yet faced with something many of us will never have to experience at such a young age, but the fact that the doctors have given up on him. At any age, this is a tragedy, and even more so for someone that could possibly have his whole life in front of him. With this treatment his chances of survival increase from close to none, to significantly more. And although the numbers are not in his favor, he still deserves the best chance he can get.

As I look over my life I thank God that everyday He gives me a new chance to get it right. He forgets the foolishness and failures of yesterday, and give me a new clean slate to try again. To increase my chances, when it seems there they are none. And with each opportunity, the chances get better. I get better. So why do we not exhibit this kind of faith, no only in medicine, but in God's ability to make a way, through the gifts he's given to other people or even directly through our dedication to prayer and fasting?

Often times when people pass, family set up funds and non-profits to prevent other people from having to go through the devastation of losing a loved one due to inadequacy in knowledge, medicine or even finances. And the money goes to benefiting a larger group of people. We feel good when we give, not really know how much of a change our little bit will do, but knowing that the sum of the little bits could potentially equal a lot.

But giving to Ben is more than a good cause. It is something that you're tied to emotionally because just like we hope for life, death is still very much an option. And that is something that you would carry with you forever. And that is something that the world is missing. How much better could we be if we sacrificed our personal comfort to really care about people other than ourselves. But the giving, the hope, is no less in vain.

At the end of the day God has the final say and regardless of what that result is God is still God. Until the final curtain call, life goes on. As the saying goes "keep hope alive!," but lets do it today---in life.

For more information and to see how you can help increase Ben's chances go to http://www.bensfight.org/.
And check out this 8-year old's blog at http://www.superherobenfightglioblastoma.blogspot.com/.
To find out more about Ben's treatment go to http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/

I Have A Dream

Today I felt my life change for the better. [That's a statement right, "I felt?" But, boy what a feeling!!!] The chains of bondage were broken a long time ago, and I am responsible for the lingering affect they have had on my life. No More!!! The lure of mediocrity is often times appealing because of its ease. But that life: It's not for me!

The inspiration that people think I am, is the inspiration I am going to be. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Anything that I touch will turn to gold. I will live a life of service but will no longer yield the open invitation for others to use me as a door mat. I've destroyed the walls of my box and live expectantly in the moment. I will affect life, life will NOT affect me. I will live outside of my comfort zone by 1st: doing things out of the ordinary, and 2nd: being extraordinary. I am who God says I am, and that is all that matters. There are too many deeply rooted passions that burn that He has planted and been cultivating within the uncharted depths of my heart. It's time to shed light on the vision, and go after the dream and all that I want and that God wants for me.

Like I said in the beginning, today, I felt my life change for the better. Follow my dream as UGoDream and let's see where life takes us!!!!

One Hundred Times

In Matthew 19:27-30, Peter questioned to Jesus his decision to follow him due to the things and people he lost and left behind. Peter, a married man, walked away from his family to follow Christ. The other eleven disciples also left wives, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends--all to follow Christ. Because I know how the evil angels whisper questions in my ear, I can imagine that Peter was the only one bold enough to actually question Jesus about his conflict. He had seen the miracles, and lives being changed. He believed--most days--that he made the right decision, but the right decision doesn't always keep you warm at night, or give you comfort in your loneliness, or even confidence in your absence.

I too have asked God many questions because, as a thinker, my life is filled with questions. And in the uncertainty, absence of answers--and let's just be real here--down right lack of faith, I have often times retreated back to the comfort zone for security. Having experienced loss, hurt, disappointment, feelings of being taken advantage of and abused, or my least favorite FEAR have been my fiercest opponents thus far. But as the fight between moving forward and being comfortable rages on, I find it harder and harder to retreat back, because "back" doesn't have it's same fervour. The colors are faded, the people are dull, the food is bland, the environment is not the same. Or is it? I think that everything is still the same, familiar even, but with each step forward I experience something new, something better. I get an indication of how things could be if I just put some Dr. Scholl's in my stilettos and kept marching forward.

Just like I have questioned God, He has given me many answers. Lately, He's been a little quiet, because He was waiting on me to step out on faith and do something He asked me to do. I did it, and I question it because the potential hurt from I dare not fathom, but in the end, I know it will be worth it. Jesus understood Peter's position; He understood the sacrifice. However, Jesus reassured Peter that what he and the other disciples thought they lost was really only an investment that would multiply a hundredfold.

Although Jesus would make the ultimate sacrifice, he still understood the sacrifices of the disciples and how it affected them on their level, as God understands us. The reward is as valid today as it was then, "if" we believe.



Thanks to Rev. K. Davenport (associate minister, El Bethel Baptist Church, Redford, MI) for his sermon "What's In It For Me?"