We’ve had a good time with the kids as we have had our simultaneous services with grades 1-6. The crowds haven’t been great but they have been pretty good and the kids have participated and had fun. At least that’s what I’m hearing from some of the parents. I also entertained at the Coffee County Baptist Assoc. annual luncheon today. A double whammy! Oy is my voice beat! An extra prayer for strength would be appreciated.

The report from Yazoo City is that Patty’s dad is doing pretty well. His weight is dropping a bit more but he is still a little weak. Patty is still uncertain of her return. Could be later tomorrow or Thurs.

Thank you again for your continued prayers!
John

It was a good day at Salem Baptist Church today as we celebrated the church and the future God has directed. Things began early with a breakfast for kids at 9 a.m., breakfast for students and a breakfast for senior adults at 10. When the kids got finished around 9:35, I did a 45 min program of music and ventriloquism.

Ater the opening song and offering, I took the morning service. I was asked to be casual but challenging and I felt things went well. A groundbreaking ceremony for a new worship center followed the service. The pastor seemed pleased with everything.

Patty was able to join me as she drove from Yazoo City. Having just gotten her dad home on Friday from the hospital, she felt she needed to keep an eye on him a few more days but really wanted a day away. It was a good getaway for her. She headed back to Yazoo this afternoon as I drove home. She arrived in Yazoo to find her dad was beginning to retain fluid once again. We will see what the future holds. Thankful it’s all in Gods hands.

I will be going down to my home church tomorrow to set up my equipment for the kids revival services which are being held simulaneously with the adults. Pray that the message gets through and that lives are changed!

Blessings,
John

Hi friends,

Mr. Shurley was discharged today.  He’s the comeback kid, for sure.  The cardiologist is pleased with his numbers and the kidney doctor, a bit more restrained, is saying he believes he can go home and do some lasix with restricted liquid intake and do fine.  They’ve also given him a pill for his diabetes (he’s had type 2 for a couple of years since he began chemo) and it should be easier on his kidneys than the injection. He will go back in 2 weeks for a check up on his kidneys.  Now, it’s all about catching up on rest.  Patty is exhausted as caretakers often are and I’m praying she can get some rest tonight.  She plans, right now, to drive over to Lake, MS, tomorrow to join me.  We sure appreciate your prayers.

I will be heading out in the morning to Lake, MS, for a Sunday event.  I will be doing the kids Sunday School and morning worship service as they celebrate a new building program.  Following the service there will be a goundbreaking for the new building and dinner on the grounds.  Should Patty be able to join me, as planned, we will head back to Enterprise following lunch.

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  The last couple of years have been a bit difficult and I am thankful God is still on His Throne!

John

A friend came up to me tonight at prayer meeting and reminded me to post!  She said she really looks forward to keeping up with us and praying for us so I thought I might better get on this!

Mr. Shurley is doing pretty well.  A nice amount of fluid came off early but has slowed considerably.  The doctors are a bit concerned about his kidney function so they have decreased the drip and are keeping an eye on everything.  Don’t want to push the kidneys too hard.  He is in good spirits and other than being worn out, Patty is doing good.  When we moved to Enterprise in 2001, she left some really good friends.  As only God can orchestrate, she ran into one of the friends while on an errand the other day.  They are coming by, sharing a meal at times, and she told me this has been a real source of encouragement.   A text or call can mean a lot, can’t it?

At this time, I will continue here at the house preparing for this weekend and the kids revival next week.  I’ll be working with the kids of our church during the revival next week.  Pray for workers.  We need some volunteers each night and you know how that can be, especially if you have a really good team leading the adults.  We are praying for people to just give us one night.  Mon, Tues, or Wednesday…any or all!

Thanks for the prayers,
John

The Baptist Hospital that is…

When Mr. Shurley (Patty’s dad) got up this morning, he weighed in another 2 lbs heavier for a total of 17 lbs of fluid.  They went to his GP as planned and the doctor said he believed the problem to be more than he could do without hospitalizing him.  We had prayed for answers and Mr. Shurley had stated that if the GP’s recommendation wasn’t what he wanted to hear, he wanted Patty to take him to Jackson.  Well, while we agreed, we also didn’t want to get yet another doctor involved feeling like it would just add to confusion.  Our prayers were answered as the GP came up with the following plan.

He wanted Mr. Shurley to head to his cardiologist to have an exam to make sure it wasn’t his heart then admit him in the Baptist Hospital there in Jackson.  So, they went home, made a few calls, packed some things and headed over.  Patty was impressed with the time and effort the cardiologist took with her dad.  The doctor said that while he didn’t believe it was heart failure, he did believe that for some reason the heart was storing the extra fluid.  He wants to get rid of that fluid but said it was as important to him to find out why this is happening.  The doc is contacting Mr. Shurley’s oncologist and his kidney specialist to join up and work on this.

Throughout the day I have tried to do the work and planning for the upcoming weekend and next week but have been distracted with phone calls and my concerns toward Patty and her dad.  I will continue working as best as I can and she is confident in the quality of care they are receiving there.

We appreciate your prayers on every front!

Blessings,
John

The wedding went well. As you know, I played my horn but did you know I was also the MC for the reception. Yep…it was a different reception than I had been to. It was beautiful and was a “sit down” event. I introduced the wedding party and made individual announcements as needed. It was a beautiful, well done ceremony and we left the reception around 6:45 to get Patty ready for travel.

You guessed it. She got a call from Yazoo and will be going in to be with her dad. The fluid is just not coming off. He will be going back to the GP on Monday morning and she will be the second set of ears as options are discussed. As I said in an earlier post, I think, following his chemo treatment on Friday, the oncologist ordered an echocardiogram to find the fluid. The chest and lungs were perfectly clear. That’s good news. He seems to be holding the fluid in his mid section. The additional fluid weight is wearing him out so…
Pray for him and wisdom for the doctor, as well as Patty traveling alone. Not crazy about that one but I have much to prepare for as I have 6 different programs beginning next Sunday-Wednesday. Lots to work on.

Thanks friends,
John

The deed is done!  shhhhhhhhh, she might hear you.  I left the driveway for today and was determined to finish it.  I did.  The pinched nerve in my neck that I’ve been dealing with for weeks has paid the price I’m afraid, but I’ll take an anti-inflammatory and keep going.  Glad it’s done and things look so much better.  Thank you, Lord, for the strength and time to do the work.

We’ve had a difficult time with Mr. Shurley’s (Patty’s dad) fluid.  Boy, it just hasn’t released and has been very frustrating!  He has gotten with his general practitioner and has been prescribed a “super flusher” that we pray will produce great results. Please join us in this effort, will you?  He’ll take the first pill in the morning.

Speaking of “in the morning”…We will celebrate Patty’s birthday tomorrow by heading to the beach and having lunch at her favorite place, walking on the beach and doing a little shopping.  We don’t get to do this every year for her special day because of our travel schedule but when we are in town, that’s her choice.

Well, nothing else much to report.  I will keep you updated on Mr. Shurley and anything else that may come along!

Blessings,
John

I have a fishing bud that when we go out on his boat and look to try a new or different bait he’ll say; “If I was a fish I’d eat that”!  Ha ha, well, I’m here to tell you that just like that fish bait, the power washer is a trap!  Men of America…Run for your lives!!!!

Just so you will recognize it, here’s the sequence.  “Honey, our house really needs the dirt and mildew washed off, you would please get the Clorox and the power washer and take care of that?  Would you mind?”  Seems harmless enough, doesn’t it?  But that’s where it STARTS, not where it ends.  You see, I’m up and down ladders and soaking wet with water and clorox and 2 days later, I finish.  It looks so nice and I’m proud of the work and grateful things went well.  Then it happened…

“Oh honey, you know…the house looks wonderful!  You did a great job!”  (wait for it, wait for it)  “Would you mind doing the patio? It really looks bad when you compare it to the house.”  Now I have a patio that runs almost the length of the back of the house and is 15 ft. wide.  So I grab a quick bite of lunch, took off on it and got it done.  Wow, I’m done…this is great!  And she was right, it does look a lot better now.  (wait for it…wait for it)

“Sweetie…you were planning on doing the sidewalk and driveway weren’t you?”  “Ummmmm, yeah.”  Don’t let this be you, my friend.  Run!

Seriously, things are looking so much better and I’m thankful that God has given me this time at home, the strength and health to accomplish these much needed chores.

Patty’s dad woke this morning with a slight weight loss and we are grateful.  Patty has been in touch with his kidney doctor as well as his oncologist to try and get a second opinion to know for sure that the road the general practitioner is taking us on is indeed the correct one.  We, thankfully, have received confirmation and now pray this heavy 2 day dose of Lasix will bring the desired results.  Please join us in this.  And again, we are thankful that Patty’s brother Ken is headed in to Yazoo City today and will be there until Saturday.

Tomorrow is driveway day.  By the way, does anyone know how many Advil one can take before the kidneys shut down?  : )

Blessings,
John

Ha, ha, ha… well, it’s really not that bad, at least not yet.  Those of you who follow us regularly know about our time at home when we come off the road.  Depending on the turn around time from one engagement to the next and such, we will spend time preparing for the next event.  On times such as now, we will try and accomplish those household things that “normal people” do on a weekend basis.  Today was one such day.  After a walk, I found myself attached to the end of a power washer.  I cleaned the front of my house.  Actually told Patty that I was glad she wasn’t around to witness me reaching the upper peaks.  Even though our house is one story, there are some elevated angles in the front as decoration and it was, um…….fun!  I’m feeling it in my shoulders pretty good right now but there’s much to do as I will start on the side and back tomorrow.  Patty is already seeing how the…um….sidewalk, patio, and driveway need special attention.  Oh well!

Now on to more serious things.  Patty’s dad is not doing well with his fluid retention.  After this mornings weigh in at a significant weight gain, he went to his general practitioner who is putting him on a huge dose of lasix beginning tomorrow.  We are thankful that Patty’s brother had planned a visit beginning tomorrow night and going through Saturday, otherwise, I’m fairly certain Patty would have been headed back to Yazoo.  We would appreciate your prayers on his behalf.  This fluid is difficult on his breathing and heart.

Thanks!
John

Patty took her dad this morning. He has had a cough along with everything else and the nurse that administered the chemo injection listened to his chest. An exray was ordered. There was very little explanation so that’s a bit disconcerting but obviously there is something suspected or worth checking out.

His weight is still up and breathing is not as comfortable as you can imagine but he says he’s not feeling too bad, all things considered. I guess we will find out, sometime this next week, what’s going on.

Tomorrow I will be with the MS Baptist R.A. Congress being held at MS College in Clinton, MS. I’m not sure what time things will wrap up I’m scheduled for my set up and sound check around 9 a.m.

We would appreciate your prayers as we do the work and for doctors wisdom in healthcare.

Blessings,
John