We had an uneventful trip which is always good. Mom and Patty’s dad are doing pretty well. He has elected to try a new treatment for his lymphoma. I’ll give more on that as time goes along.

Let’s see, the word on my friend Craig is that his surgery did not go as well as they had hoped. They surgeons were unable to get as much of the tumor, by going through the sinuses, as they had hoped so they have begun a 3-4 hr surgery by opening his skull. We would appreciate your prayers.

We will spend the day tomorrow helping parents do things around the house the pull out Saturday morning. I’ll blog again once we get set up in Hampton, AR,on Saturday.

Blessings,
John

Ha ha, yep, juggling, unicycle, whatever it all seems a circus at times for sure.  But that’s this life, isn’t it?  Now that our parents are the age they are, our travel just has to include a trip to Yazoo City, if possible, everytime we’re out.  That’s some extra stuff on us but glad to have the opportunity.

Our worship pastor was out tonight at a Worship Conference this week so I led Wednesday night worship, choir rehearsal, and praise team rehearsal.  Patty is still feeling a bit under the weather so she stayed home and packed.  We will head out in the morning for the first leg of our trip to Hampton, AR.  We will drop by Yazoo City tomorrow evening and Friday, then drive on up to Hampton on Saturday where we will set up for revival services at First Baptist.

Patty’s dad had his followup on the P.E.T. scan from last week.  He has another tumor that has developed in the throat area that will be treated with 2 injections a week and after 2 weeks will be evaluated.  After talking with his oncologist, he is optimistic.  His first injection will be on Friday, September 14th.  So, we will drive from Hampton, AR, on Thursday following the meeting and stop by Yazoo City again so Patty can take him to his first injection.  We would like to see the effects, if any, this has on him personally.  Then, Lord willing, we will head back home on Saturday.

One final thing.  Please join me in prayer for a friend in LA.  A great trumpet player and someone I haven’t know a long time.  He was diagnosed with a brain tumor yesterday.  Following MRI and testing is being done but things don’t look good at all.  His name is Craig.  Pray for God’s will in his life as well as his wife Jaclyn.  Thanks!

Blessings,
John

I enjoyed sitting in the orchestra here at home today.  This is what I typically do when I’m home but because of our schedule, this is the first time I’ve had this opportunity since May.  With rehearsal at 8 a.m. it makes for an early day but it was nice and good to be back.

The bone spur in my neck is still there and still causing a bit of tingling in my left arm if I sit in a particular position.  I got an invitation to play golf with some friends yesterday morning and after thinking about it decided to go ahead and give it a try.  Treatment for this particular pinched nerve is first, a heavy anti-inflammatory and a steroid pack.  Second, an epidural followed by physical therapy.  I thought to myself, I will be going back to the doctor on Wednesday so why not give it a try.  Just possibly, all the movement of walking and a golf swing may act as physical therapy.  Well, it did actually seem to help a bit.  While I’m still dealing with some occasional tingling, things do seem better.  I’m still on the anti-inflammatory and will be still when I head back to the doctor on Wednesday.

Patty is improving each day.  She is still on some heavy meds herself but they seem to be doing the trick.  It’s so important that she take it easy this week because we will be leaving Thursday on our way to the revival meeting in Hampton, AR.

We will stop by Yazoo City on our way.  Patty’s dad’s lymphoma seems to have returned pretty significantly. While seeing the E.N.T. doctor to have the nosebleed packing removed, the doctor seemed much more interested in the new tumor in Mr. Shurley’s neck.  Pics were taken and sent to his oncologist and Mr. Shurley is scheduled for a consultation on Wednesday.  Obviously, I will know more at that time and will pass it on to you as soon as we hear.

Tomorrow we are having a staff cookout/gathering at the pastor’s home so the fellowship will be nice.

I’ll be in touch.  Thank you, as always, for checking in and for your prayers!
John

We had a fall program kickoff tonight at FBC Dothan.  Everything was scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. so we headed over in time to arrive at 4:30 to move in and set up.  The bone spur in the base of my neck has me “tingling” alot so I’m moving slow and deliberate to keep things steady.

We got moved in and set up by the time the tornado warning went off.  Yep, the tornado warning (siren).  The leadership directed everyone to head downstairs in an area that has classrooms, a parlor, all the heating/cooling machinery, and the dining room for the family night suppers.  This area is underground and apparently the usual “go to” for the church membership.  Well, we sat down there until 5:45 and Patty and I looked at each other and decided to head back up to the chapel where our program would be.

We weren’t there long before a man came in and told us the warning had been extended to 6:30, so we headed back down to the basement.   We got seated to wait out the warning when one of the staff came and immediately announced that the warning had been lifted and things would begin as soon as everyone got to their appointed places.

Sooooooooo, here we go.  We take the stairs and when the kids and parents were all in place, I began.  It was a pretty good night but the little guys (there were some kindergarteners there) got a bit restless which is to be expected.

On the home side, Patty went to our Ear, Nose, and Throat doc today and he said; “I don’t think you realize how sick you really are.”   Hmmm, seriously?  He went on to say that there were probably multiple times she could have played the “sick card”.  It’s amazing that she’s been able to do everything she’s done.

So, she’s on some heavy meds.  Hoping I can keep her at home and quiet for a while so she can heal a bit.  We appreciate your prayers!

Blessings,
John

Made it in from a long weekend. Patty is still struggling with allergy stuff and the infection seems to have returned. Glad she made an appt with our ENT before we left town last week. She will go in the morning so hopefully she can get some relief.

Tomorrow evening I will be doing a Fall Kickoff in nearby Dothan, provided the weather cooperates. We are planning for it right now.

Sure appreciate your prayers and would like you to especially remember our friends in south LA. Love you guys!

Blessings
John

Wow, what a weekend it’s been and this booking isn’t over.  We arrived in Yazoo, as you are aware, Friday evening.  We elected to stay in Yazoo and commute to Raymond for each event and it’s a God thing that we did.  On Saturday morning Patty’s dad developed a nose bleed.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  It wasn’t drizzling, it was streaming and showed no sign of slowing.  I took him to the emergency room and spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon there as they tried to get it stopped.  His blood pressure when checked in was 214/174.  The dr said that had he not bled through his nose he would have bled in his brain so we are so thankful to the Lord.

Saturday afternoon Patty took over the home duties and I drove to Raymond to set up for the weekend activities.  Mr. Shurley (Patty’s dad) got released from the ER around 3 p.m. on Saturday with instructions to watch his blood pressure and take in plenty of fluids.  He is doing much, much better and we are now coordinating Dr. visits to get the meds adjusted (if needed) and to get the packing removed from his nostril.  I say; “get the meds adjusted if needed” for the reason that this spike in pressure has only happened one other time and it was early last year.  So, we are letting the doctors figure it out.

I played my horn and used a “friend” in both morning services yesterday and presented a concert last night.  Everything went well.  Tonight, I will entertain at a Choir Appreciation Banquet at the church.

We will be heading out early in the morning to attempt to drive as little as possible in the incoming storm.  Our friends with Alabama Power contacted us last night and said 5″ to 12″ of rain with some pretty heavy winds will be moving in so we’ll try and beat most of that.

Oh, the rooster?????  Patty was in the sound booth last night running the media and said the sound lady was extremely chatty.  All night and through the entire program in fact.  Patty said everything climaxed when she was told that the lady raises roosters and hens and now there are too many.  The lady said that she prays that her roosters would get along because they are getting to the age now where they are beginning to fight for their territory.  Yep, prays that they would get along.  She offered us one.  I told her to ask the lady if the young ones taste like chicken???

Blessings,
John

It was a good night tonight.  Turns out that opening the concert up to the church changed the dynamics of the crowd considerably and it was a  fun night.  The unload, set up, tear down, and load has aggravated my pinched nerve but we knew this would most likely be the case.

We will drive tomorrow and set up Saturday as opposed to doing everything  on Saturday.  This will help a bit I believe.  We would appreciate your prayers for our travel and presentations.  Not sure that I will be able to keep touch until Sunday or Monday so here’s the weekend schedule.

Saturday set up.
Sunday a.m. I will take part in the service in some capacity.
Sunday p.m. Concert
Monday p.m. Choir Appreciation Banquet
Tuesday travel home.

Thanks again for checking in.  You are a blessing!
John

So sorry, gang, for not blogging yesterday.  Man, what a day.  I appreciate all the prayers for my neck/shoulder/arm thing going on and I had my doctors appointment yesterday.

Turns out that I have a bone spur at the base of my neck that, in certain body positions, presses against a nerve causing tingling in my left arm and both legs.  Geez.  Not really sure if just “wear and tear of age” or a certain action caused this, according to the doc, but it is what it is so I am kinda hanging out in my recliner getting work done for upcoming ministries and taking a steroid and anti-inflammatory to hopefully aid in the healing.  The doc says that at this point he doesn’t choose surgery and I’m just fine with that for sure.

Nevertheless, it will be a bit challenging to continue this ministry (as I move all the equipment) but we will do just that, one speaker at a time.  ha ha

Tomorrow I’ll be doing a concert in a local church for the kickoff of the Enterprise Homeschoolers Association.  Again, I would appreciate your prayers both for healing and effectiveness in ministry.

Blessings,
John

Well, we’ve made it home.  It was a rather lengthy day but a good one.  As I stated last night, it began early as we arrived at the church a little before 8 a.m. to make sure things were ready for the day.  The Senior Adults seemed to enjoy the breakfast and the Professor and the kids in Sunday School were fun.  We had an unexpected inconvenience when the bulb for their projector blew.  Fortunately, I was scheduled for a 30 min slot so I had lined up only 3 choruses. One was familiar, one “so-so”, and one new one so we made it through okay.

After lunch with the pastor and his family, we headed home.  We got in a little after 6 p.m. and are glad to be here.  Looking forward to the rest.  Thank you, again, for the prayers.

Time to gear up for Thursday night’s Enterprise Homeschool Association “school year kickoff”.  The host church, County Line Baptist Church, I understand, has been invited.  Sounds weird, but in the past it’s just been a night for the Association.  Last time I was there, a couple of years ago I think, there were a few church members that were present and they have pursued the idea of having the program opened up to everyone.  So, I’ll give more of a church concert which is fine with me as opposed to doing a “target school” program.

Blessings,
John

Hey, thanks for the prayers.  Your prayers for safety worked well.  We were held up in downtown ATL for a while with a 6 car pileup but thank the Lord we were not “in it” just going past.  Looked like no one was hurt but snarled things up big time for quite a while.

We arrived at the church on time to unload and set things up.  There were a few difficulties in that we are doing 2 programs in a room other than the worship center so we have two set ups.  That’s always a bit of a hassle but not totally uncommon for our line of work.  Nevertheless, it is what it is and we are ready to go.

The day will go something like this.  Arrive at 8:00 a.m., have breakfast with Senior Adults and program to follow, 9:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School program, then 10:30 Worship Service.

Following a loadup and lunch with the pastor, we will head home.  I’ve assumed through self diagnosis, that my muscle problem is not muscle related but may be a pinched nerve.  Bothering me a bit now after the drive and set up.  I would appreciate your prayers as I continue doing what is required of me.  Dr.’s appointment on Tuesday.

Blessings,
John