Final Four: Part 3: The Rock.

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?”

(Psalm 18:30-31)

His Way.
Last Wednesday the final cast came off and the sutures were taken out. God is good, all the time, as He heals me through these surgical journeys. I am reminded from Psalm 18, penned by King David, that God’s plan is perfect. Everything happens according to His perfect will even when I do not know why. I must simply trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

His Word.
Through these months of surgery, recovery and rehab, God’s word remains a constant and reliable source of encouragement to my heart as I meditate on His promises.  It is awesome to know that God can be fully trusted and His word is completely reliable.  It "is flawless."

I echo the words of the psalmist, “It was good to for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:71).  It in times of trial, God’s word becomes more precious and sweeter to my soul.

He is The Shield.
God protects me and those that are His through the fiercest storms when we take refuge in Him.

The Rock.
Commentator Dr. James M. Boice notes that the common theme found in Psalm 18 is that “God is our Rock!” 

Boice writes, “…This means he is a shelter beside which we can be protected and prosper, a fortress into which we can run and be safe, a firm foundation upon which our shaking feet can stand and upon which we can build.”

Furthermore, Boice states, “We do not know how much of Christ’s future work his lesser ancestor, King David, foresaw.  But we, who stand on this side of the cross, know what Jesus Christ did.  We know that he was smitten for us, crucified, that we might be saved from sin and protected from all harm.  Are you “in him”? Are you sheltered in the cleft of that Rock?  If you are, you can sing David’s song with full reference to the cross and resurrection.  You can sing,

“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!  Exalted be God my Savior!” (Psalm 18:46).

Grateful for The Rock – Jesus Christ.

Pictures that capture last Wednesday’s check-up.

Cast Off.

Sutures Removed.

Photo-Op with April, Physician's Assistant.

X-Ray of The New Wheel.  Now I Am Ready to Race!

Getting After it in PT (Physical Therapy).

Yo, Stephen in Oak Ridge and Frank in Johnson City, TN…Go Vols!  All you UT fans better root harder for those boys playing B-ball. They need help—Big Time!  Too much streetball and no fundamentals.  Coach Pearl and the boys need to kick-it up a notch if they are going to make it to The Big Dance in March!

Final Four: Part 2.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, 

I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

It is over, but in some ways it is just beginning!  Two weeks ago today the fourth and final ankle surgery was successfully completed—praise the Lord!  A week ago Sunday I came home from the hospital. The past week of recovery has gone very well.  Tomorrow, Lord willing, the cast you see here comes off and the sutures will come out.  Then it is back to a “high fashion” walking boot that will be on the left foot at least three months.

Again the Lord provided numerous opportunities to sow the seed of the gospel with numerous nurses and medical staff.  It seemed like I was on a short-term missions trip during the stay in the hospital.  Nurse Igor from the Ukraine and Anna from South Korea made my stay comfortable.  Anita from Poland and Alma from the Filipino islands daily helped me get cleaned-up and changed my bed.  Pansy from Jamaica delivered my meals.

Final Four Prep.
Keeping with the “Final Four” theme, the infamous hospital gown got “dressed-up” with authentic “Final Four” wear.  Kicking it up an additional notch, my feet were prepped with a pedicure.

For the record, Real Men get pedicures.  For the married man, your wife will be pleased you finally trimmed your toenails with no jagged edges to rub up against her legs.  Plus, a pedicure removes all those toe-jams that normally appear on the floor next to your bed or, even worse, in the sheets in your bed.  Men, for 2009 make a commitment to get a pedicure for you and your wife. You will be a better man for it!

No More Screws.
During the surgery these screws you see here were removed.  The large screws were inserted into my heal and used to fuse the subtalus and calcaneus (heel) bones in the first surgery on the left ankle back in September.  The small screw was used to keep the first metatarsal bone in place after it was broken and realigned in the previous surgery.  The large screws come out when the prosthetic is inserted.

Next Race and Chapter.

With a heart of thanksgiving these surgeries are now over.  Now, after the cast comes off and the sutures come out tomorrow, the next stop is physical therapy (PT) and putting this “new hardware” to work. PT, twice a week, will be on the radar for the coming weeks.  There is a lot of work and rehab ahead, but it will be worth it—a new race begins!

This post is dedicated to Tony Dungy who retired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts yesterday.  I have never met Dungy, but his commitment to “walk the talk” by daily living for the glory of Jesus Christ challenges and encourages me.  “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6).

Derrick Brooks, a player Dungy coached during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently said,

"I certainly look forward to partnering with him on various community projects. He certainly meant a lot to me as a role model displaying high character, great integrity and consistency as a man. We cannot ask for a better ambassador for the game of football than Coach Dungy as he has always lived his life by faith, family and football, in that order."

Tony Dungy left a mark on the National Football League (NFL) like no other coach in the history of the league.  Even after losing his eighteen year old son, James, through suicide in 2005, Dungy pressed on and became the first black man to win the Super Bowl in 2007 when the Colts beat the Chicago Bears.

Focused on Finishing Well!