Happy Wednesday!

It’s FREEZING out here this morning! I’m trying my hardest to keep working outside as long as these closing days of summer will warm my fingers. Last night, we hosted Emily’s cousin “Chuck” and his family for dinner and then some hang out time on the patio. What a name he has… what a guy he is. Was a little chilly, but we started a fire and brought out the mellows and grams… and all was well. Had an amazing time with them.

In a few hours when all the birds wake up, Chuck will be heading to UVA for a very serious heart surgery. Imagine how much the seriousness of this moment has been sobering up my fellow Chucky these past few days. Human frailty reaches up for divine intervention most desperately in time like these! When facing a potential end… we are driven to wonder about the bigger picture!

Emily had a funny conversation with Chuck about God a few days ago. Chuck was describing a conversation he had with his son… and in that conversation, Chuck instructed his son to go to Destiny Family Center this coming Sunday… and he told his son that when I give “that call” at the end of the service, the one that I give every service… that he needed to raise his hand and pray the prayer! He was explaining that he didn’t want to have to worry about how his son would turn out, should something go wrong on the operating table.

Of course, Emily fires back in her dangerously straight forward manner of conversating (created word), “We need to be worrying about YOU right now big boy… have you prayed that prayer? Are you ready to meet God? Because I know that my Chuck wants to talk to you alone before the surgery.” Chuck fired back without a moments hesitation, “Emily, I have prayed that prayer three times… and if Chuck wants me to pray it again, I will gladly do that!” (Chuck’s been watching the DFC internet broadcast and reading these daily blogs… a definite move in the right direction! lol)

Chucks sister Jessica held a pre-surgery party for Chuck at her house on Sunday evening… what a super concept! We had a really good time with family… and showed Chuck how much he means to us all. Then last night…

After dinner, we went out to the patio, turned on the fire, and chatted about everything under the sun… funny things, serious things, and everything in between. As the night was winding down and we all faced the reality of Chucks need for rest… I eased Chuck into that very NECESSARY pre-surgical spiritual preparation procedure! We can call this a PSSPP for the sake of our story.

During this delicate procedure, Dr. & Mrs. Charles Balsamo were able to locate and remove any lingering blockages in Chucks heart (his soulish heart, not his blood pumping organ)… and lead Chuck into a VERY HEART FELT commitment to Jesus Christ! The moment was beautiful beyond words… it was the REAL thing!

During the PSSPP, Chuck explained how much he was moved by his encounter with Pastor David Kumar of India a few weeks ago. It was during that brief lunchtime encounter, Chuck really starting wondering about his reason for being on this earth… and his life after this earth. Thank God for Pastor Davids amazing words to Chuck that day!

So, cousin Chuck is READY to go under the knife… his family is ready… PEACE is our mood! We trust that Chuck is in Gods hands and he will come through this very serious surgery PERFECTLY… and that we will recover completely… and that he will live to apprehend that for which he has been apprehended of God!

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Please pray for Chuck during the hours of 9:30am and 4pm today… and get excited with us over how wonderfully God is transforming this beautiful family! Chuck’s wife and daughter have been attending the amazing ROC Church in Richmond (Richmond Outreach Center)… and after the next few weeks, their entire family unit will be journeying in the same spiritual direction… with a most adventurous future ahead! I can’t wait to see them all five years from today… and remember back to this season of time when God reached in and gloriously impacted their lives!

I hope todays story inspires many more successful PSSPP surgeries! Each of us can make a difference… one family at a time! God bless you all… have a most outstanding day!