The Christmas Card

I recognized the handwriting on the envelope immediately, as I pulled the mail from the box. It was a Christmas card. The beautiful writing addressed to my wife and I was from my mom. She always hand writes all the names and addresses. Mom has never used a computer. But unlike me, you can read her writing.

I walked slowly back across the road and to the house. I hesitated at the thought of opening the card. I knew it would be a Christmas card. She has faithfully sent them out through the years. But this would be the first year...

With tears in my eyes, I read the beautiful poem and Christmas wish. And I read the signature below, "Love, Mom." You see, this is the first Christmas card I have ever received from P.O. Box 182 without two names on it. Daddy passed away in March. His name is missing.

There's a lot of joy around the Robbins' house this year. Trish and I are staying busy. Loving God, loving our church, loving our family. But there's a couple of missing spots. Those who know us know this, and I pray will forgive me for feeling the need to write about it again. Sometimes when I feel like crying, it seems to be good therapy just to put it in words. I have been hesitant to do so because of my daughter, Tina. Her husband, Michael passed away in July. Both Dad and Michael passed away due to cancer. Tina, like mom, has some good days and some bad. But mom doesn't read my blogs. Tina does. So I try to keep my thoughts to a minimum.

You never know when just a simple thing will trigger a memory. Like a Christmas card. And we are not alone in facing a Christmas with pain and adversity. I know many of you are facing some things that make this a difficult time for you. My prayers are that the Lord will give you his divine strength. And I pray you will be surrounded by family and friends who will help you.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

I think the saying is a jingle to an old tv beer commercial. Wherever it originated from, it just came to my mind as I sit here relaxing on a Sunday afternoon. We had an awesome service this morning. As pastor, I tend to evaluate everything. It's just one of those things pastors are prone to do, I guess. I reflect on everything from the attendance, to how people respond, to the excitement level, to the offering level. I haven't seen the offering amount yet, but the others were pretty good. It was a great day.

I am sitting here flipping channels between the football games and the nascar race that is on. I am in what my grandson Zach calls "the comfortable couch." It is one of those small ones, we used to call them love seats, but I'm not sure if that is the actual term. In my "comfortable couch love seat" double recliner next to me is my beautiful wife of 37 years. It is not really cold, but we are sharing a throw my daughter gave me for Christmas that has "daddy" on it. Mom has more of it than daddy.

I don't have a ton of money, in fact the account is very limited. I guess if I counted things as some do, I could be disattisfied with what life has given me. But I am content with where I am in life. No, I haven't arrived, and there is definitely room for improvement. So, yes, things can improve and get better.

But I've got a God who loves me so much He gave His only Son for me. I've got a wife I am more crazy about than the day we married. I am blessed with 4 wonderful kids who are grown, and a great daughter in law and son in law. And I've got a grandson that thinks Paw Paw is second only to Maw Maw (I can live with that). I've got a church that is exciting to attend, and people who love and support Trish and I. No, I don't have everything. But I am so blessed to have the important things. AND IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

(The pic above is an oldie of years gone by when our kids were small)

Y'all be blessed,

Pastor Ronnie

CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL!

Michael Armstrong graduates from Pfeiffer College Saturday, August 2, with a Master's degree. It's a pretty good accomplishment, and one that we're proud of. Michael could tell the story better, but at the moment he is tied up with some other pressing needs. I hope you read on, as Paul Harvey says, "for the rest of the story".

In addition to being a husband, having a full time job with the city of Charlotte as a fire inspector, and serving in his church, he decided to go back to school. His plate has been pretty full. Oh yeah, there's one other thing that has taken some time and energy... more on that in a moment.

Michael will not be walking the aisle to receive his diploma. There will be no family members or friends there to congratulate him for such a worthwhile accomplishment. There will be no pictures of him with cap and gown, or diploma in hand. He will not even attend the ceremony.

Michael is my son in law. He and my daughter, Tina, have been married for 4 years. One day after they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, back in June, now 3 years ago, Michael discovered he had lymphoma cancer. It was stage 4.

The word cancer brings dread to many. It is a horrific disease. Michael certainly is not the only one to have this disease. As I write this, I am thinking of several friends. We visited a precious lady yesterday in the hospital, who is raising a 5 year old grand daughter. She has cancer, and will begin the process immediately of treatment. My dad just recently had surgery, and will be undergoing treatment shortly for cancer. I just received an email update from some precious missionary friends in El Salvador who have a daughter in law here in the states with cancer. The church I pastor has several cancer survivors. We (the church) have participated in the Cancer Society Relay for Life for a number of years. My point is that Michael is not the only one battling this disease. His story may be your story, as well.

Now, back to Michael-- Over the 3 year process, he has had numerous treatments. Much of it with little or no success. From Charlotte, to UNC, to Duke. Chemotherapy after chemotherapy, with all the other things that go with it. He would go back for scanning with little or no results: shrunken in one place, but other places coming up. He received a stem cell transplant of his own (harvested), and that was a tedious process. Staying confined to a small room for about 3 weeks, and then in a nearby apartment in Chapel Hill, where he would go in for tests every day. Then, what seemed like a breakthrough for a season was quickly replaced with more apprehension when the cancer began to grow again. Finally, UNC had gone through the process, and pretty much did not know what else to do. Insurance regulations had at first prohibited Michael from receiving treatment at Duke, but that changed. Upon arriving at Duke, Michael began to receive new treatment. It is an experimental treatment that only those in the stages Michael is could receive. Immediately, things began to turn around!

The reason Michael can't walk the aisle to receive his diploma is because he is now at Duke preparing for a stem cell transplant. His brother, Aaron, is there with him. Aaron is the donor. While Michael is receiving chemo for the next few days, Aaron is going through the procedures a donor has to undertake. Next Wednesday and Thursday Michael will recieve the transplant. He will be at Duke for about 2 months altogether.

Please keep Michael and Tina (our daughter, his wife) in your prayers, along with Aaron, his wife and kids, and all of their families. We are believing this will result in the elimination of every remaining fiber of cancer in Michael's body.

Michael's priorities have all been in order through this ordeal. His faith in God has remained strong and intact. His family and friends have been vital to him during this time. From church to community, to work place, many have sacrificed to help him and Tina. Fellow workers donating their vacation days for Michael to continue to receive pay, and various groups doing fundraisers, churches helping. They have appreciated every thing done. His faith, family, friends, and his future- you see, Michael has never given up. That's why he kept digging with the education. He believes greater things are in store, and he plans on being ready for it.

Keep Michael, Tina, and the family in your prayers during this time.

Be Blessed,
Pastor Ronnie

FAITH, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS

These things are precious to me... My faith, my family, and my friends

My faith in a God who loved me so much He gave His only son to die for my sins. I love the Lord, He has been so good to me! I don't know how people make it without Jesus, especially in times like these. God has brought me through so many things. The old hymn, Amazing Grace, says it so well... through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. I am glad that I am saved by faith, and not my works.

My family is everything to me. The Lord has blessed me with the most precious and beautiful wife in the world. God knew I would need someone who could put up with me, help me, and stand along beside me. He gave me a Proverbs 31 woman. And I am thankful for my kids. We have 4 beautiful kids, 3 sons and a daughter. They are blessings to us. Sometimes I forget to tell them. I love them with all my heart. And that grandson, Zach. He stole my heart, somehow, from the day he was announced. And when he was born until this day, 4 years later, he has been my best friend. Family is important. I love and thank God for my mom and dad. They are wonderful people, and I love my sisters and brothers.

My friends are vital to me. I thank God for relationships in my life. They are people of faith, they are extended family, and they are my friends. My church family is there for me. I enjoy being a pastor to them, and I enjoy their friendship. Just as valuable and vital are others who, although not in our church family, and important to us. We laugh together, have fun, and yes, sometimes cry on one another's shoulders. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to just be ourselves.

I don't know why, I just got a little sentimental this afternoon. I wanted to say these things. I am so blessed to have my faith, my family, and my friends.

YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING TODAY, AND FEEL ALL ALONE. YOU MAY THINK NO ONE CARES. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU. GOD LOVES YOU, AND WE LOVE YOU. HANG IN THERE, YOU CAN MAKE IT. IF YOU NEED US, GIVE US A CALL.


Your faith filled family member and friend,
Pastor Ronnie