Long Good Day

Ruth and I spent about nine hours at the outpatient center today. I
experienced several surprises.

I was not expecting a six-hour wait for the procedure. A patient
before me had an unexpected complication, and required extensive
emergency surgery. He was eventually taken to the hospital by ambulance.

I was not expecting to have extensive blood work, or to have an I-V
inserted. I was surprised to have an EKG. I was not expecting to have
a drain inserted which will be removed on Friday

I was taken aback by the overwhelming kindness of every person we came
into contact with. Their gentleness and friendliness made a long day
much more pleasant.

My prognosis is excellent. Thank you, Dr North, Dr Henderson, and the
army of servants who ministered to me. Thank you, Ruthie, for staying
at my side all day. Thank you, dear people, for praying for me,

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My Health

I'm doing much better these last four or five days. I will have a
procedure under anesthesia on Tuesday which should take care of my
condition.

The worst thing about this flare-up was not the twelve days of misery,
though that was not a piece of cake, but having to cancel my trip to
India.

A few months ago, my cardiologist released me to travel at will. The
India trip was going to be my coming out party, my way of proving I
was back in the saddle again. Fortunately, our tickets are still good
for a year.

Humor helps. Comments on patient charts. She is numb from her toes
down. In ER she was examined and X-rated. The skin was moist and dry.
Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

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Family Blessings

Yesterday was a perfect day off for Ruth and me. We had lots of good
family time.

Four-year-old Ian and two-year-old Lilly Ruth came to the house to
watch the children's movie "The Sword in the Stone." When I called it
the Stone and the Sword, Ian said, "Grandpa, your brain isn't working
right." my consolation is, it took him four years to figure it out.

After school Ruth and I took Caleb to his cello lesson. If a young man
ever loved his instrument, it's Caleb. Sam rode with us. He enjoys
watching the world go by as he plays his gameboy and eats a Granny
Smith apple.

John and Amanda are doing well. He oversees computers at his work. She
is a nanny (a very good one, by the way) for a set of twins.

Nathan is a pro at web layout, Internet work, and TV advertising.
Rebekah is a crafting, scrapbooking, blogging whiz.

Ruth and are, of all couples, most blessed. Thank you, Jesus.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Why Still Sick?

Yes, I am still sick, essentially homebound and bedfast. I have an
appointment with a proctologist Monday morning.

I plan to take my daughter out to lunch for her birthday tomorrow, and
intend to be in church Sunday morning. Till Monday I am otherwise
staying home with Sweet Babe.

I don't question God's Sovereignty. This is giving me opportunity to
live by example what I preached about last Sunday morning. The why is
not as important as the what. Is there a lesson I am to learn, a
higher plane of patience to reach?

These mind games present an extra level of challenge to me because I
do not handle sickness well. Poor Ruthie. Mother Teresa has nothing on
Ruth. My wife is Mother Saint Angel Babe Ruth.

Thanks for your prayers. I have finished editing four upcoming
sermons. That's good. At least I don't feel totally useless.

My daughter Rebekah Williams will be on the KY-3 weekend early show at
7am in the morning. She is the craftiest, scrappiest person I know.
She's also a great daughter.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Quasqui Book

After much ado and fanfare about the quasquicentennial book, it
arrived today. It took an army of people to make this book happens.

I literally burned out on it many weeks ago. A team of editors and
professional assistants refused to let it die. There's something
indescribable about holding in your hand a book your hand helped write.

I tried to thank everyone in the credits at the end of the book, but
there's no way I could thank everyone involved.

Since I'm home sick in bed, my assistant Angie delivered a copy to our
door. Ruth and I oohed and ahhed over it.

Then Ruth, who does all things well, took the book and began reading
it. She is right now next to me providing commentary and
encouragement. That's so Ruthie-like!!!

Twitter @john316marshall
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Soldier Salute

Second is happy to be the main sponsor for a huge community event to
honor active duty and retired military men and women in the
Springfield area. We look forward to serving the people who have
served us.

The event will occur May 22. For more info, check out www.SoldierSalute.org
. You can sign up to be a Facebook fan of the event, and you can be
added on an email list to receive the latest info on the event.

Our snow schedule for tomorrow, January 31, is as follows. AM regular
schedule. PM all activities cancelled.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Church Birds

Enjoyed the Missouri Baptist Convention Evangelism Conference at FBC
Branson yesterday. Gary Taylor is our fearless state leader in this
area. He is a soulwinning machine. I envy him.

Charles Billingsley's music lifted us to Heaven. He's Minister of
Music at Thomas Road BC in Lynchburg VA.

Larry Winn and Dr. Chuck Kelley, President of my alma mater, New
Orleans Baptist Seminary, preached well. They are two of our greatest
leaders.

The emotional highlight was Ron Herrod's sermon on church birds. He
used maybe ten birds to illustrate traits of Church members. For
example, Vultures like to hang around things that stink. Canaries are
caged inside their buildings. Eagles soar. You get the drift. I was
laughing uncontrollably at times. Preachers are comedians.

Twitter @john316marshall
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