Randy Newsome

“Randy’s Story”, this phrase brings to mind a song, “Glorious Unfolding” which I really liked since Steven Curtis Chapman released it a few years ago. In the first verse, there is a phrase; “cause I know this is not, anything like you thought, the story of your life was gonna be.” 
As one who appreciates thoughtful song lyrics, it caught my attention then, but I had no idea how personal it would become to me later on.

Having buried my dad in 2014 and my mom earlier this year, 2016, both passing after long and severe dementia, I thought life might be simpler for a while. I was looking forward to loving on Luke Randall, Claire Laney, James Rivers and Baby Treece 4, Crystal’s and John’s 4th baby, due in December 2016, name TBD. (My cousin, Eddie and I were talking recently about our grandchildren. We agreed that it is hard to describe how special grandchildren are!) Andrew was beginning to move past a great loss in his life, partly due to a newfound passion for fishing, thanks to his Uncle Frank, a master fisherman. I had enjoyed a few fishing outings with Andrew and was looking forward to more.  My wife and I were imagining the possibility of taking a Mediterranean cruise and perhaps a visit to the Holy Lands.

Then, this year on my 60th birthday, after a CT scan to investigate bi-lateral, mid-level back pain I had experienced for a couple months or so, I was told I had a mass on my pancreas. A later biopsy showed it was cancer. Soon afterwards, I saw a surgeon and an oncologist and a plan was made to begin chemo treatments, followed by radiation treatments, hopefully followed by surgical resection of the tumor, then more chemo and radiation treatments post-surgery.

It was then that I Googled the lyrics to “Glorious Unfolding” and read them carefully all way thru. Music has always connected with me in a deep way, and this song expresses how I am dealing with this new challenge. I have included the lyrics here to share my deepest thoughts with you. I hope SCC will be OK with me using his work here.

Glorious Unfolding, by Steven Curtis Chapman

Lay you head down tonight, take a rest from the fight, don’t try to figure it out.
Just listen to what I whispering to your heart.
Cause I know this is not, anything like you thought, the story of your life was gonna be,
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you, but it’s just not true.
There’s so much of the story that still yet to unfold 
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding, you just wait and see and you will be amazed.
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over, so hold on to every promise God has made
to us, and watch this glorious unfolding. 
God’s plan from the start, for this world and your heart, has been to show His glory and His grace.
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of His unfailing Love, and the story has only begun 
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding, you just wait and see and you will be amazed.
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over, so hold on to every promise God has made
to us and watch this glorious unfolding. 
We were made to run through fields of forever, singing songs to our Savior and King,
so let us remember that this life we’re living, is just the beginning of the beginning  
of this glorious unfolding, we will watch and see and we will be amazed.
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over, and hold on to every promise God has made to us,
we’ll see the glorious unfolding. 

Back to Randy’s Story,
I believe the best is yet to come, whether healed in this life or healing in heaven. My desire is to be healed in this life and to experience a lot of what we had begun to imagine for this time in our lives. Therefore, I am asking you to pray for these specific request:
- for miraculous healing.
- if the Lord chooses to use medical technology, for me to endure the treatments and surgery.
- for strength and resolve to complete a recording project of songs I have written over the years
-for myself, my wife and my children to be held by the Lord thru all of this
-for God to be glorified in it all


Andrew's comments:
Randy is a great dad that enjoys playing guitar, snuggling with his grand-dog Franklin, listening to some good bluegrass music, spending time with family, loving his wife, and watching his grandchildren grow.