Hi Family and Friends-- Thanks for your care, support, and prayers in our health journey.

The first week's rounds of radiation treatment were successful. Kong behaved. Praying that he doesn't get the sniffles next week and will have to take a sick day--not just for my treatment schedule (starting again on Monday the 20th) but also for my other cancer buddies.

I'm managing the side effects of radiation well. Grateful List: No headaches--thankful. No migraines--very thankful. No balance issues--extremely thankful. Grateful for my medical team, and most grateful for the Great Physician's hand behind it all.

Once again, I am on steroids to reduce swelling in the brain and the area around the metastases. Last weekend I started to feel the side effect of insomnia that steroids can bring. The good news: I'm getting caught up on my nighttime reading.

Side Note: Benefits of reading commentaries for devotional time. Last year in reading up on Revelation 1-3, there is a picture of Jesus holding onto lampstands, which represents Jesus holding on to the churches. I always pictured it more like a Statue of Liberty pose. But the word hold is a double fisted, white knuckled, vice grip that will never let go. Since then, I've been adding this to my prayers for others. Now, I add it to the prayers for us. We do feel more of His peace and less human anxiety than other cancer rounds--not perfectly, but much more so. Add this to the Grateful List. As Dr. Tim Keller wrote on his commentary of Psalm 63:11, "But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in Him." David longed not just for more belief in God, but for a greater experience of God. Keller says that the fruit of spiritual experience of God's presence and care is a joyful strengthening of the person. I'll take that.

A weekend of family time, and I'm planning to give The Message at church on Sunday morning. Thank you once again for your prayers and support. Praying you feel Jesus' vice grip in your life. 

Shalom, paul <><