The Journey 10/29/10

The sign you see is the one on the door that I walk through each day for treatment. The door looks like a bank vault door. When the treatment is given everyone leaves the room but me.

When I walked through that door today, I thought to myself this is kinda scary. I wanted to get a giger counter to see if I would make it go off.

There are signs on most doors we walk through today. Some are not physical signs we can see on the door but they are signs none the less.

Some signs say failure, loser, fearful, never going to make it and the list could go on and on. How many times has the Lord spoken to your life to do something only to have Satan put a sign on the door that kept you from walking through it.

Today one of the nurses asked me about the church I pastor and what I believe. I was able to share some with her.

As I walked back out that door today and saw that sign I laughed and said to myself, hoping Satan would hear as well, this is a door of OPPORTUNITY.

What door or doors are you fearful to walk through. There may be someone on the other side of that door that needs to hear the message of hope that only you can share.

Go ahead, walk through that door. The bible says that no weapon formed against you can prosper.

Blessings.

8 down and 27 to go

The Journey 10/28/10

Every Thursday is doctor day. That means that after the treatment I go see the doctor. It is only a one minute or less visit. Goes something like this.

Doctor: How many treatments now?
Me: Seven.
Doctor: How are you feeling?
Me: Fine.
Doctor: Is your voice getting any better?
Me: I can't really tell. My wife thinks so.
Doctor: I can't really tell much of a difference.
Doctor: Don't talk too much. Don't try to sing. Gargle.
Me: OK.
Doctor: Have a good day.

I wonder how much that conversation will cost? LOL Found out later almost $600.00.

I am doing my best to follow the doctor's instructions. I want this treatment to work. I was talking to a friend of mine that had similar treatment and he was telling me that at times he hurt from the sun burn effect on his skin but he said, bottom line, it worked.

How many times, as a pastor, over the years have I heard, "I read the bible but it didn't work". My response was always this: "Reading it and obeying it are two different things". As believers we need to follow the instructions. James says to be doers and not hearers only.

Jesus tells the parable of the two men who built a house. One on sand and one on rock. They both faced the same storms but the man who built on the sand was devastated while the one who built on the rock withstood the storm. Of course, the analogy is, the one who built on sand was a hearer of the word only. The one who built on rock was not only a hearer of the word but a doer of the word.

Next time something isn't working out that you are praying about ask this question: "Am I following the instructions, am I doing what He says to do?" We may all be surprised that we are only doing what we feel we need to do and not following His complete instructions.

Have a great day.

7 down and 28 to go.

The Journey 10/27/10

As I was laying on the table this morning getting ready to take my treatment, with my head hooked to the table I began to think about control.

What I have, cancer on my vocal cords, was not in my control. Losing my voice was not in my control. The amount of radiation is not in my control. The time set for me to be at the hospital is not in my control. (I can adjust it occasionally). I guess what I am saying. I AM NOT IN CONTROL.

How many times are we told to "take control of the situation", or "you are in control of your destiny"? Maybe you have heard similar statements.

I suppose as I get older, and with what I have right now, shows me once again that I am not in control. As Christians, we will make the statement (and it is true) "God is in control" and yet we, many times, want to live our lives as though we are control and when we can't control something we tend to get very frustrated and at times angry.

Who is in control. Ultimately God has the final say on everything. While here on earth we do have a couple choices. We do get to chose who will be in control of our lives. God says in Deut. 29:13 that He sets before us life and death. There is the choice. He then tells us the correct choice when He says, "Choose life". But, there again, the choice is ours to make.

If we choose life, (Jesus) then He is in control and if we choose death, (Satan) then he is in control. Anyway, that is how I see it.

I am glad the He is in control. Paul tells us in the bible, we have been bought with a price. The price paid, Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

I guess the bottom line is this. Who is in control? You will have to answer that.

To this point in my treatment I am not experiencing any adverse side effects. My voice is still weak but some are telling me that it is clearer and not as raspy. I'll take their word for it.

Psalms 27:33 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Blessings.

6 down and 29 to go.

The Journey 10/26/10

Today started off like any other. I headed to the coffee shop at 5:30 this morning. While in the coffee shop the wind started blowing and the door swung open and in blew a bunch of leaves and a few things were knocked over.

No one asked the wind to blow the door open and make a mess, it just happened. That is what strong wind can do.

In life we have things happen to us that we don't ask for but that is just life in the world. How we react or respond to what happens is usually the bigger issue then what has happened to us.

A friend of mine wrote this on his face book page:

As long as we have to go through valley's in life we might as well learn what we can and grow as we journey through them! He is the God of the valley's too!---Gary Grogan

How true that is. When I found out I had cancer on my vocal cords I then had a choice. React or respond. To react would say, why me or this should not happen to me or this isn't fair. Maybe those are all legit statements but I am choosing to respond. To respond for me is to continue to preach, pray and plug away.

The words in this song say it best. "Whose report will you believe, I will believe the report of the Lord!"

Perhaps today you are facing the challenge to react or to respond. It may not be a physical thing but maybe a reaction or response to a person.

We can not always choose what happens to us but we can always choose how we handle it.

Blessings.

5 down and 30 to go.

The Journey 10/25/10

I just got back from radiation treatment. I found out today that every Monday they take blood for blood work. It didn't work in my left arm so they pulled the needle and went into my right arm. That finally worked.

Here is what I do while I am laying on the table taking radiation treatment. As I had mentioned early, I think of the radiation as the fiery furnace the Hebrew children where thrown in.

The bible indicates that the only thing that was affected by the fire were the ropes they were tied with. They didn't even smell like smoke. So while I am laying there and the machine is shooting me with radiation I am thanking Jesus that the only thing that will be affected is the thing that is bondage, the cancer.

So far there have been no side effects. I realize I have only started but I am going to keep trusting Him that only the bondage will be burned.

Marcia and I had a quick trip to Minneapolis this past weekend. Her sister was married on Sunday. It was a long and tiring trip but it was worth it to be at her sister's wedding.

I thank the Lord for a great group of believers at Salem Assembly that understand the importance of family. That is our vision statement...Ministering to the Family. Thank you Salem Assembly.

I have not been to a doctor in years so when the bills started rolling in it looked like everyone gets a piece of the pie. Some I see and others I don't. I try not to shake any employee's hand at the hospital because I might get a consultation bill. Just kidding. Actually the doctors and staff have been very kind and gracious.

This week will be the first full week of treatment since I just started last Wednesday.

4 down and 31 to go.

The Journey 10/22/10

Everyone has a story. I was at a restaurant yesterday and someone who knew me mentioned my raspy voice. I explained to them what the problem was. At that point they began to tell me their story and how much worse they had it. I am sure they did.

Here is what I am learning as I travel down this road. You must stay focused. Stick to what God has spoken into your heart. James says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

You will always hear the horror stories of how your doctor isn't the best or the hospital isn't the best, etc. I am sure these are all well meaning comments and may even be some truth, but I must walk the course God has given me.

I will be heading to Minnesota after treatment today. I will pick up on Monday.

Keep pressing toward the mark. Stick to the plan He has given you.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Thank God for His blessed assurance.

On another note. The doctor told me yesterday that I should begin to notice my voice getting clearer and stronger. That's encouraging.

Be Blessed.

3 down, 32 to go.

The Journey 10/21/10

I thought today I would describe the procedure. I go in at 9:15 every morning. A mask that has been designed for me is placed over my head and hooked to a table. This helps to keep my head and neck in the proper position for treatment. See picture above.

After that is all in place the radiation is given on both sides of my neck. Then it is done. This all takes place in the span of about 10 minutes. There is no pain from the actual treatment. I was told there could be some side effects such as sore throat, red sunburn like skin on my neck and a few others. I am praying they will be minimal or none. There will be a few days I will go in earlier but most of the time it will be the same time.

This is no revelation but life nor the responsibilities of life stop because we hit a bump in the road. There may be times we can take a break from some responsibilities but then someone else will have to do pick up the load.

Perhaps today you have hit a few bumps in the road. Maybe you do need to stop for a moment and refocus and then begin to move forward.

Bumps can come in many different forms and some are bigger then others, but God is bigger then them all. What bump have you hit? Be assured it can be overcome through a trust and faith in Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged today. Don't throw in the towel. Don't quit trusting in Jesus. Let Him help you through.

Blessings....

2 down and 33 to go.

The Journey 10/20/10

Today I go for the first of 35 radiation treatments. I was told they will last for 5 minutes. That amounts to a little over 2 hours of treatment.

The other day when I was setting in the doctor's office an elderly woman came in, she was in a wheel chair and I could see her ankle. The skin looked red and burned. She was having treatment as well. I immediately thought, "I wonder if my neck will look like that?" A lot of things can run through your mind.

This morning, during prayer, I was thinking about those in the church who have traveled this path of treatment for cancer. Some with chemo and raditation. I called their names during prayer, Katie, Steve, Daryle, Kathy, Jack, Paul, Dale and there may be others I am not even aware of. I began to thank God for walking with them and keeping His hand on them.

I was reminded the the Hebrew Children who were thrown in the fiery furnace and came out untouched. (I suppose radiation treatment could kind of be thought of as a fiery furnace because it can burn you.) That is what I am trusting Him for while I am going in, being in and coming out. Bottom line...TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!

Perhaps today, as a believer, you are facing a fiery furnace. Don't panic but rather state your position in Christ. You will come out.

1 down and 34 to go.

The Journey 10/19/10

No doctor appointment today. I start tomorrow with radiation treatment. They will continue for 7 weeks, 5 days a week.

I was thinking about Paul's statement in 2 Tim. 4:7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

I realize he was getting ready to leave this world and I know I am not but the part of the statement "I have finished my course".

He tells us how he did that by fighting a good fight and keeping the faith. His faith did not keep him from having difficulties but it did keep him from quiting in the midst of them.

I was thinking about "the course". We very seldom know what lies ahead and if we knew we may not want to get up in the mornings, but because of faith we move forward.

Sometimes the course is smooth and sometimes it is not so smooth and some days more challenging then others. The course I am on right now is not all that smooth but there is a finish line and to finish I must move forward. Fast or slow is not the issue but keep moving forward.

What course are you on today. Rough, smooth, flat, up hill or down hill. God is still in control.

We must continue to look to Him no matter the course because He is the author and developer of our faith.

As I was praying a few days ago it seems the Holy Spirit spoke into my spirit and said, "Sometimes the miracle you are praying for is not the miracle you will receive but it will be a greater miracle."

Be encouraged today not to complain about the course you are on but to finish it.

Blessings.

The Journey 10/18/10

Today I had the mask made. It consisted of a material, when heated, would stretch over my face and then harden up. It will be used to hold my head and neck in the proper position during treatment.

I then had another ct scan to get the correct position for treatment.

The Journey 10/17/10

Pastor Rick Stratton



Tomorrow I head to the hospital to begin radiation treatment for cancer on my vocal cords. I am the pastor of Salem Assembly of God, in Salem, IL. I have been preaching for over 35 years.

I have had a sore throat and raspy voice many times after preaching. I traveled for 18 years preaching and would preach on an average of five times a week. So to have a raspy voice was nothing new to me.

This time, however, it would not clear up. It stayed that way for well over 4 months. I thought I had developed an allergy but found out later that was not the case.

I finally went to an ENT and was diagnosed with cancer on my vocal cords. I really never asked the question, why me, because the Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust. We live in a corrupted world with imperfect bodies. When I found out, I didn't even know how I felt about it at the time but I did know how I believed. God would take care of this just as He had taken care of things all my life.

I read several articles on the subject from the worst case scenario to the best. None were all that comforting. I finally made the choice to have radiation treatment. That was only made after time spent in prayer.

Before you say, I have a lack of faith, let me say that God clearly spoke into my spirit about this. It was not a difficult nor fearful choice to make once I knew what He had said. There are other things He also spoke to me concerning all this that helped to make sense to this cancer.

I know there have been others, in the church I pastor, that have dealt with cancer and came out victorious and since I know God is no respecter of persons, I too will come out victorious.