May 7, 2005 – A FRESH START

It’s been a good week of God continuing a "good work" in my body. My oxygen needs have continued to decline from being on two liters of oxygen constantly to going without being tied to oxygen. Dr. Feibelman told me as long as my oxygen saturation level stays up above 91 percent that I could try it and it’s been a good experiment. Yesterday, with the exception of riding my bike with 2 liters of oxygen and sleeping with 1 liter of oxygen, I went the entire day "unattached" which really made me feel free and THANKFUL to God. Of course, I am m playing it smart by not walking too fast and keeping my SAT level checked so I’m not going out of bounds. I am so thankful that God is bringing it all together and I am feeling so much better, like God has given me a brand new life.

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!

Jan and I are still humbled by the outpouring of love and support through this experience. It’s so gratifying to be part of Winter Park Church and the Child Development Center. In addition to being able to preach on Sunday morning again, one of the highlights of my week is the chapel service for the Child Development Center children on Wednesday mornings. The past two Wednesdays have been very special in the "welcome back, Pastor Bob" ways. As they saw me attached to the oxygen tank, I explained to them that it was to help me breathe since my breath was not enough. So they called it Pastor Bob’s "breath." When they saw me on Friday at the church office without the oxygen tank they said, "Pastor Bob is here and he has no breath." How precious are the words of children.

In my next update, we will be updating some pictures as well. In the meantime, thank you again for praying and your encouragement in so many ways. We are grateful for all and want you to know that God is listening and doing a brand new thing in our lives in many ways for which we are grateful.

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