Category: Sean Perron

15 Truths about Suffering

Updates: 

  • My chemo infusions continue to progress, and the doctor has not reduced any of the intensity of the treatments. This is good news because my body is handling the maximum dosage. 
  • However, as infusions continue, the side effects continue to compound. I am experiencing more nausea and muscle pain than previously. It feels like a Chemo Chevy ran me over on some days. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • We were able to celebrate and participate in Trunk of Treats as a family. We had a total blast as a crew of First Baptist buccaneers. I was worn out for a few days afterward, but it was totally worth it. It was a record-breaking attendance this year with over 1,500 people. It was a true joy to see so many church members and guests. 

  • In addition to complete healing, I would ask that you pray for me as my body is more impacted by the side effects of the infusions. When I am in pain, I want to draw near to the Lord and use it as a means of grace in my life to experience more of His love. 

What I am Learning: 

  • Pastor Heath encouraged me to read through the book of Philippians and identify all the places Paul speaks about suffering. Here are fifteen truths about suffering from chapter 1 of Philippians. 
  1. Through my suffering, God will bring to completion His good work in me at the day of Christ Jesus (1:6). 
  2. Others are partakers with me of grace as I suffer (1:7). 
  3. Suffering happens as an opportunity to advance the gospel (1:12). 
  4. All the medical staff can know that I am a Christian through my suffering (1:13). 
  5. Others in the church will have boldness to face anxiety and death with the power of Christ through my suffering (1:14).
  6. I can rejoice in the proclamation of the gospel through my suffering even when it is at my expense (1:17-18). 
  7. The prayers of others help me endure suffering (1:19).
  8.  The Holy Spirit helps me endure suffering (1:19).
  9. Christ can be honored in my body no matter what (1:20).
  10. To live is to enjoy Christ, to die to enjoy Christ more! (1:21).
  11. Suffering helps others progress and have joy in the faith (1:25). 
  12. God gets glory when people who are suffering are restored (1:26). 
  13. Suffering is an opportunity to let my manner of life be worthy of the gospel – in which Jesus himself suffered (1:27).
  14. Suffering is an opportunity to not be frightened by anything (1:28). 
  15. Suffering is a gift from God to declare the gospel (1:28-29). 

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • Jenny spoke this past week at a women’s Fall Dinner that was hosted at First Baptist. She shares our journey from her perspective. She is the best wife, and I hope her talk encourages you!
  • You can listen to her talk here. 

Treats, Trust, and Scary Quotes 

Updates: 

  • My treatments are progressing, and I am starting to feel the cumulative effect of them. I feel a bit more tired and a bit more drugged from the chemo. However, there have been great moments this past week in which I have been able to work and spend time with my family. 
  • We are looking forward to making an appearance at Trunk of Treats at our church in an unexpected way. Our kids are stoked and more excited than any year because we plan on having a trunk. We hope to see you there! 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • I saw my doctor on Monday after my infusion treatment, and he is encouraged about the reduction in my lymphoma symptoms. For example, months ago, I would wake up 5-6 times per night drenched in sweat (a classic sign of lymphoma). I am now experiencing 1-2 night sweats per week.
  • The biggest prayer request is for this progress to continue. We won’t know how the treatment is doing until late November, but pray the cancer is completely gone before my next PET scan. That would be miraculous! The Lord can do this! 

What I am Learning: 

  • There have been numerous books which have fed my soul since my diagnosis. Perhaps the first one I should mention is the helpful devotional by Jerry Bridges called 31 Days Toward Trusting God. This small book has provided rocks for me to step across in the midst of the flood of suffering. If you have never read it, pick up a copy and let it minister to your soul. 
  • One of the main themes of Bridge’s devotional is the sovereignty of God regardless of the situation. God really is in control. He has always been and will always be. His loving rule of the world doesn’t stop when tragedy strikes. Listen to how the Bible describes God’s reign: 

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:31–33)

 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16)

God has numbered our days, and this is good. I can trust God’s care over my life because he has given up his only Son to die in my place. There is not a single cancer cell that is beyond his wisdom, might, and power. I am going to die exactly when God wants me to die – and not a moment sooner. While this truth might be hard to digest, it produces peace and good fruit. 

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • In his helpful little booklet called Don’t Waste Your Cancer, John Piper writes, “You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.” This advice is wise. After all, no matter what happens, we are all going to have to cross the river of death unless Jesus returns. Bob Russell made a similar point in a recent sermon on anxiety. Facing the worst-case scenario can be helpful when we know that God is ultimately in control. It is not enjoyable to look at death in the eyes, but it is amazing to know that we follow in the footsteps of the risen Christ who defeated death.
  • Below are some powerful quotes to help us meet death whenever it should come. I found these quotes from this set of bookmarks in honor of Reformation Day (the same day as Halloween!). 

“Death only frightens those who have their mind exclusively in this world.” -John Calvin, 1509-1564

“Resolved never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.” -Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758

“Live in Christ, die in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death.” -John Knox, C. 1514-1572

“I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals.” -Martin Luther, 1483-1546

“Let them fear death who do not fear sin.” -Thomas Watson, 1620-1686

“It is not a loss to die. It is a lasting perpetual gain” -Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892

Praying Afresh

Updates: 

  • I’ve been told that chemo can have a “cumulative effect.” I’m not sure if that is what I’m experiencing this week, but my body has felt more “chemo crummy” than usual. It is hard to describe, but essentially my body feels “weary and heavy laden” at times. 
  • I will be getting another PET scan at the end of November which is my half-way point. This will give concrete results that show whether or not the chemo is effectively killing the cancer. They expect either a partial response or a complete response.

Prayer Requests and Praises

  • Please pray that when I get my PET scan in November the cancer will be completely gone. I did not realize this was a possibility until today. This is the ideal scenario.
  • My liver enzymes are elevated, and they are monitoring them. If they continue to increase, it could require a reduction in my level of chemo. Pray my liver continues to process the chemo without more difficulty.

What I am Learning: 

  • The Lord is reminding me how to pray more biblically. I have been continually meditating on the Songs of Ascent, and it is starting to shape my prayers. My goal is to memorize all the Songs (Psalms chapter 120-134) by the end of my treatments. Lord willing, my treatments will conclude by March 1st. I would love for someone to memorize them with me! Let me know if you are up for the challenge. 
  • One way the Lord is teaching me to pray is by “reasoning” with God. There are numerous times in which David offers to God reasons why God should act on his behalf. He had intense humble boldness. I have selected these three verses as examples from the helpful book Psalms for Trials by Lindsey Tollefson. 

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? (Psalm 6:4–5)

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. (Psalm 89:49–51)

For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! (Psalm 143:11)

  • A prayer of reasoning could sound like this: “God, you are the Lord! You can demonstrate your power in a mighty way. It would be a great testimony to your glory to heal me because so many people are praying. Don’t you want to answer all their prayers? Don’t you think it would be better for me to praise you instead of going to the grave? For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!” 

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • The number of children praying for me has been a delightful surprise and a source of encouragement. Several children regularly request to pray for “Pastor Sean” or “my daddy’s friend Sean.” A couple families even made me personalized drawings. One child drew a picture of me riding on top of a lion. I have never done that, but who knows what can happen after my treatments are complete! 
  • The other night before bed, I read Chandler the story about how Jesus welcomes the little children. Jesus loves kids, and he says that we should become like them when it comes to our faith. The sincerity and dependance that a child often exhibits are qualities true faith also possesses. May we all fully trust in the Christ who loved us to the point of death and rose from the dead on our behalf! 

 “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Matthew 19:14–15)

Worse Than Cancer

Updates: 

  • I am grateful to have gotten my third treatment of chemo this week before Hurricane Milton arrived. Additionally, it is good to hear the rain while you are in bed recovering! Thankfully, we did not sustain any damage and are praying for those who have been impacted.
  • Each week I receive a chemo drug that has been nick named “The Red Devil.” This is a strong drug that must be administered by hand instead of through the normal IV machine. I have done well with the drug, but this time, it was more difficult. I was quite nauseous, and I anticipate I’m going to have to “gird up my loins” for the next round. The metal taste it produces is memorable!

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • I am thankful that my treatments have not been delayed. Someone told me they were praying my treatments would “be on time, every time” for all twelve of them. This is a great prayer. 
  • Since June, I have had a swollen lymph node on my neck. It has been noticeable to medical staff, but since my chemo treatments began, it has nearly vanished! In fact, the physician assistant who examined me this past time said she could not find it. This is a good sign the chemo is working. Please pray this happens to all the lymph nodes throughout my body and where the cancer has progressed into stage four. 

What I am Learning: 

  • I have learned the greatest threat to my life is not cancer. There is something worse than cancer: sin. The worst thing cancer can do is shrivel up my body until it physically dies. Sin is far worse. Sin shrivels up the soul unto an eternal death. 

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:20–23

  • Jesus Christ died for me and has forgiven me of my sin. However, Christians should never downplay sin or treat it lightly. The real Satan (not the red devil) is seeking to devour all of us (1 Peter 5:8). The Scriptures repeatedly tell us to flee sin and pray for deliverance from temptation.

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:12–14

  • I have made a list of areas of spiritual growth that I need the Lord to sanctify me in during my remaining treatments. That growth is more important than the growth of my cancer cells. Have you considered where you are being tempted lately? What areas of your spiritual life need to be addressed directly in these upcoming days and weeks? Don’t delay. Make a list, confess where you have fallen short, ask God’s forgiveness, believe Christ will change you through his death and resurrection, and read the Bible attentively.

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • Sometimes a sentence lingers and leaves an impact. I have received encouraging text messages with memorable quotes. Here are three of them:

“The Lord permits us to feel our weakness, that we may be sensible of it; for though we are ready in words to confess that we are weak, we do not so properly know it, till that secret, though unallowed, dependence we have upon some strength in ourselves is brought to the trial, and fails us. To be humble, and, like a little child, afraid of taking a step alone, and so conscious of snares and dangers around us, as to cry to him continually to hold us up that we may be safe, is the sure, the infallible, the only secret of walking closely with him.” (John Newton)

“There is never a crook God makes in our lot, but it is in effect heaven’s offer of a blest exchange to us…God first puts out his hand, and takes away some earthly thing from us; and it is expected we put out our hand next, and take some heavenly thing from him in the stead of it, and particularly, his Christ.” (Thomas Boston, The Crook In The Lot, 48)

“Trust is not a passive state of mind, but a vigorous act of the soul, by which we choose to lay hold of the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.” (Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, 216)

Waiting

Updates: 

• This past week came with more challenging side effects than I anticipated. After each chemo treatment, I receive a shot that helps boost my depleted immune system. Amazingly, the shot is in a small box they strap on my arm. It is on a timer that administers the medicine right when I need it most. I am very thankful for this shot! However, it can disturb my muscles. It feels like I did an epic workout, and it makes them painful. Or as someone else said, “Your body feels like it is filled with liquid cement.” 

• My doctor told me I would receive another PET scan in late November. That PET scan is important because it will reveal how effective the treatments have (or have not) been. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• I have carried a lingering cough since January. It got progressively worse until I could not speak publicly for very long without interruption. I want to bless the Lord and praise him because my cough is almost completely gone. I don’t even cough at night. While the doctor has not said it, I am hopeful this is a sign that the cancer in my lungs is shrinking. Please pray this is the case!

• Please also pray for Jenny who is often working double time around the house when I am in bed, unable to help, and she is tending to me.

What I am Learning: 

• The ups and downs of chemo can parallel a patient’s spiritual hills and valleys. Even with encouraging signs of progress, there is a temptation to worry while waiting. For example, I must wait until November to know if my treatments are truly being effective to remove the cancer from my bones, liver, and lungs. Each week I must wait until my bloodwork returns to know if I’m able to proceed with the next infusion. I don’t like this if I am honest. But this waiting is the means God is using to work in me. 

• God ordains circumstances in our lives that are meant to press us further into dependance upon Christ. God uses waiting to help us walk by faith. Between now and my next appointment I am called by God to submit to his plan for my life. When we are forced to wait, we will either worry or we will worship.

“I bear my witness that the worst days I have ever had have turned out to be my best days. And when God has seemed most cruel to me, he has then been most kind. If there is anything in this world for which I would bless him more than for anything else, it is for pain and affliction. I am sure that in these things the richest, tenderest love has been manifested to me. Our Father’s wagons rumble most heavily when they are bringing us the richest freight of the bullion of his grace.” Charles Spurgeon (June 26, 1881)

• Are you waiting for something? What you do in the meantime is more important than whatever it is you are anticipating. Christ lovingly wants us to wait on him by looking to him at all times. 

What Has Been Encouraging: 

• I have been reading a Psalm of Ascent each day. The Songs of Ascent are Psalms 120-134. Consider the power of Psalm 123:1-3 for the suffering soul. It is a Psalm about waiting upon the Lord – desperately. Read how many times it mentions “eyes” looking for help and then notice how many times it mentions the word “mercy.” 

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 

• As believers, we can wait on the Lord by making this Psalm our prayer. Pray something like this: “O God! We are only going to look to you! We are looking nowhere else for our help. We need you and won’t stop looking to you until you act. We don’t deserve help but know you are kind. Have mercy upon us! Have mercy upon us Lord. Have mercy upon us.”

• I have been greatly helped by the devotional books In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms by Dane Ortlund and Psalms by the Day: A New Devotional Translation by Alec Motyer. If you can only buy one of them, buy In the Lord I Take Refuge. If you have Ortlund’s book and want to go deeper, don’t miss Motyer’s devotional. It is unique and will instruct your soul. 

Hair, Hats, and Holiness

Updates: 

  • I have now completed 2 out of 12 chemo treatments.
  • We are now at the point in treatment in which I lose my hair. It started falling out in chunks this week. It is a rather bizarre experience, so we decided to go ahead and give my head a close shave. The next time you see me you might not recognize me, or you will likely find me in a hat! 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • My symptoms have been more mild than last week (fewer mouth sores, more energy, etc.). This is a direct answer to prayer. Thank you! 
  • I was previously losing weight, but now I’m gaining weight. This is a real blessing and gift from the Lord! 
  • Please pray that all my treatments are on time and not delayed by any sickness in the coming weeks. 

What I am Learning: 

  • I have been struck by how God uses suffering to teach Christians the most important truths. God is refining me through this process to seek him instead of being “too busy” to ignore him.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:67–68).

  • Facing the darkness that comes with cancer has shone a light on how many pitiful excuses I had for neglecting unhurried time with the Lord. What really matters most in this life? It is knowing God and communing with him. 

“We must learn to measure ourselves not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts. Many of us, I suspect, have no idea how impoverished we are at this level. Let us ask the Lord to show us.” (Knowing God, JI Packer, 23)

  • You might not have cancer, but I would ask you to consider your own schedule and priorities. Do you spend time seeking the Lord in prayer and by reading the Bible? Or is there always something that is more important? Cancer is a good reminder that nothing is more important than holiness.

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • This might sound strange, but I have been encouraged by purchasing new hats. Since my hair is now going through a bit of a rough transformation, I have decided to embrace the hat life for the next few months. I’ll indulge myself by telling you about two of my favorites picks: 
  • I picked out a Joshua Tree hat, which is a National Park in California. The Perrons have a family goal to visit as many national parks as possible before our kids graduate. This park is on our list, and I like being reminded that we will be able to visit it one day after I’m cleared for travel. The trees in the park are called Joshua Trees because they look as if they are lifting their hands up to God in prayer. 
  • I also have a navy hat with a skeleton holding up a lantern. It reads “Post tenebras lux.” That is Latin for “After Darkness, Light.” This was a reoccurring motto of the Protestant Reformation. The Catholic church had suppressed the Scripture for many years until God worked through reformers like Tyndale, Luther, and Calvin. An explosion of revival took place as the true good news of salvation through Jesus spread far and wide. We are saved by grace, not by our good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9)!
  • Post tenebras lux is paradigmatic of how God works in the world. There is dark before the dawn. But God is light and no darkness can overpower him. 

“All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:3–5

Leaving the Shire

Update: 

  • Many people have kindly asked how I am feeling after my first encounter with chemotherapy. Perhaps the best answer I can give is to say that I feel “strange” and “unpredictable”. There have been both good and rough moments with the side effects. Some days have been spent mostly in bed and others are punctuated with pockets of extreme weakness or bone pain. 
  • I believe God has answered many prayers and my symptoms have been mild compared to what others have experienced. I still would not wish chemo upon anyone unless necessary. 
  • Next week I will continue with another treatment as long as my blood cell counts are good and I am well. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • My mouth sores have significantly reduced. This is a real blessing because those are quite unpleasant. Praise the Lord! 
  • Please continue to pray the treatment kills the cancer throughout my body. 
  • I have quickly learned that chemo comes with ups and downs. It really matters where you place your mind. Pray that whether I am in a low spot or a high spot – my eyes would look to Jesus afresh (Psalm 121). 

What I am Learning: 

  • The reason God does not tell us the future is because he wants us to depend completely upon him.  

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14

  • God has sent cancer into my life for me to know him more deeply. I hate cancer, but it is a gift to expose the gaps of my faith and prompt me to seek the Lord. The most important thing is not that I would survive for another year, but that I would trust the Lord fully.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 

What has been Encouraging: 

  • Almost every night, Jenny and I try to watch 10-15 minutes of The Lord of the Rings trilogy while I drink my protein shake. It is a great time. If you have read the book or watched the movies, you know the location of the Shire is a place we all long to dwell. It is simple, beautiful, and seemingly sheltered from the rest of the world. The grassy hills are lush green, and the birthday parties are next level. Suffering should not be happening in the Shire. 
  • Most of my 33 years have been relatively free of physical suffering. I have certainly had trials, but nothing has been medically extreme. The cataclysmic power of cancer has forced me to leave the Shire and enter a journey that I didn’t want and wouldn’t choose. I am now on a path of suffering seeking to throw cancer into the lava of Mordor. 
  • But I am not on this path alone. I have the Lord and he has given a fellowship of friends who are on this journey with me. I alone must receive the treatments, but I don’t feel alone. I know you are praying for me. Jenny and I have felt your care and kindness. Your thoughtfulness is a true blessing from the loving hand of Christ to us. Thank you. 

What I am Learning Week 1 of Chemo

Each week I want to provide a brief update on how we are doing. I also want to give you a sample of various moments, quotes, and verses that have helped get us through the week. 

Update: 

  • On Monday, I completed my first round of chemotherapy. One down and eleven treatments to go! (Chemo happens every other week) 
  • I had no idea how long it took to administer the various drugs. It took about 5 hours for the whole process to be complete. I am so thankful for modern technology and for Jenny who was with me the whole time. 
  • The days following have been spent mostly in bed with my body figuring out side effects. I have had side effects such as nausea, bone pain, digestion difficulties, and other various issues (see below). I feel blessed that I don’t have more severe effects and believe this is a result of prayer.

Prayer requests: 

  • Pray the chemotherapy eradicates the cancer in my body. 
  • Pray that I know the Lord more deeply by meditating on his Word.
  • One side effect is painful mouth sores that make it difficult to eat, talk, and sleep. I have developed them and would love for these to go away. 

What I am learning: 

  • Cancer increases my opportunities for joy in Jesus.
  • I have been learning to change my perspective on suffering. Instead of viewing every medical procedure as an enemy, it is crucial to view them as a blessing. Every time they want to stick me with a needle, it is for my good and an opportunity for joy. The side effects of the chemo are actually signs that I have received a good gift from God to help me. This change of perspective requires effort, faith, and repentance. It makes all the difference. 

James 1:2–4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

What has been encouraging: 

  • The new album by Sovereign Grace called “Knowing God” seems to have been written for me. 
  • This album was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of J.I. Packer’s modern classic book. The whole album is wonderful, and I have especially loved the songs Sing, Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer, and All Things. 

Christ before me, Christ behind me
Christ within me every day
Be my path and prize forever
Jesus, guide me all the way

A Personal Update about my Cancer and the Cross of Jesus Christ

The time has come to give an unexpected update. I have been sick on and off since January. Over the course of these months, we have moved from thinking my sickness was simple colds picked up from the kids, to long COVID, to an infection, to double pneumonia. It has now been confirmed that I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

This has been the shock of my life. The good news is that I have classical Hodgkins Lymphoma. In the cancer world, this is one of the best cancers to have if you are my age. The doctors are optimistic and will be treating me with the expectation to become cancer free. 

Due to the spread of the cancer, I will begin a series of intense chemo treatments immediately. The cancer is attacking my immune system, and I will be very weak and exposed for the next six months. But none of this is the most important update I must share. 

While cancer has been a shock to me, it was not a shock to God. God has not changed. The steadfast love of Jesus Christ is the same today as it was before my cells metastasized. Cancer has made me weaker than ever, but Jesus is not weak. He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in the worst times of trouble (Psalm 46).

God hates cancer and will one day eradicate it along with every result of the fall of Adam and Eve (Romans 8:20). But it is a great comfort to know that God ordained this illness for me before I was even born (Psalm 115:3; Ephesians 1:11-12). In his righteous wisdom, he decided that this sickness would be the best way to bring him glory and do good to me. 

I confess to you that my faith has been small at times. When I first heard the news, I was devastated. But the size of one’s faith is not what matters most. What matters most is who we place our faith in (Psalm 40:11-12). 

How do I know that God cares for me even though he allowed me to get cancer? I know this because he sent his only son Jesus to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). God did not spare his own son but ordained that he suffer an excruciating death on a cross, in order that I might be forgiven. He has given me his precious son. How will he not also graciously give me all things? Nothing can separate me from his love because I have been united by grace through faith to Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35-39).

Many have asked how they can help us. I would boldly ask of you three things. 

First, I would ask that you search your own heart and draw near to God instead of the world. One day can change anything, and it won’t be long before you are facing a deep trial. Do you know the Lord? Do you read his word and pray to him? He loves you, and he alone can be the rock that gets you through the hard times which will certainly come. 

Second, I would ask you to pray for me and my family. Please pray my body responds well to the treatment and that God would deliver me from cancer so that I can have fruitful labor here on earth (Philippians 1:22). Pray the cancer spots in my bones, liver, and lungs would go away quickly. Pray for my family as we anticipate many weeks of total sickness. 

Your prayers are going to be an essential part of my deliverance: 

 “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:18–20)

Lastly, I would ask you to consider going to church. Words fail to express how much love and care we have felt from our church. It is impossible to think about it without crying. The encouragements, prayers, love, meals, support, and genuine concern have been wonderfully overwhelming. I believe I am the most blessed cancer patient on earth because of First Baptist Jacksonville. The love of Christ has surrounded us through his people. 

Thank you for your care and support. For those of you who want to follow us on this journey, I will be giving brief weekly updates along with various prayer requests on this blog.

We look forward to updating you in the weeks ahead. 

Until then, 

Sean

Book Launch Day! Now available

LTR_First Years-01

Letters to a Romantic: The First Years of Marriage Releases today! 

We are excited to announce that our latest book is now available. There are several stores that are beating Amazon in price and in shipping.

Several heavily discounted prices:

 

We would love for you to pick up a copy and pray that God would use this book to transform many marriages. We want couples in their first years (and final years!) to be filled with the love and joy of Jesus Christ.

Here are a few of the endorsements:

“Whether you consider yourself a ‘romantic’ or not, this book will strengthen every young marriage–and I can personally report that its wisdom is strengthening at least one older marriage, too!” —Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

“The early years of marriage can be some of the sweetest–and some of the hardest. This book is a gold mine for every young couple! . . . Do your marriage a huge favor and grab a copy of this helpful book.” —Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal, Cofounders, GirlDefined.com

“This book for newlyweds is needed and tremendously helpful. It contains timely challenges and encouragements as well as relevant instructions for people at every stage of marriage, though its material is especially relevant for newlyweds. Having been in ministry and having had the privilege of performing the premarital counseling as well as the weddings of numerous people over the past sixty-two years, I wish that this book had been available to give to all these couples as they began their marriages. Marriages that begin right are much more likely to continue right. And I highly recommend this book as a vital part of that good beginning.”

—Wayne Mack, Academic Head, Strengthening Ministries Training Institute; Director, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors—Africa

“This book wisely addresses the most significant challenges that many young Christian married couples face in a way that is both practical and biblical. My wife and I are eager to give this resource to the young husbands and wives whom we have been counseling. It is fun to read and would make a great couples’ devotional.”

—Jim Newheiser, Director of the Christian Counseling Program and Associate Professor of Christian Counseling and Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Sean and Spencer have hit another home run with their third in a series of important books meant to equip couples for the steps of their relationship from dating to marriage. While many books focus on marriage in general, Sean and Spencer have provided an eminently readable, thoroughly biblical, and altogether practical book for couples who are specifically in their first years of mar-riage. Brimming with wisdom and insight that they have gained from their pastoral and counseling experience, this resource will be one you will surely pass along to young married couples for years to come.”

—Jonathan D. Holmes, Founder and Executive Director, Fieldstone Counseling; Pastor of Counseling, Parkside Church, Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Author, Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling