Tag: Jesus

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)

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

Don’t Spread the Gospel?

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

There are moments when a good Bible reader should be somewhat perplexed by the Scriptures. One of them is when Jesus tells his disciples not to talk about him.

On multiple occasions, Jesus performs miracles and then forbids those nearby not to tell anyone. When Jesus heals the deaf man in Mark 8:35-36, Jesus “charged them to tell no one.” Earlier in Mark 3:11-12, as Jesus cast out many demons they would shout out his identity. “And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.’ And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.”

It is interesting that repeatedly in the book of Mark Jesus forbids people to spread his news, but they usually do not listen. Jesus’ fame catches like wildfire throughout the surrounding regions and crowds gather to meet him. It appears that these massive gatherings actually hinder Jesus’ mission.

Jesus cleanses a leper in Mark 1:40-45 and “sternly charged him… and said to him see that you say nothing to anyone…” Yet in verse 45, the leper “went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no long openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.” It appears that Jesus was unable to enter into towns to preach because he had become so popular. In a strange turn of events, the spreading of his fame was beginning to hinder his purpose in coming.

Jesus did come to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the good news of the kingdom to the poor. However, Jesus mainly came to earth in order to die for the sins of the world and rise from the dead as the victorious Messiah. If word about the true identity of the Messiah spread too quickly, Jesus may have been hindered from fulfilling his main mission.

The people wanted a different type of Messiah than a bloody crucified Messiah. In Mark 8:30 when Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus told the disciples to “tell no one about him.”  Following this Jesus told his disciples of the death and resurrection. “And he said this plainly, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” Even Peter did not understand the mission of Jesus when Jesus told him plainly at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus had to rebuke Peter because Peter opposed Jesus going to the cross. One can only imagine the uproar from the multitudes if Jesus had revealed his true mission to them. By veiling his identity to the masses, Jesus was able to keep on target to Golgotha and be unhindered in his plan.

This reasoning for the Messianic secret is confirmed with the story of the demoniac in Mark 5:1-20. After Jesus casts out the Legion of demons from the man, the man begged to travel with Jesus. Despite the urgent pleas of the man, Jesus refused his request and told him to return hope to “tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19) This is in stark contrast to the previous behavior of Jesus. Instead of telling the man to be quiet, Jesus tells him to go proclaim the good news.

Why the sudden change in commands for Jesus? Mark 5:20 gives the reader a clue. “And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” The man was not from the area and would not be a hindrance to Jesus and his mission. The man was from a region of ten Gentile cities to the East. It would advance, rather than hinder, the cause of Christ for this man to return to his family.

When Jesus was coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration he told Peter, James and John “to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” (Mark 9:9) Now that time had come and the disciples were commanded to tell the world the gospel of Jesus Christ. Clearly, Mark himself is obeying this command when he starts his gospel, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

The message cannot be kept secret any longer. The personal ministry of every Christian is to understand the mission of Jesus, believe upon his saving work, and proclaim this message to all the nations. The gospel of Mark concludes with Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James visiting the tomb of Jesus. To their utter shock, the stone had been rolled back and Jesus was alive. An angel comforts them and says, “Do not be alarmed… but go, tell his disciples…” (Mark 16:6-7)

The word is out and the rumors are true. Jesus has risen from the dead. He is the Messiah and offers salvation to anyone who believes.

Tremble, believe, and rejoice. But whatever you do, don’t keep it a secret. Tell everyone.

Kiss The Son

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 2:12

What would you think if I told you that Jesus was genuinely angry with some people?  Would that make you uncomfortable?  If so, why?  Why do words like wrath, anger, fury, or even holiness grate against people while words like love and peace sound more appealing to the ears?

If someone is uncomfortable using these words to describe God, this might be because the only thing they have ever encountered in life is sinful rage.  Yet Jesus’ wrath is just and should be celebrated because it’s good.  He only feels wrath over things that deserve wrath.  There is no such thing as unfair wrath with Jesus. Christ’s rage is holy. His fury is good and complete. Yes, His wrath is good.

How can God`s wrath be good? How is this comforting?

  1. Nobody wants to worship a wimpy God. We do not want a God who is soft on sin. If we are honest, an unjust God is not appealing to us. The murderer could always kill whenever and however. The rapist could forever rape freely. The liar could perpetually deceive you in the most devastating ways.  God allows this for a season, but, oh, how his wrath is kindled quickly! He will tread the vineyard of the wrath of God. No sin goes unpunished. He will not tolerate wickedness forever.  This truth does not allow us to point fingers. We must examine our own souls. God will not allow us to sin carte-blanche. God does not show partiality. He is ready to strike us down in our sins unless something drastically changes.
  2. The surprise of Christ is that we can kiss him. The shocking reality of the gospel is that Jesus should punish us, but instead offers the gift of grace. This gift was not free for him. It cost him dearly. Jesus paid for the gift with his own precious blood. God’s righteous rod of wrath struck down upon his body on Mount Calvary. Jesus bore the sins of the world upon a Roman tree.

Why the cross? Because God is holy and must punish sin. Upon Golgotha, God’s love and wrath mingle perfectly. The wrath of God which fell upon Jesus is good news for the believer.

Ironic isn’t it? Strange perhaps? Jesus is slow to anger… yet quick to kindle his wrath.

 “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Numbers 14:18

There are two ways to kiss the Son. One can fall down anointing his feet with kisses (Luke 7:37-38).  Or one can attempt to kill Christ with a cold peck. (Mark 14:44-45).  The former is a broken sinner relying only on the mercy of God. The latter is a hardened sinner about to be broken on the wrath of God.

So friend! Kiss the Son lest He be angry with you. His rod and his staff will comfort you.

Sean Perron