Text Messages

Prayer works! This has been and is a very full week. Your prayers have made the difference. If you have prayed that the Lord would order all the medical procedures and show favor over unexpected things, your prayers have been answered. If you prayed that Angel would make it through her 1st gamma knife radiation therapy without severe anxiety, your prayers were answered. If you prayed that Angel would experience peace and relax during the GKR treatment, your prayers were answered. If you prayed that the Lord would be glorified to the medical professionals all around Angel, your prayers were answered. If you prayed that traffic would be uneventful, your prayers have been answered. If you prayed that Angel would get rest at home, your prayers have been answered. If you prayed that all of our daily needs would be met, your prayers have been answered. If you prayed that the girls would have a great beginning to freshman HS and College semesters, your prayers have been answered.

For example, on the way to her cardiologist appointment Monday morning Angel just mentioned to me, “Adam, even if we have to pay for it, I want to get my covid antibody test run again.” I guess it was just coincidence that Dr Voelz suggested that she wanted Angel to get an antibody test, oh and by the way, the lab is right here on the second floor so you can get it done right now. Oh, and according to the portal information Angel still shows antibodies from June 2020. Just a coincidence I suppose.

Oh, and the Jewish neurosurgeon who claims no active faith and all of those highly educated medical professionals got to hear Angel go on and on about how the only way she could go through the radiation treatment is the Lords help and all His people praying. Who knows what that sowing will reap.

PRAYER: Angel still has 2 more days of the GKR treatments Wednesday and Thursday. Friday she has a full body PET scan that will detect any other tumor activity in the body. If, WHEN that comes back clean the oncologist, Dr Tanna says there will be no need for any further chemotherapy. 3 more trips running down the I-85 gauntlet with construction and various levels of vehicle operators. Restful sleep. The enemy would try to sling some firey darts towards our minds to interrupt our rest.

We are ready to get these things behind us, get Angel rested up and ready to go back out singing and Preaching as soon as possible.

One of these days very soon we are going to do a big live FaceTime to recap this ordeal, thank a lot of people, and GIVE GOD GLORY!

DON’T STOP PRAYING! It’s working.

Todays broadcast is our next installment in our extended series, Why We Believe What We Believe. Part 1 of 4 on Eternal Security is a message to give bible reference to this key doctrine.

Since our last update we have taken several steps forward. In the last week Angel has had appointments with her Radiation Oncologist, her surgeon, her primary Dr, and then the dreaded MRI on the 12th. It has to be understood that each one of those steps carries a certain amount of anxiety. For all who try to give the ole’ encouraging, “You can do it! Just be brave.” As kindly as I can put this, let’s just put a tumor in your brain, have it surgically removed with a history of cancerous tumors and know the trauma the body goes through, throw in a good dose of claustrophobia for all the lovely scans and then come see us. All that said, it was, is and will be the Lord who is holding Angel up and helping her take each step. Prayer is much better than bravery. One could be brave without an ounce of prayer. But, one can possess some human fear and be bathed in prayer and proceed trusting to the unseen Hand of God.

Angel got a call on Friday from her radiation oncologist, Dr Zhang, with the results of the MRI. The pocket has closed to a great degree but the area will still require 3 gamma knife radiation treatments instead of the 1 that we had hoped for. But, what we really want is the best possible care and for the will of God to be done.

Tomorrow is a big day. At 11:45 Angel has an appointment with her Medical Oncologist, Dr Tanna. The information that she provides will reveal another level to what could be further treatments. With Angel’s history with breast cancer, and with the pathology report linking the brain tumor to that breast cancer can give cause for concern. Another wrinkle in what may come forth is that Angel has been regularly checked for ‘cancer markers’ and has been on a cancer suppression meds since her breast cancer treatment in 2014-15. The concern is that with the meds and the regular blood tests showing no cancer markers present, she still grew a 4.8cm brain tumor.

PRAYER: Pray for the Medical Oncology treatment path. Pray for the Gamma Knife radiation treatment to be effective. Pray for the cabin fever to be tolerated. DON’T STOP PRAYING!!

(2 Corinthians 6: 1-10) An approved ministry will have the Power of God in the middle of all evidences. Verse 4 through 10 lists 37 items that will accompany a ministry that is not in vain (v1), that gives no offence, and is an approved ministry. The “middle” item (#18) is the Power of God. It is absolutely necessary to operate in the Power of God in order to perform in patience, afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings, fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by genuine love, by the word of truth, by the armor of righteousness, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, when accused as a deceiver, as a true witness, unknown or known, dying to self, living in Christ, chastened, yet not killed, sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, in poverty, yet profiting our fellow man, having nothing, yet possessing all things.

What good was the grace of God unto us if we would attempt to live, serve, witness, work, and minister without the Power of God resting in the middle of our lives. Verse 1 gives us the key. We are working “together with him.” Him being the Lord Jesus Christ (5:14-21). Together. We are not in any of this alone. Let us cease to ignore the power of our life and fail to acknowledge Him as our source of strength.

Click the link below to hear the full length message, “Thank You Here or Well Done There”

https://anchor.fm/adam-borden/episodes/Thank-You-Here-or-Well-Done-There-Episode-27-Season-2-e15gpgq

This week has been filled with rest & recovery, improvement & encouragement, appointments & anxiety (to be transparent). Today was the first of many follow up appointments that will roll out over the next several weeks. Good news first: Angel’s left hand and arm has been steadily improving in mobility and strength. Her pain level has been minimal and very manageable. Her mental clarity and physical appetite has been very good. As her practicing support animal, I do not have to worry if I am going to forget anything that needs to be taken care of. She’s on point when it comes to the “to do’s”. We have enjoyed numerous calls and messages from friends around the country and from Pastor friends from the Bahamas. Our church family and wonderful neighbors have been so good to us. Today’s appointment with the radiation oncologist, Dr Zhang, went well. It was a bit jarring to leave the house and go back into the somewhat familiar environment of a radiation lab. Here are the bullet points…

• Another MRI set up for 8/19 for updated brain condition
• 1-3 gamma knife radiation treatments based on MRI
• Regular MRIs every 2-3 months going forward
• Tumor pathology shows this brain tumor is metastatic to the 2014 breast cancer tumors
• That points to possibility of more extensive Oncology treatment (Dr Tanna)
• Increased chance of seizures due to Radiation

We also had a visit from a home health nurse, April. Her evaluation was that Angel has progressed so well physically that she does not need physical or occupational therapy right now. We will re-evaluate things after the radiation treatment.

PRAYER: Let’s make these reports our matters of specific prayers if you please. We will never be able to thank you enough for continuing in prayer for Angel and our family.

STRENGTHENING: I cannot say that we are there yet, but the Lord has planted 2 Corinthians 12:9 deep down in my heart. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What a thought. Power of God not from good work, not from education, not from influence, not from volume, not from exposure or admiration. Power rests upon those who go through the hard times and remain faithful. Lord help us all.

Home. There is something you can get there that is unavailable anywhere else. Peace and quiet. Thank the Lord Angel was discharged today about 2pm. I must say the entire experience was made more tolerable by the incredible staff at Northside Hospital Gwinnett and Northeast GA Med Ctr Gainesville. We took the 2 lane way home, wept our way in the door and she settled in to her freshly cleaned living room, courtesy of Lloyd and Debra Borden. We are so grateful for all who prayed us through this portion of this major medical emergency. We will get into follow up appointments and things but all we ask tonight is that you help us pray for a great night’s rest. We hope and pray the same for you. Don’t stop praying.

Today was a mix of good news, God things and pain. So, the good news first. There was a decent nights rest overnight, as good as you can get as a hospital patient who is the recipient of tremendous round the clock care. Translation: 3:30am “I wanted to wake you up and make sure you are resting. Time to check your vitals, and your sugar, what’s your favorite color…” No really, it is all part of great constant care. The Lord blessed us with many great conversations and messages from people all over the country who have been a great blessing to us. All of your communications through our update posts have done a great work in heaven and in our hearts. With all of that comes the reality that 48 hours ago a Human Being took surgical tools and cut open Angels scalp and skull, dug around skillfully and pulled out a lemon sized object from her doggone brain, put it back together with staples and she still works. Now, think about the last time you stubbed your toe, tweaked your ankle, bumped your knee or elbow, got popped with bacon grease, got a sunburn, a paper cut, sat in a chair too long and got stiff (it happens), got a leg cramp, accidentally hit yourself with a golf club or aluminum bat, or had a child conk you on the head with a toy of any kind. Now, put all those together, insert it into your head and pour scalding water on it followed by iodized salt and mercurochrome. Starting to get close to brain surgery pain. Oh, and add in a broken bone because her skull was sawed open. Ok now. Please pray that her pain can be managed. Even with the meds they are giving her there is still a significant amount of pressure and pain. THE REALLY GOOD NEWS! She is going home tomorrow! Can you believe it? This started almost 9 days ago and she is finally getting to go home.

PRAYER: Pain Management, A smooth release from the hospital and arrival home, Follow up appointments over the next 2 weeks including a 1 time gamma knife radiation treatment, No insurance issues, Pray away fevers, infections, falls, seizures or any major setbacks, For the home crew which will take over all of the round the clock care, Safety traveling home tomorrow.

STRENGTHENING: They say that people who are in better physical condition overall do better when a major health crisis arises. Same principle can be applied to the healthy active prayer life of a Child of God who gets the right amount of spiritual nutrition, exercise, rest, work, and flexibility. How in this world does anyone face anything close to this without a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Please hear what I am about to say in the right spirit. Some who have posted a response to one of our update posts that has a praying hand emoji or “prayers” cannot remember the last time that they started and ended their day with prayer. Some could not pray effectively because there is unconfessed sin in their life. Some who promised to pray would have to get out a yearly calendar to track down the last time they actually went to church. If this experience has rekindled your prayer life, worth it. If you have tried to pray for Angel and it caused you to clean up some things or reestablish communion between you and the Master, worth it. As we have said throughout the last 9 days, DON’T STOP PRAYING! When the reports get better and she goes home, DON’T STOP PRAYING! Pray like it is brain surgery day, every day. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJB

In Scofield’s notes in the introduction to Philippians, he makes this statement, “Christian experience, (Paul) would teach us, is not something which is going on around the believer, but something which is going on within the believer.”  Without all my notes with me, I cannot recall between Stinnet Ballew, Milford Biddle or Raymond Hancock, who said in times like these to say not tell me Why Lord, but rather show me Who are you in this Lord. In Philippians 3 Paul laid bye all his outward previous entitlement, precious enrichment, positional enablement, and political entanglement, in deference to the Embolding Power he knew within by humility, sufferings, and persecution. A dear friend reminded us of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 when he instructed us in the sufficient grace, perfected strength in weakness, and glory in infirmities for Christ’s sake. All of which are the pathway to Power in Christ which is not put on but better put in. Watering the leaves of the branches does not give the nourishment that the water from the Roots through the Vine provides.