IMPORTANT STORY ABOUT PAUL AND JUDY: I shared this story at The Waters Churchs Christmas Eve Eve Service last Tuesday night. Last Saturday at 12 noon, my dad, Paul Paschall, was told by the oncologist that he had weeks maybe months to live. That was 12 noon. At 12:58 I took a picture of my mother praying for my dad. Lots of tears, lots of disbelief and embracing. But lots of faith. That pic is included in this post. Then at 1:48 I took a picture of Dad sharing a witness with Erika, one of his nurses. He was actually excited that he had a new platform to share his faith from. He would ask people, like Erika, What if you were me? What if you got this news today? How would you react? Then after they responded, he would share his faith in Christ. And he wouldnt stop when he found a Christian...he would press and ask where they were plugged in into ministry. Gentle but aggressive leadership with people. I saw it work over and over while I was there. That picture is attached in this post. Then at 1:54 I took a picture of my mother praying with a stranger in the waiting room; a man shed never met, she asked how she could pray with him. That picture is attached as well. This isnt a story of joy and happiness. No one is happy about what Dads going through. No one is joyful. Everything is sad, sobering and exhausting. And yet...my mother and father, sister, brother in law, nieces, nephews, wife and kids are clinging to our faith...more tightly than ever. And this story has taken legs. Many people that were present at the Christmas Eve Eve service have told me that they will never be the same now. This story of sticking to faith...sticking to Jesus through the crap times...this story has deeply affected many people. One of the women in my church said, I cant go back to the way I used to be now. I can never go back. I cant gripe, complain, or feel hopeless. I just cant. I feel like nothing will be the same now. Listen, whether Dad has two weeks, two years, two or three decades...the story of how he reacted, and how mom reacted to the news on Saturday, will forever be told. And their reaction didnt stop there. Dad continues to share his faith with nurses and hospice care workers that come to visit him. He is relentless. If he has the strength, he speaks about Jesus. And not in a legalistic way; as if he feels hell be a bad Christian if he doesnt. He just agrees Paul in 1 Corinthians 9...I am compelled by God to preach the good news. Dad does it because he cant not do it...even with this stupid cancer trying to sap his strength. I dont write this console anyone. This isnt about making anyone feel better about pain and suffering. I dont think anything can do that. I am not trying to feel better about my dads sickness. I am angry about it. I dont understand it at all. But I do know the facts...and the facts are...he isnt letting go of his faith. And so...Im writing this either to, hopefully, increase your faith, or introduce you to it. Thank you, Paul and Judy, for not making this Christian faith a Sunday morning thing...but a Saturday at noon thing. Your story will forever affect people for the sake of Christ. Oh, and to answer your question, Dad...I hope Id react exactly the way you did. Forever learning from you...
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 20:58:53 +0000
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