I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses

Every since I first sang this hymn some years back, I knew it was true in my life but, perhaps, never so much so than a week ago yesterday (Sunday) when I was literally surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Let me explain. For the past sixteen (16) years, I have volunteered at a week-long summer camp for child and adolescent burn survivors.  On Sunday morning, prior to the arrival of campers, we have a non-denominational church service with a message and prayers for a good, injury free week. Well, a week ago yesterday, the group asked me if I would mind if the group lay hands on me and pray over me. I told them I would REALLY appreciate that since I was still recovering from my pacemaker implant back in March. Little did I realize how much it would help! Even before the prayer had ended, I felt renewed strength and decreased pain. Thank you camp family!

Finding the faith to press on

Press On (Selah)

Beginning last December (2013), I was troubled by Atrial Fibrillation, a condition where the atrium (top right chamber of the heart) doesn't beat effectively, instead it quivers. Rather that worrying about it, I came home from the doctor and got on Facebook and ask my family and friends to get a prayer chain going -- that I had a long, hard road ahead of me. Also, being a Latter-Day Saint, I knew I must try, as I have been taught, to endure to the end. Does that mean I prepared to die? Not at all, instead I "dug in" and prepared to battle the problem with Heavenly Father's help. I won't lie . . . it was the roughest three months of my life. The funny thing was that I was willing to accept it as the "thorn in my side" because friends were being strengthened - and acting on their own health problems - seeing how I was dealing with mine. That wasn't Heavenly Father's plan for me as he guided my Cardiologist to send me to an Electrophysiologist who performed surgery and implanted a pacemaker (pictured above right). Now, some two months and two weeks after the surgery, I am back in good health. All because I endured and pressed on!