Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    I want to publicly thank the friends here who I know have been praying
    for me concerning some matters which I wish to remain private.  You
    know who you are though.  Thank you, my friends.  Thank you.  And,
    don't stop.
    
    God's peace and grace to each,
    Richard

	I received a call today and it appears that the way has opened
for the three women I spoke about in 213.46 to participate in the sermon
for the 21st, barring the unforeseen.  I am *so* excited about this!

	At my invitation, they will be performing a segment called HERSTORY
which I saw them perform in April and which touched my very soul.  HERSTORY is
an outcry against sexist notions.  But at a more subtle level, HERSTORY
dramatically mirrors the indomitable Spirit of the Living Christ struggling
through the lives of three very contemporary women.

	Thanks for your continuing prayers.

Peace,
Richard

	Worship yesterday at Pikes Peak MCC was spectacular!  The message and
special presentation occurred without blemish.

	Three very talented women (a Mennonite, a Benedictine Sister and a
Franciscan Sister) presented HERSTORY, portrayals of courageous, Spirit-filled
women: a farm worker organizer, an imprisoned peace activist, a doctor who
refused to serve in the Persian Gulf war, and a black preacher.  Their words
were particularly potent, I think because they were the words of real women.

	I thank you for all your prayers and benevolent thoughts.

Peace,
Richard

    
    Glad to hear that it went so well Richard.
    
    Carole

Thank you all for your prayers.  Between this and several other major things 
going on the past couple of months have been quite a ride.  Without prayers 
and many people showing me the love of God I don't know where'd I'd be right 
now.

Peace,

Jim

p.s.  Karen, it was wonderful hearing your voicemail message, thank you.

    
    thank you all for your prayers
    
    peter

        With a whole week to go I landed not just a job but also an
        exciting opportunity to define and build Digital's internal
        information system for the next century.

        I will be working for Tim Horgan of IM&T.  I'll be located in
        MSO (the new HQ building on Powdermill Road in Maynard).

        I'll keep the LGP30 node name for E-mail and the conference
        (but may be off for a few days -- and a few more days for
        other nodes to catch up to a new DECnet address for LGP30).

        For those who've known Jim Miller of CRL, he'll be joining me
        there, too.

        (This represents a triumph of electronic co-working bringing
        together "knowledgeable strangers", as Howard Webber would
        put it.  Tim saw my resume in a notes conference.)

        Thanks to all for encouragement, condolences, and leads!

        Bob

    .7
    
    Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!
    
    Richard

    and for all Creatures here below!
    

    Great!   I don't think I could handle another good-by today.
    
    Nanci

Re. 213.381

Thank you for your prayers!  Worship last Friday evening was rich in Spirit.

Ron and Dot Francey did make it.  What a blessing it was to have them there.

Shalom,
Richard

Here's something to post for CP, prayers answered.

Love, 

Ruth

------------------------------------
God's Love in Action 

Good news:  Bridgitte went to see Dr. Greensides, her cardiologist, last
week and -- no heart surgery!!!

As you recall, she was born with two large holes in her heart; one between
the upper chambers (ASD) and one between the lower chambers (VSD).  When
she was only 4 weeks old (and had grown to a little more than 3 lbs)  we
were told that pulmonary hypertension resulting in heart failure could set
in at any time.  If it did, she would have to have the holes repaired or it
would be fatal.  So we learned how to watch for the symptoms of heart
failure and took her home just under 4 lbs with a pulse oximeter (to
measure oxygen percentage in her bloodstream) and an oxygen supply.    

Dr. Greensides also told us that if her heart became over-pressurized for
an extended period of time it would cause permanent heart-lung damage and
she would die by age 5 or 6.   Many doctors would have wanted to do the
heart surgery right then and there.  But Dr. Greensides gave us the chance
to let her heart heal.  

What was so amazing is that the defects were so huge, but her body remained
very healthy.  Most children with these defects turn blue at any exercise,
they have no energy, they don't grow very well, and they retain fluid. 
Bridgitte never "blued out" and is a little blur of toddler motion and
energy.   And she is growing and growing!

Since we first learned about the heart defects I have had a running
dialogue with her.  I remember standing over her isolette in the preemie
ward telling her something like this:

"I love you so much and I will support you and give you everything I know
of to help you heal.  But the final decision to heal is up to you.  If you
open yourself to the Holy Spirit for healing, you will be healed.  If you
cannot do this, I will support you in whatever you choose, but please know
that heart surgery is painful and I don't think you'll like it very much."

I think I told her this just about every day for the first year.  Now I
know a lot of people would think that I was crazy for talking to a baby
like that.  But I believe that our spirits *know* and understand things
even when we are babies.  I believe that Bridgitte chose healing.

In addition to that, she chose radiant health.   She had to have her
tonsils removed when she was two -- not because of infections or
enlargement -- but because it is very normal for children with Down
Syndrome to have smaller throat cavities so that normal-sized tonsils cause
obstructive apnea.  Her ear/nose/throat specialist told us that because she
has Down, she would suffer constant ear infections.  This is because
children with Down have a genetically weaker immune system and smaller ear
canals.  He said that there was "no way she will get out of her toddler
years without tubes in her ears."

Well -- My little girl has *never* had an ear infection and she is four
years old.  The last time she went to see her pediatrician was October of
'93 and that was for a cold that had lasted just a little too long  (since
I was very sensitive to her heart problems I would take her to the doctor
over very "trivial" colds).

I am so thankful for her good health.  I am thankful that God has helped me
make good choices for her (I give her natural herbal mixtures and make sure
her food is wholesome and fits her needs), and am so thankful that He gave
me the wisdom to support her spiritually while she healed.  

This child is so beautiful and has an inner charm that nourishes people --
my friends beg me to babysit her because she gives them so much love.  I
tell her everyday something like this:

"You are a perfect child of God.  No one is this whole wide world is like
you or has ever been like you.  You are precious and your worth is beyond
measure.  You have a genius within you that is yours alone and it is up to
you to find it and let it flower.  If you do this you will change the world
in a wonderful way that no one else can.  You are loving and loved."

Thanks you for all your prayers and love,

Ruth

The crisis I was facing when I entered Note 213.384 has pretty much passed.
Others and I have sensed the hand of God guiding the resolution.  Thank you,
dear friends in Christ, for your prayers.

Shalom,
Richard
    

    I find it very difficult to ask for prayers for me, so instead I wish
    to thank all of you who pray for *all* people in pain and need of
    healing, whether you know their names or not.  On Sept. 7th I fell and
    broke my leg.  I am now in a cast but cannot put weight on that leg. 
    Over the last (almost) two weeks I have built up enough stamina to get
    from my car to my office without feeling like I was going to collapse. 
    I look forward to increased strength.  

    And I am awed by the new perspective this gives me not only for those
    who have life long physical challenges, but also for the things in my
    life which I was taking for granted.  

    +++
    Debby

    Debby:
    
    I am sorry to hear this.  Please let me know if there is anything I
    (we) can do.  I am right upstairs!
    
    -Jack

    .14
    
    Praise to our God -- the God of healing and regeneration.
    
    And thank God for those extra-wide restroom stalls, eh?
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    > And thank God for those extra-wide restroom stalls, eh?
    
    Not so much the width as the support rails.  I've taken enough falls
    for a while!
    
    Thanks for the smile.
    
    Debby