A year of living.

[Wayne in Maine]

I have a nurse tonight who is new to me. She was taking my vitals, reading my chart, etc. My cancer details are not prominent in my record. I will generally mention my stage 4 status and the fact that I have a terminal prognosis, - not to garner sympathy (though I can get extra visitors in some hospitals!), but just to be sure the ice is broken . The nurse looked at me and asked "Why are you so cheerful?" Betty and I looked at each other and Betty said it is complicated. The nurse (who is an unbeliever) wanted to know.

I told her.

She said that is quite a witness...

[Wayne in Maine]

I had a fine day yesterday. I tuned in to our church meeting over my phone and then enjoyed some visiting from Betty and Steve. Betty brought some herring and crackers and cheese as well as fresh Meadow Tea for lunch. All strong enough tasting for my beleaguered taste buds.
The nurses scheduled my antibiotic infusions so that I could have a clear time in the afternoon for Betty to take me out in a wheelchair to the "healing Garden. It was good to breathe fresh air infused with the salt of the sea and the campfire smoke of nearby Thomas Beach.


Betty and I sat together by a little fountain and I told her that I love her more now than ever before, and I do.


After my outing, Mike Barone, the Scoutmaster's Scoutmater, came for a visit. That was really special to me. Mike "gets it" about how through all of what I'm going through I am irrepressibly cheerful. We talked hiking - Mike has finally learned that it's not about "getting there" but it is the journey that counts. I drew up the image or Mike and I watching the sunrise from Tumbledown mountain with my steaming cup of coffee beside me - gazing down into the valley, our charges sound asleep on the mountain - experienced and prepared. Mike and I were, the first ones up of course as that is one of the first things Mike taught me about being a Scout Master: - last to bed, first up, all's well.



My personal physician called to see how I'm doing. He'll review my charts and consult with the hospital doctor to make sure nothing rash is done unnecessarily, like removing my port.


I spent time enjoying Native African hymns and folk songs. Beautiful harmonies and lively rhythms.
God was good to me yesterday, he showered me with new gifts.

[Wayne in Maine]

My roommate proudly proclaims that he is an ordained Baptist minister who was associate pastor of a Black church. He is a "born again" Jewish convert - a lawyer.

At first I thought it would be wonderful to have fellowship. I knew we would discuss the differences between Baptist" and Anabaptist. He really is a "believe in Jesus, have a Born Again experience and you are eternally secure" person. Everything else is legalism. Hmmm... this is going to take some work.

But over the past few days I have learned that he is more than "liberal" in his views of homosexuality, abortion and other such issues.

Worse though is his behavior toward the nurses. He literally propositioned our nurse offering her money for sex last night. He prefaced the proposition with the fact that he is a Baptist minister! Honestly that's what he did. It's beyond flirting, it's abusive.

Out spiritual discussions are a bit more muted. He asked me this morning why I don't believe in a "born again experience". Umm... I'll discuss it with him later... Right now he's watching some filthy TV program. I'm going to ask his wife if she can get him earphones - he;s hard of hearing so I have to listen to that filth even through my headphones.

God give me strength and wisdom and the right words to say.

[Josh]

Well, that escalated quickly.

[steve-in-kville]

Worse though is his behavior toward the nurses. He literally propositioned our nurse offering her money for sex last night. He prefaced the proposition with the fact that he is a Baptist minister! Honestly that's what he did. It's beyond flirting, it's abusive.

Is he in his right mind? You hear about this in rest homes... old guys trying to drag nurses into the shower with them and the like...

[Wayne in Maine]

Worse though is his behavior toward the nurses. He literally propositioned our nurse offering her money for sex last night. He prefaced the proposition with the fact that he is a Baptist minister! Honestly that's what he did. It's beyond flirting, it's abusive.

Is he in his right mind? You hear about this in rest homes... old guys trying to drag nurses into the shower with them and the like...

I'm afraid he is in his right mind! He's too feeble to drag a nurse anywhere, but no too "born again" to offer a nurse money for sex. Honestly, neither chemotherapy not 4 antibiotics have brought on nausea to me more than his behavior. It so dishonors Christ. I don't think the nurses associate that sort of "Christianity" with me, but it does make things difficult.

[temporal1]

i’m pretty sure even unbelievers are able to sense words+behaviors that remove credibility and adjust their responses accordingly.
even professionals who are trained to control their responses, to appear, “stoic?” in all circumstances.

i’m sorry for this person to be your roommate. i’m sorry for this person. i will not refer to him as a man.
don’t waste a single thought that anyone would confuse you with him. no matter his blasphemy.

from young, females and males begin to learn to sift through what is right, what is wrong, and what is deplorable.
silence does not mean there is no disgust. i hope he has not done too much damage in his life. he raises such questions, doesn’t he?

there is a possibility there is some disorder, response to meds, pain, etc. Tourette’s Syndrome comes to mind.

my husband never lost his sense of morality or gratitude, respect for others, but he had a rare moment now+then of becoming combative. it was fleeting. i had no label for it. but there were moments he was “not himself.” i didn’t blame him. in his situation, who could do as well?

television.
i suggested to our children as they were approaching marrying age, to pay attention to what people do in-their-free-time,
including watching tv, if they watched tv. i think this can give a clue about inner spirits. garbage tv is a sign of something.
probably something not easily changed for the better.

i’m sorry to read this. but don’t worry about him rubbing off on you/your witness. what he’s got is not “catching.”
what you’ve got is! John 14:27 https://biblehub.com/john/14-27.htm

[gcdonner]

Worse though is his behavior toward the nurses. He literally propositioned our nurse offering her money for sex last night. He prefaced the proposition with the fact that he is a Baptist minister! Honestly that's what he did. It's beyond flirting, it's abusive.

Is he in his right mind? You hear about this in rest homes... old guys trying to drag nurses into the shower with them and the like...

I'm afraid he is in his right mind! He's too feeble to drag a nurse anywhere, but no too "born again" to offer a nurse money for sex. Honestly, neither chemotherapy not 4 antibiotics have brought on nausea to me more than his behavior. It so dishonors Christ. I don't think the nurses associate that sort of "Christianity" with me, but it does make things difficult.

It is the once saved always saved theology that informs some Baptists (many down south here) that once you are born again you can't lose your salvation no matter What you do and insist on proving it by doing whatever they choose.
I know a man down here whose wife is in a nursing home and he is living with another woman...He is a good Baptist.
Well, Wayne, I know that you are a red letter kind of guy, so I am sure you are aware that Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." (Don't forget the KJV only requirements too)

[Wayne in Maine]

Is he in his right mind? You hear about this in rest homes... old guys trying to drag nurses into the shower with them and the like...

I'm afraid he is in his right mind! He's too feeble to drag a nurse anywhere, but no too "born again" to offer a nurse money for sex. Honestly, neither chemotherapy not 4 antibiotics have brought on nausea to me more than his behavior. It so dishonors Christ. I don't think the nurses associate that sort of "Christianity" with me, but it does make things difficult.

It is the once saved always saved theology that informs some Baptists (many down south here) that once you are born again you can't lose your salvation no matter What you do and insist on proving it by doing whatever they choose.
I know a man down here whose wife is in a nursing home and he is living with another woman...He is a good Baptist.
Well, Wayne, I know that you are a red letter kind of guy, so I am sure you are aware that Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." (Don't forget the KJV only requirements too)

Jesus said “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Many, many people believe that having said a prayer or having some sort of emotional experience means they are "born again". I experienced that, I believed that at one time. I was saved from that. Yet they do not see the Kingdom of Heaven - they are not even interested in it. They seek eternal life but as Jesus said also: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." People do not want to enter the kingdom of God, they want to "go to heaven" when the finish this life of sinning and selfish pursuit of comfort and carnality. They are not born again.

As for me, I'm living in that Kingdom now, I see it and experience its joys and wonders (sometimes with tears streaming down my face) and the presence of its King daily, everywhere I go. The Kingdom of God is truly among us.

[Ken]

Worse though is his behavior toward the nurses. He literally propositioned our nurse offering her money for sex last night. He prefaced the proposition with the fact that he is a Baptist minister! Honestly that's what he did. It's beyond flirting, it's abusive.

Is he in his right mind? You hear about this in rest homes... old guys trying to drag nurses into the shower with them and the like...

I'm afraid he is in his right mind! He's too feeble to drag a nurse anywhere, but no too "born again" to offer a nurse money for sex. Honestly, neither chemotherapy not 4 antibiotics have brought on nausea to me more than his behavior. It so dishonors Christ. I don't think the nurses associate that sort of "Christianity" with me, but it does make things difficult.

Yes. There's generally no need to make excuses for bad and abusive behavior. Most often that is exactly what it is. Bad and abusive behavior. People are adults and should be held accountable. Very rarely is something like dementia at issue.