tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51824922267052505482024-03-13T22:19:49.820-04:00Glenn PennerTheology, books, politics, national/international affairs, family, fighting cancer, with a wee bit of humour... the stuff of my life.Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-88012387421351922412010-02-18T15:48:00.001-05:002010-02-18T15:48:43.003-05:00Glenn’s memorial<p>I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the cards, tributes, phone calls, emails, prayers and expressions of sympathy.  It has been very encouraging to hear how Glenn's life touched so many people worldwide - a real testimony of how God uses us in our weaknesses.</p> <p>As all of our family are out West, and Glenn wanted to be buried in a family graveyard next to his grandparents, we had a funeral service here in Mississauga and then travelled out to our home town to have a memorial service for our families and friends out West.  The memorial service in Alberta was videotaped, and is now online at <a href="http://www.persecution.tv/">www.persecution.tv</a> for those of you who may be interested in watching it.</p> <p>As you can imagine, Glenn has left a big hole in our hearts, and yet we rejoice that he has now joined "the cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) cheering us on.  The call to each of us is to carry on, standing strong and fighting the good fight.  We grieve, but not as those without hope.  Thank you again for all your love and support.  We continue to covet your prayers as we adjust to life without Glenn.</p> <p>Keep the faith....</p> <p>Love,</p> <p>Denita</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-87101679316096589882010-01-27T07:28:00.001-05:002010-01-27T07:28:37.592-05:00Final posting<p>As many of will already know, Glenn went home to be with the Lord yesterday, Jan. 26/10 around 7:00 in the evening.  Since Saturday, when he came to understand that he wasn't going to win this battle, Glenn set his face towards the end as determined as he lived his life - with focus.  As you can imagine, it is a profoundly (is that a word??) sad for the me, our kids and families.  Thank you so much for all your love and support through this extremely hard and tiring journey.  We continue to covet your prayers as we adjust to life without Glenn.</p> <p>Lots of love,</p> <p>Denita for all of us (Joel, Becky and David)</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-60808356748693235612010-01-21T17:24:00.001-05:002010-01-21T17:24:01.578-05:00Follow up update<p>Just a quick note to let you know Glenn had his nerve block on Tuesday and it would appear that it has been effective.  Glenn has hardly had to ask for extra pain medication since, so now the doctor is going to try to lower the Methadone.  Thanks for praying.</p> <p>Denita</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-14280075763002189052010-01-16T21:38:00.001-05:002010-01-16T21:38:52.291-05:00Update from Denita<p>Thought it was about time to send out another update.  Glenn is still in the hospital.  By and large the pain is under control during the day, as long as the nurses remember to give him his meds on time.  He still does wake up with quite a lot of pain, however, and because of that the doctor really can't cut back on the pain medication he is giving Glenn.  A nerve block is scheduled for Tuesday, so you can pray for that.  We should know in a day or two if it worked, and if so, the doctor is hoping to drastically cut back on the Methadone which should clear Glenn's mind up and help him stay awake more.  Yesterday, Glenn started getting some more congestion in his chest.  This is causing him considerable anxiety and he is terrified of getting pneumonia again.  For now the doctor is keeping his eye on it, but he will not hesitate to put Glenn back on antibiotics if things get worse.  Please pray that the Lord will fill Glenn's mind with peace.  The fear of not being able to breath is preoccupying his thoughts and making it hard for him to concentrate on anything else.</p> <p>We all really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you too for the cards, emails and phone calls.  Your support along with the Lord's grace and strength are seeing us through this difficult time.</p> <p>Love,</p> <p>Denita</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-57138227845103078872010-01-15T13:16:00.001-05:002010-01-15T13:16:11.139-05:00Appreciation for your prayers<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 352px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f3b0364c-bf23-4198-8a68-1b2d8933936a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="352" height="221" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1292139217877" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1292139217877" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="352" height="221"></embed></object></div></div> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-69065338958524924002010-01-10T12:34:00.001-05:002010-01-10T15:27:07.039-05:00Video update from the hospital<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 352px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:7f298552-2916-4484-b268-e383eaccb3aa" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="352" height="221" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1287903591989" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1287903591989" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="352" height="221"></embed></object></div></div> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-18285380634219203292010-01-04T17:07:00.002-05:002010-01-09T20:41:50.592-05:00Greetings from the hospital<p>I have decided to drop a brief note on my blog to let you know how I am doing rather than trying to update all of my emails, facebook posts, etc., since this is this where most of my friends find out how we are doing. So please check here to get updates on me.</p><p>I am not doing well, to put it quite simply. This morning was one of considerable pain again. Plus trying to find ways to free up my bladder and bowel movements, and you can tell that life is one big bowl of cherries for me.</p><p>It just seems that life is tough right now. I am hallucinating from time to time and yesterday I really really wrestled with whether my life was coming to an end. I still feel that I have things that I want to do however. I am not ready to call it quits yet. But life is getting harder and harder to live and fighting yet another bout of pneumonia has stretched me. So please pray that I will be ready to go when God wants me to go.</p>Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-24214874664672869062009-12-31T21:16:00.001-05:002009-12-31T21:16:41.895-05:00Happy New Year!<p>Happy New Year!  It's hard to believe it is almost 2010 (3 more hours to go)!  Thank you so much for all the concentrated prayers during this Christmas season.  I have really sensed God's presence, and while it has been a hard time, "the joy of the Lord" has been my strength.</p> <p>I just got back from seeing Glenn.  The past 2-3 days the pain has diminished considerably so the doctor has started lowering his dosage of Methadone.  As the pain is going away on it's own, there will be no need to do a nerve block now, which on one hand is a relief.  For about 3 weeks now, Glenn has been sleeping most of his days and nights away, so as you can imagine he has gotten quite weak.  The last 2 mornings he has had raspy breathing, which is beginning to concern us.  The doctor says his lungs sound clear so far, but we are keeping our eyes on it.  We are hoping that once the Methadone dosage is lowered, Glenn's mind will clear up and he will be able to be awake more and able to think clearly.  Besides that, there really isn't much else to report.</p> <p>All the best to each of your in the coming year.</p> <p>Till next time....</p> <p>Love,</p> <p>Denita</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-29234376389120938212009-12-25T13:09:00.001-05:002009-12-25T13:09:54.029-05:00Merry Christmas<p>Another Christmas!!!!  It’s so hard to believe another year is almost over.  Wow!!  May this be a blessed season for all of you.  Thanks so much for standing with us in prayer and for all your encouragement.</p> <p>Glenn is still in the hospital.  Not much has changed.  He usually wakes up around 3:00 a.m. with a lot of pain and it takes until about 9:30 a.m. before the drugs kick in to make him comfortable enough to be able to sleep.  He then spends most of the day sleeping so that when I go to see him in the evening he is a bit more alert and able to visit for a bit.  As it is the Christmas and there are a number of days off around this time of hear, not much else is happening.  The doctor told me they will probably do the nerve block next week.  He is still hopeful that the radiation will work, but I’m beginning to wonder as it’s been two weeks now since he had his radiation treatments.  Besides that, there really is not much else to report.  We are weary and at times feel overwhelmed, but we continue to persevere knowing that God is in control and our lives are in his hand.</p> <p>God bless you and Happy New Year!</p> <p>Love, </p> <p>Denita </p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-24946694404467995172009-12-20T07:33:00.001-05:002009-12-20T07:37:18.244-05:00Update<p>Hi!  Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that Glenn is back in the hospital.  Last weekend was a nightmare as far as the pain was concerned, so on Tuesday, the doctor decided the best thing would be to change Glenn's medication from the pain pump to Methadone and oral drug.  He told us, though, that it is very difficult  to figure out the proper dosage with Methadone, so he wanted Glenn in the hospital for the switch over.  Thursday night was the worst night of pain for Glenn yet, so when the doctor came to see him in the morning he told Glenn he was going to increase the dosage, but he would be <u>very</u> sleepy.  By that time, Glenn was about ready for anything and he agreed so for the last 2 days Glenn has been sleeping most of the time.  Yesterday Glenn woke up with a fever and his hemoglobin was down to 69, so blood cultures and other tests were done to see if he has an infection of some kind and he was given another 2 bags of blood last night.  When I saw him last night he had better color and was more alert so the extra blood seems to have helped him a bit.  </p> <p>Please pray for peace for Glenn.  He is quite discouraged by this latest turn of events.  I will try to keep you informed.</p> <p>Denita  </p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-80748625111845326932009-12-12T14:00:00.001-05:002009-12-12T14:09:03.055-05:00My song for 2009 Christmas season<p>Each year, I seem to get some silly Christmas song in my mind.  Last year, it was <a href="http://glennpenner.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-song-for-season.html" target="_blank">“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”</a>  This year, it’s this little classic. So, I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:a96b584a-5953-4fbc-9ebd-aa87c3672ec7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="d469c276-51b4-4015-9e1c-55ade5a4375c" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMfcfYcIDbg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/SyPoaXby7HI/AAAAAAAADCQ/irNWx1pezKA/videof76ee157b7ed%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('d469c276-51b4-4015-9e1c-55ade5a4375c'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KMfcfYcIDbg&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KMfcfYcIDbg&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-39858610594654688302009-12-11T14:21:00.001-05:002009-12-11T14:21:07.850-05:00Home from the hospital<p>Well, I am home.  I still feel pretty drugged up and everything I wrote in the previous blog still holds.  I am exhausted and simply worn out.  Pray that God will restore my strength at this time.</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-24085278718859278042009-12-10T19:08:00.001-05:002009-12-10T19:08:31.049-05:00How does one keep one’s faith when heavily drugged?<p>Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, readily admitted that of all of the tortures that he faced, it was the use of drugs by his persecutors that he found the most difficult. When I first read that over 12 years ago, I could not grasp the truth of what he was referring to, especially not when I had read of the horrific physical tortures that he had endured.</p> <p>Now, as I struggle to write each line of this blog, I understand Pastor Wurmbrand’s words far better.</p> <p>Right now I am in hospital undergoing radiation treatment. My doctor is hoping to shrink cancerous lymph nodes in my lower back and pelvic region that have increased in size and are pressing against nerves, causing a great deal of pain.</p> <p>To counter this pain, I am taking painkillers that are increasingly hindering my ability to think clearly. Emotionally, these drugs are making me fragile and insecure, and my inability to remember details is only reinforcing this. </p> <p>Yes, I can understand why Pastor Wurmbrand felt that drugs were the greatest challenge that he had faced in his years of torture. You find yourself in a position when you wonder how successful you are really being in controlling your mind, mouth, or emotions. You simply don’t know. You fear what you might have said but which you cannot remember. You cannot remember Bible verses that were once precious to you. You cannot remember things that you know you should know (right now, for example, I cannot remember how many years Pastor Wurmbrand was in prison. I should know this and I could look it up, but it is good that you know what I am referring to. I simply do not remember if it was 12 or 14 years). </p> <p>When drugged up, you find it harder to retain one’s confession of faith and truth when you cannot control your tongue. Of course, I am sure of God’s faithfulness at times like this. But drugs make you wonder what is real was real and what was drug-induced. Perhaps your past faithfulness was just a ruse. Guilt becomes a constant companion. </p> <p>To that end, I ask you to pray for me during this time. More importantly, pray for Christian prisoners who undergo such drug-induced torture daily. For me, there is hope that it will end soon. For many of them, there is no such hope.</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-20323570889389300092009-12-06T08:45:00.002-05:002009-12-06T18:27:13.035-05:00Cry for help on a Sunday morning<p>Woke up at 5:30 this morning when my roommate decided that he needed to have his light on. Thankfully, he obliged when I asked him to turn it off. What amazes me are people who think that it would have have been a good idea to begin with. I could not tell what he as doing that required illumination. </p> <p>But that kind of ruined my night, especially as the pain in my legs and thighs began to increase in earnest. As I write this, I am trying to supplement my regular pain killers with boluses every 30 minutes. Not helping much. “God help me!” is the only cry that I can utter right now. It is probably all I need to pray. It is sound and honours Him.</p> <p>I am struck by the people who are trying to help my roommate. It think it is his wife or girlfriend right now. She is literally bombarding him with questions. Not surprisingly, he is not answering most of them. I am sure that deep inside, he is simply saying, “Please be quiet and just be here for me. I will ask if I need something.” I am sure she is well-meaning though. But care-giving is a gift, not a natural talent for fallen human beings, it seems to me. Perhaps it can be training but the best are those who just seem to <em>know</em> how to do it, I’ve met a few people like this and I have to be careful not to measure everyone else against them. That would be grossly unfair, wouldn’t it?</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-25644864517918611152009-12-05T14:16:00.001-05:002009-12-05T14:16:47.341-05:00In the hospital<p>I ended up in the hospital yesterday after I woke up and found that the drugs that I had been given for the pain were far too strong.  Denita took my in for my first radiation treatment but then they checked me into the oncology ward to get my drug regiment until control.  I was also undergoing a lot of pain from the radiation treatment.  Frankly, I don’t remember a lot about yesterday.</p> <p>So, here I sit.  The pain in my legs is under control, but my head is sill a bit fuzzy.  </p> <p>On Monday, I pick up with the radiation treatment that they hope will shrink the lymph nodes that are pressing up against my nerves.  I really hope that this gets to the bottom of the problem.  I really do.</p> <p>Thank you for your prayers. </p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-36773301278698472172009-12-03T12:06:00.002-05:002009-12-03T21:13:04.940-05:00Prodded, poked, and then zapped<p>As we are seeking to get to the bottom of what is causing me such pain in my bottom, it would appear that my lymph nodes in my abdomen are pressing in on some nerves causing me the pain that I have been experiencing over the past three weeks. So, starting tomorrow morning at 8:30, I will be beginning a round of radiation treatment that will last for five days. The doctors hope that this will shrink the nodes and ease up the pressure on my nerves, which would sure be nice. I must confess that this constant pain, though it waxes and wanes and is by far the most severe in the mornings, has really been hard on me emotionally. </p> <p>It is amazing, of course, that we have been able to get these appointments so quickly. God’s hand is certainly at work in this.</p> <p>But I am growing tired of going from one crisis to another with few breaks in between. I am saddened by changes in my life that I know have needed to be made but which leave me feeling like I will never be able to reach my potential. I watch how all of this wears my wife down and it hurts me to see her so tired and so burdened. Yes, we agreed to be in this “for better or for worse” but I would have liked to have given her more of the “for better.” And every time I start feeling good again and hope rises anew that perhaps I might be able to live out a little more of my life with some degree of normality, then I am struck down again with another affliction. </p> <p>Yes, I am whining a bit. But is that so wrong from time to time? </p> <p>It does mean that we need your prayers in the days to come. Please pray that this radiation treatment really will address this pain. </p>Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-83931101482932800372009-11-30T16:01:00.001-05:002009-11-30T16:01:59.974-05:00Shakespeare on Twitter<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/SxQyqaPRaGI/AAAAAAAAC_U/6ePrKq-oN-s/s1600-h/corrigantwitter%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="corrigantwitter" border="0" alt="corrigantwitter" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/SxQyrN3mHuI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/yiJJqFoT0-k/corrigantwitter_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="332" /></a></p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-53837871667800727222009-11-28T10:11:00.002-05:002009-11-28T11:04:53.831-05:00"I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer."<p>As part of my daily devotional practice over the past few months, I have been reading a chapter or two from Mike Mason’s book <em>The Gospel According to Job</em>. This morning’s reading was especially helpful to me in light of my present circumstances. For those of you who have been reading my <a href="http://www.glennpenner.com/" target="_blank">personal blog</a>, you will have known that I have been experiencing severe pain in my lower torso and left leg for over two weeks. Job’s words in 30:20 have been my cry as well, just as I know that they are the cry of God’s persecuted children worldwide. I hope that you find these words a blessing as I have.</p><blockquote><p align="center"><strong>True Prayer</strong><br />"I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer." (30:20) </p><p>In the Bible we often read of people "crying out to the Lord." But what does it mean to "cry out"? Does it mean to express oneself demurely to God, with polite restraint, using the well-worn, time-honored phrases of the conventional prayer meeting? Or do the words "cry out" suggest more the sort of sound a man might make whose legs have just been caught up in a piece of machinery? "Surely [God] will save you from the fowler's snare;" sings the psalmist (91:3). A snare is a leghold trap, a contrivance designed to catch an animal and hold it until it dies of shock or starvation, condemning it in the meanwhile to hopeless struggle and horror. Is this not the sort of situation that might bring a human being to the point of crying out to God? </p><p>There is no true prayer without agony. Perhaps this is the problem in many of our churches. What little prayer we have is shallow, timid, carefully censored, and full of oratorical flourishes and hot air. There is little agony in it, and therefore little honesty or humility. We seem to think that the Lord is like everyone else we know, and that He cannot handle real honesty. So we put on our Sunday best to visit Him, and when we return home and take off our fancy duds we are left alone with what is underneath: the dirty underwear of hypocrisy. </p><p>Why do we flatly refuse to bring real emotions to our prayer meetings? Do we think that the public humbling of ourselves before the Lord should always be a pretty and an enjoyable thing? Do we think the Lord is only honored so long as our own public image and personal dignity are in no way compromised? But the truth is just the opposite: only when we ourselves are prepared to lose face can the Lord's face begin to shine through. It is for Him to exalt us; our part is to humble ourselves. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14). </p><p>Even in our private prayers, let alone in our public ones, we Christians have a way of tiptoeing around the throne of God as if He were an invalid or a doddering old man. But who do we think we are kidding? The Lord always knows exactly what we are feeling. He knows all there is to know about us. There is not a shadow of doubt or anger or hate in our hearts but God sees it. So why not just lay all our cards on the table? Real prayer is playing straight with God. If we have never cried out to the Lord, perhaps it is because we have not realized the true horror of our situation. We need to be careful that we do not grow so preoccupied with maintaining our spiritual equilibrium that we regard it as unseemly to cry out to God. </p><p>At bottom, probably what we are most afraid of in prayer is that no answer will come, and that then we will be left worse off than before. But true prayer has two parts: first there is the crying out, and then there is the waiting for an answer. If we are the sort of people who insist on having instant answers, then we shall certainly lack the courage to cry out. Though we might continue to go through the motions of prayer, we will have given up on the real thing. </p><p>Towards the end of the book of <em>Jeremiah</em>, the nation of Judah was on its last legs. It had been conquered by the Babylonians, and most of its people had been led away into captivity. Only a small remnant was left under the puppet governor Gedaliah. But when Gedaliah was assassinated by a rebel, suddenly even these survivors were in peril, for everyone knew that a brutal reprisal could be expected from the Babylonians. So what were they to do? What they did, surprisingly, was to go to the prophet Jeremiah and beg him to consult the Lord for them. Furthermore they bound themselves to obey God's Word no matter what. Their situation was desperate. They were crying out. Jeremiah agreed to pray for them. </p><p>At this point, we read one of the most astounding understatements in the Bible: "Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah" (42:7). Imagine! Ten days later! Who could possibly wait ten days under such circumstances? Did the Lord not understand that this was a dire emergency? After ten days, naturally, the people had already made up their minds to ignore God's answer and to do exactly what they felt like doing: run like crazy down to Egypt. When the pressure was on, they performed the first requirement of prayer admirably: they cried out to the Lord. But for the second half of prayer they had no stomach. They could not wait for an answer.</p><p>[Mike Mason, <em>The Gospel According to Job.</em> Crossway, 1994: 309-310. <a href="https://www.persecution.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_38&products_id=215&osCsid=49bf0d4707812a0a2df143eaa8edeb6b">Available to order from The Voice of the Martyrs</a>]</p></blockquote>Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-42424381318161385722009-11-26T19:26:00.001-05:002009-11-26T19:28:34.415-05:00The latest news<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/Sw8dMM1094I/AAAAAAAAC9w/1_q-3bE5MwM/s1600-h/shootingpain%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="shootingpain" border="0" alt="shootingpain" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/Sw8dMZ7djMI/AAAAAAAAC90/HzQHcVtbuDw/shootingpain_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="176" height="244" /></a> It’s been a while since we did a thorough update on my health and that’s not because things have been uneventful.  So here goes….</p> <p>While my haemoglobin and energy levels have been excellent, I have been experiencing a great deal of pain in my left hip and leg for the past two weeks.  We wondered if perhaps it was unrelated to my cancer and just a matter of something being out in my back. However, Dr. Sauls, our main doctor, suspects that lymph nodes in my torso are pushing and pinching a nerve that is sending this shooting pain down my leg.  Hence, he has increased my prednisone levels to see if the nodes will shrink down and next week we will be perhaps looking at radiation treatment.  He has ordered an MRI for next week as well to see if he can see where the problem really is.  </p> <p>In the meantime, I am on increased painkillers and daily seeing a chiropractor to deal with the pain.  Mornings are horrendous, I must say. The pain is sometimes almost unbearable. </p> <p>So, we would very much appreciate your prayers in the coming days.  This has been quite a discouraging turn of events I must confess.  It really feels sometimes like we never get a break for very long and we would like to get off of this rollercoaster.  Pray that the Lord will keep our spirits up and close to His at this time.  He has been faithful and we want to be faithful to Him even when we don’t understand what He is doing.</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-27314540982396818562009-11-25T10:32:00.001-05:002009-11-25T10:32:18.786-05:00Riboflavin<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/Sw1N7DOaweI/AAAAAAAAC9g/rd4rQvUuwpo/s1600-h/twtter_dilbert%5B5%5D.gif"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="twtter_dilbert" border="0" alt="twtter_dilbert" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8tdzoRv_yCc/Sw1OAXkRdKI/AAAAAAAAC9k/iVPIjQKUTdU/twtter_dilbert_thumb%5B3%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="390" height="125" /></a></p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-17416482943334268152009-11-18T19:06:00.001-05:002009-11-18T19:08:30.353-05:00A real pain in the butt<p>It has certainly been an entertaining week for the Penner household, if entertaining is the right word. As I mentioned in my blog on Sudany, I have had some considerable shooting pain in my lower back and left leg (a pinched nerve obviously than made even sitting a real pain). It got much worse in the past few days. Much worse!!</p> <p>On the other hand, my energy level has been great and I have been able to go to the office every day this week (and plan to go in for the remaining two days).   </p> <p>So, here I was with great energy levels but incredible pain.  It just didn’t seem fair.</p> <p>I have to admit that for a few minutes yesterday I was slightly annoyed at God; why does it always seem that there is some health issue that I am having to deal with?  If it isn’t cancer, it’s shingles, or cracked ribs or back pain or low hemoglobin levels.  I guess I was just tired of never being able to say that I am doing “fine” without some condition being put on the comment.</p> <p>But God is God and I am not. He is also my Father and I know that He is control of my life, even when I don’t understand the “why” of everything that happens to me.  So, we walk by faith.</p> <p>Anyway, the back pain is finally letting up after having gone to the chiropractor every morning this week.  I am hopeful that the rest of the week will be a little less a pain in the butt (quite literally).</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-47346907141682283072009-11-15T18:59:00.001-05:002009-11-15T18:59:30.536-05:00Back feeling a bit better<p>The back is feeling a little better this evening. The pain diminished over the afternoon. Please pray for a good night and that I won't have the same problem tomorrow. I have meetings tomorrow with staff and potential donors for the mission. Would be nice not to have to hobble and wince through them.</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-60020838331808521302009-11-15T10:09:00.001-05:002009-11-15T10:09:37.691-05:00Please pray<p>I am asking for your urgent prayers for severe lower back pain that I have been experiencing since last night.  It started a few days ago, but last night the pain began shooting down my left leg and this morning I am in considerable pain.  There’s just no relief from it.  Thanks for praying.</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-65115820698617900282009-11-12T17:42:00.001-05:002009-11-12T17:42:47.245-05:00Woo hoo and praise the Lord<p>My blood tests today showed that my hemoglobin level continues to be really good (for me) and so no transfusion again this week and another two week break until my next appointment. Woo yoo!! And praise the Lord</p> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182492226705250548.post-37950789544203079072009-11-11T15:48:00.001-05:002009-11-11T15:48:03.077-05:00The blessing of uselessness<p align="left">With the decline of my health over the past year, one of the issues that I struggle with is a sense of uselessness since I can no longer do many of the things that I used to be able to do in my service for the persecuted around the world.  Watching my colleagues do things that I once did and found so much pleasure in is hard.  It is easy to feel…useless and unneeded.  I don’t say that to sound whiney.  I think many who go through suffering often feel this way, especially if they have lived active lives. </p> <p align="left">This morning, however, I read the following during my devotion time from Mike Mason’s <em><a href="https://www.persecution.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_38&products_id=215" target="_blank">The Gospel According to Job</a>.</em>  I hope you are as blessed and challenged by this as I was.</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><strong>Uselessness</strong></p> <p align="center">“Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, <br />When God’s intimate friendship blessed my house.” (29:4)</p> <p>Suffering, like the enemy who causes it, is a many-headed beast, and one of the heads is called Uselessness. A sufferer’s existence can seem so pointless, so stagnant and unworthy. Little wonder that Job’s mood in this chapter is one of intense nostalgia as he longs for “the good old days” when not only was he blessed by God, but when God’s blessing enabled him to bless others. Such feelings are perfectly human and understandable. We all want to be useful and productive. But one of the things we learn from the many set-backs of life is that God, in His wisdom, has a use for uselessness. The Lord Himself seems to be fond of standing around and doing nothing. When we imitate Him in this, the Bible calls it “waiting on the Lord.” But just think of how God waits on us! For thousands of years He has waited for mankind to turn to Him. Right now it is just as though He were standing on a street corner outside our home, hands in His pockets, whistling a gospel tune, waiting for us to keep our appointment with Him. Are we too busy with more pressing matters? Being useless, it seems, is not an important enough activity for us, and so we leave it to God.</p> <p>Of course it is true that, as Jesus taught, “My Father is always working” (John 5:17). But to our human eyes God’s work often looks like idleness. His methods can appear so lackadaisical, so they involve pain on our part. Suffering puts us out of commission (at least from our perspective), so that we can no longer work, no longer contribute, no longer do much of value. Without this intense feeling of uselessness, suffering and even dying might not seem half so bad. Perhaps it is even true that the very soul of suffering is not so much pain itself, in all its forms, as it is the simple humiliation of having all our plans brought to a standstill, the indignity of being made to stop and wait.</p> <p>How interesting it is that when the Lord appeared to Moses, and later to Joshua, to each of them He said the same thing: “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). Why should you take off your shoes in the Lord’s presence? Because without shoes you are not going anywhere. You might try to walk, but you will not get very far, especially in the hot sand and sharp rocks of the wilderness. Taking off one’s shoes may not be quite as drastic as cutting off one’s feet, but it amounts to the same thing. Barefootedness means immobilization, and so it is a symbol of submission. Being immobile (in other words, having nothing better to do) is a prerequisite for worship, and worship is the prerequisite for all activity, all service.</p> <p>Many churches today are eager to mobilize for the Lord, but without paying much attention to the prior and greater work of immobilization. We need to learn how to kick off our shoes and discover that the place where we are standing is holy. When Daniel saw a vision of the Ancient of Days on His throne, “ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” And what was this multitude doing? Not much. All we are told is that “the court was seated, and the books were opened.” And without anyone moving an inch four powerful empires were destroyed (Dan. 7:10-12). In Heaven, apparently, they know the meaning of the saying, “Don’t just do something—stand there!”</p> <p>The people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and the soles of their shoes never wore out. Why not? Because they only moved at the Lord’s command. In many ways they were disobedient, but in this one point they were constrained to obey because pillars of cloud and of fire were hanging over them. If today we find our souls (pun intended) wearing out, it may be because we are running around doing a lot of things that the Lord has not told us to do. We want to be fruitful. We want to work for our church and contribute to our society. We want to do something, not simply believe. When circumstances are such that we cannot do anything, we get restless and squirm, and just like Job we think back on our full and productive days and we long to see them return. We long to go back, not just so we can feel good again, but so we can get on with our “real work,” get on with making our contribution.</p> <p>But listen to the words of Catherine Doherty: “If you want to see what a ‘contribution’ really is, look at the Man on the cross. That’s a contribution. When you are hanging on a cross you cannot do anything because you are crucified.”</p></blockquote> Glenn Pennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775729921874246091noreply@blogger.com2