Never minimize fellowship...

We do lots of "fellowshipping" around here. Whether it's the Tuesday no-host lunches, the Wednesday lunches put on by the Proton Institue, the no-host dinners on Thursdays (like the one pictured here), or various "come on over to my place" invitations, we spend time together with others who are going through the same thing we are. We laugh a whole lot. We talk about families and futures. It's really a supportive environment.

Did you know that when people are going through cancer (and other challenging issues in their lives), their chances for healing is from 300-500% greater when they have a community of friends to support them? Wow! My chances must be about 5,000%! We not only have the support of new friends here, but the vast network of support of our church and friends beyond. Daily we get emails, letters, cards, phone calls from folks "just checking in." You have no idea what a blessing those are. To all of you, one more time, thank you!!

God designed us for relationship. Isolation, either from him or one another, was never his plan. We need each other desperately. That's why we need to realize that everybody else is just like we are, with all the same kinds of issues, hurts, hopes, hang-ups. Instead of assuming they are "better," we can realize we're all in this "life" thing together, and God has designed us to lift one another up, not to put one another down. The world is good at put-downs. But God is better at lift-ups. If you're not a part of a supportive community, slide into/force yourself into/wedge into one as soon as possible. As you do, God will make you healthy!

By the way: in the picture above, the cute blonde at the bottom left of the picture (Crystal) is one of my radiation therapists. The young man beside her with the curly hair, Laurin, is another. They are all terrific people, and definitely are a huge part of getting us healthy. Praise God for the health-care workers!

Have a blessed day!

Bill