Pastor Ron's Update (October 2007)
Good Morning Friends and Family. God IS Good ALL the Time. It is a beautiful morning, every day is a gift, I’m choosing faith over fear, and I had a great night’s sleep! Yesterday morning, I read Psalm 4:8 “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” As I read this verse, I had a very unusual sense of calm and confidence. I’m thankful for God’s protective grace that enables us to sleep in peace, and also live in peace because in the Lord, we really do “dwell in safety.” That sense of calm and confidence continued through the day, through last night, and is still covering me this morning. Praise to you, Jesus. I am grateful.
And, I really want to thank all of you, for your continued love, support, and prayers for me and my family. We will need it now more than ever.
As most of you know, we’ve been watching my PSA since I ended 2 years of different treatments 20 months ago. The doctors said that if my PSA stays “undetectable” for 2 years, following the end of treatments, I will be considered to be “cured.”
With only 6 months to go, we had a “bump” in the numbers. I had been at 0.1 every month for 18 months. Then in July, my PSA had risen to 0.2 and was cause for concern. Now for most men (with a prostate gland,) some degree of variation in PSA level is not a big deal, but the only thing that can produce PSA in my body is prostate cancer cells. So, any rise in my PSA is not good.
For the last 3 months, my PSA had risen to 0.2 which is considered to be “in the middle” between 0.1 (“undetectable”) and 0.3 (considered to be the biological indication of “reoccurrence”.) So, we have been waiting to see what this month’s number would be. Well, yesterday I got my blood checked … and my PSA is 0.3.
I must tell you that I honestly feel calm and confident. His grace really is “sufficient!” I’m continuing to choose faith over fear!
My faith is not denial. God IS “bigger than the numbers,” but facing the reality of 0.3, and what it may mean, simply defines “the valley of the shadow of death,” it doesn’t change the fact that “The Lord is my shepherd, and I will not fear, for He is with me.” My faith is in the Lord, and the power of His promises to me!
So, what does this mean? It means that I will continue to trust, continue to pray, continue to eat healthy and exercise, continue to love my family and friends and enjoy every moment I have with them. I will continue to choose to not dwell on what might happen, but what has happened! I will contact Dr. Peter Carroll at UCSF, and see what he recommends as to the possibility of further treatment. If we choose further treatment, it will not be a denial of faith. It will be, as were my first treatments, a tool that we offer up to God as an instrument in His hands to use for His purpose, like the “mud” Jesus used in healing the blind man (John 9.) Our trust is in the Lord and the enemy will not be able to steal what God has done! Jesus is Lord! That means He “reigns!”
So dear ones, I will be so grateful for every prayer you pray for me, and especially, my family. As I’ve said before, I believe that battling cancer is hardest on the family members. Please continue to contend in prayer! No whimpy prayers, please! Speak to “the mountain” in prayer! (Matthew 17:20) “Agree” with someone else for what you ask for in prayer! (Matthew 18:19) Continue to choose faith over fear! (Psalm 23:4.) And, as I said in my message this past week, “Don’t Freak, Seek!” (my translation of Matthew 6:31&33.) Let’s seek the kingdom together! Don’t freak, seek! May the rule of God, through the ministry of Jesus, bring “kingdom fullness” to my life and yours!
I will keep you posted. But for now, let me leave you with a part of God’s promise that He gave me almost 4 years ago, the morning after my original diagnosis.
Psalm 18:1-3 “I love you, O Lord, my strength. [2] The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn (source) of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”
Well, I’m going to get going into my day. I have much to do. I will enjoy it as a precious gift, and, steward it as a faithful servant. May you do the same!
Amazingly Graced,
Pastor Ron Salsbury
