December 21, 2009 (4:47am)

Dear friends,

Good morning from my chair beside the blazing tree!

Well, it's really not just another day, this is day we'll find out just what lays before us and the path the tumor took to get to my brain. Somewhere, sometime, this thing started to grow unseen except by my Father and He knew and He wasn't nervous. He wrote the days ordained for me in His marvelous, mysterious book.

It's not false bravado that I can face the future without fear, but confidence in the great sovereignty of my King. All I have ever cared about over this time is His glory. My wife, Janice, daughters, Amy and Stacy, will travel to Zale Lipshy this morning to find out.

Transporting us will be Scott Jones, has been one of my incredible wingmen and one of those people whom I've come to see, on a human plane, as one who sticks closer than a brother.

I've seen and tasted that the Lord is good through you my friends. We've been overcome by your extravagant love poured over us.

Gift cards fill our basket in the kitchen counter, transportation every day for the next 7 weeks should it be necessary, lawn mowed, leaves blown, Christmas trees lit when I arrived home and in my room at the hospital, thank you from the bottom of my heart; Selma, ample food for my family at the hotel, cash for valet parking; my sweet neighbors, Sam and Karen, who brought me freshly cooked ribs and sang Christmas carols on the porch last night and the list goes on in countless ways.

I see it everyday down to my friend of many years, Debbie who loves life and me, taping the confetti in her cards of encouragement to me, rather than having them spill out as they used to, in a more mobile day. I am truly blessed by each of you and am in awe of our God, who's extravagant love pours out through His people. How lavish is the love the Father has for us.

I'm getting stronger every day and hope to rejoin you soon. In the meantime, have I told you lately that I love you? I do, and so does your Dad in heaven. Shout it from the rooftops. Let Him take you in His strong arms and tell you so.

Your friend and brother,
Tim