I don’t normally devote space in this blog for prayer requests, especially for people I know and you don’t, but it seems that death or the threat of it is all around.

I’ve written before about my long-time Navigator friend Mike Schmid, first-class guy who’s been battling cancer for several years now. Here’s the blog I wrote July 5, 2021. Of late, he’s been doing better until this update that came in yesterday. As always, it’s positive in tone in the midst of what he calls “the storm.”

Since my last update we have had some smooth sailing, improved health and expanding ministry. Then suddenly we were hit by a “furious squall” and our little boat is being swamped.  Please join us in calling out to Jesus for us like you have so many times in the past. 

Recently Lorelei has had a procedure to ease her endless sacroiliac pain and the injections have helped but she is still having some pain.  Then in early July skin cancer was discovered and she had MOHS surgery and will have another procedure in mid-August to remove more cancer.  It was a chance for me to care for her as she has so tenderly cared for me through my long cancer journey.

Then, last week I had an MRI and it was discovered that cancer has spread to my brain.  The tumor is deep, so surgery is not a good option.  On Monday, 14 August I see a radiation oncologist to assess my next plan of treatment.  

When caught in life’s terrible storms we can quickly go to Jesus who alone can bring the rescue we need in the midst of raging seas.  Now in our storm, as the first disciples on the stormy sea of Galilee, please go to Jesus with us.  Please tell Him of this tempest and listen with us for Him to again say, “Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39)

We are so thankful for God’s unending grace and God’s love shown to us through you.  Your words of encouragement, gifts and faithful investment in our continuing ministry are touches of Father’s love.

We are thankful too for you who pray for, encourage and help us continue in ministry with all the strength God so powerfully gives us.

Please join us in prayer for Mike and Lorelei. I have another urgent request about another of my heroes. Stay tuned.

Some of God’s best people have gone through tough times. Here’s what Paul said:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4.7 – 18, ESV, emphasis mine)