Merry Christmas from Greg & Jeane

Merry Christmas from Greg & Jeane

We greet this Christmas with much gratitude and thanksGIVING. Thank you to God our Father for his life-saving gift of the Christ Child. Thank you, dear family and friends, for your faithful prayers and steadfast support this past year. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in October and continue to live, breathe, and walk in God's healing presence.

We leave you with this Christmas poem by Roy Lessin:

GOD'S GIFT

Little baby on the hay,
soon there'll be another day
when nails shall pierce your hands and feet
as you provide our sin's defeat.

Risen Jesus on the throne,
we lift our praise to you alone,
for you're the gift that we receive
the moment that our hearts believe.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
II Corinthians 9:15

Parting the Sea - An Update from Greg

I will praise you, O Lord my God,
with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me
from the depths of the grave.
                           Psalm 86:12-13

Friends & Family,

Today I want to share with you some really great news.

Last week I had a CT Scan and three MRIs. I was basically scanned from my chin to my knees. On Thursday Jeane and I saw my oncologist to get the results. All I can say is HALLELUJAH!

~ The many tumors on my lungs have shrunk to half their size.
~ The tumor in my left kidney bed is stable--no change. It hasn't grown or decreased in size.
~The large tumor in my thigh has shrunk almost in half; it has gone from 16 x 4 cm to 10 x 2 cm.

My oncologist was [quote], "really impressed" and almost speechless. He didn't know what to say. In fact, that's exactly what he said--about ten times: "I don't know what to say!"

He joked, "If you had take even one pill of that Sutent [the chemo drug] I could have taken credit for this, but I can't." He seemed genuinely happy and excited for me. I don't suppose he sees a lot of his stage IV cancer patients with receding tumors, especially if they have not had surgery, chemo or radiation. However, we did remind him that we were taking "prayer" treatments; or as I like to call them (for you Lone Ranger & Tonto fans) "kemo sabe" treatments.

I am humbled, overwhelmed, sobered; brought to my knees with gratitude.

Moses, finding himself trapped between the Egyptian army and a great body of water, heard the voice of God: Don't be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance of the Lord today. The Lord will fight for you. Move on. I am the Lord.

Those are pretty much the same things I have been hearing these past ten months: Don't be afraid. Stand firm. I am the Lord who heals you.

After God miraculously parted the Red Sea and the Israelites had landed on dry land and the armies of Pharaoh had gone for a very long swim, the Bible tells us that Miriam, Aaron's sister, "...took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing." Can't you just see her? The words of her song, found in Exodus, Chapter 15, were put to music and  used as a worship chorus back in the 80's:

I will sing unto the LORD,

for he has triumphed gloriously,

   the horse and rider thrown into the sea.

The LORD, my God, my strength and song,

has now become my victory.

The LORD is God, and I will praise him,

our Father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is God, and I will praise him,
         our Father's God and I will exalt him!

We didn't have a tambourine with us, but Jeane and I had to break into that song a few times during the hour-long drive back home from MD Anderson. And, well, we couldn't resist throwing in a few lines from the rock group, Rare Earth, circa 1971:

I just want to celebrate another day of livin'.
I just want to celebrate another day of Li....i....i...ife!

Like the Israelites, our battle is not over. But we celebrate. This is a cool drink and a tall tree to sit under for a while, and we are grateful. We have seen the Lord fight for us. We have seen the sea part. We have witnessed a mighty work of God, and we give him all the glory.

But please, don't stop praying. The cancer is smaller, but it's still there; and I still have a kidney that doesn't want to work right. The numbers keep climbing on my labs, and we can't figure out what's wrong.

One theory about the kidney is that it is overloaded by the tumors breaking down, and of course the residue and toxins must be processed by my one remaining sluggish kidney. Another thought is that the many supplements I am taking are overloading it, so I am praying about which of my supplements or medications I might need to decrease or stop taking.

That is a tough decision because my supplements were prescribed by my doctor at Oasis of Hope and each has a key part in destroying cancer cells. It's kind of a catch-22. I guess it is time to get on my knees and listen for God's wisdom and direction once again.

Friends and family, I can't thank you enough for the encouragement you are to me and for taking time to pray and intercede before the Father on my behalf. You are warriors, fighting beside me to battle back the powers of darkness that seek to destroy. God hears our prayers!

Thank you for your messages and notes. I love hearing from you.

My prayer is that you will be encouraged by this story, and that is why I write this blog. It's not just my story, it is our story. It is our testimony to God's goodness and the power of prayer.

Blessed be HIS name,

GregP.S.  Kemo sabe, by the way, is translated as "trusty scout" or "faithful friend."

October 22nd - Blog Update from Greg

My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

With God we will do valiantly--
it is He who shall tread down our enemy.
                                              from Psalm 108


Greetings to You, Friends and Family,

Two months have come and gone and I am shocked to see how long it's been since I have sent out an update. So sorry for the long silence. Sometimes life just goes about its business with no big changes or "news flashes" to report.

Not that I am ungrateful for the fact that life goes on--I prefer that these days! And I am ever so aware of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

My journey continues. Last month I made the decision not to take the oral chemo drug that my oncologist suggested. I have always thought I would take it as a part of my total treatment plan, but I have come right up to the point of taking it about 4 times now and always found a reason not to! The last time I planned this was September. I made all my appointments for labs, scans, doctor visits, etc. Everything was lined up. I even took the pills out of the bottle and divided them up in the little dosage container that came with them.

But when Monday came around and I was supposed to start taking them, I just couldn't do it. I sat at the kitchen counter and look at those little red pills...and they did not speak life back to me. I couldn't put them in my mouth. Was God trying to tell me something, or was I just being cowardly?

I prayed and struggled with it for several days, asking God for wisdom and clarity. I finally came to the conclusion that I was not supposed to take them at this point. I have set them on the shelf--for now anyway. And I felt free to do that. I had tried way too hard to convince myself to take them, and for good reasons. Although they are not curative (considering the Stage 4 diagnosis), there has been some success with them temporarily halting the growth or even shrinking the size of tumors. But I was still concerned about the side effects and their impact on my kidney.

In the end I simply have to say it just didn't feel right. To put it another way, it was not life-giving to my spirit, and as a child of God I have to listen to that inner voice.

Granted, I did not hear a booming voice from heaven saying, "Stop! Don't take the pills, Greg." But God often speaks in the still, small voice that is "felt" more than it is heard. When I looked at those pills they did not speak life to me.

I was reminded of several years ago when I went with a group of people from church to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It just so happened on the night we were there that there was going to be an eclipse of the moon. Some of us decided to sign up for a short hike that would lead us to a rocky outcropping for a beautiful view of the eclipse as we overlooked the canyon.

So at around 11 PM off we went, about 20 of us, with flashlights in hand, putting our trust in the park ranger who led the excursion. All she told us was to follow her, be sure to use our flashlights so we did not stumble on the many rocks, and stay on the trail. The path followed the side of large rock wall that was part of the canyon. It was on the "non-moon" side, so it was pitch dark. There isn't a lot of artificial light at the north rim, so dark is DARK.

We followed with confidence, talking, laughing and enjoying the adventure, all the while relying on the yellow circle of our flashlight to show us where to take our next step. We made it to the outcropping and the eclipse was stunning, especially as seen with the added beauty of the moon-lit canyon directly below.

Well, the next day Jeane and I decided to go follow that same path just so we could see where we had been. We started down the path and we were shocked by what we saw. On one side of the 3-to-5-foot-wide path there was a rocky wall, which we knew because we had felt of it as we went along. But the other side was a drop-off, and it was no small thing. At some points the edge of the trail just dropped off into the canyon. And it was a long distance down! We would have certainly been injured or even died if we had wandered over there. We were more than a little perplexed that the ranger had not warned us more pointedly of the danger of that drop-off. And yet, if we followed her instructions carefully and did not go off the path we were fine. We felt safe, even though there was a drop-off a couple feet away that we couldn't see!

In 2 Samuel 22:29 Scripture says, "You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light;" and the psalmist talks about God's word as "a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105

I can't see the whole picture of this cancer deal. I can't even see a month ahead. But what I do have is a God who leads the way and lights my path--one step at a time. Sometimes that's all we need; we need light for just the next step. There may be dangerous drop-offs ahead, but I can proceed with confidence with the light I have.

That's hard to do. We want to see the whole canyon--the big picture. But I feel safe with the light of my Father who knows what he's doing. And I strive to live in contentment and gratitude for each day. For now, I feel that I have been shown the path that says, "Don't take this drug." I could be wrong--it wouldn't be the first time. But I am sure that if I keep my ears turned toward heaven, God will let me know.

Dr. Wong, my ever-patient oncologist, said he could not argue with my reasons for not taking the drug at this point, especially as it concerns my kidney. He is hanging in there with me and will help me monitor my health. He has ordered an MRI for November. He examined me, felt for the tumor in my leg and could barely find it. He listened to my lungs and found no compromise in my breathing. My kidney has not improved much according to recent blood tests, although it seems to have stabilized since two months ago and has not gotten worse. Hallelujah.

I am really feeling good. I've been back to Oasis of Hope for two follow-up visits since my initial 2 weeks there. I have found some of the therapies available here in Phoenix, including a hyperbaric oxygen chamber which I use 2-3 times a week. Only this one is huge compared to the ones at Oasis of Hope. Every time I get in I feel like Jacque Cousteau preparing for a "voyage to the bottom of the sea." It's kind of like crawling into a huge propane tank with the luxury of a place to sit and a couple of porthole windows. And to make it even more interesting, this one is used by many children, so to make it less intimidating it is painted baby blue with little fish on it. Can't you just see me?

Still, I happily subject myself to it. There has been a good deal of research and study done on the benefits of oxygen for a multitude of physical conditions, including burns and wounds, autism, and many other maladies. The world of professional sports uses hyperbaric chambers all the time for their athletes to speed up healing of injuries.

The fun thing is that when you emerge from the hyperbaric chamber the big boost of oxygen makes you feel great--totally energized and ready to go! I think I'll buy one for my living room. Just kidding.

That's all for now. I thank you for keeping me in your prayers. It's good to be part of the family of God, and that is never more important than when you have a battle to fight that you cannot fight alone.

Bless you,

Greg

August 22nd - Blog Update from Greg

Everybody who is of a certain age remembers that famous line spoken by commander Jim Lovell from the Apollo 13 spaceship during the aborted lunar mission in April of 1970. Tom Hanks made the phrase even more popular in the 1995 movie, Apollo 13.

So I just came from my nephrologist (kidney doctor) on Friday and I would have to echo the phrase, "Houston, we have a problem."

But first, the good news.

I have been back to Oasis of Hope, the integrative cancer clinic in California, for another round of treatments. It is a place of great encouragement for me. Being there lifts my spirits while at the same time making my body stronger to fight the cancer. The optimism and dedication of the staff, as well as the interaction with the other cancer patients, is healing in itself.

Upon returning home I had a CT Scan of the trunk of my body. Results of the scan were encouraging. The scan showed no growth of the tumors in my lungs or kidney bed since my very first scans beginning in January. That might not seem like much to you, but to me it was a great victory. Even my oncologist called the CT Scan comparison "remarkable." My lungs continue to sound clear with no obstruction in breathing. I still feel good and have no pain.

Furthermore, the large tumor on my thigh seems to be changing shape, softening and--dare I say it--receding? Yes, I dare. I haven't had any recent MRIs of the thigh area, so right now I'm going on what appears to be happening by observation and feel. I've had three medical professionals examine the  tumor on the leg and all three agree that something is happening with the tumor and for now they are taking it as a good sign. We'll know more in a month when my next MRI is scheduled.

For now, the "problem" I would ask you to especially pray about is my one remaining kidney--that God would restore the function and filtering capability of the diseased organ. My kidney function has gotten worse since my cancer diagnosis, and we are not sure what is causing it. It could be many things. I am under the care of an excellent nephrologist whom I like and trust, but unlike many of today's maladies, you don't just take another pill and your kidney improves. No one knows how to restore kidney function. I'm not in deep trouble at this time, but we do have substantial concern about it. I am rather fond of that kidney.

So what does this have to do with Apollo 13?

Well, after one of our prayer meetings last February I received a letter from a good brother in our fellowship, John Newstrom. With his permission I share portions of that letter below:

"Many of us remember the vivid scares during the Apollo days of the space race during the late 1960's and into the early 70's when America launched Apollo 13. I don't care to elaborate, but more than one item went on the blink and failed to respond in order to return the men involved back to safety.

Yet, after all the severe equipment failures, all three men made it back to the earth without a hitch or scratch.

Without the dedicated ground control at the Cape and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, such a rescue would have been impossible.

The dedicated members of Life Discovery, along with your family and other friends, appear to be in the process of attaining similar results......and with the divine power of Jesus, together will go far in an effort to place you into remission away from any threatening disease or symptoms of discomfort in the months to come."

So there you have it--ground control. Thanks, John!

I love the analogy, partly because I have always loved the history of our country's space program and partly because I could so easily feel like I am up there twirling around inside an out-of-control spaceship. Cancer can do that to you. But the Lord has grounded me and given me His peace, and I am aware that my life is sustained by the prayers of the faithful that are offered up daily...by the team in "ground control."

Thank you to all of you. God is good. I am blessed.

In His care,

Greg

July 6th - Prayer Update

Dear Friends and Family,

We will be having our next intercessory prayer gathering for Greg Olson on Friday July 13th at 7:30pm. We will meet in Greg & Jeane's home. Please join us for a time of worship, prayer and intercession as we continue to come before the Lord on Greg's behalf. 

Here are some areas of prayer focus:

• For divine healing from kidney cancer, which has been detected in his lungs, left kidney bed area (where his kidney was removed) and his right thigh. We are praying in alignment with the prayer that Greg has been lead to pray:  As Jesus cursed the Fig tree, that was unfruitful, to wither and die, so we also curse any mutated (cancer) cells in his body.  We speak words of blessing on every healthy cell/organ in his body. (Matthew 21: 18-22). That the "fruitful" healthy parts of his body would be prosper.
• For healing of his remaining right kidney.  That his kidney would filter properly - that it's function would be preserved and even restored. That his blood pressure would be in healthy range.
• For healing of his pancreas. That his blood sugars would continue to normalize. For guidance in the areas of nutrition and medical treatment.
• For wisdom and discernment for Greg and Jeane as they seek the Lord's guidance in making medical decisions. That they would have clarity and understanding as they receive medical information and recommendations from his doctors.
• For guidance, wisdom and skill for his doctors in making appropriate diagnostic and treatment decisions.
• For encouragement and strength for Greg and Jeane. For daily renewal and restoration. That His peace and grace would dwell with them.
• That Greg would experience a season of resting in and abiding in the Healing Presence of the Lord.
• That the Lord would reveal Himself to Greg and Jeane in powerful ways. That He would make His will and desires known to them. That they would have ears to hear and eyes to see.  
• For spiritual protection for Greg and Jeane.
• For their family, especially Greg's daughters Anna in Florida and Stacy in Minnesota.   

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Greg and Jeane.

Blessings to you,
Ethie

June 24th - Blog Update from Greg

	June 24, 2012 Dear Friends and Family,  I returned two weeks ago from my first week at the Oasis of Hope, an integrative medical clinic in Irvine, California. I thought you might like to hear a little bit about my experience. Oasis of Hope believes in combining the best of traditional cancer treatments (like surgery, chemo and radiation) with the best of natural and alternative medicine. I found the doctors and medical staff there to be authentic, highly intelligent and passionate about their work. Their goal is to hit cancer from many different angles, thus improving the odds of beating it. The approach is to use treatments that do not cause more illness or pain to the patient, but rather build the patient's body to better fight the disease. As we were told, "You are not here to treat the cancer--you are here to treat your body so it can fight the cancer." My week there was an intense process of therapies, one after the other. It was also a tremendous learning experience, because for each therapy we asked a lot of questions and learned the "what and why" of each step of the treatment process. We heard lectures daily on practical topics--things we can do to help us fight the battle such as food, drink, lifestyle and environmental issues. Jeane and I were there that week with seven other people who had cancer, along with their families, all fighting with positive action, great faith and determination. People have asked me what our "treatment plan" consisted of. Well, at the risk of sounding like a crazy man to you, I had treatments with names like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, High-dose Vitamin C IV's, Lymphatic Drainage, Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy, Infrared Sauna and so forth--all designed to improve and change the inner terrain of my body to help destroy cancer cells. I drank wheat grass and learned how to make pudding out of almond milk and chia seeds. Really. What else did I learn? I learned that the words and phrases describing cancer are also words and phrases I would use to describe the other evils and powers of darkness of this world. They are sneaky, slothful, opportunistic, deceitful; they hide in the dark and they morph and change in order to do their damage. They have the ability to disguise themselves so our immune systems do not recognize them as dangerous. They are not as they seem. They appear huge and powerful and scary; the truth is that cancer cells are fairly weak, with low energy, thriving on a low oxygen, acidic environment. The best thing a cancer cell has going for it is that it has no programmed death like our other cells, so it just keeps mutating and growing. When I learned this I thought back to one of the first words I had received from the Lord when I was diagnosed. It was the story about Jesus cursing the fig tree and it died. I said to the cancer, "So you're not programmed to die? Well then, let me introduce you to someone named Jesus Christ, the one who has power over life and death." (Aha!) An amazing part of each day was our devotional time before lunch, when a staff member led music, discussion and prayer. At one point he encouraged us to pray as if there were no treatments for cancer. "God is our healer," he said. "And if our doctors get to help, that's great." Another time he opened prayers by saying, "The Holy Spirit is welcomed here to do his work." I was moved by such a proclamation being voiced in a medical establishment. I come home with great hope, having been renewed in body and spirit, and I look forward to going back in July for my second week of treatment. Thank you once again for doing battle in your prayers and helping me "...stand against the devil's schemes."  Eph. 6:11 Walking in the presence, Greg

June 1st - Blog Update from Greg

June 1, 2012

Hello Friends, Grace and peace to you! It has been quite some time since I updated this blog. The past several weeks have been full of research, contemplation and much prayer. As you may remember, I have been deciding on my "coarse of action," so to speak. When you get this kind of cancer diagnosis there are many options to consider: pharmaceutical drugs, natural therapies, changes in lifestyle, etc. In the past month we have consulted with a well-known naturopathic physician in Phoenix who deals primarily with cancer. We've also visited an integrative health clinic in California that pulls together natural therapies AND conventional cancer treatment. And, of course, I continue to see my regular doctors and my oncologist at Banner MD Anderson.   What I have learned is this: everybody has a different method of how to treat cancer. Our table is stacked with books, tapes and articles about cancer. Jeane has done most of the reading and she could probably tell you about 50 different cancer treatments throughout the world, ranging from conventional types to alternative treatments that are only available overseas. Some are way too expensive and complicated; others, well, involve something simple like drinking a special blend of tea. Most people back up their claims with either research...or testimonies...or both. Which brings me to another testimony: the testimony of my faith. In Revelations 12:11 it says, "They overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."  Wow. How powerful is that? It sounds simple enough, and certainly without adverse side effects. We are given a mighty arsenal to use against things like this. Isn't that how it goes? We search and search, and come back around to where we started: our lives are held together by God alone. In the grace of God we find it is still our heart to ask what lessons God wants to teach us from these difficult times. It is our God-story, after all, and we want to learn from it. Here are some of my thoughts: We all know the story about the battle of Jericho. (Read about it in Joshua, chapter 6.) Joshua and his small army of men march around the city of Jericho seven times, blow their trumpets, give a shout, and the walls come a' tumbling down. Don't you wish all our battles were as easy as that? I recently taught on the battle of Jericho and I discovered something interesting that I had never paid much attention to. It is what happened to Joshua before he got his "battle orders" from God. Prior to the battle of Jericho, Joshua had a visitor. Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 There are all sorts of wonderful things to learn from this story, but I will spare you my entire sermon. (Whew!) I feel a little bit like Joshua. I'm facing a battle, and I'm flat on my face asking, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" Opinions abound, but I need to take my marching orders from God, realizing that I am standing on holy ground. I need to bow facedown before the commander of the Lord's army. Why? Because when he tells me to march around this cancer seven times and play musical instruments and shout praises to God, I need to do just that. And so I have been listening for his words and direction. Here's some of my "battle plan" so far: Soon Jeane and I will be going to California to spend five days at an integrative health clinic. Their approach is to focus on the whole body, not just the tumors. Their goal is to change the "inner terrain" of the body so it has the best possible chance to heal itself. (Makes sense to me.) We do that by bringing the body back to an oxygenated and alkalized state.There are also various immune-boosting therapies and supplements. We'll be coached on environmental, lifestyle and food issues that affect cancer outcomes as well. I am looking forward to the chance to simply have a week away from home to concentrate on my health. At this writing I am also planning to start Sutent, the drug I mentioned earlier in a blog. It is not a cure, but it sometimes helps to stop the growth of kidney cancer, or even cause it to recede. We will see how I tolerate it. I am not of the mindset to make myself sick when I'm not feeling sick. I continue to feel well physically and I have no pain. Because of my changes in diet I have lost a total of 30 pounds since last December. My blood sugars and triglycerides have gone down--all good. I did a second comparative MRI on my thigh two weeks ago and in two months' time there was very little change in the status of the tumor. They called it "stable" according to some markers like inflammation, fluid, and the like. I take that as a little bright spot of encouragement. I actually think the prayers of God's people have put a hedge around the tumors so they can't grow anymore. Next phase for them is to wither and die like the fig tree in Matthew. So let's go, team, and continue to stand down the invasion of the evil cancer in Jesus' name. While on this journey of faith I am so grateful to be able to rely on your prayers to sustain me. I continue to walk in the "healing presence" of my heavenly father as I take up the sword of the Spirit to fight this and do battle for my life. So many of you have sent words of encouragement and support, and they mean so much. The fellowship here has continued to hold prayer meetings for me. Along with your prayers I am uplifted. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will write more soon. God's blessings to you. Greg

A Victorious Easter to You

Up from the grave he arose, With a mighty triumph o'er his foes,   He arose a victor from the dark domain And he lives forever with his saints to reign!             Robert Lowry  Friends, I love this picture. I see Jesus running up the steps in front of us saying, "C'mon, follow me. I'm all about LIFE - let's go!"He is risen indeed! Greg

March 29th - Blog Update from Greg & Jeane

Prayer Update for March 29

Greetings Friends, Last week, Ethie informed you that I was having a biopsy on the mass in my right thigh. This is such a strange and unusual place for kidney cancer to metastasize to that the doctors were thinking it might be a different kind of cancer altogether. Well, our biopsy is back and there is a very large tumor on my right thigh that is, in fact, also kidney cancer. We looked at the MRI of the tumor and it is very long and almost extends to my hip joint. My oncologist, Dr. Wong, is urging me to get started on a drug called Sutent for treatment of this cancer. The treatment is not curative, but in some cases it can cause the tumors to halt or even recede a bit. The problem is, once you start on this drug it is taken for the rest of your life. And there are a multitude of side effects for this powerful drug - some of them extremely dangerous. That's what I need prayer for in the next week or two. Jeane and I are weighing the pros and cons and praying about this treatment. I am not opposed to any medical treatment that may help my situation, but sometimes - as they say - the cure is worse than the disease. I need a word from the Lord about what to do. Yesterday morning Jeane and I were talking about this decision right before I left for work. It was heavy on our hearts. Just before I walked out the door we kind of looked at each other and said, "This doesn't look good."   As I was about to back the car out of the garage Jeane opened the garage door and yelled, "Just remember, it didn't look good for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego either." Then, as I was backing down the driveway she came outside. I rolled down the car window and she stuck her head in the passenger side of the car and said, "...and it didn't look good for Paul and Silas in prison with chains on either!" As I drove away I had to smile and shake my head. I thought of Daniel being thrown into the lions' den. It didn't look good for him either. But we know how those stories ended: The three Hebrew guys emerged from the fiery furnace without even smelling like smoke; God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, and when Daniel was lifted from the den they couldn't find any wounds on him. And what about Paul and Silas? As they sang and praised the Lord their chains fell away and they were freed. And even though Paul was beaten and imprisoned many times, he went on to give us some of the most powerful writings contained in the Bible. In fact, speaking about one of his experiences he wrote these words: "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death; but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead; he delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers."      2 Cor. 1:8-11 It is our hope and confidence that you, too, would keep us in your prayers. Please pray that we can have a word from the Lord and clear direction of how to proceed in this fiery furnace. Either way we decide there are potential perils. Your prayers lift us up. Our God is an awesome God, "...who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine..." (Eph. 3:20) With gratefulness, Greg & Jeane

March 21st - Prayer Update

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Greg and Jeane Olson, I am sending you this prayer update regarding Greg's healing journey. Greg continues to have no symptoms. He is continuing to work and has no physical limitations. After having his initial oncology consultation at MD Anderson, he underwent a series of tests last week. His CT scan which showed that the lung nodules and the left kidney bed lesion remain the same size as on his prior test in mid-January.  In addition, he had an MRI of his right leg, which showed an 14 cm long by 5.5 cm wide mass/growth (5 1/2 inch by 2 inch ) in his quadriceps muscle (front portion of his thigh).  This is a new finding. Greg will undergo a needle biopsy of this right thigh mass today (Wednesday 3/21) at 1pm.

Please join us for our next intercessory prayer meeting for Greg on this Friday March 23rd at 7pm in Elly's Home. Mark W. will be leading us in worship.

Please continue to pray for the following areas of concern:

-  For the right thigh biopsy - that there would be no complications. That Greg would recover quickly. That it would show no signs of cancer. That there would be a sufficient tissue sample so that the pathologist may determine the correct diagnosis.

-  For wisdom, guidance and discernment for Greg and Jeane as they navigate through the medical evaluations and make vital decisions. That they may have understanding and clarity as they receive test results and doctors' recommendations.

-  For wisdom, knowledge and skill for Greg's medical team - Dr. Wong, his oncologist, Dr. Gimbel, his surgeon and the clinical staff at MD Anderson Medical Center.

-  For encouragement and strength for Greg and Jeane. That they may continue to be surrounded by the Lord's peaceful healing presence. That He would be their Anchor and Shield. That the Lord would reveal Himself to Greg and Jeane in a powerful way. That He would make His will and desires known to them. That they would have ears to hear and eyes to see.

-  For complete healing for Greg's body. That the lung nodules, left kidney bed area and right thigh growth would be healed. Please continue to pray in alignment with the prayer that Greg has been lead to pray:  As Jesus cursed the Fig tree, that was unfruitful, to wither and die, so we also curse any mutated (cancer) cell in his body.  We speak words of blessing on every healthy cell/organ in his body. (Matthew 21: 18-22). That the "fruitful"/healthy parts of his body would be prosper.

- For healing of his remaining right kidney. That his kidney would filter properly - that it's function would be preserved and even restored.

- For healing of his pancreas. That his blood sugars would normalize. For guidance in the areas of nutritional and medical treatment regimens. In addition, healing of his high blood pressure, low back pain due to spinal stenosis and gout.

- For spiritual protection for Greg and Jeane for it has become very clear that we are waging a spiritual battle in addition to a physical battle.

- For their family, especially Greg's daughters Anna in Florida  and Stacy in Minnesota.


We so appreciate your prayers and support for Greg and Jeane. Many thanks to you all.

Blessings to you,

Ethie

March 17th Update from Greg

Hi Friends,

Peace and blessings to you all.

Today I have a video clip I want to share with you, but first a brief update.

There is not really any "new" news to report at this time. I go to MD Anderson this week for more tests. Then, next week Jeane and I will go back to review the results with the oncologist and talk about any possible options for treatment. Other than that, things are pretty status quo. I am eating better and sleeping better. I am walking through my days in a posture of healing and faith in the One who knows me and calls me by my name.

Every night I go on "victory walks" with Jazz, our Husky. On those walks I pray healing and blessing upon my body and curse the mutant cancer cells. I remind myself that Jesus always came down on the side of life, and to quote from Francis MacNutt's book, Healing, " I think it is fair to say that every time Jesus met with evil, spiritual or physical, he treated it as an enemy. Jesus was typically Hebrew in his view of humanity: he did not divide them into body and soul, but he saw them as whole persons. Sickness of the body was part of that kingdom of Satan he had come to destroy."

I am feeling really good, working full-time as well as trying to keep up my commitments to Life Discovery. This schedule gets to be quite a challenge to juggle, so in addition to prayers for my continued healing I would ask for prayers for strength, energy and focus. I know I am more distracted than usual, and that slows me down so everything I do takes a little longer.

I want to invite you to look at the interesting YouTube clip below. This video clip, taken from a sermon by Louie Giglio, has gone around the email loop a couple of times in the last year, so maybe you've seen it. But given my new challenges in life, it is pretty impacting to me. First, a scripture from Colossians 1:13-17:

"For he has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or principalities or authorities; all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Many times I have spoken about this particular portion of scripture. It is especially meaningful to me, particularly verse 17 where the writer says, "...he [meaning Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together." It is one of my favorite passages because I believe God whispered to me at one point about my kidney and my body being held together by him.

So maybe this video is coincidental. Certainly my faith doesn't depend upon the shape of a molecular structure. But once in a while something comes along that makes me shake my head and say, "Wow!" This is one of those things. Enjoy it!

 

 A final note: Jeane googled "laminin" and found two rather long scientific/medical articles about the study of this particular molecule and its role in preventing cancer development. Interesting.

Blessings, 

Greg

February 1st - Prayer Update

Greetings, Friends and Family,

Today Jeane and I went to the new Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, AZ.

This is a new partnership between Banner Health (the health system that I work for) and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX to bring a new, state-of-the-art facility to the Phoenix area. It just opened this last September. For eight of the past ten years MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "Americas Best Hospitals." That listing is published yearly in U.S. News & World Report. Needless to say, we feel fortunate to have access to such care and to have it be covered under my Banner medical insurance.

The people at this facility were some of the best. In fact, when we left after four hours today we got hugs from two of the nurses who, by the way, told us they would pray for us. Our doctor, Dr. Wong, was great. He is an oncologist specializing in renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). He talked a mile a minute; it was like sitting in front of a talking encyclopedia. He was so knowledgeable and interesting. My head was spinning but Jeane loved it. He also  stopped to listen and respond, and we asked a lot of questions.

We found out there are some drugs out there that may halt the growth of these kinds of tumors or even cause them to recede. This is not a cure, but certainly a step in the right direction. He agreed with the first oncologist: rhat the standard "big three" of cancer treatment (chemo, radiation and surgery) are not good options in this case.

We did not make any decisions today. He wants to investigate our case further by going all the way back to my original cancer in 2000. He is going to get all the pathology reports from the past and study them. He also wants to bring it before the tumor board, which is a group of around 30 medical staff who meet every Tues. and Thurs. to look at cases and discuss treatment options. 

We will go back in a couple of weeks for a new CT Scan, blood work, and an MRI on my thigh, which showed up on the PET Scan as having a mass of some sort.

So where does this leave us?

Encouraged? Well, not really. But I guess having some options feels better than having no options.
Comforted? Yes, we are glad that we are in good hands medically. And we're grateful to have nurses who pray.
Affirmed? Oh, yes. Jeane and I are moving where we are supposed to be -- in the deliberate "Grip of Grace."

(I write about the Grip of Grace in this week's Enews. Check it out on this blog or read your Enews this week.)

What I mean is this: we have been going through a whirlwind of appointments and consultations. We get more info thrown at us in a week than we can absorb. But we are all the while being held in the Father's Grip of Grace. It is a place for that is peaceful and not fearful. It is a place where I can settle and rest.

It is also a place where I can listen. You know, there are so many things that are coming at us at a time like this. We need the wisdom of the Father to sort them out. We could easily be overwhelmed. We need to be constantly asking God to give us his voice of wisdom to guide our path. I am reminded of the scripture in James 1:5 that says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

There are answers everywhere. They are good answers and they may work; but are they the right ones for us?

One thing I do know: I believe God has spoken to my heart that I am "walking in a healing presence." The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:10 (and I paraphrase), "I have been delivered, I am being delivered, and I will be delivered..." 

The grammar used in this passage implies a past, present, and future tense all at the same time. Well, I believe, "I have been healed, I am being healed, and I will be healed." I feel good - no symptoms. In fact, if it wasn't for the medical images and the biopsy I would not know I was sick. Hmmm.

Thank you to all of you, family, friends, and fellowship, who are walking with us in this journey of faith and life. You bless us and we feel your prayers sustaining us. We are so grateful for you. Thank you for the cards and emails and texts and phone calls of encouragement and love. In my "intake" interview at MD Anderson today they asked me if I have a good support system. I answered with a resounding, "Yes!" because of you.

My prayer is that God would richly bless you through this walk of faith also. We worship a great God.

In Gratefulness,

Greg

March 1st - Blog Update from Greg

Greetings, Friends and Family,

Today Jeane and I went to the new Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in
Gilbert, AZ.

This is a new partnership between Banner Health (the health system that I work
for) and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX to bring a new,
state-of-the-art facility to the Phoenix area. It just opened this last
September. For eight of the past ten years MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in
cancer care in "Americas Best Hospitals." That listing is published yearly in
U.S. News & World Report. Needless to say, we feel fortunate to have access to
such care and to have it be covered under my Banner medical insurance.
The people at this facility were some of the best. In fact, when we left after
four hours today we got hugs from two of the nurses who, by the way, told
us they would pray for us. Our doctor, Dr. Wong, was great. He is an oncologist
specializing in renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). He talked a mile a minute;
it was like sitting in front of a talking encyclopedia. He was so knowledgeable
and interesting. My head was spinning but Jeane loved it. He also stopped to
listen and respond, and we asked a lot of questions.

We found out there are some drugs out there that may halt the growth of these kinds of
tumors or even cause them to recede. This is not a cure, but certainly a step in the
right direction. He agreed with the first oncologist we saw that the standard
"big three" of cancer treatment (chemo, radiation and surgery) are not real good
options in this case.

We did not make any decisions today. He wants to investigate our case further by
going all the way back to my original cancer in 2000. He is going to get all the
pathology reports from the past and study them. He also wants to bring it before
the "tumor board," which is a group of around 30 medical staff who meet every
Tues. and Thurs. to look at cases and discuss treatment options. We will go back in
a couple of weeks for a new CT Scan, blood work, and an MRI on my thigh, which
showed up on the PET Scan as having a mass of some sort.

So where does this leave us?
Encouraged? Well, not really. But I guess having some options feels better than
having no options.
Comforted? Yes, we are glad that we are in good hands medically. And we're
grateful to have nurses who pray.
Affirmed? Oh, yes. Jeane and I are moving where we are supposed to be -- in the
deliberate "Grip of Grace."

I write about the Grip of Grace in this week's Enews. Check it out on this blog
or read your Enews this week.
What I mean is this: we have been going through a whirlwind of appointments and
consultations. We get more info thrown at us in a week than we can absorb. But
we are all the while being held in the Father's Grip of Grace. It is a place for
me that is peaceful and not fearful. It is a place where I can settle and rest.

It is also a place where I can listen. You know, there are so many things that
are coming at us at a time like this. We need the wisdom of the Father to sort
them out. We could easily be overwhelmed. We need to be constantly asking God to
give us his voice of wisdom to guide our path. I am reminded of the scripture in James 1:5
that says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously
to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Well folks, we are asking the Lord for wisdom to show us what to consider and what
to discard? How do we walk through this journey we are on? What do we have control over and what do we need to put in your hands? How much running around should we do?

There are answers everywhere.
They are good answers and they may work; but are they the right ones for us?

We have found this to be true even as it relates to healing and prayer.
Every weekend there seems to be a healing
service somewhere, and we would like to go. But do we go to them all?
These are questions we are taking to God.

One thing I do know: I believe God has spoken to my heart that I am "walking in a
healing presence." The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:10 (and I paraphrase), "I have been delivered, I am being delivered, and I will be delivered..." The grammar used in this passage implies a past, present, and future tense all at the same time. Well, I believe, "I have been healed, I am being healed, and I will be healed." I feel good - no symptoms. In fact, if it wasn't for the medical images and the biopsy I would not know I was sick. Hmmm.

Thank you to all of you, family, friends, and fellowship, who are walking with us in this journey of faith and life. You bless us and we feel your prayers sustaining us. We are so grateful for you. Thank you for the cards and emails and texts and phone calls of encouragement and love. In my "intake" interview at MD Anderson today they asked me if I have a good support system. I answered with a resounding, "Yes!" because of you.

My prayer is that God would richly bless you through this walk of faith also. We worship a great God.

In Gratefulness,

Greg

February 21st - Prayer Update

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD. 

Psalm 27: 13-14

Greetings,

These are the words of David as he wrestled with the trials of life. Words that I hold on to as I walk this healing journey alongside Greg and Jeane. Yes, indeed, we are waiting for the Lord. To reveal more of Himself. That we may continue to be convinced of His goodness of grace.

Thank you again for your prayers and support of Greg.  He is feeling well physically. He has no symptoms of illness. He continues to stand in a position of faith - waiting and listening for God’s whisper. Please continue to pray for the following areas of concern:

• For wisdom and discernment for Greg and Jeane as the seek the Lord’s guidance in making medical decisions. That they would have clarity and understanding as they receive medical information and recommendations from his doctors. 
• For guidance, wisdom and skill for his doctors in making appropriate diagnostic and treatment decisions.
• For Greg’s upcoming visit with the oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, AZ. 
• For encouragement and strength for Greg and Jeane. For daily renewal and restoration. That His peace and grace would dwell with them.
• For complete healing from kidney cancer. That the nodules in his lungs and left kidney bed would be healed.  Also that the abnormality seen in his right thigh (on the PET scan) would be healed. We are praying in alignment with the prayer that Greg has been lead to pray:  As Jesus cursed the Fig tree, that was unfruitful, to wither and die, so we also curse any mutated (cancer) cell in his body.  We speak words of blessing on every healthy cell/organ in his body. (Matthew 21: 18-22). That the “fruitful”/healthy parts of his body would be prosper.
• For healing of his remaining right kidney. That his kidney would filter properly - that it’s function would be preserved and even restored.
• For healing of his pancreas. That his blood sugars would normalize. For guidance in the areas of nutrition and medical treatment.
•  In addition, healing of his high blood pressure, low back pain due to spinal stenosis and gout.
• That the Lord would reveal Himself to Greg and Jeane in a powerful way. That He would make His will and desires known to them. That they would have ears to hear and eyes to see.  
• For spiritual protection for Greg and Jeane. 
• For their family, especially Greg's daughters Anna in Florida  and Stacy in Minnesota.   

Please join us for our next intercessory prayer meeting for Greg. It will be this Friday February 24 at 7pm in Elly’s home.

Her phone number and address:
3615 Mauna Loma Lane
Phoenix, Az 85053
623-297-1110

We have created a prayer blog for Greg. Our hope is that this blog would allow our community of faith to walk alongside Greg during his healing journey. We so appreciate your desire to join us in prayer and intercession. Please feel free to post prayers, words of encouragement, scripture and any personal thoughts/comments that you feel lead to share. The web address is:
 prayerupdatesforgregolson.blogspot.com

Grace and Peace to you,

Ethie

February 14 - Blog Update from Greg

Friends,

Grace & Peace to You!

Many of you have heard by now that I find myself facing a new battle in life - this time with the enemy called cancer.

Every year, I have a chest x-ray as a follow-up to the kidney cancer that was found in my left kidney eleven years ago. At that time (in 2000), my left kidney was removed. The cancer was encapsulated within the kidney, so I had no chemotherapy or radiation following the surgery. I’ve been “cancer-free” for eleven years.

This year, some suspicious spots were noted on the x-ray, which lead to a CT scan, and than a PET scan. The PET scan showed eleven spots on my lungs and also a mass in the left kidney bed where my kidney had been taken out.

Two weeks ago, I had a biopsy of one of the spots on my lungs. The biopsy showed cancer cells. It is the opinion of the doctors that I have a recurrence of kidney cancer, both in the left kidney bed and the lungs. There is also some kind of abnormality on my right thigh, which could be cancer or just something left over from an injury or bruise.

Last week, Jeane and I met with a pulmonary specialist and also an oncologist. More bad news. This type of cancer is not successfully treated with (i.e., does not respond well to...) chemotherapy. Besides, my one already-less-than-perfect kidney would surely incur more damage with chemo.  Radiation is not a good choice either. We asked about removing the larger tumor(s), but got a negative response on that option too. This type of cancer is spread via the bloodstream and, as the oncologist so aptly put it, “The horse is already out of the barn.” (Well, at least we all understood what she meant.)

There is a drug, which is rather new on the market, that may arrest or recede the growth of these kinds of tumors. We are going to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix to meet with an oncologist, who has done a lot of study on this drug, and will get his opinion.

We are also consulting with a nutritionist, who uses food and lifestyle to build up my immune system. I now have green drinks for breakfast instead of eggs or pancakes - yum. (Please send your chocolate chip cookie donations to me in a plain brown wrapper. :-) Shhhhhh

But as with everything in life, we all know this story has Kingdom perspective. My faith-posture is one of listening for the voice of my Heavenly Father. One of the first “whispers from God” that came to me as I prayed about this challenge was Mark 12: 17 - “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” 

The world may tell me bad news, but it is through God’s eyes that I want to see and hear this.

One of the first things that Jeane and I did was to attend a Journey to Healing Retreat hosted by Christian Healing Ministries out of Jacksonville, Florida. Francis and Judith MacNutt lead this ministry. We have also had such overwhelming support for our family, friends and Life Discovery community through words of encouragement and prayers for healing. We are filled with faith and hope and life.

Our good friend, Ethie, has kindly offered to create and host a blog for us. I would love to sit down with each of you over coffee and tell you about my journey so far (you know how I love to talk!), but unfortunately, that is not possible. In this situation, time with God is where my focus needs to be. I also have to fit a lot of doctors’ appointments into my already busy schedule at the hospital and also ministering with Life Discovery. So, Ethie will keep you updated as far as news and prayer requests, and I will add my two-cents worth as I can. Our blog is prayerupdatesforgregolson.blogspot.com

I close with this verse from John 10:10. It has come to be my battle-cry, as we go into battle against the powers of darkness that have come to steal health and life from me: “The enemy comes only to kill and steal and destroy, but I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”

So write your story, “His-Story," Oh Lord, with my life!

Greg

January 25 th - Prayer Update

Greetings,

Greg and Jeane were very blessed during their time at the Journey to Healing Retreat in Florida last week-end.  We continue to pray and seek the Lord's complete healing for Greg as he prepares to have a lung biopsy on Monday January 30th. As you are probably aware, this procedure is being done to evaluate several nodules in his lungs and a nodule at the site of his kidney removal surgery (which was done 11 years ago for kidney cancer).

We will be having our next intercessory prayer meeting for Greg on Sunday January 29 at 6:30pm in Christina Vig's home. Greg will not be able to join us. However, Jeane is planning to attend and hopes to also share a bit about their experience at the healing retreat.

We would love to have you join us for another evening of intercessory prayer.  Thank you for your prayers and support of Greg and Jeane.  

Grace and peace to you,  

Ethie

January 18th - Prayer Update

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Greg and Jeane, I would like to thank you for your faithfulness and commitment in praying for them during this season of trials.

As you are aware, due to recent test results, Greg's doctors strongly suspect recurrence of kidney cancer. Imaging studies show a 4 cm mass/growth in his left kidney bed (where is kidney was previously removed) along with multiple nodules/growths in both of his lungs (6 on the right and 5 on the left). Although cancer is suspected, Greg will undergo a lung biopsy in order to determine whether cancer is truly present. Just as the Lord healed Greg of kidney cancer 11 years ago, we trust and believe in the Lord's desire and ability to heal Him today. We are not just waging a medical battle, but a spiritual one as well. That is where YOU come in!!  Please join us in seeking the Lord's healing for Greg and standing with him in this battle.

Greg and Jeane will be traveling to Florida to attend a Journey to Healing Retreat on Thursday Jan. 19 through Saturday Jan. 21st,  prior to joining their family for a week long vacation.  This will be an opportunity for Greg to receive healing prayer and teaching through Christian Healing Ministries, which was founded by Francis and Judith McNutt.

Although we can not be at the retreat with them, we can certainly be there in the Spirit. So, we will be having an evening of intercessory prayer for Greg on this Friday, January 20th at 7 pm in Elly DeVries Home. This will coincide with his time on the healing retreat. Mark Walth will lead us in a time of worship as we enter into prayer. If possible, please try to arrive on time so we can begin promptly by 7:15pm.

Here are some areas of prayer focus:

1. For Greg's complete healing from suspected recurrent kidney cancer. In addition, healing of his diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic low back pain due to spinal stenosis, gout and significantly decreased kidney function due to chronic illness of his remaining right kidney.

2. That any mutant cell, which may be present in his body be cursed in Jesus name, just as Jesus cursed the fig tree which did not bear fruit.

3. Pray God's blessing over every healthy cell/organ in his body.

4. Safety and protection during their travels.

5. The Lord's guidance and wisdom for Greg in selecting skilled physicians and other medical personnel to care for Greg;  and in seeking to understand His health condition; and in making decisions regarding potential treatment options, if required.

6. That the Lord would reveal Himself to Greg and Jeane in a powerful way. That He would make His will and desires known to them. That they would have ears to hear and eyes to see.

7. For spiritual and emotional encouragement and strength as they wage this battle.

8. For spiritual protection and wisdom to discern the enemy's schemes and stand up against them in Christ.

9. For a rich and powerful encounter with the Lord during the retreat and during their time away. That Greg would experience the healing power of our Living God.

10. For the lung biopsy procedure that will be on Monday January 30th. That an adequate specimen would be obtained. That there would be no complications. That the medical staff performing the procedure would be skilled and knowledgeable. That the biopsy would indicate NO SIGNS OF CANCER!!! That the x-rays (CT scan) would show shrinking or disappearance of the lung nodules.

11. For their family members, especially Greg's daughters Anna in Florida  and Stacy in Minnesota.

12. For the Lord to be glorified in this. For ultimately, it is His story.

Sometimes, our prayers and/or desires seem too difficult or impossible to accomplish, but we are reminded that Nothing is Impossible with God. For no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. As God's people, let's be prepared for the Lord to open our eyes that we may continue to be amazed by who He is and how He desires to continually work amongst us. We may not fully know His will, but we know His Heart. I am also speaking to myself as I write, so that we may be mutually encouraged in this time of sorrow and uncertainty.  Many thanks.

Grace and peace to you,

Ethie