From the keyboard of Pastor Terry: 4-4-09

Dear friends, church family and loved ones,
A short report and exhortation----
We have heard some troubling news this morning from the neurosurgeon about Isaiah. The MRI has been read and we have learned that our Isaiah is suffering from “diffuse brain shake”. There are many bruises throughout the brain, but two particularly of great concern. One is in the area that effects communication between the left and right sides of the brain. This is very critical. Also, in the area of the brain that helps wake you up out of a coma. We are all very concerned. If Isaiah does not awake from this the prognosis is not good. The EEG showed a slow pattern, which was what was expected. The good news is that it did not show any signs of seizures. We need to continue to pray for Isaiah that he would awake from the coma and tell us of his great adventures. We all love him so much. In Jeremiah 29:11-12 we read of a promise which the Prophet gave to the nation of Israel in her darkest hour. Even a candle shines the brightest in the deepe st darkness. The Lord told that despairing nation. “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Such a people had just been trampled by an unstoppable army. But, instead of these words being trite, they were a powerful encouragement. A future and a hope are ahead, unstoppable, coming, set in the unchanging plans of God. We are told this when nothing we see can confirm it at this time. But, It is our Lord who holds the future, He has told us this and therefore we have hope. God’s people along with God’s whole creation groan, in travail, as in child birth Paul says in Romans. We groan….waiting, waiting, waiting. But waiting in Hope, hope, hope. We shall all one day awake and we shall spend eternity sharing our adventures. But until then we wait, Pray that the Lord would allow Isaiah to wait with us.

4-5-09
From Pastor Terry:Dear family, friends and all those praying, We are still waiting on the Lord to open Isaiah’s eyes. He had slits tonight. It felt good to see them. The eyes really are the window to the soul. And , of course, if you know the Buck’s you know Isaiah has eye lashes to envy (it’s a family trait). Please keep praying for him. It was announced today at the funeral for Jeff that Isaiah is off the ventilator. This is mostly true. He has been off for up to two hours and I think tomorrow they will remove it, but for tonight they are helping him to breathHe will be given a feeding tube into his stomach instead of down his throat. They plan on leaving the tubes in his lungs in the event that they need to use them again that new holes will not have to be made. We rejoiced today so mightily at church, our hearts were so uplifted. Christ Covenant Church is a singing church, and for that I am very thankful. It is good for the soul. Congregational singing is so medicinal. Isaiah looks better tonight. The staples from his wounds were removed and by tomorrow he should be resting even more comfortably. Thank you for your prayers. Terry


My notes: This has been a very difficult week as we pray and pray that each family invoved in the accidents are comforted by God's loving arms. The shock that went through the community is massive. Jeff Geartner was very much loved and the impact he had on the people here was huge. The young lady who lives with me grieves heavily for Jeff's passing as he was her youth pastor, but we have had some really good talks and she is comforted in knowing Jeff is living the high life in heaven. She is only one of so many lives he touched. He will be very much missed. As for Isaiah we pray without ceasing. It seems as though even when I am sleeping the thoughts "Wake up Isaiah, in the name of Jesus, wake up" still run through my mind. I worry about Ashley. She wants to go visit, but I think is not quite ready.
I am worried about so many things, but then I have to remind myself "Be still, and know that I am God"