Basal Cell Carcinoma--MINE!

by Danna Shirley

 Dear Family and Friends,

I want to share something very important with you. 

My sister, Paula, noticed a light colored spot on my nose about three months ago that didn't go away. It was not a bump or a raised area, just a smooth, slightly pink discoloration. She said I better get it checked out. I went to a dermatologist in Napa, California and she gave me some ointment to apply at night. I was supposed to go back in two weeks but never made it b/c she was injured in a car accident. 

I knew I was coming to Tennessee in a few months so I made an appointment to see my doctor there. A biopsy was done and the result was that I have basal cell carcinoma. Another visit required more extensive surgery to remove the cancer cells that were already at stage 2.

Now to give you a little family history...

My niece, Rhonda, has also had surgery for skin cancer. They found a very deep melanoma on her back when she was 30.

She was a very avid ball player and was on the field IN THE SUN from the time she was five until she was 45. Now she's on the golf course several times a week. 

She was on a rafting trip when a friend who was sitting behind her said she didn't like the way a spot looked on her back. She wasn't much concerned but went to a dermatologist the next week anyway and he did a biopsy. He called back immediately and told her to come in right away. She had a deep melanoma. They had to remove a big plug of skin from the back of her shoulder and do a skin graft over the spot.

She went back every six months for a total body examination for any new cancer spots. The doctor told her the skin cancer on her shoulder was from the sun going  straight thru her clothes.  He told her to wear sun protective clothing as well. She now wears that clothing and sprays her whole body down with sunscreen and sprays the back of her shirt as well. Rhonda said the doctor told her if she hadn’t come in when she did, she would have been dead within a year.

The same doctor I’m seeing now also found a cancer spot on my daughter, Kristen's chest, about a year ago. She’s never done outdoor sports but does swim in the summer. She also wears SPF makeup on her face but never knew she should wear it on her chest. She now has a slight scar and goes back for regular exams.

I, Danna, have had a few severe burns in my younger years so I’ve tried to stay out of the sun as an adult. I guess my first very bad burn was when I went to the lake (CA) with my girlfriend and we lay out on the beach “to get a tan” ha, ha. I burned my back so badly that when I got home all I could do was lay on my stomach in bed and mom put cold wet towels on me over and over again.

After that experience I tried to protect myself from the sun. The next bad burn was when I went fishing in a boat with my new husband, Ron (CA). Thinking I was being careful I wore a large-brimmed hat, long pants, and long sleeves. A small strip of my ankle between my pants leg and the top of my sock was exposed and got sunburned. ALSO the reflection off the water severely burned my face to the point that my eyes swelled shut.

One more story: I was with family at the lake (CA) and everyone was skiing and swimming and having a great time but b/c of my two sunburn experiences I stayed on the bank under the trees and even kept a towel over my head. I had my shoes off, though, so my feet weren't covered. I burned the tops so badly that I couldn’t walk for a week. Oh, the pain!!!

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003227.htm

Unprotected sun exposure causes early aging of the skin. Sun exposure can cause first and second degree burns. Skin cancer usually appears in adulthood but it is caused by sun exposure and sunburns that began as early as childhood. You can help prevent skin cancer by protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

Overexposure to sunlamps and/or tanning beds can cause eye and skin injury as well; repeated exposure may also cause premature aging of skin and skin cancer.

I’m sharing this b/c I’m very concerned about my three granddaughters playing in sports activities that are all outside--soccer, cross country, softball.  Wearing

sunscreen is so very important and even that doesn’t protect 100% of the time. 

http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/prevention-guidelines/preventing-skin-cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma can develop on the scalp, neck, hands, face, nose, cheeks, ears, forehead . . . anywhere. People with a higher risk of BCC have:

a.  pale, light-colored, or freckled skin

b.  blond or red hair

c.  blue, green, or gray eyes

d.  a family history of skin cancer

e.  a weakened immune system

They now sell Ultraviolet Protection Fabric (UPF) clothing, the numerical rating given to indicate how effectively the fabric blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays. The breathable fabric is the worst in letting in UV rays. Solid cotton is somewhat better. 

Please be mindful of when you're in the sun, how long you're in the sun, and if you've covered up with sunscreen or UPF clothing. Also use SPF lip balm, wear sunglasses, and don’t forget the hat. It just may save your life or the life of someone you love!

Ten "BREATH" Prayers by Bob Hostetler

When you don't have time to stop, or kneel, or even compose yourself, you can speak a breath prayer. Here are ten I found by Bob Hostetler:

"Lord, have mercy."

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

"My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."

"Here I am."

"Show your power."

"When I am afraid, I will trust you."

"Not my will, but yours."

"Bring your kingdom."

"Say the word."

"Come, Lord Jesus."

TRIBULATION

Danna Shirley

I read “The Voice of the Martyrs” recently and each chapter gives an account of the persecution, torture, and death of a believer somewhere in the world, at some time in history, who has been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. It has been sobering to even read such accounts much less to know that actual people lived . . . and died . . . through them.

There is the story of the very first martyr, Stephen, in 34 AD in Jerusalem. While he was being stoned to death he began to pray, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit . . . do not hold this sin against them,” and then he died.*

Then we jump to Indonesia, 1999, and the 15-year-old boy, Roy Pontoh, who was forced from hiding and made to stand before a mob of Muslims and renounce Jesus or be killed.  His last word was Jesus.*

In Asia in the 1970’s a Christian man was told by the Communists to spit on the Bible and he did so, but then prayed, “Father, forgive me.” Quietly, a young girl came forward and picked up the Bible and wiped off the spit with her dress. “What have they done to Your Word?” she prayed. “Please forgive them.” A Communist soldier put his pistol to her head and pulled the trigger.*

Mary Khoury, 17 years old, living in Damour, Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975-1992 was forced with her family to their knees before their home. Fanatics threatened, “Become a Muslim or you will be shot.” Mary’s reply, “Go ahead and shoot.” Her body fell limply to the ground. Two days later the Red Cross found her. She was the only one still alive; however, the bullet had cut her spinal cord leaving both arms paralyzed.  She knew God had a plan for her life and so she offered it, as a prayer for Muslims.*

Scotland, 1527, Patrick Hamilton, 23 years old, had all he needed for success: he was of royal blood, intelligent and talented, pleasant and gentle. He embraced the teachings of Martin Luther and not the edicts of the established church. Soon he began to preach the truth and was ordered to appear before the Archbishop where he was arrested and put in prison. When he would not back down from his stand, he was sentenced to death. As the fire consumed him, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”* 

C. S. Lewis wrote, “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in ME you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

What are “these things” of which Christ spoke in John 16? They are included in a long discourse to His disciples, and to us, beginning in Chapter 13 . . .

13:33  Love one another.

14:1    Let not your heart be troubled.

14:2    I go to prepare a mansion for you.

14:6    I am the way, the truth, and the life.

14:12  He who believes in Me will do greater works than I do because I go to My Father.

14:13  Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do to glorify My Father.

14:15  If you love Me, keep My commandments.

14:16  My Father will give you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

14:17  The Spirit will dwell with you and be IN you.

14:19  Because I live, you will live also.

14:23  He who loves Me and keeps My Word, My Father and I will love him and make Our home with him.

14:26  The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things.

14:27  My peace I leave with you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

15:1    I am the true Vine and My Father is the Vinedresser.

15:2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

15:5   He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.

15:7    Abide in Me and My words in you; ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.

15:10  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love.

15:11  “These things” I have spoken to you that My joy may be yours to the fullest.

15:12  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

15:13  Greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

15:16  I chose and appointed you to go and bear fruit that your fruit should remain.

15:18  If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

15:20  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

15:21 All “these things” they will do to you for My name’s sake.

15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have known their sin.

15:25  This happened that the word might be fulfilled, “They hated me without a cause.”

16:1    “These things” I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

16:2    The time is coming that whoever kills you will think he offers God service.

16:3    “These things” they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.

16:7    It is to your advantage I go away; for if I do not, the Helper will not come to you.

16:13  When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth and whatever He hears He will speak and tell you things to come.

16:20  . . . you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

16:22  I will see you again and your heart will rejoice; your joy no one will take from you.

16:24  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

16:25  “These things” I’ve spoken figuratively; soon I’ll tell you plainly about the Father.

16:27  The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and believed I came from God.

16:33  “These things I have spoken to you, that in ME you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”

Jesus tells us: “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” (John 16:22) 

Where does such strength come from that a martyr could stand in the midst of the fire and sing praises to Almighty God, and forgive his torturers, and have joy on his face and peace in his heart?

           

“These things,” tribulations, sufferings, tortures, murders, are happening all around the world today, just as Jesus said they would. How would we American Christians conduct ourselves under such persecution? Would we pass the test? Or would we deny our Lord? Every one of us must answer that question for himself. 

If these martyred saints can open their mouths and share the Gospel as they are being tortured to death, surely we can go next door and share the Gospel with our neighbor. Jesus’ message is the same today as it was in 33 AD:

“ ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen. ”  (Matthew 28:19-20)

*Jesus Freaks, dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, Copyright © 1999, Albury Publishing, Tulsa, OK

THE SQUIRREL HUNT

Danna Shirley

Part I . . .

            What was I doing in the back woods of Alabama as a 20-year-old newlywed? I had a little bit of country in my roots through my parents (AR and OK) but I was definitely a city gal having been born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

            Now it was Christmastime, 1968. I had been married just a few days when my new husband took me home to Alabama to meet his family. This was his first trip home in a while. He wanted to get out in the woods and go squirrel hunting AND he wanted me to go with him because he knew I would just love it.

            Well, I didn’t! I didn’t like getting up at pre-dawn to get out there in the dark, dank, stripped of all leaves, woods. I didn’t like the cold in south Alabama in December. I didn’t like being quiet and still so I wouldn’t scare them off.

I stayed in the car and slept in the back seat. I’ve always been able to sleep anytime, anywhere. After I was fully rested, I opened my eyes to daylight and grunting noises. I rose and peeked through the car window to see that I was surrounded by large, very large pigs. I don’t know if they were wild or not. I could do nothing but sit and wait to be rescued. Ron finally returned carrying a few dead squirrels by their tails.

Part II . . .

We arrived at his grandparent’s house in Glenwood with squirrels in tow to the declaration, “There’s nothing more delicious than squirrel gravy.”  Then we went out on the back porch while he cleaned the squirrels. I watched—ugh! I couldn’t eat the squirrels and I couldn’t eat the squirrel gravy either.

            After 34 years of marriage, we both agreed I would not accompany him ever again hunting or fishing and I never did . . . and that’s why we were married 34 years. J

THE TOILET

Danna Shirley

We have it made in America!

When I hear complaints against the United States I want to shout, “Try another country and see how you like it.” I have lived in other countries, not just visited for a few weeks, and you return to the states with a greater appreciation of our freedoms . . . and our conveniences!

One convenience in particular that stands out are the lavatories in Japan. They are clean enough BUT very uncomfortable. We had the privilege of renting a house in Kawatana that had a western toilet; however, public restrooms were economical and therefore not modernized.

To describe their toilets will take some doing so I’ll try not to embarrass myself. The Japanese also use a porcelain bowl attached to a pipe that runs from the bowl to the tank. That is what you hang onto for dear life . . . the pipe! 

“Why?” So you won’t fall into the bowl. “Why would you fall into the bowl?” you might ask. Because the bowl sits flat on the floor and your feet straddle the bowl. Now if you don’t want to “miss your shoot,” you squat over the bowl and here is where the “hanging on for dear life” comes in! I told you it was embarrassing.

The Japanese are also very fascinated with English words. They like to use them even though they may not use them correctly. For instance, one sign I saw in a women’s restroom instructed, “Don’t miss your shoot!!  To keep clean.” 

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed my five years in Japan, but I was happy when told it was time to go home . . . and experience the reverse culture shock of returning to my own country.