When last I posted I described having fatigue, a recurrence of pain as I hard mentioned before, and new pain in my lower back, especially when walking. The latter pain came on kind of suddenly on Monday, as the other pain began to creep on. But it was the lower back pain that was most worrisome.
When we met with the radiation oncologist in late July/early August, we were told to watch for pain in the lower back, radiating down the legs, loss of motor skills and lost control of other functions as these would indicate the encroachment of the tumor on my spine into the spinal canal and it's pressing against the spinal cord. But then, the most recent scan indicated the tumor on my spine was healing itself. So we don't know what to make of the pain, just that for now we are watching this closely, especially as we plan to be away this weekend and doing a lot of walking.
It has occurred to me that I haven't said much about me, apart from my present state, love of Christ and some other passions, my former life in military service, etc. I don't recall mentioning birthdate or age, but if I did, forgive me for repeating. I was born in 1962. This is important for our walk here back down memory lane.
Rock and roll was still quite young in 1962, but branching out: beach or surfing music, soul, and some early folk artists were beginning to emerge either as new competitors for the ears and hearts of American youth against well founded vocal artists, or as well established genres of our musical fabric. The previous generation were not well prepared for the coming tide of change in music.
Just six short years from my birth, six men met as freshmen in college in Alabama. Six years later, they would have a debut album recorded at the famed Motown Hitsville USA studios, the last album recorded there, in fact. Fifteen years after this debut, and after two number one hits, nine singles peaking in the top ten, and fourteen in the top twenty-five, some embers began to seek solo careers and left the group.
These men, originally a funk/soul/dance band with horns, found some of their greatest success in their ballads from 1975 through 1981. Originally called the Jays, they sought a new name to avoid confusion with the O'Jays. As the story goes, a dictionary was consulted to choose the new name. By Simply opening the dictionary to a page and plopping a finger on a word they hoped to Cain a name that would be distinguishing. The group was almost called the Commodes, but thankfully we know them as the Commodores. I spent part of the afternoon listening to some of their hits, and it is wonderful the memories that flood back. But it is the naming of this group that interests me.
Many choose a name to engender a desired character trait or quality, evoke some emotion, or simply to be descriptive of some important factor or another. All of us who have had the privilege of naming children knows the agony of picking the right name for our expected new child. Not only do we have to pick a first name, we add to our anxiety by the need to choose a strong middle name for the aforementioned reasons. Then we choose what we'll call them (first name, middle name, initials only, or some shortened version of the first or middle names).
Interesting that God tells us through Moses that the first man Adam was given the job of naming all the animals. In fulfilling this job, "no suitable helper was found for him." which led to the first surgery by the Great Physician, for God knew that Adam needed a like creature taken from his side that he would consider an equal but needing his loving care and protection.
Interesting that God himself gives the names by which we are to call him. These too are illustrative of the many traits or works of God. Throughout the Bible we are introduced to those named to describe something that God is doing in his redemptive plan. His redemption even serves to, among the other outcomes, give us a new name. But his act of naming is direct, purposeful, with meaning, and anything but random or by chance. So when we read Isaiah 62, we can rejoice, that God is calling us by a much different name than that by which we are now known.
Because of God the Father's great love for us, God the son, in the person of Jesus, secured salvation for those who believe through his obedience unto death and shedding his blood to cover our sins. Because of God's act of resurrecting his Christ in power to reign in his kingdom, we have assured hope of eternal life spent in his presence. And because of the indwelling of God the Spirit, we are now no longer known as enemies of God. Now we are his chosen ones. Read this passage from Isaiah and be encouraged by God's continuing work to make all things new.
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.
The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom
rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."
Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples.
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him."
And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
God bless you.
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