What about the 9

Occasionally when given the opportunity to speak to christian groups about my journey living with congenital heart disease I share a scripture from the book of Luke that says, "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God." (St. Luke 17:15)

The beautiful expression of gratitude comes from the story about the ten lepers who asked Jesus to have mercy on them. The Lord told them to go show themselves to the priests and they would be healed. "And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed."

Shortly thereafter, one of the lepers returned and knelt down at the feet of Jesus thanking Him for his kindness. The Lord asks, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." Jesus says to the healed leper, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

Artwork: Sketch by Rembrandt van Rijn

Since the Lord healed me I've thought deeply about these 10 lepers.

I am inspired by the man who returned and praised God, falling at his feet with tears of gratitude. But, what about the nine? What is their story?

May I suggest a perspective worth considering.

Could it be possible that a few of these nine were so astonished at the miracle and overcome with joy they could not come up with the right way to thank Jesus or it was too late?

Could some may have desperately tried to find a way to return and thank him but Christ had left the city?

Maybe they were discouraged by the mobs of people who surrounded the Savior and couldn't make it through the crowd.

Or did they feel ashamed because of their sins and own insecurities.

Or maybe it is true, they were ungrateful at the miracle. I doubt it.

Often, I feel like one of the nine lepers and I believe I still under-estimate the kind and loving Jesus who wants us to approach Him.

Still, can any of us truly thank God for what he has done in allowing us to have this mortal experience? How do I thank him for Eden or Lynnette? How do I give Him what He has given me?

Shortly after I had my third open heart surgery I put a quote from Carolyn Pearson near the ceiling of my room so I could always read it. She penned the lyric "And if I serve Him, with every moment that I live, with all the love I have to give, still I would be in His debt forever."

It's my hope that our lives will be our display of gratitude for our kind and loving God.

A New Chapter in Life

When I started my blog Living for Eden I didn't realize in the beginning how healing it would be for me to share my experiences with the world. Those of you who have a blog may understand what I am saying. Like keeping a journal, writing all your emotions and what you learn is therapeutic. Sharing personal things is a form of daily affirmation. I thought I was keeping family and friends informed, I was helping myself heal spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

After waiting 385 days on an organ donation list, I received a heart transplant. As I recovered my father, a professional journalist, encouraged me to compile my blog into a book. The Living for Eden entries and a dozen other inspiring stories became what Shadow Mountain Publishing has titled, Before My Heart Stops, which is my memoir of events leading to my change of heart.

The national release date is September 9, 2010 on the anniversary of my transplant. The publisher has been very kind and supportive in my desire to use this book as a tool to bring awareness to congenital heart disease and organ donation. I'm excited to advocate these issues and speak to audiences on a book tour currently being scheduled. If anything, I hope this book will help inspire people to acknowledge the hand of God in their lives because of the gifts of chronic illness and other similar challenges faced by millions.

Each waking day, I am reminded that sustaining my life and beating in my chest, is the heart of a young man, a child of God, whose death has given me a future and purpose. I am on borrowed time and determined to honor the sacrifice made. In parallel, for most Christians, we recognize the great sacrifice and death of Jesus. Because of that sacrifice we have been promised life beyond the grave.

Finally, I want to leave with you some of the things I am expected to do as a heart transplant recipient. This is well explained by the retired cardiologist Dale Renlund who listed me to receive a new heart.

"In December 1967 the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa. The dying man’s diseased heart was removed, and a healthy heart from a deceased donor was sewn in its place. Since then, over 75,000 heart transplants have been performed worldwide.

In each heart transplant recipient, the patient’s own body recognizes the new, lifesaving heart as “foreign” and begins to attack it. Left unchecked, the body’s natural response will reject the new heart, and the recipient will die. Medicines can suppress this natural response, but the medications must be taken daily and with exactness. Furthermore, the condition of the new heart must be monitored. Occasional heart biopsies are performed wherein small pieces of heart tissue are removed and then examined under a microscope. When signs of rejection are found, medications are adjusted. If the rejection process is detected early enough, death can be averted.

Surprisingly, some patients become casual with their transplanted hearts. They skip their medicines here and there and obtain the needed follow-up less frequently than they should. They think that because they feel good, all is well. Too often this shortsighted attitude puts the patients at risk and shortens their lives.

A heart transplant can prolong life for years for people who would otherwise die from heart failure. But it is not “the ultimate operation,” as Time magazine called it in 1967. The ultimate operation is not a physical but a spiritual “mighty change” of heart." (October 3, 2010 Salt Lake City, Utah)

watch the entire sermon

Stay posted for another update. . .

Roller Coasters & Heart Transplants

Once I received my heart transplant I didn't think I would be able to ride roller coasters. I've always believed the experience of ridin' a coaster in and of itself should be prescribed by therapist helping people through hard times. It certainly works for me. I was elated when doctors gave me the go ahead . . . Here is that moment with a few of the youth living in my neighborhood.

I'm Spoiled Rotten

I can't believe it's been almost a year since my heart transplant. I've never felt so alive, blessed, and humbled. I am spoiled rotten. I have a beautiful wife and a beautiful life. Where has the time gone?

Photo: Enjoying an outdoor Peter Breinholt concert

On September 9th, the anniversary of my transplant, I will do two things. First, I will thank God for all he has blessed me wit. Second, I will thank God for the life of my donor. His challenging circumstances lead to an early death and ironically preserved my own life and a few others. I think about this young man every day and with every heart beat I realize I'm on borrowed time. Somewhere beyond this world I hope he knows how deeply indebted I am to him.

As part of the anniversary celebration, I'm looking forward to getting out and seeing many of you on a book tour that my publisher is planning for September through October. I'm still a little amazed someone would want to publish my story, but I'm grateful to my dad for pushing me to do it. Whether I see you or not, I'm hoping "Before My Heart Stops" will help you or someone you know going through a tough time.

Before I sign out I want to share a lyric with you I love written by Carolyn Pearson. She wrote, "Life is for living, for laughing and giving, whether you're happy or not."