I nearly lost my wife earlier this week. Her doctor said she was literally hours from death. If we hadn’t gotten to the hospital when we did they said she wouldn’t have made it through the night. That’s a WOW statement. To use one of my wife’s favorite phrases “Are you serious?”.  That’s gulp inducing stuff right there.

When we made our vows a couple of years ago we said ‘til death do us part but I never imagined the death caused parting could/would be so soon. The whole situation made me feel so helpless. Outside of driving her to the hospital and praying for her I had absolutely no control over anything. All I could do was sit on the sidelines and let the doctors and nurses do their work. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t sit back. At one point I was simply staring at the wall rocking back and forth and praying. It was not a good feeling at all.

The good thing about times like this is they force a person to step back, release the vice like death grip we have on our lives and allow God to step in. God’s like “I got this. Let me do what I do.” I imagine God saying “Hey. What’s up? God here. Remember me. The guy you don’t talk to nearly enough. The guy who’s word you only read on the rarer and rarer occasions you step foot in a church. I’ve been here all along. Where did you go? Let me help you. But let’s not make this another one time thing. Let me help you through the bad times AND the good. The plans and goals and dreams I have for you are so much greater than anything you could ever dream of. All you’ve got to do is relinquish the control you’re so dead set on maintaining and let me handle it.”

After a couple of days of touch and go she improved and now we’re back home. I find I’m overcome by an overwhelming sense of thankfulness. Thankful for being granted more time to spend with my wife. Thankful for yet another chance to try to get things right. But in the end what does it all mean? Will I be suddenly on fire for the Lord and make grand declarations to change my world in his name?  Nah probably not. Been there done that got the t-shirt. Once this intense feeling wears off those things would likely fade as well if past experience says anything about it. Will I turn into the greatest husband ever in the history of humanity? If that person exists it is not and never will be me.

If I’ve learned anything about myself over the last few years it’s that it’s all about baby steps with me so here’s what I WILL strive to do:

1. Love my wife more. Spend more time with her and try to make the most of the life we’ve been blessed to have together.

2. Read my Word more. At least a scripture or two a day.

3. Pray more. God doesn’t really need to talk to me but I need to talk to him. I haven’t been fulfilling that need much lately.

4. Take better care of myself. If I don’t reverse course soon there won’t be any of me left to do all the things I’ve listed above.

CHICAGO – He’s a white priest at a largely black church. He’s held hands with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. He’s been arrested dozens of times and battled anyone he thinks has wronged his parish — from gun dealers to a local Catholic sports league. Now the Rev. Michael Pfleger is something else: the latest thorn in the side of presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Racially charged comments Pfleger made last week mocking Obama rival Hillary Rodham Clinton — as a guest at Obama’s church, no less —

Obama needs to stop going to church. Televangelists were invented for this exact situation. You get to have church from the comfort of your own couch. Watch a Creflo Dollar program. Maybe a little TD Jakes. Mix in a little health and wealth gospel from Joel Olsteen. Throw in a Veggie Tales tape for the kids and you’re good to go.

After the diagnosis, Ethan was transported to St. Jude Children’s Hospital here in Memphis. St. Jude is one of the leading, most cutting edge medical facilities in the world for treating cancer in children. He’s in good hands.

Please take a look at the site. This is not a hoax. I know his mother’s sister. She and her family are close friends of mine. All the family is asking for is prayer. Prayer is a powerful. The doctor’s prognosis isn’t good at this point but God is powerful. I know that he can work to provide healing for little Ethan.