Essential Creativity

My denomination (the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) has many leaders who would prefer to see our traditional worship expressions be codified as a closed continuum for our services. After all, they’ve been compiled over a long period of time. They’ve been worked over to guarantee doctrinal veracity. They’re a part of the heritage of many of our people (especially the older ones). “They ain’t broke” … so why change?

My mind is constantly working over the question of why LC-MS Lutheran practice is declining so rapidly in our time. Most Christian denominations are declining, but not as fast as ours.

I’m not saying it’s the reason … but it’s a reason: Our creator God has made us in His image. This image dei makes us creative. There is very little space, trust or openness to creatives in the LC-MS.

I became a Christian during the Jesus Movement in Southern California, c. 1973. In many ways it was a mess – many strains of unorthodox teaching came out of that era. Many young people were launched into leadership prematurely, and made mistakes. Many churches were divided over how to accommodate or fend off these new expressions and emotions.

But I for one am a proud alumnus of the Jesus Movement! Sure, my discipleship in Jesus has since had to take me beyond the bottom-shelf ideologies of those days (which is why I’m LC-MS today). But the enthusiasm? The passionate commitments? The unbridled love of the Word? The downright joy? The palpable workings of the Holy Spirit? I will always contend that the Jesus Movement was the ideal freshman year of my catechism. And I have hundreds who would agree with me.

Maranatha! Music was the soundtrack to the movement. As Pastor Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa) said, “The kids would come and say, ‘The Lord gave me a ong,’ so we were letting the kids share their music, and it was exciting because it was fresh.” It wasn’t all of the Spirit, but much of it was. Rather than a vigorous policing of the music, there was release. Like the woman in Luke 7 … who sobbed uncontrollably, poured perfume on Jesus’ feet, and dried them with her hair … many worship expressions seemed to color outside the lines. But I absolutely believe that Jesus loved them. I think He was inspiration behind many of them. And I think that, if He were physically present when the detractors spoke out, He would have said (as He did in Luke 7), “do you even see this person? (S)he loved much!”

Creativity is a blessing from the Holy Spirit that we simply aren’t receiving in our churches. I miss it. I can’t bear to see it gone from my life because I’m a part of this tribe. May the Lord raise up Spirit-filled artists as He leads us into the creative future of His design. May we be as open to their work as He is.

– EO

 

The “Deep State” … the “Deep Church?”

I took in this article this morning:

Confessions of a Cancelled Priest, written in August of last year.

There is something going on in Roman Catholic circles that I should have anticipated. Like the Evangelical/Protestant world, the Catholic community is deeply divided in its understanding of both current social trends and the veracity of classical Christian theology.

In short, this article describes a convention of The Coalition of Cancelled Priests. At this gathering certain causes are championed. At first blush, I find myself encouraged that realities within the Catholic community – covering up sex crimes by clergy, blind support for the Democratic Party, blind support for the CDC during the Covid pandemic, a Pope who seems all too comfortable with syncretism and “wokeness”, a lack of appropriate influence on political policy – are being challenged by its people. If I were in this church (or a Protestant church with similar convictions), I would certainly want to see these addressed, and ultimately brought in line with the scriptures.

But, as the article went on, I started seeing the tin foil hats come out. Climate change is a hoax. Scientists developed Covid from aborted fetuses. You cannot be Catholic and a Democrat. Covid vaccines can kill children in the womb. Looming power outages and food scarcity. The devils of our age being Bud Light, Target and the Dodgers. There is a “Deep Church”. And their answer to all of this? A new Pope, yes … but also a return to pre-Vatican II days of offering the Latin Mass? These things, they say, constitute “the uncompromising version of the faith.”

Like politics, like church. The most vocal adherents to conservative ideas go overboard, making a mockery of themselves, and therefore of their best ideas. By the articles end, I found it obvious why Rome would want to distance themselves from this coalition.

Can’t there be an expression of classical Christianity that is marked by a thoughtful, intelligent love for the Word … AND love for those who think differently, AND an influence-building level social propriety? Can our best classical Christian ideas be advanced by this sort of coalition? If in fact this sort of coalition exists?

Lord, Your church, at its best, IS this coalition. May we be salt and light in the best ways possible. Purge us of the dross that keeps Your pure Word from shining in our world.

– EO

 

Heading Home!

THE NEWS WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!! We have been cleared to go home!! We are beyond excited!

I am feeling so well, practically normal. Of course we still have a long road ahead. I will be seeing my local doctor on Friday, 3/4, and then probably weekly for at least a month or two. Then will be seeing him regularly for at least a year, with a one year follow-up here in Seattle. I will still be on many meds, and will still be immunocompromised, so at risk for various infections. So we will continue to update from time to time, especially if specific needs for prayer arise. You all have been so faithful and wonderful! We cannot begin to thank you enough for all the petitions you have brought to our Lord on our behalf, and He has answered in AMAZING ways!

My last bone marrow biopsy last week shows a tiny bit of blasts, but they are normal (not abnormal) so they were not concerned. All my numbers continue to be good – white cells, red cells, platelets, etc. Red cells and hematocrit are below normal, but expected at this point. Liver and kidneys are looking good – great news considering all they have processed over the last 4 months. Again, I feel practically normal!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Praise Him for His body and how He designed it to work! Praise Him for how He has carried us through. We are forever grateful.

– Karen Hartley

(We will be driving home on Saturday, February 26th!)

 

January 24, 2022

Monday, January 24th – Day 63

UPDATE: Kind of a rugged morning for Karen. Her stomach was hurting throughout our meetings today (nutritionist, blood draw, team meeting, dressing change). The team truly wants to see Karen relieved of her pain. So, they’ve offered these steps:

1. Take the pain killer! Karen has not wanted to take the oxyconton, but the team says to be comfortable, knowing she won’t be on it forever … just until they get a good diagnosis of this situation.

2. They’ve prescribed a low-level steroid therapy where she takes an oil that coats her stomach, and hopefully reduces pains. Our nurse recounted times when this simple therapy was the final answer to similar problems, so we’re hopeful.

3. For the first time (that I can remember) they mentioned that this might be a GVHD issue. They keep saying that it is not “presenting” like GVHD cases they’ve experienced before. so they’re hesitant to connect the dots. But, if this IS a GVHD thing, they mentioned an ongoing steroid therapy.

All of this is subject to Karen’s colonoscopy, which is scheduled for a week from tomorrow, Feb. 1. That’s the soonest they could get her in (Covid has made everything medical VERY busy).

GOOD NEWS!: The bone marrow biopsy came back showing ZERO blasts! They registered at .01% last time. These are ideally at zero when a patient is released. This news, and ALL of Karen’s lab numbers, continue to be excellent. 🙂 But it’s hard to stay encouraged when you have a bad stomach ache every day. Praying that these new treatments will bring both relief and healing. Thanks all for how much you care!

 

January 19th, 2022

WEDNESDAY MORNING

Hello friends – here’s the update:

BONE MARROW BIOPSY TODAY: We’ll find out how the transplant is “taking”. Specifically, we are hoping that Karen’s “blasts” (abnormal immature white blood cells) have vanished. At the last test, they registered at .01%. Having zero blasts is desired for Karen to ultimately be released from SCCA, and to return home.

ABDOMINAL PAIN: Karen still wrestles with stomach pain. Last week was AWFUL – lots of pain, and pretty much trapped in the apartment. Medications have helped, but she still has bouts. Hoping that the team will have some more and better answers to this problem at our meeting today.

TODAY IS DAY 58: They have said to expect this journey to last until day 100 (March 2nd), but that some patients go home earlier than that. Pray with us that we go home as early as possible!

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support! We look forward to seeing you all sometime, hopefully soon.

Bill and Karen Hartley

 

January 7, 2022

Thanks for taking a moment today to pray for Karen.

Karen has been having stomach issues – nausea, cramps, difficulty eating. This is probably an issue with her multiple medications. But, stomach issues are also an historical sign of graft-versus-host disease. Our prayer is that some medication changes will normalize things for Karen, and that the Lord continues to keep graft-versus-host disease far from her.

Thank you, everyone!

Bill PS – This is Day 47 of our estimated 100 days here.

 

January 2, 2022

An update from Karen – January 2nd, 2022

“Happy New Year to you all! Thought it was about time for an update, although we really don’t have much news, which is good! The nurses here always say that boring is good! Up until Friday, I have had daily appointments at the clinic, for infusion of IV magnesium. A med I’m on to help prevent graft vs. host disease depletes my magnesium levels. My team has been slowly adding oral magnesium to my innumerable meds, and decreasing the IV amount. As of Friday, I no longer need to go in daily, as I now take 6 magnesium pills a day! I was taught how to flush my central line at home daily, so now we only go in for lab draws Mondays and Thursdays, and team meetings on Mondays, along with a weekly dressing change.

Evelyn flew here for Christmas! Her flight home was delayed a day due to weather, so we had her here Sat – Wed. It has been unusually cold and snowy here in Seattle! The snow remained for a whole week, just melting today. Spokane is getting so much this winter, so it’s been nice to get some here!

We are frankly getting a bit bored, and I am missing home quite a bit. It was hard to be away from home over Christmas. But we have an “adopted” church we are attending here, and Bill preached there this morning. We also go visit our sweet doggie Cana several times a week. We miss her too!

I am experiencing some bothersome, yet minor, side effects from meds. One is residual from chemo, the other is from the oral magnesium, which is rough on the GI track. Eating continues to be somewhat of a struggle, although my taste is improving. Prayers appreciated for those, along with continued prayer against graft vs. host disease. So far, so good!

My sweet momma is coming! Bill is heading home for a much-needed break, so mom will be here Jan 8-17. Camille is also planning to fly out for a while while mom is here!

Today is the 9th Day of Christmas! We are ever so grateful that He came to us, to rescue us and reconcile us to the Father! Praying you all know His peace.

We are continually and consciously grateful for all your prayers! May God bless us with a beautiful, healthy, joyous 2022!

– Karen

 

Karen Update, Dec. 20

UPDATE: “Spectacular!”

That’s the word our doctor used today to describe Karen’s progress! All of her numbers (cells, neutrophils, platelets) are at great levels; her stamina is building daily; she’s going on walks, sleeping well, eating well (she gained back 4 pounds this week), and is increasingly able to taste her food. We went to church on Wednesday and Sunday. She even got to see our dog Cana for the the first time on Friday!

Her first post-transplant bone marrow biopsy is tomorrow (Tuesday). THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are making the difference!

We hope you will continue to pray – thanks to God for the countless prayers already answered, and intercession for Karen’s ongoing recovery. She currently goes into the SCCA clinic daily for a magnesium IV (which causes her hands and feet to burn), but may be able to discontinue that if she can transition to oral magnesium meds (she begins this today). And she’s always vulnerable to “graft-versus-host disease”, so we are constantly praying against that.

BLESSINGS on your CHRISTMASTIDE!

(By the way, our new address is: 525 Minor Ave N, Seattle WA 98109)

 

December 4

A Good News Saturday

This morning, Karen’s doctor’s were enthusiastic about her progress! Her neutrophils are up considerably. Her mouth is feeling WAY better. And she’s eating today for the first time in almost a week!

The best news, though, is that they see a window for being discharged from this hospital: Thursday or Friday. This would 3-4 days earlier than their typical expectation.

In short … Karen is ahead of schedule, with no apparent complications!

Please continue to pray, especially that Karen would be spared GVHD (“Graft Versus Host Disease”). She is grafting well, but we need to see Karen’s system welcome the grafting healthily.

Thanks, everyone!

 

November 30, 2021

A QUICK TUESDAY REPORT

Our news is good! Now, Karen is still feeling lousy … that’s to be expected, especially over the next 7-14 days.

The good news is that there are no complications today. She’s been dealing with headaches, some high temperatures and higher-than-normal blood pressure. But today these are all under control. They’ve also helped to reduce her pain levels.

Activity is key to the healing process, and Karen’s nurses continue to marvel at how active she is. As you can guess, she gets up and walks every time her body lets her! She’s doing great – and I’ve VERY proud of her.

We believe these good things are an answer to prayers. YOUR prayers. Please keep them coming!

Our love and thanks,

Bill & Karen