Post by Brother John on Feb 28, 2011 14:15:39 GMT -5
Hello Brethren,
I want to request prayer on behalf of my father. He just turned 68 years old a few days ago. He is a lost man who probably does not have too much longer to live.
My dad has had continuous and ongoing problems with his heart since he had his first heart attack at the age of 41. He's had several more attacks since then, as well as other complications. His father died of a heart attack at the age of 55. The doctors have used everything they have on him. Stents, balloons, open heart surgery, lots of drugs, etc. He has a pacemaker/defibrillator. It has already saved his life at least once when his heart stopped and the defibrillator kick started it again.
He was back in the hospital this week because his legs were ballooned up with accumulated water. They wound up draining over 10 pounds of water out of him. They did an angiogram today to determine whether they could place another stent in his valves. They cannot. For the most part, his heart is just dead tissue now. The only thing for him to do at this point is to continue taking his medication (about 25 pills a day) and hope for the best.
As mentioned, my father is lost....and full of much pride and stubbornness. He's a self made man who has always pulled his own weight. He's made a pretty decent living, provided for his family and always took care of himself and his responsibilities. All this is commendable and well, except that it is all a source of self-righteousness for him. The Lord has allowed him to go through much suffering. Every time he goes through such an episode my prayer is that it breaks and humbles him so that he will go to God. Instead, he always comes out the other side of it patting himself on the back that he "made it through again."
On top of this, he is very antagonistic to religion and what he sees as fanaticism and extremism. As far as God goes, he believes that there is some sort of "force" out there, but that's about it. He certainly does not believe the Bible or any of it's claims. What he has seen from most of the professing "Christians" he has been around has done more to drive him from Christ than to him. I am so very sad to say that my own testimony before him has more often than not brought reproach upon the name of Christ rather than exalt it. Although I am aware that if my father dies lost it will be by his owning choosing, his blood will at least partially be on my hands. To complicate matters more, there are certain decisions that I must shortly make regarding the Lord's will and my family. I have no doubt that this will further upset and alienate my father. We've had our battles over the year, believe me.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the only reason my dad has lived as long as he has is due to the prayers of the saints and the mercy of God. I am desperately seeking those prayers and counting on that mercy now. Please pray for him. His name is Michael...and his time is short.
John
I want to request prayer on behalf of my father. He just turned 68 years old a few days ago. He is a lost man who probably does not have too much longer to live.
My dad has had continuous and ongoing problems with his heart since he had his first heart attack at the age of 41. He's had several more attacks since then, as well as other complications. His father died of a heart attack at the age of 55. The doctors have used everything they have on him. Stents, balloons, open heart surgery, lots of drugs, etc. He has a pacemaker/defibrillator. It has already saved his life at least once when his heart stopped and the defibrillator kick started it again.
He was back in the hospital this week because his legs were ballooned up with accumulated water. They wound up draining over 10 pounds of water out of him. They did an angiogram today to determine whether they could place another stent in his valves. They cannot. For the most part, his heart is just dead tissue now. The only thing for him to do at this point is to continue taking his medication (about 25 pills a day) and hope for the best.
As mentioned, my father is lost....and full of much pride and stubbornness. He's a self made man who has always pulled his own weight. He's made a pretty decent living, provided for his family and always took care of himself and his responsibilities. All this is commendable and well, except that it is all a source of self-righteousness for him. The Lord has allowed him to go through much suffering. Every time he goes through such an episode my prayer is that it breaks and humbles him so that he will go to God. Instead, he always comes out the other side of it patting himself on the back that he "made it through again."
On top of this, he is very antagonistic to religion and what he sees as fanaticism and extremism. As far as God goes, he believes that there is some sort of "force" out there, but that's about it. He certainly does not believe the Bible or any of it's claims. What he has seen from most of the professing "Christians" he has been around has done more to drive him from Christ than to him. I am so very sad to say that my own testimony before him has more often than not brought reproach upon the name of Christ rather than exalt it. Although I am aware that if my father dies lost it will be by his owning choosing, his blood will at least partially be on my hands. To complicate matters more, there are certain decisions that I must shortly make regarding the Lord's will and my family. I have no doubt that this will further upset and alienate my father. We've had our battles over the year, believe me.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the only reason my dad has lived as long as he has is due to the prayers of the saints and the mercy of God. I am desperately seeking those prayers and counting on that mercy now. Please pray for him. His name is Michael...and his time is short.
John