Welcome to my blog, or should I say to the ramblings of an old man. I doubt that my ramblings are of much value, but at least I have an opportunity to share them.  So, please be kind and humor me. If nothing else of value stands out in these thoughts, I hope that you at least sense the value I place on a daily walk with the Lord.  That walk is what has provided me with motivation and a sense of purpose throughout my lifetime.  My prayer is that you, too, are experiencing this direction and joy in daily living which is available to everyone who puts his trust in Christ.  So, thanks again for joining me.  Please don't go without leaving some comments here so I can get to know you better as our paths intersect today in this blog.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Horrendous Pain


          You are having a good day and then you begin to feel some mid back pain on either the right or the left.  Soon the pain intensifies.  Then it might begin to radiate to your groin.  You feel some urgency to urinate and possibly you even see some blood in your urine.

         The pain gets worse and you can't get any relief.  On a scale of 1 to 10 for pain, you have a 14!  Most likely you are the owner of a dreaded kidney stone.  Been there, done that, too many times.
         Probably you will go to the ER where they will most likely do a CT scan to verify that there is a stone and where it is located.  If you are fortunate it may already be on its way out or it is a small smooth stone.  But maybe you won't be that fortunate and you are destined to endure the pain every time the stone moves for days or maybe even weeks.  Been there, done that too.
          The ER might give you pain meds by IV and eventually decide to send you home with pain pills and pills for nausea.  That is something you don't want to do, but you may not have any choice unless they decide to admit you.  You will spend your days at home collecting and sifting your urine hoping to find that the stone has passed.  You will pace and try other things to bear the pain.
         The pain can be horrendous - actually much worse than labor.  My wife has experienced both and will testify to that.  With labor the pain comes and goes.  With a kidney stone it is continuous.  If the stone is large or jagged it is worse.  Pray that it is small and smooth.
         Should you not pass it naturally, there is a process called lithotripsy where they try to break it into pieces with sound waves.  Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.  There are also some surgical procedures that they can use if nothing else works.  But surgery does have risks.
         I have had a history of stones dating back about 50 years.  Some passed quickly, others lasted for weeks.  They do run in families.  Both my father and son suffered with them.
         Several years ago I had my regular checkup with my urologist and had an x-ray before my appointment just to check on any possible stones which might be developing.  I met a gentleman there from Manheim who was scheduled for an x-ray following mine and he also had an appointment with the same doctor following my appointment.  He was there because he was having real problems with a stone.  His name was also Kauffman.
         At my appointment the doctor shocked me by telling me that my stone was so large that it would need to be smashed.  I was stunned.  I didn't have any pain or symptoms.  I knew what it felt like to have stones.  I asked the doctor if he was sure that he had my x-rays and not his following patient  also named Kauffman.  He was upset that I would ask such a question and said that I needed to schedule lithotripsy.  So I did.
         The procedure was not that difficult.  I was put to sleep and the procedure used the properties of an ellipse, an application of which I had often shared in my advanced math classes.  When it was done I was told that it was successful and that I would have some difficulty and blood when I passed the pieces.  I was also told that I would possibly be black and blue.  Days passed and none of these things happened.  To this day I still wonder if they had the correct Kauffman.
          They were able to analyze some of my previous stones and placed me on a medicine, Urocit-K to try to eliminate future stones.  While I have been carrying a large one which they think will never move, I have been free of stones for the past 20 years.  But two years ago a specialist took me off of that med because of my low magnesium levels.  And after my heart surgery they added to my meds 3,000 units daily of Vitamin D.  I just read that Vitamin D can cause stones.
          And guess what?  On a recent Thursday afternoon the familiar pain began once again.  Some recent x-rays of my back had shown that some new stones had formed, so I shouldn't have been surprised.  So off to the ER once again.  The CT scan showed a 3 mm stone which was beginning to move.  They gave me an IV which helped with the pain and after about five hours they sent me home with more pain meds to fight with it there.
          Finally on Saturday my pain began to lessen.  The stone probably had moved to my bladder.  And then, on Sunday evening, I found the stone in my urine.  What a relief!  And, PTL, it was a smooth black one which apparently didn't cause any bleeding or damage on its way out.
         For your information, a 4 mm stone has an 80% chance of passage while a 5 mm stone has a 20% chance.  Stones larger than 9 mm to 10 mm rarely pass without specific treatment.   Most smaller stones will typically pass within a few days to a few weeks. Provided you are in good health, you can try for up to 6 weeks to pass a stone, although most patients elect for earlier intervention.  But I hope that you never have to worry about this.
          And so life goes on.  The one good thing about stones is that the experience gives you a model to compare when in the future you are asked to give a number from 1 to 10 for your current pain.  Kidney pain certainly is the top of the scale.  Other than that, I can't think of any additional benefit of the experience - unless maybe you save your stones and make a necklace out of them.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

What if?



        I'm thankful for the 39 great years that I served as an educator in the same school district.  I thank God that I could spend most of my life in such a great profession and enjoy my work.  Even though I had several opportunities to change jobs and professions over the years, I have no regrets in what I did.

         However, I do often wonder if I were to start all over again today if I would make the same choice.  Quite possibly I might not.  Schools and the pressures of parents and outside groups, like legislatures, have made it so different and difficult that I'm not sure I would enjoy the pressure - even with the better pay that teachers receive today.
         I think if I were to start over there are two professions that I might consider - computer programming or medicine.  I love working with computers although I can no longer keep up with all the changes.  But the logic and creativity needed would really suit me and it would be fun to try.
         As far as the medical field, it is so very expensive to get your degrees and there are many new pressures for doctors today, especially with insurance and government regulations.  But over the past few years I think I have become a "professional medical user" and have many ideas about how I would change the administration of a doctor's practice.
          For example, If I were to ask my patients to arrive 15 or 30 minutes before their appointment  to get checked in I would be sure that I would service them on time.  It is so frustrating to be asked to arrive 30 minutes early for a five minute check-in and then sit 45 - 60 minutes before seeing a doctor.  And some of the check-in could probably be accomplished before arrival for some patients with internet access.
          I would also have a large computer screen or whiteboard which would indicate current waiting times and which doctors are on time and how many minutes behind other doctors are.  This would help patients know what is going on while they wait.
          And if a doctor were more than 15 minutes late in seeing a patient, a coupon would be given to the patient for a discount on a future appointment.  Two would be given for 30 minute waits, three for 45 minutes, etc.
           I would also give each patient a survey to complete when they check out.  That way they could express their opinions about the visit.  This might just improve operations and let doctors know what their patients really think about them and their care.
           I would assign each patient a number when they check in - like at a meat counter -and when the doctor is ready for them the nurse would just call out the number rather than their name.  Or we could issue beepers like they use in some emergency rooms.  In these days of privacy concerns and regulations like HIPPA, it seems to me that your name should never be announced in the waiting room for all other patients to hear.
         I would also instruct the nurses not to say "How are you?" when they greet you.  Why would you be there spending big bucks to be there if you were fine?  I must admit that this question always frustrates me. There must be a more appropriate greeting to give patients when they arrive.
          As a doctor I would look at my patients when I talk to them rather than spending all my time looking and writing on the computer.  The computer isn't sick, I am!  Now I realize that the computer has become a necessity for record keeping, but I also believe that patients would like to talk directly to the doctor rather than watch them work on their computer.   And I think the doctor might learn some important things by actually looking at the reactions of their patients.
          Now if my patient had tests done, I would arrange to have the results shared with them as soon as they are received - even if I am not going to be in the office for a few days.  Let another doctor report them. Patients want and deserve to receive their results promptly rather than wait for several days to receive them.  If nothing else, at least post them on the portal as soon as they are received by the practice.
          And I would reserve several appointment slots each day for those who suddenly need to be seen.  It is terrible when you have a pressing need and can't be seen by your doctor for several weeks.  And preference for these special appointments would also be given to the doctor's regular patients.
          One more minor point.  If patients are called in advance by telephone to remind them of their appointment, the recorded message would be made by somebody who can pronounce "Lancaster" properly.  You Lancaster readers will understand what I am saying.
         Now I guess I should stop.  As an educator I used to get upset with folks, especially elected officials, who had never taught, but were so willing to tell us how to do our jobs.  I guess that having once been a student gave them the "wisdom" to know how things should be done.  
         And so, maybe having often been a patient doesn't really give me the "wisdom" to criticize the medical field.  So probably this is one more useless blog.  But, "what if?"

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Lord You're Holy


          Recently I was searching on the internet for one of my favorite worship songs and I was surprised to find a rendition of it that just stirred my heart and mind.  The song which I think isn't too well known is "Lord You're Holy".  I first heard it sung a few years ago by a group called "Calling Levi" at the Pinebrook Bible Conference.  It touched me then and continues to do so every time I hear it.  And I believe this time the Lord led me to this stirring rendition because I needed it again.  Now the words speak for themselves but it is the section that shares many of the attributes of our God that really touches me.  Now I invite you to listen to this rendition and, if you aren't also stirred, maybe you need to ask this holy God to bring back the springtime in your life.


Listen to it here:
LORD YOU'RE HOLY

          As I look around and I see 
all the works, your hands have made, 
the awesomeness of you
and how your love will never fade. 
Mere words cannot express what I feel inside,
I can't even describe Your glory divine;
but as a token of my love, this is what I'll do,
I'll lift my hands and cry.
Lord, you're holy, Lord, you're holy
and we lift you up and magnify your name.

There's not enough words that I can say
to tell you how much I appreciate,
all of the wonderful things You've given me,
Your love, Your kindness, Your tender mercies
It's my desire to praise you
And tell you how much I love you
Your worthy of all the honor
And your worthy of all the praise

I don't know how you can love me
Why you give me so much mercy and 
How you would suffer and die for me 
way back on Calvary
But I thank you 
Your worthy of all the praise

Your Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous,
victorious conqueror, triumphant and mighty,
healer, deliverer, shield and defense,
my strong tower and my best friend,
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,
Your Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;
holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Your Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,
Your Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;
holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Holy is your name
We cry holy
You are Holy 
Holy is your name

Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous,
victorious conqueror, triumphant and mighty,
healer, deliverer, shield and defense,
strong tower and my best friend,
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,
Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;
holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King, 
You're Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything; 
holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Holy, You are holy 
Holy is your name

You are holy 
We cry holy
Holy is your name

Sunday, July 8, 2018

PRAY FOR A MIRACLE

Their faces look out at us from our big screen TVs.

          Twelve Thai boys and one soccer coach huddle in a cave, couched over a narrow ledge. They were missing for nine days, but now that they are found, they are confoundedly trapped. They are safe, but things are deteriorating. The oxygen levels in the cave are lowering and rains are forecast that could flood their exit route. As the old saying goes, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men . . . all the world’s resources and advanced technology have been helpless to deliver them to their families and safety.
          Day after day the entire world stands by helplessly.
          I woke up early this morning, turned on the news to see if there was any development on their behalf. They have written letters to their parents. “Don’t worry about me. I am OK.” “I can’t wait to eat everything.” Their boyish assurances, meant to comfort their parents, will not convince parents who know they are anything but OK.
          This morning I also saw a FB post by Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion and an Awana board member, calling all of us to believe in and practice prayer on behalf of these boys. I agree this is the time for the Kings’ people to pray . . . the kings’ horses and kings’ men need the power of prayer on their behalf. Let’s pray for a miraculous delivery for these young boys.
          I had a conversation with my sister yesterday about prayer. She is hospitalized and in a serious condition right now. She herself needs prayer. As we spent the day together in her hospital room, she shared that she has been studying Mother Teresa’s life. At one time Mother Teresa was trying to rescue a group of special needs children caught behind enemy lines in a war zone. The army general told her there was no way to rescue those children without a cease fire. That tiny woman looked him in the eyes and said, “Tomorrow there will be a cease fire.” When that next morning dawned, bathed in prayers as it was for the release of those children, there was a cease fire and the children were evacuated to safety.
         Let’s pray for these children. Let the prayers rise from God’s people in Kenya and Norway and Bangladesh and Brazil. Let us cover these children with prayers in English and Korean and Swahili.
          Pray. Pray, Pray. Pray that soon there will be a miracle.
(Reprinted from an Awana post by Valerie Bell on Facebook)

Thursday, July 5, 2018

God Bless America


           This week we in the United States will celebrate Independence Day.  Parades and other community activities will help us remember and celebrate the freedoms that we have enjoyed through the sacrifices of many courageous people over the years.

          But over the years we have often failed to remember the religious heritage on which our country was built.  In fact, today organizations like the ACLU have worked to rid us of those facts.  History taught in our schools has been revised and facts about our religious foundation are eliminated.
           But if any open-minded person really looks at our early documents they will see how important faith in God was to our leaders in the days of founding this great country.  So because of the holiday, I have decided to share with you the preambles of the constitutions and documents of our states.

          Alabama 1901, "We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.."
          Alaska 1956, "We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land. "
          Arizona 1911, "We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution..". 
          Arkansas 1874, "We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government..". 
          California 1879, "We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.".. 
          Colorado 1876, "We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe..". 
          Connecticut 1818, "The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy." 
          Delaware 1897, "Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences." 
          Florida 1885, "We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution.".. 
          Georgia 1777, "We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.".. 
          Hawaii 1959, "We, the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution. "
          Idaho 1889, "We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings. "
          Illinois 1870,  We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors." 
          Indiana 1851, "We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government. "
          Iowa 1857, "We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution. 
          Kansas 1859, "We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution." 
          Kentucky 1891, "We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties.". 
          Louisiana 1921, "We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy." 
          Maine 1820, "We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction. "
           Maryland 1776, "We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty..". 
           Massachusetts 1780, "We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction "
          Michigan 1908, "We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution. "
          Minnesota, 1857, "We, the people of the State of Minnesota , grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:" 
          Mississippi 1890, "We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work." 
          Missouri 1845, Preamble "We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness - Establish this Constitution.".. 
          Montana 1889,  "We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution.".
          Nebraska 1875, "We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish this Constitution." 
          Nevada 1864, "We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution..". 
          New Hampshire 1792, Part I.. Art. I. Sec. V  "Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience."
          New Jersey 1844, "We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors." 
          New Mexico 1911, "We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.". 
          New York 1846, "We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings."
          North Carolina 1868, "We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those..". 
          North Dakota 1889, "We, the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain..". 
          Ohio 1852, "We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common." 
          Oklahoma 1907, "Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this "
          Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. "All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences '
          Pennsylvania 1776, "We, the people of Pennsylvania , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance..".
          Rhode Island 1842, "We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...". 
          South Carolina , 1778, "We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution."
          South Dakota 1889, "We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties. "
          Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. "That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience..." 
          Texas 1845, "We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God. "
          Utah 1896, "Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution." 
           Vermont 1777, "Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man." 
           Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI  "Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other "
           Washington 1889, "We the People of the State of Washington , grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution "
          West Virginia 1872, "Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...." 
           Wisconsin 1848, "We, the people of Wisconsin , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility."...
          Wyoming 1890, "We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution..." 
          And we weren't founded as a "Christian nation" ?   After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe the ACLU, the liberals and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong! Let us retain God in America !
          GOD BLESS AMERICA !