Footprints in the Sand and Diploma of Completion from UCLA Dept of Radiology

Hello to my friends and family,

I am sure many you have read the famous poem “Footprints”, (check out: Footprints In The Sand – Poem ) which tells of a dream someone has about walking alongside Christ in the sand.  At one point, this person looks back on their life and sees where there were 2 sets of footprints and then only one set of footprints at a times when they were having the most difficult seasons in their life. With much dismay, this person asked Jesus; “Where were you ? How could you of abandoned me at the times when I needed you the most”. And Jesus’ reply was, “ The one set of footprints you see were mine, I was carrying you through this times”.   That pretty much says it all for me. He has sustained me, once again, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

On Tuesday morning, July 8^th, I received a Diploma of Completion from UCLA Dept of Radiology after my 25^th and final radiation treatment. No cap and gown, but it was a kind gesture and certainly cause for celebration. After that I went and met with my Chemo Dr. for a check up and possibly more IV fluids. I had started back on the chemo pills the day before and thought I would just take them the 2 days to match up with the final radiation treatments. As I was in a celebratory mood, my Dr. threw out the challenge of finishing the week with the chemo pills. My celebration balloons were popped. I was bummed, but took on the challenge. I later find out that many patients have their greatest side effects from the chemo pills, I might agree. That week was filled with great fatigue, once again. My sister Lisa came out from Kansas for a long weekend and was a tremendous blessing and encouragement.

On Friday evening, July 11^th, we dropped off Duke at a friend’s house in the South Bay and I couldn’t get off their couch. I was supposed to be in Brentwood within the hour to teach a bible study. We somehow made it, and after a little food and more couch time, somehow God, once again, not only gave me strength to get up and teach, but I so felt His presence and anointing to teach what He wanted to be shared.

Later that evening I took my last chemo pills. I was truly celebrating, not only as I took them, but consciously thanking God through the whole night for getting me through the treatments. I will be honest though, at first my instinct, (ego), was to say, “wow, I did it, and I can add this to my list of accomplishments”. (anyone else have one of those list / resume of life ?) Pride is such a dangerous enemy. I was pretty quick to remember the Footprints in the Sand poem.

It was Jesus and His love and sustainability that got me through it.

Yes, I did, and I can do, (and so can you), do all things, anything, concur any fear, get through any trial or adversity… but only with Christ whom has the power and authority to strengthen us and carry us.

Saturday morning, July 12^th, the treatments are over and it is the first day of the rest of my life. My sister, Maria and myself go out for brunch and I am ordering it up. Boy did I pay for it later !  Slow down cowboy.

All the treatments are accumulative, meaning they continue to build up and stay in your in your system. So, it will take a few weeks to get back to normal. Despite great fatigue, I have been coming into work everyday for a few hours. The leadership and staff at Union Rescue Mission continues to be tremendously supportive and gracious. ( Check out the latest URM personal story: Chaneka / Hope Gardens Success Story – URM video )

Thursday, July 17^th, I went and met with my Chemo Dr. who was very encouraged how I was doing. He gave me the OK to eat sushi, Yea ! And scuba dive, Whoo Hoo !

He told me to get ready for surgery in a month after we do some testing.

This whole process has been quite a stretching of my faith, especially in the area of Healing. Being a student of the bible for over 30 years, old & new testaments, I somewhat know God’s word. He is Jehovah Ropheka, (The Lord our Healer). Isaiah 53.5 prophesizes 400 years even before Jesus was born; “ ……. By His stripes we are healed”. I have prayed from the beginning for His Perfect Will in all this, that He be glorified in this trail, in every aspect in my life, and even in my death whether that comes sooner or later. Also, that He can use the cancer, this circumstance, for good. Not that God gave me the cancer, but allowed it and will use it. After a very cool prayer meeting one evening, a very knowledgeable man explained something very simple to me which was a huge revelation for me and made me realize I had been bullied by the enemy of our souls. And this was making me somewhat accepting of the cancer, which brought on other deep questions about the inner Richard.

Trying not to get too deep here, but to keep it real simple; God, our Heavenly Father and Creator, desires that none shall perish, and is the giver of all good gifts. Just as any of us who are parents, we want good things for our children; we don’t want to see them in pain or suffering. If our children asked us for a piece of bread, we are not going to give them a stone. It is a lie from the bit of hell that God wants me to have cancer, or anyone, and to not have a full life.

It is an absolute.

Yet there is much mystery to healing, because not every one gets healing. And how God heals varies, just as the numerous accounts of healing in the bible. I think, as in most things in life, the priority is in the process. How we are changed, made more in His image, grow, influence, inspire, etc…, from the beginning of a situation / trail, to the end. And that process may be more important than the outcome. I left that prayer meeting with several questions; not can or is God going to heal me, knowing He has,  He is, He will; but, more so “should I stop the treatments ?”.

I would of loved to stop them at that time. I came to quickly realize that not unless I clearly heard from God to stop them, which was perfectly possible, I would continue, which I did.

Back to the Dr. office:

I once again explained to the Dr. my faith and stated that I am sure he has witnessed many unexplainable medical healings and asked him what would he need to not see from the test to call off the surgery ? I was a bit surprised by his reply as he said that we should take no chances of the cancer reappearing and even if there was no more trace of the cancer he would still want to do the surgery and follow it up with some chemo treatments.

We will see ???????????????

We will cross that bridge when I get there in the next week or 2.

Last Friday, July 18^th, URM had a staff appreciation pot luck Luau.

They had me at “Lu”.  In my full Luau garb, I had the opportunity to do a little hoola dancing and Neil Diamond karaoke. Later that after noon I left with my good buddy Jerry for Joshua Tree. Our men’s group from church goes out there 2 or 3 times a year for a time of prayer and fasting and seeking God. I was red lining in the exhaustion area by the time I got there. I guess I poured it all out hoola’n and in “Sweet Caroline”. The 100 degree heat didn’t help. I opted not to fast for obvious reasons, and had a great time of fellowship, prayer and camping in the majestic high dessert. The next day I was rested, and it was only in the mid 90’s with a breeze. I had the strength to head up the mountain of boulders to do some reading and seeking. I took with me a seat cushion because I lost so much weight that it is uncomfortable to sit on hard rocks. I only get about 50yrds from camp and I see a perfect little cave. My ego said, “No way”, I going at least half way up”. But this voice said, “STOP RIGHT HERE”. I set up my cushion chair and read for awhile, great alone time, but the cave was a little too short and was not very comfortable. I said, “gotta go”, and started packing up to head up higher. Then I heard that voice again, “OPEN UP THE SEAT”. So I did, laid it out and perfectly nestled in this little cave in the shade and took a nap for over an hour. I got it, the same message I have been hearing for almost a year; “REST”. I had nothing to prove to those other 25 guys that were climbing to top of all those amazing mountains.

On my 5 week sabbatical of medical treatments I decided to have my teeth cleaned on Monday, July 21^st. 6 hours later, 4 vials of Novocain, and a bill that would of covered a decent European vacation, I am started to wonder if I have some weird pain addiction. Is their a meeting for that ? I wish I would of taken a picture as my lips were actually crooked.

Things are awesome with Maria and I. In the marriage vows that usually say “in sickness and in health, for better or for worse”, we seem to be getting some of those first parts out of the way, and with remarkable relationship building results. And Duke is doing great, getting ready for a totally new school and has been a great support and prayer warrior for me.

I have a little Catalina dive trip vacation planned for the end of July, having faith that I will have my strength back. After spending way too much time on my couch staring at my 100 gallon salt water tank with 3 little fish and 2 snails, I will be on a quest in Catalina to bring them some new friends or at least some rocks.

Take 4 minutes and to watch this video of this guy doing this silly dance in many interesting places all over the world. I have been to several of them, and many of them are on my list. By the people’s participation, it is a reminder of how small our world really is. It made me laugh and even a few tears. Where is Matt Harding Dancing Video ? 14 months 42 countries Man, why didn’t I think of this ?

Want even more inspiration ? Check out this Opera singer on Brittan’s version of American Idol;

Paul – cell phone salesman sings Opera, WOW !

To read past updates, above links, various interviews, pictures and more, visit;

Richardfelipe.com

I hope to have some Hoola and Neil Diamond in Hawaii u-tube links on the web site with in the next few days.

Thanks for reading and all your prayers, they are working.

Remember – God is Good.