Praise the Lord for his gracious gifts

Dear Friends,

I am writing to let you know what the Lord did for me yesterday. I am writing from the CCU of one of our local hospitals. That term will give you some clue what I am writing about.

Yesterday afternoon I was walking out of our local Walmart (i’m sure there’s no correlation with this) when I suddenly began to feel very unwell. As I walked I debated whether or not the pain I was feeling was really chest pains or not. (they say the denial is part of the normal experience when you’re having a heart attack)

I sat down to rest, thinking that surely this would pass and I could go into Starbucks to get the coffee I was contemplating. The feeling didn’t pass but I didn’t know what to do. I started walking again and ran across an old friend, someone I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. He greeted me and all I could say was “I don’t feel very well.”

He said, “you don’t look very well, do you want me to call 911?” I agreed that he should and then said I had to sit down. In short order, the ambulance was there and I was on my way to the hospital. As I came into the coronary unit, I was actually greeted by my own heart doctor. In less than two hours from the onset of symptoms, I was equipped with a life-saving stent. And so I am here today to tell you what happened. Apparently there is still work for me to do for our Lord.

I am writing this so that I can have something to refer all my friends to when they have questions about what has happened. I believe that I am here simply by the grace of God. All praise his name!

this poor man cried

I thought I would just give a brief synopsis of my dad’s funeral. Unfortunately there was no recording of it, I would have loved to share the preaching with you. [Read more…]

update to the update

[The following update is posted here by Don’s son for those of you who have been praying for us during this time.]

After the euphoria of a successful procedure this afternoon, my dad is not responding well to continuing treatment. One lung is retaining some fluid, the doctor says that the only hope is to get his blood pressure up and he *might* turn the corner. The doc doesn’t sound too hopeful, however.

Dad is in the Lord’s hands. He is a born again child of the King, and the victory over death is alredy his. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Maranatha!
Don Johnson, Jer 33.3
sent from my phone, please excuse bad thumb tpying

update on my dad

Some have expressed interest in my dad. He is fighting for more life in the University Hospital in Edmonton, AB. He fell at church a few weeks ago, and things have been going progressively wrong ever since. Fell in the hospital, broke a hip. Pneumonia. And he has some serious chronic conditions as well.

Well, he developed some internal bleeding. They were worried yesterday that he wouldn’t make it through the sedation – possible heart failure, etc. Lots of risk. This AM we discovered he had significant blood loss last night so procedure had to be done. The doc found a double bleeding ulcer just past the stomach and fixed it. He was quite pleased. Says Dad isn’t out of danger yet, but has a chance now.

I am here with my mom, ostensibly to support mom. Hah! She is a rock. I am the basket case.

And let me tell you, in a crisis like this you see the strength of a 54 year marriage. It is a beautiful thing.

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Dr. Frank Garlock

This announcement appears on the front page of Majesty Music’s site:

****Dr. Frank Garlock went to Jacmel, Haiti last week to preach for the Missions for Haiti school and church. We have not had any communication from him or the missionaries since the earthquake occurred. Please pray with us that he is unharmed and that he can be a tremendous help and testimony to the Hatian people at this time. God is good and we trust Him.****

Follow the link to the Majesty site for updates.

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precious in the sight of the Lord

I mentioned briefly last week something that we have been busy with these last days, the care and visitation of a dear pastor’s wife in our local hospital. Just a few hours ago, at about 10:20 pm, Pacific Time, our friend and fellow-servant went to be with the Lord.

Lois Herring served with her husband Dennis in many fields over the years. First serving in Ethiopia, the Herrings also served the Lord in Kenya, the Congo, the province of Quebec, and finally these last years in British Columbia.

Words that describe Lois to me are these: quiet, strong, modest, diligent, sacrificial, and most of all faithful. I commented to my wife in one of our trips to take care of needs these last few days that such people are the backbone of the church, perhaps the most important part of the church, and those who get the least recognition on earth.

In this last illness, Lois had some sense that she was in trouble earlier this fall, but the full extent of her illness wouldn’t come to light until this most recent struggle. And in the end, pneumonia set into both lungs so that her weakened body was just unable to overcome.

Pray for brother Dennis as you think of him. There will be many details that he will have to go through now, regardless of his loss, because it will have to be done. There is a small little church, barely begun to be planted, in Nanaimo, BC. There is the matter of a deep personal loss. So please do pray for him.

We sorrow not as those who have no hope, but we do sorrow.

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