“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” —2 Corinthians 4:17, 18
Thank you all for your prayers. Some of you have stuck with me for a few websites and several blogs now. Many of you have been praying for my health situation for quite some time; some of you, faithfully, since October 2006 when we began to notice these symptoms.
My wife, Lisa, and I went to see our neurologist in the afternoon of June 3rd at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. All went very well with the visit. Not only did we see my regular neurologist, we were also seen by one of the top specialist from the University of Alabama, Birmingham in ALS, PLS, Parkinson’s disease, and degenerative muscular/movement disorders.
Our top specialist is convinced that, although many of my symptoms are those very similar to ALS or PLS, my condition is something that currently has no test for detection. There are cases all the time of diseases that just cannot be identified. Are these maladies real? Well, of course they are. Can they do anything about it? All they can do is exactly what they have done in the past, which is exactly what they do in treatment of the diseases that the current tests and technology can identify: treat the symptoms (momentary muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, coordination loss, dexterity loss, muscle twitching, muscle cramping, muscle rigidity), i.e., recommend vitamin and mineral supplements, prescribe medication for pain and ailments, provide physical therapy when and where necessary, and promote a healthy and consistent exercise regimen.
The doctors concede what we have known all along from the Word of God; that our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, according to Psalm 139:14,
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
The doctors also admit that man, in all his wisdom and knowledge, doesn’t know all there is to know about everything, as it is written in Job 38:2,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
and Romans 11:33,
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
One thing that the doctors didn’t concede, nor did I mention during this visit (because I have mentioned this to several doctors along the way in this 3-1/2 year journey with these ailments), was that sickness, disease, and death come as a result of Adam’s fall in the garden of Eden, as we are told in Genesis 3:17-19,
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Another thing that we got to testify to the doctors, and to the medical student observing, was that our God is a sovereign God. He rules and reigns; and through His divine providence these things have happened so that we might draw nearer to Him. These ailments have certainly increased my prayer life. I have truly been humbled by this in the past three years and I have learned to trust Him even more than ever before; even more than when we trusted Him for the daily details we encountered in remote missionary life and ministry.
I was able to question the doctor about many things: about his experience; about certain things from by background, such as my exposure to military chemical agents, deep sea diving &etc. His answers were very reassuring to us in that, not only did he really study my case history prior to my arrival, but he also looked into every conceivable possibility with every medical advance and advantage known today.
The doctors have made a referral for me to begin going through speech therapy, &etc., so that I might be able to strengthen the muscles in my neck and throat, as I have had moments when I’ve lost my voice. I’ve also had trouble swallowing. I pray that the therapy may help.
We are truly settled in our hearts, once and for all, that as far as doctors are concerned, we have done all that we can to try to identify this ailment. Now, Lisa, Rachel, and I will do all that we can in order I stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible for God’s glory. Though we are Reformed in our theology and Calvinistic in our bibliology, trusting that all things are in the hands of the Lord, we are not fatalistic or deterministic. We are responsible for every blessing given us in Christ Jesus and must not give up, nor give in.
This gives us greater opportunity to pray, to grow in grace, to be strengthened in faith, to increase humility in His presence, to encourage one another in our weaknesses, and to glorify our great God and Savior Jesus Christ in all things.
Again, many thanks for your prayers.
Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
I am sure that there are many people who love you and who are praying for you. Please know that it is my absolute privilege to join them in praying for you and lifting you up to the throne of grace.
I want to thank you for walking through this very dark valley with such amazing grace and faith. Truly, the grace of God that is upon you as you bear up under this affliction is a gift. It is God’s blessing to the body for which none of us are worthy.
May the Lord bless you. May He heal you. May He strengthen your family and comfort them. May He continue to receive the glory in your life — the glory that He will share with no other!
You are a blessing, Pastor Jon!
The love of Christ in saints like you, dear sister, is such a blessing to behold. Our Lord is so gracious that I have friends like you all around the world. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I am looking for fellow bloggers who are willing to write a review for my epic poem about September 11th. Specifically, I am looking for Christian bloggers who preach the gospel on their websites. You can find my poem at: http://www.september11thpoem.wordpress.com Let me know if you chose to write an article about it so that I can link to your review from my website. Thanks
You have my prayers, brother. I am encouraged by God’s grace in keeping you and your family in this trial and that you are able to testify of the hope you have within you. May you continue to glorify Him.
Thank you so much, dear sister. May Christ continue to bless you in your service to Christ and witness for Him.
Jon, Thank you so much for sharing this update with us. Illness and uncertainty are just plain difficult regardless of how strong our faith is. Now we know more specifically how we can pray for you and your family. I pray the speech therapy yields excellent results.
I do pray that the doctor’s will be able to pin this down and find effective treatments. We must hold out hope because our God is a God of great wonders. I’ve seen Him do miraculous things so many times when the doctor’s said it was not possible.
Please dear Lord, do this for Jon, too.
.
Thank you, Sister Diane. You are your blog are a blessing to me.
Thank you, also, for linking to this post. I am amazed to find out that people all over the world have been praying for me.
My heart goes out to you, brother Jon. I will be praying for you and your family as well. In times like these, only the love and wisdom of a Sovereign God can sustain us. Each day is another day to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Know that you have many who love you and will pray for you daily. You have been a blessing to me. I am glad that God has chosen to increase the effectiveness of your ministries. Please keep us all posted.
Brother Eddie, the Lord uses you and your Calvinistic Cartoons to bring me great joy. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” I’m blessed to call you brother, friend, and be a part of the Calvinistic Cartoons Calvalcade of Christian Comedy.
Blessings to you, mine friend,
Jon Jacob Jingleheimer Cardwell
You have a great site and I am so happy to read it!
I felt compelled to tell you, I have a friend with a disease called Kennedy’s Syndrome. It is similar to ALS & Lou Gherigs, but it is different. This may be something for you to check out.
God Bless
Holly
thank you, holly.
the veteran’s administration at both loma linda university and university of alabama birmingham see to have been very thorough over the past several years. although they may have missed something, they have tested me for kennedy’s syndrome, lime disease, heavy metals, light metals, myasthenia gravis, and quite a number of other diseases. nevertheless, they are human and may have missed something. i’m requesting a particular specialist who is right here in alabama.
i’m blessed that you are blessed with the site. thank so much for your kind thoughts.
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now, this year-old pingback is an interesting mystery. apparently it was hung up for over a year before it sought comment approval. like bugs bunny, i think it got lost, not having taken the left turn in albuquerque.
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