I've revived and renamed my blog

[Brad Mercer]

A lot of folks have asked to be kept informed about our pending adventures in Australia. I've discovered that it's tough to send one e-mail to 60 or so people without having it bounce back as spam. So as an alternative, I've revived and renamed my blog as a venue that interested parties can turn to for information about what we're up to.

I find it difficult to blog. I keep starting them and abandoning them. It's just so hard for me to write in a vacuum. I need someone or something to get me started. As a result, I find it much easier to post on NazNet regularly than to post to a blog frequently. So, we'll see if I do any better this time. My blog was named "Brad's Big Bad Blog". It's now "Brad's Big Bad Brisbane Blog". Go ahead; I dare you to say it three times fast.

Anyway, here's the updated link:

http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/ (http://bradsbigbadblog.blogspot.com)

Brad

P.S. Does anyone understand how to make the link feature work on blogspot? I don't. The "help" feature lost me at "cut and paste the following code into the appropriate place in your template."

[Roland Hearn]

I am currently living a dream. Brad and Karen Mercer are still living with us after seven weeks in Australia. We have such great chats while driving to work or sitting around a "cuppa."
I don't know how many of you are getting to read Brad's blog but it keeps me smiling. Even though he writes it from the very next room I am often finding out little things that I didn't know. Here is the address again just in case you have lost it. It really is worth a read: http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/

[Hans Deventer]

I check it almost daily, but I can't answer anymore so Brad is going to have to trust me on that :basic05

[Brad Mercer]

I check it almost daily, but I can't answer anymore so Brad is going to have to trust me on that :basic05

Sorry about that. I was getting perfectly nice comments from people, but they weren't identifying themselves, and they'd sometimes ask questions that required knowing who they were in order to answer them properly. So I changed a setting to require people to register before making comments, so I'd know who was asking, so I could respond properly.

Apparently, that reduces the comments to zero. ;-) Oh, well, lose-lose. I figure anyone who really wants to comment can just send me an e-mail.

I'm frankly not thrilled with this blogging software, but I'm too lazy to find something better.

Brad

[Hans Deventer]

Sorry about that. I was getting perfectly nice comments from people, but they weren't identifying themselves, and they'd sometimes ask questions that required knowing who they were in order to answer them properly. So I changed a setting to require people to register before making comments, so I'd know who was asking, so I could respond properly.

I know, but I just love to tease you about it. Wanna be a blessing :basic05

[Gina Stevenson]

I know, but I just love to tease you about it. Wanna be a blessing :basic05

Yes, as much of a blessing as Brad is sometimes, he more than deserves to be blessed right back, Hans! :basic05

BTW, Roland, if you're reading this, since Brad & Karen are still at your place, here's how you can be a really big blessing to Brad: go buy him some bottled fresh veggie juice ... unless you juice your own there already. He simply loves it! hee-hee :rolleyes:

No, don't really ... just had to "bless" him, since he let the veggie juice that I forgot when I was there (didn't try juicing when just there overnight, so bought some instead) "sit an appropriate amount of time, so that it could be thrown away spoiled, and not while it was still good." Those probably aren't his exact words, but close to it. How sad! Good veggie juice ... wasted. :basic05

[Roland Hearn]

Gina as much of a blessing as that would be to Brad I have fairly strong feelings on this subject.
Veggies don't have juice, that is why they are veggies, fruit has juice and it is good. To extract juice from veggie some unimaginable process must be entered into that would be close to getting blood from a stone. The end result is nasty, very nasty and not natural. I couldn't do it.

[Brad Mercer]

How's that for a title?

Okay, first the koalas. They are nocturnal animals and most of the time that they are awake there in the tops of trees. Your only chance of seeing one is during one of those brief times when they climb down from one tree to find a better one. Living in the city, of course, you don't see a lot of wild animals under the best of circumstances. So Kaylah Hearn, age 18, who has lived in Australia for 13 or 14 of those years, has never seen a koala in the wild. Warning signs along the road warn you to be watchful for native animals to avoid making them roadkill, but the fact is, you're very unlikely to ever see a koala in the wild, as far as I can tell.

Kev Crowther, my friend, employer, and brother-in-law of Roland Hearn, who I moved her to plant a church with, has a small acreage on the edge of the developed area of Brisbane, in what has been kind of a semi-rural area that is now being developed. He has a small office building on the acreage as well as his home, and I work in that office. Kangaroos aren't too tough to spot in the area in the right time of day, but in the 18 years he and his family have lived there, they've never seen a koala -- until last week. He, one or two of his kids, and his mother-in-law all saw a koala waddling along from tree to tree, looking for a good one, right there on their property the other day. It was a big event. We were all very excited. And now we know koalas do live in the area, and they saw it at a time of morning that I'm normally at work, so I do have a realistic chance of seeing a live koala in the wild at some point.

Now to the electric shock therapy. One of the weird side effects of chemo is numbness and tingling in one's fingers and toes. Mine started doing that some time before chemo ended, and the doctor said it can take as long as six months for that to go away. For some people it doesn't even start until shortly after chemo ends. Mine seemed to get a little worse after chemo ended. Most of the time it's just mild numbness, but every once in a while you get a brief moment of actual tinglinng that takes you by surprise and even feels briefly like a very mild electric shock.

This past Sunday, Karen and I visited a nearby church. After the service she was visiting with someone she knew from work and I walked over to her. As soon as I reached her and stood still, my feet started tingling so much that I actually asked her if the floor was vibrating in that spot. The sensation went away shortly, but it's just very, very weird.

Life these days is just one novel experience after another.

For my one actual bit of news, I'll be home for Christmas, although Karen and Jake won't be able to come. I'll be there for about a month, so I should have time to enjoy all the relatives and friends. It'll be good.

More... (http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/koalas-and-electric-shock-therapy.html)

[Ian Gentles]

Great entry brother.

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Roland, one of the most delicious things you could ever drink, is vegetables that have been run through a food processor, until they are soupy, heated, and a little salt, pepper and butter or margarine added to them. Put this in a cup and sip slowly. They are super delicious, with lot of carrots in them. That may be what Gina was talking about.

[Brad Mercer]

Well, it looks like if I'm going to be miraculously healed the time for that miracle is getting shorter.

I just got back from the oncologist's office. He said my bloated belly is fluid buildup rather than fat. The good news is that they can readily fix that, at least temporarily, by draining it, which they'll do on Friday, 26-10-2007. After the draining I should feel a lot more comfortable, and probably look better, too. (Today is Wednesday, 24-10-2007.) And I can help reduce fluid buildup by eating more protein, which just means quitting two days early the "cancer cure" diet I've been on for the last two months, which required that I consume no animal products at all, which obviously cuts out a lot of protein, no matter how many beans I eat.

The bad news is that the fluid buildup probably means that the cancer in my liver is growing agressively again. They'll know more about that on Friday after the ultrasound, which comes before the draining.

So, whether God heals me or not, I'm in his hands and I trust him. But if I had my druthers I'd rather have the miracle. He still can and he still may, so please continue to pray for a miraculous, complete healing of the cancer.

In the meantime, I'll try to continue to do this day what he gives me to do, to reflect to the people around me his love and their worth to him.

God is still God and love is still enough.

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[Brad Mercer]

I'm writing this from Dallas. It's been a great week. I've had my parents, siblings and their significant others with me the whole time, and a steady stream of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends coming through, eager to do something, anything, for me, and to tell me they love me. We've watched old family home movies, re-told the old favorite stories and jokes and laughed ourselves silly. I have a wonderful, fun, loving family.

Wednesday night we went to supper at Richardson Church of the Nazarene. A steady stream of cool old friends stood in line for a chance to tell me what I've meant to them and how much they love me. I've had a good life.

I've had e-mails plotting the future of NewStart-RiverCity, the church we're preparing to plant in Brisbane. I've had an email exchange with a Nazarene general superintendent who knows and loves me and is praying for a miraculous healing.

Physically I feel like I'm continuing to decline, but spiritually and emotionally I'm on top of the world.

Keep praying for a miracle.

Brad

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More... (http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/farewell-tour.html)

[Glenda Harvey]

Brad,

I am glad you are able to spend time with your family. When my brother was sick I was able to go be with him when he had his first surgery and again at the end. I have regretted not seeing him in the in between when he was in remission. I am praying for your healing and know that he has the power to heal but if he chooses to take you home, your being able to visit with your family during this time will mean a lot to them.

[Ian Gentles]

Glad your having a good visit Brad. Maybe your feelings of decline are more ones of emotional and physical exhaustion? Just been praying again for you, havent stopped, still argueing with God for that miracle.

Love ya brother.

[Gord Evans]

Keep praying for a miracle.

Brad

Still on my knees.

[Brad Mercer]

I'm utterly and completely ready to see Jesus, to be raised incorruptible, to know even as I also am known. I have been given grace for this hour. I trust completely that to die is to see face to face the One Who loves me and by Whom I have been loved most intimately. Honestly.

So I've asked blunt questions and tried to think through the details of my death as it will impact Karen and Jake. If a 16-year-old boy discovers his father's body, what's he likely see and what traumatic effect will it have, and what immediate actions will be required of him. Karen and I hope to talk to him about that tomorrow night, after we get some better answers ourselves from the doctor tomorrow afternoon.

I've got some idea now of what the last days and hours will look like if I die, because I'm probably close to that now, if the doctor's correct. If the doctor's original 4-8 week prognosis is right, I'll die between November 30 and December 28. Today is November 22. I'll most likely die in my sleep of internal bleeding, and Karen will call an ambulance. Internal bleeding would be indicated by the color of the fluid that's building up changing from yellow to red. A doctor would declare me dead, Karen would have my body cremated and cash in my life insurance policy, which would take care of her, and be some relief to the kids and the church we're planting, hopefully.

Meanwhile, those I leave behind will still cling tenaciously to the conviction that, nevertheless, God is still God, love is still enough, and that although the answer this time was "no", still they'll ask again next time because sometimes the answer is yes. And they'll look for a way to let God turn even this bad thing into something good.

On the other hand -- on the other hand -- ON THE OTHER HAND -- the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. He is the Great Physicican, whom even the wind and the waves obey. All over the world, from my mother to Karen and Roland to Nazarene General Superintendent Jerry Porter to dearly loved friends all over the world, people have assured me that they will pray and believe until I draw my very last breath for my complete, miraculous healing because our God is a God of the impossible and he has done it before. I'm not praying for some cliche, cop-out answer to prayer like the "ultimate healing" or "final healing". We're already assured of that because we are His heirs. We're praying for a real, physical, exceptional revoking of the laws of biology.

When he heals me, this is probably what it will look like:

The fluid will stop building up, so my belly will stop being bloated and my feet will stop being puffy. My energy, strength and alertness levels will increase. I'll have increased lean muscle tissue. Blood vessels will stop looking so prominent and enlarged. Bowel movements will return to normal. Then the doctor will see the need to do another set of CT Scans of both the liver and colon areas. He'll get the film and radiologist's report back and maybe order another colonoscopy. At that point, he'll report to me that he can find no evidence of cancer in either the scans or the bloodwork. He'll smile and say that it looks like we've gotten our miracle and tell me to come back every 3 months for a follow up.

And a God not only of love but of power for miracles beyond the imagination of doctors will become a part of my story and a part of the DNA of NewStart-RiverCity and all those people who are praying fervently for my healing will know that sometimes the answer is "YES." God will be God indeed.

Great God Almighty, I'm holding out for "YES!"

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More... (http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/living-hope-dying-hope.html)

[Wanda Van Winkle]

"...sometimes the answer is 'YES.' God will be God indeed.

Great God Almighty, I'm holding out for 'YES!'"

And I would call that FAITH. :) I still believe in miracles, the real, physical, this-is-unreal, there's-no-scientific-explanation, right-before-your-eyes miracle. At 3:42 a.m. Oklahoma time, I'm agreeing with you in prayer. God, let it be so.

[Hans Deventer]

I'm not praying for some cliche, cop-out answer to prayer like the "ultimate healing" or "final healing". We're already assured of that because we are His heirs.

Yes. And unless He tells me to pray otherwise, I believe my Father wants me to be honest and really share what is on my mind and not hide behind some kind of prayer that allows for any answer. He's God and I'm not, that much is clear. But He invites us to share our lives and our hearts with Him. So that's what I do. And with all my heart, I pray for physical healing.

[Jenny Mitchell]

Dear Brad,

Continue to walk in hope, my brother, and to hold out for that "YES!" I am here on this American Thanksgiving. The median survival with my cancer is 1-2 years; I'm now at 2yrs, 4mo and counting. I should have died this summer - my brain was riddled with cancer. Like you people around the world prayed for me - and I revived. They continued to pray as my brain was radiated, and the cancer shrunk. I was anointed again for healing - and people continued to pray. It has continued to shrink, at least as of my last scan - every test comes back with "significant" or "substantial" improvement. My oncologist keeps asking me if I am still serving as a pastor - he can't seem to figure out how that is possible. I have felt better with each passing week (if you don't count the cold I have right now). A few weeks ago, I even received permission to drive again. I can't help but believe that God has answered us with a "Yes". My healing has been gradual - there is still cancer in my body - but I think it was my D,S. who referred to me as his "walking, talking miracle." May God pour out his same healing power upon you my brother. I will continue and persist in prayer for you, Brad.

Grace and peace with all thanksgiving,
Jenny

P.S. We have some common prayer partners, in addition to the great folks here on Naznet. Dr. Porter (as well as Dr. Gunter) I know have been praying for me, too!

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Praying, but at a loss for words.

[Gord Evans]

Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. - James 5:13-18 (MSG)


Praying for "Yes"!

[Barb Bouldrey]

Brad,

Give Thanks with a grateful heart
Give Thanks to the Holy One
Give Thanks because He has given Jesus Christ, His Son.

And NOW, let the weak say, "I am strong,"
Let the poor say, "I am rich,"
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
...Give Thanks.

It is times like this that we really know that the Presence of the Holy One is the most important thing in life and our greatest blessing.

I read your words and my heart is heavy for you and your family.

Yet, the joy of the Lord still shines through your words and your hope. And that makes all the difference.

The world cannot know what you know today...that "when you pass through the water I will be with you..."

The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are His Everlasting Arms....and I know He is holding you today.

With the love of a Christian sister,
BArb

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

my life has changed dramatically, Brad. The chapter that has unfolded before me is one that puts your face before me on almost a daily basis. i have changed some of my vocabulary. i don't use the word 'death' or 'dying' much any more. i use the word 'transitioning' because to me that is what is happening. Transitioning purpose and goals. i don't believe in an end. i believe in continual; just different. A new normal. Either way, you are in transition today. i hate transitioning times. They are times where the end result of the transition is undefined, or for me this is true. All transitioning times are times that call for courage, strength, dignity and grace. i don't travel to NazNet often these days, but whenever i do - i always stop by to see how Brad is doing in his transitioning - - and how those around him are doing, as well.

i think the end result of your transitioning will be glorious and miraculous - whether the end result will be to live in Heaven or on earth. Regardless of where you residency will be in 2008; thank you for being in my world. Thank you for the times of banter, laughter, tears and prayers. Thank you for Advent writings through the years. Thank you for sharing during good times and bad. Thank you for moments of agreement, and thank you for times of disagreement.

You and yours are in my prayers.

[Jim Franklin]

Brad, when I think of you I often wished that the constituency of BNC had been more supportive in the early 70s I could have stayed and we would have had the opportunity to know each other as brothers at Calvary church where I believe I remember you attended while there. I pray often for the miracle that would allow you to glorify our Father for many years to come and I would gladly take your affliction for myself and precede you to Heaven so that I could be on your welcoming committee. Nothing would please me more.

[Charles W Christian]

I wonder if they'll ever do a study on how having blogs affects the need for psychological therapy! :-) Reading your blog is very therapeutic for many of us, Brad. Of course you continue to be in our prayers here in the NW!

Thanks for the heads up, Roland. Blessings to both you guys!

In Christ,
Charles
:q)

[Brad Mercer]

Jenny,

Your responses to me are always especially meaningful to me, as you are traveling the road ahead of me. I continue to pray for you, as well. You are an unfailing inspiration and encouragement. May God keep us both.

Love,
Brad

Isn't it amazing that GS's, with all their responsibilities, should find the time to pray for us, individually, by name?

Dear Brad,

Continue to walk in hope, my brother, and to hold out for that "YES!" I am here on this American Thanksgiving. The median survival with my cancer is 1-2 years; I'm now at 2yrs, 4mo and counting. I should have died this summer - my brain was riddled with cancer. Like you people around the world prayed for me - and I revived. They continued to pray as my brain was radiated, and the cancer shrunk. I was anointed again for healing - and people continued to pray. It has continued to shrink, at least as of my last scan - every test comes back with "significant" or "substantial" improvement. My oncologist keeps asking me if I am still serving as a pastor - he can't seem to figure out how that is possible. I have felt better with each passing week (if you don't count the cold I have right now). A few weeks ago, I even received permission to drive again. I can't help but believe that God has answered us with a "Yes". My healing has been gradual - there is still cancer in my body - but I think it was my D,S. who referred to me as his "walking, talking miracle." May God pour out his same healing power upon you my brother. I will continue and persist in prayer for you, Brad.

Grace and peace with all thanksgiving,
Jenny

P.S. We have some common prayer partners, in addition to the great folks here on Naznet. Dr. Porter (as well as Dr. Gunter) I know have been praying for me, too!

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Brad, during church today, this song seemed to "leap off" the page opposite the one we were singing for Holy Communion. It is typically one sung at eventide services or evening prayer, but seemed appropriate, somehow, when praying for and thinking of you.

It was written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 and is generally sung to the tune called Eventide composed by William H. Monk in 1861. You may be familiar with it but it is posted here today, especially for you. All of us bring things to a close on a continual basis: day's end; season's end; an era's end; end of childhood; end of adolescence, etc. When reading the words, somehow they seem to be the essence of the testimony you have given for all to read and see.

Verse 1
Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Verse 2
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little clay,
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away,
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

Verse 3
I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord abide with me.

Verse 4
I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Verse 5
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee:
In life, in death, O lord, abide with me. Amen.

Continued healing prayers,

[Linda Bechtold]

Yesterday Heather and I were driving around and remembering all the big productions we used to put on at RCN. We were laughing at Krysta always playing the dead girl because of her long hair and I remembered the time you were Lazarus.
That was always my favorite part of the musical- Jesus aka Scott C would look at the back of the audience and shout "Lazarus come forth!" and out you would come all wrapped up.
One dress rehearsal you didn't have time to get into wardrobe yet you still walked down the aisle just like you were wrapped up- It took awhile for the laughter to die down so we could get back to practicing.
The story of Lazarus has been one that I have held onto for the last 7 years as I prayed and prayed for the healing of my sons. At one point I had decided God was not listening to me at all. My bible study that day was this story. God gave me this promise that day "My silence is not a rejection of you but that you will see me work in ways you never imagined". God has been true to this promise!

[Brad Mercer]

Today's blog is written by Karen instead of Brad. Brad's been too sick to update the blog lately.

Physically, Brad's wearing down. While he can still eat and drink and can walk on his own with a cane, it takes a lot of effort and tires him out. He is nauseated often and in some pain a good deal of the time. He's homebound and only moves slowly around the apartment. The hospice nurses were able to help us get a hospital bed here so that Brad can sleep more comfortably. They've helped us get prescriptions for more effective pain and nausea meds. They've offered us counselling and friendship and help.

Friends have phoned from around the world to tell us they love us and are praying for us.
Family and friends email us daily to tell Brad about the influence he's had on their lives... and that they love us and are praying for us. People I work with and people our kids go to school with are telling us daily that they love us and are praying for us. We are completely surrounded by the prayers and goodwill of loved ones.

So, in spite of physical weakness... in spite of the deterioriation of Brad's body... even though
our most heartfelt prayer hasn't been answered yes YET..........
we are hopeful. Hopeful that God is waiting... waiting... waiting... till there's no confusion that it's His handiwork and then Brad will be healed. Hopeful that Brad can still make a difference in people's lives even while he's sick nearly to death. Hopeful that the love God planted in Brad and allowed Brad to share so widely through his writings ~ that love would continue to spread and change peoples lives. That's the dream that we're working toward. That we can show the folks around us that have no hope, that are nearly to the point of giving up that somebody loves them completely, unconditionally, no matter what they've done. That we can help them believe again that they are valued and valueable.

That's a goal worth living for.

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