I remember three weeks ago when the 24 hour prayer army was created. I printed it out and taped it up in our kitchen so every time I walked in there, which is often :0),  I could be comforted by the thought that so many of you were lifting our family up in prayer. When I’d start to read the list I would, and still do, get tears in my eyes because of how much you care about us. I can’t ever thank you enough for your support and friendship during this precarious time in my life. It has also meant the world to my family that you’ve not only been praying for me, but for them as well. Just as much as I have had to walk through this cancer, so have they.

The power of prayer is incredible. I knew, no matter what the outcome of my surgery and biopsy, that God had my life in His hands. Of course I was praying for healing, but I know that God knows more than I do, and all I want is His will for my life. I told you that I would celebrate no matter what my diagnosis, right? Well, if you haven’t heard, I have awesome news! Kaiser called (finally!) and told me that not only do I NOT have cancer in my lymph nodes, as a matter of fact, I do NOT have cancer anywhere. I am cancer

FREE

! The lady on the phone told me, “You beat it!” I cannot express the joy and relief I had in my heart at that moment! I also knew it wasn’t me who beat it. WE beat it. All of us! We prayed, God heard, and He healed. Now it’s time to celebrate! Just as much as we have been praying we need to do as much celebrating! This weekend we are going to party like it matters! We’ve put together an incredible celebration service to celebrate our amazing God who loves us and thinks about us so much he even knows the number of hairs on our head. I hope to see all of you this weekend! I wanted to leave you with this verse that’s been on my heart:

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
       but God remains the strength of my heart;
       he is mine forever.”

Psalm 73:12

PS If you’ve been praying, but didn’t sign up on the prayer list, would you just sign up so I can have a permanent list? I’d appreciate it greatly!  http://www.livinghopechurch.com/john_calendar.php

John is officially, totally, without a doubt cancer free!  The doctors just called and there is no cancer in his lymph nodes or in the portion they removed from his leg.  John is so thankful for your prayers and your support.  Stay tuned as we get ready to celebrate together this weekend!

Only God

Missy

Let me start by saying (again) thanks for your comments and prayers.  Yesterday was the hardest day so far for me personally.  I am (again) believing it was your prayers and support and encouraging words.   You all have been amazing.  God has taught me so much during this time.  The thing I hope we don't forget is how good God is to us.  AND how in control of everything He is.

So here's my newest thought.  I promised something the first weekend that I found out I had cancer.  I promised we would celebrate when we found out, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.  I said that God is NO LESS GOD no matter what happens.  I said that we would honor God no matter what the doctors said, because God would (and still does) have the last word.   Yesterday I was struggling, and today I am ready to celebrate.   

Get this...  I HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM KAISER.  We are all still waiting.  The reports have not came back from pathology.  Ironically, emotionally, I have turned a big corner and am so ready to celebrate. 

I am doing a talk this weekend from the life of Moses.  Moses had a defining moment when things changed for him and consequently the whole nation of Israel.  I think I have had a defining moment for me and consequently us.  I want to share some things God has put on my heart and then I WANT US TO LIFT UP THE NAME OF YAHWEH.  I WANT TO CELEBRATE LIKE WE BELIEVE GOD ANSWERS PRAYER, BECAUSE HE DOES!!!  I WANT TO CELEBRATE AS IF GOD IS WITH US, BECAUSE HE IS.

Invite everyone as we celebrate and begin a series called I-PRAY. I am so excited about this new series, because we can't be a church that only prays.  We need to be a praying church.  We need to stay desperate for God and dependent on God.

IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE!  It's party time at Living Hope, bring everyone you can.  BYOB (bring your own Bible)  This is our day!

GOD WINS! - JOHN   

I wish I could tell you all that things are amazing for me.  Honestly, I know they are in my head but my little "brave" heart is having a bit of a tough day.  I don't feel all that brave today.  I don't feel all that excited.  I feel a little today like Chicken Little, which is so not me.  When Chicken little people are in the room, I want to run and hide.  Truth is I am so tired of waiting, so tired of watching every phone call, so tired of playing the what if game.  Your comments, prayers and support have been amazing AND have sustained me through the last five or so very long weeks.  Mostly, I have felt strong, courageous, encouraged, joyful and hopeful.  Today, I don't feel any of those emotions.  I haven't cried too much, except when I saw the video at Cinetopia this weekend, with everyone "waiting" and then seeing David hug me in recovery room.   

Today, I am trying to microwave the whole waiting thing, to get on the other side of this.  I am just tired of waiting.  Tired of wondering and tired of dragging us through this whole thing.  Honestly it is just where I am at right now.  I apologize if you think less of your pastor or his faith.  I am a bit like Peter, and sometimes the storm gets overwhelming.  There are hundreds if not thousands of people praying, and in 30 hours we will all know what God already knows.  We will already hear what God has already heard.  We all celebrate what God has already purposed and celebrated.  It will hopefully all be done.

I wouldn't trade this time or the cancer for anything.  It has made me a better person and a more faithful Child of God.  It has shown me how much I am loved and it has shown us all the power and priority of prayer.  I can't wait until it's done.  Until then I will spend moments waiting, worrying a little (even though I would love to say I won't), in wonder and hopefully mostly praying. 

I am sorry to be a downer, I just have committed to being real through the whole thing.  So there you have it. 

God knows what's next.  Trust Him in and through it.  I am learning (re-learning) what trusting and waiting and praying are all about.

I love you all so much,

John

OK, First thank you for your prayers and support.  Surgery went faster than expected, and they had to do two incisions instead of one.  Surgery was expected to be three hours and was less than two.  I was supposed to be in recovery two hours and was only in recovery 20 minutes.  I woke up after 10 minutes and the nurse asked "Are you OK?"  I said, yes, I am ready to go home.  I was only in recovery 20 minutes total, and discharged less than an hour after surgery, even though I was scheduled to stay overnight in the hospital.  ONLY GOD, right?

When they wheeled me into the waiting room, there were thirty or forty people standing there and I yelled "FREEEEEEEEDOOOOM".  William Wallace would have been so proud of me.  Thank you to all the staff who were there all day waiting with me.  It meant so much.  Thank you for your prayers, they have meant the world.  Thank you for the cards and e-mails.  Oh my the blog comments have been so inspiring to our whole staff.  Thank you for everything.  Eric, you should not have sent the Harry and David basket, but Michelle has ate all the chocolate, she says thanks. 

To all of the staff of Living Hope.  What can I say, I haven't been around for almost two weeks and you all are so amazing, because it isn't about us, right?  You are my heroes, I mean this and say it as often as I can.  Thanks for being there.

To Living Hope.  You simply amaze me.  I love you so much.  Your words have sustained me through this whole thing.  I will never forget what God has done through your lives.  Thank you for letting me serve with you. 

To my family.  We laughed, we cried, we waited and grew closer to each other during this little trial.  I am so thankful for each of you.  Thank you for helping me to be the most blessed daddy on planet earth.  Michelle, you are my best friend.  Simply that's it.

To Jesus.  Thank you for prompting me to ask the whole operating room to pray for me.  Thank you that they did.  Thank you that the last thing I heard before I went to sleep was your name, and the first thing out of my mouth was your name when I woke up. 

God is so good.  He has walked us through the whole thing, TOGETHER!  I wouldn't have traded the last four weeks for anything.  Even though we are still in the waiting room together, and even though I have a minature saddle in my thigh.  I have learned so much and I wouldn't trade these days for anything.

Michelle says to pray for her.  I am supposed to stay off my feet for a week, and I don't sit well.  I think sitting, waiting and resting are so hard for me.  Actually, Pastor Dean brought her a pair of hand-cuffs from Mike Harris, they are official and I am scared.

I am not feeling any pain, who says pastors are weak? 

Keep praying for the results of the surgery.  WE will know next week. 

God is no less God, right?  I am so excited to start a series about prayer when I get back next week.  Four weeks, the series will be entitled "i pray"  the sub-title is "What are you plugged in to?"

I am going to visit all the campuses this Sunday, in a wheel chair.  The chair is called "CRASH."

Keep praying!

John

I AM SO BORED. 

Dear Friends

John just came out of surgery.  The doctors say everything went as well as can be expected at this point.  To top it off Michelle just came out and said that John would be able to leave the hospital and sleep at home tonight.  Keep praying...

God Bless,  Duane

John's surgery went fantastic.  They removed two lymph nodes, one higher and one lower than the spot where his mole was, and will have results from those biopsy tests next Wednesday. The doctors have requested that John rest at least a week so that the surgery areas are able to heal.  Michelle is so thankful for each of you.  She feels your love and support! We have an amazing church family!  Thank you from all the staff and family for your prayers and please continue to pray. 

Missy

IT'S 10:59 PM on Wednesday evening.  I am not supposed to eat after midnight.  Why is it when someone says don't eat past... you want to eat your heart out until that time?  Aren't we weird people sometimes.  I have to leave the house by 6:30 AM to make to Saint Vincent by 8:00 AM.  Surgery isn't until 12:30 PM and should last two hours or so.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

Tonight was so cool.  Some of the prayer team, some of my closest friends, some of our pastors and my mother in law came to pray.  Pray for me, for peace, for healing, for wholeness and for the doctors.  Prayer is amazing.  Acts says the early believers devoted themselves to prayer.  Everyone left and I got to just sit and thank God, for how good He has been to me.  Your blog comments have been amazingly instrumental in my being able to stay encouraged and focused.  So many stories.  Please continue to share what God is doing.  The more we tell His story, the more He gets glorified.  So worth it, thank you.  I have to wake up in six hours to get ready for the "day."  I have to admit, my heart has been anxious, not about cancer AT ALL.  I believe the end result will be good.  I am more nervous about the surgery.  It is the unknown that we always have a difficult time with.  I will in essence surrender my body to capable but unfamiliar doctors to perform surgery on my leg.  Kinda weird, except for the fact I know God is totally in control, in every way.

So far, the PET scan came back totally clean.  NO cancer anywhere.  The liver and lung tests came back clean, NO CANCER.  The big thing is the lymph nodes.  Keep praying, we will know by next Tuesday and we will celebrate together the next weekend. 

I will say it again.  I have never felt so loved in my life.  Thanks.  Also, I have never felt my life has had such purpose.  That people have taken the time to share what they feel has meant the world.  Thank you. 

Living Hope you are an amazing church.  I love you all so dang much (can you say dang on a blog).  I think about you, what God is doing through you and I just thank Him.  Please keep believing what we are doing matters.  Please keep the fire burning in your hearts.  Please keep loving people, especially when they don't deserve it.  Please just keep things simple.  You are God's vision, and He has an amazing purpose for you.  Trust Him.

I will see you soon, promise.  Gotta get to sleep or I will not be alert to be put back to sleep for the surgery.  By the way, why do I need a good night sleep to get prepared for a good days sleep?  I think that is weird.

Crash anyway

JOHN

I am learning so many new big words these days.  Yesterday I had a PET scan.  It stands for Positron Emission Tomography.  It reveals metastatic disease other imaging techniques can't detect.  It helps in the process to diagnose other tumors within my body.  It is in essence a ginormous camera that produces molecular images of the human body.  They gave me an IV of radioactive glucose tracer, I had to sit for an hour and then the scan.  Somehow "radioactive" seems a bit scary.  I feel like I will be like a glow bug for 2 days.  Big words.  One more...Metastases. This is what happens if cancer spreads.  Most cancers follow a somewhat predictable couse of spread.  So many big words.

BIGGER GOD.  You know this week, for a few minutes I was starting to get worried, starting to ask the what if questions, starting to get nervous and then I immediately started to read God's precious Word.  I started to pray hard.  I started to re-realize that God will have the last say, and things got better.  I am amazed at how good God is to us.  How perfect His timing is.  How, if we will allow Him, He will use pain for good. 

Tonight was first of 14 services for Easter weekend.  Yea God!  Check this out.  God put a strong leading on my heart to do a baptism this weekend.  We didn't have time to "plan" it.  It is cold out, people are in their Sunday Easter best, and yet for our Friday night service we had maybe 50 people or so who prayed to receive Christ and we had 31 people baptized.  Keep in mind we had zero scheduled for the Friday night service.  Bigger God.

I am so excited about what God is doing through YOUR hearts.  Living Hope you never cease to amaze me.  When I pulled in the parking lot and saw so many people cleaning, serving, folding bulletins, laughing and you could almost feel a sense of anticipation.  So cool.  Then I went with a few pastors down to the new Orchards campus.  Again, so amazed by the level of excitement as things get finished.  I might add, the teams did such a great job with that campus.  The county has been gracious, volunteers, like Eric Datola have taken vacation to do whatever it takes for the campus to open on Easter Sunday.  Thank you to all of you.  You know who you are, and more than that God knows. 

Why?  Why so much effort?  Why so much financial sacrifice?  Why do people work relentlessly and still maintain joyful anticipation?  Let me tell you.  Because people are why we exist.  In the end, it isn't buildings, it isn't "stuff."  It is people.  That is why God continues to open up the floodgates of Heaven. 

Why?  We do what we do because of guys like Fred, who came, felt accepted, ask questions, read scripture (in Fred's case he asked for a Bible, because he didn't have one, and he read the entire New Testament in 2 weeks), and then tonight Fred got baptized in front of a few hundred people. Then he baptized his wife.  That's why we do it.   We do it because of stories like Gary who got baptized tonight, and his wife Jani said, with tears in her eyes, I have been waiting years for this day, thank you God.  Isn't that what it is all about?  We do it for life change. 

I hope we can continue to reach people with the arms of Jesus, to love them heart of Jesus, to speak to them with words of Jesus and when the days over we thank the One it is all about. The One who came, was arrested for a crime He didn't commit, beaten beyond human recognition and died a brutal death.  Why?  Because He loved us that much. Then to top it all off, because He was the ONLY GOD, He rose from the grave paving the way for us.  He gave it all so we could live.  I hope we can continue to risk and stretch and in the end say those two words.

Go ahead, say them.

See ya this weekend.  I am excited, we have 13 more services.  I am excited for our campuses, and am excited because this weekend has been something I have looked forward to for over three months.   The vision is now reality.  Way bigger God!!

Say them again!

John

I have sat watching the little curser blink for almost thirty minutes now.  Wondering how to say what I feel in my heart.  I have mixed emotions.

To be honest, part of me is a little freaked out about the whole surgery thing.  I keep thinking how big the hole in my leg will be.  I wonder if I will be off balance?  I mean I already am clumsy, so will this somehow help me turn into a super athlete (like Dave Clinton)?   I have officially graduated from 'minor' surgery to 'big' surgery, without a certificate or anything.  Today I have an appointment with the doctor who cut the tumor out of my body two weeks ago.  Not only will he take the stitches out, he will at the same time, hopefully, tell me if the cancer has invaded my blood stream, liver or lungs.  Then Thursday I have a PET scan.  So on one side of the coin, there are still things to find out, there are still more tests to be done, there is still a scary surgery next week, and then of course there is still more 'waiting.'  Have I said I hate waiting?  God is helping me to learn to be a better waiter.

I could choose worry, because I have a tendency to do that.  Worry is really an attempt to know and control your future.  Pretty stupid, really.  So instead of worry, you learn to pray.  Maybe this verse could help you, it has helped me these last days:

6 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

Worry is always the natural response to something I can't understand or control.  It never helps anything.  In fact, statistically over 90% of what we worry about never comes true anyway, so they are unnecessary thoughts.   Prayer is learning to tell God what I worry about.  1 Peter 5:7 says to "cast all my worries/anxieties on Him..."  Prayer is simply a child telling their daddy what worries them.  It is staying connected to God.   Then thank Him for all he has done, yes even allowing cancer in your body.

Check this out, H.B. London called me to see how things were going Monday.  He said something I can't get out of my mind.  He said, over the years he has learned to live like it is done, because it already is.  It took me a while to get my mind around the thought of this, but in essence, the story is already written.  God has the last word, and my story is His story.  Right? 

So if that is true, live like it.  Live only for this day, it is truly all you have.  I have learned that more than ever in my life.  Don't wait to make things right with people who you have hurt.  Tell people about Jesus, and speak if you really have to.  Really love your kids, like I mean actually play a game with them.   Teenagers, I love you all so much.  I love your tenacity to just be bold for God.  You amaze me.  Here's the hard part for you.  Love your parents, really honor them.  Tell them how much they mean to you.  I have learned that the power of words are priceless in the days I am living in.  If you feel confused, it is normal, you are a teenager.  If you are hurt, talk about it.  But when the days over, live with no regrets.  Spend more time with God.  It is or should be the most important relationship in your life. 

I am so overwhelmed by the prayers, love, encouragement, support, cards and e-mails.  When I look at how many people signed up to pray for my family and I, I am so amazed I don't have words.  I have found myself looking at 'the list' and praying for the names on the list.  We hung it in our kitchen and have been so grateful, that words are inadequate.   I have never felt so appreciated or prayed for in my life.  THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.   In fact Cheryl is putting together the prayer list, all the e-mails, cards and blog entries and comments in a binder or something because WHEN we get through this I don't want to forget what God did in our hearts.  When I read the comments and think of all the lives God has changed it gives me greater resolve to get through this and get on with whatever it is God has called us to do.   

Your stories aren't done yet.  God isn't done.  We aren't done.   In fact I am so excited about what is going on we are going to do an Easter baptism.  Seriously, some of you haven't taken this step of faith in your walk with God, so this is your weekend, go ahead and pick a service (there are eight to choose from), sign up if you want to, pack the clothes and get ready to get wet for Jesus.  Baptism is only a symbol, but ironically it is so important.  If you have questions, call our church, but come prepared, invite your friends and family and just take the step.  Don't wait!

Sorry for the longer than normal ramblings of an excited, a bit confused and totally overwhelmed pastor.

your friend

john

I am a preacher, so I am normally have words to encourage people about their situation.  Now I am the one being encouraged, loved, cried over and supported.  I am so overwhelmed with a sense of God's love through all of you, that I can't quite understand it.  So I sit quiet often these days, thinking and praying.  This morning when I went online to our website and saw multiple people during almost every hour of every day, who would pray for my family.  So humbling.  Thank you all so much for your prayers and love and support. 

Yesterday I went in and had a pre-operation appointment.  The one thing I had been praying for is for the chance to preach on Easter weekend.  But if the cancer has spread, that seemed a bit odd, so I asked God and was ready for whenever.  Turns out, because of the other procedure, the doctor wants the first surgical wound to heal, to reduce the possibility of infection.  So, that means I get to preach for Easter (Isn't God so good?).  The surgery is scheduled for April 20th.  It is an all day event. They begin the day with a lymphatic mapping, then they will put a nuclear dye in my leg to see which lymph nodes need to be removed (they estimate 3-5) and then the actual surgery, which is a wider area than where the orginal tumor was removed (6-7 inches by 3 inches).  Anyway, people have asked for details, so I want to try to share what I know, when I know it.   We will know by the 24th of April if the cancer has spread to my lymphatic system.  Pray that it ends here.  I am ready for this to be over, and am fully trusting God for the outcome. 

How am I doing?  Truthfully, personally good.  But there have been a lot of tears around the Bishop home these days.  We are all just quiet, and spending every bit of time together we can. It seems emotions come in waves, unexpected and always different.  I am convinced the prayers have sustained us so far.

I am excited to share this weekend.  We just have to continue to rejoice in the Lord.  I have to tell you saying this is so easy, living it is much more dificult.    Because to rejoice means I am OK with not being in control. 

Thanks so much for your prayers and your e-mails.  They mean so much.  Pray for our family, and pray for this weekend. 

Now I get to say those two words personally, for me.

ONLY GOD.

your friend

john

Join us for 24 hour prayer for the Bishop Family.  Visit our website at www.livinghopechurch.com , click on the banner at the top of the page and choose a time that you are able to pray for John, his family and our church at Easter.  We need an army of prayer warriors right now.  Will you join in?

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19)

Prayer Warrior:

You stand in the gap - pray as you have never prayed before!

Form a "prayer platoon" of people who will fight alongside you

Rally the troops and keep them accountable on praying for their friends

Father, I give You the glory. May You receive praise from generation to generation forever, because You are the One Who works among us so powerfully that You are able to do more than we can ask or even imagine.
- adapted from Ephesians 3:14-21

I am so humbled by the encouragement I have felt over the last few days.  I am still "waiting" and spending a lot of hours thinking.   This week I plan on talking about learning to fight a good fight and what it means to finish well.  Interestingly, we make our 'plans' and God has His 'purposes'  and in the end His purposes prevail!

I have been thinking today about joy.  Listen to these words from Paul, in a Roman prison. "Always be full of joy in the Lord.  I say it again -- rejoice!" (Phillipians 4:4)

The word joy or rejoice appears in this little four chapter book sixteen times.  It is a bit odd to think that Paul, during the time he penned these words was in a Roman prison.  How does someone who is in an unthinkable situation tell others to rejoice, let alone have joy himself?  I am in a situation where it would be easy to get discouraged about difficult circumstances.  So are some of you.  I am learning in the gift of these ten days a lot about my faith. 

Ultimate peace and joy never comes from appointments, but our joy is revealed in the waiting room, after the appointment is over.  Joy for me is knowing that Christ is in me, with me and for me.  I am going to spend some time thinking about and talking about joy. 

Paul knew a secret we need to remember.  Whatever we go through, God knows about it, allowed it, and will use it for good.  JOY is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our lives - that He will be there no matter what.  Rejoice or find joy in Jesus, not your circumstance or situation.  Remember, Hebrews says He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  When I find joy in Him, circumstances may be difficult but not impossible.

Remember, we only have today.  Rejoice in the Lord....TODAY. 

Rejoice in the Lord!

John

PS

I am so excited about the campuses.  To everyone who gave, who prayed and mostly who showed up at one of the four theatre campuses, we said there would be two words..."Only God."  God worked everything out for an unadvertised soft launch at our four campus locations with over 300 people in attendance.  Everything worked, in fact there were guests at a couple of the locations who just saw our trailer and came in.   OK, say those two words over and over.  This was a God thing.  I am proud to be part of what God is doing in your lives. 

ONLY GOD.

Appointments matter.  They determine so much about us.  Not as much in terms of outcomes, but in terms of my response to them.  I shared this weekend about an appointment that I had this week.  I went in to have a mole checked out on my upper thigh.  The doctor removed it and in the process took a rather large chunk out of me.  I am now in the most difficult part; WAITING.  Listen to the words of David from Psalm 40:1-3.  This morning I got up, and I just needed to hear from God, so I turned almost right to these words:

1
    I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
       and he turned to me and heard my cry.

    2
    He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
       out of the mud and the mire.
    He set my feet on solid ground
       and steadied me as I walked along.

    3
    He has given me a new song to sing,
       a hymn of praise to our God.
    Many will see what he has done and be astounded.
       They will put their trust in the LORD.

Trusting God during these times are difficult.  This appointment has been one of the best gifts God has EVER given me, because I can't control the outcome.  I CAN choose to draw closer to God, to reevaluate my priorities, to serve others and to share about Christ.  I am fully convinced that God is completely, totally in control.  My life (as all of ours) is in His hands and His hands alone.  God has given me unbelievable grace!  I should know something in 10 days or so.   

I have received several gifts this week.  The gift of not being in control, of not knowing, but in getting the gift I KNOW some things better now.  I know God loves me if I never do anything else ever again for Him.  I know that I have just today to live.  The most dangerous word in the entire english language is the word "SOMEDAY."  I am choosing to live today. 

What about you?  What will you do different?  If you only had a month to live, what would you do different?  Why won't you do it, today!

God is still in control.

Your pastor and friend,

John

P.S.

The letter my daughter gave me was the greatest gift I received today.  The gift to know that my life has mattered to three amazing kids, and one beautiful wife.

Peace!