When the Children of Israel came to Kadesh Barnea in Numbers 13, they heard a majority report of giants and walled cities from those who returned and in a fearful reaction, they began to lament and wish they were back in Egypt and God was angry with them. As I probe this passage in prayer, I come to conclusion that the fear that comes from hearing about giants and walled cities is familiar to me…it is the unknown things that cause fear to creep in. Things that are unfamiliar always make us fear. Their fear was to be expected I suppose because I’m well familiar with this. The thing that separates fear from sin for me is the fact that the Children of Israel began to doubt that God could take care of them…that this God who had been EVERYTHING to them could not be trusted to manage this new development, this new challenge. I try to remind myself that nothing happens which is BIGGER than He is to me, to Kathy, to this battle for her health and life. Not only is He capable of providing new avenues for grace and trust in each new trial but He expects me to remember His FAITHFULNESS to me and my family. In fact, I told someone yesterday who stood in the altar for prayer that “God’s faithfulness to you is the testimony of who you are, how you got here and where you are going!” If God cannot take care of me, of my Kathy, then who can? I notice that when the ancients prayed in Scripture, they began “to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…” and I realize they are rehearsing the greatness of their God…letting Him know they know who He is and what He has done. There is a history in m own life of this faithful God to my grandparents, my parents and to me and I hope to pass to my own sons and their journey of faith that it is God who has sustained us, who has kept and made all things right in our lives.

Paul’s reminder in Romans 8 helps me as Paul reminds that “all things work together…” and then adds that these moments are shaping us to be more in the image of our God and witnesses of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. Then He reminds that God is so gracious that He did not withhold even His Son for our benefit, and in knowing this how we could wonder whether or not He will sustain and keep us in all moments? Climatically, Paul announces or challenges my fear when He says, “If God be for us, who (what) can be against us?” Who can threaten or bring harm to us? In moments of great anxiety, I remember the nature of this God who has always taken care of me and those I love and in that knowledge I am reminded that He will not allow anything to hurt or harm us. Even when we don’t understand the journey, the developments that come, we can know with full assurance, He is at His best enabling us to respond with faith and courage.

Just like every other visit, we will know the statistics in a few hours and the plan for going forward will be determined as our doctors analyze the data and chart the course. The truth is the course has already been charted in the hands of a God who is faithful and has determined the path we must take. Yesterday’s message from Luke 8 was God knows where we are, God has all we need and God has a plan to navigate this moment…

Now, if I can just live out what I preach to others…

Kathy’s video update August 23, 2010 from Bill Isaacs on Vimeo.

Kathy’s Day of Celebration at CTCA–August 18, 2010 from Bill Isaacs on Vimeo.

The session centered around A Bold Vision for a New Ohio

1. Regional Communities/Regional Elders
2. Equipping Clusters
3. Financial Strategies
4. A True Brotherhood of Ministry

The vision for Ohio as presented tonight is…

The vision for OneOhio is to represent Jesus Christ in this world and do the work of ministry in view of the Great Commission as a cooperative community of churches, ministers and laity.

There is tremendous excitement in Columbus tonight with our leadership over the future.  Time will tell the story.

• Connectivity…the intentional fellowship and “getting to know our brothers and sisters from the other region”
• Information…since much of the preparation and planning for our new state has been under the efforts of the joint state councils, many of these leaders are hearing from the first time the fundamentals of the new Ohio.
• Vision…the occasion for Kathy and me to cast our vision to the leaders and to offer opportunity to respond and feedback.

It has been an incredible experience.  Tonight’s session focused on two themes:

1. A Vision for Souls–we joined in covenant for lost family members, partnering with another minister/spouse to pray for salvation in 2010-11 for our families, exchanging names and contact information.
2. Things I Dream About–a list of five core values Kathy and I have for our state–Community by Fellowship; Equipping by Design; Stewardship by Heart; Ministry by Covenant; Fellowship by Love.

This is phase 2 of our roll-out of OneOhio.  Next phase is our Bishop’s Roundtables that begin next week for all pastors.

1. Really was a thrill to see with my father and my oldest son Jeremy on the floor of the Ordained Bishop’s council.
2. I thought the agenda was substantial and had weight.  I know there are some issues that did not make it to the floor but those what did were well presented and gave the Council plenty to work with.
3. I was disappointed that at times it felt like we were hurrying ourselves beyond some much needed discussions.  I think in some cases we are afraid of the looneys who lurk at the microphones and talk too much about things they know nothing about and don’t pay attention to instructions and rush to call “point of order” to get information that has already been given.
4. The size of the council is too large to be fundamentally functional.  I know there is some talk about delegated council but that is far in the future and may require an embarrassing public meltdown to force some to give up their personal participation.
5. I was disappointed we did not approve the measure on affiliated churches.  Having served on the Council for four years, I know this measure has been torn apart, reassembled, torn apart, reassembled and torn apart again.  Sending it back is just a delay tactic.  Some of those who favored referring it back fail to realize that the COG holds all the cards in the acceptance process.
6. Decentralization of our structure is underway.  Departments are dismantled and with a few exceptions are on the way out..collaborative team leadership is being embraced through the divisional approach.
7. The one thing missing for me was a full financial disclosure to the General Council.  I thought that was going to happen and when it did not, I felt bad for the leadership team.  Informed people are contented people.  With the atmosphere of the Council, a financial summary would have been welcomed and added even further to the momentum going forward.
8. Raymond Culpepper was masterful in his moderation. He has control of the floor, the issues at hand and the procedures to allow for functionality.  I was especially proud of his handling of the Tuesday night rant by the pastor from Tennessee against females.  No matter how you feel on the issue, there is no need to act out and say demeaning things.
9. The Executive Committee comes out of this Assembly with as much momentum as I can recall.  No change in the team, extension of tenure and a general feeling that the church is going in the right direction for now.

The end of the Assembly means the beginning of the Church of God in Ohio, now merged from two states to one and I get the privilege to be a part.

Your reflections are welcomed!

(In case you just wanted the updates and numbers—her numbers are roughly unchanged—none better and no worse—and that is good news since we reduced the chemo by ½ and removed one complete drug from the regimen last time—and still there was no change—so we are thankful. We’re adding back Avastin but keeping the others as they were, adding Potassium to the mix. It is a very good report and we are thankful!)

Some of you may have already heard but Kathy has been chosen from among patients at CTCA here in Zion to represent at the upcoming August 18^th CTCA national announcement of Patient Empowerment! This all came about several weeks ago through Kathy’s book When Leaves Turn Under. Recently, a PR person from the hospital called to interview her on the phone and shared that she had read Kathy’s book and wanted to know more. Following the interview, she asked Kathy so submit some thoughts in writing as to how her experience at the hospital had been and upon receipt, the lady called back asking permission to use Kathy’s comments in the release and presentation by Cancer Treatment Centers of America President Richard Stephenson on August 18^th when they plan to announce the rollout of Patient Empowerment to all their hospitals around the country. In addition, they are flying her back up here on the 18^th to be present for the news conference and to cut the ribbon on the new hospital wing! The recognition was an honor and we continue to express our desire that Jesus Christ be glorified in all that is done and accept that in some strange way God is choosing to use Kathy’s life in this venue. Anyway, we’ll have plenty of pictures on Prayer for Kathy and Facebook after we get back.

By now, you know how we feel about this place, its vision for cancer patients and their families but each time I come new revelations continue to inspire me. As we waited this morning for Dr. Thompson to come in and consult, I thought about people like Mary our nurse, Andrea, our care manager and Dr. Thompson who come to work every day to invest in people like Kathy and me, whose lives are stacked against the odds. We hang on every word and anticipate each report for its impact on this segment of the journey. I’m sure there are dark moments when one of them is lost and yet the next day a new patient comes through the door looking for the same hope we found 16 months ago—a teammate in the fight for life—someone who believes as well in the possibilities for a desired future.  Thinking circles, loops and links.

We had a blast at the General Assembly in Orlando last week, with family, friends and colleagues. We are inspired to be coming back to Ohio and part of the vision for uniting Northern and Southern Ohio into one state. We are blessed to have so many great leaders and a future that is bright with promise. Our future is strong in Christ and I realize with new awareness how our lives revolve around, link up and circle back to His love for us, His plans for our lives and joy of serving Him.  Thank God for the circles in life, the loops that bring us back to real life and the links that enable us to dream for greater days.

Thanks for praying for us!

Just what will be the impact of the 2010 General Assembly of the Church of God being held here in Orlando?  Will it matter to anyone and especially to God that we were here?

Elections of the leadership of our church for the coming two years will occur this morning.  My predictions…

1. Each of the present five IEC members are eligible for re-election and based on their couragous and visionary work during this transitional time, I see each of them being re-elected with Raymond Culpepper returning to complete his final two years as General Overseer.  Any change could be disruptive to what I see as a strategically important season of the church.
2. Tom Madden and Gary Lewis will be reaffirmed for two more years in what is going to be called Youth and Student Discipleship.
3. Jimmy Smith and Larry Timmerman will be reaffirmed for two more years and although some will want to accelerate the motion for closing this office in 2010, the IEC’s strategy for allowing these men to complete their terms will prevail.
4. Douglas Leroy and Victor  Pagan will be reaffirmed to lead our World Missions through this extremely challenging financial season for missions giving.
5. At least 4 new pastors and 1 new at large leader will be elected to the Council of 18 this time…maybe more.  I see the General Council being more energized about the makeup of the Council and new faces will emerge and that will be good.  One thing I know…it will not be me…my four years of eligibility is done for this time.  What an honor it has been to serve!

Tuesday is “moving” day at the Assembly.  The expanded format will provide that we will get into the other items in the agenda early today…The biggest attention getter in these sessions may be the decision to elevate women to the rank of Ordained Bishop.  That could be a history maker!

Your thoughts?

1976–was my first General Assembly in Dallas, TX.  As an evangelist who was working in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, under appointment to the overseer in Rocky Mountain Region, I drove from Denver to meet my parents and notified them I would not be returning to Lee College that fall since the Lord was coming soon and I did not need a college degree to win the lost!

1978–my first Assembly with Kathy.  We were married just two months and we traveled with her parents and stayed in the hotel they stayed in. I think it was a Ramada Inn in Kansas City.  I recall sitting in the balcony listening to the Ordained Bishops Council begin that Assembly on their knees and thinking that it must be important if they gave the first hour to prayer.

1984–I sat on the General Council floor for the first time and cast my ballot for Raymond Crowley as General Overseer.  We used punch cards in those day and I remember how many dots of paper were on the floor at the end of the first day.  I believe Steve Brock preached in one of the services and we sang “We are one in the Spirit” as we held hands I remember thinking as i left that I was part of something that mattered.

1986–was the Assembly in Atlanta that lots of folks want to “trash” because it was held in the World Trade Center on a flat floor– the first with video screens throughout…sound was not good and the sight lines made this Assembly one that was known for its location than its impact on the church.

One year in Dallas, I don’t recall which one, I saw a man jump from the balcony to the main floor while shouting during one of the singing sessions.

The speeches made by great men of the church always stir me because I have always believed we should listen to those who are wise because of their years.

This year’s assembly in Orlando is the first since we voted to restructure our church and I’m interested so see and sense the overall spirit of our church as we begin this five year transition.

I’ll be posting throughout the week and would welcome your questions and comments…

Also, you can follow me at www.twitter.com/bishopbill