INTRODUCING JOHN SCHELL

John is one of our team authors who has quite a testimony of how the Lord brought him through a quadruple by-pass surgery.John and his charming wife, Sharon live in Lee's Summit, Missouri. They have two high-achiever children. Jeremy, married to Stacey, is an accomplished concert pianist and Worship Director for the Kansas City Baptist Temple. Jenny is also an accomplished pianist and is Pipeline Association Coordinator for the same company as her father works for.

John, besides doing marketing and training for the Celeritas company, serves the K. C. Baptist Temple on the Board of Directors, Finance Committee, assists in teaching in the Way of Life Ministry Fellowship, and he and Sharon lead a home Bible study in their home.

John was born at Scholfield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father was in the Army Air Force befor it became a separate military arm.They moved to Scott AFB, Illinois and Torrington, Wyoming. He majored in English and Journalism at the University of Wyoming and graduated from the Shepherd's School of the Ministry.

Read John's Blog page. Click on "Survivor Story." He will contribute inspirational Bible studies, which are helpful, inspirational, and pertinent to our Mission Statement. Sharon has promised to "piggy back" on his page whenever she has an opportunity. Sharon's very interesting story is on "Women's Work." Click on their blog pages on the side bar to the right.

I HAVE SEEN BETTER WINTERS

I just completed my in-home re-hab sessions. I am very pleased that I have a series of simple exercises that are easy and kind of fun. My physical therepist, Jackie, shown here completing my final report, gave me a series of exercises for the lower body and is seen here completing my graduation papers.

My exercise equipment is the back of a dining room chair and two cans of soup - one for each hand - cream of asparagus, chicken and noodles, and/or mix or match. Tina suggested that you can start out slow by making it cans of tuna instead.

Jackie is shown supervising my "ballet exercises" of kicking legs to theI front, side, back and a cool sliding dip with deep knee bends. So Helen took this photo of the action - one of her few chances of revenge.

When I saw the photo, I went into severe shock and trauma. I wanted to hide with the cats under the bed. For the first time, I realized that the illnesses that have overcome me are not to blame - I'm just OLD! Where did the years between 40 and 80 go?

Anyway, I am making a major concession in letting you see this image of me - Ayyyyyyeeeeee! It's the least I can do to show you that physical conditions of the aged can be somewhat corrected by the discipline of simple and easy exercises.

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1Timothy 4:8)

Paul is saying that exercise should not be an obsession over godliness, which pertains to the wellness of the soul and spirit. But it is no less important to the body. So - pick up those cans of soup, grab ahold of that chair and kick.

MEET OUR AUTHORS

The calendar told us that it is Spring - glad to know that. Suddenly blossoms pushed out the cold weather here in Misson. Helen and I are reminded that it is time to plant a new batch of petunias in the planters lining the front fence of our patio.

The photo image is of a former time for our petunias. It also features one of our contributing authors, Tina Lewis Rowe, seen to the right in this photo taken by her daughter, Shannon.

Tina and our oldest son, Jeff, were on the same high school champion debate team. She is a good friend with a good heart.

Tina had a 34 year career in law enforcement—25 years with the Denver Police Department where she retired as a patrol commander, and eight years as the Presidential appointee to the position of United States Marshal for Colorado. In that role she was responsible for the development and implementation of security plans for the Oklahoma City bombing trials held in Denver, as well as coordinating federal responses at Colorado airports following the events of September 11, 2001. She has been a trainer, speaker and consultant for over thirty years and focuses on personal and professional development for private sector and government work groups.

Tina is one of the Workplace Doctors on the Ask The Workplace Doctors website. (http://www.workplacedoctors.com/) and also has her own online training journal (http://www.tinalewisrowe.com/).

Tina’s interest in wellness results from her own personal efforts to stay fit, energized and positive in her life and work. She helped develop the original fitness program for the Denver Police Department, using the Cooper Aerobics model, and teaches and writes about a balanced, realistic approach to high quality living, using both personal efforts and medical science and without relying on expensive “magical” non-medical supplements or treatments.

Click on Tina's link in the right side bar. She always has something helpful, interesting, and written in a sparkling manner. You will be blessed.

Pastor Bulldog's Survivor Axiom

If you "walk on eggs" of affliction

don't give in to fright.

If you walk with the Lord with conviction,

You'll not crunch shells in the night.

"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,

and thy foot shall not stumble." (Proverbs 3:23)

Miracle Medicine

Jackie came yesterday morning. She really put me through the paces.
But then, Bonnie showed up after lunch and took all the information she needed.
And that's not all. At 2:15 p.m., here came Krista.

Oh, I tell you. It's not so bad growing old when you are surrounded by so much beauty - my dear wife, Helen, especially included!!!

Here's the thing. I checked out of the hospital after spending five days in Critical Care. That morning my admitting internist came by and I asked him when I was good to go home.

"We'll see, perhaps in a day or two". "A DAY OR TWO? - NO, DOCTOR, TODAY!" Well, he was as surprised as I was at my audacity. But he grinned and walked out. He woold not approve unless he thought I would do just as well improving at home. And they needed my room.

My release was contingent upon my earlier request to the pulmonary specialist to set up home care professionals to do rehab - at home - in my chair by my computer - YES!!!

So that is the reason for my bevy of angels who have taken charge of me and Helen said, "Whew!"

• Bonnie, RN, is project boss and checks on progress, while taking my vitals and collecting our co-pay.
• Jackie, physical therapist. has given me an exercise routine that would make a member of the Ballet Russe proud.
• And cute little Krista, my occupational therapist who makes sure I don't fall down in the shower or trip on rugs or am able to lift myself out of my chair (kind of humiliating in a way).

And - they will be back twice a week for eight weeks, to make me a new man. Again, Helen says, "Whew!" But together, we are all determined that being an octagenarian is no hindrance to good health and posture, the term simply suggests HIGHER OCTANE - Get it?.

Thank you all for your prayers.
And a special thanks to Enrique Chi who visited me on his lunch hour and had prayer with me. It's called "Body Ministry" of Christ.
Enrique, electical engineer, certified translator, is a prominent member of the Ministerio Hispano of our church, Marco Castro, Pastor.

Why I Am Called Pastor Bulldog

Do You Want to Live Forever?

Check it out!

STRESS is a major cause of life-threatening illnesses. When one learns they have one, it causes stress - and stress is what caused them to go through the "fight or flee syndrone". I learned from many afflictions; cancer, chemo, radiation, yada, yada, yada, that it was best to fight like a bulldog. There are reasons why God will let us go through trials (1Corinthians 10:13). God has also given ways to escape or overcome them.

God told Joshua that He would go before him in the conquest of Canaan, and that He would deliver the enemy into his hands. Second in command was Caleb, whose name means several things, one of them is "dog". Caleb's secret to success was to believe God and the promises of His word. So it was not a stretch for me to identify Caleb as a real bull dog, whom the Bible says, "wholly followed the Lord". That was enough for me. I focussed my thoughts on being a real Bulldog Survivor, and to minister the concept from the word of God to others, ergo; Pastor Bulldog.

I have written many things about this Bible concept, which I give in weekly lessons from the Bible called "Blessays", and entitled "Off My Chest-From My Heart". My lessons are from my own devotions and I point out the thngs in today's world that cause stress, and how to find Bible remedies. I invite you to subscribe to these FREE Blessays by clicking on this link. Scroll down to "Off My Chest-From My Heart"

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Bulldogs Are Survivors

• The Master feeds him (John 6:48).
  
• And gives him fresh water (Revelation 21:6b).
  
• He has faith in his Master (Mark 11:22b).
  
• He is totally obedient to the Master (Titus 2:9a),
  
• He is focused on victory, not on his affliction (Hebrews12:2a).
  
• He is tenacious, never flees, but fights life-threatening illnesses unto death (Joshua 23:6).
  
• He fights until the Master says, "Come home; the battle is won. Well done thou good and faithful servant"(Philippians1:20).

Please Buy My Book.

Think about it. All you hear on TV and in the media is somebody trying to sell you something by using a lot of "hype" - endless hype (stands for "hyperbole"). Well, I think it is better just to make a direct statemet about what you want to sell, you know, like in the old days. Take my book for instance.

"I have written a book. My book is a good book. Buy it, please!"

Now, isn't that better? No "hype". However, if you are going through "hype withdrawal", go slow. Scroll down on the right side bar, for an honest report on my book, and also how to buy it to get one book FREE! It is good "hype", try it!