My brother and his bout with Cancer. Please be thinking/praying for him/us.

[cowpuc]

Just a quick update for those who are supporting my brother (and our family) in thoughts and prayer. I just finished a 4 hour conversation with one of my sisters who spent part of the evening at my little brothers beside and she was telling me that things appear to be rapidly worsening. Doug is going thru the phase of having a hard time recognizing family members and getting names mixed up but even in that state, he repeatedly asks if I am there. My plan now is to get over there again this weekend for him - hopefully early tomorrow. I am thankful beyond words for all your support at the throne of grace and thoughts/concern and would be extremely grateful for a contuation of your support during this time..

Thanks again my friends!

 

Puc

[Sylvester]

I have not let up and in fact have increased my prayers and good thoughts for Doug and all family members. The Lord God will proceed with His will and all we can do is accept His will. Miracles happen and I pray that this will be the outcome.

 

[leo3wheel]

So sorry to hear this news, Puc. Praying for all of you during this difficult time.

[cowpuc]

Doug stared at me with his Blue eyes and he said "Say a prayer for me",

I threw my arm's around him, and said "God has set us free".

He could hear the riders coming, he said "This is my last fight",

if they take me back to Fruitport (our home town), they won't take me back alive.

 

There were seven Spanish Angels at the alter of the Son,

they were praying for my brother, in the Valley where Victory's won.

When his fighting stopped and his pain cleared,

there was thunder from God's throne.

And seven Spanish Angels, took my little brother home.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I spent most of my day at my brothers side today. While he is far from giving up (with my complete and total encouragement and support = KEEP FIGHTING LITTLE BROTHER!!) he indeed seems to be progressing farther and farther toward the Valley of the shadow of death. This is very difficult for all of us. It seems that very few really want to be around the hardness and difficulty of facing death with him as I was the only there (besides his wife) for almost the whole day. I blame no one, this stage is very difficult to watch and be around. Personally, probably because of the inner connection with my brother that I have, I simply refuse to let him slip off and face the Valley alone and, in tears he told me how much he appreciated that.. We cryed a LOT together this time.

Doug asked me if, along with speaking for 10 minutes at his funeral about our love for each other, I would sing the above rendition that I sang to him (very hard,, this little 2 minute rendition of Willies - Seven Spanish Angels that The Lord laid on my lips took over 10 minutes alone for me to sing to him again) at his funeral, either grave side or during the service = my choice..

After my own tears cleared and I thought for a couple minutes about his request, I stared into his Blue eyes and said OK but this one is going to cost you little brother.. He glared back at me and asked I was thinking? I said if I am going to promise to do this EXTREMELY difficult task, then I want you to, after you and Jesus walk thru the Valley together and He is escorting you toward your Mansion on the streets of Gold,, I want you to tell our Lord that you and I made a deal that if I sang that song,, you were going to ask Him to reserve the Mansion next door to yours for me and if necessary, you would be willing to live mansionless on the streets of Gold until I got there and so we could get side by side Mansions.

Then it started,, we bantered back and forth as to whether or not a signed and Notorized contractrual agreement would be necessary to complete such a task. I told Doug that I knew the Bible says there will be no given of marriage in Heaven (IMHO, that is where the statement in most wedding vows of "till Death do us part" has its basis) but I didn't recall any clear statement in God's word denying any other Earthly contract fulfilment so maybe that might help us.. The , and :crackup:really seemed to lighten the darkness of what he is facing and,, though maybe out of pure selfishness on my part, it did my heart good too.

Obviously all the thoughts and prayers are working brothers and sisters!! I passed it along to my little brother than many many people were stedfastly lifting him up at the throne of Grace and/or thinking of him daily. He clearly stated that he knew this in his heart and spirit and greatly appreciated it.

I really appreciate it too gang and, even though I know I sound like a broken record and a whiny puppy, would appreciate more of the same.

From the bottom of my heart,, THANK YOU!!

Puc

[BigLenny]

Pucster,

 

I haven't been on the site in a while, so after I jumped on tonight to catch up on things, I'm so saddened to read of your little brother's battle with bone cancer. It is breaking my heart to read your updates.

 

I want you to know Teresa and I are both keeping your brother, his family, and you and Tippy, and your family in our prayers during this difficult time. As you have already said, we will all be facing our time someday, but it sure doesn't make it any easier when we lose our siblings, and family members who we've been so close to.

 

Prayers up.

 

Your Brother in Christ,

Big Lenny

[Sylvester]

Prayers continue for Doug and the family. Your post brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me of my cousins

and his final battle for life. We were very close since I had no brother nor he and we lived within 300 feet.

 

[BlueBeard]

After being given the 5 year prognosis and fighting hard for 8 years in his fight with Cancer, our family has been given notice that my little brother is in the 2 week window. Doug is a true blue fighter (always has been,, even as a kid 3 years younger than I he could hold his own against his bigger brother's ) and continues to fight with everything in him against this horrible stuff. He has chosen to pass at home in his bed, surrounded by family (has 4 girls and a wife, Mom, and 6 siblings there with him). Hospice is doing a good job of keeping him comfortable (nice way of saying keeping the Morphine flowing). While the fights not over till its over and our hopes/prayers are that God blesses Doug with total healing, God's perfect will doesnt always align with our wishes and God is the one who ultimately decides when to call His children home. Doug accepted God's free gift of eternal salvation found in Christ alone and has lived a fruitful life due to this and is fairly well at peace with facing death due to this. He and God are square but, of course - I don't wanna lose my only little brother but also know how this all works and am there for him either way (gonna be hard without him but I'll see him again soon when it's my time).

If you have a second and don't mind,, please send Doug/us warm thoughts and if your a brother/sister in Christ please lift Doug and our family up in prayer as we work thru these days..

 

Thanks

Puc n Tip

Praying for your family.

[cowpuc]

So here is something my little brother and I got chatting about,, something to think about and something I would really like to hear thoughts on.. If your Jewish, I would especially be interested in your response here as I know the Bible talks a lot about "The Bones" (as in moving bones from one spot to another).. My brother was jabbering about his burial plot(s) and when I mentioned that I was thinking of cremation (I like the idea of having my ashes scattered about in "special" places - I know its illegal and even that gives the process a sort of Rebel Puc spin to it ) to which he looked surprised. I reminded him that once we walked the Valley and greeted The Lord,, absent from the body and present with The Lord IMHO.. He seemed to be dwelling on Old Testament teaching of having The Bones remain and some significance there in.. I have spent a fair amount of time studying "The Word" and don't get the final connection of leaving the bodies remains intact for eternal purposes - more for those left behind/rememberance stuff..

Any thoughts? Please keep it/any and all stated thoughts in a non-judgmental form though as I sure dont want no sparky Mod like @Marcarl or the bossman to have to close my little brothers cancer thread here,, please keep it light - all opinions welcome IMHO..

[Sylvester]

I am having cremation and have so left paperwork for this. My wife is also having the same. If I still own the land I live on, my wish is to have the ashes scattered on it. When my favorite dog, Lil Bit, passed I dug and buried her here and would often think we could both run and play pain free together again. I pray that when I pass through the valley with Jesus that this and much more will come to truth.

 

Prayers said for Doug and your family.

 

[cowpuc]

I am having cremation and have so left paperwork for this. My wife is also having the same. If I still own the land I live on, my wish is to have the ashes scattered on it. When my favorite dog, Lil Bit, passed I dug and buried her here and would often think we could both run and play pain free together again. I pray that when I pass through the valley with Jesus that this and much more will come to truth.

 

Prayers said for Doug and your family.

 

You and I are on the same brain strain trail here brother.. While a few of my/our favorite spots where we dropped tent for a a night after 16 or 18 hours of CTFW have been in the back side of Cemeteries thru the years (thinking to myself that flicking a few ashes may be a little more legal there some how), we do have a LOT of favored/special camp spots on State and Federal Lands across the country that have very special memories. Of course, knowing my wife and kids and how sensitive they all are about staying "legal",, my ashes will probably end up stuck in a bottle somewhere which is ok too,, the choice will definitely be in their hands brother..

Thanks for sharing Sly and THANKS again for the continual support my friend!!

Oh yeah,, for many many years my DL had the "body parts donation" stamp on it just in case some living soul needed some good parts left over from a Puc's body supply salvage.. Now adays though,, there aint much in left that usable,, I am still good with the parts salvage but thinking most will end up in the ash pile for memory inducement..

[Sylvester]

You and I are on the same brain strain trail here brother.. While a few of my/our favorite spots where we dropped tent for a a night after 16 or 18 hours of CTFW have been in the back side of Cemeteries thru the years (thinking to myself that flicking a few ashes may be a little more legal there some how), we do have a LOT of favored/special camp spots on State and Federal Lands across the country that have very special memories. Of course, knowing my wife and kids and how sensitive they all are about staying "legal",, my ashes will probably end up stuck in a bottle somewhere which is ok too,, the choice will definitely be in their hands brother..

Thanks for sharing Sly and THANKS again for the continual support my friend!!

Oh yeah,, for many many years my DL had the "body parts donation" stamp on it just in case some living soul needed some good parts left over from a Puc's body supply salvage.. Now adays though,, there aint much in left that usable,, I am still good with the parts salvage but thinking most will end up in the ash pile for memory inducement..

 

 

I am a body donor also and I chuckled at your reference to "ain't much in left that usable". I to am missing internal parts and what I still have is scarred with cancers or other issues, but who knows? I may have something usable. This all assumes that I will pass in a driving accident. I believe that probably won't happen and one day the ole' candle inside me will flicker and go out. Just morbid thinking on my part. Being shot by a jealous husband is definitely out of the question.

 

[Marcarl]

Just my thoughts here, not much to back them up though.

Back in time the Hebrews commanded to bury their dead as apposed to some other religions that burned their deceased. Yaweh had chosen a people to be His own, separate from other nations around them. Read the attached article, it's very informative, even some interesting declarations on cremation.

My thoughts have always been, if we are buried 'intact' then when it comes time to rise again we will be 'available' so to speak. To those who don't believe in the resurrection, this is a challenge and so to overcome this they cremate so that their ashes can be spread far and wide and so they believe that they cannot be put back together, and so spoil the resurrection. Of course in today world that might not hold to a lot of thinking anymore, folks today just think it's cleaner and better for the environment to cremate, although there is much thought that might not be a complete truth, and maybe just an outright lie. Nowhere is there any instruction in the Scriptures that indicate to burn ones body at any time, so that was left to the nations that didn't worship the Creator.

 

https://www.aish.com/sp/ph/Cremation_or_Burial_A_Jewish_View.html

[Condor]

OK here's my spin on this cremation issue. If GOD can raise the dead on judgement day he certainly can put the ashes back together too. Limiting what GOD can do is limiting his omnipotence. I've chosen cremation as well as a lot of the others. I don't worry about what happens to the body after my soul or spirit has already joined his Son and my Savior. Christ died for us that we might live. Jesus said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living for to him all are alive” (Lk. 20:37–38).

[bongobobny]

A long time ago I was a regular listener of Pastor Perry F. Rockwood on The People's Gospel Hour, and he wrote an article called "Cremation, Is It Christian?" I read the article and it presented a very strong argument with scriptural reference against it! Unfortunately that was probably 30 years ago and I don't remember the references but for myself I choose NOT to be cremated. Now this choice, just like any choice in my life. is for me and only me. Just like God the Father I will not force my beliefs on anyone else, it is up to each and every individual to make their own personal choices as to how to run their lives. I choose to follow the Lord and his wishes.

 

Anyway, I tried to locate this publication for you as reference material but this is as far as I got. maybe a phone call can get you their advertised booklet "The Bible Has Something To Say" and it might give you some insight...

 

http://tpgh.org/current-issues/

 

Still praying for your brother and his family, and you!

[vzuden]

Read this article over the weekend. I'm not supporting it or offering an opinion. Just sharing the article since it seemed to fit the discussion

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/washington-could-become-first-state-legalize-human-composting-n952421

[cowpuc]

Turn for the worst today.. Dougs wife sent word (JUST RECIEVED IT!!) that my brother has gotten to the point that she can no longer manage his needs and they moved him into a Care Unit this evening.. I THANK GOD I got over there on Saturday for, as it appears, our last words together and I THANK GOD for ALL your support thru this!! At this time, his wife and children are "in house" with him at the Unit.

[Marcarl]

Thanks for the update Puc, keep us posted plz

[Sylvester]

My sincere sorrow for your brother and his family. My prayers and thoughts are for them and you.

[HermanK84VR]

Thoughts and Prayers Brother to you and all your family

 

Hermank84VR

[cowpuc]

Just a quick update here before we head out the door,, the Hospice Dr's just gave our family notice that it appears my little brother is in the 24 hour window ... Prayers Up brothers and sisters,, pretty please...

Thanks again for ALL your loving and continual support thru these very difficult waters!!

Luv each of you!

Puc n Tip

@VentureFar ,, I apologize for not getting an email off to you thru all of this.. Your thoughts, prayers and actions were soo much appreciated when your brother (me) lost his Dad not long ago. I want you to know that I will be wearing my treasured Wrist Band that you made for me today. Please remember Tip and I on your prayer list today my brother!! Love, miss and THANK YOU!!

Puc

[videoarizona]

Ah Puc...I'm so sorry to hear this.

Prayers to the family and that your brother will have a peaceful transition to whatever is next...

 

Sad.....:95:

[Marcarl]

Praying that somehow you will be able to help walk his road.

[Sylvester]

You know that prayers are being said for your brother and family and for you and Tippy. Keep strong my friend. And take comfort in the fact that Jesus is there waiting on his soul.

 

 

[cowpuc]

Praying that somehow you will be able to help walk his road.

 

Tough stuff brother,, tough stuff.. Your prayers are being answered Carl but only by having this song flowing out of my heart and across my lips:

[cowpuc]

My cousin Chip thought I might need an uplift and posted this on my facebook timeline.. It worked, nothing like a reminder of the peacefulness and beauty of tossing a tent a few miles back in the deserts of Utah to help restore some calmness to a weary soul.. THANKS CHIP!!