Blog
Hospital Visitations for April
April 5 Connor Moylan & Dave Taylor
April 12 Sally Hass & Sandy Hoyt
April 19 Kieli Gebremeskel & Virginia McKnight
April 26 Sean Willoughby & Fred DeSeighardt
Remember our Friends
Send a card, or whatever is appropriate to let these people know that you are thinking of them. Make a personal commitment to lift them in prayer.
April 5 Jeanne Chaple
April 12 Melissa Cowen
April 19 Jay & Ruth DeGroot
April 26 Charlene Gardner
CROSS-LINES
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your donation to Cross-Lines! Your generous gift truly changes the lives of struggling Kansas City individuals and families. You give hope!
Through your kindness, we can continue to help at-risk families, seniors and individuals with food, basic hygiene items, utility and rent assistance, and housing stabilization so families can remain in their homes...and help homeless families escape life on the streets.
I welcome the chance to meet you and give you a tour of our campus so you can see all the wonderful things your gift makes possible. Feel free to call me at (913) 281-3388 or email me at susila@cross-lines.org. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest Cross-Lines news and updates.
Thank you for giving hope and caring about those living in poverty in the Kansas City community.
With appreciation,
Susila Jones
From Lori Triplett LLT
Thanks so much for making our dental supplies drive so successful! At the packing party, we were able to assemble over 300 bags with toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss.
Now we move on to Phase 2 of our Spring Break Meal Bags. FOOD! We have been collecting granola bars, crackers and cheese, protein bars, fruit snacks and fruit bars, and other healthy items for the children to eat over the Spring Break from school. This is a week long period when the children do not receive any school breakfast or lunches or outside help with grocery needs. We want to do everything we can to ensure that the students have access to food over the break!
Thanks so much for your continued support of these kids!
Lori
As many of you already know, I like spending time with the retired crowd. The people in our church are fantastic; those who truly helped put Knox on the map and grow us into a neighborhood church. Some of those people are still in their homes, some in nursing homes, or assisted living. My job is to remind them that God has placed them right where they are to become His witnesses for building the Kingdom of God. They can become beacons of the light of Christ to the lonely, broken-hearted, worriers, anxious, etc… Our tasks on earth are never done until our Lord calls us into His heavenly dwelling. My spiritual gift is encouragement, so I love reminding them how God still has a special purpose for them to be here right now.
A special request to all Knox members – pray now for the upcoming Mission trip the high school kids are taking to Little Rock on March 15-21. Many of the retired crowd are the best prayer warriors. What can you pray for? That our kids keep their eyes on the prize, of knowing Christ Jesus a little deeper each day. As we travel to our destination, we come to recognize God wants us to be faithful models of the servanthood Christ modeled. Pray that we are united in our purpose; to bless the poor in the area we are serving. Will you do this as the Body of Christ?
Another request – plan to attend a special leadership training at Knox on March 24. Our focus that night will be on growing excellent leaders for our Bible studies and small groups. Maybe you have never considered yourself a leader in the church, but may feel called into this role now. We will meet for one hour of biblical teaching that helps us learn how Jesus taught His own disciples. Time is 7:00-8:00pm.
You can help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas by ordering a poinsettia in memory or in honor of your loved one. Just fill out the form or call the church office, 913-888-7775. Each plant is $9 and may be taken home following the Christmas Eve services. The deadline for ordering is Sunday, December 9.
Thank you for supporting Heart to Heart International’s efforts to improve global health! Your generous gift is greatly appreciated!
For over 26 years, Heart to Heart has connected people and resources to a world in need. Our humanitarian work in more than 130 countries demonstrates our longstanding commitment to mobilize and equip volunteers to create healthier communities across America and around the world. Because of your generosity, underserved people will take another critical step closer to living a healthy life today.
On behalf of those we serve, thank you for making Heart to Heart International your connection to a world in need.
With gratitude,
Tracy Miller
Ken DeSieghardt, photo by Craig Campbell
We celebrate and give thanks for the dates we wed our spouses and when our children enter the world. God gave me another date to be eternally grateful for: June 8, 2019.
This date starts when I first showed up a few decades ago. I was born with a genetic condition called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Protein Deficiency. Alpha-1 is produced in the liver and feeds the lungs to help them recover from respiratory illnesses. Being deficient in Alpha-1 can mean that the lungs end up permanently losing some function every time you have the flu, pneumonia or other respiratory-based illnesses.
Some people who are deficient in Alpha-1 develop no symptoms. They are simply carriers of the condition. I was not so fortunate.
Beginning in 2017, my lung function began deteriorating rather rapidly. I no longer got just the flu; it would always turn into pneumonia. I missed family vacations, had short hospital stays and struggled to keep working – though fortunately I have worked from home since 2001, so my hours were flexible.
Last year, I worked a full day and then sat down with my daughter to watch some sports. By that date, my lung function was so low that we had two portable oxygen concentrators – one on each level of our house – and long enough tubing on each one so that I only had to be off a machine for about 15 seconds as I moved from one to the other.
My wife came down to help me up the stairs and I said I needed to use the restroom first. But instead of making my way to the restroom, I opened the door to the laundry room instead.
Perplexed by where I was and why I was there, I gazed over at my wife. She gave me a choice – she could call 911 or she could take me to the hospital. I chose the latter.
At Shawnee Mission Medical Center, they diagnosed me as suffering from acute respiratory failure. I was intubated and sedated. At least that’s what I’ve been told. From the time we got to the hospital and for the next two months or so, I have no memory of what took place. The CO2 level in my blood was so high, that I was hallucinating and dealing with a lot of confusion.
The next day, I was taken by ambulance to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, who had placed me on the list for a lung transplant on December 20, 2018. I don’t remember the ride.
I don’t remember any meals (for three months, I had a feeding tube, but I continued to lose weight). I don’t remember any therapy I received. I don’t remember when I was able to be taken off of oxygen. Most of all, I don’t remember most of the hallucinations.
My wife has told me several of them, some funny and some frightening. One of the funny ones was when I wrote a note to a nurse (I had a tracheotomy and couldn’t speak above a whisper) asking, “Am I in Costco right now?”
Once I was stabilized, the hallucinations began to fade and I became more depressed. The only thing that lifted my spirits were the regular deliveries of cards and notes from home – and the sense that a lot of people were lifting me up in prayer from our Knox family. Being four hours away from home meant that visitors were limited, making the long, repetitive days of waiting even harder to take.
The lowest point came on June 1, when I had to watch my oldest daughter graduate from college via an online link. At that point, I told God that I was starting to wonder if His plan was for me to get new lungs or not.
June 7 was just another day in the hospital until about 7:30 p.m. My main physician in St. Louis walked in, still in a dress shirt and tie – which seemed odd at that time of the evening – and he said, “We think we’ve found a match.”
My wife and I completely lost it. I don’t remember much of what he said after that, except that surgery would be the next morning, if they were right and it was a match.
June 8, I was lung transplant No. 1,741 at Barnes-Jewish. We have all been blessed by God, and our donors, with this amazing gift. I know little about my donor, except that he was in his mid-20s and that he gave five people the gift of life through his donations.
I learned later my doctor initially told my wife that there was only a 5% chance of finding a match, because of all the antibodies in my blood. I previously heard that I would be a “hard match,” but never had heard that 5% number. Upon reflection, that is probably a good thing.
I almost gave up, which would mean I would just be waiting to die. My lung function on June 7 was 8%, so I assumed it wouldn’t be much longer. But, I waited and held out hope, buoyed by a card coming at just the right moment and the feeling of prayers enveloping me. If you don’t think prayer makes a difference…I am still here, blessed with the lungs I needed.
Now, I can look forward to life events and family gatherings, because ours is the God of 5% chances!
Year-to-Date through September 30, 2019
November 3
Alan Smith and Sandy Hoyt
November 10
Kieli Gebremeskel and Virginia McKnight
November 17
Sean Willoughby and Tom Larsen
November 24
Marsha Keller and Fred DeSieghardt
REMEMBER the HOME BOUND
Send a card, or whatever is appropriate to let these people
know that you are thinking of them.
Make a personal commitment to lift them in prayer.
November 3 George & Vera Lee Butler
November 10 Jeanne Chaple
November 17 Jay & Ruth DeGroot
November 24 Charlene Gardner
· Canned fruit
· Hamburger, tuna, and
chicken helpers
· Canned chicken
· Ramen noodles
· Soups & stews
· Corn muffin mix
· Flour/Sugar
· Apple juice
· Paper products
toilet issue
paper towels
Kleenex
· Personal grooming items
tooth paste/toothbrush
deodorant
shampoo & conditioner
hand & body soap
· Laundry & dish detergent
· Cake & brownie mixes
· Pancakes & syrup
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIVING!
I have good news from the biopsies that were done on me. I have cancer, but it is “only” the basal-call variety. For me, that is a comfort. During November, I will be having incisions on four locations. The prognosis for complete healing is strong. Thanks to all of you at Knox who have been praying for me and asking Jesus to bring healing to my body.
Speaking of prayer, I have found my personal prayer list to be growing almost on a daily basis. People seem to trust sharing things with me about their life situations. The Holy Spirit has guided me to spend more time in prayer and listen carefully to conversations that I have each day. Do you have a daily prayer journal that helps you to guide and direct your prayers? If not, then I highly suggest you begin one immediately. Prayer is what helps connect us with God each day we seek to follow His will.
Begin with confessions of any sins that might hinder your relationship with God and others. Then take some time to praise God for who He is and how wonderful it is to know Him through the scriptures. You might want to take time going through the Psalms. I guarantee that the prayers listed in the Psalms will help to guide your prayer life. Next, be sure to offer thanks to the Lord for the daily blessings He brings to your heart. In order to do this, we must pause throughout each day as these blessings occur. Do not get so task oriented that you miss the things God is wanting to show you! Finally, pray specifically for persona needs and for others who God brings to our attention. Does this sound like hard work? It is! But as disciples of Jesus, it is clear in the Bible that we will have trials to face almost every day we live and breathe.
The youth have an auction coming up November 9. Why is this important? The money raised will help senior high youth go on a mission trip to Arkansas over spring break. They will be helping people in Little Rock through Habitat for Humanity. Our former President Jimmy Carter continues to be a great ambassador for this ministry to underserved people in cities all around the country. So please plan to attend and support our kids financially in their endeavors to understand a life of mission.
Shop on Amazon, and Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Knox.
Thank you! We just received your recent donation in the amount of $2,500. Your donation is so important to IHN! Your generous gift will be put to good use providing shelter and services necessary to empower homeless families and single females in our program.
We, at IHN, count our many blessings and we truly appreciate your continued support, commitment and confidence in our program as we assist those in need in our community. Thank you for investing in IHN and those we serve!
Sincerely,
Vicki L. Dercher
Take time in your schedule to pray for me. Yes, I said to pray for me! Why? I have four locations on my body that were biopsied for cancerous growth. Pray that I continue to keep my focus on Jesus. He is my Rock and Refuge! I want to make sure I practice what I preach. Trust in Christ each day is what I ask you to do when trials come into your lives. Pray that I do the same thing as I await the results.
Am I having fun with the junior and senior high in the Knox Youth Fellowship? You bet! I am greatly enjoying getting to know them and seeing them grow into God’s disciples. We are tackling some tough teenage subjects every week on Sunday evenings. David Hass is doing an awesome job helping us in worship and drawing us nearer to the “heart of worship, which is all about Jesus.” Small group leaders are great blessings to me and the kids. My thanks go out to Chris Kohl, Ronnie Flaherty, Andrew Thull, Becca Wagner, Barb Moore, Heather Schrotberger and Stacy Espinoza. They try to keep me under control and I do appreciate it!
