Don't wait. Don't wait. Don't wait. And by the way, don't wait

Words to live by - in stroke care, at any rate - from a recent USA Today article about a recent stroke study:

"Don't wait," said Dr. Larry Goldstein, director of Duke University's stroke center and a spokesman for the American Stroke Association. "If you think you are having symptoms, call 911."

Symptoms to watch out for, from the National Stroke Association's F-A-S-T description:

F = Face
• Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = Arms
• Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech
• Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T = Time
• If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

We're all in this together

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

-Romans 12:4-5

Ever feel like you're useless?

No way. Read Paul's words in Romans 12 - you are part of the body of Christ, so how can you be useless? One small, kind word or gesture to someone who needs that little boost, for example. That's not useless. It's priceless.

A good word for hope and praise to God

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

-Romans 15:7

I'm currently listening to Romans on my mp3 player during my running sessions these days. It's a great letter from Paul. This particular section - Chapter 15 - is full of hope and unity.

Do you need some hope? Read the chapter and Paul's other letters. Don't fall into the trap of not considering when the letters were written and the situations the particular groups faced. Find a good Bible with commentary, such as the Life Application Study Bible.

Rejoice in the Lord always

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

-Philippians 4:4

So what's the key word in this one? How about:

Always.

For fellow stroke survivors and loved ones, "always" is difficult. I didn't exactly rejoice when I couldn't use one side of my body. I look forward to the day that the lesson is finally driven home: Rejoice. Always.

Why? Because in the final analysis, a stroke can't take away God. Can't remove you from him, can't remove him from you. No matter what happens, even death.

And for that, rejoice.

North Korean leader and prayer

The news (below video) is that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il survived a stroke. It's unclear at this writing how serious the stroke or the exact status of his condition.

I've been to South Korea a couple of times. It's a country rich with smart and kind people.

Ran across an interesting blog today: North Korean Prayer Blog. The prayer for Kim:

Let us pray that Kim Jong Il will be awakened to his own mortality and be brought to repentance and experience the Grace of God and turn to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Kim has persecuted people of faith. Is it likely that will change? Who's to say? We can, however, hope.

Day of trouble? Help is at hand

In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.

-Psalm 86:7

Last several days have been busy and rough, with school starting, a very amateurish woodworking project in the works, a little travel, work, etc. So I'm a few postings behind.

But in a hectic time period - a day of trouble, if you will - this verse from Psalm 86 can give some relief.

If you are struggling with your own stroke experience or those of a loved one, consider what the author says.