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Spiritual Foundations

How I’m Dealing With Parkinson’s Disease

November 10, 2013  ·  Ray Edwards

For just over two years, I have wondered how to do this. I have written and rewritten this post many times. The time was never right. I was not ready. But I’m ready now.

The time has come to tell you that I have Parkinson’s disease.

The symptoms became apparent in May 2011. The diagnosis came in September of that year. If you want to know more about Parkinson’s disease, please refer to the website of the Michael J Fox Foundation.

[callout]This is not about fighting for victory, it’s about fighting from victory. Click to tweet this.[/callout]

The focus of this post is about victory, even where victory appears impossible. This is not about fighting for victory, it’s about fighting from victory. Such victory is only attainable through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus…

Seven Incredibly Joyous Lessons I Have Learned Through Having Parkinson’s Disease

  1. Don’t Waste Your Parkinson’s (Or Whatever).  I do not believe that God gave me Parkinson’s, nor that he “allowed me” to have it, nor that it is his will for me to have it. All disease is evil, and comes from hell, and God has promised that he heals all of our diseases (Psalm 103, Isaiah 53). Though he does not cause evil to happen to us, God can and does use hellish situations to accomplish his purposes. The day I realized this fully, the day I realized that God’s judgment and vengeance will exact a price from the devil (yes, I believe the devil is real!) for every moment of pain he has inflicted on me… that was the day I gained the victory. Satan will be sorry he chose to inflict this illness upon me. If it continues to progress, as the doctors assure me it will, I will fight the good fight of faith with even more joy in my heart. I will not waste the opportunity to show others how to live, fully alive, no matter what is thrown at us. Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” Thank you, Lord!
  2. It Doesn’t Matter. I don’t want to minimize anyone else’s suffering. But for me, I was free from the suffering the day I realized: it doesn’t matter. Here’s what I mean…  before the diagnosis, I had prayed for many people with a variety of different illnesses, and I had seen the Spirit of God miraculously heal them. One of my friends was healed of stage IV cancer. I had witnessed many other miracles like this. Yet, to this day, I myself still experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, even though I have been prayed for many times. It would be a mistake for me to ask “why”. It would be a greater mistake for me to attribute the work of the enemy to God the Father. Attributing the work of the enemy to God is blasphemy.The bedrock of my faith is the belief that God is love. My continued illness is not an excuse to abandon my faith, it’s an invitation to embrace it. And in the end, if my healing comes only after death, that is no excuse for me to abandon the work God has put in my hands.When three young men were threatened with death in a fiery furnace in the Old Testament, the leader of those young men said, “We will not bow to your false gods. Our God is well able to protect us. And even if he does not, we will not bow.” I have work to do, assigned to me by the King, and he gives me strength and joy every day to do that work, despite what the enemy may throw at me. My light and temporary affliction does not matter.
    [callout]Illness is no excuse to abandon faith, it’s an invitation to embrace it. Click to tweet this.[/callout]
  3. I Have Learned Empathy. In the past, before my diagnosis, I would pray for people and often there would be no apparent response. Not everyone I prayed for was healed. I had perfected the art of answering their questions about why they had not been healed. My answers were theologically sound. I gave them with confidence, including answers like these…
    • Sometimes God’s healing comes as an instant miracle, sometimes as a gradual process.
    • God uses many instruments for healing, and often the instrument is medical science.
    • God may time your healing in a perfect way we may not understand.
    • Sometimes we ask God for an oak tree, and he gives us an acorn. We must steward the acorn.
    • And sometimes we must simply embrace the mystery and accept that we don’t know everything, but affirm that God is still good.

    I knew these answers were true, and yet… when I faced the same situation myself, I found them difficult to accept. However, on the other side of working through that difficulty, I found the answers are indeed still true.

    Now, I have great empathy for people who are walking through difficult challenges.

    Now, when I pray for someone who has not seen the manifestation of their healing, I meet them with compassion instead of judgment.

    Now, I treasure the gift of this empathy.

  4. Grace Is the Gospel. “Grace” is not merely a topic in a theological textbook. It is the gospel itself. The Apostle Paul tells us that through the sacrifice of Christ we have been given the “gift of righteousness” and also the “abundance of grace”. Grace is more than mere forgiveness; it is taking forgiveness a step further and adding a generous gift on top. The word used in the original Greek Scripture that is translated as “grace” literally means “unmerited favor”. The gospel message, and the state of being “saved”, is about more than just getting “eternal fire insurance.” It’s about more than simply getting out of hell.When we accept the gift that Christ offers, we inherit his righteousness. We receive his grace. Jesus took on himself what we deserved, so that we could get what he deserves. The Bible tells us that the Law and the Prophets were given through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus is Grace and Truth. Jesus is the gospel. Jesus is the perfect image of the Father.Let that last statement soak in: there are many who believe that God the Father is angry and vengeful, and that Jesus the Son is peaceful and forgiving. I submit to you that anything you attribute to the Father, but that you do not see demonstrated in Jesus, needs to be re-examined. And what do we see in Jesus? First, he only did what he saw the Father doing, and the Father is love…
    • So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Fatherdoes, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19)
    • “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

    Second, Jesus never refused anyone when they asked to be healed. He never said, “I see that you have leprosy, and I have some bad news. This is the kind of leprosy my Father gives. Learn from it.”

    No, his response was to heal everyone. He healed them all. Both before and after his resurrection.

    • When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.   (Luke 4:40)
    • That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.  (Matthew 8:16)
    • Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,  (Matthew 12:15)
    • At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons. All the city was gathered together at the door. He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.  (Mark 1:32-34)
    • All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.  (Luke 6:19)
    • But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.  (Luke 9:11)
    • More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.  (Acts 5:15-16)
    • It happened that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured.  (Acts 28:8-9)
  5. Victim Thinking Equals Death. In the early days after my initial diagnosis, and the apparent failure of prayer to heal my condition, I began thinking like a victim. Poisonous thoughts repeatedly ran through my mind: why did this happen to me? Doesn’t God see how I’ve been serving him? Is it really not God’s will to heal me? Even more subtle, and more deadly: how can I minister to others when I can’t even help myself? Who wants to hear a message about the God who heals from someone who is sick? That last question began to wake me up-because the Lord instantly showed me how ridiculous the question really is. For instance, if we substitute “sin” for “illness”, the question becomes: who wants to hear a message about the God who forgives from someone who still sins? We don’t require, expect, or even believe that any pastor in any pulpit is 100% free from sin. Yet we don’t tell them to go home and stop preaching until they are. Victim thinking robs us of our identity in Christ. Whenever we start thinking about our sins, our illnesses, our shortcomings, or our lack of faith, we are ultimately just thinking about ourselves. The best thing we can do is to take our focus off our self, and put our full attention on Christ.Paul writes in Galatians: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live through faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”My diagnosis gave me an opportunity to once and for all move out of victim thinking, and into victorious thinking.

    [callout]Victim thinking robs us of our identity in Christ. Click to tweet this.[/callout]

  6. Our Trials Represent An Opportunity That Won’t Last. Whatever we face in life that seems like a problem or a trial actually represents an opportunity. In this life, we have the opportunity to praise God, and to worship him, in the face of adversity. This takes an act of will, a decision, a certain amount of discipline.When my hands are trembling, and my relatively young body tries to feel like the body of an old man, it is a sacrifice for me to put a smile on my face and raise my hands, and praise the goodness of God. The opportunity that is time-limited is this: once I am in my eternal body, in heaven, I no longer have the option to offer that sacrifice to God. Each of us is able, today, to offer God the gift that one day will be impossible for us to give. Truly, I refuse to waste my Parkinson’s.
  7. The Law Demands, But Grace Supplies. I have encountered a number of good-hearted, well-intentioned believers who want to tell me that my disease must be caused by some hidden sin in my life… a “generational curse”… a failure on my part to follow an obscure law written in Scripture… etc. I have been prayed for, prescribed to, undergone various forms of “inner healing ministry”, and otherwise subjected to condemnation thoroughly and completely. I’m here to tell you, no amount of shaming, blaming, or justifying your illness is going to help you. Inner healing ministries are good and valuable, and have their place. But we must move beyond the idea that our sin is more powerful than the sacrifice of Christ. With his last breath, Jesus pronounced: “It is finished.” What part of “finished” is unclear? Jesus died to redeem us from the curse. No curse he redeemed me from has any power over me. Jesus died to free me from condemnation. Therefore it is a dishonor to him for me to accept condemnation. Condemnation comes straight from the fiery bowels of hell. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” (Romans 8:1)[callout]Grace doesn’t require rules – it supplies us with a heart that makes rules unnecessary. Click to tweet this.[/callout]Many worry that the preaching of “radical grace” will encourage people to sin. I’m glad there is concern over this, as it tells me we are preaching the right gospel.

    This kind of outrageous liberty is exactly what Paul was criticized for, and the reason he had to tackle this issue head-on when he said: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

    Paul goes on to explain how our old nature died with Christ and we were resurrected as new creations. Grace does not require that we follow rules and laws-Grace supplies us with a new heart that makes rules and laws unnecessary.

In the movie “Shawshank Redemption”, Andy Dufresne says to his pal Red as they sit in the prison yard, “It comes down to one simple decision. Either get busy living, or get busy dying.”

This line has always reminded me of another memorable piece of dialogue.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

I choose life.

The Time Has Come

I wrote this for two primary reasons.

First, I never want to write things that give an impression about me that is not true. It’s probably impossible for me to fully achieve that goal. People will draw their own conclusions no matter what I write. On the other hand, it is possible for me to know my own heart, and in my heart I knew that keeping this secret any longer was just not an option.

Secondly, and most important, I wrote this for you. I may not know what your specific struggles are, but I know that you do have a choice before you. You can either let the enemy steal, and kill, and destroy your life… or you can choose to accept life, and accept it abundantly.

The time has come.

Choose life.

 Question for you: how has facing a great difficulty given you the gift of a more abundant life? Please share your story and your insights below.

171 Comments

  3. Ray, you are SO loved! Thank you for sharing your struggle with your readers…. and the world. The opportunities for you to impact and bless others has just grown exponentially. I will continue to pray for you as you fight the good fight. And when people ask me who I have the greatest respect for, both in the business community and as a genuinely caring human being, your name will continue to be at the top of my list (as it always has been.) Bless you, my brother.

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  4. Thank you would not be sufficient to say, as to how much this post has impacted me. I was just having a discussion about the deception of thinking that others don’t have struggles and how people handle temporary circumstances. Once again, you have greatly encouraged me, even out of adversity.

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  5. Ray – sending love and healing prayers to you … thank you for all the light you always shine, for the precious gift and faithful servant you are, and the precious gift of this message – which will bless so many more …

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  7. Ray, your message went right down to the core of my soul. I don’t think I will ever forget this moment and your words of wisdom. I too am a believer in Christ. I have been a passionate follower for 48 years now. Your message moved me in a powerful way.

    You have a special gift of communicating complex thoughts into understandable nuggets of useful information. I am so glad I found out about you a couple of years ago. I listen to your podcasts, read your blog and buy your products. Thanks so much.

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  8. Our thoughts and prayers are with you & your family as you navigate the uncertain path that follows! The apparent “good news” is that science is continuing to try to determine how & why these diseases start & progress and I came across this story just a couple of days ago:

    “Scientists believe lasers could help cure Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s” http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/3/5058876/scientists-say-lasers-could-help-cure-alzheimers-parkinsons-disease

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  9. Ray – this is a bold post. It must have taken a lot to write it. I know it will touch many people, as you have throughout your life. Thank you for having the courage to write this piece.

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  10. I have been standing for my brother who has the same diagnosis. I stand with you in the victory that Jesus Christ purchased. Love you Ray!

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  11. Ray you stand for faith, hope and love. What a treasure you are to me. You make an impact beyond one life. Looking forward to every day with you.

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  12. Ray, here’s why now was the time to share: I’m sitting at JvAlert in Vegas next to Joel Comm, a dearest friend who asked if I’d seen your post. I hadn’t so i looked up. I have suffered Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and is incredibly painful. I have good days and bad but therein is always there as is the stiffness and varying inability to manage simple daily tasks.

    The point is that i believe as you do, that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. I live firmly in faith and in a relationship with God the Father through Him and many times, all I have left to get me through the constant and consistent fight to live is my ability to talk to God as a Father, pleading with Him to carry me across the valley. Sometimes the relief comes through mediated sleep, other times in the form of a dear friend who sits with me and holds me through the long dark night of wave after wave of painful spasms that just won’t let go.

    Reading your story and your testimony has finally articulated for me why i continue to live and work my passion. You have so clearly and eloquently shared more than your own heart; you’ve spoken for many of us with chronic, incurable diseases or injuries or some difficulty that requires constant courage to face and get through each day.

    Because of the skills and attributes and passion that God has given me, I can focus on my work rather than how I feel. And I am often granted a glimpse of the freedom that eternity will bring while i am speaking or sharing or working to help someone else, to inspire, to encourage, to show empathy, to share an understanding of the struggles they face, even if they aren’t as severe as mine (that makes them no less real, Right?).

    So, Ray. You’re timing is perfect. I thought i might be heading into remission, but the disease is getting worse again. I’ve been deeply discouraged as each symptom i thought was gone continues to reappear. I’ve been biding my time knowing that my time on the road doingwhat i love is a limited opportunity. I know doingbthe work i love and meeting people face to face greeting them with real hugs is a gift with an unknown expiration date. But your post encourages me to continue to fight to do what i love because giving in and giving up is just not an option I’m willing to accept.

    And now Ray, i know I’m not alone. I’ve known that, but you just made it incredibly real to me. Thank you, my friend. From the center of my soul, I thank you.

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    1. Lori,

      I know we did not get to spend very much time together at the last event we both attended, but I was very inspired by your talk at JV alert. I want you to know how much your words meant to me. Obviously, I have been searching for just the right way to share this part of my life, and you could not have confirmed the rightness of my decision any more beautifully than this. Thank you.

      Reply

  13. Ray. I stand in agreement with your victory through this battle in Jesus’ name! Know that you inspire and encourage many people. I’ve been encouraged professionally and in my walk with Christ by you. THANK YOU. You are a great representation of God’s abundant grace and mercy. I’m sure you are surrounded by a strong group of Believers that build you up, stay connected with them. God Bless!

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  14. I love you Ray. I love your bold expression of love. Grace pours from this post.Thank you for your courage, your friendship and your time. Thank you for your devotion to our Lord. As my eyes well up with tears . My heart fills with joy and wonderment at how beautiful you are. I pray for your you an your family.
    Thank you for this gift,

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  15. Ray, thank you for sharing such a personal message with the world. As I have worked closer with you this year and had a chance to get to know you better, I have very much valued your insight into so many matters. I look forward to working with you more and supporting you through this chapter of your life…

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  16. A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
    I have never been more honored to be your friend and brother than I am at this moment. My shoulders are yours if ever you need them.

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  17. Ray, I want you to know that this post blessed me greatly. I have been living with rheumatoid arthritis for years, and had to give up many things that were near and dear to me because of the disease. Granted, this illness was the best thing that could have happened to me, because it forced me to see how idolatry was ruling my life. Nonetheless, I struggle with it still, and am often tempted to ask “why God, why me, why now?” even though I know that’s it’s not for me to ask why. You offer a lot of insight on suffering in this brief post. Thanks for having the courage to share this wisdom, and may God bless you with even greater courage and fortitude.

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  18. Thank you for sharing this incredible burden. I’m sure the timing was dictated to you in your heart by our loving Father. And thank you for reminding all of us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, because He would never actually want any of us to suffer. Suffering comes because we live in a broken world, but through the words, actions, and love of God’s people, He brings us comfort in dark days. Thank you for sharing your journey; it makes all of us stronger. God bless you in the days and months ahead.

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  19. Ray,
    Thank you so much for sharing with the world your physical struggles with this disease. You are such a shining light for faith and God. You are deeply loved and admired!

    I’ll be praying for your health
    Blessings,
    Christina

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  21. Yes, choose life. That’s why the name of my business is Yes To Life. There are many challenges to consistently saying yes to life. Sometimes saying yes is something we can only think. Sometimes it is something we can actually do.

    When I was 20, I had acute inflammation in my eye. The doctor predicted I would go blind, as there was no cure for it. Obviously, that was catastrophic news for me. But the blessing (the first one) was that it opened my eyes to the beauty all around me, so I no longer took any of it for granted. The 2nd blessing was that I learned how to eat a non-inflammatory diet and cured myself of the inflammation in my eye, as well as throughout the rest of my body. And now that is my mission — to help others do the same.

    My mother had Parkinson’s Disease. I lived with her for the last 15 years of her life. She lived her life fully and died shortly before her 92nd birthday.

    I wish you the best and see you choosing life in every way.

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  22. Dear Ray – this report is incredible. You demonstrate a very deep understanding of God and Jesus. The messages I remember from the bible are usually ones that stand out for others like you have quoted here. One that is part of me is where Jesus tells us we too can be like Him and more. Your writing is already helping anyone who reads it and even those who don’t. How are those who don’t read this helped? They are by the energy that comes from you and those of us that have read and now study your message. Very powerful – thank you and know i like many others sends you my sincerest prayers of thanksgiving and healing for you. Much Love!

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  24. You’re a gutsy guy Ray, and you walk the talk even when it’s tough. I’ve seen you go through extremely challenging situations and I have never heard you complain, rather, you always ask about me. My respect for you is without limit.

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  25. The challenge to be transparent without crossing the line is a topic you and I have discussed often. You’ve thought about this a good deal, and chosen such a perfect pitch. The comments coming in show God’s timing, too. My respect for you is without limit, Ray. Thank you for being you – 24/7.

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  26. Your news pierces the thick armor of our human shields and let’s out the rays of truth about something we all have in common…. invulnerability. We are all human and are susceptible to life’s negative circumstances and offerings.

    By sharing this deep personal truth, you have now not only set your own soul free to continue to live your life on your own terms, take charge and receive the support you may need, but you have now enlightened us all about a common bond we all share.

    This common bond that we all share is that “We are spiritual beings having a human experience and not human beings having a spiritual experience.” -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

    Your braveness in sharing your story has freed the souls of others who were once afraid to admit their own personal inconvenient truths. For this wisdom we owe you our deepest gratitude.

    Praying for only the best of health and prosperity for you and your family.

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  27. God bless you,sir. Ill never forget your name. You’ve moved me greatly with your gracious spirit. I will pray for you.

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  28. Ray what an inspiration you are. You are a wonderful living example of the power of the Lord! Get busy living with a positive attitude is a wonderful message. The proof of your example is how much value you have given many of us since your diagnosis. Even in this challenge you are teaching me. Thank you for your courage.

    As an aside, my daughter works in the Parkinson Research Center at Kansas University Hospital where they do research and studies on drugs to fight this disease. I pray they find a cure soon.

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  29. Ray, I wish you well and will remember you when I pray. I’ve followed your work for a long time and enjoyed your work very much. Gold is tried by fire. Endure. And carry on. May you and your family remain steadfast.

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  30. Ray, our visit last week after the Platform Conference has just taken on a whole new dimension. While this secret was surely on your mind, you did not say anything. You instead took time to listen to part of my story and pray with me when you saw a chance to help. Thank you.

    Those two words seem so inadequate for the gift you have given and continue to give with each post, podcast and conversation. I knew I wanted to connect with you. Now I want to get to know you (heart and spirit) even more. You are truly an encouragement and inspiration in the way you truly LIVE your life.

    Blessings my friend!

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  31. So sorry to hear this Ray. You may like to research this guy:
    http://www.johnofgod-healing.com/?gclid=CP_ghZ2827oCFUMkpAodyzkAKg

    I know you are a Christian and I feel Christ works through all healers who are working with God. I always like to think of the story about the preacher who was standing on his roof as his house was being flooded. A boat came and offered help and the preacher said “No – God is going to save me”. Then a helicopter came and he said “No, I’m fine, God is going to save me”. Then he drowned in the flood. When he got to heaven he said to God “Why didn’t you save me…?”, and God said “I sent you a boat and a helicopter!”.

    Wishing you all the best on your journey to find the cure for your health condition… and remember… we don’t know what we don’t know… and probably more importantly not to get stuck on ‘how’ the answer for a problem should come.

    :- ) Beaumont

    – the above healer helped Wayne Dyer heal his Leukemia

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  32. My jaw dropped when I read the lines:

    “The time has come to tell you that I have Parkinson’s disease.
    The symptoms became apparent in May 2011.”

    Dude… since 2011?

    I can’t believe you’ve kept this to yourself for so long but my guess is that it will now open up even more possibility and opportunity for you in the years ahead.

    I love your strength around this and can’t wait to see how this moves you into a better version of you.

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  33. Wow, Ray. I had no idea. Gail’s father had Parkinson’s and we lived with it for three decades. Though it got progressively worse, he lived a pretty normal life. He lived until he was 85 years old.

    You are in my prayers, friend. Thank you for having the courage to share this.

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  36. Ray thank you for sharing this intimate, but yet open post. In response to your question. About 10 years ago my husband and I went through what at the time I thought was the most horrendous situation of our life. Nothing seemed to be able to get us out of it, but looking back God’s hand of provision was present in many ways throughout it.

    Like you I questioned God and struggled when I would be able to help others overcome what seemed like we couldn’t. Some outsiders questioned whether we were walking in God’s will. It got to a point where I vividly remember declaring the words of Job 13:15 ‘Though He slay me yet will I trust Him’, which to this day I believe the acceptance of this fact was the turning point. The storm even then didn’t stop, but neither did God’s faithfulness.

    Going through this situation increased my trust and faith that God is always faithful and able to bring us through any life situation. Not because the situation changes, but because walking with Him in any situation changes us and provides a peace that surrpasses our circumstances. The experience also taught us that in everything we are to give thanks and that the grace of God abounds no matter what. This now is what I’m able to share with others.

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  37. A couple of years ago, if I had the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, I would have immediately started feeling sorry for myself. Today, I feel totally different. While Parkinson’s is not a pleasant disease, your thoughts on having it reflects your belief that everything that happens happens for a reason and that reason is growth. I also believe that whatever difficulty that God bestows upon us, God would never make things more difficult than we can handle. Having Parkinson’s means that you are destined to do great things.

    Thanks for the posting.

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  38. Ray,
    Thanks for your transparency and heart. I know that with your heart and desires God will use your Parkinsons for his Glory and your good.

    Thanks for always being real in business and about your faith.
    Best,
    Buddy

    Reply
  39. Pingback: Anonymous

  40. Ray, tonight as I read the comments on your blog I felt compelled to share your story with my readers. I wrote something that I hope you will find as honoring as I intended for it to be. As an example of authenticity, I believe the influence you are having as a result of your sharing is going to continue to grow and bring hope to others.

    http://joelcomm.com/what-authenticity-looks-like.html

    Love you, my brother…

    Reply

  41. Ray,

    Thank you so much for sharing not only your challenges, but also you inspiring faith and wonderful attitude in the face of this tribulation.

    You are, and will continue to be, in my family’s prayers.

    I love ya’ my friend!

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  42. Ray, one of the hardest things as a Christian is to explain the concept of “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”. It occurred to me while reading this post that, with your power, conviction and communications skills, God will likely be using you to take your message to a much bigger audience than you could have ever imagined.

    Like Joel, I will continue to keep you on my list of people who have and deserve my utmost respect!

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  43. Ray, you know I’ll be praying for you and standing with you in this! Thanks for sharing such profound truth and insights. I know God has and will continue to use your journey to impact many lives. And I know I’ll be coming back to reference this post many times in the future.

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  45. This is a tough call and a bold step in making such a post of faith and confession. Something tells me that you are going to make it through this one with such an attitude of faith in a Will that is above yours. Be strong.

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  47. Ray, you have positively impacted so many people over the years including me. I love your courage and the way you are approaching this with the same passion you approach everything you do. This feels like God’s way of letting you make an even bigger impact on many, many more people. I’m honored to be part of your life and part of your incredible journey. Bless you Ray and we’re all praying for you.

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  48. Ray

    I can imagine that this has brought you some discomfort at a couple of points and it troubles me to hear that a friend suffers. Knowing that you retain your positive attitude to learn and grow through whatever life brings brightens my day. As always, you’re an example of the kind of man I strive to be.

    You have many gifts. We are blessed when you use them.

    Thank you

    Warren

    Reply

  49. Ray, Thank you for sharing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God’s been preparing you for this for years and I look forward to seeing many lives changed because of your message, faith and passion for surrendering to Gods plan.

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  50. Ray – I just heard the new from our friend Bob. Peace be with you my friend. You have always been an inspiration and your courage is a testament to who you are and always have been since we met long ago. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

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