Fields Of Life. Ch. 10. 

Bumpy Road: 

True to life, things don’t always progress as we’d like, and soon we were riveted into uncertainty and dread when obstacles seemed to be ever present-as things were working out not as we’d planned.

 Added to the closure of the New Life Christian Centre in Blaenavon: Within a few short months of our move to South Yorkshire, for a while, our lives seemed to be turned upside down.

The set of facts that surrounded our situation were deeply upsetting!

In truth, to some degree, the nightmares that we experienced through this distinct time period were probably one of the hardest we had to bear.

At the time, this felt like the darkest chapter in our lives. There were moments when this dark episode became almost more than we could shoulder.

The sequence of disappointments, dashed hopes and broken dreams, far exceeded anything we had ever encountered before!

Life is definitely not perfect and we have made some mistakes along the way – but God can do amazing things for those who are honest with Him, themselves and others.

Anyway, although my ministry appointment came to an abrupt end, resulting in us commencing legal proceedings, we decided, after prayer, that it was time to let go. Time to move on. 

For this reason, as we walked away from this episode – which incidentally, had an adverse effect on our physical and mental health – we chose to forgive and forget. 

From this time, we found that the way in which we saw closure to this sequence proved to be the happiest and most effective. 

In truth, it was a great load off our minds. 

Okay, it wasn’t easy! 

But sure-enough, one of the things we have learned from this episode – which is absolutely vital to knowing and accepting forgiveness, and having the willingness to forgive others – was recognising how we arrived at this point – and realising how things appeared to all concerned.

More importantly, our fear at this time, was how things were looking to God through us.

It was time to get back on track!

Righto, it would have been better if our quandary hadn’t taken place – it was improper that it occurred – but it sure did happen!

But together we faced every event, every unpleasant and trying situation, every circumstance in life.

Without any doubt – this particular point in time – hadn’t been a smooth sailing and joy-filled experience! Nah! 

For-sure, it can be a very rough ride, travelling along this bumpy road called “Life!” 

Yet, despite this, whether the hurts along the way were caused by our own poor decisions and careless choices or someone else’s, we can assure you that God remained faithful through it all.

And He still is!

In any case, as we prayed, the Holy Spirit shaped and influenced, gave direction to our decisions, comforted us throughout the times of suffering and distress, made us stronger when we had little physical or spiritual strength, and picked us up when we virtually abandoned any sense of hope! 

No matter what has happened or may happen today or tomorrow, we had learned to be strong and courageous in our God. 

He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never let us down!

How marvellous is His unconditional love!

And yes, by His grace, we gradually experienced healing to our wounded spirits.

Okay, everyone wants to be a well equipped and prepared traveller, but would we have enrolled on the journey had we known what it would take? 

Yet, God strengthened us, increased our confidence – and, heightened our consciousness of the great need for Him as our Saviour.

Praise Him! 

 Still, let me regress just a little: Way back in 1996, the year that my first kidney transplant failed, I was diagnosed with having an enlarged bladder, bowel and heart. Coinciding with this, I began to suffer with angina – a heart condition marked by paroxysms of chest pain due to reduced oxygen to the heart.

In addition, it was confirmed at this time, that I had a heart-murmur.

Furthermore, on account of my enlarged bladder being of high capacity, this in the long term would have a very embarrassing – unpleasant and distressing affect.

Anyway, within a few calendar months of moving to South Yorkshire, I began to suffer chest pain – a rapid and irregular heart beat and numerous urinary infections.

This caused me to feel very tired, weak and lethargic, an obvious cause for concern – especially the chest pain. Although I had not had an angina attack for quite some time, little did I realize what was happening.

Somehow though, the chest pain seemed to be different to what I had experienced before, so perhaps this added to the confusion and lack of diagnosis!

As time moved on, I became very inactive and at times, felt very exhausted and groggy!

Even after several visits to my doctor, tests and examinations by one specialist and another, we still did not know what the problem was!

At the same time, with my constant chest pain and re-occurring urinary-tract infections, I was repeatedly having to endure antibiotic after antibiotic. This too was a cause for concern, particularly with my low immunity system, double transplants and previous episodes of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Anyhow, after two years of suffering uncertainty and illness – that included four emergency admissions to two hospitals in Barnsley & Sheffield, we finally were to discover what the problem was.

On 18 April 2006, I was diagnosed as having a bladder muscle which was no longer functioning. Basically my bladder had lost the ability to empty properly!

Consequently, I was suffering with permanent urinary retention. This, in turn, was causing pressure on my other vital organs-hence the chest pain, the rapid and irregular heart beat, urinary-tract infections, tiredness, weakness, inactivity and lack of alertness.

My consultant told me there was nothing that could be done to make my bladder work again, but he could improve things for me. He recommended ISC - Intermittent Self Catheterisation, and Speedi Caths, which I now use all the time.

In retrospect, it was difficult for me, to express or state clearly my condition of being uncomfortable, but how relieved I was once my unpleasant situation had been sorted!

Nowadays; finally relieved of my distress – I now have to intermittently self-catheterise between six to eight times a day.

And, although this may seem quite an ordeal – the process is reasonably easy and quick – allowing a better quality of life.

Looking back though, I didn’t fully understand how much the symptoms of neuropathy would drastically affect my lifestyle. 

Still, life has many different chapters for us. One bad chapter doesn’t mean it’s the end of the book! 

 So what drives Rachel and me to stay so focused, so compelled to share this message of Christ? 

It’s knowing first hand the vast dimensions His love and grace can render in the lives of anyone who really seeks Him. 

And what a joy and blessing it is to impart His message of love and life to anyone who’s seeking something more than a spiritless, “hum-drum” existence! 

 Today, Rachel and I are still living in Yorkshire, and although our ministerial prospects didn’t quite take the route we’d expected, our ministry through the “New Day Prince” web pages has taken on new dimensions. 

So much more than we’d anticipated! Surprisingly, it’s a completely new field – a new adventure with a new horizon. 

A fresh and wonderful new day!

In fact, these past few years have really been turn-around years.

Who knew, in the beginning, what God had in store for us?

Since the launch of the Newday-Prince web pages – Rachel and I have been extremely excited about the great potential of the Internet, not only to share our story & songs twenty four hours a day – but to give an insight of all we believe.

By reaching the world on line, the Internet has become an excellent tool for us to use in sharing the message of Jesus.

Consequently – both of us have been totally amazed by the interest shown in the Newday-Prince story from tens of thousands of individuals in different parts of the globe.

It has been an astonishing journey reaching this point – and today we reckon – the best is yet to be.

We don’t know, maybe someday our story can help somebody. It would be a real blessing to know that in someway the experiences we’ve faced, could reach & touch the lives of others.

We’re not stuffed with self-importance; we just want to share what God has done.

We love inspiring people, and if we can make a difference in one person’s life, then that’s success for us!

For this reason, with the time set out before us, we give thanks for every opportunity. 

And yes – at the break of dawn when the sun rises, we give thanks to God for a fresh awakening – giving thanks for daily breath, health & strength and the joy which every newday brings.

What a blessing! 

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size – abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 

The Message.

2 Corinthians 12:10

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