Tuesday, November 20, 2018

For Better or Worse

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fund
Where do I start?  Mary Jane and I first met around 1976 - 1977, in 1978 we begin our relationship and married in 1979.  The day of our wedding was supposed to be a dual celebration. We were going to get married, and on the same day, celebrate her mother, Ruby, and father Ed's 50th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately Ruby died prior to the wedding but we still wanted to honor them on Tuesday November 20, 1979.  

It was a small wedding, some folks were shocked we were even getting married as Mary Jane is a little older. Not that much and not uncommon in a lot of circles and certainly the longevity of our relationship and marriage has showed many of those people, wrong.  Now a days I feel at times older even though she is fighting pancreatic cancer. I have pains from years of sports like football, soccer, basketball, boxing, and the one that did the most damage to a never little boy, running. The pounding has me with a horrible back and the rupture or tear of an Achilles heel that never had surgery doesn't help.

Truth is, for the overwhelming majority of our marriage it has been great, there have been tough times though, like the stupid period of my life where a lesser woman with less love would have divorced me. Some think success is a way to build a relationship but I learned that success to the level that I was experiencing it was taking time away from my family which had me doing some pretty stupid things. Mary Jane though, while life has not been perfect has been as close to a perfect wife a I could ever have. While I have great regrets at times for my stupidity, in the end, I know how blessed I have been to have this mountain girl, coming from a Christian family and a strong faith in God in my life to help me recognize my weaknesses and keep me growing in my faith. Mary Jane has in essence, been my balance to keep me grounded and from doing stupid things.  I honestly don't know how I would have made it without her.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fundIn my book, The Keystone Kid I write about some of this, my stupidity, my life which was miserable in so many ways and the way God used her to bring about a real love in my life. While I had the love of God in my life, although I still struggled with it at the time, I needed an example of what it meant to be a Godly. Because of the abuse I went through I needed a physical example of love. God used Mary Jane in a mighty way to show me physical love and real love from a human perspective.

Lately, it hasn't been easy. The cancer takes its toll. There are days that are not good, days that I resort to in some ways the person I used to be. I want her to live, I have fussed at her to do the things she needs to do to stay alive, to have a chance to beat this thing called cancer. In all of that, and in the times I reflect on the love we have had and still experience, I have shed more tears in the last months than I have in my previous almost 60 years of life. Some people don't understand that, they make judgments, all I know, is that as Mary Jane can verify, the doctors and nurses keep telling me to keep on doing what I need to do as whatever it is, is working.  It was only a few weeks ago that I was wondering if we would see one more Christmas? Would there be life that was recognizable for Thanksgiving?  Truth is, right now we think there is hope, we know for Thanksgiving, we are praying for continued progress for Christmas. And we are really praying for at least one last trip together with our friend The Praters to Lake Tahoe later this year.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fundThere are still hurts though, hurts that drive me crazy like realizing the situation my wife is going through, after all, it is pancreatic cancer. There are those we love the most who have let us down, they still find reason to not be around, few of those reasons in my opinion are justifiable when understanding the situation Mary Jane is in. There are things I don't understand, things I can't accept because of the love I have for my wife and the sacrifices I have seen her make in life for others. She has made incredible sacrifices with little recognition of what she has done. From the mother she has been to her children, the unconditional love to her grandchildren, to the 39 years of teaching in public schools because that is where she felt God would have her despite her talent and ability to have been able to make it in the music ministry industry and world. She has given so much to the Mentally Ill, to develop appropriate race relations in the middle of a prejudiced world and then to providing so much for the homeless. We have housed prostitutes, prisoners right out of jail, misguided musicians, and I could go on and on, to sometimes housing just people having a rough spot in life. She has given literally tens of thousands of hours and dollars, she has put her pocketbook and calendar to the test of love. Yet, at the same time being robbed, being called names she didn't deserve and have others we have shown love to stab her/us in the back and never shown appreciation. We have had people living with us, helping them for at least 35 years of our 39 years of marriage, 40 years of being together. I challenge anyone to show that type of a lifetime of work. The most incredible thing though, she has endured and put up with me for 40 years. That contribution is not lost on me.

People say they have the best wife, I don't deny that as I think that God provides soul mates if we look for them, surrender to Him and then are obedient to the concepts of marriage as outlined in the Bible. People don't succeed because either they don't have a relationship with God, or they are unwilling to follow His guidelines. As an example, prior to my wife's illness, I still took her out on weekly dates, I still prepared meals for her, I still opened the car door for her and many of the other things you do in a dating, falling in love relationship. Many find excuses to not keep doing those things and then wonder why their marriages fail. I took seriously the scripture that I was to love my wife in the way that Christ loved the church. While I am not perfect, that command has a lot of weight to it.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fundEnough of all of that, today we won't be able to go out on a date due to the weather and chemo, we can't go out to a restaurant and eat due to the possibility of catching an infectious illness, there is a lot we can't do, but, we can sit together, watch a movie while holding hands. We can share a kiss and say I love you. We can experience love outside of the physical way we have in the past because that isn't always possible with cancer either. I can do other things though like get up and fix her a bowel of cream of wheat which she is wanting for breakfast. Wait a second, I better get up and fix that cream of wheat, after all, it is our anniversary. 

To see Mary Jane's performing my original song, Dancing with Jesus, click on the following video or link.  Note the video will not be available until after 5:15 CST November 20, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfDmV_MHelI



If you would like to help with our ongoing medical costs and living expenses, check out our gofundme page a the following page link, or you can click on any of the photos:  

Go Fund Me
Check out our Twitter page at #dancewithjesus2

To subscribe to our Facebook Page, click here: Facebook The Movie Guys

To subscribe to our Youtube page click here: Youtube The Movie Guys

BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, HAROLD THE ANGEL, NOW AVAILABLE  AT AMAZON, BOOKS A MILLION, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS, OUR BOOK THE KEYSTONE KID IS ALSO STILL AVAILABLE AT MOST MAJOR RETAILERS AND IS A TERRIFIC READ.

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me, there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

You can also order the book at all major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and so forth. It is available via e-book for .99 Cents or if having a way to download, can download the full audiobook at soundcloud.com and simply going to Mike Furches / The Keystone Kid. The audio version of the book is available for a free download.

http://www.mosaicwichita.com/#!store
Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click to subscribe to my blog

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

Sunday, November 18, 2018

A Caregivers Confession, Half of Me Wants To Live, Half Wants to Die


https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fund&rcid=r01-154255786522-defcc4db471b414f&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w
There is so much going on in life right now that it has prevented me from posting in The Virtual Pew for awhile. You see, my wife Mary Jane is at stage 4 of pancreatic cancer and we don't know what the future holds. I have earned about being a caregiver and what is going to follow is a confession of sorts and a cry and plea for help and understanding in other ways.

I have found, that some of the only people who truly understand are others who have either gone through the battle with this thing called cancer, or those who have cared for them.  Others, often including family, have no idea and the support that come from some is life saving and the judgment from others that have one at times wanting to give up and just die themselves.

Here is the truth, something I have always tried to share, I find myself between the battle ground of wanting to die and end all of this, while at the same time feeling that way, and wanting to live. I find myself at times, doing so much that I don't care if I take my own medications and at other times, thinking I want to live to fight this thing and have some life of solitude when it is all said and done. I am afraid more times than not that the desire to just die is going to win out.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fund&rcid=r01-154255786522-defcc4db471b414f&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_wMy last doctors visit was not good, my blood pressure was 187/128, everything that was supposed to be up was down and everything that was supposed to be down, was way up. In short, I am a walking heart attack right now. Little sleep, high stress, and everything else adds to my own issues. In all of this, I can't tell you the tremendous guilt I feel just sharing this as doing so makes me feel selfish, greedy, uncaring and more, in part, because I have seen and witnessed the judgment, judgment for things like, yes, yelling at my wife to follow doctors orders because if she don't she surly dies.  You see she has a chance to beat this thing and the doctors and nurses have affirmed I am doing something good in helping her and making her do whatever she needs to do, be that eating, drinking or whatever. I have seen the consequences and results of being transported by ambulance to the hospital because her blood sugars drop out because she is not eating, I have had to deal with Chemo Brain (a concept I never knew about until this,) things like pouring protein drink on her feet while she is watering her flowers, or so she thinks, times that she doesn't know the names of her children and can't think of my name, things like pouring vomit down the bathtub, and I could go on and on. Some of those most critical of course are among the very first to tell us, "If you need anything, let us know." Yet, when you ask them for help, to sit with her for a bit, or something else, they can't be found. I could go on and on here, but will leave it at that, but all of these compounded with everything else is, let's say, sometimes beyond bearable.

Right now, I want to live, this is a clue to that as it is a sort of crying out. I am reminded this Thanksgiving that there are those who do care, from a far, and some from close by, that have gone out of their way to see to it that we have a great holiday together as a family. A holiday together that could be our last. Yet, there are also those who do harm. I could say more, maybe someday I will, but my wife and I, both college educated with degrees and living in the real world together for 40+ years are not stupid, we have been observing the writing on the wall for some time.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fund&rcid=r01-154255786522-defcc4db471b414f&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_wThen we know there are others, family and then some from around the globe that sincerely tells us they wish we were closer, we believe them because over the years we have seen their words put into action. For them, we are thankful, your thoughts and prayers we covet because we know the one you pray to and we know the sincerity of your hearts.

Bottom line, yep, it sucks being a caregiver, I sometimes think and believe it would be easier to be the one dying. Like the Apostle Paul, I truly understand the concept that to die is gain.  I know there are those who will say things like, "hang in there she needs you."  I know that, but she needs me more than ever because so few are willing to do what is necessary to keep both of us going.

Again, caregivers will understand, they have been through the depression, the loneliness, the feelings of being overwhelmed, the thoughts that the ones they love would be better off without them, the thoughts that they can't do it anymore, the judgment that is pressed upon them by those who have no idea, and I could go on, and on, and on.

https://www.gofundme.com/mary-jane-cancer-treatment-fund&rcid=r01-154255786522-defcc4db471b414f&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_wWhat will the future hold?  I have no idea, I am fighting to see what today will hold, what the next few hours will hold. I don't have that much time to worry about, or think about tomorrow.

I’ll leave it at that for now, other than to say, if you are a caregiver, I understand. If you know someone who is a caregiver, give them the support, the love they need. Try to understand and the best way to understand is to be there if at all possible. Otherwise, be cautious about being critical of those going through these tough times, as the old saying goes, "…..until you have walked in their shoes."

If you would like to help with our ongoing medical costs and living expenses, check out our gofundme page a the following page link, or you can click on any of the photos:  

Go Fund Me
Check out our Twitter page at #dancewithjesus2

To subscribe to our Facebook Page, click here: Facebook The Movie Guys

To subscribe to our Youtube page click here: Youtube The Movie Guys

BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, HAROLD THE ANGEL, NOW AVAILABLE  AT AMAZON, BOOKS A MILLION, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS, OUR BOOK THE KEYSTONE KID IS ALSO STILL AVAILABLE AT MOST MAJOR RETAILERS AND IS A TERRIFIC READ.

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me, there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

You can also order the book at all major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and so forth. It is available via e-book for .99 Cents or if having a way to download, can download the full audiobook at soundcloud.com and simply going to Mike Furches / The Keystone Kid. The audio version of the book is available for a free download.

http://www.mosaicwichita.com/#!store
Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click to subscribe to my blog

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Regarding Our Movie Review Page



Just a brief notice, we are going to be doing many more video reviews for the page. While there will be the ocassional written review, most will be video via our page The Movie Guys. I encourage you to check out the links below and subscribe to the channels. We are pleased to be working with Wichita State University and their Shocker Studio along with Teen View Magazine.  We will be filming the shows at the studios and Teen View along with staff from Shocker Studios will be assisting in the production of the shows. You can find out more about Shocker Studios by checking out their Facebook page at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/wsushockerstudios/

You can find out more about Teen View Magazine by clicking on the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/TeenViewMagazine/

I certainly thank you for your support of this work over the years and as things grow and get bigger and better, we want you to know, we will continue to listen to you and appreciate your input and views.  We also encourage you again, to please subscribe to our other blog pages and our pages regarding The Movie Guys.

To subscribe to our Facebook Page, click here: Facebook The Movie Guys

To subscribe to our Youtube page click here: Youtube The Movie Guys

BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, HAROLD THE ANGEL, NOW AVAILABLE  AT AMAZON, BOOKS A MILLION, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS, OUR BOOK THE KEYSTONE KID IS ALSO STILL AVAILABLE AT MOST MAJOR RETAILERS AND IS A TERRIFIC READ.

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me, there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

You can also order the book at all major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and so forth. It is available via e-book for .99 Cents or if having a way to download, can download the full audiobook at soundcloud.com and simply going to Mike Furches / The Keystone Kid. The audio version of the book is available for a free download.

http://www.mosaicwichita.com/#!store
Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click to subscribe to my blog

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News