May 25, 2026: Faith

Faith.

What is it? 

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Faith has an object; otherwise, it's just wishful thinking. 

The object of my faith is Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for me.

Faith is not probabilities with statistics as its object, e.g. This probably won't happen...

Short term, my faith is that God will be with me, giving me courage and strength to face whatever may come. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and remission both have their challenges. 

Eternally, my faith is in the work of Jesus, His death and resurrection, His sacrifice that makes me right with God. 

If the Lord wills, June 9 will be the beginning of 10 months of remission. Today, I endeavor to live in the present for the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lam 3:22-23

May 5: Where Does My Help Come From?

No leukemia reported at monthly oncologist visit. Maybe some GVHD/auto-immune things going on, but mostly minor.

Grateful for those that poured effort and life into developing CART-T. Grateful and praising God for His good and perfect plan for me.

Picture is about 50 yds from our old Limestone homestead in NC.

April 7: Artemis and me

So Artemis set a record yesterday as the furthest people to ever go beyond the boundaries of Earth. 

I crossed a boundary yesterday starting my 8 month cancer-free. Praising God and thankful. So I think the question we all should be asking ourselves is, "Why does God have me here on this rock?"

The big answer I believe is to love Him with everything I got and to enjoy Him forever and to love my neighbor as myself and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 

2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus speaking... “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 

My ability to see how much I've been forgiven grows slowly, but steadily each day. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and 

                  the love of God and

                               the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

                                                   be with you all.

Mar 3, 2026: Mortgage-free Home

I have a place that's not here in Texas. Word has it, it's even better than NC. It's my eternal home that I will enjoy when God in Heaven decides the time is right. No tears, no pain, rent-free, new pain-free body, no sin-wrestling. Sounds really good to me! ...but, it does take faith in the One who died and rose again.

Here's what Jesus said. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

and in the book of Hebrews - But they (people of faith in the Old Testament) were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

But, today, for now, God's decided leukemia isn't going to have its way with me. Starting 7 months cancer-free March 9. I am grateful and thankful for the time He's given me here on this celestial ball. We'll see what next month's checkup holds. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Feb 3, 2026 Deja Vu All Over Again...

... to quote Yogi Berra. 

If I understand Jesus's exhortation to us, it's to live in today, not yesterday and not the future. How hard that is for me. 

Last month - same song, different verse. 

Living in today, in God's grace & mercy. I have an eternal hope through faith in the One who loved me and paid for my failings. 

My counts were good today. WBC & Platelets in the low end of normal range. RBC's still low but didn't drop from Jan 5. No detectable blasts, aka cancer cells. Also did an IVIG infusion (3 hrs). 

Probably the 2nd most quoted verse besides John 3:16 popped up on my feed today and I found great comfort in it for where I'm at. His mercies indeed are new every day.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 ESV

May His blessings be yours in full for the coming days, along with the grace and mercy found in Jesus, the Messiah.  

G

Jan 5, 2026: Starting month 5 of cancer free

Living in today, in God's grace & mercy. I have an eternal hope through faith in the One who loved me and paid for my failings. 

My counts were good today. WBC & Platelets in the low end of normal range. RBC's still low but didn't drop from Dec 5. No detectable blasts, aka cancer cells. 

Also did an IVIG infusion (3 hrs). 

May His blessings be yours in full for 2026, along with His grace and mercy.

G

Dec 28: Ride the Rollercoaster!

Ride the Rollercoaster!

We got to talking about rollercoasters at our family Christmas dinner and there are those that love 'em and those that hate 'em. 

I love them. I'm not such an aficionado that I've gone out of my way to ride new ones or made it my mission to ride every coaster in the world. But, I understand why some don't like them at all. One that sticks out as my favorite was the Texas Giant at 6 Flags. It was built to be an old school, wood frame coaster with the clackity clack climbing every hill. The Texas Giant was originally opened in 1990 as the world’s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, featuring a 137-foot first drop with speeds reaching up to 62 miles per hour. 

2025 was a rollercoaster of a year, so to speak. There were a few times where I wish the ride had been over. As 2025 smooths out and pulls into the "station," I'm grateful I didn't toss my cookies too many times and am now feeling the best I have in 2025. 

Time and God's good and perfect plan will tell what 2026 holds for us all. He desires that all be saved; that none perish but gives us choice.   

Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Let us not live in fear or anxiousness in 2026, but live in Christ's perfect love, which casts out fear 1 Jn 4:18
Phil 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[e] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the GOD OF PEACE will be with you.

Ride hands in the air and screaming at the top of your lungs with me in 2026.

In His grace, mercy and love, may the God of Peace be with us all today,

Gary