Three massive boxes arrived at the office recently. Our office manager excitedly opened her shipment of umbrellas from Target. How many do you think could be shipped in boxes of such magnitude? If you guessed THREE you were right. Who is the genius at Target who fills an order of three umbrellas in three separate and giant boxes?

Alas, from this some lessons in public speaking/preaching are gained.

The package (PowerPoint, dancing bear, unicycle act) can’t overpower the content.

1. Study the contents, then choose the most efficient and effective method of delivery. Any old method won’t do.

Brian McLaren – speaker, pastor, postmodern/emergent guru has announced that he will be participating in the Muslim rituals of Ramadan. Check it out here. Below is the letter I would write to him.

At Dad’s first post-hospitalization appointment the surgeon said, “You are my miracle man.” This, from a doctor deep into his career and not inclined to such descriptions.

Has Dad’s recovery been miraculous? I don’t know. At minimum it’s defied statistics.

Doing excessive mental calisthenics solely on this issue won’t take me where I ultimately need to go. Focusing exclusively on miracle speak is like watching a chicken dance the cha-cha: You leave impressed, but essentially unchanged.

I ultimately need to go to the place where I’m both impressed and changed. This seems to necessitate my asking questions like:

• How can I get a clearer understanding of Jesus as he superintends Dad’s recovery?
• What must be focused upon for me to increasingly submit to, and honor Jesus instead of merely being impressed by his preserving of Dad’s life?
• How might I be increasingly humbled by the grace that’s lavished upon me?

After getting out of bed, showering and shaving – Dad is ready for a nap. His legs are still pretty swollen and parts of his right hand remain temporarily paralyzed. He hurts less but still lots.

In spite of this, he and Mom are enroute to Kerrville, TX (500 miles away) for an Auctioneers Convention this weekend. As only Dad can say, “I can hurt and be tired at work, or I can hurt and be tired at home… …might as well go to work.” Yes, they are crazy. But it’s a good crazy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Alvin Beadles has left the building. He has been released from the hospital.

I invite you now to track back through the blogs updating Dad’s story. My thankfulness for Dad’s recovery is equalled only by my appreciation for the mercy Jesus showed our family in the midst of it all.

Thank you for walking this path with us.

Talk of Dad’s being released has begun in earnest. It’s hard to imagine given how sick he was only days ago; but we’ll trust them now as we trusted them then.

May the Lord be pleased to continue the clearing of Dad’s post surgical fog and preserve him from any permanent deficits. May the Lord give mom and him the wisdom and patience necessary to navigate this approaching transition.

He’s not winning any races, but he is walking unassisted and pushing his own oxygen bottle. Hopefully he will get weaned from that today.

Walking across the room wears him out; so he’ll need great patience as he transitions from acutely ill to rehabilitating/waiting to get better.

Today was moving day! The word came that Dad was being graduated from ICU and into a regular room. So they packed him up and he was off like a herd of turtles. He walked about 150 yards and refused all offers to quit. That’s the Dad I know.

You have wept while we wept. Now, rejoice as we rejoice.

Most of the Dad’s mental fog has cleared and as expected, he is squarely facing the reality of his situation. If just plain tired were Oklahoma, he’s somewhere around El Salvador. Apparently spending 10 days at the doorway of death takes it out of a guy.

His body systems seem to be cooperating to a degree that allows the Professionals to talk about him being graduated from ICU very soon, then going home someday. We don’t press for a guess. We’re just excited they are increasingly convinced he will actually leave through the front doors instead of the back.

You honor us by sharing our burden. May the Lord be pleased to give Dad a strong and stable blood pressure, the ability to walk unassisted and lungs free of staph pneumonia.

The last 36 hours have proved incredible for Dad. The picture says it all. Finally able to eat, but those who know him can see the mental fog in his countenance.

He is beginning to connect the dots, though he sometimes thinks he’s in New York or it’s time to bale hay. All of this is temporary and expected.

We have definitely turned a corner, yet more corners remain to be turned. May the Lord be pleased to even out his body systems such that the remaining IV medications may be discontinued. This must happen before he can be graduated from ICU.

Today has been amazing. Early this morning, the Lord mercifully allowed Dad’s ventilator to be removed and he’s held his ground all day. May the Lord be pleased to allow him to continue to strengthen and to be finished with the ventilator for good.

Given the fragility of this transition, the staff are understandably limiting our contact with Dad and discouraging visitors for a short while. We don’t want to flood the carberator again.

When awake, he is understandably confused at times, but overall we can see the real Alvin Beadles beginning to shine through.

I’m so proud of Dad, but even prouder of Mom. Through all, she has maintained a faithfulness to Dad and Jesus that can’t be faked. She’s tougher by half than the rest of our family.

Please pray that Dad would continue to improve, beat pneumonia and feel comforted by Jesus as he struggles through the mental fog.