Reb Rev's Blog

I don’t know how many people might find this useful, but you probably know someone who can use this information – or will.

This is advice is NOT to replace any info from your doctor or medical professional. I do have to add that my heart attack was classified as “mild” and I have NO experience with any other kind. Also, I have been out of the hospital for about 6 weeks, so I’m still learning. But, here are a few things I’ve learned so far.

1. Your life will change. What you can do for the short term is not what you will be able to do long term. Your diet will probably change that should be long term, very long term. Your activity level will change. That is probably short term, you can get active again, but it will take a while. If you were not active before, that will probably change if you will do it.
2. Listen to your doctor – but also talk to your doctor. Ask questions and write them down so you don’t forget them during those whirlwind visits.
3. If your doctor won’t answer your questions – find a new one. This goes for your family physician to your cardiologist and anyone else you might see.
4. Do rehab. I read recently those who participate in rehab decrease chances of dying from a heart attack by 20-25%. Maybe those machines kill you – I’m just kidding! I didn’t plan to complete rehab. I was just going to go and get some ideas and stop. I’m thinking that probably isn’t a good idea now.
5. Get plenty of rest. The tiredness does go away after a while, but if it doesn’t, it could be a side effect of some of your medicines. I guess they all have side effects and they affect different folks in different ways. But, if you’re not sure, ask your doctor.
6. Involve your friends and family. They want to help and you should let them do whatever you need help doing. Depression is a potential side effect of a heart attack. I guess it could be a side effect of some medicines or combinations of meds, but it doesn’t have to be a “natural” side effect. If it is, your friends and family can possibly see it before you do.

I hope this helps someone. I was totally unprepared for my heart attack. But I’ve had a great support group including my family, my church family, my friends at work, my doctors and other medical folks and now beginning in rehab. Most of all, I thank God for His care during all of this, and I look forward to everyday He sees fit to let me stay here.

Christianity Today’s Study Series “Faith and Pop Culture,” is a small group study which examines various forms of art, from TV to literature to cinema from a Christian perspective. As the authors point out, there has historically been a love/hate relationship between the church and the arts.

From Steinbeck to steroids, the eight sessions cover not only the traditional arts such as cinema and literature, but also address sports and television. The study also explores the role of “family friendly” movies, violence and the specific role of Christians in the entertainment industry. The eighth session is a challenging consideration of what it takes to fulfill the modern desire for entertainment.

The outline of each session is designed to facilitate a small group study, with step-by-step instructions from breaking the ice to getting focused on the topic, to rolling up your sleeves and digging in to what the Bible has to say about each topic. Each session ends with a challenge and a personal action plan for how to apply or further consider the subject in the coming days.

This study would be suitable for youth or adults and, I think, would be especially useful for family devotions either in the home or small group setting. It challenges the student to be careful of what we watch and the impact of our choice of entertainment on our thinking and our witness. I think this is an especially timely study considering the events surrounding the recent death of Michael Jackson, Steve McNair and Farah Fawcett.

“Faith and Pop Culture” is a well designed and useful study guide for small group study.

(I will be posting a few of these book reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program J

I participated in the “Run for the Warriors” www.hopeforthewarriors.org/r4w.html at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina yesterday. Of course, I had to walk, not run, due to my heart.

I was a little put out about that, because I wanted to run and I especially to run at Camp Lejeune. That’s where I developed a love for running as a Marine back in the early 80’s.

While I did not get to run, I was blessed to be able to walk. And I will run again, Lord willing, one day soon. My affliction is temporary. But there were those among us yesterday whose afflictions are not temporary. Many of the “wounded warriors” were there. Some in wheelchairs, some with canes, some with other physical impairments due to wounds received in battle. These guys were awesome. Some rode handbikes, some seemed to be doing good to walk. But, their spirits were undaunted.

Many of these guys fight to be able to show they are still physically fit to serve – some even going back into combat. But, they will face challenges for the rest of their life. Please keep these men and women, and their families, in your prayers. Help them when you can. Organizations such as Hope for the Warriors are doing an awesome job of looking out for these folks. They don’t want sympathy, they are warriors. And, in this fallen world of tyrants, dictators, despots and other enemies of freedom, we need warriors.

God bless them all, and Semper Fi.

As you know, there was a slight interruption in my plans to begin running in 5k’s, 10k’s, etc. J

Eileen and I had signed up to run in this weekend’s Race for the Warriors which helps raise money for the troops wounded in battle. www.hopeforthewarriors.org/

Well, I certainly won’t be running it, but I plan to walk the 5k. Eileen is going to run it, so I won’t be there this time to get a photo of her crossing the finish line, but I know she will do so in fine fashion.

I took the stress test earlier this week and see the cardiologist Monday. Rehab begins on Tuesday.

If you, or someone you know, is in the recovery process from a heart attack (that’s the only thing I can address from experience) please encourage them to improve and do what they can. I know sometimes it is our tendency to try to protect our loved ones, and NEVER do anything against the advice or instruction of your medical professionals, but do all you can to be an encourager.

I thank God, I’m surrounded by people who love me here at home, at church and at work both from my students and colleagues.

I’ll keep you posted and plan to do a post for recovering (PT) addicts J

One of the folks I follow on Twitter is a young lady by the name of Jessica Linnell. She has a blog you can find here – http://www.adventurjess.com/blog

She recently posted a Top Ten Safety Tips list for hiking. You can find it here http://www.adventurjess.com/hiking.html

It is very good. It inspired me to modify it slightly and post it as a “Top Ten” list for trail running. The only trouble was, all I could come up with were five. So, I’m open to a little help here if we need to get to 10 J

You see, I had just finished a trail run with some friends when I had my heart attack. The previous Friday, I had run that trail by myself. Fortunately, I had practiced these tips (a couple for the first time that day). And thankfully, I didn’t need them. But any of us could need them on any given day.

1. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you should get back.

2. Know your trails, or run with someone who does.

3. Carry some type of identification (I have a RoadID ) http://www.roadid.com

4. Know what seasonal conditions in the area (Is it hunting season? What wildlife might you encounter? What plants should you avoid?)

5. Check the weather forecast before you hit the trail, especially if hiking in the mountains. (The weather can change pretty drastically – quickly).

Thanks Jessica!

Well, today Eileen ran her first ever 5k (3.1 mile) race. www.lighthouse10k.com

This all started a few months back when it struck me as a good idea to begin running in some races, with the goal of eventually running the Myrtle Beach ½ Marathon next February.

Eileen, being the good natured person, and great wife that she is, said she’d join me on race days and do the 5k’s. Keep in mind that at that point she wasn’t running on a regular basis. But, she stuck by her plans and kept increasing her distance until 3 weeks ago when I had my heart attack.

With that news, I am out of any races for the foreseeable future. But, she persisted and said she’d continue with her plan. However, I was not helping her with her running routine. There was the week in the hospital followed by the fact that I can’t mow the lawn and other things she has to tend to around the house. Her conditioning has been severely impeded. She still ran sporadically once or twice a week.

She never did get up to running three miles – until today.

She boarded the shuttle to the starting point and I took up my place with camera in hand at the finish line and waited.

As you can see from the picture below, she did a great. She ran the entire length of the course. “I almost cried at the end,” she said. “Why,” I asked. She replied, “Because I was running for both of us.”

And I almost cried at that.

Way to go girl, and you’re always a winner with me.

One of the projects I was working on the past few weeks was a presentation for the NC Sheriff’s Chaplains Association on encouraging law enforcement officers to give attention to their family life.

One of the verses which deals with the relationship between husbands and wives is I Peter 3:7 which says “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

“Dwell with them with understanding.” Interesting. I also found it interesting that in the famous “Love Chapter” of the Bible, I Corinthians 13 in verses 9-12 speak of understanding. So, obviously love and understanding are linked together.

As a husband, in order to understand my wife, I must find out what “makes her tick.” Better stated, what are her needs? As I discover those needs, and help meet those which I can – security, affirmation, assurance she senses my love for her.

Love which is driven by the need of the other person is exactly the kind of love we are shown by Christ. Yet, so often in this world we are caught up in the “what can you do for me?” kind of love.

So guys, listen to your wife. In her words, what needs does she express? Learn how you can help meet those needs and love her by doing your very best to do those very things. You will bring honor to her and enhance your own prayer life.

Ladies, print this out and give it your husband J

After last week’s heart attack episode, a lot of people have said something like “God must have more for you to do,” or “God must not be finished with you yet.”

I’ve given that a lot of thought, and I’d like to share a little about those thoughts. First, let me point out these thoughts are everyday musings, not some product of a “death bed” experience. No brightly lit tunnels, no visions – just some discomfort in my chest followed by a great deal of medical activity, followed by a protected period of time of thinking.

The truth is God does have more for me to do in this life. Not because I’m a pastor, or a mentor, or a teacher – but because I am His child. In fact, His list for me today is the same as it was the day before the heart attack. I was certainly surprised by that event – but God wasn’t.

He knew what March 30, 2009 would hold for me the day I was born, the day I was saved, the day I was married, the day I became a father.

And – He knows all that about you as well. So, while it is true God has more for me to do – the same thing is true for you. Why are YOU still here? There is a reason, because God makes no mistakes.

My prayer for you is that will find that purpose and live wide open as long as He allows.

I’ve written a couple of times about setting, and revising goals.

Remember, goals should be measurable, realistic and challenging. As with all other areas of life, we should always be observing to see if those goals need to be revised. At times we will make more rapid progress than we might have expected when we first started out. Then, there will be times when our resources are restricted or something else happens which causes us to rest our goals.

Such is the case with my running goals post heart attack. I won’t know for sure until my follow-up tests but the 5k in 2 weeks is definitely out, as is the 10k in May.

So for this point in my running life, my verse is Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

I thank God for His goodness, and for now I will walk, then I’ll run. And each day He will renew my strength.

As a result of my heart attack, I spent the better part of last week at the East Carolina Heart Institute. Thank God for this wonderful facility. But, even more thank God for the great staff. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the nurses who cared for me at first, but God knows who they are and how thankful I am for them. The names I remember are Chastity, Bren, Claire, Erika, Charlsie, and “Van”.

Drs. Tan & Wood were my primary care cardiologists and Drs. Diamond and Meara were the residents who looked after me while I was there.

It was clear that not only were they caring for me, but they also cared about me – that, you can’t pay for.

http://www.eastcarolinaheartinstitute.com/home_heartinstitute.cfm?id=1