MY BED; GOD IS GOOD!
Ecclesiastes 8:8. “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war…”
Many of you are aware that I have battled ALS for some years. The average lifespan with ALS is five years. By the grace of God, I have survived with it for about seven years. God has blessed me through it all. However, I continue to lose the war. I am confined to a wheelchair, I have great difficulty getting in and out of bed, and my speech and swallowing are almost impossible.
The doctors want to insert a feeding tube, but I have refused to do that. I am thankful I can still use my hands to type. This is such an act of mercy from our loving Father. Thank you for your continued communication, and prayers for us.
The following explains what ALS is. You may go to the URL and read more. Thank you for your love and friendship. May God bless you real good! http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html
What is ALS?
“ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. “A” means no or negative. “Myo” refers to muscle, and “Trophic” means nourishment–”No muscle nourishment.” When a muscle has no nourishment, it “atrophies” or wastes away. “Lateral” identifies the areas in a person’s spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening (“sclerosis”) in the region.
As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs begin to look “thinner” as muscle tissue atrophies.
The body has many kinds of nerves. There are those involved in the process of thinking, memory, and of detecting sensations (such as hot/cold, sharp/dull), and others for vision, hearing, and other bodily functions. The nerves that are affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle power. Examples of voluntary movements are your making the effort to reach for the phone or step off a curb; these actions are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs.”
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
Pastor Blue, My heart breaks to see you suffer with ALS. However, I am always so encouraged by your faith in Christ and your attitude. This would break most people’s spirit & cause them to continually complain. I have seen your spirit renewed day by day and you take every opportunity to still write and minister to the Lord and his people.
I truly never could express to you how much of a blessing you are in my life. I know that the Lord led us to meet all those years ago at Pastor’s school in Boise. You truly saved me from destroying the ministry God put me in!
I thank God for you and for your friendship. I do miss being able to talk with you on the phone, as we used to do, but I am always blessed by reading what you post on your blog.
Thank you for taking the time to minister to me and truly make a difference in my life. Words could never express how thankful I am for you. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
I love you Pastor Blue!
Your friend & brother in Christ,
Jason Lieberg
Uncle Kenny…I’m. Sorry this terrible disease exists..and even sorrier that it has happened to you. I WILL see you someday in the promise land. I will help anyway I can. I will watch out for Joyce. Mandy and Bobby and Jerry all send their love.
Just remember the sufffering is the worst part.. but you are going to Heaven to be with our Savior. He is in in charge of all of this. And he loves you. All of your family and friends still look to you for thier strength.. and think it is unbelievably remarkable how you have gotten through all of this. You are quite a remarkable man. Keep strong in you mind, heart, and brain and soul…Your loving niece…. Angela
We all love you very Much!
Hi Uncle Kenny, I keep you in my prayers always. You are a great inspiration. I love you.
We are so thankful for your ability to comunicate the love of God and His perfect Word <3 We are enjoying reading your Book on Revelation- it is really good and such a hope that any ANY second now the trumpet can sound and we are up in our Saviours arms and a whole new body and Gods perfect love – we will see face to face <3 I wish I could share with everyone how the grace of God is seeing you through! We have not been over to see you once that we were not more encouraged in Christ when we left then when we came <3 We are so thankful you have been our Pastor- our brother in Christ- our neighbor and our friend ! <3 We know we will see ya later Pastor Blue we love you <3
Uncle Kenny it is inspring to me how you show thankfulness even when you are struggling with things such as the simple act of breathing or talking. You are a hero to me and God speaks to me through you!
I love you!
Verna
Dear Pastor Blue,
I don’t exactly know why I’m writing this note, as it seems you already have found comfort and peace and that’s all one can really hope to provide by reaching out to people who are battling or struggling. But I write anyway and I will pray for God’s continued grace upon you.
You have been a gigantic influence in so many people’s lives over the years and I wanted you to know that I am happy to be counted as one of those people. I absolutely know that Rick feels the same way. I won’t pretend that I am a faithful church goer anymore, but I have always maintained my belief in God and I clearly remember many of your sermons, antedotes and lessons – even 15 years later. It’s that belief and those deeply instilled lessons which has kept me from total collapse after having lost both of my parents two weeks ago, one day apart. I believe you have met them, although it was many moons ago.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I am thankful for you and Mrs. Blue. Your steadfastness speaks louder and travels further than you might know.
God bless you.
Tina
Dear Pastor Blue, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt love, admiration, respect, and gratefulness to your love and dedication in serving our true and living God; my husband, Nestor got saved first Sunday, September 1981. Your continued preaching of sound doctrine from God’s Word led him to grow in the Lord; he was able to discern God’s instruction for him to start a small church in Basey, Samar in order for his relatives and friends will have the opportunity to hear God’s plan of salvation. Indeed, God is using the little ministry to reach out to people who had not heard the gospel. I have to write this few lines, to say this to you, our beloved Pastor. Indeed, your ministry has something to do with the existence of Open Door Baptist Church in Basey, Samar. Their Kindergarten has graduated more than 100 bright students already. We salute you for your faithfulness and truthfulness in preaching God’s Word. My husband, Nestor, our daughters, Elaine, and Angie love and respect you and Mrs. Blue very much. We are praying for you. In Christ. Jemima
Hang in there Dr Blue! You are in the top list on our prayers here in OBCM. You have directly imparted Bible knowledge and encouragement to all of us here. Also, ODBC has continually prayed and supported us because of you who started it all.
We may not be able to thank you enough here but up there, we will.
Thank you
Dear Pastor Blue,
Your courage and faith have always been an inspiration to me. Even tho I attended Open Door as a child, I remember your kind, and loving ways towards people. Thank you for your Godly heritage you have passed along, you are a blessing to so many.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Love you and God bless you richly,
Melissa Harrington Manary