My brother, John. This is the one who told me about Jesus, and how He saved us by dying on the cross for us. John used a Risk Boardgame to illustrate what Jesus did, and how God loves us. He used the pieces of the game as symbolic truth. The red pieces represented the blood that was shed on the cross. The white pieces represented how that blood cleansed us from our unrighteousness. As sinners, we wore rags. As sinners saved by His grace, we now are depicted as wearing robes of white. I didn't get saved then, but it was the seed which was planted. Some time later, John calls me on the phone and witnesses to me.

He simply asked me, "Mike, if you were to die tonight, do you know where you would go?"

Even then I believed there were only two places to go after a person dies. Purgatory is not one of them. There is Heaven, or there is Hell. I told my brother that I didn't know, and he showed me the Romans Road to Calvary.

I don't tell my brother John that I love him, and thank God for him, because he was the one who took the time to tell me about Jesus. I don't spend enough time with him, or my parents, or my other brothers and sister the way I would like to. I love them and thank God for them. My brother John is a trooper, and I don't mean any of them whimpy so-called Imperial troopers you see on that giant kid movie, Star Wars. (The real Star Wars was the first 3 with Harrison Ford, Mark Hammel, and Carrie Fisher, and then it ended!) John is a real soldier of the Cross. He has had more battles than any one I have seen. He has had 2 liver transplants, and is just now coming out of a bad bout with cancer. John, I believe the devil is mad at you because every time he gives you a kick, you just get right back up and say, "What was that? A feather? You threw a feather at me?"

John, you're one of the best. It doesn't matter in the long run who is and isn't standing right there with you, because God is always right there. The truth is that our God can move mountains. I've seen him do it in your life. I know He's done it in mine. God used you as an example to follow in my life. So hold your head high and the next time that old devil comes around, looking to give you a kick, you remind him that he has to go through the God of the mountains first.

That will show him!

With love, your brother...Michael

It's update time!

John has recently has his last chemo and the cancer is gone, all gone! He is in complete remission. Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he is still on disability due to his feet, lack of stregnth, and rejection issues.

My Dad has a brand new pace maker. My Mom is going to be having a procedure for her hearing. So pray for them, too.

Thank you.

I recently received this from an email from my Dad...

Hi...just a word to you all that Bev is going to have a Cochlear implants on "both" ears in Oct 18 this year. These are NOT hearing aids...they are instruments that generate sounds to the nerve links that go to the brain...sort of like a BIONIC adjusting for hearing. They will have to pull her scalp back and drill a "countersink" hole to set a SENDER device into her scalp that has a magnet in it...then close it up...(behind both ears). In 5-6 weeks, after healing she goes for her transmitters that fit behind the ear like a hearing aid. There is a cord that links to the magnet and..WALLA... she can hear again. It will take 5-6 weeks of adjusting at 25 bucks a pop for co-pay each time... then once or twice a year for general maintaince at the Dr's clinic to check in on the reception...but it will be worth it all. We are told our insurance will (we hope) cover it all...30,000 dollars plus. Thank God.

The "opp" will be at Albany Medical and take apx 5-6 hrs in all and she may have to stay overnight. She is excited about it regardless of the pain that she will have to bare up to...Prayers to make it a success and for comfort will be appreciated....God bless John/Bev

So pray for them, and John says he is doing okay. They are keeping an eye on his kidneys, so pray for him, too.

Thank you again.

Just a word or two. The thingie mentioned above about my Mom and her new procedure to hear better...is still in the mix. I think it has to be activated. More on this later.

But, hey...Lookie here! An email update from John, and he is gonna need more prayer.

Hi ya'll,

I've been without my e-mail and computer for over a month, the 'mother board' blew out and I just got it back today and will update you all.

Believe it or not, I had to go to Boston for five days of testing, my Creatitine (kidney function numbers) are way high. They are supposed to be between .3 and 1.3, mine are 6.7! My kidneys are failing. We're back to Boston on the 8th for a check-up then back home for a kidney biopsy scheduled for the 10th where I'll be admitted to Glens Falls Hosp. for the procedure. To top it all off I got pnuemonia and was admitted to GFH on the 28th -31st. I can't win. Now were praying and hoping we can avoid kidney dialysis.

At this point the 'many' doctors I have, 9 in all, don't know why the numbers are going up. Speculation: the chemo has trashed my kidney's, or the years of Prograf has done it, or there's something else going on that they can't find. It's a mystery right now but one doctor summed it up to 'Bujanowski Disease'. He's probably right.

john buj

So...if I get any more news about either my brother or my mom, I'll let you know.

john

________________________

Long time for an update, but here is one. John has been battling with kidney failure and is in Boston today to see about a third transplant. He had two liver transplants, and now is in need of kidney transplant. Please keep him in your prayers. My brother is a trooper, and I wish I was like him.

Here is some news. My brother, John, has had two liver transplants, cancer...and now he is in need of a kidney. Well, I don't know all of the particulars, but after years of going through with dialysis, he is now able to get this kidney transplant. But he either has to get on a list or get one from a donor. Next Thursday, my wife and I are going to Boston with John and Chris to consult with his doctors about a kidney. My brother, Rick, will be tele-communicating with us. The consult is to see whether my kidney is compatible for my brother, John. So keep an eye on this page for more updates. I will post news upon my return from Boston.

Sometimes, I really don't have a clue. In my walk with Christ, there are often times when I just walk right into the proverbial wall simply because it is the way I think I should be going. Right now, I am going by blind faith. Faith because I cannot see what is ahead of me. Faith because my brother cannot see what is in front of him. What we do know is that God knows what we cannot see.

God sees all.

People (some anyway) see me as a quiet person. I sit in a room with a Transplant Specialist. Two of them, actually. One, a doctor, the other, a RN. They tell me, my wife, my brother John and his wife of all of the facts that they can talk about in the space of two hours about kidney translpants...Where they came from. How medicine and technology has come a long way and increased the quality of life after a surgery. The risks involved. The difference between a live donor and a deceased one. And through it all, my wife asked some questions. I didn't.

God knows all.

The RN asked my brother why I was so quiet. Why I didn't ask any questions. Why I simply sat and listened. My silence sometimes does me in. But my silence isn't what people think. Am I shy? No. Am I passive? No. I have much to say, but I say most of it in writing. I say most things in action. By doing things. And if you sit with me and have a conversation one on one, I can chat up a storm.

I listened to what the doctor had to say about the history of transplants in the New England Medical Center in Boston. I took it all in and understood clearly through it all that I am willing to be a donor for my brother John. I understand about the two liver transplants he had already undergone in years gone by. The second liver is doing fine, but it gave John cancer. He went through chemo and then it was gone...but it caused his kidneys to fail. So for almost 2 years, the doctors have been watching him while he had to go through (and still does) dialysis. They watched him because they wanted to make sure the second liver holds. It is. Therefore, this transplant of a kidney can take place.

That's where I come in. So I go in, I listen, and I understand what is at stake. I really do not need to know the specifics because I have faith that God knows what He is doing. If He wants me to give my kidney, I will. If He doesn't, I'm sure He will close the door. I also believe these doctors and nurses know what they are doing. I am confident in their abilities. God placed them on this earth to learn what they do best...and that is good enough for me. Bottom line, I know that God is in control of these circumstances. I have taken the steps needed on my part and am far more willing to take more. The first phase is done. Before another consultation can begin, they are looking at blood samples to see if my blood is the same as my brothers. Once this is established, I get a call and proceed to the next phase...A sit down with the RN and answer some very pointed questions.

So I wait on God and pray that He will work it out. What in the world am I doing? I am waiting on God.

Me B