<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Please pray for the following:

Darla Holm’s battle with cancer

Cindy Deal’s legs

Helen C’s battle with Luekemia

Praises

Billy M is doing great and has lived passed what drs expected. Please continue to pray for him.

Please pray for the following:

Darla Holm’s battle with cancer

Cindy Deal’s legs

Helen C’s Luekemia

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Mike Chaloupka was tragically hit by a car in his wheelchair on his way to the returners party.  Mike was in the process of raising support so had not begun serving as staff at UWW. He sustained multiple injuries, the doctors said that they had never seen anyone with so much trauma to his body.  As you might know, Mike had MD and passed away on Tuesday. I have attached a couple of items below for your information, the first is the announcement of Mike’s death to InterVarsity staff and the second is a link to an article by the UWW student paper.  >>..

Did you ever wonder what separates people with disabilities from their able-bodied peers? People with disabilities have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else; they just have to go about reaching them slightly differently. As I watched the Olympics this summer, I was intrigued by the athletes’ passion to compete and win gold in their respective events. This drive is no different for athletes who have disabilities.

For people with physical disabilities, there are the Paralympics are being held Beijing, China September 6 – 17, 2008. Athletes compete in events such as archery, cycling, equestrian, power lifting, sailing, and volleyball sitting just to name a few. I first learned about the Paralympics from my physical therapist in college who went as a trainer with our wheelchair basketball team. For more information on the Paralympics, click on http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml.

People with disabilities also have a drive to compete as they participate in the Special Olympics. Some of the events include: bcycling, bowling, golf, soccer, swimming, and track & field. Ask anyone who has ever participated in the Special Olympics; it really is a great time by all. For more information on the Special Olympics, click on http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/default.htm. If you have a favorite story in regards to the Special Olympics, please send it to me as I’d love to hear it.

There is another kind of race that we all, regardless of disability, are running to win. The writer to the Hebrews describes this spiritual race in chapter 12 and extorts us to run with endurance in such a way as to get the prize. This race will not be easy at all but will be a stern test of endurance. The writer uses an interesting Greek term for “race” that denotes “conflict.” The Apostle Paul uses the same term to describe the sufferings that he went through in his epistles. I thought life was supposed to be easy!

To run with endurance is to have a never quit attitude. I was given a very harsh lesson on endurance in 2006 just after surgery to insert a Baclofen pump for my spasticity. I had to rely on nursing assistants to do everything for me. That was both humbling and embarrassing. When I was finally able to get out of bed, I had all I could do to get myself dressed. It took several months to build up my endurance and resume all of my normal activities. I’m thankful for my Special Touch family who was there for me through this ordeal.

I recently learned another lesson on endurance when I tried to ride my bike that I don’t get too far without resistance. The screws on my footplates fell out and the straps were unable to hold my feet in place. It is because of resistance that I am able to ride my bike and build my endurance. God has a way of putting us in situations like when our company closes leaving us jobless, or when we are recovering from surgery, where we have to give up control and trust Him. I DON’T LIKE IT! However, those are the times that He draws us close and builds our spiritual muscles.

The writer in Hebrews gives us tips on how to run with endurance; it is by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. We do this by learning how He endured everything that He went through for you and me. I need Christ to make up the difference in my life. There is absolutely no way that I can reach my finish line without Him, yet sometimes I try to run by myself in my own strength. Perhaps, I’m not alone in trying at times to run a supernatural race in a natural way. Since looking on Jesus is not natural for me, I need to continuously and deliberately refocus my attention on Him. There are many things in this life that draw our focus away from Jesus and that is why we need to encourage each other to keep looking on Him.

Unfortunately, I receive many emails from various members in my Special Touch family telling me how lonely they feel. I can definitely relate to them. However, we are not alone; our Special Touch family includes people with and without disabilities. While my able-body friends don’t have to deal with Baclofen pumps, they too deal with many challenges, such as small children or financial struggles and need my encouragement and my sense of humor as a person with a disability. WE NEED EACH OTHER!

Last month, we highlighted Chapters and how they can help in our race to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. This month, I want to tell you about the blog and the discussion board available at the Special Touch website. Did you know that there is a place online where you can share praise reports, prayer requests, and updates with your Special Touch family? Our blog is available for you at http://www.specialtouch.org/blog/. Did you know there is a place where you can engage in stimulating discussion? Our discussion board is available for you at http://www.specialtouch.org/blog/. I’m currently looking for a van with a wheelchair lift. Since I’ll be a first time buyer, I’m not sure where to begin. So, I began a discussion in the General Tab to seek input from all of you. For more information on the blog and the discussion, please email me at bmattrisch@specialtouch.org.