Ben's Story

On Wednesday, October 19th, Ben Johnson had a motorcycle accident in south Grand Forks, ND that resulted in a severed spinal column (between T5 and T6). As well he suffered from two broken ribs, minor lacerations, two small perferations in his left lung. He was transferred via air to the Hennepin County Medical Center where he is presently being treated.

Ben's senior picture

He has full use of his arms and hands as well as strong respiratory function. He has no feeling or movement below mid-chest.

Ben has been accepted to receive rehab treatment at Craig Hospital in Denver, CO.  For the last number of years Craig Hospital has been listed in the top ten rehab centers in the United States.  They specialize in spinal cord injuries and treat approximately 300 patients each year.  We are very excited for Ben and the possibilities that await him there.

The plan is for Ben and Mary (Ben's mother & my cousin) to travel via air ambulance from Minneapolis to Denver this coming Wednesday.  Nathan, Ben's dad, will be following on a commercial flight.  The average rehab time is between 4-8 weeks.

Pray that all goes well up til Wednesday and that the travel goes well too.

Thanks again for all of your prayers.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/benjaminjohnson1/mystory

Please Pray

Dear Catholic Faithful,

My cousin’s son is a high school senior, and he was just in a motor cycle accident. He has severed his spinal cord and is being flown to a Minneapolis hospital. Please pray for him.

My cousin and her husband are Assembly of God pastors. I saw my cousin just a couple of weeks ago. She said that her husband had attended a symposium at the local university where he was on a panel discussing faith topics. When he returned home, he told my cousin that he had more in common with the Catholic priest on the panel than any other person there.

Mary and Nathan Johnson and their son Ben live in Minot, North Dakota. They pastor http://freedomchurchgf.com/pages/staff

Many thanks,

Denise Bossert

God Made You

The other day, I divided three boxes of Sculpey clay into seventeen separate balls and gave each student a lump of clay.

I told the students to form a creature - anything their imagination could think to create.

They went to work right away, and the classroom was abuzz with activity. The students carefully created figures, formed eyes, carved out mouths and showed off their handiwork to one another.

"Now, I want each one of you to look at your creation and imagine that it could suddenly come to life."

Their eyes danced with the mere thought of such a great thing.

"Imagine that you could name your little friend, that your little one could say your name, talk to you - love you back."

"That would be great!" one student said and the rest of the students agreed wholeheartedly.

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"And imagine what fun you would have together." And then I paused.

"But what if your creature decided to hop off of your desk and run away. What if he picked up the toothpick you've been using and poked you right in the eye, and then jumped to another student's desk and decided to give someone else love and attention? What if he forgot all about you?"

They were ready now for the lesson. The real reason we had spent the entire religion class with clay.

"You are the clay creature, my friends. God made you. He loves you. He wants you to love Him back. But He will not force you to do it. He permits you to turn and go the other way."

Choose this day.

To love Him.

Your Creator.

The One who formed you and knows you by name.

Take your creature home. And every time you look at him-- remember.

We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared for us in advance, that we should live in them. Ephesians 2:10