This past Christmas season was very tough as there were two very close friends who were in ICU for an unimaginable lenghth of time. My friend from Tennessee was told he had 3 hours to live (well they told his wife). His kidneys shut down and his liver was failing and a host of other issues.  Ironically, the last e-mail he sent me prior to his illness was a reaseach paper on fitness.

The paper focussed more on what fitness can do for you rather than just the acts of becoming fit. Essentially the paper extolled the value of resilliency that comes with being fit and your body's ability to take on stress and illness and survive.

My wife and I drove to Johnson City to visit his wife and lend support. We were able to see one of his sons and some friends. It looked bleak. His wife sang in the choir so my family always sat with him on Sunday.

This morning, with great joy and thanksgiving, I received an e-mail from my friend. He has a long way to go, but somehow (Iknow how) he has made it this far.

But I am a greedy man, There is another friend who has been in and out of ICU since before the new year. He has endured multiple surgeries and has many of the same issues as my friend mentioned above. However he has pre-exixting issues that complicate things. This man is a fighter and it is another miricle that he is still with us. But as I said, I am a greedy man, I want him to come home too!

Both of these men's fight started in December and neither has backed down and if you can spare a brief moment I ask that you pray for them. I ask that you pray specifically for their kidney function returnd to normal. I ask that you pray specifically that their liver function returns. Finally I ask that you pray for their strength and will continue to be as amazing as it has been. Thank you all.