The Plan B Prayer

Tim's new book, The Plan B Prayer: Living with the Loss of the Ideal, is now available through Striving Together Publications.  How do you pray when "Plan A" has vanished? Find help in this insightful study of Psalm 90. We would be honored if you read it and let us know if it is a blessing to you.

Working Through an Asaph Moment

We are very excited to announce that Tim's book is now available:
 

Working Through An Asaph Moment and Dealing with Doubts About God

His book takes you on a journey through one of Asaph's more popular psalms: Psalm 73. This psalm was a source of strength for Tim during his recent bout with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma. Intertwined through the book is Tim's own story of the ups and downs of life and ministry. We pray that this book will be an encouragement to all those who read it. 

UPDATE June 2016: Tim's first book has been republished by Striving Together under a new name.Click here to purchase a copy of Secret Doubts: Dealing with Unspoken Unbelief.

Happy New Year!

 

We want to send new year greetings to all our friends and family!  It's hard to believe that another year has passed. The year 2012 brought many challenges, but also many blessings. Our little church purchased an old New England-style church building that was built in the late 1800's.  Owning our own property has been a prayer and a dream since we moved to Branford and planted the church. We had many challenges to overcome as we moved in and remodeled the basement. The remodel project turned out beautifully, though, and it was quite sobering to finally see the auditorium full on our Grand Opening Service in September.
Tim continues to stay healthy and strong and runs circles around all of us!  He has an exciting project in the works - he has written a book about his cancer and the many emotional and spiritual battles that it brought to our lives.  The book is in the editing process right now, and we hope to have the first copy in our hands by the spring. Very exciting!
Michael is now 15!  He made a lot of gains in the therapy that he received last year. We  have really noticed a difference in his ability to communicate and in several areas of his school work. Currently, we are working on placing him in a school for kids with his special needs.   He is pretty excited at the possiblity of getting to go to 'real' school - as if homeschool isn't 'real!' Trust me, it is! :) We still have many meetings to attend and hoops to jump through before it can happen, but we are praying for the Lord's leading and provision in this area.
McKayla turned 9 this year.  She is taking piano and flute lessons and really enjoys both. She is in the 4th grade and loves reading and spelling. She has a sweet spirit and a tender heart for the things of the Lord. She also enjoys singing and has sung a few times in church with her BFF, Abigail.  They do a great job and just love to be together!  Her Aunt Sheryl calls them the Giggle-Goofy Girls!
Mark turned 8 and is our 'Little Einstein.'  He is working on some 3rd grade work and some 4th grade work.  He keeps me busy trying to keep him stimulated and interested in what he is doing.  He asks a lot of questions and loves to learn.  He is also taking piano lessons and got a guitar for Christmas, so he is going to learn guitar.  He has become a Lego-maniac, and also loves to tell jokes to make people --and himself-- laugh! 
We continue to pray for our oldest son, Matthew.  The details of his life right now are too long, too personal and somewhat painful for us to share.  He is 19 and out on his own.  He is in the Lord's hands and we love him and pray earnestly for him.
Stacie stays very busy with homeschooling, church ministry and family responsibilities.  There doesn't seem to be time for much more than that, but this time in my life shall pass... much too quickly for sure.
We appreciate each one who prays for us and have enjoyed the many Christmas cards and letters we received this year.  It's always great to hear from everyone and catch up on what is going on in your lives.  May God bless you with a new year filled with His goodness and blessings.

Fall Update

Our lives have felt like a whirlwind the last few months.  We have been working on our new building getting it ready for our Grand Opening and Dedication services on September 16th. The basement remodeling project was a bit more than we initially thought it would be, but in the end, it was worth all the time and effort to see the final product. The basement is now a bright, updated space for our nursery and children's Sunday school classes, as well as a great space for fellowship meals, and has nice, updated restrooms. Throughout the project, Tim had amazing stamina and vision to see the project finished. He and Pastor Fitch spent many, many hours working on details, painting, organizing helpers, as well as keeping up with the daily duties of the ministry.
September 16th was a glorious day with Ray and Ann Gibbs providing special music during the services. Their powerful voices filled our beautiful auditorium and inspired our hearts! There was excitement in the air, the building was full, and the Holy Spirit met with us!  Tim and I were truly overwhelmed as we looked back on the beginning days of our church and remembered all that has taken place since then. Having a permanent place to call our church home has been a constant prayer since before we moved to Branford in 1999.  Pastor Fitch put together a video showing the different locations that our church has met in over the last 13 years and documenting the transformation of the basement of our new location.   Here it is below:


Tim preached a message on "What's the Big Deal?" from I Timothy 3:15.  You can listen to it here: Grand Opening sermon
The dedication service that evening was touching as Tim recognized and thanked all those who gave financially and/or worked on the many different projects that needed to be completed.  Whether it was helping with the move, tearing down walls, pulling up old carpet, laying tile, hanging sheet rock, painting, cleaning, putting up trim, building shelves and radiator boxes, preparing meals for those who were working or completing the many finishing touches, each person was recognized and honored for their service.  It was a truly special day for us...and most of all we give the Lord all the glory for the gift of a permanent location in our town.
The week after the Grand Opening and Dedication, Dr. Rick Flanders came to hold a four-day revival meeting. Many people asked if we could continue the revival meeting and have it all week!  Our hearts were genuinely touched by his messages and many decisions were made to take new steps of faith in our walks with the Lord.  Needless to say, this has been a busy, but exciting few months in the life of our church.
Tim is doing really well physically.  His doctor has now extended his monthly checkups to every two months.  The cancer remains quiet, and his blood work is stable with all his numbers still in the normal range. We are so grateful for the Lord's faithfulness and graciousness to us!  Enjoy these pictures from the Grand Opening service:

 

Moving Day

We moved out of our store front facility in the middle of a thunderstorm about 3 weeks ago. So many people showed up to help that we were completly moved out by around noon. It was a crazy morning! I couldn't believe it when someone told me, "Well, that's the last load!"  As my mother-in-law always says, "Many hands make the work light!"  That saying was certainly proved on moving day!                          
The auditorium and front lobby have been painted and look fresh and bright.  The basement remodeling project is coming along nicely.  We anticipate the walls will be painted this week and the carpet will be installed at the end of this week or the first part of next week.  We are hoping to be able to move in to the basement at the end of the month.
There has been a good group of people come to help us with the project, and even more have given to help with the expenses of the project.  Tim has stated on several occasions how honored he is that so many churches and individuals would take time to help us or give financially. It means so much to know that others support the work being done here in Branford and are excited about this new phase in our church's history.  It has been amazing to see God bring people to us who have a particular skill - and they come at just the right time to finish certain tasks. We appreciate each person's time and effort to help finish this project in a timely manner. I look forward to posting pictures of the completed basement soon!

Group from Michigan who came to help



Taking a break for lunch

Fred keeps everyone laughing



It's Official!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! Today, we signed the papers
to purchase the church building.  We have the keys in hand and are ready to move in!  It is a very exciting day for us.  After nearly 13 years, God has provided a permanent home for Community Baptist Church.  We will be freshening up the place and remodeling the basement over the next several days.  Our first Sunday service in the building is July 1st, and then we will have a Grand Opening and Dedication service on September 16th in conjunction with our church anniversary.  When we moved here and started Community Baptist Church in 1999, having a permanent home was just a dream and a prayer.  God has been gracious to us and we give Him all the glory for this new home! 

A New Home

Our church is on the edge of an exciting event - the Lord has provided the opportunity to purchase our very own church building!  We started in a hotel conference room in 1999.  In 2006, we moved to a community house and then in 2007, we moved to a store front lease where we have met for the past 5 years.  It is pretty exciting to think that we will have our own place and have our own identity in this shoreline community.
The building that we are purchasing was built in the late 1800's, and looks like a typical "New England" chapel with a tall working bell tower and beautiful stained glass windows.  The auditorium was remodeled a few years ago and is beautiful, as you can see in the picture below.  We are scheduled to take possession of the property in the middle of June, and then we would like to make some repairs and a few upgrades to the structure.  We are seeking help with these projects, both physical laborers and financial help.  If you would be willing to help us, you can contact us at the church office. (www.cbcbranford.org)  We are planning a "Grand Opening" and dedication service in September in conjunction with our church's 13th anniversary. 

Outside of building

Remodeled Auditorium

Yale class finished for now...

This is a picture of the last meeting of Tim's class at Yale Law School.  For ten weeks, he was able to lead 13 students (three are not pictured here) in a study of the Christian Principles in Early American Law.  This study was challenging, fascinating, and very rewarding.  Tim learned from the students as much as they hopefully learned from him.  The students questioned him at every turn, but God used the course in the hearts of some of the students who attended.  At the end of the last class, Tim gave each student a Bible and a copy of a book that explains the Bible in an understandable way.  More than one student expressed that they were curious about Christ and Christianity and that they were seeking.  We are excited because Tim has been asked to return for the fall semeter and conduct another class.  He is praying about the topic and working with one of the students to finalize the details of the class. We are praying for fruit from this amazing opportunity!

Answers to Prayer

Tim had his MRI done today and we already have the results.  The test showed no change from the last time he had an MRI, which means that there is no compression fracture and the cancer is still quiet.  The blood tests also confirm that the cancer is quiet.  Tim's pain is easing up and he has been feeling better in the last few days.  The doctor believes that the pain was from a possible muscle strain, and that it had nothing to do with his bones. This is very good news and we are praising the Lord for His graciousness to us.  We do appreciate all of those who have prayed for Tim this last week.

Another answer to prayer happened today - McKayla (8) was able to ride her bike for the first time since June of 2011.  That is when her JRA began acting up again and she had to stop riding her bike because it hurt too much.  This was really hard for her, because she enjoys riding her bike so much and LOVES riding with her daddy and the boys.  When we started her back on the JRA medication last fall, we began praying that when warmer weather arrived, she would be pain-free and she would be able to ride bikes with the boys.  Today, they went for a 2-mile ride down to the water.  When they returned, McKayla was grinning from ear to ear!  She was so happy to have been on her bike again and she said there was no pain!!!  Praise the Lord!

Prayer

I hesitate to share this because we don't know anything yet, but I know that many of you who follow this blog are prayer warriors and we need people praying for us right now.  Tim has been experiencing pain in his upper back for the last few weeks and it is getting worse.  The doctor ordered an MRI, and it is scheduled for Monday, March 12.  Please pray for peace of mind this week as we wait for this test and the results.  Thank you.

Update on Class at Yale

The class at Yale is going really well for Tim and he is so excited to be a part of it.  He has 11 students participating and they are very intrigued by the topic.  This Tuesday, he will be discussing the Biblical principles of government.  He will open the Bible and show the students the principles that directed the founding fathers to formulate our government.  A few of the students have indicated that they have never been exposed to this viewpoint and they find the discussion challenging and fascinating.  One student shared how much she was enjoying the class and that it was the fastest hour and a half that she has had in law school!  Please pray every Tuesday night from 6:00 - 7:30 that Tim will have favor with the students and wisdom as he guides this class.

Amazing Opportunity

We live just outside of New Haven, Connecticut, which is the home of Yale University.  Ever since we moved here and started our church (www.cbcbranford.org), we have always wanted to reach the Yale community.  Tim has recently been given an amazing opportunity and is so excited about the potential.  A young man in our church is a student at the Yale Law School.  He recently submitted Tim's name to be a guest lecturer there at Yale, and the request was granted.  So, starting tomorrow night (1/24) and going for the next 13 weeks until the end of the semester, Tim will be leading a one credit reading group for the law students there on the campus of Yale! He will be lecturing and leading a discussion on the Judeo-Christian heritage of our American forefathers and the influence their beliefs had on the founding of our country.  There are already about 9 students signed up and there is the potential for several more.  Please be in prayer for Tim as he leads this group.  It is a huge commitment as he has to add a lot of extra study and preparation time to his week, but he is really looking forward to it and what the Lord could do through this class. 
(Update: He just returned from his 6 week visit with the oncologist.  Things still look great - Praise the Lord!)

Chicken Pox ... Seriously?!?

Tim woke up on Monday morning with little red spots all over himself and he was itching like crazy!  At first we thought it may be hives, but called the oncologist just to be sure he was okay.  A visit to the doctor that afternoon confirmed that he definitely had chicken pox. Seriously?  Chicken pox at this age???  Apparently, stem cell transplant patients are highly susceptible to the chicken pox and shingles viruses. The doctor gave him a very strong anti-viral medication and by yesterday, the spots were fading and the itching had begun to subside. He is feeling much better, now.  And you thought chicken pox were only for kids!  We are just wondering who he unknowingly shared them with in the days leading up to the rash breaking out.  Um...sorry about that...

This is just one incident in a long line of things that have happened to us since the week of Christmas.  Remember that nice, quiet week I was hoping for in my last post?  Well, that was only a dream!  Two days before Christmas, Tim got pink eye and then gave it to two of the kids.  Then, on Christmas day, our hot water heater quit working.  Two days after Christmas, our boiler unit went out and we found black smoke billowing through the basement.  No one was injured - just the bank account.  Then, I got a bad flu bug and then the chicken pox got Tim...  and then...well, there is more, but I won't bore you.  It's just that something we affectionately call the "Zac Curse" has struck yet again.  It's our version of Murphy's law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong and it will usually happen in a cluster of several consecutive events.  We joke about the Zac Curse to keep from crying when things happen like this one after the other after the other.  We realize that our troubles could be much worse, but a string of challenges like these has the ability rob us of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strength.  Having a sense of humor - and spending a lot of time in prayer - certainly helps get us through the tough days.

Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is this week - where did this year go?  I am glad to have made it through this past fall - it has been an extremely busy few months for me.  But, the Lord gave me grace and helped me prioritize and get everything done in the right time. Now, all the shopping is done, the Christmas program at church is over and I am just planning Christmas dinner this week. Ahhhh - I am looking forward to a relatively quiet week...I hope.

McKayla is doing much better since starting the medication for her JRA.  She is experiencing less pain in her knees and wrist and the swelling is going down. The x-ray that she had in November showed significant swelling, but no joint damage.  Now that the swelling is subsiding, she is gaining better range of motion in her knee.  She is also showing less fatigue throughout the day.  We are very grateful to see that she is making progress and beginning to feel more like her perky self. She will be on the medication for at least another year - she has to go a full year with no symptoms before the doctor will begin to decrease the medication and eventually take her off of it completely.  So far, she has done very well on it with little to no side effects.  Thank you to all of you who are praying for her.

Tim is still feeling fabulous and got another good report at the last doctor's appointment.  They are now stretching his appointments out to every 6 weeks instead of every 4 weeks.  He has begun writing a book about things the Lord has done and taught him throughout the last couple of years and is very excited about how the Lord is leading in that endeavor.  We'll let you know when it's done!

Michael is 14 now and doing really well!  The intense autism therapy that he received this year has allowed him to make some significant gains academically, socially, mentally and physically.  We have continued "home therapy" this fall and he is scheduled to have another evaluation in January.  We are looking forward to seeing the results of those tests.  He loves his karate classes and is moving up the ranks.  He's also very proud that he is just barely taller than I am now!

McKayla is 8 and was baptized in August.  What a sweet service that was!  She is doing really well homeschooling this year and is enjoying piano lessons.  She played soccer this fall and was the star defensive player on the team - way to go, McKayla!  She loves Master Clubs at church and is memorizing lots of Scripture -she loves earning those badges!

Mark is now 7 and loves homeschooling this year, because as he says - he doesn't have "to wait for all the other kids in the class to answer the questions. That's soooo boring!"  :)  He enjoyed playing soccer this fall and is excelling at the piano.  He loves Mario Kart and Legos, Legos, Legos!

Please continue to pray for our oldest son, Matthew, who is now 18.  He is attending classes in a program out of state and enjoys his job.  It has been a rough year with him, but we know the Lord is working and we trust Him with Matthew's future.

Thank you for following us on this journey.  The Lord is so faithful to us and gives us exactly what we need for each day.  We are excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ - May all of you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

McKayla

Our daughter, McKayla, is 8 years old and has the sweetest personality.  She has a real heart for the Lord, and she truly cares for others.  We are so blessed to have been given the privilege of raising her.  When she was only 18 months old, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.  It was very hard to watch her as a toddler experience stiffness in her joints and hear her cry out in pain during the night.  We battled it for about two years with different medications, and then finally the JRA went into remission when she was around 4; however, the remission was only for 6 months.  So at 4-1/2 years old, she went back on the treatment plan.  Again, it took about two years of treatment, and then at the age of 6-1/2, the JRA went back into remission.  It was a such a huge blessing that while Tim was very sick and going through his cancer treatments, McKayla did not experience any symptoms from the JRA and we were able to cut back on the frequency of the doctors appointments.

In June of this year, she began complaining of knee pain and experiencing extreme fatigue.  In August, the doctor determined that the arthritis had become active once again, and started her on just an anti-inflammatory treatment, but she has not responded to that.  So starting on Monday, we will begin the treatment plan that we have done twice before.  Please pray that McKayla will once again be able to tolerate the medications and that her body will respond in a way that forces the JRA to be calm again.  McKayla has such a sweet spirit and has not let the pain and stiffness steal her joy.  She doesn't complain and tries to be as active as her body will allow. One thing it has hindered her from doing is riding her bike. She loves to ride with Tim and the boys, but it has just been too painful for her. We are hopeful and praying that by the spring, she will be able to go on bike rides with her daddy again.  Please pray with us as she starts back on the medications that the side effects will be minimal and that she will respond positively.

Tim continues to feel great and has an enormous amount of energy!  We praise the Lord for the good reports he continues to receive from the doctor!

More Pictures...

Today, we received a few more pictures from the bike ride and I wanted to post them.  Tim and Marc both reached their goals - their total amount raised is $1,325.  Thank you to all who gave!!!

Tim next to his bike - it's the black and white one with gold "Z's" on it!

Tim and Marc

Just to note - Tim is feeling great!  He has so much energy right now, I'm having a hard time keeping up!

In Remission and On a Mission

Today was a beautiful day as Tim and Marc participated in the Closer to Free Bike Ride for cancer research.  They had great time riding 25 miles with about 250 other participants, several of which were cancer survivors.  Tim wore a sign that read " In Remission and On a Mission" as a testimony of how God has brought him through some dark days and allowed him to participate in this event. It meant so much to Tim to be able to ride.  It is almost 2 years to the day that Tim was first diagnosed with cancer.

Thank you to all those who gave to support and sponsor Tim and Marc - so far they have raised $1125!  Way to go guys!  If you did not get a chance to give, but would like to, you can go to www.rideclosertofree.org and click ride a sponsor.  They will accept sponsors until September 30th.  You can also go to that site to read more about the ride today.  We really appreciate each one of you that sponsored the guys!

Irene

Tree on our car

McKayla and Mark help wash the clothes

We survived the hurricane that came through last week.  We were without electricity, phones and Internet for 5 days.  We did have a tree fall on our car, but the damage was very little. We became very resourceful during our experience - we moved what food we could salvage to coolers and had to venture out to find ice each day.  The kids enjoyed doing laundry in buckets one day and learned what it was like to live "Little House on the Prairie style."  We are so thankful that we had water - while it was cold, it was still water.  Several people in our church have wells, so they have been without water in addition to all the other needs.  We are also thankful that the damage around us was not as severe as those in the town over from us whose homes were completely destroyed by the storm.  Our prayers are with them as they begin the task of rebuilding their lives.

By the way, Happy Birthday to Tim - he is 45 today!!!  He had another good report at the doctor this week and is very much looking forward to the bike ride next Saturday.

New Way to Donate

We are getting closer to the charity bike ride that Tim is participating in and he is very excited.  He and his teammate have been training and working hard to prepare.  We now have a new, more efficient way to donate.  You can go directly to the website: www.rideclosertofree.org.  Then, click on the green button that says "Sponsor a Rider."  You will then be asked to enter first and last name.  Enter: Tim Zacharias.   You will then need to click on Tim's name.  The next page you will enter your donation amount and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you are not able to or are uncomfortable donating online, you can still send your donations directly to us and we will make sure that it gets to the proper place.  (Our address is in the previous post.)
We appreciate all of your donations and support! 

Bike Ride for Cancer Research

It has been over a year now since Tim went through the stem cell treatment.  He is feeling really well and has gained his energy level and stamina back completely.  He just went to the oncologist yesterday for his monthly checkup and for his IV bone strengthening treatment.  All his levels are still at remission levels - Praise the Lord!  God has been so faithful to us throughout this very difficult time and we are grateful that He has chosen to allow Tim to feel so well.

Tim used to love to run in the mornings for exercise, but in the spring of 2009, a few months before he was diagnosed with cancer, he had to give up running because the pain was too much for him.  So, he began biking and really enjoyed it.  I even gave him a custom-built bicycle for Father's day that year.  Two men in our church, Marc Otfinoski and Jim O'Connor, worked to make this bike really special for Tim.  He was enjoying his new found sport and when his back pain became so intense that he had to give up biking as well, and he was very disappointed.  However, just a few months ago, the doctor gave him permission to get back on the bike.  He rides about 3-4 mornings a week and enjoys every minute of it.

The hospital that handled Tim's stem cell transplant is the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale-New Haven in New Haven, Connecticut.  They are holding a "Closer to Free Bike Ride" on Saturday, September 10.  Riding in this event means a great deal to Tim.  His goal is to raise $1,000.  (He is raising money for himself and for a team mate as well.)  The money raised will go towards cancer care and research at the Cancer Center.  If you would be willing to sponsor him in this ride, you can send your donation directly to Tim Zacharias at 23 Bellview Road, Branford, CT 06405 and we will make sure that it gets to the correct place. We will be updating as we get closer, and of course will post pictures and let you know about the ride.  We appreciate your support!