Evan's Story

Yesterday I had the privilege of doing the baby dedication for a couple who have been a part of Summit for a while now and who have come to be friends that I respect. Below is the challenging story of their first child, Evan's, journey. His story truly points to the power and glory of God.

Evan’s Story

We found out in December of 2008 that we were pregnant with our 1st child after we had been trying for over a year. At 17 weeks we got an ultrasound done that showed we were having a boy. We went to the Bahamas trying to enjoy a last vacation before having our son. We got a phone call from our Dr. that there was a problem with our son and we needed to call them. They told us that our son had enlarged ventricles in his brain filled with fluid. Later we got the diagnosis of severe hydrocephalus. In the Bahamas, we decided on the name Evan because we wanted our son to fight, and his name “Evan” means “Young Warrior”.

We were sent to a high risk pregnancy group that discussed what was going on. They asked us numerous times if we wanted to terminate and literally scared us to death trying to persuade us to terminate. They gave us information on X-linked hydrocephalus which had an extremely poor prognosis. They also told us that Evan had a high chance of dying before he could even be delivered.

We were crushed and so we talked to Orlando & Todd at Summit. They prayed with us and they cried with us. They took our story to prayer teams and stayed in touch with us throughout the whole pregnancy. I remember Todd saying “God hasn’t written this story yet”! We also sought prayer from family and friends outside our church. The word got around quickly and we heard about families and churches around the country that were praying for Evan!

So at this point, all we could do is research hydrocephalus as much as we could. We found a neonatal neurosurgeon in Orlando with a really good reputation with shunt surgery for hydrocephalus infants. When we saw him he was very sympathetic about our situation and gave us all the facts that he could. He told us that when Evan was born that he would have to have a shunt inserted into his brain to drain the fluid and release the pressure in his brain to survive. This shunt would be with him the rest of his life. He also said with the amount of fluid and the size of Evan’s head that we should sign a DNR before he is born. He explained that if Evan could not breathe on his own then he would pretty much be a vegetable and that we should strongly consider signing the DNR.

At 26 weeks, Michelle was in a car accident where some teenagers pulled out in front of her and she had to stay overnight because she went into pre-term labor. Pre-term labor came and went throughout the pregnancy with the doctors prescribing bed rest several times. But Evan amazingly survived a high speed car accident at around 40 mph!

We were told that with the size of Evan’s head that he would not make it to delivery….again. We had to go up to Orlando to deliver because they didn’t have a neonatal neurosurgeon in Ft, Myers. We also had to go up early because of the pre-term labor from the accident & the increased size of Evans head. The delivering Dr said we had to deliver early because his head was getting too large and it would become increasingly dangerous to wait.

In Orlando we stayed at the Ronald McDonald house and scheduled his C-section delivery for August 3rd, 2009.

On the day he was born, the doctors had a respiratory team in the delivery room because they weren’t sure if he would breathe on his own. When he came out, we were so scared but he started crying & breathing on his own and we both cried with him! He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz being 6 weeks premature. He scored a 9 out of 10 on the apgar scale which is near perfect.

That wasn’t the end. The day before his surgery they told us that they couldn’t do it because his blood work came back with some issues. After many blood transfusions they finally did a bone marrow test that came back with 10-15 percent abnormal bone marrow cells. They told us that it would either get better or get worse; leukemia is 25% abnormal bone marrow cells so they thought he could be headed that way.

He ended up having his shunt surgery on August 11th because his head started to increase in size and they couldn’t wait any longer. Evan came out of the surgery on a respirator having tubes coming out from all over but he was so strong throughout. We again had to worry about infection because his immune system was still so weak. We had to wear gowns, gloves, and masks just to be in the same room with him. At one point, they had to put his IV in his head because they had poked him so many times in the arms. We spent our days & nights in the NICU feeding him and just spending time with him, praying every day that somehow Evan would be ok.

When we were able to bring him home, his immune system was still weak and we had to get his blood work done every week. Finally in December, his immune system finally recovered and again he made it through yet another obstacle. The cancer doctor we had to go to said “you can’t rule out prayer” and with the support of family and our church family we felt that we were very well covered in prayer.

Evan is now 7 ½ months old; he weighs over 18 lbs, and is in the 90th percentile for his height. He is truly doing amazing; his neonatal neurosurgeon said he expects Evan to be a “normal independent functioning adult”! What a day that was, we cried tears of joy that could not be held back. We finally got to see God’s introductory chapter of Evan’s story that He is still writing.

Evan is a true miracle that can only be described as a gift from God.

We want to thank our family & friends, the Leadership team, and all the people of Summit church for all their prayers and support through this difficult time in our lives. Thank you to the families that brought us meals and the endless words of support that we received. Every time we felt discouraged someone or something would give us a little boost of hope, the timing of which could not be explained other than God guiding our family through this. So thank you for allowing yourselves to be the work of God to our family.

We cannot thank you enough,
Jason, Michelle, & Evan Plucker

Why do you read your Bible?

The other day I was sitting in a coffee shop and there was a gentleman reading his Bible and a stranger walked up and asked him why he read the Bible. I quickly leaned in with great expectation to what the response was going to be. I thought, wow, what a divine appointment. Man, this is going to be great, bring the heat man, go for it, set it off, paint that picture of the grandness of the God we serve...and the guy answered because that's what we do as Christians...what? That's it, that's the best answer you have to why you engage in God's infallible and eternal truth. Well there were no fireworks there and there was certainly no amazement on the face of the guy who asked the question.

Now before you go judging me, understand I am not judging the man, for his answer. I am not questioning his walk or love for Christ, I was just shocked that there wasn't more to his reason and motive. Well that got me thinking. Why do we read the Bible? What would I answer? What would the people who I help to pastor answer? Reading the Word each day is great and we at Summit encourage it greatly. But obedience to the Word is the key.

The goal in reading the Word is not to finish, but to change. I hear so many Christians post, update, or even say that they read their Bible, but I wish I would read or hear as frequently about people's struggles and enlightenment's of the Truth they are claiming they read. Now before you go labeling me a "Bible thumper" or a "Debbie-downer" that's not my heart at all. My fear is that for so many reading their Bibles has become a "have to" and the wrong "have to" at that. For many they have to read their Bible because their Pastor told them to, or their small group leader, or because that's what a good Christian does...And I just wonder where the passion and power is in that. I think God's "have to" would be, because without it, we would be lost, we would be left to ourselves, we would never fully experience the joy and wonder of intimacy with God, without it we would continue to struggle with the lure and grip of sin, without it we would be lulled to believe that what this world has to offer is better than the pleasures God holds in His hands.

You see if we read the Bible because as a Christian we "have to", we may miss the wonder in communing with the eternal and connecting with the divine, and therefore we may end answering like the gentleman at the coffee shop. Why do you read the Word? Are you passionate about it? Do you see it as your map and guide? The next time you sit down to read, ask yourself, why am I doing this? Don't be in such a hurry to check your box and pat yourself on the back for doing the "have to". Ask God to show you His glory, illuminate your sin, and draw you closer to Him? Don't worry so much about the quantity of what you read as you do the quality. Remember don't read to finish, read to change. Just a rambling. God Bless!

No More Crutches...

Could my life stand on it's own? That is the question that God has been using in this season to challenge, convict and prune me. What area or areas of my life, in this season could not stand on its own, but needs explanation? My buddy, Todd, and I started a discipleship group for men on Tuesday mornings, and the challenge has been to be men of the Word, men of prayer and men of integrity. Well, if I am growing in those areas my life should be able to stand on the goodness of God and reflect the transforming power of the Gospel. I want so desperately to be a man whose life reflects the character of God, and yet as you know that is a lot easier to say than to live out. But, why is that? I mean, God has promised us His grace, His Spirit, His Truth to lead us, and empower us over sin and yet there are still so many fumbles.

I don't claim to have the answer, but one thing I have come to realize in my own life is that there is a huge difference between managing your sin and image and living transparently before God and others. I think a lot of times as Christians we spend the majority of our time trying to explain away our actions than pursuing holiness and Christ-likeness. God hasn't called us to guard our image or manage our sin, He has called us to bear His manage and deal ruthlessly with our sin. That is totally different than the way we as Christians live sometimes. I know what you're thinking, this post is already five sentences too long, so let me go back to the beginning...yes the beginning.

Can your life in this season stand on its own? Could people look at your life all facets of it and walk away and say I know what that man/woman is all about? Or would they be confused that your life which is to resemble and reflect Christ looks no different than the unbelieving world. I don't ask the question in judgment, believe me, its the question I ask myself daily...whether I am at the gym, outside with my kids, out to dinner with my wife, or even sitting a lone at Starbucks could my life stand on its own. If the answer is no, or not in this area, it's time to stop talking to cover ourselves, and start talking to God for forgiveness, and change.

The Gospel is the power of God to bring salvation and transformation...maybe it's time we stop confusing people not so much with our doctrine, but with our lives. Just another rambling, but praying hard our lives will be able to stand without the crutches of excuses...God Bless.

WAITING...

This morning I was reading in Psalm 27 and God really encouraged and challenged me with these verses...
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Love that faith...I am confident, that I will see the goodness of the Lord. I think so many times, the weakness of my faith and the immaturity of it is seen when I allow circumstances to define my reality. When I allow the pressures, disappointments or frustrations of this life choke out or block out the reality that God is good and that we as His children will see His faithfulness and goodness. But, what are the necessary prerequisites to experience His goodness and baste in it, well here's one WAITING! Now it sounds easy enough, but let's be honest how good are we at waiting. I have seen almost wars breakout in department store lines, drive thru's and even counter tops at Starbucks because people have had to wait. Maybe you have been one of those individuals, sadly enough I know I have been one. Waiting, sounds so nice, but spiritually it can be one of the toughest things to do. We want God to act, respond and move according to our time table. In our impatience we almost treat God like a genie in a bottle and guess what God will not NO part of it. Waiting..............................now I'm just messing with you. Here's the question, how good are you at waiting, no not just in line or at a restaurant, but more importantly, waiting on God. Are you confident in this season, that you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living or are you to busy looking at your circumstances and too busy growing impatient? Well, I think God would say to each of us, WAIT! Watch my glory, rest in my strength, and don't you dare try to be me...WAIT. It's not a passive word, it's actually a word of strength.

"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Just some rambling, but praying we will soar today as we WAIT on the Lord.

Greater Things...

Yesterday we completed week two of our 5 weeks series entitled "Greater Things". It was a privilege to teach down at our Naples Campus and see some of what God is doing there. The people are excited about God's mission and the campus is growing. There is a fresh excitement in this season of ministry. The vision continues to be refined for us as a Leadership Team and we continue to see the activity of God in and through the lives of His people.

Though the wrecking that God has been doing in my heart and life are far from being over I can't help to feel a sense of restlessness. Restlessness that is stemming from a deep conviction and belief that God is about to truly blow the doors off of this place. Greater things are truly yet to be seen for the glory of God. I am desperately asking God to train my heart to say yes. I am not letting go of the fact that I believe a more permanent residence for our Naples Campus and the launch of a third campus are non-negotiables. It is going to require sacrifice, faith and obedience. And as I am praying that God would prepare my heart, and I am praying for the hearts of those who call Summit their home as well.

Over the last 6 years this ministry has lived and operated on the edge of faith, but my spirit has been letting me know we really haven't seen anything yet. I am so pumped for the next part of this journey.

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Psalm 143:10

ING Miami Marathon 2010

Yesterday, I ran my second marathon with my buddy, Jonathan. This is the fourth race that I have had the privilege to run in conjunction with Organization for Autism Research in honor of my son, Max. Though I did not reach my desired goal, I was so pleased to just finish. Being sick all week and on the day of the race added to the hardship of doing a race of this magnitude. One of the great things about yesterday, besides crossing the finish line, was just reflecting on how much the Lord has done in my son's life over the past year. It is nothing short of amazing. Every day, my wife, Pam and I get to see the activity of God in and through our little boy's life. There are so many unknowns with autism, but one thing we know for sure God is faithful and He is good. There was so much frustration I felt yesterday with being sick, wanting to quit, and knowing that I was not going to meet my goal, that it was at times upsetting, but it was in that moment that I got a glimpse of the frustration that my son must feel at times, when he can not understand or do something. What I love about him though is he continues to plug away, so I figured as long as I could breathe I would press on.

I told my wife yesterday that there was a team of runners that had this slogan printed on their shirts...
"Run when you can,
Walk if you need to,
Crawl if you must,
But don't you dare quit!"

That was pretty much what I was feeling yesterday. I would not classify myself as a runner though I have run quite a few races now, nor would I say I am some great athlete. Running has become quite therapeutic for me and running these races in conjunction with OAR in honor of my son, has been a powerful reminder that my family and I are on a marathon of a journey and quitting is not an option. God will continue to give us the strength and the wisdom that we will need to meet the challenges that come our way, and as long as He is on the throne, we will always hold on to our hope. I am so grateful for my kids and my wife, who make this life God has given to me that much sweeter. And, I am also grateful for our friends and family who share this journey with us. To each of you, thank you for your love, encouragement, and support. WE did it...we pray that you will continue to run this journey with us.

Summit's Haiti Relief Efforts

Summit's Haiti Relief Efforts

As many of you know, in the aftermath of the catastrophe in Haiti, Summit is aggressively looking for ways to respond through our partnership with Mission of Hope Haiti. MOH Haiti has been designated by the State Department as their base of operations for medical relief. We are currently organizing multiple teams of professional medical staff to respond with aid. Teams will be leaving Saturday morning. If you are in the medical profession, equipped for trauma response and have a valid passport please contact Michael Girado at michael@summitlife.com. Because of Mission of Hope's influence with both Haiti's government and the U.S. government they have the opportunity to make a huge impact in responding to this crisis. What they need now is our prayers, medical personnel and financial support. If you would like to donate you can directly give through Mission of Hope's site here or you can donate through Summit Church here (add a gift and choose Disaster Relief).

For updates on the relief efforts at Mission of Hope please visit http://disasterrelief.mohhaiti.org/
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