Bruce Allan Long of Cincinnati, OH left this earth to continue his eternal life with Christ on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the age of 51. Bruce was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer in March, 2009. Bruce was born in Canton, OH to Marjorie Okey Long and Dale J. Long and grew up in the Ohio cities of Ashland, Smithville, Millersburg and Dennison. Bruce met Becky Vitale Long at Highmill Christian Church in Canton, OH. Throughout his lifetime, he and his wife lived in Texas, North Carolina and Ohio. Bruce was a business owner and professional woodworker who specialized in finish carpentry and was involved in the Cincinnati Woodworking Club. Bruce was active in Crossroads Community Church through involvement in men's groups and through volunteering on the prayer team and the set design team. Bruce and his wife shared a love for animals and opened their home to foster rescued dogs. He also enjoyed flying kites, playing ping-pong, and riding roller coasters.

Bruce was preceded in death by his father Dale J. Long in March, 2008. Bruce is survived by his wife Becky Vitale Long of Cincinnati, OH; mother Marjorie Okey Long of Milford, OH; sister Nancy Long Blaha and her husband Ken of West Chester, OH; brother David Long and his wife Crissy of Oak Ridge, TN; nieces Missy Blaha of Silverlake, OH and Amy Long of Oak Ridge, TN; nephew Austin Dunn of Oak Ridge, TN; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his beloved Cocker spaniels, Markie and Grace.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the chapel at Crossroads Community Church, 3500 Madison Rd., Cincinnati OH, 45209. A reception will immediately follow the service. If you have further questions, e-mail Bruce's wife Becky at beckylng@cinci.rr.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati, PO Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263 or online at www.hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate.html or at 513-865-5148.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Cincinnati, Bruce’s men's groups, Becky's women's groups, Crossroads Community Church, and all of the friends, neighbors, and family who have provided community and support. Through all things tangible and intangible, your love and support continue to strengthen their hearts and souls.

Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
- Lamentations 3:20-22

Hello everyone - this is Becky. I wanted to make sure I posted this just in case the word had not spread.

Bruce died last Sunday, November 22 around 2 p.m. (I can't believe it's been a week already. Amazing.) God led Bruce and all of those close to Bruce on an incredible journey. I plan on posting some of my experiences but I'll have to do that after I have time to gather my thoughts.

In the meantime, I wanted to let you know that a memorial service will be held for Bruce at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th at Crossroads, our church home.

The address is 3500 Madison Rd., Cincinnati 45209. It will be held in the Chapel (which is on the east side of the church) with a reception following the service. Our families and church community would be so excited for you to join us in honoring a great guy.

If you have further questions, feel free to post here or e-mail me directly at beckylng@cinci.rr.com.

Hospice

This week I signd up for in-home hospice care. Hospice of Cincinnati is the same non-profit hopspice that my Dad used. They are a wonderful caring organization with many services to offer both to patients and care givers. An RN is scheduled to come for weekly visits to start. She will check vitals, order all needed meds and communicate with my oncologists with any concerns or qiuestions. She provided me with a wheel chair which I am using to go to church.

Medical Update 10-25-09

Weak. That pretty well sums up my general condition in recent weeks. I am retaining fluids and have swollen feet so loose slippers are the only thing that fits them comfortably. My heart continues to race a lot which adds to my tiredness. While my appetite and the foods I can eat varies considerably from day to day. This prompted my G.I. doctor to perform an endoscopy last Friday (scope down my throat into the stomach). The good news is that he did not see any problems. But of course that doesn't answer any questions. Pain is still rather limited, thank God, but does vary some daily or nightly. Sound sleep is rather elusive with all the above factors interfering with it. Ironically some of my best rest is a nap during the daytime. Tomorrow I have a follow up visit with my oncologist to discuss these issues.

Try to Remember…

I trust God. You trust God. Or at least we say we do. But what does it mean to really trust Him? What does trusting God look like in our daily lives? In the area of finances we can say we trust God and while we have a job or business and the money is coming in it’s not too difficult to trust Him, even if the money is a little short at times. But how do we trust Him when we lose our job or in my case lose my health and can’t work anymore? Now are we trusting Him or are we a nervous, anxious wreck?

The Old Testament is full of stories where God came to the rescue of His people, both individually and as a nation. He healed them, provided food and shelter, and protection from enemies. Very often He instructs us to remember, as in Psalm 77:11 “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

Some time ago I did a very valuable exercise. I wrote down all the events of my life that I could remember, from childhood to current, of the times I knew God had intervened in my life for good. The list was quite lengthy. It served to illustrate for me in a very visible, tangible way that God has been involved in my life from an early age, that He loves me and that He provides for and protects me. Now when I am in difficult circumstances I think back to that list and recent events where He has been there for me. It has the effect of producing a real peace in my soul. I know He will come through for me, even if not in the way I expect because that is His character that He has proven to me again and again. It’s not just some theology or doctrine, it’s my personal experience.

So try this exercise; write a list of all that God has done for you in specific detail. Then when tough times come, pull out the list, read it and be encouraged.

Lamentations 3:20-22
Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.

“Don’t Give Up”

I have heard that phrase more than once lately. It is a common phrase spoken to a chronically ill person. But what is really meant by it? What is “giving up”? Is choosing to forgo some cancer treatment, any treatment, “giving up”? Does it matter whether there is a hope for a cure or not? And if so, who is the arbiter over whether there is hope or not? When and under what circumstances is it acceptable for the patient to say enough is enough, or to choose comfort care over treatment with its uncertainties and side effects? Maybe what it really means is “I love you and I don’t want you to die”. Is it meant to comfort or encourage me or you?

When someone tells me “don’t give up” I want to ask, “don’t give up what? Don’t give up hope? As a believer in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior my hope is in Him. My hope has an eternal perspective as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:19 “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” Why? Because in 1 Peter 1:3-4 & 9 we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

Let me be clear, I have not lost hope, nor will I. Rather my hope has increased and I eagerly anticipate my resurrected body (1 Corinthians 15) and a new life in heaven without sorrow or pain (Revelation 21:4).

So if you want to tell me don’t give up, please explain what you mean by it.

Mountains and Valleys

Thanks for all your prayers. I am eating solid food again although that doesn't mean all is normal with me. Normal is a relative term when talking about my health as it is continually changing. It would be very easy to fall into depression with the circumstances I deal with regularly. However, God has blessed me with a wife, family and friends that continually express their love, support and encouragement to me. God is good and faithful by placing these people in my life. I can and do have joy in my heart while at the same time pain in my body. They go together like a mountain and valley. The one does not exist without the other. And so it is with life. We can not experience greater joy and fulfillment without also experiencing more sadness and discouragement. If you live your life in an attempt to shield yourself from pain, fear, uncertainty and the like you guarantee that you will not experience the abundant fulfillment of a joyful life that God offers us.

Bad day

Hello. I don’t write on this blog frequently. So I try to save up some insightful, meaningful thoughts to share with you. This blog entry is not one of those. I’m just going to complain about my health and ask for your prayers and support. Today is not a good day for me (neither was yesterday). My digestive system is giving me lots of trouble (gas, bloating, and cramps) and as a result I am unable to eat solid food without creating more discomfort. This generally leads to a rapid decline in strength. As if I had any to begin with! My weight is a measly 120. My healthly normal is in the upper 120’s. It took all my efforts to shower and shave today. A dear friend had previously invited us to his home for dinner tonight along with a couple other friends. If not for this get together, which I very much want to attend, I would not have even gotten dressed today. So there, bad day, please pray.

Update and ramblings

Recently I had a follow up visit with my oncologist. I reported to him that I was weaker despite the blood pressure medication (high blood pressure, frequent racing heart beat) prescribed on the previous visit two weeks prior. Also I was losing sleep due to being awakened frequently during the night with sharp pains. The pain meds he had prescribed earlier were not enabling me to sleep long. So he prescribed some new pain meds (long acting). I used it last night and for the first time in many days I did not wake up once with pain. The oncologist said that the disease is progressing but not as fast as he expected. How long to go, I asked? He said, not weeks or years but months.

Due to my poor energy and general weakness I am working with my business partner to get him up to date with all my jobs so he can either assist me or finish them himself. Very soon I will not be working (or earning money) except for an occassional simple inspection or estimate. So Becky and I will be entering a new phase of my physical decline. Pray for our us as we learn to trust God for our financial needs daily.

Men Friends Gathering

Last Sunday evening I invited all my close men friends from Cinci together for a dinner party. The purpose was to thank them for the positive influence in my life and to encourage them also. Becky and our neighbor Paula were the hostesses for a huge gourmet spread. Then each was given a personal letter from me. Lastly I asked everyone to look after Becky when I am no longer able. Since many had not met each other we used the name tags you see on the photo. That was to symbolize how our hearts had touched each other. One name tag didn't get in the photo, Lyle. I am a blessed man! Thank you my friends.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry