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Lessons Learn in Life
The following is a note I received from a young friend in 2017
This note is from Brad Salyer, a Christian missionary in Africa for more than 25 years.
Date: July 6, 2017 at 4:32:41 AM CDT
To: James Holly
Subject: From Brad
Howdy Larry,
I just read the article, "UT Health San Antonio, The Joe R, and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. ‘1968-2018, Caring for People,’” By James L. Holly, MD.
To read this article go to: http://jameslhollymd.com/Letters/ut-health-historical-summary-in-response-to-drs-henrich-and-berggren)
The thing that stood out to me was your comment to Dr. Pannill: "God bless you my mentor and hero. Thank you for your love and care. It places wind under my wings……and I have taken those wings, which you helped fashion, and I am flying."
I echo that sentiment back to you. When you said that "self preservation is not a worthy goal for the saint," I took it seriously and I risk my life here in the Mozambique bush everyday.
When a friend asked you if you were willing to go to jail for your homeschool convictions, you responded, "I am willing to let my wife go to jail for those convictions." I learned and am willing to let my wife and my eight children die that these Muslims can hear the Gospel.
In Westlake, Louisiana as you laid on your face on the church platform, with snot and tears, crying out for the LORD to move in our meeting, I heard men sitting behind me that said, "That Doctor looks like a fool!" I took note and regularly make decisions like you and Paul that make me a fool in the eyes of the world.
When you stopped prescribing birth control pills because they were abortifacient, and went bankrupt, again I was taught not to violate my convictions for the fleeting riches of this world.
As you have stood on the shoulders of Dr. Pannill to become the physician you are today, I have stood on your shoulders to become the man of God I am today. (In my great areas of deficiency, I do not blame you.)
And what shall I say about the cost of exposing the Masonic Lodge. I also feel the weight of debt Private Ryan felt. After all that has been inputed in my life, how should I then live.
Re-payment is not possible, but giving all is demanded. We are all an eclectic collage of inputs from others. It is that realization that provides the safety net to keep us from thinking we are the product of our doings only. Thanks again for helping transform a hood-rat into a life of grace.
brad salyer
proverbs 30:2
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