I met Jane Murry about 6 years ago when her brilliant son started attending PromiseLand in Austin.  I remember the night that he introduced us to his mom, Jane.  It was after an Austin Awakening television recording.  He was proud of her and now I know why.

Jane has a love for God that’s obvious, strong, and unfortunately rare in this day and time.  She is not ashamed of her faith and expresses it in all seasons of life.  And, Jane has experienced some dark hours.  She has suffered a horrible condition called Cystic Fibrosis.

Check out this explanation from http://www.cff.org:

With CF… A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

If I remember correctly, we celebrated her 50th birthday in 2003.  Jane is a shining example of faith, courage, dignity, and grace.

Several months ago, her doctors informed her that she has a form of cancer that had to be treated.  This is brutal for anyone, but imagine going through the treatment with extremely limited lung usage.  It has been near impossible to handle.  But, Jane is traveling onward.  Standing beside her all along the way is ERNIE, her husband.  He is a successful business man, but his honor comes from serving his family.   This is an epistle of faithfulness.

Please keep the Murry Family in your prayers.  And for the Murry family reading this… we LOVE you, we are pushing for you, and we are behind you 100%!

-robin

What is your opinion of the BIG money of college athletics?  This article from Texas Monthly talks about the dynasty of UT sports. It is the most profitable university in the history of USA.  Do the sports help/hurt/both academia??

Last fall’s Iowa State game, in Ames, Iowa, proves the point. The day started with a bus ride to the airport on Friday morning. Chartered buses for the round-trip ran $14,419. The Continental jet carrying the team, coaching staff, and trainers cost $41,254. Once on the ground, the team checked into the West Des Moines Marriott, a three-and-a-half-star hotel, where the bill for the night was $29,460. That included the hotel’s grand ballroom, where the players were fed on Friday night and Saturday morning for $5,302.

That is just for the football team. On Saturday morning another chartered Continental jet took off for Iowa, this one carrying the band and the cheerleaders. The cost for the round-trip flight was $31,000. This group needed buses and food too, which added up to $9,580. After the game, both jets headed back to Austin. By the time their chartered buses arrived on campus, the entire group had spent exactly $140,248 in a little more than 24 hours.

via Come Early. Be Loud. Cash In.: Texas Monthly November 2008

This song impacted me greatly as a child.  It still speaks truth… David and the Giants!

…I am speechless, speechless
That’s how you make me feel
Though I’m with you, I am far away and nothing is for real
When I’m with you I am lost for words,
I don’t know what to say
My head’s spinning like a carousel, so silently I pray

Helpless and hopeless, that’s how I feel inside
Nothing’s real, but all is possible if God is on my side
When I’m with you I am in the light where I cannot be found
It’s as though I am standing in the place called Hallowed Ground

Speechless, speechless, that’s how you make me feel
Though I’m with you I am far away and nothing is for real
I’ll go anywhere and do anything just to touch your face
There’s no mountain high I cannot climb
I’m humbled in your grace

Speechless, speechless, that’s how you make me feel
Though I’m with you I am lost for words and nothing is for real
Speechless, speechless…

—

I have many favorite lines in this song. My favorite of all…”When I’m with you I am in the light where I cannot be found”.  It is so true.  When we are standing in the light of Jesus, ourselves are lost in the brilliance of His glory.  May we find ourselves there all the time.

Of course it sounds great to music.

Can you guess who wrote it?  Take a wild guess.  NO CHEATING!

-robin