My Unexpected Journey: Beating the Odds to Become a Walking Miracle

By Pastor G. Lee McClanathan

MY UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

[Beating the Odds to Become a Walking Miracle]

By Pastor G. Lee McClanathan

Every person deals with unexpected journeys. They are never welcome, they just show up. Such journeys can include the following issues: health, finances, relationships, employment, retirement, grief, church.

Pastor Lees unexpected journey was a health issue (stroke, heart attack, seizures, auto-immune disorder). He was not expected to live, but did.

It meant loss of career, and the beginning of a new normal.

In the process he developed a winning strategy. He says he had to make some choices Would I GIVE UP or GROW UP? ; Be BITTER or BETTER?;

Choose to be a WHINER or a WINNER?

He believes that if he and most of the Bible characters we meet in Gods Word can beat the odds then we can do it too.

Lee desires to be a difference-maker, believing God isnt finished with him yet. Friend, just as God has a unique purpose and plan for Lee, He has a plan and purpose for you! So with eyes wide open trust God for your unexpected journeys. When youre down and out for the ten count,

He can RAISE YOU UP, because our God is an AWESOME GOD! You too can find victory even while walking in the valley of the shadow of death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490818924

Pastor G. Lee McClanathan

George “Lee” McClanathan was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1949. He grew up primarily in Phoenix, Arizona, but also lived in Stamford, Connecticut, and Richardson, Texas, where he graduated from high school in 1967. He began his college career at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. It was during this time that he decided to enter the ministry. He continued his education at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, and Pacific Christian College in Long Beach, California. (Pacific Christian College is now Hope International University in Fullerton, California.) From Pacific and Hope he earned a bachelor’s degree in preaching and pastoral ministry and a master’s degree in church growth and leadership. Lee is married to the former Loralee Borga, whom he met while attending Pacific Christian College. They have three grown married children, Brian/Lindsey McClanathan; Mark/Carmen McClanathan and Andrea/Justin Hannum, and four adorable grandchildren, Isabella Robbins, Ellison Hannum, Jaxon and Taylor McClanathan. Lee has been in the lead-pastor ministry for forty years, serving congregations in Arizona, Illinois, California, and Arkansas. He and his wife reside in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Due to a massive stroke and heart attack in 2005, Lee has retired from full-time lead-pastor ministry but remains involved in his home church in Bella Vista as well as in interim ministries. He has a heart for the small church as well as for ministering to people dealing with unexpected journeys (health problems, relationship issues, financial problems, retirement, burnout, pastor issues, and church issues). His hobbies and interests include music (singing, playing guitar, songwriting), spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, golf (a hacker), auto racing, and mentoring pastors and church leaders to expand their vision for Christ and His Church. Pastor Lee hopes that sharing his unexpected journey and the lessons he learned from it will encourage others as they deal with the unexpected in their lives. He knows that no one is immune. Contact information: Lee McClanathan, [e-mail]; also on Facebook. Pastor Lee is available for preaching, teaching, mentoring, and encouraging. His desire is to continue to serve the Lord Jesus and His church for the rest of his days in this world. But he anticipates the Lord’s swift and soon return!

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Copyright © 2014 Pastor G. Lee McClanathan.

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He’s My Dearest Friend; by J.M. "Whitey Gleason; Copyright held by Lois Hildreth; Nashville Gospel;

P.O. Box 271106; Houston, TX 77277; [e-mail]

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You Are Who You Are For A Reason, by Russell Kelfer; Copyright by Russell L. Kelfer; 10602 Mossbank Lane; San Antonio, TX 78230; Used by permission! All Rights Reserved www.dtm.org

I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now; by Jimmie Davis and Charles F. Goodman; Copyright 1964; By Peermusic Ltd. Burbank, CA

Used By Permission! All Rights Reserved!

He Touched Me; by William J. Gaither; Copyright 1992; Hanna Street Music (BMI); (adm at CapitolMGPublishing.com)

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Unless noted otherwise, all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); Copyright 1996; Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Wheaton, Illinois.

All Rights Reserved!

Other Bible translations used in book include the New International Version (NIV); The Amplified Bible (AMP); The Message; The Contemporary English Version (CEV); The English Standard Version (ESV); and the Living Bible (LB). Where quoted citations are appropriately noted.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-1893-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-1894-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-1892-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922242

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/28/2014

Contents

Introduction

Preface

Acknowledgements

Part One: The Story of My Stroke

Stroke Equals Life Change

D-Day: The Day of My Stroke

From ICU to Rehabilitation

God’s Angels, Just for Me

A Bump in the Road, Again Unexpected

Back to Life and Then to a Leave of Absence

Along Comes Harley, a Special New Friend

Another Unexpected Journey

Kansas City, Here I Come

Finally Home Again, but for How Long?

A Heartbreaking Day, but Not an Unexpected One

So How Will We Make Ends Meet Now?

God Isn’t Finished with Me Yet; He Has a Plan!

Through It All

Lessons Learned for Everyday Life

Bumps in the Road

All Right, Where to from Here?

A Final Admonition: What’s Your Aim?

Conclusion

A Personal Illustration: Darkness versus Light

Part Two: The Threat of the Unexpected, a Biblical Perspective

So How Does God Work in Our Lives Today?

Biblical Examples of Unexpected Journeys

A Final Word

One Last Word on Life’s Unexpected Journeys

Part Three: God’s Words for Our Journeys

Part Four: A Journal of My Stroke

Postscript

Further Acknowledgments

Appendix: Warning Signs of a Stroke

Resources and Credits

Readers Comments

About the Author

"NO MATTER THE TRIALS WE FACE

CHRIST NEVER LEAVES US"

Billy Graham

"WHATEVER HALLWAY YOU’RE IN—

NO MATTER HOW LONG, HOW DARK,

OR HOW SCARY—

GOD IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU"

Bill Hybels

INTRODUCTION

"Bad things happen in threes. If there is any truth to the old adage, Pastor Lee McClanathan would be a stellar example. Lee was enjoying his enviable life when stroke, seizure, and debilitation set him upon a different path, an entirely unexpected journey.

"Lee had successfully worked for many years in full-time ministry. He had a loving wife, a new home, and great children. He was pastoring a dynamic congregation that had grown during his tenure as minister. Lee was exploring new ideas for church expansion and service. All was as it should be. Then the unexpected happened. Lee suffered a catastrophic stroke.

"Lee awakened to a new reality. The reality of the hospital room, medical tests and procedures, months of rehabilitation and setbacks. Suddenly gone would be the immediate realizations of goals for his family and his church, which mere days before were in his grasp! Now there were new goals: walking, feeding himself, getting dressed—all the activities previously taken for granted.

Yet this story of one man’s unexpected journey is not one of defeat, although there were trying times of darkness and testing. Lee’s story is one of surviving and beating the odds to become a walking miracle, as he characterizes this new phase of his life. This book is not the journaling of one who egotistically claims to have challenged great odds and overcome them by the sheer force of his human will. There were many others who helped and guided him along his way.

"Lee graciously attributes his recovery to many—first, his devoted and loving wife, who had been and was to become many things to him. Lee also acknowledges the care bestowed upon him by his physicians and the numerous medical and rehabilitation professionals who walked with him on his road to recovery. Then, too, there were supportive friends and a congregation united in prayer.

"Lee’s journey is in the most real sense not his alone; it is our journey. As he points out, each of us will confront obstacles along life’s way. Perhaps our challenges will not be as overwhelming as Lee’s. Yet he recognizes from a career in the ministry that illness, financial hardship, strife, and upheaval are a part of the human condition. It is because Lee lived through so much and witnessed the tribulations of so many as a minister that he wants to give us his strongest assurances that we are not alone; there is always someone close at hand, a comforter, a strong companion.

"I think Lee would acknowledge that there were moments when he was unaware of God’s presence. After all, he spent some considerable hospital time in a coma-like state. Recovery was not always as Lee would have it. The walk back to wellness was a rough trek. Yet, through hard times and certainly when looking back from this present day, Lee can testify from the pages of his book that God was present. His repeated assurance to the reader is that God is there for you, too. Lee’s unexpected journey is rich in Scripture as one might expect from the pen of a seasoned minister. If the book is about an unexpected journey, it is also a road map with scriptural signposts to guide the reader on his or her own unique unexpected journey. Through Bible texts and stories of familiar Bible characters, Lee demonstrates that time and time again, God is with us, active, caring, and never absent.

This book has special meaning to me. I was an elder and chairman of the board in Lee’s church when the opportunity of this journey was placed before him. I was informed about Lee’s stroke on Tuesday morning. Immediate arrangements were made for an all-church prayer service. Due to the time frame, we were unable to contact everyone, but there were more than one hundred members present. This was not your typical prayer meeting. I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Many prayers were offered, even by people who I had never heard say a prayer in public before. We earnestly and openly prayed for God to provide us with a miracle. The following morning, I went to the hospital to assess the progress taking place. I was shocked when the attending physician suggested we arrange for a replacement for Lee because Lee will never leave the hospital, and if he does it is probable that he will only be a vegetable." But Lord, I thought, we prayed earnestly for a miracle. The Lord’s timing is not always on our time.

Over the next several months, we had many trying times. Pastor Lee was impatient to get back to the business of taking charge of pastoring the church, but he was not physically or emotionally ready. The church leadership finally concluded that it was time to relieve Lee and replace him with another pastor—not a pleasant duty to be confronted with. A meeting was arranged with Lee and Loralee at their home to break the news of our decision. I remember sitting in my car prior to going into Lee’s house and praying, Lord, I need You to lead the way, because I don’t know where to start. I joined two other elders in Lee’s home, and after a little chitchat and seeing their new home, the deadline was quickly approaching. I was just about to broach the subject when Lee spoke up and said, Loralee and I have given a great deal of thought and prayer to my circumstances and how it involves the church. We feel it would be best if I resigned my position as pastor so the church can obtain a new pastor and get on with Christ’s business." It was Lee’s courageous decision to step down from his position as our church pastor. It was my sad duty to read Lee’s letter of resignation to his congregation the following week. I think it makes it easier for me when I contemplate what Lee has done with his life since he suffered his stroke. Lee was determined to become a difference-maker, and certainly he has been.

Today, although still facing physical challenges, Lee remains involved in his home church. He has a heart for the small church where he frequently serves in an interim capacity. His life has been given over to being a difference-maker as he works with those who, like him, have been set upon unexpected journeys of their own. Lee’s message to all of us is that life is to be lived to the fullest every day. Whatever your journey, we have a God who wants to be involved every step of the way, so that we, like Lee, can beat the odds and become walking miracles.

—Dr. Robert Atterberry, leader at Bella Vista Christian Church, valued friend

"Unexpected Journey is a testimony to the Lord’s Spirit being in Lee’s life. There were times of imminent death, and then restoring of muscles and mind for Lee, that make this book a testimonial read for everyone. I have known Lee since his college days. I know that his faith in the Lord Jesus and his strong endurance were the foundation for his recovery in his unexpected journey. Praise the Lord!"

—Dr. John Rowe, PhD, DMin, senior development officer, emeritus faculty, valued professor,

Hope International University, Fullerton, California; mentor and friend

In medicine, we hope for miracles every day. On occasion we are blessed to see one. Pastor Lee takes you on his miracle journey. His book is a testament to his life as well as a lesson for all of us who do trust in the Lord.

—Dr. John Seward of Rockford, Illinois, former county coroner; physician, church leader, trusted friend

"When Lee was pastor of Northeast Christian Church in Rockford, Illinois, I had the privilege of serving with him for ten-plus years. I use the term pastor for Lee, because in every sense of the word, being the shepherd and encourager of the flock was and is truly his gift.

"When our members were in the hospital, Lee would go see them and would often take some of our younger men with him to teach them. One of them mentioned that when Pastor Lee walked in the hospital room, the whole ambience changed, for he had been given the spiritual gifts of compassion and encouragement. After spending time with the patient and then reading a Scripture passage and praying with him or her, that person felt better and became aware of God’s presence. Our members always requested his visits.

"How ironic that God would allow Lee, someone so compassionate and caring, to suffer some of the same problems that his members had. I remember the day I received the call that Lee had suffered a stroke and heart attack. What a shock! As you will read in his book, he walked through the valley of the shadow of death and was himself comforted by the Good Shepherd.

Now that he is nearly fully recovered, he has written this book about his experiences and his brush with death. It is his desire to share lessons of life, and now he is no longer sympathetic and compassionate, but empathetic because he has been there. Lee has a very powerful testimony because God has healed him and has given him a new purpose in life—to encourage those who are facing insurmountable odds and to teach the lessons God wants to teach them when they too, are in the valley of the shadow of death.

—Sylvia Staley, director of seniors ministry, Northeast Christian Church; Rockford, Illinois

Jesus said, ‘In this world you will have trouble.’ Most of us think that statement is about somebody else. Lee McClanathan knows it’s true. A stroke victim at a far-too-young age, Lee knows the pain of those unanswerable tragedies in this life. His story of absolute trust in God will comfort you and inspire you to live on no matter what life brings your way.

—Ron Carter, lead pastor, Bella Vista Christian Church; Bella Vista, Arkansas; my pastor and my friend, who walked through the valley with me and Loralee

"WHEN WE MEDITATE ON GOD

AND REMEMBER THE PROMISES

HE HAS GIVEN US IN HIS WORD,

OUR FAITH GROWS,

AND OUR FEARS DISSOLVE."

Charles Stanley

PREFACE

Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would dare to ask or hope for. May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen!

—Ephesians 3:20–21 NLT

Surprises are an element of every person’s life. Most of us have experienced a surprise birthday party or anniversary celebration, an unplanned pregnancy, or a retirement send-off at which we received a watch or some other gift from our co-workers and company. Most of the surprises we experience are positive, but not all of them. Some are crushing: loss of a spouse, parent, child, or good friend. We might also have suffered the loss of a cell phone or a vital file from our computer, the loss of our health, our job, or our wealth. Foreclosure notices have become common these days, along with financial problems and the loss of retirement funds. These events force us to make significant changes to our lifestyle. And they strike unexpectedly.

When I think of surprises, I’m reminded of a time when my wife and I were raising our children in Yucaipa, California. The routine on school days was for the kids to wake up, get dressed, brush their teeth, have breakfast, and head for school. One morning, Loralee and I decided to drive the kids to school (with a surprise in mind, something unexpected). So we all got in the car and headed for the school. We entered the parking lot, drove up to the proper drop-off point, and then I said, You know it’s such a beautiful day, it’s too bad we have to waste it by going to school, and then I dropped the bomb: How about if instead of going to school today, we all go to Disneyland and visit Mickey Mouse and the gang? There was no argument from the kids, so off we went to spend a grand family time in the Magic Kingdom.

Some surprises delight us; others devastate us. Our kids still remember this unexpected journey. They were shocked, but excited. What I remember most about it is spinning around on those giant tea cups and losing it all. Most surprises we greet with great joy, while others can take the wind out of our sails and leave us feeling defeated.

The bottom line is we all have dealt with an unexpected journey (or journeys) or will in the future. In the pages that follow, I recount my experience of an unexpected journey. I would not wish my journey upon anyone, but the fact is that every one of us will travel this road at some point (perhaps many points) in our lives. I hope that as I share my journey, you will find it a helpful tool on your unexpected journeys. Remember the unexpected can strike at any moment without any warning, so be ready! Beware!

When it comes to unexpected journeys, we all deal with our Godzillas or Goliaths. As a young man, David did not seem destined for greatness. Among his siblings, he was regarded as the runt of the litter. And yet God had a great plan for his life that affects us even today. When David first heard about the giant Philistine Goliath, I don’t think he had a clue that he would face him in a duel that would leave only one of them standing. But, as fate would have it, the two of them would face each other in combat. You know the result! Against all odds, David won in convincing fashion. He beat the odds! How? As Max Lucado writes in his book Facing Your Giants, "Giants, we all face them. Yet we need not face them alone … Focus on giants—you stumble; focus on God—your giants tumble.". In 1 Samuel we read what I believe to be some of the most powerful words ever written regarding life’s unexpected journeys.

Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. Am I a dog, he roared at David, that you come at me with a stick? Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals! Goliath yelled. David shouted in reply, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone will know that the Lord does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle and