Robert Rogers, shares recent continuing unplanned home going events in his family during the past weeks. Founder of Mighty in the Land Ministry, featured in the Sept ’22 Plain Values magazine from Winesburg, OH. Author of Into the Deep: one man’s story of how tragedy took his family but could not take his faith; 7 Steps to No Regrets: How to find peace with God, others, and yourself; Rise Above: How to Heal the Hurts and Overcome the Worst.
Here’s current inspiration from my friend Robert.
…for everything serves Your plans. If Your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget Your commandments, for by them You give me life.” (Psalm 119:91-93)
On January 28th, on an unusually warm and sunny day in the Louisville, Kentucky area, my brothers and I carried the coffin of our eldest brother – Dr. Paul Joseph Rogers – to his grave at Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, Kentucky where his earthly body was laid to rest until Jesus comes again. Lifting my brother’s casket from the hearse to the burial site felt so strangely surreal, somewhat like a dream, as if I was viewing a dreaded, unimaginable nightmare. I gently set my boutonniere atop Paul’s coffin, forming a cross with those flowers of the other six pallbearers. After placing mine, I kissed the top of the casket and traced a cross across the wood grains with my thumb, fighting back my tears as I genuflected alongside his crypt.
After the committal prayer by the pastor, the cemetery workers promptly began the ghastly process of interring the coffin into the ground. I had never witnessed this before at any other burial, including that of my own previous wife and our four children in 2003 after their untimely drowning deaths in Kansas from the August 30th flash flood. Entombing the coffin was usually left for another time after the family and friends had departed the cemetery.
But, today was different. The interment began immediately after the committal. None of us viewing this sacred moment could move. It was as if all of us were frozen in time like statues, entranced by this solemn and somber occasion, wishing we could stop time, pause the moment, or somehow rewind life a few months before Paul’s epic battle against pancreatic cancer had ensued. Siblings, parents, children, grandchildren, friends, and patients alike were all entranced in the instant, fixated on the abrupt brevity of such a vibrant young life. With each clinking sound of the entombment ratchet-lowering mechanisms, every inch of my brother’s coffin descended into his grave – until it was no longer visible from my view. As my heart sank within me, my knees instinctively hit the ground, my hands reverently made the sign of the cross over my body, and the irrevocability of Paul’s passing from this earth became more and more final.
As the youngest of eight children (five boys and three girls), Paul is our first sibling to pass. Paul is survived by us 7 siblings, our mother, his bride (of 39 years), 6 children and their 7 grandchildren. The death of any and every loved one is uniquely excruciating. I still feel out of balance, as though one of the limbs in our family body is gone.
As a family, and as the body of Christ, we are bonded by unseen ligaments of love. When someone passes from this planet, those of us who remain strive to regain our equilibrium after such a difficult loss, realizing that life will never return to “normal” again. The depth of our grief is a testament to the depth of our love for each other. The pain is excruciating because our love for those who passed was so passionate. Our hearts hurt so much because we love and miss them so much.
Just 11 months prior (February 2022), some cancerous cells were detected in Paul’s gall bladder. We covered him in prayers and scriptures, believing God for the best as Paul received treatments at Mayo Clinic and at the University of Louisville Hospital. His closest friend, Danny, said, “Paul, God has this. You have God, and we have you.” As Paul – with his bride and his extended family – waged a formidable assault against the diagnosis on all spiritual and medical fronts, the cancer later spread to his spine. Yet, Paul was still upbeat and active, even vigorously riding his bike just a few months before his passing, determined to kick it. When cancer cells were later found in his pancreas, his condition changed dramatically and quickly.
Just four days before he passed, my wife and I visited him in the Louisville Hospital ICU on January 19-20, 2023. As one brother described it, Paul looked akin to a “holocaust survivor,” just skin and bones. Yet, Paul’s spirit remained strong, even then. He seemed resolute to recover, and he truly embodied faith in action.
Upon entering his room, Paul’s first words to us were, “How is Cora?” He was asking about Inga’s mother who was just abruptly widowed only a few weeks prior on December 23rd after 45 years of marriage to Dr. Doug Fisher (a horse veterinary doctor) following a lengthy hospital stay for a pacemaker insertion and ensuing stroke complications. (Our immediate family is all still reeling from the grief of Inga’s Dad’s passing. I was a pallbearer twice in 3 weeks – both in the same month of January 2023. Tough times.)
When I shared with Paul about Cora’s difficulty answering people who ask, “How are you doing?” after the death of a loved-one, Paul’s immediate response was, “I am blessed of the Lord!” Amazing. Fighting for his life, my brother still declared the goodness of the Lord and bore witness to the fact that he was indeed blessed by Almighty God.
On our next visit to Paul the following day in the ICU, his first question was, “How are the kids?” He wanted to know about our 5 children. I was floored! Here is my big brother, battling the effects of cancer, and he’s still focused on others. Paul maintained his ever-present outward focus, never inward.
Paul was a humble, brilliant cardiologist with degrees from Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins, and a residency and fellowship in cardiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He had a remarkable ability to make every patient, every individual, and every family member feel as though they were the most important person in the room (or on the planet for that matter).
Paul worked diligently to remember people’s names and occupations, and he made a point to display a genuine, vested interest in each person’s health, progress, family, and general well-being. He intentionally remembered and used people’s names, because he felt that the sweetest sound to someone’s ears is hearing their own name. He also encouraged others to never judge anyone – anytime – for anything.
By no means was Paul a physician for the prestige or the paycheck. He became a doctor so that he could minister to others. Paul loved to serve God by serving the body of Christ. He truly cherished the chance to help patients daily as he practiced cardiology for 10 years in Columbus, Ohio, 7 years in Cincinnati, and 15 years in Louisville.
One of the excruciating aspects of being treated for cancer for Paul was that he was unable to practice as a cardiologist daily. He deeply longed to give and serve others again, not just receive medical treatments for himself.
Paul was incessantly outwardly focused. He had boundless energy and was typically up every night until 1am, and then awoke at 5am to exercise and spend time in prayer and God’s Word before early hospital rounds. He blended his heart for Christ and his skill as a doctor on multiple medical mission trips to Honduras from 2012-2019 where, along with his wife and children, he taught residents and even improved cardiology facilities. His heart of compassion and love for working with Spanish-speaking people in Honduras inspired him to work at the free clinic in Shelbyville, Kentucky as well.
As my wife and I visited with him for those precious final, brief minutes in the Louisville ICU only days before his death, we prayed, sang hymns (“Great is Thy Faithfulness”, “Be Thou My Vision”, “Numbers 6 Blessing Lullaby”), and fought back tears as I lay my hand on his head and kissed his forehead. I asked my brother what he thought God’s purpose was through all this pain and difficult life season. He responded with one word, “Closer.” God was drawing us closer to Himself and our family closer to one another. Beautiful. Selfless.
As the medical staff abruptly entered the room, my bride and I knew we had to depart. Inga and I also sensed that it might very well be the last time we would see Paul on this planet alive, short of a divine miracle. Paul and I locked eyes and he gave me a glance that I shall never forget, as if to say, “I love you, brother. It’s almost time for me to go. I’ll see you on the other side – in Heaven.” He even gave us a hearty thumbs-up as we left the room. My wife and I collapsed into each other’s arms, embracing and weeping in the waiting room as we strived to process the enormity of what we had just experienced, and ever so thankful for the gift of time with which God had just graced us.
Thank God we were there. Thank God Paul was lucid enough to communicate with us. Thank God we saw him just days before he passed from this life. No regrets.
A few days later, with his bride and his children encircling him in the ICU, my brother’s spirit passed from this earth on January 24th. Moments before, they played this song which I had composed in 2003 shortly before my previous family passed away. I believe God’s Holy Spirit divinely inspired it for such a time as this. Even now, There Is Peace. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fvqze6/ThereIsPeace.mp3 A few days later, I was honored to sing and play it at Paul’s funeral service in Louisville.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3)
My wife’s father never said, “goodbye.” He always said, “See you tomorrow.” Similarly and ironically, my brother also never said, “goodbye.” He would always say, “See you later.” We are deeply saddened and we grieve heavily over both of their recent and untimely deaths. Yet, we grieve with hope that we will “See you (both) later” because of “Christ in [us], the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
Do you have that hope? Have you put your faith alone in Christ alone? The worst regret of all would be dying and not going to Heaven to be with the Lord and with your loved ones.
Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-6)
Every death and every funeral starkly remind us of just how fragile life is, and of how thin the veil is between this world and the next. Every day is a gift from God to be cherished. That is why it is called the “present.”
Savor every moment with your loved-ones, and strive to KNOW GOD more, and make Him more known daily.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
In the timeless words of missionary C.T. Studd, “Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Amen. KNOW GOD personally, and Live a Life of No Regrets.
I would be honored to come and share our family’s story near you in 2023, bringing the Hope of God’s Good News. I share at churches of all denominations, parish missions, revivals, schools, organizations, prayer breakfasts, conventions, banquets, and conferences (men’s, women’s, home-school, pro-life, purity, etc.).
Now is a great time to schedule a Ministry Visit for this year. Please call 260-515-5158, email hello@mightyintheland.com, or visit our website (https://mightyintheland.com/contact-2/) to arrange the details.
Mighty in the Land Ministry thrives on word of mouth. Every time you tell someone about the impact of this Ministry, you play a vital part in helping us share God’s Good News through our family’s story. Please help spread the word.
Over 310,000 people have personally encountered the Gospel as I’ve freely shared at least 1,389 times since 2003 – all by invitation. Although my testimony has cost me everything, I still charge NOTHING. (No agent. No “fees.” Pure God.)
Thank you for prayerfully and materially supporting this Ministry in 2022. I am deeply thankful. Would you please consider investing in the Kingdom mission of Mighty in the Land Ministry to help others experience the Good News of Jesus in 2023 and beyond? I would be grateful for your support to help me continue to share the hope of Christ with others through Mighty in the Land Ministry. Your gracious contributions help to continue the mission of this Mighty Ministry – to teach others to KNOW GOD and Live a Life of NO REGRETS. I humbly thank you for giving as God leads.
Please pray for us. Thank you for praying. I am immensely grateful to you.
Gratefully and faithfully,
-Robert Rogers
Teaching others to KNOW GOD and Live a Life of No Regrets
PS – We trust God for your contributions to help further the mission of this Ministry to which I believe God has called me. If God prompts you to support the ongoing work of Mighty in the Land Ministry with a tax-deductible contribution, I would be deeply grateful to you. Here’s how:
1) Credit card on our website: www.MightyInTheLand.com or by phone 260-515-5158.
2) Calling 317-570-5850 about donating non-cash gifts.
3) Check in the US Mail to:
Mighty in the Land Ministry
429 East DuPont Road, #230
Fort Wayne, IN 46825-2051
Thank you so very much.