Scott's Sermons

If you would like to listen to Scott's sermons, you will find them in the archives where they were originally posted: January-September 2006, and January-March 2007. 

Memorial Service

This is the audio from the Memorial Service for Reverend F. Scott Petersen held at the Fairfield Reformed Church on Tuesday - August 7, 2007.

The main speaker is Scott's friend, Pastor Scott Nichols, with additional remembrances from the Rev. Peter Butler and Fairfield Reformed Church Elder Gus Matarazzo.

1963 - 2007 - Eternity

The author of this blog has gone to meet the Author of Life.

On Saturday morning, the Rev. Franklin Scott Petersen passed from this world into eternity following unsuccessful surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. Prayers are requested for his beloved wife, Deb and his two daughters, Emily and Sarah.

This quote from famed evangelist D.L Moody is an appropriate one.

"Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all--out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned like His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever."

This blog will remain open for a time as a testament to Scott's faith and faithfulness so that "by faith he being dead may yet speak..."

Just News

I don't have much new to write about because the steroids I am on (which end Thursday!) make it hard to read new material (including Harry Potter!). I was able to attend church yesterday for the first time in a quite a while. I hope return to preaching the last Sunday in August. It all depends on my strength and clarity of mind. By September, things should be better. So far so good. What delayed my return to ministry was a reaction to the chemotherapy which produced high fevers. I am being tapered off the steroids, and so far no fevers. I still tire easily, but my appetite is increasing and I can walk with ease for short distances. That's it for now.

I thought when I went home in June, I would begin the healing process. Little did I know that I would be hospitalized two more times for fever. After numerous tests, it was determined that I either had an unknown virus or more likely, an inflammatory response to the high dose chemo. Last week they put me on steroids which got rid of the fevers and allowed me to come home. Hopefully I will now have the opportunity to finally heal. I will be on the steriods for nearly a month.

The struggle now is with tiredness, boredom, and the inability to read (steroids make your eyes blurry). I greatly appreciate the prayers and cards. God bless you all.

Home

My transplant doctor sent me home on Tuesday. Home is a wonderful thing. I am done with all my treatments, and now the doctors will keep a decreasing eye on me over the next two years. I am very weak (anemic), and cold most of the time. It should take about a month to get back to some semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, I watch tv and nap. Reading even magazines is too much for me. I can't wait to feel normal again. Thanks again for all the prayers and good will. It means a lot.

I Have My Cells Back

My harvested stem cells have been returned to me as of yesterday. Now I must endure two weeks of sitting in a clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center for about 8 hours a day, as I am being "watched" by nurses. They take vital signs and feed us. The goal is of course to come home, which cannot come soon enough. In the meatime, I appreciate all the prayers, the blood and platelet donations, and good thoughts. The great enemy for me is a wearisome tedium. Sitting in a chair for 8 hours is maddening. Activity swirls around you, and just when sleep arrives, so does the nurse. So I will try and read, pray, do what I can, and dream of home. My evening accommodations are at least comfortable - the Hilton. At least it's not winter...