PRAISES:

1) Hazel Creek novel

Thanks so very much for your prayers. Before leaving for Italy, I was laboring on the final edits on my first solo novel, tentatively titled Hazel Creek. I SO appreciate your prayers for wisdom and creativity as I edited – as well as the discipline to apply myself to the writing process.

Well, I completed the process one day early and sent the novel to the publisher (Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster) the day before we left for Italy.

I’ve not heard back from the editor yet, but will let you know when I do.

2) RELEASED IN MAY: Workplace Grace: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work

Many of you are aware of the Going Public with Your Faith book and small-group study curriculum that I wrote with my dear friend William Carr Peel, ThM.

Bill and I have been working for sometime on a revision of the resources and they are being released in May under a new name: Workplace Grace: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work.

Here’s a synopsis of the materials:

Workplace Grace flies in the face of almost everything you’ve ever read or heard about evangelism. It is written for all Christians who may not think they have a gift for evangelism but want their lives to have an impact on the people around them. It describes evangelism as a process and helps you understand how your skills and God-given gifts can easily be used to draw customers, clients, and coworkers to new life in Jesus Christ.

The new book, small group participant’s study guide, and small-group DVD course (and leader’s guide) should all be available here in the next week or so.

However, if you’d like to look at the materials now, here’s where you can find them:

• Workplace Grace (book)
• Workplace Grace (DVD small group course and leader’s guide)
• Workplace Grace (Participant’s Guide)

3) JUST RELEASED: TSI: The Influenza Bomb (a novel)

Many of you are aware of my first novel, co-written with my friend, Paul McCusker, Time Scene Investigators: The Gabon Virus, which was released last summer.

Of that book, one reviewed said, “”Just finished the Gabon Virus. It was a splendid tale. We hope to get many more great novels from the men. The best new authors I have found in some time.”

Well, the reviewer’s wish for another novel has come true. On June 1^st the anxiously awaited sequel to The Gabon Virus was released and is titled TSI: The Influenza Bomb.

Here’s a description of the book:

Masses of people are dying from a mysterious flu. While the TSI team searches for a cure, a notorious eco-terrorist group, Return to Earth, uses an influenza bomb to poison the water. It’s a race against time—with the outcome impacting the entire world.

By the time the team discovers that the terrorists are using the water supply to infect people, the sickness is spreading worldwide and no one has a cure. When Return to Earth makes off with a mysterious device called the influenza bomb with the intent to destroy all of mankind, Dr. Hutchinson must stop the contamination from being spread before it’s too late.

And, here are some early reviews:

• Fast-paced and gripping, this book will make us all think, “This could happen!” —Debbie Maccomber, New York Times bestselling novelist
• Crisp prose, never-slowing action, a frighteningly plausible plot that weaves impeccably through history and across international borders, all tempered with a tender reminder of divine forgiveness. — Jeanette Windle
• This is an international thriller with chilling relevance today. The authors have done their homework and written a totally realistic novel that may keep you awake at night! You will never again read about H1N1 outbreaks without wondering about their origins. — Dorothy Cowling, Creator and Book Reviewer, The List
• Engaging. Innovative. Entertaining. And downright scary. Pray this story never becomes a news headline. Larimore and McCusker have penned an unforgettable tale! — Alton Gansky, novelist
• McCusker and Larimore have crafted a chilling tale of bioterrorism. Peppered with scientific details that bring the story to life, The Influenza Bomb is delightfully disturbing and will leave the reader with a ghastly list of ‘what ifs’ that will haunt the reader long after the last page. — Harry Kraus, MD, Bestselling Author, The Six-Liter Club and Salty Like Blood

The new book, autographed by both Paul and myself, should all be available here starting next week.

4) Our Trip to Italy

Thanks to so many of you who prayed us safely through our recent 16-day trip to Italy. If you missed our blog on the trip, you can see the itinerary below (look in the “Events of the Last Two Month” section and click on the blogs you want to read.

But, I did want to share with your one poignant moment for me during the trip. It occurred during the wedding of a friend in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City in Rome (yes, THAT St. Peter’s):

It was during the reading of (the miracle of wine at the wedding feast in John chapter 2) that something amazing happened to me:

I was listening to the words of the Gospel, and looking up at this amazing and ornate chapel, when Jesus’ mother’s words to the servants rang out to me as if she was speaking, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

What more simple or profound advice could any of us be given to follow.

Simply, “do whatever He tells you.”

It was a special moment for me.

5) A New Venue for Ministry and Service for Barb and me

We have some exciting news to share with you.

Many of you may remember the joy that Barb and I had working together at the Mission Medical Clinic in Colorado Springs from 2008-2009. This church-sponsored free medical clinic provides health care for the medically uninsured in Colorado Springs.

In August 2008 many of you prayed for us when we sent you this request:

Dr. Walt and Barb will be meeting with ministry leaders at the Mission Medical Clinic in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 20, to discuss the possibility of Dr. Walt becoming their part time medical director. Will you join us in praying for God’s guidance about this opportunity?

In September 2008 I sent you this praise report:

Thanks for praying for my and Barb’s meeting with the ministry leaders at the Mission Medical Clinic in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 20. We discussed with them the possibility of my becoming their part time Associate Medical Director. I have accepted a part time job with them and deeply appreciated your prayers during this process.

Then, in August 2009, I sent this report:

We have some bad news and some good news. Due to a change in the administration of Mission Medical Clinic, a place Barb and I have joyfully served this last year, I will not be able to continue to minister there. It has been an honor and privilege to work with other Christian servants there and I will miss them all.

But, the Lord has provided another opportunity for me to serve. My dear friends, Gary and Beth Jewell, fellow family physicians and the owners of Oak Springs Family Medicine, have invited me to join their practice to see patients part-time when I am in town. I look forward to serving them.

Now, our exciting news.

Just before leaving for Italy, I received a call from the Executive Director of the Mission Medical Clinic letting me know that the Medical Director position had opened and inviting me to interview for the job, which I did.

Subsequently, he offered and I accepted the Medical Directorship.

Barb and I are so excited about re-beginning our ministry there. I will miss my dear friends and colleagues at Oak Springs Family Medicine (although I will be there from time to time), but am super stoked (as the kids say) to return to MMC.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) Possible Movie or TV project

Barb and I still are praying for the movie producer who is considering a TV series or movie based upon my three Bryson City books. We are praying the Lord will give him wisdom and guidance on the next steps. We’ll let you know when we hear from him.

2) New Book Releases

That the Lord would use both Workplace Grace and The Influenza Bomb to His glory and that both would bear much fruit for Him.

EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS:

Apr 18: I spoke to the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians in Colorado Springs on the topic of “Natural Medicines (herbs, vitamins, and supplements): How to find evidence-based, trustworthy, up-to-date information. How to recommend safe product.” The talk was well received and I was pleased to, hopefully, be salt and light to the attendees.

Apr 28-May 2: Barb and I flew to Chicago where I participated in the AMA RUC meetings. These technical meetings are always very trying for me – but I pray that I may be used to speak life into those who were there. While I was in meetings, Barb practiced her spiritual gift of shopping.

TRIP TO ITALY

Barb and I had a wonderful opportunity to return to one of our favorite countries in the world – Italy. We first traveled there between medical school and residency in 1978. We returned for a nearly one-month sabbatical in the fall of 2004. Now we are back from the wedding of a dear friend. You can read about any part of the trip you like. Here was our schedule:

• May 8-9: Fly from Denver to Rome
• May 10: Visit Rome
• May 11: Travel to and visit Venice
• May 12: Visit Venice
• May 13: Train to and visit Cinque Terre
• May 14-15: Visit the towns of Cinque Terre. View the blogs here and here
• May 16: Travel to Cararra, Pisa, and visit Florence
• May 17-19: Visit Florence here, here, here, and here
• May 20-21: Train to Rome and attend the wedding of Anne Hartman at St. Peter’s Bascilica in Vatican City (yes, that St. Peter’s). Annie is the youngest daughter of our dear friends, John and Cleta Hartman. John and I practiced medicine together from 1985 – 2000 in Kissimmee, FL.
• May 22-23: Visit Rome here and here
• May 24: Travel Home

May 28 – Jun 1: Barb and I flew to Atlanta. On May 29 I spoke to the American Academy of Physician Assistants on the topic of “Natural Medicines for Osteoarthritis: Evidence-Based Recommendations.” However, most of our time was joyously spent with son, Scott, his wife, Jennifer, and their girls, Anna Kate and Sarah Elizabeth.

Jun 2 – 6: Barb and I flew to Washington, DC, where we saw some wonderful sights and I participated in an AMA CPT meeting. We had a glorious time.

Jun 13 – 15: Barb and I, as we do every year, are volunteering at Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch near Frazier, Colorado. Next month we’ll have a couple of wonderful stories to share with you about what the Lord did.

EVENTS OF THE NEXT MONTH:

Jun 15 – 19: Barb and I are volunteering at Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch near Frazier, Colorado.

Jun 20: Paul McCusker and I will participate in a book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Colorado Springs from 1-3 pm. We’ll be signing last year’s The Gabon Virus (a novel) and the just released The Influenza Bomb (a novel). We hope those of you in the Springs who can will come.

Jun 21: My first day seeing patients at the Mission Medical Clinic.

Jun 24 – 27: Barb and I will fly to Tulsa, then drive to Western Hills Resort for the In His Image Family Medicine Residency Program Retreat and Graduation.

Jul 3-4: We’ll be home and will enjoy the small-town Independence Day festivities in historic Monument and Palmer Lake, our home towns.

Jul 9-10: I’ll fly to Orlando to speak to the Florida Academy of Family Physicians on two topics: (1) Childhood Obesity: Practical tips for busy family physicians, and (2) Natural Medicines: How to find trustworthy information, how to recommend safe product.

Jul 11-17: I travel to Tulsa to be a visiting professor at for the In His Image Family Medicine Residency Program.

Jul 9 – 17: Barb will be in Baton Rouge visiting with family.

Barb and I are SO grateful for your prayer support for us and our ministries together. We could not do this without your love and the precious gift of your prayers and friendship.

Monthly Family Newsletter

If you’re interested in our family newsletter, the May 2010 issue, you can find it here, or the June 2010 issue here.