Don't Waste Your Cancer

One of my favorite authors is John Piper who wrote -Desiring God

He writes this article which I believe very clearly states how Jody and I have determined to live into her current diagnosis. It is not always easy, but with God's help and a lot of love from each other, friends, and family, we are doing our best to let God shine through even this most difficult time. Enjoy these top ten. (Also find the link to his whole article below)

1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.

2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.

3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.

4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.

5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means
staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.

6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading
about cancer and not enough time reading about God.

7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude
instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.

8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.

9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.

10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of
witness to the truth and glory of Christ.

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John Piper has been the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since 1980. He has authored numerous best-selling books, including The Passion of Jesus Christ, Don't Waste Your Life and Desiring God.

Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/1383847/

Survivors Guilt

With the most recent visit to Iowa City I have to admit I am experiencing a great deal of elation with finally understanding what the doctors have been trying to explain to us for a long time. This particular form of Leukemia has had a lot of advances made in the treatment process during the last ten years. And while we still have to go through the process of destroying the leukemic cells in Jody's body, and replace them with healthy normal cells, It almost feels too easy, and not fair.
Let me explain that... As a pastor I have seen many types of cancer many times. I have witnessed long term battles for life that have had long terms of remission and re-occurrences, and I have seen people diagnosed and then last only a month or few weeks. And I have witnessed the agony of radiation and chemotherapy and their "side effects" or "major effects."
Now I love my wife and as I said, I am elated with the news that her health can be for all essential purposes normal, and that she can live with this CML for a long time without ever knowing it is there. The expected benchmarks for her on this medication is to be in full molecular remission in a period of 12 - 18 months; that fact is astounding. From then on she will join a group of cancer survivors for the indefinite future. However, even in the peripheral role of husband I feel like I living in the midst of experiencing shell-shock, or survivors guilt or something along that vein.
I do not know if it was the fact that we had built ourselves up so much for the magnitude of devastating news, or that as a pastor I just witnessed two beloved members be diagnosed with cancer and live only a few months after their diagnosis. Maybe it is this fact that makes me feel like Jody's and my good news is unfair to those who have experienced such devastating news only to be followed up with the final blow known as death.
Of course as a pastor again I believe that death for those who have a saving relationship with Jesus is nothing to be feared and in fact it is the greatest news of life that one can hope for. However the reality of pain that we who remain experience is undeniably difficult despite the depth of faith and hope that we claim.
For now all I can do is say "Thank You God for gifting us with a treatable form of Leukemia, and thank you for the years of life, happiness, family, and ministry that we have in front of us."

First Notice

After we got the news and muddled through the Christmas Eve service we had a quiet but fun family Christmas (just the four of us) Then on the 26th we sent this email out to the whole congregation and community.

Merry Christmas to you all. We hope this email finds you in the peace and grace of Christ.

Some of you were recently included in the prayer chain asking you to pray for Jody. (Christmas Eve) Then many of you again saw us that night at the service but nothing was said about the details. (that was because we wanted to keep the focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas) As our lives have always been open to the people at Geneseo, we want you to know what is going on in our lives. Below is a brief synopsis of our last couple days which we share with you and ask for your prayers.

Jody had a routine physical on the 24th. At about 3:00 Pm they called and told us they needed her at the ER immediately. When we got there we were met by two doctors. They confirmed her blood tests and did a bone marrow biopsy and an aspirate. (The good news is that they were fast and we made it back in time for the Christmas Eve service, a little distracted, but there) They informed us that Jody has CML Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. (Now you understand about the slightly distracted bit)

We have been seeing Dr. Sangha in Waterloo and he tells us that although this form is rare, there is good news for patients. There is a drug called Gleevec that allows most people to have very normal life as long as they are on it. Jody is on another medication currently until Jan 3rd and the Gleevec is available to us.

We have also done a little research on other or additional health treatments: Foods, Cancer treatment centers, possibilities of bone marrow transplant. (these are all things we will need you to pray about as we continue to look for the right course of action)

We have told the kids as much as they can understand. They know it is CML and that it is a type of blood cancer. They also know that it is not anything we are going to be afraid of. We are instead going to pray about it as a family and we ask you to pray about it too.

Again we will keep you informed as we get information. If you have questions do not be afraid to ask, you are all family and our lives are an open book to you. Love you all.