God's Will?

I had a distressing experience this week when a well intended man, dropped off a book for me. The opening quote made me sick to my stomach. (sicker than the chemo made me feel)I believed that the theology was off...way off. I wrote my father-in-law for his thoughts on the matter, since he is a gifted, renowned, and published theologian. The opening quote was this, "God's perfect will is not to heal you...His perfect will is that you don't get sick!"- Henry W. Wright I won't read any further at that point. My gut reaction was to burn the book, or at the very least give it back to him, or just get rid of it.

The following is the written response of my Father-in-law, Dr. Paul D Janz. He was able to articulate very eloquently and intelligently, what I was thinking and feeling and knew to be right.

By:

Dr Paul D Janz
Dept of Theology and Religious Studies
King's College London


My goodness, Feather, I can see how this would have been distressing! I'm very glad you didn't read any further, and God bless you for it! These kinds of things are always a 'false gospel', and a false gospel of the most insipid and devious and contemptible kind. You're probably right that the person who gave you the book was well intentioned, but the original perpetrators of this kind of thing not only pervert and destroy the very heart of the gospel but invariably also do it for selfish gain.

They are false and perverted to the core because they effectively deny the agony of Gethsemane and the Cross, from which Jesus himself asked to be spared but was not. They deny Christ's suffering without which there is no redemption for us (Heb. 2). They deny the example of the apostle Paul, who was throughout his whole ministry plagued with an illness so
severe that it was a 'trial' to those around him, an illness which he pleaded with God three times to be delivered from, only to be given the answer: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness' (2 Cor. 12.9). In fact Paul says explicitly to the Galatians: 'You know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself' (Gal 4.12-14). St Paul talks in fact about 'rejoicing in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope' (Rom 5.3). Hebrews 2:10 talks about Jesus himself 'being made perfect through suffering' and only through suffering becoming 'the author of our salvation'. All the Pauline epistles are full of this kind of language, and so are the gospels. Many of the most loving and selfless missionaries, such as David Livingstone, suffered deep and long from very severe and agonizing illness and were a blessing from God to the world for it! Or
think of people like Vern Heidebrecht who shine out the love and righteousness of God in new and more powerful ways because of illness, and in illness.

The people who perpetrate this kind of thing (not the person who gave you the book, poor soul) are just like the 'name it and claim it' lot, whose god is their wallets and their stomach. If you really want to know what I think of these kinds of people, who prey on poor souls with less life experience and wisdom than you have, read Jude 11-13. Their website confirms even more strongly their status as purveyors of those kinds of perversions. You can see that this kind of thing really hits a nerve with me, because it goes to the heart of everything that the Christian life is not, and denies everything I believe about the life and power of Jesus Christ.

God bless you Feather! And thank you for writing to me about this. You are a shining light for people around you, even, and maybe especially, when you are most downtrodden. And in bearing your own suffering with the forbearance and hope that you do, you yourself are a 'participant in the sufferings of Christ' himself (1 Peter 4.13) and a 'reflection of his glory' to the rest of us!

You're in our prayers every day many times. God bless you again!
Paul

Happy Thankgiving from my 4 year old...

Thank-you for Jesus.
Thank-you for hugs.
Thank-you for unicorns ( oh yeah there's not such thing as unicorns:)
Thank-you for horses.
Thank-you for making us.
Thank-you for all the food.
Thank-you for water, and Choclate mail and juice.
Thank-you for fairs and rides.
Thank-you for candy treats.
Thank-you for our house.
Thank-you for Grandma's and Grandpa's.
Thank-you for friends and my best friend Miranda.
Thank-you for our babysitter Jessica.
Thank-you for Awana club.
Thank-you for games.
Thank-you for dress-up playtime.
Thank-you for Mommy, Daddy, Cadence and Auntie Lizzy.

Sometimes the Truth sounds like this...

A telemarketer called today and I answered. He told me the company he worked for and then said, "And how are you today?" I replied, very matter-of-factly,"I feel like Crap. I have cancer. I've just had chemo and I don't have the time or the energy to talk to you today. Good-bye." He simply said, "Oh, okay, good-bye" What could he say? I spoke the truth and didn't think twice about it. I wasn't emotional, it's just the way it is. Today was a particularly painful day. I pray that tomorrow is better.

My new friend's "birds-eye-view" of the Run for the Cure...

I've made a new friend, Jillian, just in the last couple of weeks. I met her on facebook, she knew Chris through her siblings from MEI school days. I met her in person the first time when she came to our benefit concert. Then she came out to support me with the run for the Cure. She wrote me a very nice email about her experience with us at the event. I'd like to share it with you:

Yesterday was a special day for me. I wasn't going to miss it, no matter what got in the way.

I arrived at Rotary around 845am and didn't know what to do. I didn't know anyone and I couldn't find the sign you described in your blog so I sat beside a pillar and waited. It was raining so hard and everyone was trying to make the best of it. Not too much later, a mom and her daughter arrived with the famous signs you described on your blog. I was so happy to see those signs because that meant it was really happening. Your friend and her daughter put so much into making those signs. (they even put plastic over to protect from the rain). Then I saw you with Chris and your two girls (there were others with you as well). You both had your arms full of bags, papers, blankets and were pulling the little 'tent' with your girls inside. You arrived and set out blankets for us to sit on so we wouldn't get cold or wet from the rain.
You never asked to be put in the situation you are in. You never asked to have cancer or gain weight from all the different treatments/medications. You also never asked for your beautiful, long hair to fall out. Yes, you have cancer, but Feather, you have inspired me so much (my eyes are filling up with tears as I write this). I made two changes in my life last night when I was in Abbotsford and its because of you and what you have shown me the few weeks I've known you. Feather, thank you for being who you are and showing me there is so much more to life than trying to have all the latest clothes, cars...material things, you know what I mean.
I was very impressed because you did just have your seventh chemo two days prior. You have such amazing energy. You didn't stop moving around and going from one event/booth to another. Its was too bad Chris had to leave before the run even started, but it was nice to see him supporting you. (he even wore a pink bandana!) When I was at your house (later on) he told me his computer just crashed and he was trying to fix it before he had to go out. I wouldn't have known if he hadn't said something. He looked pretty calm and relaxed to me. Please thank him again for the cd and shirt - I haven't stopped listening to the CD.

Last comment - your mom. When she first arrived, she happened to be standing in front of me and I thought she was a friend supporting you. Nope, she introduced herself as your mom and I couldn't believe it. She was there supporting you and cheering for you. I'm sure your mom has been through many tough times along your journey, but when I saw her I was touched again. She was there with her 'fly' hat and 'birds of a feather fighting together' shirt on. I'm so glad I could meet her and get to know her.
Moms are the best, in every way!

Feather, I know you have so much on your plate, but thank you. Your facebook and email accounts are always open to anyone -even the door to your house. You don't turn anyone away and always find time for people like myself who just met you and want to get to know you even more.

All the best as you recover and rest this week. I know (if not already) you'll be on your feet organizing the next event trying to raise money for breast cancer as soon as you can.

3 quotes that inspired me today...

Live for today, Hope for tomorrow!

Don't hurry God.
The problems that we think may drown us today could be the stepping-stones to greater spiritual strength tomorrow. Max Lucado

Remember God is in control. Remember His Goodness in the past, His Closeness in the present, and His Power for the future. Max Lucado

Life is full of sweet things.

I found a shirt that I love. I usually don't wear shirts that say stuff on them but I loved this one. It says, "Life is full of sweet things."
Everyday I look for the sweet things, the things to be grateful for.

Then I was sent the following through facebook, which made me think and feel a little deeper today, beyond the chemo drugs:

Laugh when you can,
Apologize when you should,
And let go of what you can’t change.
Kiss slowly, Play Hard
Forgive quickly, Take chances
Give everything and have no regrets.
Life is to short to be anything but happy.

Life is full of sweet things!

Thank-you abc!

I stopped by my "work" place, abc restaurant yesterday. I had to fight back my tears, from the moment I walked in. All of the staff were wearing my pink "birds of a feather fighting together" T-shirts. I was so overwhelmed by their display of support. I felt such moral support and appreciation. Not to mention that they all look great in pink! They are some hot ladies working there! I snapped a couple photos of them and went on my way before I burst into tears. They will be wearing the shirts for the month of October, for breast cancer awareness month. The shirts are for sale at abc in Abbotsford and the proceeds go to support my family. My boss at abc, Terry and Blanche Dawes, are covering half the cost of the T-shirts and the staff are covering the other half. It’s a fundraiser for my family but also a wonderful show of support for me, what a moral booster!
I know that many of the staff have had breast cancer touch their lives through a mother, sister, Grandmother or friend. So they are doing it for their loved ones as well. Breast cancer strikes 1 in 8 women and I hope and pray that it’ll never affect the lives of any of my co-workers. Even though I’m not working there right now, I look forward to returning. Sometimes it’s difficult visiting the restaurant because I’m so looking forward to when I can return. Unfortunately the Doctor says it could be as much as a year before I can work again. I long for the time to work with my friends again. I miss them so much!
Thank you my dear friends at abc!!