Cancer does not equal death

When I got home yesterday, Jo said that a good friend was very troubled. An uncle that is very close to the her family was diagnosed with prostate cancer. We talked about this some last night and Jo said aloud "we should not take cancer as a death sentence" . I totally agree. Sadly this is how many feel when they hear a friend or relative or someone very dear has cancer. Honestly Jo and I would have felt the same before Feb 2009.
As I was spending some quiet time this morning, the reflection from the Word Amongst Us for today was to tell our own story to others who need to be strengthen and for ourselves. This prompted me to write this reflection.

Truly when one is told you have cancer, it puts your life in a different perspective. You start to re-look at your priorities and goals. I went through this last year myself. You start to see this sickness as a trial and need perseverance to overcome.
Recall James 1: 2-8

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.

from the footnote

The sequence of testing, perseverance, and being perfect and complete indicates the manner of attaining spiritual maturity and full preparedness for the coming of Christ These steps require wisdom.
Wisdom: a gift that God readily grants to all who ask in faith and that sustains the Christian in times of trial. It is a kind of knowledge or understanding not accessible to the unbeliever or those who doubt, which gives the recipient an understanding of the real importance of events. In this way a Christian can deal with adversity with great calm and hope .

The person with cancer goes through a trial, needs to persevere and the outcome of this trial is wisdom. key ingredient is Faith! I ask that as family and caregiver, support him and strengthen his faith. Pray for him and journey with him. Don't distress him with your negativeness.

For the person with cancer, need you to 1. do not blame God for the cancer, He did not will this on you (something that you have done/eaten/exposed to has created it) 2. use this sickness as a time to strengthen your Faith and seek Wisdom. 3. Trust in God. No-one lives forever, this life is temporary and our goal is eternal life. I have mentioned this before, the same grapes that we press can turn into sour, unpalatable vinegar or a beautiful vintage wine! the outcome depends on the process and storage. Our outcome also depends on how we go through this process! I rather turn out to be a vintage wine (closeness to God) than a vinegar(angry with the world and God).

I like to close with this thought;

1. Trust in God's faithfulness

2. John 12: 44-47

Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Next appointment & gathering

Healer at the pool of Siloam.

My next appointment with Dr Kong is on Tuesday 11 May. Thank You for your continued prayers for my recovery.

One of the very nice thing that happened over the last year is the care and concern of some very 'old' friend. We have know each other since SJI days, that's been 30 years ago. These guys have been concerned about me and we found time to meet and eat. Nick Chia and Damian Png was missing. Thanks and I look forward to the monthly gatherings. God bless each of you.

8 april 2010 - Thursday of Easter

Felt helpless, unable to help Daniel. I was hoping that he would respond to my sms and we could discuss his plans and decision. I pray that he will continue to Trust in God and pray for direction and healing.

These quotes stood out to me this morning as I was reading; (may they help you too)
‘Peace be with you!’ (the first word that Jesus said to the apostles)
Without faith in God, our lives will only be one of bleakness and fear. But, with deep faith in God we will find deep peace, hope and joy because we are never alone; God is always with us, to give us meaning, strength and fulfillment in life.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord
and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.


wish each of you Angels and Saints the Peace of the Risen Christ.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Today's Gospel John 20: Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,for I have not yet ascended to the Father.But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father,to my God and your God.’”

what a beautiful reminder that God is our Father!

Mary only needed to hear Jesus call her by name and she recognized that he was standing in front of her. How is Jesus calling out to you?

We are a post-Pentecost people, which means that he is calling you into ministry. Only after we recognize his call to ministry are we able to see what Jesus has been doing right there in front of us. We are healed of our pain, misery and loneliness not by sitting on our couches and complaining, but by DOing something with our pain that helps others heal. (This seems to be a secret that too little people know, but it should be a normal part of Christian living.)

In Matthew's account (see Matt. 28:1-10), the women were fearful until an angel said, "Don't be afraid!" and Jesus repeated the message. Fear keeps us from seeing Jesus and from realizing the plan of redemption that God's trying to reveal to us. Like he did for Jesus, the Father wants to redeem our crosses and destructions by transforming them into new lives that will reveal Jesus to others.

In Luke's account (see Luke 24:1-8), angels said to the women, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead?" We fail to see Jesus whenever we focus on what's going wrong. Only when we stop clinging to our limited and self-centered perceptions can we notice that God is leading us into a victorious future.

This is affirmation for Jo and myself to share and journey with others in pain and confused to where is God. We were unsure what to say or what to do when we met with Daniel on Good Friday, last night Fr Andrew asked us to join the cancer support gathering to share our journey. The gathering left with this request " speak Lord your servant is listening" what is God calling you to do? Today's Bible passage and the reflection anwers what we have been asking ourselves and to take the step forward.

Happy Easter everyone.