The bad news: This morning I informed my congregation that I have been diagnosed with a serious and very rare form of cancer originating in the bone marrow—Amyloidosis (Type AL) (for a recording of this morning, go to “sermons” under “media” at www.nocc.org). Briefly this means that my plasma cells in the bone marrow are producing a protein called amyloids. Since the body can’t process them, they are deposited in various places by the blood—notably the vital organs. In my case, we know it is in my kidneys. It may be in other organs (doing many tests right now), but if so, it is likely it is early on. There is no cure for amyloidosis, and the life expectancy without treatment is quite brief. However, there is a fairly effective treatment, and I am being tested to determine if I am a good candidate. My oncologist believes I am, and if so, I will begin treatment soon. If successful, it will slow the progress or even send me into remission. I could see years before I die.
The Good News. God became flesh, lived and died to take my judgment, and offered me life if I will trust him and make him my Lord. I did that 43 years ago, and he has been faithful to me ever since. So, one way or another, I am doing well. He has been so gracious and merciful to me over these years, and has given me a life I wouldn’t trade for anything. So, with Paul, I’m able to say “to live is Christ, to die is gain”.
Don’t get me wrong, I value this gift of life, family, friends and ministry God has given me. But the gift isn’t greater than the giver. So, I will work with the doctors and pursue treatment if I can. In the meantime, please know I’m ok. I am concerned for my wife, my kids, my grandkids, my friends and my congregation. So, if you pray, pray that I will be faithful and he will use me.
If you don’t understand any of this, listen to basic Christian teaching in scripture.
- We die because we sin. (Romans 6:23)
- God became flesh and died to take our penalty. We accept this forgiveness through faith. (John 1:14 and John 3:16)
- If we belong to Christ, even if we die before he returns, we will rise again with him. (1 Corinthians 15)
- So, as citizens of the kingdom, we live for him, or we die and are joined with him eternally. (Philippians 1:21)
- We grieve when death takes one of us because we suffer loss, but we don’t grieve as those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
So, I am dying. But then, so are you. I know I have a condition that will eventually end my life if nothing else does first. You may not know what condition will do this in your life—but something will. It happens to us all. The good news is, death doesn’t have to be the last word. Life is. We can live as though we are dying, being depressed, dejected, and focused on our various diseases. OR we can live as people who have been given a gift—life in God’s creation, even though it is a creation we have messed up by our sin. So, do we choose to live as those who are dying—or as those who are living?
I choose to live until I can’t live any more—to honor the gift the King has given us! I would love to talk with you more about this if you would like. Feel free to contact me.
