So which way would you like to die...God did make us mortal.
Disease has no will, good or bad, so cannot be evil, which requires intent.
Without death the world would be an awfully crowded place.
 The only alternative would be a select few of us (or them) living forever
and that, in my humble opinion, would be the worst kind of hell!
MIKE
p.s. cancer is not usually the worst disease to suffer from by quite a wide
margin.

Troll alert ! He's trolling numerous newsgroups.
If you reply, trim the other newsgroup (news:scot.tld) first.
J

zendo_joystick_ankh_hero@yahoo.com.br said...

Hmm.  You can't have evil without a concept of good; therefore
you can't have satan without God; therefore...

Sorry I can't subscribe to your theory.   I can understand it, but can't get
to where you are.   I'm not going to go into original sin or self-proving
theories about why God does or does not exist.

I believe he exists and I believe everything in this world exists in order to
bring us back to him, if properly used.   The test I use to figure out if
something is from satan or God is to figure out if there is a chance for a
win-win situation or a loose-loose.   If it is win-win then it is from God,
if not it is from satan.

When I was told I had cancer I did not rail against God for smiting me but
looked forward to what had to be done.   I looked not only to the Bible for
inspiration but other places that I had used in the past as well, like John
Wayne.   In one of his movies a line he used cut to the chase, "Figure out if
you are going to live or die, then do it".   That pretty well summarized it
for me.

I could bring everyone in the family further down or I could lead them and do
what I needed to in order to prepare for treatment, I chose to prepare.  
They felt better because I was looking at the positives and wanted to get
well, I felt better because I was helping them and myself.

During my initial chemo and radiation, I met a lot of folks at the hospital
who were really trying to help, not just doing a job.   I let them know that
I appreciated their efforts and them as people, win-win.   I felt better
because they felt better, and the treatment worked also.

When I had surgery I lost part of my colon, my rectum, as well as my anus,
and am now an ostimate.   My surgeon did the best she could, but I wanted the
best shot at a longer life.   They also took three pieces of my liver, but
could not get to s spot on my lung.   The surgical team did an excellent job,
and I thank God for them.   The staff at the hospital also were wonderful,
and did their best.   I hurt, both fore and aft, and there wasn't much I
could do to get comfortable, but I could joke with them.

There were also two people who were problems for the staff, who I started
visiting on my daily walks.   As we got to know one another and I got one of
them to walk with me and the other one to not be quite so mean to the staff,
we all benefited from improved attitudes.   Days when I slipped, they helped
me - it wasn't all one way.

After surgery when I started my bolus chemo treatments, same things, if the
folks who were in the chemo suite all worked together and had fun and helped
one another and shared our faith, we did great.   When we allowed folks who
were down and surly to ruin the atmosphere, it didn't work out as well -
everybody had more aches and pains at the end of the session.

During my second surgery I had a doctor who was the best and a liver
specialist, rare in my part of the country.   I was also in the same hospital
with the same staff.   Things went more smoothly and I was able to kind of
help with four patients, sort of.   Each time I prayed for wisdom and that
patient I was successful in working with them, each time I forgot to pray,
the initial visits were a disaster.  I only discovered this in hindsight.

I can't say having cancer has been fun or a gift, but in a strange way it has
been a blessing.   In every instance when I have needed something and prayed
for it, God has been there to give it to me.   When I have tried to help
others and have prayed for them or on their behalf, God has been there for
strength and guidance and intervention.   I don't preach well and haven't
tried to convert and of the folks I have tried to help, that usually goes
badly, but I can see that God has shown me that I have a role in this world
beyond what I ever imagined, and it is very fulfilling.

I'm sorry that you can't see God, it hurts me.   I cannot imagine existence
without him, and I cannot imagine being apart from him.   Like the man who
was blind from birth that Jesus healed, when his apostles questioned him as
to who had sinned, his father or mother, Christ replied that neither had
sinned, the man was blind so God could show his power by healing him through
Jesus.

My life has been enriched in every way since we have started working to
destroy my cancer.   My sister, who was not close to me and who is never on
time, has insisted on taking me to appointments and we have become very close
as we have had the opportunity to talk.   I discovered a true lack of
commitment in my wife to being a Christian that we have been able to work
through as I have been undergoing treatment.   I don't have to stand up and
rant and rave that she is going to hell because she lacks faith, we have
shared how and what we truly believe and our relationship has deepened as we
have discussed our faith and she has drawn closer to God.   Friends that I
thought were of the true blue variety evaporated at the first sign of
trouble, and people who I never thought about as friends have done their very
best to help out in my time of need, and I know they are true friends because
I have nothing else to give them - but my friendship.   My employer
volunteered to go to extraordinary lengths to make sure I did not miss a
paycheck, even though I have not been able to work very much - the management
team has been a true blessing.

I can't help but thank God for each additional breath I take every day, and
if I die tomorrow I will thank him for the richness He has added to my life
because of this disease.   My heart is overflowing even as my body is now in
pain as I recover from my latest surgery.   If I die, I do not fear His
anger, but thank Him for His generosity.   Living without Him is to live in a
stunted and colorless world, and that I could not bear.

George