It’s been a long week. It is amazing how much of one’s life gets taken up with managing one’s own treatment and care needs to be taken that Cancer doesn’t consume the life, not just the body!
The Oncologist is a little concerned about my lifestyle, living on the property in a public situation, in the middle of a tourist town, where I have a high profile. I am finding it difficult to get the rest from duties, travel and other responsibilities of life. Amidst much protest from me, I have been ‘officially’ referred for consideration or a Disability Benefit with WINZ as from last Monday.
I know we pay taxes for such socialised medicine but while one is happy for other deserving people to receive it, one always tries to live without it – another example of ‘pride’ I guess! Affects us in so many insidious ways does it not?
We have some big decisions to make over coming weeks. My body seems to be responding well with all the natural juicing and food changes we’ve made. Haven’t gone ‘fanatical’ and done the vegan thing but fortunately it is summer and there are lots of lovely fresh fruits available. I’ve been steadily maintaining ph levels of between 6.6 (Lowest) to 7.8 with most being around 6.8 – 7.4.
Shelley Martin
12 January, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Hi Doug. You will remember me, Keith and Cathy White’s daughter. I am really sorry to hear of your news but pray that as God is in control he will keep your spirits uplifted as you trust in Him. I have spoken to becky a few months ago on the webcam she’s still bubbly as always. I will keep up with your blog now that I have found it. Prayers and thought are with you and Bronwen and the rest of the family. I love to see you still have your sense of humour. Well please take care Love and God bless Shelley
John Roxborogh
14 January, 2009 at 7:54 am
Hi Doug, thanks for continuing to share the moments and the days! John
Joshua Tan
16 January, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Doug
I keep watching your blog, a journey of pain and seem like you are a modern Job to me. Your spiritual walk is still helping me to continue transforming in Christ. As you are walking in the tunnel of pain and testing, I have touched by the peace and divine strength that Father God has given you, and the willingness to share your painful experiences and your hope with your friends around you.
Let me share few things:
Pains
No one would like to chose pain (except those youth who blade cutting their skins to get attention or to express their emptiness). Pains can be a measurement or a review on how a believer close to his/her Creator and Master that he/she has been served in the past. Pains just a manifestation of physical limitation, but it cannot stop a strong and firm relationship.
Jesus has gone thru the pains for the World, before the Cross and on the Cross. His decision at Gethsemane to follow the Will of His Father, and finally made himself gone thru the pain process to express His relationship with God, with Mankind and with His own creation.( Matthew 26:35-37)
Paul gone thru many kind of pains for the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:24-26), even he has done many miracles for others. At the end died for the Gospel. All these, as Paul said it
could not separate him from the love of God.
Job gone thru pains without knowing anything before it poured on him. His pains invited many questions from within and friends around him, at the end also questions from his God. My friend, you are a modern Job!
Questions
Doug, like Job, many questions being raise within you, your family and those people you have ministered in the past from many countries. God has used you to touched many lives thru your teaching, word of knowledge and healing, and I believe God still use you now and His presence still with you.
God never reject any question, but He will do more to the heart than to the mind. Job were enveloped many questions from his good friends. Your journey of pain, can stir many minds and hearts into questions. Many questions may have answers and few may not have answer yet, some answers may have to wait till we meet Lord Jesus.
Questions can help us to go deeper into relationship with our Master, or it can draw us
away from His path to look for other “answersâ€.
Heart (sprit)
I have been ministered by your sharing on blog. I see your love and heart for your Master Lord Jesus, the love never being moved by the painful experiences, and you still shine for Jesus during the process of medical treatment, word of care and encouragement never cease from you.
The physical limitations may stir many questions around you, instant healing seem not happening, even you have witnessed miracles have done thru your ministry. But thru these trial period, I see it is more than healing and miracle, but a deeper relationship between you and your Master. You have demonstrated your faithfulness and trust even in the midst of pain and testing. Many true Christians in China, India, Middle East, Africa etc suffer great pains right now for their faith and even get killed for what they believe. They love their Lord more than their own life.
May the peace and full measure of joy (John17:13) of our Lord Jesus make complete in your body, soul and spirit, and also make complete to those who are not shaken by your painful encounter, and to those able to look beyond pains and questions and decided to love his/her Master at all conditions, good or bad, as they know God is Good ALL THE TIME!
Blessings
Joshua Tan – Singapore
Lincoln
20 January, 2009 at 12:13 am
A Job in progress indeed.