April 14th 2004
I haven't blogged for over a month now - not because life hasn't been interesting - but because it's been SO interesting. I'm thrilled to report that God is good, and continues to answer prayer. I so wish that I could share the experienced truth of that with non-believers. I wish I could share with them that Christ is alive and active and changing lives all around. How easy it is to be a Christian when you see God working. How odd Christians seem to non-believers when they just don't see it.
Back in January Dad underwent surgery to have a high-tech pacemaker fitted to alleviate the arrhythmias he was experiencing. This was due to a change of cardiologist, who just so happened to be a European expert in this field. The relief it brought Dad, and the freedom from fear, we understood as a gracious act of a merciful God. It's not God's fault that Dad had a heart attack 15 years ago, but it is merciful that Dad has survived those 15 years - grace.
Dad was diagnosed with Colon cancer just 7 weeks ago. The oncologist said unless surgery was performed Dad would about a year to live - and an undignified death. This is not God's fault - the world is a sick place because of corruption, sin and pollution. Death was not in God's plan or in his creation. If this diagnosis had happened in December, the British National Health Service would probably not have fitted Dad with the pacemaker - more grace.
Dad's heart attack meant he has been on warfarin - a medicine which thins the blood. Because of this his colon tumor bled, which alerted Dad that something was wrong. As a direct result, the cancer was caught early - while still a Stage 1/Dukes B cancer. A single tumor that had not spread beyond the colon - yet more grace.
Dad's oncologist just so happened to be an Army Colonel, at attachment with the National Health Service. Dad is an old soldier so they could talk on the same wavelength, as it were. Grace again. Colonel Keith Galbraith is a gift from God, let me add.
The anesthetist gave Dad a 60% chance of making through the cancer surgery because of his week heart, and then added that the post-operative recovery period was more dangerous than the surgery - the first 3 days would be critical - especially the first 12 hours. Indeed the anesthetist had not decided to allow Dad's life-saving surgery to go ahead - until 12 hours before the surgery. Finally the all-clear was given for Dad's surgery to go ahead - the anesthetist would take the risk to his statistics and reputation if Dad was prepared to take the risk (as if he had any sensible alternative!) - grace upon grace.
Dad survived the surgery, the first 12 hours, the first 3 days and it's been 2 weeks now. Mercy.
Lesson's I've learned?
1) I asked everyone I knew who was saved to pray. 5 or 6 churches were praying for Dad. Pray works. Don't ask me why God responds when we pray in His will - but He does.
2) God was working. Dad is a changed man because of this episode. My Dad was always a rascal - and although a spiritual man, not always exclusively a man of Christ. That's changed now. He asked me to pray with him every night as I was finishing my daily visits with him - a first in my life and his. He openly recognizes that Jesus Christ has caused his healing. Dad called upon the name of the Lord, and acknowledges the Lord answered him.
Dad is well. God is good, and I am thankful and full of praise for Him.
