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Tonight I talked to a friend who is dying of cancer. She's chosen not to reveive treatment. I spoke with her about the gospel and she's afraid of the afterworld, but she doesn't feel the Holy Spirit's prompting. Of course, she didn't really know the gospel before, despite having gone to church for many years, so she hasn't had a chance to seek Him yet. I'm worried about what she will do in the final analysis-she's mad at me for telling her that there is a judgment because it frightened her. As gentle as the rest of the message was, she had to know it. But she got off the phone fast and promised to think about it. If anyone who feels led could please pray that she is saved, that satan will not be permitted to hinder her, and that God would give her peace, she'd have an eternity to thank you. I thank you, too, and wish you many blessings.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend Whitehorse.
As you may know I recently lost my brother to cancer. He was 45 and had four young girls. Jim faught his cancer by receiving a very intrusive "whipple" surgery as well as chemo and radiation treatments.
Why does your friend chose to pass on treatment?

 My brother was not a believer at the time we learned he had terminal pancreatic cancer, and it took me three years of prayer and ministering to Jim before he accepted Jesus.
 
 Jim was at times angry at me also for telling him he had such a difficult choice to make, then he was frightened, but once he accepted accepted Jesus' promose that He would not leave Jim alone and would acompany him into His presense he lost his fear and lived out his final days without fear.
 Jim took Jesus into his heart about one month prior to his death. Jim mercifully passed suddenly at home with his girls, his wife, myself and my wife at his side. Jesus took him quickly and peacefully to his home, and we will all meet again soon just as Jesus promosed.
I have also recently been informed by my doctors that I have an incurable pancreatic disease although no-one knows how long my pancreas will hold out. I have no fear as I have total faith in Jesus. It also makes it easier knowing my wife and children are all Christians. My only pain comes from the friends and relatives who are as of today, not believers, although I will do my best to pray and minister to them that God's will -will be done.

I am praying for you and your friend Whitehorse.

Oklahoma Howdy to Whitehorse and Bronzesnake,

Whitehorse, I will be praying for your friend daily. I'll also be praying for you that God gives you guidance and patience in leading your friend to Christ.

Bronzesnake, I will continue to pray for you Brother and for your doctors that God gives them guidance in providing the best medical treatment for you.

Love in Christ,
Tom

I'll prayer for them and the family.

Thanks guys. I really, really appreciate it.

Bronzesnake, I am more sorry than I can say to hear of your news. Did you get a second opinion on your ailment? Because medicine is so specialized these days that illnesses that begin in other parts of the body don't get recognized, and doctors don't seem to stay too current on research. Are there any new or experimental treatments to your ailments? I'd be happy to look into it if you want. We hate to see you suffering. I'm sure I'm not alone in praying for you.

Welcome back, bronzesnake.  I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis; glad( ;D) to hear of your continued faith in Jesus.

I don't know, Whitehorse, maybe watching a good video with her might help, if she can contemplate something like that.

I'm resurrecting( ;D) "The Greatest Story Ever Told", reviewed by current critics as much, much too slow.

But for someone ill or bedfast, its slow, thoughtfull progression from scene to scene I find very "therapeutic", and a helpful reminder to what among the jillion things were are constantly thinking about from day to day is really important.

It's just a thought; maybe she'd agree to watch it in parts with you?  I think it's about 3 1/2 hours long...  I'm really enjoying just the contemplative pace of it.

I'm remembering you and friend and bronze in prayer...

Really good idea, Symphony. And I think I have the movie, too!  :) It might be nice for her to watch a movie about it; it would seem less direct than a conversation, now that she has the specifics about how salvation works. It was an odd mix of curiosity and fear. Asking questions, but troubled by the answers, but wanting to know more...strange. I think a movie would be just the thing for her. Thanks for the suggestion-The Greatest Story Ever Told  would be perfect for her. Thanks for the prayers, too.

Yes, you're welcome!  

When I was caring for someone dying once, I strangely found that just sitting with him watching--of all things--golf, was "therapeutic".  It's slow, thoughtful, the narrator talks in a low voice.  The patient just lay there transfixed, and it had a "suspence" all its own; we forgot where we were.

Those things that we active folk easily pass by, are seen differently by someone literally facing "death".

Cool that you have a copy!!

I really like the scene where Jesus is climbing, and comes into that cave with Satan sitting there.  And Satan's little monologue, while he sits there eating, looking at Jesus.  The acting and scene is perfect.  



 

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your friend. I just lost my grandmother to bone cancer in july.  Death is indeed terrifying sometimes, and the idea of standing before the throne of God, who will make our judgement is even more heart-pouinding.  But when you have Jesus by your side, death simply becomes the next great adventure.  With your friend, here are my thoughts.  I believe that God puts us through a test at least once through our lives.  Towards the end of this test, I believe we come to a "breaking point," where we either recognize the test is from God and to surrender to his will; or to turn away from the "higher being" in defiance.  Many turn back towards the Lord, but a few who are weak, tierd, and sick(which I'm sure we can all relate to at one point) seem to want to keep wandering away from this being that caused you so much pain.  Now, here is what I think you can do to help her.  Be with her at that breaking point, and help her see that God did this out of love.  I know she does not need a reason to be angry with the Lord, but help her see that if she had never gotten sick in the first place, she might not have ever reached this breaking point (for example, putting off God till' next Sunday at church. Mankind is foolish in thinking that "we'll have time to be a better christian later," because then God simply bombards us with issues until we are forced to face Him, instead of procrastinating with our Chrisian life-does anybody get what im talkng about? lol sry, kinda rambling).  In conclusion, she will eventually realize that she cannot fight through life and travel through death on her own, and it is up to you and your friend to help her make the right choice, or the stubborn, mankind choice.  I will be sure to include both of you in my prayers, expecially that she reaches this breaking point before it is too late.  I have no doubt that you will be able to create a miracle tho!   ;).

You beautiful people. Thank you so much.

Symphony, you're right. That's just what she needs. That's really insightful, too, about someone dying seeing and even needing different things than we do. At least I feel like I'm going into this with some idea-it feels really awkward to see someone who is a friend and knowing they're not going to be around too much longer. What on earth do I say to her?

Peachykeen, that is really neat what you wrote about the crossroads and being tested to the limit. I just heard a sermon about it the other say, too, on the radio. Maybe God wants me to really hear this, because you're right-that's where this is for her. She's frightened because even though she went to church all those years, she never really thought about sin and salvation and judgment, and now she has to and it's scary for her.

You guys are really insightful and it is very refreshing to read. Thank you.

     :)

I'm praying everyday for both of you!  I'm just happy to help  ;D.

Peachykeen, thank you.

Whitehorse, I stand in accord with all other prayers.  I am so sad for your friend.  Just tell about the Gopspel gently and show love to this poor soul.  She needs all the love and support she can have right now.  I pray the Father's peace will fall on her to enable her to hear your words.  And heed them.  In Jesus Name. Amen.
You are doing a wonderful job Whitehorse.  Hang in there for her.

Love...Tamara.

How is your friend doing, Whitehorse?  I've been praying and wondering.  Also, I was wondering if you'd be interested in getting her to listen/read a book that might help her.  When my Grandmother passed away this summer, it was literally The Case For Christ that saved her in the end.  Hope things are going well!

Thank you so much for your prayers. Sad to say, she is very bitter; she's kind of shutting down and driving people out of her life. That sounds like a good book-thanks for the suggestion! I'll get a copy for her and see if she'll read it.

Oklahoma Howdy to Whitehorse,

I'm very sorry to hear about the condition of your friend becoming worse. I will keep your friend in my prayers. I was one of the primary care givers when my dad passed away. I played gospel music quite a bit, and he seemed to enjoy that. We also read the Bible quite a bit. However, those were the two things my dad enjoyed the most during his life, The Holy Bible and Gospel music. That might be a fairly good idea anyway just to try.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thank you so much. Great Idea, BEP. Maybe it will soothe her and she'll be able to hear the message more readily that way. THanks for the idea!

Oklahoma Howdy to Whitehorse,

You are most welcome. I know and understand how difficult that situation is, magnified 100 times if the person isn't saved. I will continue to pray for your friend.

Love In Christ,
Tom

I am praying for your friend, that her heart may open to accept the mercy and love of Christ, that she could be healed if it be in the will of God and that you will have peace about this also Whitehorse.  

I didn't read all the posts about this, but skimmed them.  I just wanted to suggest if somehow maybe it was forgotton, there is GRACE.  No one deserves salvation, no not one.  Maybe if the gospel was presented to your friend in that way, she may understand that there is nothing she can do to earn forgiveness but how freely she can accept it.  Just suggesting to you Whitehorse, I know you have prayerfully considered my own difficulties in the past, and I was so grateful because someone took time to THINK and PRAY for me.  I now have the chance to do the same.  May God bless you sister and your life.  May the Holy Spirit bring the right words and actions to you for your beloved friend and for whtatever else you face.

Hmmm, I guess the movie idea not so hot, huh.


How's it going, on this.   Still bitter, I guess.


Facing death, or being very ill isn't very much fun.  Serious stuff...

I tried the movie suggestion, but she said she wouldn't like any movies that we do. I asked what kind she would like to see, and she said, "I don't like your kind of movies."

Hm. Yeah, it must be really hard to not know Christ and know you're dying. I think she's more comfortable covering her eyes from it, but eternity is ever so long to regret that. I'm really, really worried about her. She's really bitter. Everyone seems to be drifting from her and it's sad because this is when she needs people most.

I tried the movie suggestion, but she said she wouldn't like any movies that we do. I asked what kind she would like to see, and she said, "I don't like your kind of movies."

Boy, isn't that the way it is.  Once someone has a "fix" on us, it's like from then on it doesn't matter what unfolds from our being--all is unexceptable.

Hmmm, I don't know.  I guess prayer and being ready, or looking for any opportunity that presents itself.

I have several like this on the griddle right now--two very clear ones.

They aren't dying--at least "knowingly"--hehe--we're all "dying", actually--but each is seemingly as impermnable(sp) as bulletproof glass.  In each one I'm totally powerless.  One is so sensitive, even the slightest wrong gesture, or any gesture at all, is like trying to set a mousetrap.  No false moves!!

The other one, no matter how I turn it around in side of my head three dimensionally, I can't find a way to resolve or "make" it work...

Isn't that the truth! Eggshell relationships are the worst. They make it so hard to do our jobs!

Whitehorse....


   WhitehorseToo....


       I'm so confused.     :-[

I sahwee. I a ideeit.

I locked myself out of my account because I changed my email, which when you do that, you get a new password automatically assigned to you. But I typoed my email, like everything else, twice, and so I couldn't get my new password. So until I knew why I was locked out, I decided to become WhitehorseToo because I couldn't stand to part from you fine folks for a day or two.

I'm on vacation and powerforuming my brains out. So I can't think at all. One of three very embarassing mistakes today. I need coffee. But it wont do me any good because I have to drink decaf. But I can pretenmd I'm more awake. So I'm tired and jest can't sleep.

So I a natural dumdum today.

Oklahoma Howdy to Whitehorse,

If you can't have coffee, just drink some Tabasco. That will livin' you right up. Get you a big gulp and don't waste it by drinking water. Just run 'till you cool off and you'll be wide awake and ready to go.   ;D

I'm praying for you and your friend.

In Christ,
Tom  

Heeheehee! I almost spit up my hot chocolate reading that!  :D

I'm really sorry about your friend Whitehorse.
You're both in my prayers.
I had a friend who died of Cystic Fibrosis just on 10 years ago and I had just become a christian about two weeks before she died and I still wish to this day that I had shared Jesus with her.  I know my friend and your friend had/have two completely different illnesses but I certainly know what it is like to lose someone close you to.
Blessings to you and your friend.

Thank you for your kind words and your prayers-I truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for your loss, too; it must be very hard. Heaven is going to be so sweet-no more of this. Blessings to you too, my friend.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Sad to say, she is very bitter; she's kind of shutting down and driving people out of her life. That sounds like a good book-thanks for the suggestion! I'll get a copy for her and see if she'll read it.


Ooooo, ooooo, Whitehorse.   That gives me an idea.

She sounds just like that lady in Disney's "Pollyanna"(the 1961 one), when Pollyanna goes to visit her--"Mrs. Snow", I believe is her name.

When she gets there, she's in bed, surrounded by bottles of pills, and more pills, complaining and whining.

ANd THEN, shows up the mortician--measuring her for her casket and asking if she wants silver handles or brass handles!!   ;D   8)

Pollyanna balls her out, and tells her she should be ashamed of herself, and that she's not coming back to see her anymore. >:(

It's very good scene(actually, I think it might happen in two separate scenes, there).  Very good lines, I think.

Might be difficult to pull it off, but too bad your friend there couldn't see Mrs. Snow there.  In fact, the whole movie is pretty good.