tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52994073026112328432024-03-17T05:52:06.487+11:00Gordon Cheng's blog“God, who is rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4)Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.comBlogger1724125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-86366715470547596982023-12-01T20:19:00.006+11:002023-12-02T06:51:23.755+11:00<p> Did an interview on facing death as a Christian, and other matters.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D2CzDH0QtFI" width="481" youtube-src-id="D2CzDH0QtFI"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-58586079160616753032023-07-20T21:18:00.009+10:002023-07-21T08:11:41.499+10:00How are you?<p><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When I first got diagnosed with stage IV bowel cancer I was quite surprised that medical receptionists would routinely say to me, as I walked in to my appointment, “Hi, how are you?”</span></p><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 xjkvuk6" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":rd4:" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I was tempted to respond “Well given that you’ve got my diagnosis open on the screen in front of you, and given that you’ve probably seen a heap of patients in my situation, maybe you should tell me?”</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or even, "What do you mean? I'm dying. And how are you?"</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But despite the testimony of my wife, I'm not quite that unkind.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Current situation: God is kind, I am well, no evidence of tumour growth for quite a while now. Treatment projected to be lifelong, side effects have been minimal.
Anyway. How are you?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Oh, and it's good to be kind to receptionists. The correct answer is "Good thanks. How are you?")</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x168nmei x13lgxp2 x30kzoy x9jhf4c x6ikm8r x10wlt62" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x6s0dn4 xi81zsa x78zum5 x6prxxf x13a6bvl xvq8zen xdj266r xktsk01 xat24cr x1d52u69 x889kno x4uap5 x1a8lsjc xkhd6sd xdppsyt" style="align-items: center; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--divider); color: var(--secondary-text); display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; justify-content: flex-end; line-height: 1.3333; margin: 0px 16px; padding: 10px 0px;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 x2lah0s x1qughib x1qjc9v5 xozqiw3 x1q0g3np xykv574 xbmpl8g x4cne27 xifccgj" style="align-items: stretch; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #65676b; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-16605974041281873602022-12-26T20:52:00.001+11:002022-12-26T20:52:04.902+11:00Happy Christmas. There weren't three kings.<p>Happy Christmas to all. There weren't three kings. Here's a sermon I preached on that yesterday on Christmas Day, from about the 40 minute mark. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Jwr557g_bY" width="320" youtube-src-id="7Jwr557g_bY"></iframe></div><br />But really, happy Christmas. May God bless you and keep you. <p></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-91089404528281068302022-12-13T20:09:00.004+11:002022-12-13T22:31:07.097+11:00Cancer remission, radioactivity, and hope<p> Greetings all. </p><p>Yes, I am in remission as mentioned in the previous post. This is the truth, and God is good!</p><p>But. as also mentioned, that doesn't mean a complete cure (something doctors are a bit wary of declaring).</p><p>Remission as I understand it can be either partial or complete. Complete remission is being cured. Partial remission is what I'm in, which is still most excellent. Technically it means that the original tumours are undetectable and have remained so after a period of thirty days.</p><p>However, new cancer activity is not unusual.The radiation oncologist tells me that it is like when you have a nest of rats in your house that you eliminate by poisoning all of them. One or two survive, and if they survive, they may re-establish a new colony. So the best thing to do is find another way to kill them as well.</p><p>This seems to me a fairly non-technical explanation but it does make sense, yes?</p><p>In my case, radiation doc tells me that this means five short sharp blasts of radiation, of which my first happened yesterday, my second happens tomorrow, my third happens on Friday, then we go Monday and Wednesday of next week.</p><p>I wanted to ask to hire the radiation gun and then just see if I couldn't treat myself at home.</p><p>Anyway that is what we're up to, the previous good news remains great news and we continue.</p><p>Meanwhile here's a sermon I preached on Sunday on the topic 'Anxiety and depression'. Pick it up at about the 44 minute mark. Some stop-start glitchiness but it does work.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ubk5YYVx6gI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ubk5YYVx6gI"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-13553718763040235742022-12-02T07:26:00.006+11:002022-12-02T07:39:28.784+11:00Remission<p>I had some good news this week. My oncologist, having considered the PET scans from the previous Friday, was ready to say for the first time that my cancer is "in remission".</p><p>This doesn't mean it's gone, but it does mean that it's going. In fact, there's nothing of the original cancer tumours that remain at any detectable level. There is a small lesion--new activity--in the liver, that I'm seeing a radiotherapist about today to decide on the next best step. </p><p>But the current big picture is that I was diagnosed with Stage IV bowel cancer on 6 January this year, and now there's almost nothing to be found. Family are pretty happy, as am I. Who knows what will happen next? God does, and this is his plan for our good and his glory.</p><p>In the meantime, Christmas approaches. If you care to sing carols with our church on 18 December, then come along. God is good!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BvZ7F_bGxjyrIB91jre9s7A5Jnzq4i3cCITWBTD8tidCYprXmxUHn4AwYmwn8bUVkSMU_m_GAVkuzbtJ5bB3TZVqtAcXeLtdnpumqO33VOa3QacNd_8K-Z2uKv8CmBpJxVBWy1usf8ZQmUzVvPwIbjQrMnZtXk00tCd9KqJIyPkBR4-dlFNHtW06Q/s2372/Carols%20invite%20single.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2372" data-original-width="1668" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BvZ7F_bGxjyrIB91jre9s7A5Jnzq4i3cCITWBTD8tidCYprXmxUHn4AwYmwn8bUVkSMU_m_GAVkuzbtJ5bB3TZVqtAcXeLtdnpumqO33VOa3QacNd_8K-Z2uKv8CmBpJxVBWy1usf8ZQmUzVvPwIbjQrMnZtXk00tCd9KqJIyPkBR4-dlFNHtW06Q/s320/Carols%20invite%20single.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p>And, a Bible verse:</p><p><i>And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)</i></p><p>This is not about us (none of it, at any time). It is about our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.</p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-9660331812307271992022-11-12T08:41:00.002+11:002022-11-12T08:41:38.919+11:00Will I make it to the end? A sermon from Hebrews 7<p>Last Sunday I preached on Hebrews 7, 'Will I make it to the end?' You could also call it 'International Man of Mystery'. Key verse:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">those who draw near to God </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">through him, since he always lives </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fdvSQz4tfXU" width="320" youtube-src-id="fdvSQz4tfXU"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-34783022951251247862022-11-01T07:04:00.001+11:002022-11-01T07:04:27.558+11:00A carrot, a stick, and entering God's rest <p> I preached a sermon recently about entering into God's rest, wuth carrot and stick. You can hear it from about the 23 minute mark.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DZ5mCc5aviM" width="320" youtube-src-id="DZ5mCc5aviM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-74374173727098077042022-11-01T04:37:00.004+11:002022-11-01T17:33:39.568+11:00A podcast interview: cancer and mission<p> I recently did an interview with a good friend, Mark Peterson, about cancer and mission. </p><p>Mark Peterson is the director of the <a href="https://www.cms.org.au/">Church Missionary Society</a> in South Australia and the Northern Territory and he wanted to ask me about both topics. <br /><br />About half an hour of listening; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/down-but-not-out-suffering-ignites-ministry-gordon/id1606093208?i=1000584415010&fbclid=IwAR3b26KEdmdvwX-cFNiJPR0g4VO1I1c-0ZxYGP5wvjWkWgCDBOFrDyGi7Qc">you can find the podcast here</a>.</p><p>In it I refer to these Bible verses, 2 Corinthians 4:17-19:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="text 2Cor-4-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-28859" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-28860" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-18" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-28861" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.</span></i></p></blockquote><p>And hey, if you've got the mood for listening to more, then the slightly longer--and much more marvellous than me--St Matthew's Passion is here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZwVW1ttVhuQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZwVW1ttVhuQ"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>Or if you can only spare 60 seconds, my favourite section is <a href="https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxNBfTFZMdUA6r-bv0J9LZC-2SFB5FDCVq">this repeated theme</a>. (Beloved Jesus, what has thou done wrong
That they have pronounced so hard a sentence?
What is thy guilt, into what sort of misdeeds
Hast thou fallen?)</p><p>Oh and cancer treatment continues very well. Stamina increasing. No news is good news. Oncologist (whom I saw today) remains very happy.</p><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-41789940342409881312022-08-09T11:50:00.001+10:002022-08-09T11:50:11.137+10:00I preached a meaningless sermon.<p>I preached a meaningless sermon on Ecclesiastes 6-10.</p><p>You can see it here from about the 33 minute mark.<br /><br />Oh and the cancer treatment is still working fine, as far as me and my oncologist can work out.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqGmGwTQbVM" width="320" youtube-src-id="nqGmGwTQbVM"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-52671536132784707862022-07-20T10:11:00.001+10:002022-07-20T10:11:16.396+10:00God loves a cheerful oncologist (20 July)<p>Actually the saying is that 'God loves a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7)</p><p>But in my case a cheerful oncologist is the next best thing. Last catch-up we had was last week. He asked about nausea, skin rashes, general plumbing functioning, fatigue, and made an appointment for mid-August. Told me everything was going well, just keep taking the medication and getting the treatment and we would see how things continued to progress. Not even the need for a scan.</p><p>So that's all good and if you've only just logged on to discover the latest...that's pretty much it!</p><p>But let me not pass up the opportunity to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFf8QZDFPIQ&ab_channel=StBarnabasAnglicanZoom1">link to my sermon on Ecclesiastes 2</a> from a couple of weeks ago; I appear at about 24 minutes and 30 seconds.</p><p>Or, for those who prefer melancholy and pain to cheeriness, here is a marvellous Johnny Cash version of 'Hurt':</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8AHCfZTRGiI" width="320" youtube-src-id="8AHCfZTRGiI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-21326363782487986542022-07-06T18:41:00.002+10:002022-07-06T18:41:28.087+10:00Another meaningless sermon (not a cancer update)<p> I preached another meaningless sermon. Why meaningless? Listen from about 25 minutes, here:</p><p>https://youtu.be/oFf8QZDFPIQ</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-76437439282545440662022-06-30T11:32:00.013+10:002022-12-28T19:38:35.799+11:00Prayer, miracles and medicine (cancer update 30 June)<p> The news from my oncologist continues to be good. He is pleased with the progress of my cancer treatment, which he says is in the top 1% of positive responses. I've not had any bad nausea or side-effects and that's great. At the moment it's just keep going with taking tablets and getting a fortnightly infusion of medication, previously weekly. So our family continues to thank God and I continue to avoid crowds (COVID and flu are never good companions at the best of times).</p><p>As anyone who's had contact with cancer knows, good news can turn into bad news quite suddenly, so we here in the house of Cheng are not being complacent about what the future may hold. It is a matter of daily trusting in God's goodness, whatever happens.</p><p>Is this a miracle? It feels like it. Yet I hesitate to use such language. Partially at least this is because any improvement comes in clear response to the latest medical treatment, and the extraordinary privilege of having such treatment close to hand and significantly subsidised by the Australian government and administered by amazingly gifted and hardworking medical professionals.</p><p>Mainly I would want to insist, along with anyone who reads their Bible carefully and trusts what it says, that God is in control of the smallest detail of life. That includes the efficacy of any medical treatment, and the response of the body he has created to that treatment. To suggest that some good response to cancer treatment is <i>not </i>a miracle is in no way to detract from the power, sovereignty and goodness of God. Rather the opposite. The fact that he controls both the extraordinary and the mundane, the eternal and the quotidian, the miraculous and the daily detail of life--all of this is to credit <i>greater </i>power and authority to his name. He does not merely control the freakish event, and leave the rest of his creation to roll on largely disregarded. Matthew 10 says this:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-10-29" id="en-ESVUK-23447" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-30" id="en-ESVUK-23448" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">30 </span>But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-31" id="en-ESVUK-23449" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">31 </span>Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-32" id="en-ESVUK-23450" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">32 </span>So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-33" id="en-ESVUK-23451" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">33 </span>but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:29-33)</span></span></span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: #ff00fe; color: white; font-family: inherit;">Indeed the extent of God's power and authority over our lives gives us grounds for an even greater (and right and proper) fear of what he is able to do. That same passage says, in the previous verse <span>"<span style="font-size: 16px;">And </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)</span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: #ff00fe; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">He is a good God, and a loving God who would gladly give his own Son to death on a cross to reconcile us to his eternal grace. Yet alongside this he is a holy God with the power to cause or cure cancer, and use all events for our good and his glory. One day we will face him as judge. May we also cling to him as our Saviour; whether from cancer or a far worse fate. And may we joyfully rejoice that he is inclined to save us not only from cancer but from our sin.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;">****</span></p><p> Ja sorry about font and background colour madness. I'm having trouble figuring it out. Here for your consolation is a sermon I preached on Sunday, the best sermon (from me) on Ecclesiastes 1 you will ever hear, unless you heard the one I preached before that on the same passage or maybe someone else's sermon. There's a Bible reading from about the 35 minute mark followed by talk.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3nXR49F32s" width="320" youtube-src-id="i3nXR49F32s"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-10-33" id="en-ESVUK-23451" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"></span></span></span></i></p><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-27563253340958756942022-06-02T18:26:00.007+10:002022-06-30T09:26:01.089+10:00Short memory...must have a short memory (not a cancer update, 2 June)<p> Not a cancer update but too good a story not to record here. (Oh, the cancer treatment seems to be progressing well although in the last two days I've had a return of nausea). </p><p>Yesterday I'd organised to borrow my dad's car to get to my cancer treatment. Went to get it out of the carport--gone! After discussion with my dad he reported it as stolen. But who steals a keyless entry boring white suburban Mazda sedan with a scrape mark on its side? A complete mystery, and he asked the neighbours for help to no avail.</p><p>Today the same neighbour that he first asked said they'd found the car in the local Woolworth's carpark. Now I swear I have no memory of this even as I describe it, but apparently I drove down to the shops to buy some food for dinner, got the food, forgot that I'd driven the car and walked back to my dad's.<br /><br />Thank God for good neighbours eh. Who knows how long the car could have stayed in the Woolies carpark otherwise.</p><p>This is now the third time in my life I've 'lost' a car in similar circumstances. In 2009 I lost a car in Top Ryde carpark and a nice security man picked me up and drove me around until we found it. I once went to a choir rehearsal, came back to where the car was, found it was missing and reported it stolen. Only to find it about 200 metres from where I thought I'd parked it.</p><p>I remember hearing, of all people, Brian Houston (ex-Hillsong) speaking of driving to a supermarket, not finding his car, reporting it stolen, collecting insurance etc. Six months later he returns to the same supermarket, looks over to the car parked next to his, and realises that it's the car he reported stolen six months earlier.</p><p>The incident recounted by Brian is one I heard in 2007. But I still have no memory of driving to the shops on Monday. Short-term memory loss anyone? I will tell my oncologist and he can tell me if it is a side-effect of treatment, in which case I guess this is a cancer update. But somehow I am doubting that.</p><p>Anyway here is another song I recall from a long time ago that somehow seems to relate:<br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iDzV_jESwGA" width="320" youtube-src-id="iDzV_jESwGA"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>In the meantime, move along folks. Nothing to see here. At least as far as I can recall.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-76195147885030937482022-05-18T15:22:00.016+10:002022-05-18T18:51:21.345+10:00I have good news and a broken bone (Cancer update 18 May)<p>I have good news and a broken bone. The two are not unrelated.</p><p>The good news, in fact great news, is that I had a PET scan yesterday with results delivered at 9 am this morning. The scan was to find out the latest with my various tumours, mainly the multiple metastases in the liver but not isolated to that organ. The report says in part:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">There has been a dramatic response [to treatment] in the liver with near complete resolutions of most sites of disease. The previously evident large abnormality in segment 8 superiorly has almost completely resolved and there is mild persistence of activity at this site with SUVmax of 4.1 previously 10.3.</p></blockquote><p>The report's conclusion reads in part:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> There has been a good response to treatment with resolution of almost all sites of disease.</p></blockquote><p>Not bad, eh what? I don't think the language of 'miracle' is exactly fitting to this result, but Prof Clarke my oncologist was happy to agree with me that this result was right up the end of the bell curve. "The right end", he said, which is pretty hard to dispute really. Can we at least say that this is the work of God? I think so.</p><p>It is great news and, God willing, means I am well on the road to recovery. Or not; I don't think it's wise or prudent to make quick claims about what the future holds. Yet clearly it is an answer to the prayers of many. It is further evidence that our heavenly Father hears and answers such prayers and works according to his plans and purposes. I'm not yet healed, and treatment continues. But it is an extraordinary result and I hope that you will join me in continuing to pray and thanking God that he is daily at work in both good and evil circumstances.</p><p>OK, what about the broken bone, I hear you ask? The other day, actually six weeks ago I did a little jump whilst playing with some kids at church<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>so little (both the kids and the jump) that I don't think they noticed the jump or even that I was playing. But enough that there would be an 'ouch' moment that I wrote off as almost nothing. Six weeks later I thought hmm not getting better. So what went on?</p><p>Here is the answer, it's a part of what the PET scan revealed incidentally whilst the tumours were being checked out. The image below is not really the scan. It's a picture I found that looks similar to my scan, but in mirror image. The red bit in my scan, in mirror image, is the bit that was broken.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53c1a2cce4b0e88e61f99b70/1520647038367-ONKE3KAP0M4DUOZ9EDIQ/XR+inferior+pubic+ramus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="473" height="281" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53c1a2cce4b0e88e61f99b70/1520647038367-ONKE3KAP0M4DUOZ9EDIQ/XR+inferior+pubic+ramus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Yep, that old inferior pubic ramus up to its typical tricks. My small and scarcely noticeable jump resulted in a break, not unlike what happened to my friend years ago who broke his arm on the golf course executing a mildly average fairway drive. How does that even happen?</p><p>I can't speak for my friend's arm, except that there was some underlying weakness in the armbone that led to it snapping like a twig when he teed off. </p><p>In my case, the likely cause of the break seems to have been an absence of cancer. Somehow, a tumour had begun to grow in this area, the right inferior pubic ramus, and eat away at the bone itself. Then, the cancer treatment had begun to do its thing, so destroying the cancer and leaving behind itself a weakened bone structure. Then when I jumped into the air (six weeks ago), that is the exact moment at which some might say 'That's one small step for a man...one giant leap for a man with a weakened inferior pubic ramus, leading to a break that will ultimately cure itself with a bit of care and rest.' Such a saying lacks poetry but it does get across the essential details of what is going on.</p><p>So that's where we're up to. Please join me in praising God for working in this way to this point. Please ask that healing would continue. And please be assured of the truth of those wonderful Bible verses, 1 Peter 5:6-7, which read<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Pet-5-6" id="rp-passage-3-30455" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="rp-passage-3-30456" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span> </i></p></blockquote><p>In the meantime, here is a recent performance of another fabulous Ralph Vaughan Williams anthem, 'Come Down O Love Divine', all about the Holy Spirit's power in our lives. Pray it with me! And enjoy the other music, as led by Ross Cobb.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fdxWJJ1jPyc" width="320" youtube-src-id="fdxWJJ1jPyc"></iframe></div><br /><p> </p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-59139903713817485582022-05-16T08:47:00.002+10:002022-05-16T18:12:11.486+10:00I preached on the Holy Spirit<p> You can hear the sermon here from the 25 minute mark:<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BeQkJJxsC3I" width="320" youtube-src-id="BeQkJJxsC3I"></iframe></div><br /><div>Three points: </div><div><br /></div><div>1. The Holy Spirit is our Helper.</div><div>2. The Holy Spirit is a teacher of Truth</div><div>3. The Holy Spirit gives us peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>The passage is<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15-31&version=NIVUK"> John 14:15-31</a>.</div>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-5622725248953977082022-05-12T10:21:00.003+10:002022-05-18T14:37:52.628+10:00Would you join a club that wanted you for a member? (Cancer update 12 May)<p> In continued good news I am still putting on weight. Given the possibility of sudden weight loss I wouldn't mind getting a bit over my ideal. So long as it doesn't affect my sporting involvements.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/g21/2080_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://www.japan-guide.com/g21/2080_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I've been accepted in an Australian based bowel cancer support group on Facebook, a private group where people share their experiences and advice. To be honest I have mixed feelings about it. While my treatment is going well and my weight gain and stamina are improving (I'm having an experiment half day today at the CMS office<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>just avoiding peak hour public transport and making sure I stay within my energy limitations) I tend not to think too much about anything except the usual day-to-day obigations, family, work deadlines, preaching and congregational relationships.</p><p>But logging onto this cancer support group reminds me of some of the uncertainty of the situation I'm in. Just a couple of random quotes (it's a private group, so no names):</p><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><blockquote style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My cancer is back in my Liver, I had surgery last August on my liver and February this year on my bowel. We thought we had got it all, but it’s back.</span></i></blockquote><span face="Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">or again</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All. I have asked my sister to post this on my behalf.</span></i></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span>It is with great sadness to advise you I have passed. I have been taken way too soon and the dreaded disease has done this. However I can say I fought, I’m unique to many in the medical world and defied all expected odds to have a beautiful extra months/years with the man I love, much loved family and friends. </span> </i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span></p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mark I love you …</i></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf3/1.5/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mum and Dad thank you for been the parents you were and are. I was lucky to have had you </i><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf3/1.5/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to everyone who shared a special place in my world.. till we meet again</span></i></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">So sad. Some have good news, some don't. Some have surprising news of success, others don't. Discussions of reincarnation come up, effectiveness of particular treatments, side effects, the personalities of oncologists, messages of hope and despair. Perhaps at some stage I'll move beyond lurks and likes as I read these posts, at the moment it's just coming to terms with what the future may or may not look like.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">Here are a couple of Bible verses that I carry with me most days (in my mind), and that help as I consider what lies ahead. Jesus said:</span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal;">“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34)</span></p></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">and</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Jas-1-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,</span><span class="text Jas-1-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-30253" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-30254" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)</span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those latter verses from James are good because they tell me that the bad things I might be going through, alongside my family (who are going through it just as much as I am, only in a different way) are nevertheless under God meant to be counted 'as joy'. What the word 'counted' suggests to me is a deliberate battle to reckon something as joy that really wouldn't normally be. But it <i>can</i> be counted as joy for a reason; that though it is experienced as suffering, yet under God it has a direct purpose and that is for our steadfastness until the day of perfection and completeness in Christ. Like labour pains, then, it won't <i>feel</i> happy or joyful but the end result will be both joy and happiness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of Bible, I am preaching this Sunday at St Barnabas East Roseville. I'm preaching on the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15-31&version=ESVUK">second half of John 14</a>, which includes these marvellous verses:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-18" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-26675" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">18"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19</span></span><span class="text John-14-19" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-26676" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:18-19)</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can watch a livestream of the sermon at 11.00 this Sunday, here:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.stbarneys.org.au/this-sunday-live-stream/">https://www.stbarneys.org.au/this-sunday-live-stream/</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, if you are not committed at another church, come along at 9, 11 or 4.15 to<a href="https://www.stbarneys.org.au/when-where/"> the corner of William and Macquarie St, East Roseville</a><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>and make sure you say hello!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The passage is a great passage which reminds us that the Lord Jesus will never abandon us, no matter how great our extremity.</span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p>Meanwhile, Ralph Vaughan Williams' <i>The Lark Ascending.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOWN5fQnzGk" width="320" youtube-src-id="IOWN5fQnzGk"></iframe></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p></div>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-38829465721268293382022-05-04T18:57:00.011+10:002022-05-10T10:12:35.212+10:00I’m putting on weight! That’s good news. (Cancer update 4 May)<p> You work out what’s news by looking at the headlines. ‘Dog
bites man’ is not news, ‘Man bites dog’ is. Actually when you think about it
that’s wrong, but nevertheless…</p><p>So the headline is, ‘Cancer patient puts on weight’. Canadian
comic Norm McDonald, who died of bowel cancer, talks with lack of enthusiasm about
the book title ‘Lose weight without dieting or exercise!’ As he said, "doesn’t
that just leave disease?"</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well yes and I got down to 71k, having lost 4k in the week
leading up to that measurement. Now I’m piling the weight back on and I’m up
to 76.9 as of today, about six weeks on. How’s that? My ambition is to get as
big as those guys who are confined to bed and can’t even get out of their room
until the guys with the chainsaws arrive to come through the external wall and
broaden the exit path out of the house and into the special crane-equipped
ambulance. Let’s see how we go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the doctor’s happy, I’m happy, and I will soon book in a
PET/CAT head to toe scan to see if my fingernails or any other body parts are
starting to grow their own tumours, but the vibe is that it’s all good so far.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, has it occurred to you that the antidote to despondency, over time, is thankfulness to God? Not an immediate cure, that's true, but today I am thanking God for putting on weight. Here is a song about feeling happy in such times.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7PCkvCPvDXk" width="320" youtube-src-id="7PCkvCPvDXk"></iframe></div><br />Here's a particularly good version of the same:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aLnZ1NQm2uk" width="320" youtube-src-id="aLnZ1NQm2uk"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-11842268059175000052022-04-25T13:56:00.012+10:002022-04-25T14:18:01.015+10:00Reasons to be cheerful, part three<p>I said to Fiona (my first wife) that if people hadn’t heard
from me, no news was good news. She reminded me that
it could also mean that I was either dead or close to death. Yup ok. So due to overwhelming
popular public demand, here is some news.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The cancer treatment is working very well, thank you. It’s not chemotherapy,
which is good, because chemotherapy really means poisoning everything and hoping
that the poison hits cancer harder than it hits teeth, hair, fingernails and parts
of you that actually matter. The treatment is targeted therapy (BRAFTOVI) and as a result
and after initial severe nausea, I’m stronger and healthier. I’m walking with a
limp, because I tried to jump while playing with some kids at church.
They are safe, their parents are safe, my leg hurts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Despondency</h3><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the likely possibility of death advances by 10-20
years, the initial response is ‘oh well’. Then, in my case, you start to think
of what is and what might have been. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the age of 20 and if you have worked out that you are
good at things, you have the world open in front of you and even the parts that
you’ve chosen not to explore will wait. You are great (you actually are), your
achievements lie ahead of you, you can choose and whatever path you choose will
reveal greatness. You will not win Wimbledon but hey, you chose not to at age 8
and your regret is long past.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At age 60 you think hm, I now have a lot of regrets that are
long past, and some of them were quite important, and now due to a diagnosis I
could be gone in six months. The ‘so what’ response at age 20 has vanished into
the concrete of ‘uh oh. This could be it’.<o:p></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Christ</h3><p class="MsoNormal">My answer to my own despondency has been, so far, to feel despondent. But also to look to Christ. He is our great king. Every failure of ours is a victory for him (and therefore, for us), because as we trust in him and in his kindness, mercy, and grace, he wipes out our failure for eternity. And he reminds us that we, his little children, are doing exactly the things that he would want us to be doing, and that we are created for.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I am also reminded daily of the grace and kindness of friends. In your grace I see and experience the work of Christ himself. You did not need to ask after our family and our wellbeing. You did not need to pray or offer kindness in so many ways. And yet you have.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Other matters.</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">More to say, but let me immediately say that at this time: no news <b>is </b>actually good news. Treatment progresses. I am stronger and here is
some proof, just a bit of Q and A after yesterday's sermon. Sorry about the collar malfunction, the rest of it I stand by.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7XaDY-gK1g" width="320" youtube-src-id="J7XaDY-gK1g"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And here is a song. Reasons to be cheerful, part three.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CIMNXogXnvE" width="320" youtube-src-id="CIMNXogXnvE"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-88905975675584411082022-04-03T20:52:00.001+10:002022-04-03T20:52:30.678+10:00It is well with my soul. Is it well with yours?<p> This is what prevents me from worry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYrL9ea1XUg" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZYrL9ea1XUg"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>"Even so, it is well with my soul."<br /><p><br /></p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-47576795121397980252022-04-02T12:13:00.007+11:002022-05-18T18:06:14.926+10:00Thankful as always for the kindness of friends (2 April)<p> All sorts of people have phoned or sent messages, some expected friends, some unexpected friends, some with memories from long ago. Here is a song for you, an old song that you may have heard before and I hope will hear again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WAgWklREPWI" width="312" youtube-src-id="WAgWklREPWI"></iframe></div><br /><p>I'm feeling a lot better. The nausea has been whipped into shape and is now wishing its mother had never met its father. The BRAFTOVI treatment is working, as in, I have physical evidence that tumours are shrinking. Saw my oncologist Prof Clarke and he was pleased with progress, or in the case of tumours, regress. During the week of nausea I lost four kilos, I've put three back on and am eating lots. This weekend or soon after Matilda our eldest moves out to a room (that is larger than two of ours back here in our house) in the inner city; two other daughters have scored part-time jobs, and our dogs are happy thanks for asking. I walked up the steps at Meadowbank station two at a time and made it to the train, the hamstrings remain intact today. So many good things, or new things, or both.</p><p>Here are some thoughts that friends have shared, not necessarily with me in mind. <br /><br />The first friend was considering COVID isolation and how, as many know say, it is not as bad as being a refugee from Ukraine or a flood victim in Lismore. Truth! But, said the friend, we are not necessarily helped by comparing suffering of one with another, and it is not how the Bible teaches us to think. Your stubbed toe is not as bad as Freda's amputation, but in the moment of pain and even after we are not competing with each other to see who is worse off. <br /><br />And what if (as said friend said) the specific suffering we are going through is actually the means of God's blessing?<br /><br />William Cowper wrote: <br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds you so much dread,<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Are big with mercy, and shall break, With blessings on your head.</span></i></span></span></div><p></p><p>In other news, it's coming up to Easter, so here is a song about Easter. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yYwrovW9Xcc" width="320" youtube-src-id="yYwrovW9Xcc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The crucifixion itself was the lowest moment of all, yet through it the Lord Jesus' glory was revealed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">[as we learn in Acts 4:24-28] </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Acts-4-24" id="en-ESVUK-27035">And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,</span> <span class="text Acts-4-25" id="en-ESVUK-27036">who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,</span></span></p><div class="poetry" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Acts-4-25" style="position: relative;">“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,<br /></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Acts-4-25" style="position: relative;">and the peoples plot in vain?<br /></span></span><span class="text Acts-4-26" id="en-ESVUK-27037" style="position: relative;">The kings of the earth set themselves,<br /></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Acts-4-26" style="position: relative;">and the rulers were gathered together,<br /></span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Acts-4-26" style="position: relative;">against the Lord and against his Anointed’—</span></span></span></div></div><p class="first-line-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Acts-4-27" id="en-ESVUK-27038">for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,</span> <span class="text Acts-4-28" id="en-ESVUK-27039">to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.</span></span></p><p class="first-line-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Acts-4-28"><br /></span></p></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-53510474351884865252022-03-21T08:33:00.006+11:002022-03-21T09:36:02.423+11:00With apologies to all pregnant women at all times and in every place, 21 March update.<p> I'm not sure if I've ever said anything particularly rude or inconsiderate about pregnant women in the past, in fact I'm going to boldly assert that I haven't. But it may be (I'm really not sure) that in my mind I'd dismissed the idea of morning sickness and nausea as relatively trivial in the grand scheme of things, and for that I am now truly sorry to all women who have or will experience such a thing.</p><p><b>A hospital holiday</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs4PgugQu06EVO5vITs3NhXvQPHSKhPwbuMCGM0WWTxSur-qB3xXz7rib2VF3ViEVKqA6oRusV0nZeXifNFmPEjIq7gl8DUSL7QWK7t2-LgNXFTHvBRUCEFdP6xR1-teigNZ7e-nESJdCdc38cTXTmkrwzyJo_TKbrH-0LFUo8Gx2gxgMhI5auntuXHA=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs4PgugQu06EVO5vITs3NhXvQPHSKhPwbuMCGM0WWTxSur-qB3xXz7rib2VF3ViEVKqA6oRusV0nZeXifNFmPEjIq7gl8DUSL7QWK7t2-LgNXFTHvBRUCEFdP6xR1-teigNZ7e-nESJdCdc38cTXTmkrwzyJo_TKbrH-0LFUo8Gx2gxgMhI5auntuXHA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I spent last week in hospital (RNSH private) slowly recovering from severe nausea most likely induced by the targeted BRAFTOVI treatment I've been getting for my cancer. If the intestinal perforation I had a few weeks back was the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life, the nausea was the worst experience of sickness, especially sitting in emergency for several hours waiting for something, anything, to fix the feeling. Awful for Fiona to be with me and have to watch helplessly, too.</p><p>Nausea saps everything and puts a sick grey-green olive complexion on life, an overlay of not-quite-pain and disgusting negativity. Strength and concentration disappear, any happy thought of the future is underscored by an irrational notion that even the very best and brightest hope is somehow going to fail and be tainted by who knows what? This awful sick feeling that colours even sunlight with a sense that it will fade into darkness.</p><p>The hospital emergency nurses are hardcore<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>they have their clear instructions on what they are able to give in the way of drug treatment, and quite rightly they follow them. So if there is some temporary relief that they are able to provide, and that relief starts to fade, then it will be (say) two hours before any further drug help can be given. In the meantime they will be reasonably sympathetic whilst suggesting that you stop moaning and relax into it, as this will probably last all night and the best way to avoid the worst symptoms is to sleep. Let me tell you that the advice hurts almost as much as the nausea, and the suggestion to maybe not moan quite as much during the worst moments.</p><p>Really, nothing at all against emergency nurses but to get admitted into the actual ward is to experience the joy and relief of the oncology team saying 'you can have as much nausea relief as you want, whenever you want it, and if it's not enough, just ask!'</p><p>Nausea shoots great holes in the strength to do the most routine things in life and removes the ability to think all but the most basic thoughts. You can lie for hours doing nothing and imagining nothing, planning nothing and hoping vaguely that the situation might improve in a few hours or days. Pregnant women everywhere, I salute your strength.<br /><br /><b>Today? Feeling OK</b><br /><br />By Friday of last week I felt pretty good and had almost started to enjoy my hospital holiday. Although I did lose about four kilos in the course of a week, and that's not great, hey. The oncologist apologised for making me sick with his treatment<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>hardly his fault really. My dad picked me up (Fiona was not feeling the best) and took me back to his place. In a desperate desire for carbs that were not also hospital food and involved some activity on my part, I made <a href="https://www.vincenzosplate.com/recipe-items/spaghetti-carbonara-recipe/">spaghetti carbonara </a>for both of us. Missed a wedding on Saturday. Made it to church on Sunday. Now it's Monday and brain and body seem to be operational enough to make it to a morning Bible study and get on with my editing work at CMS. Let us see.</p><p>In the meantime I am deeply aware of the goodness of God in providing medical people who are able to navigate this path alongside me, and the ongoing kindness of family, friends, and church family. Some people phone, some leave comments on my Facebook page, many provide support in ways small and large. <br /><br />To experience this is to experience a direct epiphany of the grace of God who works all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Sometimes<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>often<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>I can't respond to these kindnesses shown by so many and in so many ways. If you're someone who has called, prayed, offered help, then please know that your kindness is known and felt deeply even when not responded to in any way that you may be aware of. Such grace reminds me that even in the face of the worst nausea or pain, there is a true solidity and basis to this instruction God gives to all who trust him: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Jas-1-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-30253" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESVUK-30254" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. </span>(James 1:2-4)</p></blockquote><p>The daily experience of the grace and kindness of friends is just one dimension of the joy that comes to all God cares for. </p><p>Oh yes and I'm back today on my targeted BRAFTOVI cancer treatment, at a lower dose and bolstered by lots of anti-nausea options. Let's see what happens!</p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-74617024515484468182022-03-12T07:15:00.005+11:002022-03-14T07:41:51.827+11:00Sleeping on steroids, a new treatment (March 12)<p> Due to overwhelming popular demand, another cancer update!</p><p>I am home with Fi and the girls now and have been for about a week, following a time with my dad, following a time at RNSH hospital, following emergency surgery after the cancer perforated my bowel, which is every bit as painful as it sounds. But I woke up feeling a lot better and after ten days in hospital my dad took me not home, but to his place, whilst two daughters tag-teamed COVID and the family spent time in isolation, while I isolated from them.</p><p>My dad took great care of me and I spent a good deal of time sleeping, or vaguely watching a survival series called 'Alone', where intrepid individuals doing their own camera work are dropped into some serious wilderness and left to fend for themselves in cold, wet, and frequently miserable conditions along with wolves, bears, and cougars. A bit like me, really, except without the predators, and I had hospital care, and with my dad then looking after me and providing lobster, prawns, steak, pork fillet, stir fry and whatever else he decided to cook up for the night. But hey, Sydney has been cold and wet hasn't it? And I was alone in my room, so I did sympathise with those poor survivalists.<br /><br />Alone... o ja ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGgs4n3yS534BirMw07JOkUfuFrNlBzTDAh2XRbMzDftgLY1eyQAoiGGcawf9YvPlnDWPCXyJn8aiNwXpt6Ag_darm5OFS4w2j-k7wmCeRPP8nPIfwDULNWAvwZTn4-RYUj03AmN80uZ0960NO4i2XlDB4DsBQOVWUWxKTPO6igaoL20E1Gpyp7ivnQQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGgs4n3yS534BirMw07JOkUfuFrNlBzTDAh2XRbMzDftgLY1eyQAoiGGcawf9YvPlnDWPCXyJn8aiNwXpt6Ag_darm5OFS4w2j-k7wmCeRPP8nPIfwDULNWAvwZTn4-RYUj03AmN80uZ0960NO4i2XlDB4DsBQOVWUWxKTPO6igaoL20E1Gpyp7ivnQQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>OK it wasn't so lonely as all that, but I was surprised (after doing pretty well in hospital, including being able to walk around and keep working) that I was so worn out for so long. Yes it was major surgery, and I now have a scar to compare to Fiona's caesarean scar, along with other accoutrements of the procedure (colostomy bags, anyone?) and a collection of drugs that just keeps accumulating, despite my best efforts to consume them. <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">A new treatment</h4><p style="text-align: left;">And now I'm home, propped up by sleep and steroids and the loving care of Fiona and daughters. That's nice! I even managed to preach at church about two weeks ago, want to see? Here's the link, go to 33min 30sec for the reading, followed by me preaching on 1 Thessalonians 2.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mz1NRwGfztA" width="320" youtube-src-id="mz1NRwGfztA"></iframe></div><br /><br />It's about warm family relationships, amongst other more important questions. And it gets a bit rambly. But hopefully in a fun and helpful way.<p></p><p>Back to the new treatment. They can't give me chemotherapy straight away, if they do it not only attacks the remaining cancer but (to a lesser extent) the rest of the body, which is not so good for healing of surgery-induced wounds. But in the providence of God, a therapy targeted specifically towards the sub-type (actually mutation, look up <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/braf-mutation-and-cancer#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20BRAF%20mutation,to%20development%20of%20a%20tumor.">BRAF</a>) of colorectal cancer that I have has come available. This therapy was, until January this year, extremely expensive, c. $6000 a month. Now, courtesy of the Australian <a href="https://www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/home">Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme</a>, it comes at no cost to me, and is potentially a better way of tackling the cancer than chemotherapy. If you want to get the medical and nerdy details of this therapy, it's called BRAFTOVI, and<a href="https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/braftovi"> here it all is</a> (or at least, a good starting point).</p><p>Yes there are side-effects, especially I've had a fair bit of nausea. And I'm still very tired and run out of energy easily. Steroids help with nausea and as a nice side-effect, they kick-start my brain into the action needed to do a bit of work. But there is a fair bit of time spent walking extremely slowly, sitting slumped and sleepy, or just lying down. </p><p><b>Update March 13:</b> Oh boy, did I get sick yesterday! Painful nausea from the BRAFTOVI therapy (I think that's what was going on) and straight into RNSH hospital where I remain. Not sure what happens now, but it was not a fun night.</p>Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-33892501795941687732022-02-26T09:51:00.004+11:002022-02-26T18:05:06.425+11:00Journey home part the second 26 February<p> This is me leaving hospital on Friday. Apparently the wheel chair was compulsory, though I'd offered to walk and help push.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzm4AzpDhwhbx6fH3ECSyzD-V5U1xsugJ5NA-TB6WxBJLnH-aSAvasQKQ72LpIYMhydzjj_wMuzPV7SggTxomzSakGE85veWTBaPtmZJSbMuEAtg0AqhFbGhinITRgM8uT_MlzS8r1DM5UMOi0mlTOBktRitvEuBBVqxBNHSKzkXUDVhnbmjKdX5jhKw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzm4AzpDhwhbx6fH3ECSyzD-V5U1xsugJ5NA-TB6WxBJLnH-aSAvasQKQ72LpIYMhydzjj_wMuzPV7SggTxomzSakGE85veWTBaPtmZJSbMuEAtg0AqhFbGhinITRgM8uT_MlzS8r1DM5UMOi0mlTOBktRitvEuBBVqxBNHSKzkXUDVhnbmjKdX5jhKw" width="180" /></a></div><br />I'm not actually home yet. Staying with my dad, because we have a confirmed COVID case in the family and it's good for me not to be close by. This morning another daughter confirmed positive, so it doesn't look like I'll be back home for at least a week. In this tag-team COVID-catching time, this process could extend.<p></p><p>In the meantime, want to join me at church? I'm preaching tomorrow on 1 Thessalonians 2. It will be the best sermon you have heard on 1 Thessalonians 2 for many days, and it is an insight into the power of the gospel of God to transform lives in the face of adversity and with great glory to him. You can join us live, or later, by clicking through: https://www.stbarneys.org.au/this-sunday-live-stream/</p><p>Also a better version of this song, I am waiting to hear. I know that my Redeemer lives:<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pebGi0eBEfE" width="320" youtube-src-id="pebGi0eBEfE"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-22767418991107982072022-02-23T19:14:00.008+11:002022-02-23T19:27:01.598+11:00The long trudge home 23 February<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is me, exercising by walking around the hospital ward with the other COVID-isolated inmates. No not really, but I shall be released tomorrow--not to go home, because I will be staying with my dad, given that our family is in COVID isolation with one daughter having caught COVID for the second time. </span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt_fHAmEyKzEzS0uxikMucSTlyv0V2Fx-8gh2wBEw6JGqB07HDDnUirUwyRviU-5MDDTod0CZxHs5QQM6htcNN6kyT8LRHIn2rhKRxTJ6lwb4tGgAO7FbT0CVLPco1LlZX2CcZ269kQ2R7Yk8RLH1ZrQ1p-u-pdZmdeTKiwFIitUcXmwp3kMzons3CeA=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="766" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt_fHAmEyKzEzS0uxikMucSTlyv0V2Fx-8gh2wBEw6JGqB07HDDnUirUwyRviU-5MDDTod0CZxHs5QQM6htcNN6kyT8LRHIn2rhKRxTJ6lwb4tGgAO7FbT0CVLPco1LlZX2CcZ269kQ2R7Yk8RLH1ZrQ1p-u-pdZmdeTKiwFIitUcXmwp3kMzons3CeA=s320" width="255" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Art of the Day: Van Gogh, Prisoners Exercising (after Doré), February 1890. Oil on canvas, 80 x 64 cm. Pushkin Museum, Moscow.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">All appears to be well, no sign of infection and doctors happy. I'll be preaching at church this Sunday, God willing, on 1 Thessalonians 2. But unlikely to see the rest of the family in person until Tuesday next week.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next chemo cycle is 2-3 weeks away, yet to be determined and somewhat dependent on how well I recover from the current surgery. Like the men in Van Gogh's prison yard, just keep moving.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Meanwhile, sing with me and Bob. "I shall be released"</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E0pkHBVznLA" width="320" youtube-src-id="E0pkHBVznLA"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>or listen to one of my favourite versions, Bob Dylan, The Band, and friends.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WsJH8hH8eCA" width="320" youtube-src-id="WsJH8hH8eCA"></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299407302611232843.post-30059005139535981412022-02-22T11:49:00.004+11:002022-02-22T11:49:39.841+11:00Jesus loves me at the other end of life. 22/02/22.<p>Not too much to report. Jabs and pills. Waiting on results, maybe I'll go home tomorrow. In the meantime, whether you are great or small, Jesus loves you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzc432VjR6WJnj_kh8RTTzpnjzxTBcMvSehdYl0cPnVfoo06VH1KLL0XsDzeX7E3IM94tcK0ahIJC7MXiZflw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />Gordon Chenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07588151868151940982noreply@blogger.com3