Did an interview on facing death as a Christian, and other matters.

Waiting music

 Just waiting for a call from the oncologist today to work out when I can see him. Got a few cancer specialist friends who speak highly of him.

Not everybody appreciates dark humour at a time like this, so if that's you scroll on. But if you have a taste for the mordant and absurd, here is Norm Macdonald, a Canadian comedian who died of cancer late last year.

And here is my favourite version of Norm's driver's famous moth joke.

Colonoscopy confirms diagnosis, oncology next week.

 I must say those colonoscopy prep solutions they give to clear the system are singularly effective. 

Anyway, yes it is confirmed metastatic bowel cancer, and I’ll be seeing oncologist specialist Stephen Clarke of Sydney Uni next week, then probably chemo. 

The anaesthetics guys are good too. I just went to sleep and woke up, no grogginess, no fogginess, just ready for my sandwiches. No driving, no signing legal documents for a day, that’s it. Oh, when family members give you life insurance documents to sign, that’s just pre-approval isn’t it? Asking for a friend.

Some lovely church people have been sending food and flowers. Now that I don’t have to fast, I will enjoy both and not just the latter. 

Facing cancer

An AP report on Matt Chandler's brain cancer is here.

From the report:

Chandler never thought such a trial would shake his faith. But until now, that was just hope in the abstract.

"This has not surprised God," Chandler says on the drive home. "He is not in a panic right now trying to figure out what to do with me or this disease. Those things have been warm blankets, man."

Chandler has, however, wrestled with the tension between belief in an all-powerful God and what he, as a mere mortal, can do about his situation. He believes he has responsibilities: to use his brain, to take advantage of technology, to walk in faith and hope, to pray for healing and then "see what God wants to do."

"Knowing that if God is outside time and I am inside time, that puts some severe limitations on my ability to crack all the codes," he says. "The more I've studied, the more I go, 'Yes, God is sovereign, and he does ask us to pray ... and he does change his mind.' How all that will work is in some aspects a mystery."

Since falling ill, Chandler has gotten letters from the governor and pastors in Sudan. He has tried to steer attention to others, including a 6-year-old Arizona girl with cancer.