Mammograms, Biopsies, and God

The early days of our youthful marriage were sweet, hopeful, and filled with mutual commitment to a life of serving God. Our wedding vows, administered by my grandfather, told us that there would be sickness and health. For the most part Beth and I have had good health. There has been some sickness (fevers, nausea, the flu, root canals, and an assortment of sport’s injuries, mostly mine. Beth says they are all mine.). The physical trials associated with pregnancy and child birth (miscarriages and a hysterectomy) were Beth’s to bear. But now after forty-two years of witnessing together the sparks of trouble flying upward, an invisible danger has been found in Beth’s body. I say invisible because the cancer has not been visible to us. There have been no symptoms; no fever, no discomfort, no lumps, no discernable pain. However, what had gone unnoticed by us was detected by a routine mammogram and verified by a biopsy. Beth has ductal carcinoma in situ. It is a form of breast cancer. We feel as if we are surrounded by a family of cancer victims. So many women we know have been and are fighting their own battles with breast cancer; lumpectomies, mastectomies, radiation treatments, and various medications. There is also no shortage of information about how to beat breast cancer. Everything from radical surgeries to dietary strategies is prescribed. One thing that has become evident is that without God in the picture the battle against cancer is frequently portrayed with a kind of bravado (e.g., “I beat breast cancer”). No human being “beats” cancer or any other disease. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that any of us live another minute. A muscular mental state does not defeat cancer and death. However, we are thankful that early detection and treatment makes a higher cure rate possible.

Christians and non-Christians get cancer. We all live with physical bodies that bear the consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. But in addition to this, are there any truths that should shape the way one thinks about living with cancer? The Christian faith brings a host of truths to the experience of human mortality. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the water-shed marking the continental spiritual divide between the hope-filled life of the Christian and those who are outside of Christ. What then should characterize the believer in Jesus Christ in response to pain and suffering? There is no good reason to be angry with God. Why would a child of God turn on God who is infinitely wise and loving in all His ways? This is not to deny that there will be bouts of disappointment and discouragement, but such emotional dust storms are not to be trusted. Affliction is not the whole story. There is something on a far grander scale that ought to put anger in its place. Jonah became angry at God because he was not pleased with God’s way of handling the menacing Ninevites. Jonah wanted them eliminated as a threat to Israel, but God’s wisdom called for mercy. If only Jonah had loved the Assyrian people as God did. The desire for healing is not anger. Paul wanted his thorn in the flesh removed. So he asked God three times for relief. God said no and yes. No, Paul was not to be granted freedom from his pain. Yes, Paul would display the perfections of God through his affliction.

The personal experience of cancer is not a denial of God’s love and wisdom. He “does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men” (Lam. 3:33). God’s compassions never fail. Fear is always eager to invade our thoughts and alter our actions. But it must be met head-on with the hand-to-hand combat of Bible truth versus sinful deceptions. We are not to fear evil (the evils of suffering and death), for the Lord is with us (Psa. 23:4). Jesus Christ is our Shepherd, alongside of us, to escort us through the valley of the shadow of death. Beth and I are not strangers to the uncertainties of life, but the Lord has given us countless comforts. We draw comfort from the assurance that there is never a situation that the Lord is not aware of and knows what He is doing (Heb. 13:5). We are comforted by the possibilities of ministry to others (2 Cor. 1:4). We are comforted by the work of the Holy Spirit within us to give us overflowing joy. God’s Word never fails to comfort us with abundant promises. The love and tenderness of our family is God’s mercy to us. The concern and prayers of so many of our fellow-believers is a reminder of God’s grace in the lives of others. Our hope in Christ keeps us reminded that we are heaven-bound.

Where will this battle with cancer take us? We have no way of knowing. We are not afraid of death. Its sting has been removed. But Beth and I want more years to serve our God together. There is much to be done and we long for joy-filled, hope-inspired fruitful labor in our days that are yet unwritten. Early detection through mammograms, biopsies, and surgery is a mercy from God. But at the same time we know that microscopic cancer cells can go to other places in the human body. We have no guarantees. The song of our heart is found in the words of Margaret Clarkson’s hymn, “Sovereign Lord!”

“O Father, You are sovereign,
The Lord of human pain,
Transmuting earthly sorrows
To gold of heavenly gain,
All evil overruling,
As none but Conqueror could,
Your love pursues its purpose –
Our souls’ eternal good.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Summer Connections

God has given Berachah Bible Church some special opportunities for advancing the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have two of our young people who have grown up in Berachah who will be serving with us this summer. Avery Clay is assisting in the church office and Patrick Work is working on the church staff. In addition to these duties, Avery and Patrick are a part of the Bosnia short-term mission’s trip in July. Chris Bosson, a recent graduate from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, will join our staff in an intern position for two months. He desires to begin the PhD program at Southern Seminary in the fall. Both Patrick and Chris want to be mentored for future service in God’s work. And, by the way, they are looking for some jobs (e.g., breaking rocks, yard work, washing windows) this summer to help with gas money, meals, etc. Also, the Pass family has returned from Novosibirsk, Siberia where Frank has been teaching in the seminary. He will be helping us with our Bible Institute program which resumes in September. For part of the summer and fall the Heinz family is going to be a part of our church life. They are home for a short furlough from their church-planting work in Almaty, Kazakhstan. They need our encouragement in Christ.

The church exists to bring one another to maturity in Christ Jesus and to take the gospel to the entire world. We can have a vital role in developing the next generation for this good work. What is required of us to do this? First, count yourself as part of the equipping team at Berachah. Have someone into your home for a meal. Get your whole family involved in doing this. Don’t let your vacation time disconnect you from all that is going on at Berachah in the next several months. The shorter summer break due to the resumption of school in August has tended to create an accelerated vacation mood. But be careful. We can lose touch with what is happening in our church family. It may seem as if the Sunday evening service is in the middle of the afternoon. Wednesday evenings can go by us without a thought that something very important is taking place as God’s people are meeting to pray. There are trips we must take, guests to entertain, and vacations to be enjoyed before school begins. But at the same time there are connections in our church life that have to be maintained. There are visitors to be greeted, prayer requests that need to be known, fellow-believers who need encouragement, child care that needs attention, and worship to be experienced. Many of us know what it is like for our airline departure time to be late and then miss our connecting flight. There we are stranded. Other arrangements have to be made. The same is true when we miss our Sundays at church. Other arrangements are necessary if we are to sustain our meaningful involvement in the church to which we have committed ourselves. We can check our e-mail, call a friend and catch-up, ask for church bulletins to be placed in your mail box (and read them), and use any other creative measures to stay connected.

As we think about staying connected, our Vacation Bible School will be held the week of June 26-30. Workers are always needed for this ministry of gospel proclamation to the children in our communities. John Scherer has come out of “retirement” to serve as our VBS Director. And we must not forget the unseen but important care of our 2s and 3s during the evening service. There is still some Sunday evenings in need of volunteers. Our summer Care Group meetings will be at the church on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. We will be giving ourselves to prayer in a variety of ways. There is no more important work than adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication unto the Lord God of the universe. The sweet days of summer are upon us. Stay in touch.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church