Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jmoon@lehi3b15.csee.lehigh.edu (Jonggu Moon [890911]) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: a prayer for the dying Message-ID: Date: 22 May 91 04:52:00 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: CSEE Dept. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA Lines: 46 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Last saturday, I visited a friend of my fathers who was in the hospital. He was dying from stomach cancer and had about a year left to live. My father does not believe in God and my Mother is searching. But this friend of my father's does believe and takes his family to church. My mother asked me to say a prayer for him with them together. I was reluctant. This seemed like another one of my mom's schemes to raise me on a platform so that she could brag about me. The last time I met this guy was 20 years ago. But if this man is a fellow believer in Christ then no matter what the ulterior motive, he would still appreciate someone praying for him so I agreed. When we got there, I didn't know what to say. He had a life full of God's blessings. Loving wife, nice home, happy marriage, successful career and two bright and talented daughters. So as we prayed, I mentioned those things and thanked God that he has given this man all that he has. What else could I have mentioned to help this man feel any better ? I didn't want to pray for a miraculous recovery because his kind of cancer is terminal. And if God will rescue St. Paul but let St. Stephan be stoned, I wasn't about to second guess his plans for this man. I could have prayed that his death bring greater glory to the Kingdom, but that seemed kind of innapropriate. I was at a loss. So I just thanked God for his life, unfortunately in the past tense, and left. Any advice for the next time I'm in this situation ? - jon ( *<^ PRODUCTION / __ \ / / jm0h@ns.cc.lehigh.edu (Expires) / / )\ ) / jmoon@lehi3b15.csee.lehigh.edu (Jul1991) / /\__/ /_) / / jon@home moon@work you@strange.places / / (_/ / "HELLO,MR.POLLY PARROT!!!" "Where? Behind |/_/ / / the rabbit ?" "Ew ! With a gammy leg ?" -+- / "Romani Ite Donum. Now write it 100 times! /)| -=-=-Consultations, Consoltaions, Conflagrations-=-= / _ Ecc12:12 _________________ ___ _____ ___ /) / \ / __ __ __ _ |___| / \ | ///\\ < < (/\\ \_/ /// /_//_//\/ _______ ___|___ ______ -o-o- \ ) (// the strange, the bizzare, | _ | ( o ) / / ^>*<^ the expected ^>*<^ |___ (_) | / \