Seeing the Good In It: Phil's Friends, a Christ-centered Support for Cancer Patients
A few weeks back Trevor and two other brothers in Christ from other local churches and I were blessed to golf in support of a wonderful Christ-centered ministry Phil's Friends (Trev and the other guys golfed--I struggled and am a terrible golfer-but it was fun!). Phil's Friends is a Christ centered support ministry for cancer patients. Care packages are sent to patients. Phil's story is remarkable--he got stage four cancer twice and in God's miraculous kindness survived (not the norm with this brutal ravaging sickness). Phil recently wrote this very personal and powerful book titled Seeing the Good In it. Here are two quotes from Phil's book Seeing the Good In It
“ Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to hear what the doctor told me next: “Phil, I’ve been practicing as a surgeon for over 30 years, and I’ve seen a few similar situation’s. There’s a 50% chance this is cancer.” Cancer? The c-word threw me into terror. I went into panic mode, and I don’t remember anything the surgeon said after that. I imagine they told me they were going to test the sample and call me when the results came in. As I walked out of the surgeons room that day, my entire existence flash before me.”- Phil Ziegler in Seeing the Good in It P. 11
“ One night at three in the morning, I was so unsettled I couldn’t sleep. It was no surprise in my blood pressure and heart rate were off the charts. My dad was sleeping on the couch in my hospital room as he did most nights. He woke up to my hysterical, screaming and pleading with God at the top of my lungs. God how could you let this happen? Why did you have to take everything away from me again then I learn what you wanted me to learn the first time around. My fourth graders are suffering, too. I thought I was making a difference in their lives and for your kingdom, didn’t you see that why I started sobbing and streams of tears made their way down my face I could barely get the words out. What about Carrie only my crush but you crushed her too. How could you do this to us all my plans and all my dreams are gone. I was as a child and couldn’t be calmed down and nothing that could have been said at the time would have comforted me. I needed to wrestle with the reality of the situation I continue to pour my heart out to God eventually, I ran out of steam and his stereo diminished, sobbing, slow down, and the room became silent again , except for the incessant beep beep beep came from the medical devices seem to be forever a part of me.”-Phil Zielke in Seeing the Good in It P. 97
I recommend this book and ministry to you and am confident it will bless you and be an easy, accessible and encouraging read! If you ever have a loved one who gets cancer sign them up fo receive a free care package and to regularly get letters that are saturated with Scripture, truth and encouragement. Praise be to God one day there is an expiration date on cancer--this ravaging and awful disease that are harmed so many. And praise God that He has the last word and our beloved Savior Jesus Christ has defeated death so that those who believe in Him even if they die, yet they shall live (John 11:25). As we anticipate Jesus Christ's return where He will put all things right and make all things new and God will give us new resurrection bodies in the new heaven and the new earth let us entrust out lives to God and seek to glorify the Lord of glory by loving others as ourselves and caring as best we can for both our neighbor's earthly and supremely their eternal good!