Dear Friends: A year ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The first (prominent, prestigious) surgical oncologist I consulted examined me thoroughly and said I had a rather advanced case, that he expected surgery to reveal stage three or four cancer, and that we would need to follow up the surgery with aggressive chemotherapy to at least attempt to destroy the cancer in invaded tissues. I respected the doctor, but also knew that he does not have the authority to pronounce that kind of sentence on me, a child of God. The doctor is trained to call it as he sees it. I am trined to rrespect the doctor's abilities, and to let God alone call it as He sees it. Only my Lord has life and death authority over me, and He doesn't deal death to His kids. So whether I had terminal cancer or not, and whether it killed my body or not, I was assured of Life. As Mike said, the back wheel is firmly on the ground - Christ has already settled death, resurrection and eternity for me. Still, God's calling on my life and the stirring of His Spirit in me spoke something different to me than what the doctor said. I went to another surgical oncologist (also prominent and prestigious, and also at a top drawer cancer center), who said "let's just see what we are dealing with. Let's do the surgery." Shortly after the surgery, the lab reports came in. Stage one. All gone. No cancer in the lymph nodes, and none in surrounding tissues. Chemotherapy? None needed. Who healed me? Well, it is very clear to me that the cancer the doctor took out of me truly was cancer. If it had not been taken out, it would very likely have grown and over time, would very likely have killed me. It was removed by a skilled surgical oncologist who was excellent in her professional skills, both technically and in terms of her doctor / patient demeanor. In short, the doctor repaired my body and sent me home without cancer. God, however, healed me a billion years ago, when I was conceived, at my birth, and who knows how many thousands of times when I haven't known anything about it. He healed me most completely when He died and yet lived, ascribing to me the power and grace of His resurrection. He will go on healing me throughout this life on earth, and in the next, for billions of years without end. He also healed me this year when His plan for the doctor to operate on me remove my cancer was carried out. Was it stage three or four cancer before she operated? Was it always stage one? Did God do something supernatural, or did He leave the process entirely to the doctor's skill? Did He fill her with his Holy Spirit so the cancer was no match? Or did He simply move her life to the point at which she could do the surgery successfully? I don't know any of the answers to these questions. But I do know this: I had cancer, and now I don't. Why in the world would I disrespect or devalue the doctor? Why would I say that either God healed me, or the doctor did, then debate with myself or anyone else about it? I see no need for this. I have thanked my doctor for applying her skills at work in an excellent and dedicated manner. I have thanked the medical staff of nurses and specialists for all they did for me, and all they do for so many. Most of all, I have thanked God for being my eternal Healer. All the best, Russ