At last! God and Cancer: Finding Hope in the Midst of Life’s Trials is now available for Amazon Kindle for only $5.99.
I had several reasons I wanted to write this book. Below are three of the major reasons.
First, I believe that we should learn from our trials and use that knowledge to help others. I wanted to make sure that I would glorify God through my ordeal, and this book gave me the opportunity to do just that.
Second, one of the most common objections to the Christian faith are the problem of suffering and evil. I firmly believe the Bible provides the only answer to this objection, but we can only give an adequate answer if we actually take a stand on God’s Word from the very beginning. The final three chapters explain how Christians can show that these problems actually provide a powerful argument for God’s existence.
Third, I wanted to give biblical and practical examples of how to find hope (or cling to hope) during the difficult times we all face at some point. The Bible gives us numerous examples of people (like Job and Paul) who endured tremendous suffering while maintaining their trust in God. There are many others throughout history who have used their suffering for good. I wanted to highlight some of these examples to encourage readers that their struggles can certainly be used for good.
So who is this book for and what does it cover? I wrote this book primarily for those currently going through difficult trials (such as cancer patients) or for their loved ones. It is also for those who are interested in learning how to deal with the problem of evil.
The first seven chapters follow my own battle with leukemia in the summer of 2006, beginning with the diagnosis and going through my recovery after being pronounced cancer free. Each of these chapters consists of two parts: 1) my own circumstances as I battled against this deadly disease, and 2) practical advice on how to maintain hope in the midst of the various emotions that come with difficult trials (such as fear, doubt, pain, worry, etc.).
The final three chapters consist of an apologetic (defense) of God’s existence in light of all the death, suffering, and evil in the world. In these chapters, I also demonstrate how no other faith, philosophy, or belief system can adequately answer the problem of evil and suffering. I specifically highlight the failures of atheism, agnosticism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Mormonism in this area.
This book also includes two bonus chapters. The first was written by my wife to provide some helpful advice for the spouse of a person who is going through a difficult situation. The second one was written by Dr. Tommy Mitchell to provide another perspective on the issue of suffering. Dr. Mitchell is a medical doctor and popular speaker on death and suffering. He explains what it is like for a doctor to tell a patient that they have cancer, and gives some extremely helpful insights on the issues of evil and suffering.
If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free Kindle application for PC, Mac, Blackberry, iPad, Android, and Windows phone.
Two of my other books were recently made available for Kindle as well: The Sons of God and the Nephilim and God Means What He Says.
I read some of your posts here on the site. I like your approach and tone. You almost make me want to revisit my loss of faith.
I then noticed this book and wondered if this could have helped me back in 1995 when I lost my 3 yr old son to Leukemia (ALL). That is when I lost my faith at age 25.
I considered buying this book but decided against it because it might open up wounds from 1995. See, I now have a healthy 7 yr old son. I am making up lost time and am reminded every day what I didn’t get to experience with my first son. I am a rock for him and my wife. I don’t want to open wounds and relive the painful memories and become that 25 yr old.
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your views online. I will most likely read more of your posts.
Hi Reader Joe,
Thank you for the very kind words. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. My son was three when I was in the hospital, and I often wondered what I would do if our roles were reversed. But I can’t really imagine how difficult it would be. I was so glad it was me instead of one of my family members. I’m sure you understand that perfectly well and would’ve traded places with him in a heartbeat.
I can certainly understand why you would not want to reopen those wounds. Would it be okay with you if I emailed you an electronic copy of the book? At least you would have it if you ever decided to open it up. I do believe it could be beneficial for someone in your situation. My primary goal was to help people understand how a person can still trust that God exists and is loving even though we go through extremely difficult trials.
I’m glad to hear that you are making up for lost time and being a rock for your wife and son. Keep it up.