Courage + Believe = Life

18-year old John Challis died Tuesday night at his home in suburban Pittsburgh. John had an incurable form of cancer whose story became an inspiration to sports reporters and many of the professional athletes he admired. I shared John's story in my blog entry for Mother's Day 2008.

ESPN did a tear jerking story on John upon the news of his death this week. You can watch it below. WARNING: If you aren't familiar with John's story have plenty of Kleenex. If you are familiar with John's story have plenty of Kleenex. This brave kid showed the rest of us how to live and appreciate life. Any petty concerns or complaints we have buckle under the story of the way John Challis chose to live upon his diagnosis with a terminal disease. Rest well John and may God comfort your parents and sister!

A Model of Grace and Hope

In May of this year, the family of popular Christian artist, Steven Curtis Chapman lost their 5-year old daughter, Maria in a tragic accident. The Chapman's, long-respected for their authenticity are modeling for every Christ-follower how to grieve with hope. This touching interview on ABC's GMA reminds all of us that we have hope in Christ. Click the GMA link above to view.

Sorry Sir Your Life Isn't Valued

A recent column by syndicated columnist Cal Thomas seems to have gone largely unnoticed by the American public, or worse, it indicates that fewer Americans value life. I'm hoping it was the former and not the latter, but when you read the article you may wonder. Here's the nuts and bolts from Thomas:

Randy Stroup is a 53-year-old Oregon man who has prostrate cancer, but no insurance to cover his medical treatment. The state pays for treatment in some cases, but it has denied help to Stroup. State officials have determined that chemotherapy would be too expensive and so they have offered him an alternative: death.

Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law allows taxpayers to pay for someone to kill Stroup, because it’s cheaper than trying to heal him. How twisted is this? Some have called this a “chilling” corruption of medical ethics, but medical ethics have been in the deep freeze for some time. The American Medical Association, which once strongly opposed abortion, now buys into the “choice” argument despite Hippocrates’ admonition that physicians make a habit of two things — “to help, or at least to do no harm.”

How much is a human life worth? Body parts and bone marrow can fetch some pretty high prices, but a human life is more than the sum of its body parts. The reason this is important is that the federal government is now placing a price tag on individual lives and if government ever gets to run health care from Washington, bureaucrats will start making decisions similar to the one made for Randy Stroup.

I'm unashamedly prolife, but even if I wasn't this makes a complete mockery of the intent of the Oregon doctor-assisted suicide law. An Oregon medical professor interviewed by Fox News seems to think the same:

"It's chilling when you think about it," said Dr. William Toffler, a professor of family medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. "It absolutely conveys to the patient that continued living isn't worthwhile.....It corrupts the consistent medical ethic that has been in place for 2,000 years," he said. "It's absolutely breathtaking."

At least Randy Stroup didn't take the edict from state authorities lying down (sorry for the pun). Stroup fought state officials and the egg-faced, Oregon Health Plan reversed its decision and is now paying for his treatment. Given the Oregon agency's initial ruling, Stroup may want to have his chemo tested just to make sure they aren't trying to follow through on their initial decision. Imagine, a world where 53-year olds with cancer aren't valued?

Thank God those with a biblical worldview still value life and view it as a gift from God. Psalm 139:13-16:

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

A Middle-Aged Olympian

The XXIX Olympiad begins this Friday with opening ceremonies in Beijing. Every middle-aged woman and man will have their eyes on 41-year old American Olympian swimmer, Dara Torres. Her comeback story is downright Olympic! Not only did she qualify for the U.S. Swim Team, but she set a record in the process. Harry Smith of CBS News recently interviewed her regarding her appearance at a record 5th Olympic games. She was 17 when she appeared in her first Olympiad in 1984!

Go Dara, Go U.S. Team! To see the video interview just click the CBS link above. Sorry about the 30-second commercial that comes before it.