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The author of this gem of a booklet pastors Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, U.S.A. John Piper is a thought-provoking, prolific, sometimes provocative, but always Bible-centred, author.
I’d come across his book Don’t Waste Your Life, but the title of this booklet stopped me in my tracks - Don’t Waste Your Cancer…?! This grabbed my attention (as intended!).
If we are really honest, our immediate reaction to the word cancer is always negative, and probably everyone reading this either knows someone who has got, or has had, cancer – or has experienced it themselves.
This booklet is moving. It was written by John on the eve of surgery for prostate cancer (he’s still alive), so he’s experiencing cancer firsthand as he writes. He bases his observations soundly on Scripture, is extremely honest, realistic, balanced and positive. We can pray for healing, but the Lord may sovereignly choose not to heal us, but - either way - John urges us not to waste the cancer experience, but to use it to God’s glory.
The heart of the booklet is just eleven pages long but, like concentrated washing up liquid, it goes a long way! John gives eleven respects in which we could easily waste the experience of cancer, and shows us from Scripture how to respond positively, e.g. ‘We waste our cancer if we think “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ’.
There is so much great content in each page that you could easily base a series of group Bible studies on the issues raised in this booklet.
I recommended it at church and sold out - and re-ordered. Someone with prostate trouble bought it, as did another whose brother in-law had cancer (he died a week later). It’s so short, busy people - and people experiencing cancer - can read it in 15 minutes. At £2 it’s less than some cups of coffee, and it will be infinitely more helpful!The Lord blesses us when we mine the truths of Scripture as John does here. Currently, I fear we are going through a bit of a ‘Miner’s Strike’ in this respect. Will you – will I – get back to work?
Richard John
Bookstall Manager, Selhurst Evangelical Church (FIEC), S.E. London
