Related articles and links |  1 of 4

Reformed theologian and best-selling author will have surgery in early February
In a letter to church members and supporters, pastor and author John Piper has announced that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late December.

Various tests "incline the doctor to think that it is unlikely that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, and that it is possible with successful treatment to be cancer-free," Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, wrote. He says he will undergo a radical prostatectomy in early February.

"This news has, of course, been good for me," Piper wrote. "The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. I thank God for that. The times with Christ in these days have been unusually sweet."

Piper, who spoke this week to the Passion 06 rally of Christian college students in Nashville about glorifying God in suffering, gave a sermon in 1980 titled "Christ and Cancer," which is available on his Desiring God website. Other updates may appear on Between Two Worlds, the blog of Desiring God executive editor Justin Taylor.

Sago mine disaster:

1. Tragedy on top of tragedy a test of biblical proportions | Faith amid the Sago mine disaster (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
   
   
2. 'It's not an act of God, it's an act of guys' | False hope. Is there such a thing? (Cathleen Falsani, Chicago Sun-Times)
   
   

Pat Robertson's latest:

1. White House criticizes Pat Robertson | "Those comments are wholly inappropriate and offensive and really don't have a place in this or any other debate," presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said as Bush traveled to Chicago for a speech (Associated Press)
   
   
2. Iranian leader, evangelist call prime minister's illness deserved | The television evangelist Pat Robertson and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may not agree on much, but both suggested yesterday that the severe illness of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was deserved. (The Washington Post)
   
   
3. Robertson implies God cursed Sharon after land transfer | "God has enmity against those who 'divide my land,'" Robertson said during "The 700 Club" television show produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach (The Virginian Pilot)
   
   
4. Robertson links Sharon stroke, God's wrath | Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land" (Associated Press)
   
   
5. Related: Evicted settlers see retribution for Sharon | Jewish settlers evicted from the Gaza Strip by the now critically ill Ariel Sharon, said the premier's plight was divine retribution for selling out to the Palestinians (SAPA/AFP)
   
   
6. Earlier: Why You Can't Stop Pat Robertson (Weblog, Aug. 24, 2005)
   
   

Politics and law:

1. Justices to rule on religion, jury picks | Allen County case involved a pastor (The Journal Gazette, Ft. Wayne, Ind.)
   
   
2. Christian right in N. Philly to boost Alito | "Justice Sunday III," features superstars of the Christian right - including the Rev. Jerry Falwell and James Dobson of gay SpongeBob notoriety - speaking out in the unlikely setting of North Philadelphia, where President Bush got less than 5 percent of the vote (Philadelphia Daily News)
   
   
3. Licensing laws kill off sales of altar wine | Drinkers may be able to spend longer hours in the pub under the Government's new licensing laws, but clergy are finding it more difficult to buy wine for the altar (The Telegraph, London)
   
   
4. Politics and the pulpit | Religious leaders are bending ears in Canberra and championing principles left alone by Labor (The Age, Melbourne, Australia)
   
   

next page... |  1 of 4

January (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50