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)