The Joy of Modern Medicine

What did people do 150, or even 100 years ago?

No Novocaine and general anesthetics were largely unknown, except for whiskey.

Have you seen the obstetricians tools from that era? They look like something straight out of a horror movie about torture, the only missing thing was the Iron Maiden!

Have you had a tooth extracted lately, or a root canal?

Today I went in for a root canal. I barely felt the first needle, and the second one was less than a mosquito bite. He worked on me for over an hour to get the root canal done.

Oh, yeah, but the root canal was NOT completed, and I have to go back to get it finished in three weeks. The nerve of the third root on the tooth was too calcified for him to get it this time. My question is, What is going to change by waiting three weeks to try again? Will the nerve root be less calcified? Will he have a new tool that will make it possible for him to complete the job? Or did he just run out of time for my appointment this time, is that all he needs? more time?

Then I get to go back to my regular dentist a week after THAT to be fitted for a temporary crown, while the permanent crown is being manufactured! Then, I get to go back two weeks later for the permanent crown. By then we will be into the month of May! Wow.

Aren't we blessed to have the modern miracles that medicine provides? We certainly are. I cannot imagine doing this without Novocaine, amoxicillin, and Darvocet and Ultracet. We are blessed to have highly trained doctors and dentists that are able to treat us so well.

Remembering Dr. Metzger

He has died at 92 years of age.
Dr. Bruce Manning Metzger has died.

Though I never knew him, I have admired and used his works since seminary, and now he is gone.

I had bought his autobiography, Reminiscences of an Octogenarian, and was reading it when the news came through the Christianity Today website. Of course no secular news source cared that one of the brilliant minds of our age has died, when there are such important things to cover as Anna Nicole Smith (Who was she? ANC was not her real name) passing.

Like so many books by great people that write autobiographies, there was not so much personal about the book as there was about his professional life and accomplishments. Dr. Manning accomplished many things, but surely there are personal insights and interesting incidents to write about as well. I found the same kind of thing in Billy Graham's autobiography, Amazing Grace.

When I finished Dr. Manning's autobiography, I went to my library and pulled out his early book, The New Testament, It's background, growth, and content. I happen to have a first edition of the book, and there have been several, three I think, newer editions. This is a good introduction to the New Testament; it has some information that I knew, but for which I did not have a source. I think I will pick up a more technical book of his next, about the transmission of the Sacred text, how it was almost lost, and then restored. I have also enjoyed his The Bible in Translation.

I have also been reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology as a bed time text. Because I pick it up when I am tired and sleepy, I tend to not read more than about 5 pages at a time. His defense of the Trinity is good, but everything he says is slanted by his Calvinism. I found out that there is a downloadable version of the entire book available as a PDF document that is searchable by topic and by word/phrase. Thing is, the download is the same price as the hardback! Ah well.

I will miss that faithful scholar of God's Word. I hope, and believe, that he has entered into the rest provided by his Lord. Rest in Peace, Dr. Metzger.

Am I wasting my life?

Don't forget to go to the post I titled "Another Missive" to see the videos of Coach Tony Dungee as he testified at the Athletes in Action breakfast in 2006. I hope you have a high speed connection so you can see the videos! Don't miss these.

I am reading the John Piper book "Don't Waste Your Life." Like so much that Piper writes, the book is a challenge spiritually. In it he tells the story of a couple that has worked hard all of their lives, acumulated wealth, retired, bought a large RV to travel the country in, and began to collect sea shells and play baseball and golf. Can you image what they wil say to God on Judgment Day? "Here, God; Look at all my pretty sea shells!" Or, "I hit a hole-in-one just the other day. Aren't you proud of me?"

Piper recounts the stories of several of the young heroes of WW II that died taking Iwo Jima, as examples of serving a higher purpose; others before self, etc. What are you living for? Piper talks about a war time mentality for Christians. Spiritual warfare. Not just in pastoring, or missions work, but working for God in our everyday. Who is doing research into cancer prevention? It appears that all the funds for cancer research are going into cures: surgery, medicines, radiology. Who is working on the prevention of cancer?

I am reminded that Texas wants to require all young girls to take a vaccination that will (partially) prevent HPV, human paploma virus, from causing cervical cancer in young women. The problem is that HPV is sexually transmitted, and not caught from a sneeze or cough like rhino-viruses (colds). The underlying supposition is that young people are going to be sexually active, so make it "safe." The only problem is that HPV can still be caught the old fashioned way, even with the vaccination!

Did I say "the only thing?" This vaccination does nothing to prevent all the other STD's; gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS; to say nothing of pregnancy, and the emotional damage that early sexual activity brings. Damaged relationships, loss of self respect, and the list goes on.

You may have the ability to cure cancer, if you take it seriously as a purpose in life. That would glorify God.

You may have the ability to solve our dependency on oil, hydro-carbons; to solve the pollution problems. That would glorify God.

You may be able to win souls to Jesus. That would glorify God.

You may have the ability to get, and give, wealth that would solve other problems, like modern forms of slavery and poverty. That would glorify God.

You may simply be able to do nothing more than pray. Prayer is much more than the "simple" thing you think it is!

The President of Southern Seminary, Al Mohler, is recovering from a life threatening pulmonary embolism. He says that while he was so desperately sick, he could not even muster his thoughts to pray a coherent prayer. His comfort was Romans 8:26 -- In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

When I was sick with hepatitis 25 years ago, I experienced the same thing, except my comfort was Romans 8:28 -- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. And, John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." And, John 14:1-6 -- "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. [3] "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. [4] "And you know the way where I am going." [5] Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" [6] Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

When you stand before God on Judgment Day, what will you bring Him? Pretty sea shells? Holes-in-one? Souls?

The old song "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Montague Toplady has this line in it:

"In my hand no price I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling."