Walking by Faith While Living in Pain

L. Endicott Thomas

Description

One of the paradoxes that confronts Christians is the fact of living by faith and the reality of living in pain. How is it possible for a faithful believer to experience continuing suffering? As Dr. David Bishop poignantly asks in his foreword, What can a person do when caught in the tension between the reality of persistent pain and the prayerful longing for its release?Tom Endicott, in this personal chronicle of the challenges he has faced, doesn't dodge tough questions. He declares that even in pain, life should be lived productively and triumphantly, andas one who has been through ithe shows how. He speaks to theological issues with insight and to practical matters with helpfulness.If you suffer, live with someone who does, or ministers to the hurting, youll find help, solace and wisdom in these pages.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Inspiring Voices
• Date de parution: 04 décembre 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781462408221
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright © 2013 Thomas L. Endicott, DMin.
 
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ISBN: 978-1-4624-0821-4 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0822-1 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013921271
 
 
Inspiring Voices rev. date: 01/09/2014

 
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version .
 
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1995, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
 
Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
 
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked Amp, are from The Amplified Bible . Old Testament copyright, 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
 
Scripture quotations marked TM are from The Message . Copyright, 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
 
God’s Word ® is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible ®. Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.
 
Book Editor:                Wanda Griffith
Editorial Assistant      Tammy Hatfield
Copy Editors:               Esther Metaxas       Julie McGuire       Lettie Burress

 
Dedi cation
To
Ann  . . .
 
 
who has been by my side as a loving wife for 47 years.
She embodies the portion of the wedding covenant that states, “in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for w orse.”
Her abiding love and care have given us a home of peace, which is centered on our faith.

Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
CHAPTER 1   Pain and Faith—An Oxymoron?
CHAPTER 2   What You Cannot See Is Healable
CHAPTER 3   Lord, It Hurts
CHAPTER 4   Is Something Wrong With My Faith?
CHAPTER 5   How Long Will It Last?
CHAPTER 6   Why Am I So Depressed?
CHAPTER 7   I Can’t Let Go
CHAPTER 8   My Loved One Died
CHAPTER 9   I Have Met Job’s Friends
CHAPTER 10   His Burden, My Blessing
CHAPTER 11   Some Of My Heroes
CHAPTER 12   I Am Not A Loser
CHAPTER 13   Becoming A Better Person
CHAPTER 14   Acceptance Must Be In My Vocabulary
CHAPTER 15   Walking Faith
CHAPTER 16   How Do I Affect Those Around Me?
CHAPTER 17   Never, Never, Never Give Up!

Acknowledgments
A n artist may consider the painting his own, yet he received inspiration from someone or something. Another may have framed and displayed his work, and, finally it was purc hased.
It is the same with this book. I am thankfu l for:
•   My wife, children, and brother who encouraged me to write.
•   My friend, David S. Bishop, who added his own experience and wonderful in sight.
•   Dr. Bill George of Pathway Press and his editorial com mittee
•   Dr. Lance Colkmire, Editor in Chief, Pathway Press.
•   To the staff members of “Inspiring Vo ices.”
•   For his vision, extraordinary support, and faithfulness, I am grateful to Nathan E. Chamberlai n, MD.
There are the designers and artists who give the book its character and the printing staff that gives the book life.
To these and you who have chosen to purchase Walking by Faith While Living in Pain , I am thankful and deeply moved.
Ultimately, my greatest praise of thankfulness is to my Savior and Lord for His wisdom, encouragement, and in sight.
God bless you all is my p rayer.

Foreword
P ain is no stranger to any of us. For some pain is occasional, for some it is intermittent, and for some it is chronic. No matter who we are or what we believe, at times we will be confronted by pain.
Theologically, pain poses a problem to many. Some will wonder why a good God allows it. They seem to ignore the far-reaching ramifications of the fallen, sinful condition of the world in which we live. Others will ponder why at times it persists in light of Scriptural promises. While all of us have experienced pain in varying forms, many of us have also experienced times when its power has been divinely broken and its persistence alleviated. So… what can a person do when caught in the tension between the reality of persistent pain and the prayerful longing for its re lease?
If I am confronted by a problem and I am looking for help, I go to a resource that is valid. I seek out a person who not only understands my situation from an objective point of view, but one who has experienced my predicament and can give me practical advice that is going to help. The person who has experienced my situation identifies with me and that is valuable. When I also discover that he has struggled with a situation like mine and has come to practical guidelines for resolution that is empowering. That’s what I am looking for. That really helps.
As you read this book, you will find just that kind of help and hope. Tom Endicott has walked through the valley of pain and has not lost his faith in God’s goodness nor His power to do the impossible. I have known Tom for many years. We worked together for several years and have been friends for a long time. I know of the grievous nature of the pain-filled valley through which he has walked and of the many surgeries he has undergone. I have been there for some of them. Tom is not an ivory-towered idealist who only projects strategies, but a bloodied soldier from the front lines of the painful conflict. So, when he talks about faith… he knows firsthand what God can do. He has great faith. But when he talks about persistent pain, he deals with practical issues that not only make suggestions, but also bring fulfil lment.
Tom talks about the pain he has experienced in a straightforward manner. In looking at the ramifications of it, he doesn’t dodge tough questions. He believes life should be lived productively and triumphantly and, as one who has been through it, he shows how. He speaks to theological issues with insight and to practical matters with wisdom and helpfulness. To deal with all of these facets is challenging, and yet that is exactly what Tom sets out to do… and he suc ceeds.
To that person seeking help for a painful situation, you will find help in this book.
Reverend David S. Bishop, Ph.D.
Note: David S. Bishop, my closet friend, spiritual father, and mentor for 30 years passed from this earthly life to be with his heavenly Father, March 13, 2012. I cannot express my personal feelings with written words to describe the hole that tore into my heart with his loss. David left me with a plethora of fond memories, words of knowledge to enhance my wisdom, and to be real. He was a friend whom I could approach without fear of rejection or to question spiritual mores versus tradi tions.
A year and one week later, his wife Sandra or better known as Sandy, joined Dave on March 21, 2013. She was the consummate lady of hospitality, encouragement, teacher, and gifted musician who enlightened our lives at every meeting. I have seen hundreds of people pass through her home in an evening celebrating the Christmas season. She complemented Dave’s ministry and pastorate as the story book preacher’s wife and mother of four wonderful chi ldren.
I miss them, but know without a doubt that I shall meet them again with our Savior an d God.

Introduction
F ollowing a service in which my subject had been on faith, a dear lady asked me, “How can you preach on faith when you are not healed?” In a few words, she defined the theme of this work. Can faith and illness coexist comfortably in today’s Christian community of thought and liter ature?
Many will have a negative reply to this question, while others will quietly try to ignore this uncomfortable theological situation. Some will be stoutly resolute regarding their position of faith and those who are not healed. This simply states, “If you have enough faith, nothing is impossible, and your healing is assured.” Another form of this answer may be, “If you quote these scriptures, and pray this prayer, you will be healed.” There are various combinations of answers, but they ultimately may be summarized that with the correct faith, healing will occur.
Where does this leave those with birth defects, blinded eyes and crippled bodies who are faithful believers, yet have not received their healing? There are thousands of people with chronic illnesses and terminal diseases