God Shows Up in the Dying Room | 304 | Report 12

When cardiologist Mark Sheehan, of Littleton, Colorado, steps into the room of a dying person he feels as if he should take off his shoes. “It’s holy ground,” Sheehan said. “God always shows up. It’s a place where suffering, pain, humility, fear and soul-searching lead to a special brokenness or openness to God,” he writes in his just-released book, Healing Prayer On Holy Ground, co-authored by his son Chris Sheehan.
Even if doctors realise the patient’s spiritual crisis is often causing more pain than the medical crisis, Sheehan said, it is a profession in which pride in one’s knowledge and abilities can be a hindrance to the dependent humility needed for heartfelt prayer for patients and with patients. Yet caregivers can’t be indifferent to their patients’ needs for spiritual healing, Sheehan tells his medical students.
Sheehan, a devout Christian, said he knows his readiness to pray with patients has provoked some criticism among colleagues who feel it crosses a boundary. “You can cross a boundary without violating it,” he said. “I ask patients about their faith. When you close the doors, patients tell you their intimate stories. You actually come to care for your patients. You come to love these people. “When you go into the dying room, you don’t have to have the answers. You can’t always make things right. Be quiet. Be still. God is always there.”

Source: The Denver Post

BIBLE STUDY: Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

PRAISE: God for a doctor who makes the most of the final opportunity God gives to his patients.

Are parents to blame for high teen pregnancy rates?, a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody story?, and the Oscars are boring

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint. Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of the Mothers’ Union “Families First” magazine (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian standpoint.  Today,with the news of the 13 year old father, are parents to blame for Britain’s high teenage pregnancy rate?  Also is there a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody as she prepares for her wedding, and the Oscars are boring – why do we watch them?

Story Links:

Teenage pregnancy:

The Sun newspaper Dad at 13

telegraph.co.uk Julie Henry’s blog

romanceacademy.org A novel approach

Jade Goody:

uk.reuters.com Dying Jade Goody to marry on Sunday

hindustantimes.com  Pray for Jade Goody, says Shilpa Shetty

Oscars:

oscar.com Official site

independent.co.uk  All ready for your Oscars gilt trip?

Financial crisis not unexpected, rise and fall of political popularity, and near death experiences explored

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of  the Mothers’ Union “Families First” magazine,  about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, how the financial crisis was only to be expected, and provides an opportunity to watch out for your neighbours,  how politicians can easily fall from popularity, and why scientists have come up with a new way to research “near death experiences”

Story links:

Financial crisis:

tucsoncitizen.com  The Bank Meltdown-blame everybody

guardian.co.uk A financial crisis unmatched since the Great Depression

eauk.org  The Credit Crunch

Politicians and popularity:

guardian.co.uk  Tessa Jowell interview

bbc.co.uk Conference Guide

Near Death Experiences:

soton.ac.uk World’s Largest-ever Study of Near Death Experiences

aglimpseofeternity.org  The Website of Ian McCormack

China and Burma in the media spotlight, 'girl crime' on the up, and flexible working frees parents

18th May 2008
Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks with Editor of the Mothers Union ‘Home and Family’ magazine, Catherine Butcher about the latest news from a Christian’s perspective. Today, a look at China and Burma and their contrasting attitudes to foreign countries, ‘girl crime’ is reportedly on the up, and parents free to care more for their kids, because of flexible working hours.

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