The Shadow of Death
Reconciling My Faith with the Diagnosis of Cancer
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Psalm 118:17 “I will not die but live, and proclaim what the LORD has done”.
Dying was never in my life plan for I will not die but live. Funerals I’ve attend happen to other people, not to me. For some reason I never considered I would be contemplating my own demise. I guess at my funeral, attendance for me would be mandatory, not optional. Not an inconvenience or an hour or two out of my schedule or a dress up time in the middle of the day, what a bother. Funerals and weddings seem to hold the same place in my psyche. Maybe it will be a short service. Just shake a few hands, hug a couple of necks, and recite some words of comfort. Still the process is almost always awkward, especially if I haven’t seen or been close to family members. After all I’m there mostly out of obligation rather than heart felt grief for the deceased and never thinking that it could be me up there with my hands folded across my chest, sporting a new Joseph A. Banks two for one special or just jeans and a tee shirt. I never wanted an open casket even though I would be the guest of honor. I most likely would not have any pull at that moment, of having my will be done. I have been known to say I would submit to an open casket (as if I had any choice) only if the undertaker would agree to put a grin on my face. I consider that would be my last statement! Most of my life I’ve never cared what people thought of me, so a grin seemed apropos as a goodbye gesture.
“He has not given me over to death,” was a promise and a word of encouragement to me from the Lord and then later confirmed by a trusted friend and pastor. I’m holding onto this word, knowing that my God has set a time for me, but that time is not yet.
I hope to wear out, not crash and burn in a head on collision with cancer. However, I do find myself in a battle against an unseen adversary that wants to take my life before I’m willing to let it go. I still have work to do. I will not give in.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The feelings of abandonment have passed, but the shadows of death still linger in me. God is my righteous source of hope, and I will fear no evil. His rod and His staff provide comfort, and he is leading me beside the still water. God is with me in this journey. He has provided endless saints to pray for me. They are not aware of the comfort I’ve felt as they have lifted me to the throne room of God. Truly His staff has rescued me, and His rod has corrected me. I am in the hands of an awesome God.
About the Author
Peter Quinn was born in 1950. His family moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, in 1955, where he still resides. Peter married his high school sweetheart in 1969. Together they have five children and now have nineteen grandchildren. All five children are serving God in some ministry capacity. Peter worked as a plumbing contractor in his earlier years and was involved in planting a couple of local churches. Peter was the senior pastor of one of the churches for three years. He became president of Manna Christian Missions in 1987 and served in that capacity for twenty-four years. He is now the vice president, and his son, Michael, is the president.
Peter received a bachelor’s in missiology from Logos Bible College and served on the executive board of directors for Logos from 1996 until 2003. Peter was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011. He had a colon resection and was assured he was cancer free. The doctors found no cancer in the lymph nodes or the colon. Three years later the same symptoms reappeared, necessitating another colon resection and was rediagnosed with terminal colon cancer and given three years to live.
This is Peter’s story and his struggle to reconcile his faith with the healing power of God.