Imagine yourself lying very sick in a hospital bed, your doctor walks in and instead of "How are you feeling?" you hear him ask you "How is your spiritual life?" Doctors are not as concerned about your spiritual well being instead preferring to care for your body.In Raising the Dead Chauncy W. Crandall, MD explains both are just as important for he believes both illness and disease battles within our bodies are caused not only by the normal everyday wear and tear of living but also by the forces of darkness.
In this book Dr. Crandall will tell you about his own battles with the forces of evil as he fought for the life of his own son. Although he eventually loses this battle he gains a remarkable ability to use God's word as a healing tool.
Whilst some readers might be skeptical, most of us will remember "our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". (Ephesians 6:12)
Therefore it is not surprising when Dr. Crandall goes on to describe tremendous miracles throughout the world, reminding us that medicine combined with prayers can overcome illness. God is Good, God is Great and it is His ultimate promise we can be healed, we can be saved.
Raising the Dead is not just a collection of stories about miracles, it is the journey of a doctor who no longer keeps his faith and his profession separated.
This is great material to involve the whole family in discussions about illness, life and the power behind prayers. A good addition to your Christian library, this book rates a resounding 4 stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Hachette Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I am in awe of how God is using this physician, as well as his search for God while losing his beloved son, Chad. The book is great. Those of us who call ourselves Christian are not even using an ounce of the gifts God gives us in our own professions. But first must come prayer, and that's where we (I) fail. There is always a temptation to do "other" things first each day, until now it is night and the prayer never came.
ReplyDeleteThere is one caveat to my opinion of the book and it is this: I have been a nurse 47 years, and a hospice director, and now palliative and hospice care educator. Dr. Crandall's opinion of hospice, in the book, is that too much medication is used and actually may be thinking that death is hastened. This is not true. Our purpose is giving medication, if the patient even needs opioids, is based on helping the patient to breathe, have pain eased, AND be alert and able to pray, to think about the purpose they had on earch, and where they are going. To hasten death in any way is NOT what we do and it is disconcerting that he would even think that. I know he is busy, but he needs to spend one week with his local hospice program, and go to the homes, and see what we do. I believe this just happens to be an area of his medical and surgical training that he didn't get a chance to do. And yes, we do pray with patients as long as they are willing, just as he does in his practice.
Regards,
Judy Dobson, MSN, CHPN