New Testament writers also knew something about waiting. A recent devotional from Faith Gateway pointed out that on the liturgical calendar, we tend not to think about the eight days between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, preferring to skip right from celebrating the Resurrection to recalling the fiery empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Yet, Jesus had told them to wait for the promised Comforter (John 14).

Regular readers know I’m a cancer survivor, over 17 years now. A couple of years ago, I shared from my “cancer chronicles” blog about my faith journey during that time. Some recent conversations have prompted me to share it again, so I pray this slightly-condensed retelling benefits someone. How was all this impacting my faith? Growing up in Assemblies of God churches, I heard of, and even saw, miraculous healings. Other people, though, including my own mother, died fro