Tag Archives: illness

Cold Comfort at the Church of the Dancing Girl

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Bob Ritzema

I have mixed feelings about attending unfamiliar churches. On the one hand, it’s interesting to see the worship practices of various faith communities and meaningful to join with them in the majestic, never-ending stream of praise that, if the book … Continue reading →

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Recovering From Loss: Giving Back

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Bob Ritzema

In his book Struck: One Christian’s Reflections on Encountering Death (IVP Books, 2017), Russ Ramsey, pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, tells the story of his encounter with a life-threatening illness. Ramsey developed a persistent fever caused by … Continue reading →

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Complications

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve been writing recently about my medical problems. After living a year and a half with prostate cancer, I had surgery a couple weeks ago to remove my prostate. Last week, I blogged about the surgery and the first week of recovery. A few … Continue reading →

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Thinking About Cancer: Metaphors

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve been blogging recently about cancer. This topic has been on my mind since I am about to have my cancerous prostate removed. One thing I have been reflecting on is culture’s dominant metaphor for dealing with life-threatening illness. I’m … Continue reading →

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When Time Flies. When It Doesn’t.

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

Time is measured according to physical events of a cyclical nature–the earth circling the sun or turning on its axis, the phases of the moon, or the electronic transitions of certain atoms. Time matters to us, but it isn’t these physical … Continue reading →

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Thinking About Cancer: Other People’s Stories

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

I recently posted about my cancer diagnosis. I am scheduled to have a radical prostatectomy next month, that being one of the treatment options available for prostate cancer. Deciding to have the surgery made me aware of things to which … Continue reading →

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Thinking About Cancer

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

As we age, our bodies tend to buck and sputter on occasions when they used to run smoothly. Joints ache, as do muscles after modest exertion. We can’t run as fast as we used to, or can’t run at all. … Continue reading →

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