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Next Post: Major Life Lessons I Learned In The Hockey Arena |
17 comments |
Cathy Clark says: |
February 6, 2015 at 2:19 pm |
Amen, brother! This is brilliant and bravo for getting this out this afternoon. |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 2:33 pm |
Hi Cathy, I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. Funny how just after lunch an hour just opened up in my schedule—time to write a blog! |
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Corry says: |
February 6, 2015 at 2:20 pm |
I believe life belongs to God, |
Matthew. There is no question about that, but saying that, is it then also wrong to have a DNR (do not resuscitate) issued when you are near the end. I have told my family that if I was on life support they should pull the plug. Am I wrong in that? |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 2:37 pm |
Hi Corry, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I don’t think a DNR is an issue. Life is precious, absolutely. But the difference is between proactively ending a life, and then going to extreme measures to keep a person alive when their body/mind is shutting down on its own. The key difference is “on its own.” That’s my ... |
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Corry says: |
February 6, 2015 at 5:14 pm |
Thank you Matthew. That puts my mind at ease. |
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Errol Reid says: |
February 6, 2015 at 3:03 pm |
Yes, of course this is one of those almost impossible ethical dilemmas.but, as I see it, doctors have been given the ability & knowledge, & scientists have developed the machinery to allow life to linger ( well, a kind of life. . . another moral problem) for people who, without it, would die. Then comes the question, w... |
Is there really any difference between this removal of ersatz life & doctor-assisted suicide to end a dying person’s indescribable suffering? |
My family has been in this valley of tears & heartbreak in this scenario when watching our own Dad die. We would have welcomed, reluctantly, a quicker, more humane method of relieving his travail. |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 3:17 pm |
Hi Errol, thanks for the comment. I’m sorry to hear about the difficulty you went through. It’s an incredibly painful thing to watch someone you love pass away. Here are a few comments I’ll make in response to what you wrote. In your comments you talk about doctors having been given “knowledge” and scientists developin... |
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Deborah Jean Hope says: |
February 6, 2015 at 4:51 pm |
Hi Matthew, I believe ALL life belongs to God. This is why I don’t understand wars, murder, abortion, assisted suicide, death sentences. I know there is evil in this world that turns people to hate others and kill with the slightest provocation. If we could teach everyone that life belongs to God not us, maybe then we ... |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 4:59 pm |
Hi Deb, good point! |
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Errol Reid says: |
February 6, 2015 at 4:56 pm |
Thanks, Matt. I didn’t mention anything about DNR orders. You are right, though. It is a different matter again. We did not issue a DNR order for our Dad. I would have done anything to have him live, not die. That’s why I say, life support gives hope, but, when that is expended, then, i’d wish for anyone that they have... |
I can’t enter the argument as to whose life a body’s is. I have no idea. But, i do believe God has put us here to learn, think, invent, decide. |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 5:02 pm |
Hi Errol, oh yes, I scrolled down and see you didn’t say DNR. I guess I thought that’s what you meant when you said “remove that artificial means of life.” I think I made a jump there… God has indeed given us a lot of responsibility! In my blog I mentioned Philip Yancey and his new book “Vanishing Grace.” Here’s what h... |
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Errol Reid says: |
February 6, 2015 at 6:51 pm |
Yikes, indeed!! |
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Tony Plomp says: |
February 6, 2015 at 9:16 pm |
Very strong and thoughtful blog, Matt. I stand with you theologically, of course. Yet I believe that when people come to the end and there is no hope for survival they should be given “comfort care” and that often means a slight bit more morphine than usual. I have no problem with that. I am troubled by this Court ruli... |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 6, 2015 at 11:01 pm |
Hi Tony, thanks for the note. You make some great points. What is, as you suggest, an illness that is “irremediable”? And yes, what about those who are depressed etc? You ask that the legislation be “extremely carefully crafted.” I’m neither a pessimist, nor an optimist, but I don’t feel reassured that those drafting l... |
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Rodger McEachern says: |
February 7, 2015 at 5:28 pm |
Matthew, with you and those who have commented…how to deal with people in agonising pain and or incurable diseases that minimises quality of life is an area that pastorally we probably should not be dogmatic…it is difficult to know how I would respond if I was in situation, or ,my spouse or child, that would caused me ... |
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matthewruttan says: |
February 7, 2015 at 5:52 pm |
Hi Rodger, thanks for your thoughtful comments. |
Yes, what we say is often put to the test when we are in a difficult situation ourselves. And as a pastor, as you are, we of course love and care for people no matter the circumstance. I think Jesus is a good example in that regard. |
In terms of the blog, you warn against being dogmatic. I certainly wasn’t suggesting that. A part of normal and healthy theological discourse is to reflect on issues of faith and life from a distinctly biblical perspective, as best we know how. (That’s been the primary way God’s people have tried to discern his will fr... |
You mention Jesus’ death and resurrection. As you know, a part of the meaning of his resurrection is that death is not the final word (or, at least, it doesn’t have to be). In terms of the last part of your comment, I don’t really follow; you make some statements and pose some questions. So I’m not sure where it ends u... |
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callingwoodroad says: |
February 18, 2015 at 2:33 pm |
Hi Matthew…I feel I am hate for the party…again. Re: my comment to your blog…I did not intend to deem your writing as dogmatic…it was not…my comment was a generic positional comment as to I think this issue ought to be approached, at least with the people we serve and know. Re my questions…again that is a method that I... |
1. first, death, in whatever form and means it takes is foreign to God’s good creation, it is an enemy that as Christians we know is defeated through the resurrection of Jesus, and its final destruction and power to corrupt God’s good creation is yet to be. This is a basis position I believe we need to hold, lest death... |
2. The second thing that I will say, following from the above, is that assisted suicide, like suicide and other forms of deth is anti-life (which I believe you will affirm), and as such, it is anti-God. This latter point doesn’t negate that we need to be generous and merciful in our responses to persons who may decide ... |
3. Thirdly, and tentatively, I tend to think assisted suicide may be analogous to divorce (I am not suggesting it is the same nor is divorce as destruction and final as assisted suicide) yet like divorce, assisted suicide tears apart covenantal realtionships…for example, God gaves us life, and we affirm this through li... |
Yes, we still have the pastoral situation to deal with, and the ethical dilemma as to what we might do in a situation in which another person, or even ourselves, is moving towards assisted suicide, yet we still need to shape our decisions upon some basic biblical theology. To do otherwise is to be sucked into a discuss... |
A few rambling thoughts….I don’t expect you to reply. Sorry for taking so long to reply to you. Peace and grace in Christ.<eot>Quaid slips plot details SPOILER! - Page 2 - HissTank.com |
I actually thought the creation of Cobra Island, and the later war between Cobra Commander (Fred), Serpentor, and Destro with the Joes caught in the middle was one of the most interesting and dramatic storylines of the original series. I'd love for them to adapt that into a three movie saga. |
I. Introduce Joe vs. Cobra end with the creation of Cobra Island with the Joes fighting to push Cobra off before they can legitimize their claim. |
II. Introduce Serpentor and expand the divisions in the Cobra heirarchy while Terrordromes begin to dot the world |
III. All out war with the three Cobra factions and Joe in the middle. |
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