Thursday, August 21, 2008

Bible Study: Dealing with My Health

This week we were looking at two passages that address health and wholeness.

It's worth taking a moment to think how you are when you get sick. Do all things come to a stop as people pamper you, or do you become like Oscar the Grouch? We all deal with personal illness differently. The other day, a person talking about patient-doctor relationships said that often we wait to talk to a physician because we are afraid of not knowing what is going on. It is fascinating to think that the body we own can be such a confusing thing! Such must have been the case with this man in John's Gospel (scriptures are linked in Tuesday's blog announcement) who had been an invalid for 38 years! That is a long time, but what striks you about this healing? How do you characterize this interchange between the man and Jesus? I am always amazed at how others respond to these miraculous healings. How is this similar to how we experience dramatic healthcare improvements? What are some things about your own health that cause you stress? How can you overcome this anxiety?

For part of an answer to that last question it is worth taking a look at Paul's reminder that "when we are weak, then we are strong." Has there ever been anything in your expereince that finds that statement to be true? How have you seen, or experienced God working in and through you during a time of weakness? How can you trust God in those moments?

Feel free to share your observations/thoughts here as we head into the weekend.

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listening and exploring faith together