Westminster, London (photo from trekearth.com)
PhD revisions are going well, and I am now working on writing an afterword and revising the entire work in order to send it over to Wales. Thank you for all the support!
Hebrews 9:27 informs the reader of the New American Standard Bible, that it is appointed once for men to die and after this comes judgment. This is for all persons, Christian or non-Christian, and if the Bible is a true representation of God's plans, and I reason it is, it should be a somewhat troubling end for even the most committed Christian. It is somewhat troubling for several reasons, but I provide two. Firstly, death often requires suffering prior to it. Secondly, judgment comes with some uncertainty of how God will view a person, even those of us he has saved through Christ's atoning and resurrection work.
Philp Edgcumbe Hughes notes that although the New Testament does speak of some that will not experience death, this is an exception to the rule. These persons however, will not die twice. Hughes (1990: 387). Those extremely rare persons by God's grace who do not die will be translated into a resurrection body as will those eventually who died. Therefore, the overall effect is the same. There is not a multiplicity of deaths leading to judgment, and if someone was to die medically and be resuscitated they would not have faced God's final judgment. Lazarus comes to mind here.
Hughes states that from this verse it can be understood the human beings are mortal by nature. Immortality is controlled by God alone and persons are dependent on God for the continuance of life. Hughes (1990: 387). Human beings are not potentially, but are actually mortal, due to sinfulness. Death is a judgment in itself and is followed eventually by a final judgment. Hughes (1990: 387). P.H. Davids explains that as God is the source of life, death is a result of being cut off from God. This process began with Adam and now involves every person and brings about a separation from God because of sin. Davids (1996: 300). Those who trust in Christ still experience physical death, but due to the resurrection, states Davids, will pass on from death to life. Davids (1996: 300).
With my sleep apnea I am not near death as of yet, but I am heading in that direction at a faster than normal rate. I face suffering relating to eventual death, even if treatment for my sleep apnea extends my life significantly. My Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)(removal of tonsils and uvula) and Rhinoplasty (nasal reconstruction and tip reduction) surgeries have assisted me minimally, instead of reversing the ailment substantially. I will be visiting with my surgeon soon concerning purchasing a CPAP machine.
CPAP treatment is used in most patients who have obstructive sleep apnea. With CPAP, the patient wears a snugly fitting nasal mask attached to a fan that blows air into the nostrils to keep the airway open during sleep. Because most people sleep with their mouth closed, the mouth usually does not have to be covered, but a chin strap can be used if necessary. Victor (1999: 1).
My surgeon explained to me that many people benefit significantly from CPAP, but most persons give up on it and some pursue surgery as CPAP does not work optimally. Sadly, the government here in British Columbia, even with our socialized medicine will not cover any jaw surgery for sleep apnea. I have a severe receding jaw, and I need a type of jaw surgery for a partial or full cure.
Jaw surgery is the most invasive surgical procedure used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Patients who have a small, retrognathic mandible and have failed more conservative treatments may be candidates for this approach. The surgical procedure may be limited to pulling the tongue forward (genioplasty). An extensive procedure may entail moving both the mandible and maxilla. Extensive jaw surgery has a higher complication rate and a longer recovery time. Victor (1999: 1).
The mandible lower jaw surgery is $15,000 here in BC, plus the dental work and as stated is not covered by the provincial government, and if I would need the maxilla surgery, my surgeon states it is $100,000 at Stanford University. An additional problem is that even though I am a small eater and work out on average an hour a day, if one has a severe receding jaw, as I do, it is very difficult to lose weight.
Weight loss is the simplest treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in obese patients...Moreover, success may be limited if patients also have anatomic deficits in the jaw. Victor (1999: 1).
I am in the process of seeking assistance from the BC government, regardless.
I appreciate my true friends that have suggested that I try eating this or that, or attempt exercising this way or that way, but under normal circumstances, unless I were to change careers and find a job where I would work out all day, there will not be any chance of significant weight loss. Even if I lost significant weight, the apnea would still likely lead to nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias. Victor (1999: 1). I already have an arrhythmia which was found prior to my two apnea surgeries, although at this point two anaesthesiologists have stated that it could be an athlete's heart with a slow heart beat due to my life of steady exercise, and/or it could be a result of sleep apnea. If it is caused by apnea I could eventually have heart failure even if I am significantly lighter in weight due to abandoning my theology career to become a postman or whatever, in order to exercise as part of my job.
What I have not appreciated is the few individuals that have joked to my face that I eat too much McDonald's food or whatever. That is an insult to one that takes exercise and eating right quite seriously. One casual friend became so irritating and closed-minded concerning correction on this issue that it was a major reason I ceased seeking his mcfriendship. I accept and provide constructive criticism at times, and that is fair and hopefully in love, even when there is disagreement, but I will not continually correct someone that challenges my motives and ethics, and that includes my eating, unless they can provide overwhelming evidence to prove me in error.
DAVIDS, P.H. (1996) ‘Death’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, p. 803. Grand Rapids, Baker Books
HUGHES, PHILIP. (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
VICTOR LYLE D. M.D. (1999) 'Obstructive Sleep Apnea', American Family Physician, Volume 16, Number 8, November 16, 1999. Leawood, Kansas, American Family Physician.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2279.html
This photo is from Professor Howdy in my links.
Please click on my latest link from satire and theology which features some interesting controversial and hopefully thought provoking video clips.
http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2008/01/attention-getting.html
