The Wichita Eagle from Wichita, Kansas • C5

WWW.KANSAS.COM SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013 THE WICHITA EAGLE 5C FAITH VALUES containeth The Rev. Betty Hanna- Witherspoon, Ebenezer AME Church, Kansas City, African Methodists re- spond We say because these books that are referred to in the historical writings do not keep us from the reaching the ultimate purpose of the Holy Scrip- tures. The purpose of scripture, African Methodists believe, is to bring us to an understand- ing of work in the lives of human beings and the universe so that we might better understand how to interact with God. For African Methodists the scriptures provide an opportunity to come to know God so that eventually we can elect to enter into a relationship with God in Jesus the Christ. work in the history of the Jewish people is founda- tional for African Methodist interpretation of entry into the history of human beings.

These books, referred to in the question and by the com- pilers of Hebrew history, are not considered central to Hebrew history by the compil- ers themselves (see for ex- ample 1 Chronicles 29:29 and II Chronicles While it would be interest- ing to read all the texts that were used to compile the history found in the Hebrew texts, these books are not required to come to saving knowledge of Jesus the Christ, and therefore, the Old Testa- ment is complete. Our fifth Article of Religion states it this way: Holy Scriptures containeth all things necessary to God does not err Rabbi Mark H. Levin, Congregation Beth Torah, Kansas City: Orthodox be- lievers consider the Bible to be direct divine revelation, the literal word of God. By definition, it cannot be in- complete. Scripture perfectly reflects will.

Whatever God included, whatever the gram- mar, whatever apparent er- rors there may seem to be from a historical or linguistic perspective, the Bible is abso- lutely complete. the job of the believer to discover meaning and intention. If God excluded some things and included others, there must be a reason. God does not err. Actually, there are individu- al letters written both smaller and larger than normal in the original Hebrew text, and clear errors known tradition- ally as mean- ing and Those sections are spelled one way but read differently.

Each of these are explained by believ- ers as intentional and not in error. They often are inter- preted as having a hidden meaning. Whatever God in- cluded was purposeful, and it is the job to un- derstand the deeper connota- tion. One traditional, 20th-century scholar, Umber- to Cassuto of Hebrew Univer- sity, wrote about the foreign cultural stories included in the Bible, like creation narra- tives and parallels to Baby- lonian myths. Cassuto felt that God included these refer- ences intentionally, utilizing stories already known to the people but changing them to reflect actual divine truths.

Old Testament refers to missing texts; is it incomplete? VOICES OF FAITHTHE KANSAS CITY STAR ATLANTA It looked liketime might be runningout for Chip Madren.One moment he was a normal 13-year-old, and the next, doctors were telling his parents a deadly cancer was spreading in his brain. Lea and Ken Madren turned to their faith that day in 2010. They asked for prayers. Within hours of their re- quest, many who heard them were making petitions on the Dunwoody, be- half. Within weeks, the peti- tioners swelled to 400, then a thousand on a social site the family started.

Nation, as the Ma- drens called them, would inspire a book, and the Ma- drens would launch a non- profit to help other pediatric cancer patients from metro Atlanta. Lea Madren said the family could feel the prayers un- dergirding them particularly those from Scott Dockter, whom they call little Dockter, a father of four, had never been in the habit of asking God for any- thing. At 45, led a rather charmed life. He was a successful busi- nessman, happily married to his wife of 25 years. Their children were healthy.

But his boy, Chip, Chip needed his prayers. It was the one thing given his busy schedule that Dock- ter knew he could do. And so wherever he trav- eled from St. Louis to New York and New England Dockter ducked into churches, and synagogues and temples to pray. please give Chip a day with no he prayed.

him get through the day without dispel the evil from his Chip was in his first week of seventh grade when his life changed. On the morning of Aug. 17, 2010, he felt lethargic and complained of blurred vision. Maybe the wake-boarding crash had the week be- fore had left him with a slight concussion. Lea and Ken Madren picked him up from school to see the pediatrician.

lives went from zero to 60 in about 2.2 Chip would say later. Doctors told the Madrens their boy had Metastatic Ana- plastic Medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Lea Madren grabbed the trash can and threw up. was the nightmare that every parent she recall- ed. Twelve hours later, Chip was in surgery.

On Aug. 20, while doctors worked to remove a tumor from stem, the Madrens started a Caring- Bridge, a protected social network site to keep friends and family informed. pray for my Ken Madren wrote. All his life, Dockter had been taught that prayer changed things. Like the Madrens, Dockter was a devout Catholic.

But as much as he believed in the power of prayer, he was comfortable with overt reli- To him religion, like prayer, was a private matter. But time seemed to be run- ning out for Chip. The surgery had left him unable to speak. He could barely see and walk. Dockter found himself not only praying but talking more about his faith, brushing away any notion that death might come.

been praying a long, long time, but it was more Dockter said. could see how sad the family was, so it made me think about it a little A year ago, the family learned cancer was in remission. In January, the Madrens started Nation Pediatric Cancer Foundation to, among other things, help fund pedi- atric cancer research at Chil- Healthcare of Atlanta. been blessed in so many ways through this jour- Lea Madren said. course, I wish it would go away but it so you have to look at the good parts of it, like Scott and the Dockter turned his writings into, Book of Prayers: A collection of letters from Scott Proceeds from the sales will go to cancer research, the development of the partnership and family support programs that introduces patients and their families to the outdoors and work to ensure that fami- lies receive communication and an understanding throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as long- term planning and care.

Today, Chip is undergoing physical therapy to learn to walk again. Every 90 days for the next five years, he has to get a brain scan. relapse is common with his type of Lea Ma- dren said. And so Dockter will keep praying. know that prayers always answered but to see where Chip started and where he is now, I know the prayers have he said.

are other Chips out there so something I want to keep Book of A collection of letters from Scott Dockter is available in print and eBook version. It can be purchased for a mini- mum donation of $20 online at www.chipnation.org/do- nate or by printing out an order form and mailing it nd a donation to Nation, 1650 Bluegrass Lakes Park- way, Alpharetta, GA 30004. Nation is a 501c3 nonprofit registered with the Georgia Secretary of State. It is raising money for the treat- ment of Chip and other chil- dren suffering from cancer, and for research and teaching and support of Healthcare of Atlanta. Neighbor prays, writes letters for sick boy BY GRACIE BONDS STAPLES Atlanta Journal-Constitution Phil Scott Dockter prays at his church in Dunwoody, Ga.

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