A Call for Discerning Discernment

Oringinally written as an article for The Expositor and offered here for our On Call readers.

This commentary is written at the invitation of the host of The Expositor blog site, Mike Corley and is the result of many meaningful hours of personal discussion between two brothers in Christ.  Mike and I are partners in ministry working together producing the On Call with Dr. Dan Edney radio broadcast.  We have a close relationship involving professional work, personal friendship, and spiritual support of each other.  We have great respect for one another and have a mutual loving relationship in Christ Jesus.  We have come to know each other very well and have supported each other through several of life’s trials as we have worked together over the past five years.  The most interesting aspect of our friendship has to do with our differing opinions regarding many issues he chooses to tackle through the Expositor and Mike Corley Program ministries.  Hence, the following comments are composed for your review.

Oh to be healthy in 2007

As I write this commentary, we are ending the first month of 2007 and so far so good at the Edney home. I have enjoyed wishing my patients a happy New Year and happy to declare that we indeed have made another year by the grace of God. As I reflect on the many life and health issues in my life and that of my many patients, I truly understand how it is only by the grace of God that any of us were able to survive another year in this fallen world. When I review the various diseases and conditions, which affect my patients, it also becomes evident how little most of us do to try and be alive for another year.

Man Made Disasters: A Physician’s Perspective

If you follow the ministry of our radio show, you know of my recent trip to Lebanon as part of a disaster response medical team. This arose from the acute needs of the Lebanese people following the war between Israel and the Hezbollah terror organization in Southern Lebanon. I have been asked many questions regarding answering this call to go. These include “why go to Lebanon?”, “aren’t you afraid?”, “will it be dangerous?”, “why is it necessary for American physicians to go?”. These were all valid questions and certainly were in the forefront of my mind as I prepared to go. However, I did not have full answers to these questions and knew God expected me to step out in faith.

Dr. Dan’s Book of the Month

The Seven Pillars of Health
by Dr. Don Colbert
The Natural Way to Better Health for Life

What you can do for yourself concerning your health, God will not do. It’s up to you to do it now. Most diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and inadequate sleep. This book, based on best-selling author Dr. Don Colbert’s life message, reveals seven fundamental principles that will enable people to walk in and enjoy the health God intended. Dr. Colbert was a guest on the On Call program recently. Hear that interview by clicking on our Archived Audio page!

Dr. Dan’s Book of the Month

Conduct Under Fire
by John Glusman
Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese 1941-1945The fierce, bloody battles of Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines are legendary in the annals of World War II. Those who survived faced the horrors of life as prisoners of the Japanese. In Conduct Under Fire, John A. Glusman chronicles these events through the eyes of his father, Murray, and three fellow navy doctors captured on Corregidor in May 1942. Here are the dramatic stories of the fall of Bataan, the siege of “The Rock,” and the daily struggles to tend to the sick, wounded, and dying during some of the heaviest bombardments of World War II.

John Glusman will be Dr. Edney’s special guest on the On Call program Friday December 8, 2006 at 12 noon cst.

Images from Lebanon

Click on each photo to view the full image.

Disaster Response in America: Lessons Learned and Lessons to Learn

Many of you know that part of my calling as a physician is participating in medical disaster response. I was first convicted about this issue in response to the 9/11 attacks. That fateful day was a wake-up call for physicians as well as the general population. I knew at that time that physicians, nurses, paramedics, and virtually all types of health care workers would be on the very front line of any mass casualty event. At that time, our greatest concern was either bio-terrorism or nuclear/radiologic terrorism. So that America’s health care system would be better prepared the AMA and CDC jointly developed specialized training for working mass casualty events based on the model of basic and advanced life support. Unfortunately, medical school and residency programs were and are unable to dedicate the time it takes for training young doctors how to respond to such attacks.

Isn’t it great when we are “Relaying for Life”: Our war against cancer continues

Recently, the “On Call Program” taped an episode of the show while participating in the American Cancer Society’s signature event, “the Relay for Life”. This is a fantastic event that is held around the nation raising much needed funds for cancer research and patient services. I was impressed by the event last year, especially in how family friendly it is. Special attention is given to all ages including games for the kids, food, and entertainment lasting all night. However, the most impressive activity for me as a physician and the son of a cancer casualty was the victory lap for current cancer survivors. Although teams are walking laps all night, the first lap is reserved for those special individuals who have stared cancer in the face and defeated it. What an act of encouragement that is for others as they see the large number of survivors as they may just be starting their own battle with cancer.

Heart Disease: The Greatest Terrorist of All

Terrorism is on the minds of every American as we wage the war on terror. National security and vigilance has not been this heightened since World War II, and appropriately so. However, the greatest threat to American lives is not Osama Bin Laden. Ironically, it is a terrorist who has stalked us all since the founding of the Republic, that being heart disease.

With a New Year Comes New Hope

The millennium may still be young, but its first decade is more than half complete. 2006 is bursting on the scene with all of the hope and excitement of every New Year. For some, there is hope for a better year and a better life as 2005 was filled with grief or sickness. For others, 2006 brings with it fear and apprehension due to the strain and worries of life. Such is the way of human existence. So, how can we thrive in the face of challenges brought on by a new year? This commentary will examine these issues and how we can be positive at the onset of a brand new year.