One of my friends died

[Oxford]

Dan Bishop, a friend of mine and Rotary Club member, died last week. I attended his memorial services yesterday. It was a true celebration of life...yet still a bummer to lose a friend, especially one only 35 yrs of age. He will be missed.
Ox
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Taken from the Kansas City Star newspaper:

BISHOP Our dear friend, beloved husband and father, Dan Bishop, passed on peacefully Thursday morning, December 9, 2004, in Mesa, AZ. Dan loved his job as State Representative for the 38th District of Missouri. He worked tirelessly to protect the citizens of his district and strongly supported children and public education. Serving others has always been his love. He began his public service career as city councilman and mayor of Gladstone, MO. Dan focused on public safety and neighborhood issues, including the new fire station. He was elected to his first term as State Representative and reelected in November of this year. He was also elected twice by his colleagues as Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus.

Dan has always lived in the Gladstone/Kansas City, North area. He has loved the community and has dedicated his life to serving Northland citizens. He was Student Body President at Oak Park High School, where he graduated in 1987. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Westminster College in 1991, his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1995, his Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 2003. Dan gave outstanding service to the community that gave him
so much. He has served numerous organizations: Gladstone Rotary Club (Program Chair and President), Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce; Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce; Democratic Central Committee, Assistance League of Kansas City (Advisory Board), Native Sons of Kansas City; Regional Transit Alliance, Clay County Bar Association.

He was a member of Tenth Church of Christ, Scientist. He is survived by his wife, Leslie Allyson; two sons, Benjamin Paul and Luke George; sister, Debbie Branch of Ft. Worth, TX; two brothers, Frederick of Mesa, AZ, Clayton of Franklin, TX, grandmother, Thelma Hicks of Mesa, AZ; two aunts and an uncle, Terry Busch Peggy and Cy Carney, of Mesa, AZ. The family has requested no
flowers. Please send memorial gifts to Dan Bishop's Children Education Fund at
Country Club Bank, Attention Gail Edwards, 11181 Overbrook Rd., Leawood, KS 66211. Memorial Service will be Tuesday, December 14, 3 p.m., at Northland Cathedral, 101 N.W. 99th St., Kansas City, MO.

Published in the Kansas City Star from 12/11/2004 - 12/14/2004.

[Dallas]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I know it's a difficult time for both you and his family. But try to remember that God's plan isn't made known to us mere mortals, there was a reason for his early passing. As you said in your post celebrate his life and remember the good things.

[colt45]

sorry to hear it OX, best wishes to you and his family.

[Oxford]

Thanks guys. There's several reasons why I made this post. Yes, Dan Bishop was a friend of mine...and a friend to everyone in which he came in contact. That was typical of his personality...but here's the situation. He should not have died at this time. His death was most likely completely preventable. Without a doubt he was a bright shining star in our community. He had achieved more than most people do in a lifetime, and he seemed to have everything going for him he chose to do in life.

His being a democrat, lawyer, and politician I'll admit didn't please me...but they were easy to overlook when you met him.

Now here's the scenario of his death. About a month ago Dan developed a growth on his neck, just about the time of the general election, when he was re-elected as our state representive from my district. Due to his convictions for the beliefs of his religion, Tenth Church of Christ, Scientist, which believes that mans ailments will heal themselves, without the aid of modern medical treatment, he allowed this disease to go untreated other than to take hot mineral baths at a site somewhere in Arizona. His neck growth apparently continued to worsen and within a month he died.

I cannot understand how a person so intellectually bright could deny medical treatment in this life threatening situation. With two young boys and a wife to be responsible for it is beyond my comprehension how he could allow this to happen. Yes, I suppose that even with modern medical treatment this ailment might have taken him...but to deny the opportunity to continue in life because of the Christian Scientist's beliefs is beyond my ability to understand.

Ok...I've probably said to much already on this subject but I just wanted to explain the scenario a little more thoroughly. And yes, Dan will be missed. I'm still in a little shock of his sudden death.

Ox

[Big Dog]

I give you and his family my deepest condolences, Oxford. This has been another rough years-end.

My friend here at work (and my shooting buddy) just lost his wife earlier this month. A complication from abdominal surgery - she died at 49, leaving four kids motherless. Very sad, and makes me realize my own mortality - she only had two years on me.
They say time heals the wounds - but it'll take a lot of it! My buddy has aged ten years in the last couple weeks.

My best wishes to your friend's family.

[ScottD]

I'm sorry OX, I lost my good friend Dewey two weeks ago. This gentlemen is the individual that gave me the Japanese Arisaka rifle that I have been sporterizing. I will always remember him when I hold that rifle.

[Oxford]

Big Dog and ScottD...I'm also sorry about the loss of your friends, too. Thank God that time heals. :nod: We move on but don't forget.

[7mmag6]

sorry Ox thats just plain sad really sad,I agree why anyone would allow themselves to die over a condition that might be treatable boggles my mind, but I wont pass judgement, since I know much better than to be critical of an individuals religious beliefs, but why oh why, makes you wonder

[Stopper]

Been reading about him in the "star". Sorry you lost a friend Ox. We'll keep you and yours and his family in our prayers.

[Oxford]

Thanks again Stopper, 7mmag6, ScottD and others. I appreciate your concern and comments. From my viewpoint Dan Bishop died needlessly.

7mmag6...you're absolutely right about not passing judgement. I've tried not to do that but it's difficult.

Where I'd like this discussion to go, though, is toward the practices of the Christian Scientist believers. I did a Google search on Christian Scientists and their beliefs and was dumbfounded with how cultish it is. Here's a statement taken from one link which summarizes their beliefs and practices very well:

[quote]Conclusion. Christian Science offers some real enticements -- a "spiritually scientific" method for healing, victory over life's circumstances, and guaranteed salvation. All one has to do to receive these blessings is to study Eddy's writings and obey them to the letter. She was God's messenger to this age and her writings are considered infallible. Just obey her teaching, and learn to think as she thought, and you will be victorious.

The physical dangers of Christian Science are obvious. Since they are taught that learning about their bodies is spiritually harmful, Christian Scientists are ill equipped to understand the symptoms of illness. They often suffer needlessly from treatable ailments and neglect life-threatening conditions that could be cured if treated in their early stages.[/QUOTE]

And...here's a link which discusses the history of Christian Scientists, their progression since the around 1879.

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/science.htm

Christian or Cult?*
The movement known as Christian Science is a religion "emphasizing divine healing as practiced by Jesus Christ." It is officially known as The Church of Christ, Scientist (CCS) (with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts), founded in 1879 by the much married Mary Baker Glover Patterson Eddy (1821-1910). It is one of the more sophisticated modern cults, attracting many intellectuals. Estimated membership was about 350,000 in the 1930s with approximately 2,500 branch churches, societies, and college organizations in more than 50 countries worldwide. Estimates suggest that membership has fallen to well under 100,000 at the present time. While the branches are democratic in government, they all conform to the rules laid down in Mary Baker Eddy's Manual of The Mother Church (1895); church affairs are now overseen by a self-perpetuating board of five people.

[Apollyon67]

Some people believe faith is everything Ox. Above self, friends and family. As your friend was a good guy in general, my feelings are he is now getting his just rewards. I am truely sorry about your loss and the loss to his family as well. I know these things are hard to accept, especially when you know the person being hurt most likely can be cured or helped in some way. I feel the hardest part to see is when the parents are CCS and the child needs help. Its hard for me to see that, but it is their belief, and I can't in good concience, push mine on someone else. Makes me feel like an Islamic extremeist. Keep a good heart about things my friend. We are all in this together.

[ducktapehero]

I'm sorry about your loss. I used to live up that way(graduated NKC High in 1990). Sounds like a person I would have liked to met.

[Oxford]

Hey ducktapehero...didn't realize you had been in school in my district at that time. Dan Bishop graduated in '87. That would have made you a freshman at that time. Hey...we might have even met then. I would have been running around the district measuring this and that, carrying a clipboard taking notes for this project and that, including many at North Kansas City High School. Would you believe that that entire school is now air-conditioned...and the stadium has been totally renovated since you were there? Not too bad for a building that was initially built around 1915. :nod:

[Troy]

Ox,
to each their own when they make the decisions regarding their health i guess, but i dont get it. i see it as an unnessesary waste of life and a lot on unneeded suffering on the families behalf. there is nothing i wouldnt do to be able to live longer and spend my time with my family and friends.

Dallas,
nice words, very true indeed.

Big Dog,
being faced with your own mortality is a sobering reality check eh? to bad some of us have to learn it. i hurts to see a friend hurtin like that, hope he toughs it through ok.

Scott D,
condolences to you as well. take care.

[ducktapehero]

I heard it was air conditioned. Must be nice. We may have bumped into each other some time. I pretty much ran around everywhere between North Kansas City and Holt(my home town)