Cancer…The Enemy Within
Morpheus: “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.”
Welcome, dear reader, to our monthly trip down the “rabbit hole” in search of the truth in the midst of pulp culture fiction. As always, I will be your tour guide through the next 1,500 plus words that will hopefully (at the very least) open your heart and mind to the possibility that things may not always be as they appear.
Often, our perspective is flawed. Hence, the necessity to draw attention to true north at times when we are tempted to accept “magnetic” north as our reality.
You see, there is a good reason why the message, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear,” is indelibly printed on the side-view mirror of your vehicle. The manufacturer knows that the mirror’s perspective is skewed and they don’t want the actual proximity of another vehicle in an adjacent lane to prove it to you!
The human mind is a vast uncharted wilderness capable of functions that far exceed Einstein’s assessment of 10% utilization…90% of its ability remains virtually untapped! With that in mind (no pun intended!), consider this passage from the Bible,
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
Is it possible that what we believe, we conceive? In the book of Job, Job makes this telling statement:
“What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 (NLT)
And that, dear reader, is our introduction to this month’s topic: cancer.
Top 7 Causes of Cancer
Before I continue, I want to be crystal clear as not offend any of my readers who may be battling this terrible disease.
I am NOT saying cancer is only a “by-product” of negative thinking. What I am saying is there are several different theories on how cancer manifests in the body and I want to start by addressing some of them.
Scientists tell us there are at least 200 types of cancer and mention dozens of ways to get it. Here are the top 7 causes of cancer:
1. Carcinogens
The list is quite exhaustive. From everything from solvents to asbestos, food and tobacco, even to the air we breath, so as the old maxim says, “Everything causes cancer in laboratory rats!”
2. Age
Scientists say as we age, we become more fragile and our immune systems become weakened, so we are more susceptible to cancer. I have to admit after having three “centenarians” in our family and a mom and dad that play golf, walk at least a mile a day and hit the gym regularly in their 70s, this one is a real stretch for me.
3. Genetic disposition
No argument, here! However, there is more to that story that I will share later!
4. Sun exposure
As far as skin cancer goes this one is a no-brainer. If you spend a good portion of your time outdoors, then a quality sunscreen is your best friend.
5. Smoking
As far as lung and throat cancer, there is no doubt that it raises your chances of cancer!
6. Bacterial infection
Yes, if the helicobacter pylori bacteria is present, then stomach cancer is a possibility.
7. Viruses
Again, anything that compromises the immune system gives ANY opportunistic disease an advantage.
Now, if you have already surmised that I probably have a different view, from another lens, you would be correct!
Cancer’s Shadow
Here is the Webster’s dictionary definition of cancer:
- A serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body.
- Something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen.
Did you catch that second definition? Here is where I ask you to be open-minded and forget what you have previously believed about cancer.
What images does the word, dreadful, create in your mind? If one is full of dread, then that leaves little room for anything else now, doesn’t it?
I know of few things on earth that can instill more fear in a human being than a doctor’s prognosis of cancer. It is paralyzing and rife with morose images and a supposed death sentence.
In the book of Luke (as an interesting side note, Luke was a physician!), we find this statement,
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear…” Luke 21:26 (KJV)
Interesting, I poured over a myriad of statistics, lists of cancer causes, both by the leading oncologists and cancer societies both in America and the U.K. and not one of them mentioned or even eluded to the possibility of fear having any connection to cancer… whatsoever!
Do you recall Job’s statement at the introduction of this article?
“What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 (NLT)
Why, with all we know about the body’s response to fear, would the medical community not even mention the remote possibility of fear being a factor in a disease that wreaks havoc on a cellular level???
Have you ever been on a drive when suddenly a police car was right on your tail? The red and blue lights are flashing and the officer is motioning you to pull over! What did you feel the moment you saw the police car in your rearview mirror? Fear, dread, and a sick feeling in your stomach, right? That was your body’s response to sudden dread. Immediately, your chemistry changes, an overproduction of stomach acid occurs, your heart races, you perspire, etc., simply at the mere appearance of an officer of the law!
The psalmist writes in Psalm 23:4 (NIV), “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.”
Do you see it? God’s presence, His light, revealed the truth to the psalmist: it wasn’t actually death, but merely the shadow of death. As dreadful as it appeared, a shadow cannot kill you!
Often, that is all the doctor sees when he looks at your x-ray, a shadow, and yet it is instantly perceived as death when the prognosis comes.
Regardless of medicine or theology, one thing remains an immutable fact: fear and faith can NEVER coexist; they are diametrically opposed.
Cellular Memory
Earlier, I promised to expound on how genetic disposition can be a possible cause of cancer (cause of cancer #3). So, now I will keep my promise.
There is some “cutting edge” scientific research that has been making waves lately called cellular memory, which proposes that latent memory is “stored” in our cells, both good and bad.
For example, from the exhilaration we feel at the birth of our first child to the anguish we feel at the loss of a loved one, life-changing memories are embedded into our cells.
Is cellular memory so hard to believe? After all, you can find out anything you want to know about a tree by its growth rings. Years of draught, years of flooding, a year when a fire burned close by and the year there was an earthquake is all faithfully recorded in the rings of a tree.
So, here is a side of genetic disposition we may not have considered…What if our parent’s cellular memory is passed on to us at birth? I know I am really stretching you here, but knowing that your parents DNA is responsible for how you look, is it really that hard to believe that your cells are affected by what affected your parent’s cells and so forth and so on?
There are many accounts of transplant patients (especially the heart) feeling quite different about things after the surgery; some even changed their color preference!
Here is another example. A pastor friend of mine told me a story about a beautiful young woman who had attended his church for several years. The girl’s mother dropped dead of a heart attack on her 35th birthday and the pastor said that since that day, no matter what he said to persuade her otherwise, the girl would always tell everyone, “I am going to die of a heart attack on my 35th birthday just like my mother did.” The pastor looked at me and said, “Michael, she dropped dead of a heart attack on her 35th birthday, at the same exact time her mother did.”
Recall our second definition of the word cancer, “Something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen.”
So, right now you are probably thinking, “Okay, Michael, I am tracking with you…but what can I possibly do about it?”
First, whatever protocol you are currently following does not have to change. I am not your doctor, oncologist or holistic practitioner, but I am a friend and minister who is bringing to light a spiritual condition that once properly dealt with could change your life substantially!
You see, I have NEVER counseled anyone with cancer that didn’t also suffer from fear, bitterness, an unforgiving heart, or all three. Often, once these deep-seated emotions (and the images or memories that trigger them) are dealt with and healed, the cancer patient responds miraculously!
We are beings comprised of body, soul and spirit, thus if we are only focusing on physical symptoms, a problem may also be present in the other two-thirds of us that we are not aware of!
Spiritual Defense Against Cancer
Here is your “spiritual protocol” to defend yourself again cancer.
Spiritual Protocol #1
First, grab a fresh piece of paper and pen and write down the names of people (including loved ones) that you feel a grudge, anger or bitterness toward and realize that the negative feelings you have toward each of them are not NOT hurting them…they are hurting YOU. In most cases, they have no idea that you are still harboring these feelings toward them.
Secondly, take a moment and pray. You may want to say something like,
“Dear Lord, I choose to forgive (insert name) and I ask that you would heal my heart from all of these negative thoughts and memories I have held on to. Amen.”
Afterwards, if you still feel unsettled, then you may want to phone or visit with the person and verbally ask their forgiveness, as well…this is up to you.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not eagerly angered, IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV, emphasis mine)
Yes, dear friend, it is time to love one another (even your enemies!). Burn the record books and move on toward your total healing.
Finally, I would be remiss in my duty as a minister if I didn’t mention a cancer so virulent and deadly that it not only affects your life in this world but also in the next.
What is this horrible cancer’s name? Its name is UNBELIEF!
It is a cancer that can keep you from any hope of life eternal and the embrace of the one who gave His life for you in hope that you would choose Him. And, dear reader, nothing on earth could be more tragic than missing what awaits us after our time on earth comes to a conclusion.
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, then you are not living; you are merely surviving. As your friend, I implore you to give your life to the only one qualified to save it: Jesus!
Spiritual Protocol #2
Find a quiet place and talk to Jesus. Ask Him those questions that have been gnawing at you for years. BE HONEST and don’t worry about offending Him; He has heard it all.
Then, you might want to pray something like this,
“Dear Lord, my life is a mess and the harder I try to ‘fix’ it, the worse it seems to get. I give up! I give you this mess of a life. Please forgive me for all of my sins and stupidity. I ask you to make a place in my heart and fill me with your Spirit and transform me into your image. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me. Thank you for saving me. Amen.”
And with that said, I expect things are going to improve exponentially from here on out! Know that all of us at Home Cures That Work truly care and love to hear from you! Please drop us a line and let us know how you are…the good, the bad and the ugly but praying for “the good.”
Love never fails!
P.S. Morpheus: Neo, sooner or later you’re going to realize just as I did that there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.