Cancer: My Enemy, My Friend

There are some moments in your life that you never forget, things you know are going to change your life—getting married; the birth of your first child; getting the job of your dreams. I've experienced all of those things and I can't ever forget how I felt at the time. But then there are times when your family and your faith are all you have to lean on.

Loneliness

I am so tired of the loneliness of life. I wonder if anyone else knows what it means to be in such pain. I surround myself with people, only to experience the old cliche of being lonely in the crowd. I try to sleep but my head aches constantly. I know my husband and children are asleep, i can hear the sounds and the rhythm of their breathing. My family doesnt know me. They think they do, but its based on opinions and statements i made a long time ago. My biggest need is to be accepted as i am, for who i am. But i dont even know what am like. I feel like an accumulation of the roles i fill. I wonder if i even have an identity apart from wife, mother, chauffeur, cook. There will also be the constant struggle to face problems, to stand up for my convictions and i am so tired of the agonising loneliness. I am afraid of it. I cant seem to eat or sleep or schedule right  and i can no longer deal with the anxiety of straddling the fence. Non of my former education, prepared me for the amount of solitude that is in life.  No amount of security can eradicate painful experiences. Why was i never taught to learn from loneliness? I only learn to fear it. 

I dont know where you are or what your condition is tonight, but many of you are experiencing a deep loneliness and it burns in the centre of your being. Have you ever been so lonely that you've been sick to your stomach? I've been through that. And I remember just where I was and exactly what corner I was turning, when i feel it most intensely. So why are we here tonight? How can we continue? First of all last night I felt this quite strongly. And I said Lord I dont know what to do with this. I was in the back of a bus late at night. It was dark, most people was sleeping and I had just come back from a long trip to the west coast. And I said, I feel intensely lonely and forsaken. And all of the spectres began to loom and flood in like a great crashing wave. The humilation of a life of failure. The wondering, whether this time, these few days out in california were worth the time involved. All these kinds of things began to flood in. And the tears came. And I said, No. This is not self pity. This is an assessment of the facts. Of course I feel sorrow, I feel remorse, I feel loneliness, but at this point I pray Lord that you will forgive me for indulging in any of this. I cant deny the feelings. But I can chose what I am going to do with the feelings, so I commit them to you. I dont what them to control my behaviour from here on. I feel them intensely, but you felt them too. So will you take them and do with them as you will. And anyone who is involved in them positively and negatively and touch me with your unconditional forgiveness and your love. Well no great floods of happiness came over me but I was reminded of uncondition love. 

Through all, i've learn to trust in Jesus. I've learn to trust in God. 

And through the pain Lord. Sometimes thats the only feeling of credibility we do have The word.  Because sometimes thats all we've got. And Lord we recognise the fact that, we are not ammunied from feeling alone. The fact that the crowds dont cure it, marriage dont cure it, that even being with a special person, dont always take care of it. Your the only one we can trust, totally, to understand this and to help us, through the pain. I commit right now, whoever that person is, who is just dying or in need of love and of someone , of some force beyond himself, unconditional love that will accept them just as we are. You've come to give us that Lord. We reach out to you right now. And I pray that, that person who is through the pain, touching you in faith. That you will reach down and extract them from that vortex of loneliness at its deepest level, which is alienation from you. And then put into our hearts and lives, something that will override and counteract, at least for the time being the lonely moments. 

Thank you for your promise. Amen

From Nightsounds with Bill Pearce Alone in the crowd

Psalms 37 - Trust in the Lord

Do you ever find yourself feeling jealous of others who use dishonest practises to achieve success? Maybe it was a coworker, a neighbour, a friend, or even a relative. Have you ever sometimes felt cheated in the workplace because you do all the work while others get away with doing nothing? In  Psalms 37 it talks about not allowing yourself to fret or to be envious of those who do cunning and deceitful practises in order to suceed in life. The truth is we live in a very competitive society, where doing right is often regarded as being weak. Where people take advantage of so called weaker people to advance to the next level. But the bible has another approach. In Psalms 37, God warns us not to become envious of the wealth and success of those around us who gain it unrighteously. Not to fret or worry about not advancing in our careers as others. And definitely dont use dishonest tactics in order to achieve success. Why? For the Lord assures us that, they will be punished. They might be able to fool others, but they can never fool God. Instead Psalms 37, advice us to put our complete trust in God and he will not only provide everything you need but he will also protect you from those who do evil. Dont worry about those who do evil for God will punish them in his own time. For God is a God of justice. Therefore, they will get what they sow. As believers in Christ, God ask us that inspite of our circumstance to live justly and fairly, to live right, act righteously, and speak the truth in all aspects of our life and he will reward us in time. 

Trust the LORD

¹Don't be annoyed by anyone

who does wrong,

and don't envy them.

²They will soon disappear

like grass without rain.

³Trust the LORD and live right!

The land will be yours,

and you will be safe.

⁴Do what the LORD wants,

and he will give you

your heart's desire.

⁵Let the LORD lead you

and trust him to help.

⁶Then it will be as clear

as the noonday sun

that you were right.

⁷Be patient and trust the LORD.

Don't let it bother you

when all goes well for those

who do sinful things.

⁸Don't be angry or furious.

Anger can lead to sin.

⁹All sinners will disappear,

but if you trust the LORD,

the land will be yours.

¹⁰Sinners will soon disappear,

never to be found,

¹¹but the poor will take the land

and enjoy a big harvest.

¹²Merciless people make plots

against good people

and snarl like animals,

¹³but the Lord laughs and knows

their time is coming soon.

¹⁴The wicked kill with swords

and shoot arrows to murder

the poor and the needy

and all who do right.

¹⁵But they will be killed

by their own swords,

and their arrows

will be broken.

¹⁶It is better to live right

and be poor

than to be sinful and rich.

¹⁷The wicked will lose all

of their power,

but the LORD gives strength

to everyone who is good.

¹⁸Those who obey the LORD

are daily in his care,

and what he has given them

will be theirs for ever.

¹⁹They won't be in trouble

when times are bad,

and they will have plenty

when food is scarce.

²⁰Wicked people are enemies

of the LORD

and will vanish like smoke

from a field on fire.

²¹An evil person borrows

and never pays back;

a good person is generous

and never stops giving.

²²Everyone the LORD blesses

will receive the land;

everyone the LORD curses

will be destroyed.

²³If you do what the LORD wants,

he will make certain

each step you take is sure.

²⁴The LORD will hold your hand,

and if you stumble,

you still won't fall.

²⁵As long as I can remember,

good people have never

been left helpless,

and their children have never

gone begging for food.

²⁶They gladly give and lend,

and their children

turn out good.

²⁷If you stop sinning

and start doing right,

you will keep living

and be secure for ever.

²⁸The LORD loves justice,

and he won't ever desert

his faithful people.

He always protects them,

but destroys the children

of the wicked.

²⁹God's people will own the land

and live here for ever.

³⁰Words of wisdom come

when good people speak

for justice.

³¹They remember God's teachings,

and they never take

a wrong step.

³²The wicked try to trap

and kill good people,

³³but the LORD is on their side,

and he will defend them

when they are on trial.

³⁴Trust the LORD and follow him.

He will give you the land,

and you will see

the wicked destroyed.

³⁵I have seen brutal people

abuse others and grow strong

like trees in rich soil.

³⁶Suddenly they disappeared!

I looked, but they were gone

and no longer there.

³⁷Think of the bright future

waiting for all the families

of honest and innocent

and peace-loving people.

³⁸But not a trace will be left

of the wicked

or their families.

³⁹The LORD protects his people,

and they can come to him

in times of trouble.

⁴⁰The LORD helps them

and saves them from the wicked

because they run to him.

Sunlight - Newstart

When we think “sunshine” we often think of a luxury SUN-cruise on the Caribbean, with stops at enchanting island retreats like Jamaica or Barbados, or we think CANCER. Why these extremes? In reality, most people can get plenty of sunshine in their own backyards! Ten or 15 minutes in noontime summer sun leads to the production of 10,000 IU (International Units) of Vitamin D, which has proven to decrease the risk for many cancers.

The myth is busted! Sunshine protects against a very deadly form of skin cancer called melanoma. A new study published in the March 2011 European Journal of Cancer discovered that those people who spent four to five hours in the sun each day over weekends were less likely to develop melanoma than those who did not. This is exciting for those who love the sun. (A word of caution here: those who burn easily were at higher risk regardless of the amount of time spent in the sun. So avoid sunburn.) Another piece of good news for sun lovers is that women with high sun exposure had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer. Also, reduced risk of other cancers by sunshine include prostate, colon, lung, ovary, bladder, uterus, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Sunlight Increases Immunity

Immunity is increased by exposure to sunlight and your body’s resistance to infection is strengthened. White blood cells are increased. Antibodies are increased too. These effects can last up to three weeks. Even 10 minutes of sun twice a week can greatly reduce the incidence of colds.

Sunlight Strengthens Bones

Bones are strengthened by sunlight. It allows the body to make Vitamin D, which helps calcium absorption from the intestines and calcium deposit in building healthy bones. Sunlight prevents rickets and helps prevent and reverse osteoporosis. There is also a connection with lowered incidence of dental cavities.

Sunlight Promotes Sense of Well-being

Sense of well-being is promoted by sunlight and the mood is elevated. Daily exposure to natural sunlight will boost melatonin output, which also improves sleep. For most people, sunlight is an important therapy, especially if combined with exercise, in preventing and treating acute and chronic depression. Sunlight helps produce serotonin to lift the mood.

Other Benefits of Sunlight

Other benefits of sunshine include alleviating pain from swollen arthritic joints and even relieving some symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). It also helps ward off heart disease, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Diabetes, MS, as well as obesity.

Remember – it’s not all that bad. Enjoy the sun moderately and it will increase your vitality and good health.

Exercise - Newstart

We are a sedentary nation of couch potatoes addicted to computer games, TV, and spectator sports. We need exercise! Children who once were off the charts in exercise demand, now sit; and way too much – 17 percent are overweight or obese, largely due to sitting. This makes them prone to adult type 2 diabetes, with its dire complications.

Pregnancy: Moms to-be, you need to get out and get going! Research shows that moderate exercise increases placental blood flow and decreases risks of pregnancy. When you exercise, so does your baby. It decreases baby’s resting heart rate and birth weight – important conditioning parameters.

Exercise may help:

• Control weight – the metabolic rate increases, burning more calories even at rest!
• Increase lung capacity and recharge oxygen supply
• Improve blood pressure, circulation, and strengthen your heart
• Lower cholesterol and improve blood flow in the arteries – it can even help reverse arteriosclerosis!
• Relieve stress, tension, depression, and improve sleep naturally – without a pill!
• Promote the body’s ability to get rid of toxic wastes.
• Improve metabolism – stabilizes blood sugar.
• Strengthen the bones and counteract osteoporosis
• Increase physical strength and tone of muscles by improving oxygen utilization.
• Improve posture and decrease back problems
• Prevent the big C word – CANCER

What kind of activity is best?

Walking is the ideal exercise. Other good activities include swimming, cycling, gardening, and yard work. One of the special benefits of exercising outside is that you can combine at least three of the health principles: sunlight, fresh air, and exercise.

A daily program of at least thirty to forty minutes is best for maximum benefit. The important thing is that you enjoy what you do and do it regularly.

Exercise Precautions

1. Start slowly and progress gradually.
2. It is better to exercise before a meal than right after a meal.
3. Allow time to warm up and cool down.
4. Discontinue your exercise and see your physician should you have any of the following symptoms:
   1. Pain in the chest, teeth, jaw, neck, arms, bones, or joints.
   2. Difficulty in breathing, light-headedness, or fainting
   3. Irregular heart rate during exercise or recovery period
   4. Excess fatigue
   5. Recurrent nausea or vomiting occurring after exercise

A balanced and well-planned exercise program is one of the wisest investments you can make. Choose an activity that you enjoy and stick to it. Have fun and feel better every day!

Fresh air - Newstart

Illness

You feel like someone’s choking you! Your chest feels tight—you may cough or wheeze—and you just can’t seem to catch your breath! You feel panicky! What do you do? You run for the freshest most oxygenated air around. Perhaps you grab an inhaler, maybe even take a whiff from an oxygen bottle, and you hope for miraculous relief. This scenario is not uncommon. About 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. In severe cases, asthma attacks can be deadly. They kill 5,000 people every year in the United States! Ask anyone with this condition how important air is. The culprit? Air pollution from cars, factories and power plants. More than 159 million Americans—over half the nation’s population—live in areas with bad air. A research study published in 2002 estimated that 30 percent of childhood asthma is due to environmental exposures, costing the nation $2 billion per year. And studies also suggest that air pollution may contribute to the development of asthma in previously healthy people. For children with asthma, hospitalizations occur up to 26 percent more frequent on high air pollution days compared to normal days. Air pollution has also been implicated in causing pneumonia, heart attacks, heart arrhythmias, cancer, and other diseases. So my advice is to move out of the cities and enjoy the air the way God created it – fresh, crisp, clean, and with the scent of evergreen trees and flowers. Trees, water, and wind help keep air fresh.

Indoor Air Pollution

The yellow-brown pall of smog hanging over a city is not the only breathing threat to humanity. Consider indoor air pollution, which can be a source of colds, flu, sore throats, headaches, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Formaldehyde is found in building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde may be used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, as a preservative in some paints and coating products, and in pressed wood products like particleboard. While we may not get rid of it, it is important to open windows and keep the air circulating to cut down on high concentrations. Some people may find great relief in removing products with chemical adhesives. Other indoor pollutants include: pesticides, paints, varnishes, hobby products, tobacco smoke, and cleaning products; bacteria, mold, mildew, viruses, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches, and pollen.

Fresh Air’s Importance to the Sick

An incredible story! During the 1919 flu epidemic, the hospital in Eureka, California, was overflowing with patients. The head doctor called the army, which gave them tents, cots, and blankets. The overflow patients were moved into the tents in which there was no heat, except hot water bottles that were used to keep the feet warm. It was found that no patients in the tents, with the fresh air they were getting, were dying. However, numbers of patients in the hospital were dying. When this was realized, the heat in the hospital was turned down and the windows were raised. The patients had to put on heavy underwear, but their death rate went down (Gunter B. Paulien PhD. The Divine Philosophy and Science of Health and Healing, p. 88).

Water -Newstart

“Anything but water, please!” We really don’t say it, but when we go to the drive-up window or sit down to order a meal, that is exactly what most Americans in essence say: coffee please, or Mountain Dew, Coke, a milk shake, a glass of wine, but rarely plain water! Hot days? We automatically reach for a soda. Your brain is about 80% water. Water keeps you thinking clearly. “Anything but water” is a bad tradition that puts an overwhelming osmotic load into the blood stream, making it sticky and flow poorly. Only water can create the proper environment for your blood to flow smoothly, help regulate your blood pressure, and promote vascular health. In one study, men who drank five or more glasses of water daily had a 54% less risk of a heart attack than those who drank two or less daily, or who used other beverages.

Weight Loss

People who drank two eight-ounce glasses of water 20 to 30 minutes before meals ate an average of 75 fewer calories at that meal. In another study two eight-ounce glasses of water before meals resulted in a 44% greater weight loss over 12 weeks than in a non-water control group. That is staggering! Reach for water, not coffee, or soda. That is a proven way to curb appetite and lose weight.

Caffeine

Avoid it entirely! Caffeine is a diuretic. Coffee and most soda pop contain a whopping amount of caffeine geared to dehydrate you. It can raise the blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood fats. It stimulates the nervous system and can cause irritability, anxiety, tremors, chronic fatigue, and insomnia. After time, the pick-me-up is only preventing a major let-down, produced by the habit itself. Eventually you hit bottom.

What happens if I don’t drink enough water?

The kidneys have to work much harder to excrete toxins, and may be damaged. Each cell in the body needs water to function well, so inadequate water intake can cause disease. Chronic lack of water is linked to bladder cancer. Fatigue and headaches are a common result of drinking too little water. In the summer months, increase intake and stay ahead of thirst. When you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. Water keeps the body cool. It brings the heat from the inner organs to the surface of the skin in the form of sweat, and also acts as an evaporative cooler. Drink eight cups per day. Also, enjoy hot and cold contrast showers. The cold stimulates the immune system, and hot baths open the pores and eliminates toxins.

Remember, water is of vital importance – use it abundantly for good health and vitality.