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This website is about cancer.
Hearing you have cancer is the most surreal feeling in the world. Time stops. You’re thrown into a state of shock, numbness, maybe panic. You know everything is about to change. And you fumble around to find words to a prayer that it all ends well. Thankfully, you get phone calls, start scheduling appointments, and a plan comes into place. Still, it can feel like you’re helpless.
But you are not helpless.
Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2
In fact, from the very beginning of time, the world was created in a way that would help us avoid developing or sustaining conditions like cancer. Even our BODIES were created with powerful defenses against cancer cells! And we can start to harness those defenses now. Today.
Thistles to Vines exists to remind us of God’s original plan and to show us practical ways His creation can help us beat cancer.
WHY THISTLES?
Thistles are a symbol of pain, difficulty and suffering that came into the world the same time as death. They’re thorny, painful and can spread quickly. Sometimes they’re hard to slow down or get rid of. But it CAN be done. And there are lots of ways to do it!
WHY VINES?
Vines are a symbol of abundant, overflowing life. Vines mean peace, fruitfulness and restoration. Vines are surprisingly tough and quietly strong. They don’t stay in the dark; instead they seek the light. They adjust and adapt. They grow and they reach.
WHY “CREATION RENEWED?”
Creation: The action or process of bringing something or someone into existence, especially when regarded as an act of God.
Renew: To resume after an interruption.
A FEW WORDS:
1) ALWAYS PRAY FIRST. Ask God what He wants you to do. He’ll tell you! We can always take action, but action is supposed to come after prayer (1 Peter 1:13).
2) Don’t be afraid to make a change. If we want to EXPERIENCE some big changes in our situation, we may need to MAKE some big changes in our situation.
3) The concepts presented here are backed by scientific evidence and there is a mix of complex scientific studies (hint: if you don’t have the bandwidth to read the whole thing, scroll down to “Conclusion”) and also easy to understand articles/videos here. But DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and make sure there are plenty of high quality studies QUOTED and LINKED in what you read and watch (to help you weed out misinformation)!
4) Nothing in this website is meant to make us blindly reject the advice of a knowledgeable doctor or nutritionist…or replace our churches, loved ones or communities. We need each other.
5) DON’T HAVE CANCER? DON’T WANT CANCER? You can do some or all of these things to reduce your risk of getting cancer. And you can start today! Anything that says it “reduces risk” means risk of occurrence, recurrence, spreading, all of it. It’s all good.
6) The fact that there’s a LOT that we can do will hopefully be inspiring, not overwhelming! Take it all in, pray about what you want or need to do and take a deep breath. There’s time.
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13