The Scourge Of Racism
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In this first of two follow-up posts I will make this month to my Prostate Cancer announcement last week, as the Lord leads, I want to briefly present a few reflections. First though, for the sake of those that may not know what a prostate is much less cancer in it, as I had to learn, the prostate gland is exclusively an organ of the male reproductive system. The prostate gland produces and adds supporting secretions of seminal fluid to sperm on its way up from the testes at the heart of each of two testicles and through the penis during ejaculation. It is the size of a chestnut. The prostate sits just below the bladder and surrounds the tube flowing down from it for urination.1
It is not known exactly why the prostate in men over fifty enlarges and squeezes the urination tube causing issues. Researchers are also not certain about why cancer develops in the prostate. Beyond heredity and genetic predisposition, one theory suggests the stimulation of increased production of testosterone due to a high fat diet. The testosterone in turn stimulates dormant cancer cells. Some men live well into old age with slow growing cancer and no major symptoms. Others like me and a high incidence of other black American males, experience the more aggressive forms of the cancer and medical science does not have definitive answers as to why on this either.2
Consequently, I urge all men age 50 and older, but especially black Americans to get screened for and remain engaged with your doctor watching out for signs of Prostate Cancer which left untreated, may lead to a premature death. I make the foregoing encouragement remembering and acknowledging with gratitude the urging from one of my former High School classmates some years back to give attention to the issue as one very important for men. However, my reply then, remains the same today even now, with the temporal affliction. The greater and most important need of men and my assignment from the Lord is to preach the Gospel for the eternal salvation of their souls!
Indeed, my first reflection from being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer is an offering of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for saving a wretched sinner like me as with all of humanity, destined to die from something because of sin (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:17-19; Ezekiel 18:4; Hebrews 9:27)! For in His grace and my repentance, I believed the Gospel on Easter Sunday 1977 I also preach that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day after. At the same time I was also indwelt by and filled with the Holy Spirit who brought me to new birth and eternal spiritual life (John 1:11-13, 3:1-8, 14-18; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 6:23, 10:5-15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Thus, while in accord with the Lord’s promise my body will not die from Prostate Cancer as one of many ways sin works ruin and death in mankind, it will eventually die from whatever cause. I am so glad for His salvation that assures not only my soul lives in and with Him forever, but also “through the Gospel” like Him, resurrection to immortal glory (John 11:23-27, 14:1-6, 17:24; 2 Timothy 1:8-10, NKJV)!3 A second reflection is inspired of the foregoing reality and has led to another praise offering to God for “fearfully and wonderfully” creating me a mortal man (Psalm 139:13-14, NKJV)! For I have been reminded again the whole human body is an amazing living machine God created.
The prostate in the mortal body of man the male as one part of our reproductive system is uniquely and purposely designed by God to facilitate the fathering of children within the context of marriage (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:21-25, 3:20, 4:1). This truth led me to a third related reflection and praise offering to God. After being presented and rejecting surgery to remove my prostate, I realized I could still live without all of my reproductive parts as man and was not ultimately defined by them! This affirmed again to me what God from His Word caused me to understand and teach concerning His design of our future immortal bodies. Since there will be no marriage or procreation in that day, bodily reproductive equipment will no longer be needed (Luke 20:27-40; 1 Corinthians 15:20-57).4
1 All of the general information I am writing about the prostate and cancer to it is readily available on the internet using your favorite search engine.
2 See the article on African American men and prostate cancer at the National Cancer Institute Web Site.
3 Barring any life ending accident or martyrdom, I already have Coronary Artery Disease and High Blood Pressure as the aging process adds more ways for my body to die. I am not taking my mortal life lightly, but keeping it real that my body will in time die from something. Until then, I am experiencing the truth as it is written: “Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death,” (Psalm 68:20, NKJV). I am also comforted to know when I go, I will go to Him who has saved my soul (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)!
4 Learn more about the immortal destiny of mankind in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It is available with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, at your favorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore. Also, read posts the Lord led me to make throughout the month of July 2016.
After a biopsy on February 10th this year, I was formally diagnosed with an aggressive form of Prostate Cancer at an advanced, but not untreatable stage. I arrived at the biopsy after nearly a year of prostate issues that began in early spring of 2021 to include a PSA level just over 4.0 (normal is 2.0 or less).1 A doctor’s visit in June led to his referral to a urologist who confirmed my prostate was enlarged which is not unusual for men over 60. Subsequent PSA tests through the fall however, showed levels exceeding 5.0. This concerned the urologist enough to schedule me for a MRI in January that showed evidence of the cancer the biopsy confirmed. Meanwhile, before the diagnosis, God had spoken to me November 30, 2021.
Just as I knelt to pray the Lord began speaking to me and said among other things, “This is not unto death; I will deliver you.” As of this writing the Lord has said nothing else. But His promise has sustained me through the realization even before the doctor gave me the news that something was wrong if God is already talking to me about deliverance! Researching options and prayerfully waiting on the Lord, it has now, become clear His deliverance and glory will come through hormone and radiation treatment I will have this summer if He does not heal otherwise. I am asking every Spirit-filled reader to stand with me, my family and our Board of Directors to pray for God’s promised deliverance to be fulfilled so, He might be glorified and I enabled to keep on running for Him a little while longer!
1 Prostate Specific Antigen is a protein produced by tissue in the prostate with levels that can be tested for in the blood.
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