When Your Doctor Says, "It's Cancer": Breaking the Cycle of Fear-- Never, Never Giving Up

By J. P. Lansmart Jr.

A memoir on how the author copes and "masters" the art of living fully while being stricken with cancer and aiming at breaking the cycle of fear. Right choices, understanding the divine connection, and recognizing it's not "the end" but can be a start of " new life" where spiritual growth and renewal in the midst of struggle are possible.

The author advises, "where to invest our minds and hearts in, and believing there's a Will and Grace more powerful than all human cares, minds and hands can possibly do."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524507305

J. P. Lansmart Jr.

J. P. Lansmart Jr. is the Reverend Jose Paddy Padilla Jr, a minister of the United Methodist Church. The author is both a graduate of the University of the East in Manila and Wesley Divinity School in the Philippines with degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Master of Divinity, respectively. In 1974, he emigrated to the United States after short stint as a newspaper reporter in Manila. Before that, the author was a leading salesman in insurance, real estate, and financial services. As a pastor, he served three Methodist churches, two in the Philippines, and lastly before he retired, six years at The Fountain of Living Water UMC in La Palma, Ca,,California, The author wants to be known as a messenger of God's Grace. He is very vocal in proclaiming the gospel and preaching that the poor and the sick are not alone in their struggles. Now retired, he regularly visits the Philippines and other places for missionary works. He writes in his spare time. His wife, Doree, and their two sons: Ian (and his wife Joy), and Bryan, as well as his three granddaughters: Kayla, Jordan, and Ava, are constant source of inspiration and joy to him. They all live in California.

Book preview

When Your Doctor Says, It's Cancer

Breaking the cycle of fear --

never, never giving up

Plus Epilogue on Peace on Earth, Good and Well to All -- a prescription to a greater future for America

J. P. Lansmart Jr.

Copyright © 2016 by J. P. Lansmart Jr.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016909100

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-0732-9

                Softcover        978-1-5245-0731-2

                eBook             978-1-5245-0730-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked TNIV are taken from the Holy Bible, Today's New International Version®. TNIV® Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/13/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

732323

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One

News You Don't Want to Hear

An enemy at the gates

Family bad news

Cancer does not discriminate

Chapter Two

Be Better Not Bitter

Knowledge has bounds

Ours are never ending stories

The sun as inspiring symbol

Victims or victors

Let me not weep

Chapter Three

It Ain't Fair I Thought

Anything can happen anywhere or anytime

Man is not a robot

Chapter Four

Sorrow Shared Is Half the Sorrow

Healing and Peace of Mind Are Inseparable

It's a team effort

Created to build life together

Tale of two brothers-in-law

Chapter Five

Never Never Give Up Your Dreams

Cycle of fear and misconceptions

President Carter is cancer free

Chapter Six

Life Matters

Land where people wear a smile

Traveling is more on experiencing than seeing

God cares for those who are afflicted

Love, sing, and laugh---it's a wonderful world

Chapter Seven

When Everything Seems Wrong

It may be mistake, cure may work

Ask for second opinion

The sun always rises

Chapter Eight

Spiritual Matter Triumphs Always

With God We Always Win

What made me think that way?

Prayer adds life to your years

Chapter Nine

Good-bye Impossible, Hello Possible

Not what is to come

Don't curse darkness

Dare, err, fail, it does not matter

Faith welcomes possibilities and says good-bye to impossibilities

Chapter Ten

I Did Not Walk Alone

It Is not about us- who He is

I am an Inspiration or demonstration

Chapter Eleven

A New Year to Remember

Marred in the Dust

It's Unlawful for the Poor

An Aura of Near Death

The Message

Epilogue

Peace on Earth, Good and Well to All

Global arming of our young children's minds

Radical to radical approach

Front line against bad influences and teachings

Pound for pound

A Brief Message for a Book Titled:

When Your Doctor Says, It's Cancer!

J . P. LANSMART , Jr., the author, is a man of God's grace. He has lived a life full of God's grace---as an individual, a family man, a minister, a friend.

The first time his doctor broke the news that he had cancer, his world almost crumbled. Apparently, he was shocked, felt numb and bitter, gripped with crashed emotions and dark disappointment. These are common reactions true to many people diagnosed with cancer, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, and faith orientation.

Although stricken with this debilitating serious disease, nevertheless, he surrendered all to the most capable hand of the Omnipotent God who has control and power over everything in life. He allowed the Greatest Healer's touch to penetrate into the innermost realm of his afflicted body. Suddenly, his fear turned into faith, his perplexed emotion into humble submission, his anxiety into hope, his doubt into peace that passes all understanding.

After years of facing his cancer courageously, J. P. Lansmart Jr. claimed himself not only as a survivor but a model of faith and a miracle of God's healing grace! He accepted God's new plan and purpose for his life. He finds himself to be a new person who lives from the grace of God who reinvented himself. In praise and thanksgiving to God, he dedicated himself to a life of service to God and others through mission and as a minister of God's grace wherever God leads him.

Finally, his book invites us to experience the truth and miracle of God's healing and loving grace in all aspects of life through his faith-filled and spirited book.

Roela Victoria Rivera, D. Min.

Diaconal Minister and Mission Worker

Author of Glimpses of Heaven inspirational books

GraceNotes Creative Ministry

Hendersonville, Tennessee

DEDICATION

T HIS BOOK IS humbly dedicated to the most gracious and loving One I called the potter who controls the Heavens and all things down below.

To my loving wife and family; to a church named, Fountain of Living Water of La Palma, California; to the Caring Ministry (Prayer Warriors) at First United Methodist Church of Torrance, California; and also, to Urology and Internal Medicine departments of Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Harbor City, California; to all of whom I am truly and deeply grateful.

And last but not the least, to my fellow wounded warriors and supportive friends; as well as to countless, nameless and faceless but courageous cancer patients in various hospitals, institutions, and homes all over the world; from all to whom I derive strength, hope, and inspiration in life and in writing this book.

*****

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

We are all the work of your hand.

(Isaiah 64:8) NIV

INTRODUCTION

T HIS COULD BE your story too, may be the reason you are on this page. Knowing this book interests people like you, I am so humbled, encouraged, and inspired that I'm not solo flying in this journey.

People with cancer or learning they have, go through the same complex of emotions but not exactly the same. Simply, the results are not similar but the ends are identical---to dust we cometh, to dust we returneth.

We may go through the same anguish, disappointment, or acceptance but people are different in looking at things and situations. Setting the right choices and understanding the ethereal or divine connection to your effort will spell a big difference in the outcomes.

Some individuals die right away while others are reborn. Many dare to fight and brace themselves remaining unbroken up to the end. My story is not about surviving or living longer though most of us long to have extra more years to our lives.

This book tells it's not the end when cancer strikes. But it could be the start of a new journey where hearts, minds, and spirits can grow and flourish even in the midst of almost insurmountable challenge. When these occur, it breaks the cycle of fear turning apprehension into balance and calm.

In past decades, technological and medical milestones have been reached in curing and caring for people with cancer, a good reason to be hopeful. Great also because we don't know what's next or what tomorrow will bring. If we know, a man can never have faith---there is no need for hope.

When others go through the same trials as mine, they can uncover new things and gain fresh insights. They become better, not bitter, knowing million others went through the same situation, and they would like to experience how others cope and fight to live under adversarial condition.

Most importantly, in coping and living with this terrible disease, we are not alone in this fight. A Higher Being called God created us for a greater purpose. His purpose is higher than ours. Only He can heal, only He knows if our time is up. He listens to His children, if we care to ask, and pray in faith.

The most valuable thing I learned about having cancer is that I am not alone. I am in potter's hand who can mold me to keep me or trash me away. This potter molds and makes me. I give my life to his hands.

My breath may be short but my day is not. So while I am being held