Dear Senator Coburn,
My name is Chaplain Danny Daniels and I work as a Hospice Chaplain in OKC. The reason I am writing is to ask you a question. I recently came across some information about using hemp oil as a cure for cancer on Youtube. The gentleman making these claims is named Rick Simpson and he has a documentary called "Run from the cure" in which he reports that he has cured various people and multiple cancers by having people ingest hemp oil.
I have never even considered medical marijuana to be a viable pursuit until I learned of this information. I am not an advocate of recreational drug use nor will I ever be. I want to be clear that my vocation is my motivation in writing you today.
I have done some additional research on the internet and have found more information and some studies that seem to validate these claims. Rick Simpson also has a website. You can view his information at the following addresses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw
www.phoenixtears.ca
It appears to me to be something worthy of investigation for medical evaluation.
My question is this. Have you heard of this before and what is your medical opinion on this possibility? In my line of work I see people die routinely with cancer and I am all too familiar with the pain that it brings to both those who are afflicted with it and those who care for them.
Thank you for all you do to serve our country and state. I wish we had a few more like you on Capitol Hill
I look forward to hearing your input.
Chaplain Danny Daniels
Lindsay, Oklahoma
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
My Granny
I wrote this in response to Alejandro's original post "Dear God" here.
Alejandro...
I read your post about your grandmother. I was transported through time to 1996 to when my own "Granny" died after a 5 year battle with bone cancer. She too was the family matriarch. She is the one who used to rock me in her old wooden rocking chair as she sang and prayed over me. She is the one who told me repeatedly that God had a plan for my life and that He was calling me into His service. The entire family depended on her. She was our glue. She was a pillar of strength and unwavering faith.
She prayed for healing. I prayed for healing. We all prayed for healing. She rebounded and we thought she had it beat for a brief time. It was a temporary reprieve.
Cancer broke her back. Then cancer broke her hip. Cancer never broke her spirit. Over time we went from praying that she be healed to praying that the suffering would end. It eventually did.
Her death left us all broken and bewildered. Why, was asked often and fervently. She didn't deserve the agonizing and the suffering she had to endure. To put it bluntly...I was pissed! I was pissed at the cancer, the doctors, myself, everything, but mostly I was pissed at God! I thought that He could have intervened. Damnit, He should have intervened. But for whatever reason, she died. So did I. I felt like the one person who really knew me for who I was, had been stolen from me. She was my source of strength and confidence. She believed in me. Who was going to believe in me now? Who was going to encourage me. Who was going to love me unconditionally.
I was devasted. So was everyone else. We all leaned on her. We needed her. Her death violated me. It shook my theology and my faith. How could a "good God" allow her to go through that. How could a "good God" allow me to hurt like I did when she left? I didn't have answers and the one person I always went to when I didn't have answers was now gone as well. I felt so very alone and angry. So...I decided I was going to have a heart to heart talk with the big Kahuna. Man to Deity. I was mad, and by God (pun intended)I was going to get some answers. I talked to God...well, I yelled at God and I demanded to know "why." I told Him exactly how I felt. Abandoned. Offended. Betrayed. Misled. I told God in no uncertain terms that I didn't like what He had chosen.
Then when I was done. When I had said my piece. God spoke to me. I heard Him speak to my heart of hearts and He simply and lovingly said to me, "Danny, are you going to trust me when you don't understand me?"
What a loaded question. I thought about it very seriously. I knew my answer was important. After much thought, I said back to God, "What choice do I have, you are still God. There is no plan B. There is no alternative God to trust in. If I don't trust you then I go to Hell, right?" I said to Him with a broken heart and tears in my eyes, "Yes, I will trust you, even when I don't understand you!
Immediately, our loving and gracious Heavenly Father, gave me a sense of peace that I have difficulty explaining. I just knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God loved me, that He loved my Granny. I didn't understand His purpose or His reasoning but I knew that somehow everything that happens is part of God's plan. There is no wasted human experience. God uses it all. Success and failure, victory and defeat. I didn't have the answers but I knew who did. Somehow knowing that the One who has all the answers also has me was enough. I truly experienced the peace that passes understanding.
Twelve years later, I still miss her tremendously; however, I can look back and see things with much more clarity. As long as Granny was here I leaned on her more than I trusted God. I have come to believe that all things work together for my good because I love God and I am called according to His purpose. Even her death.
After she died I used to go sit on the floor in her room and lean back against her bed. Man, I could feel her in that room. That was nice. It was comforting. I felt close to her even though she was in Heaven. I had done this on multiple occasions, but one day I was talking to God about her and He spoke to me again. He said, "Danny, what you feel in this room is not your Granny. It is Me. The thing you loved most about her is the way she made you feel. That was me, too. That feeling of unconditional love that you enjoyed so much was Me expressing My love for you through her. She only gave you what I gave her to give to you. I believe in you. I love you, completely and unconditionally. I am your source of strength and confidence.I am the one who really knows you for who you are."
I was overwhelmed with this revelation and I felt so sorry for doubting God's love for me. I knew instantly that God had given me the most powerful revelation I could be given. He showed me that all that I loved about Granny was really God Himself demonstrating His love for me through her.
It changed me, forever.
I hope that some day someone will get a revelation of God's love for them because God chose to demonstrate his love for them through me.
God did indeed heal her. If you could see her right now you would see someone who is whole and perfect. My granny is alive. In fact, she is more alive now than she ever was while she was in her earthly body. All that is lacking is made complete in the presence of the Living God. Yes, I miss her but I no longer feel abandoned. I know that she is not in my past but in my future and that God himself is my present.
I have never written this down before. You really triggered something in me with your post. I am praying for you and your grandmother. You are blessed to still have her even if she is declining. Enjoy her and cherish every moment you are blessed to have with her.
Danny Daniels
Alejandro...
I read your post about your grandmother. I was transported through time to 1996 to when my own "Granny" died after a 5 year battle with bone cancer. She too was the family matriarch. She is the one who used to rock me in her old wooden rocking chair as she sang and prayed over me. She is the one who told me repeatedly that God had a plan for my life and that He was calling me into His service. The entire family depended on her. She was our glue. She was a pillar of strength and unwavering faith.
She prayed for healing. I prayed for healing. We all prayed for healing. She rebounded and we thought she had it beat for a brief time. It was a temporary reprieve.
Cancer broke her back. Then cancer broke her hip. Cancer never broke her spirit. Over time we went from praying that she be healed to praying that the suffering would end. It eventually did.
Her death left us all broken and bewildered. Why, was asked often and fervently. She didn't deserve the agonizing and the suffering she had to endure. To put it bluntly...I was pissed! I was pissed at the cancer, the doctors, myself, everything, but mostly I was pissed at God! I thought that He could have intervened. Damnit, He should have intervened. But for whatever reason, she died. So did I. I felt like the one person who really knew me for who I was, had been stolen from me. She was my source of strength and confidence. She believed in me. Who was going to believe in me now? Who was going to encourage me. Who was going to love me unconditionally.
I was devasted. So was everyone else. We all leaned on her. We needed her. Her death violated me. It shook my theology and my faith. How could a "good God" allow her to go through that. How could a "good God" allow me to hurt like I did when she left? I didn't have answers and the one person I always went to when I didn't have answers was now gone as well. I felt so very alone and angry. So...I decided I was going to have a heart to heart talk with the big Kahuna. Man to Deity. I was mad, and by God (pun intended)I was going to get some answers. I talked to God...well, I yelled at God and I demanded to know "why." I told Him exactly how I felt. Abandoned. Offended. Betrayed. Misled. I told God in no uncertain terms that I didn't like what He had chosen.
Then when I was done. When I had said my piece. God spoke to me. I heard Him speak to my heart of hearts and He simply and lovingly said to me, "Danny, are you going to trust me when you don't understand me?"
What a loaded question. I thought about it very seriously. I knew my answer was important. After much thought, I said back to God, "What choice do I have, you are still God. There is no plan B. There is no alternative God to trust in. If I don't trust you then I go to Hell, right?" I said to Him with a broken heart and tears in my eyes, "Yes, I will trust you, even when I don't understand you!
Immediately, our loving and gracious Heavenly Father, gave me a sense of peace that I have difficulty explaining. I just knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God loved me, that He loved my Granny. I didn't understand His purpose or His reasoning but I knew that somehow everything that happens is part of God's plan. There is no wasted human experience. God uses it all. Success and failure, victory and defeat. I didn't have the answers but I knew who did. Somehow knowing that the One who has all the answers also has me was enough. I truly experienced the peace that passes understanding.
Twelve years later, I still miss her tremendously; however, I can look back and see things with much more clarity. As long as Granny was here I leaned on her more than I trusted God. I have come to believe that all things work together for my good because I love God and I am called according to His purpose. Even her death.
After she died I used to go sit on the floor in her room and lean back against her bed. Man, I could feel her in that room. That was nice. It was comforting. I felt close to her even though she was in Heaven. I had done this on multiple occasions, but one day I was talking to God about her and He spoke to me again. He said, "Danny, what you feel in this room is not your Granny. It is Me. The thing you loved most about her is the way she made you feel. That was me, too. That feeling of unconditional love that you enjoyed so much was Me expressing My love for you through her. She only gave you what I gave her to give to you. I believe in you. I love you, completely and unconditionally. I am your source of strength and confidence.I am the one who really knows you for who you are."
I was overwhelmed with this revelation and I felt so sorry for doubting God's love for me. I knew instantly that God had given me the most powerful revelation I could be given. He showed me that all that I loved about Granny was really God Himself demonstrating His love for me through her.
It changed me, forever.
I hope that some day someone will get a revelation of God's love for them because God chose to demonstrate his love for them through me.
God did indeed heal her. If you could see her right now you would see someone who is whole and perfect. My granny is alive. In fact, she is more alive now than she ever was while she was in her earthly body. All that is lacking is made complete in the presence of the Living God. Yes, I miss her but I no longer feel abandoned. I know that she is not in my past but in my future and that God himself is my present.
I have never written this down before. You really triggered something in me with your post. I am praying for you and your grandmother. You are blessed to still have her even if she is declining. Enjoy her and cherish every moment you are blessed to have with her.
Danny Daniels
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Knee Pain
I have been a little bit nervous over the last couple of days. My left knee has had a sharp stinging pain on the side of my kneecap. It hasn't been a constant pain but when it is there I can't ignore it. Tonight it was bothering me while I was on the treadmill so after 40 minutes I switched to the elliptical machine. Wow. I had a great work out and my knee stopped hurting. I did 15 minutes on the elliptical and then did a 5 minute cool down on the treadmill. Man, I like that machine. I worked up quite a sweat. On Saturday, I made up one of the two hours I was behind by spending two hours on the treadmill. I am planning on doing the next one on Wednesday evening.
My diet still sucks. My body is changing though.
My diet still sucks. My body is changing though.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Milestone
Last night I decided it was time to try to run an entire mile without stopping. So I went to the gym. I jumped on the treadmill and began my warm up. I walked about a half mile and started to jog. I made it about a tenth of a mile before I figured out that I needed to warm up some more.
I walked some more until I had gone 1.5 miles and I was feeling it by then. So off I went at a decent pace and the next thing you know I had just completed the first mile I had run in many years. I felt elated.
I am finally starting to feel a sense of assurance about my health and my future health. I wouldn't trade how I feel for anything.
I walked some more until I had gone 1.5 miles and I was feeling it by then. So off I went at a decent pace and the next thing you know I had just completed the first mile I had run in many years. I felt elated.
I am finally starting to feel a sense of assurance about my health and my future health. I wouldn't trade how I feel for anything.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hour 16
Ok...
I am astonished that I have been to the gym so much this year. I have been told by numerous gurus over the years that it takes 21 days to make/break a habit. I have to say that going to the gym has become habitual.
I am making some nice progress in my endurance. I can't wait to run in a 5K in April. It is called the Redbud Classic in North Oklahoma City. You know what? I think I will organize a run here in Lindsay, America at some point. It is a great idea. Next fall is probably the best time for adequate planning. I want to be wise so I will do some research to see exactly what I am getting into.
I am feeling great and I can finally tell in the mirror that I have lost a little weight. I weighed in today officially at 261 lbs. My blood pressure is almost in the normal range and my blood sugar has been normal. I am sleeping better too.
I am on my way.
Action Living = Move something
I am astonished that I have been to the gym so much this year. I have been told by numerous gurus over the years that it takes 21 days to make/break a habit. I have to say that going to the gym has become habitual.
I am making some nice progress in my endurance. I can't wait to run in a 5K in April. It is called the Redbud Classic in North Oklahoma City. You know what? I think I will organize a run here in Lindsay, America at some point. It is a great idea. Next fall is probably the best time for adequate planning. I want to be wise so I will do some research to see exactly what I am getting into.
I am feeling great and I can finally tell in the mirror that I have lost a little weight. I weighed in today officially at 261 lbs. My blood pressure is almost in the normal range and my blood sugar has been normal. I am sleeping better too.
I am on my way.
Action Living = Move something
Weigh In
What a fantastic weigh in I had this morning. 261 lbs.
I am very pleased. Low carb and exercise work well together.
I am very pleased. Low carb and exercise work well together.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Journaling
Ok. Here we go down the blogging trail.
I decided it would be an appropriate thing to do to blog about my journey to health. I have thought about blogging quite often and finally gave in.
I plan to try to capture my thoughts and emotions that bombard me as I fight my way to health and slimness. I am feeling a sense of accomplishment at the moment. Think about this for a minute. I have been on the treadmill 14 hours in 14 days. That is huge for me. Consistency (lack of) has been my downfall in my weight loss efforts up to this point.
I decided to challenge myself to 90 hours on the treadmill in the first 90 days of this year to develop proper habits and get into the rhythm of making daily exercise part of my life. It is working.
I have had to adjust my eating style as well. Low carb works best for me for several reasons. I don't have the energy peaks and valleys when I eat LC. My hunger stays in check much better. My appetite is much more subdued and minds its manners. I lose weight faster and easier on LC than on any other method of eating.
Since I have started losing weight and exercising my blood sugar has been perfect and my blood pressure has been very close to normal.
My goal now is to maintain consistency in eating LC and daily exercise. When I am consistent the weight comes off and I feel amazing.
I decided it would be an appropriate thing to do to blog about my journey to health. I have thought about blogging quite often and finally gave in.
I plan to try to capture my thoughts and emotions that bombard me as I fight my way to health and slimness. I am feeling a sense of accomplishment at the moment. Think about this for a minute. I have been on the treadmill 14 hours in 14 days. That is huge for me. Consistency (lack of) has been my downfall in my weight loss efforts up to this point.
I decided to challenge myself to 90 hours on the treadmill in the first 90 days of this year to develop proper habits and get into the rhythm of making daily exercise part of my life. It is working.
I have had to adjust my eating style as well. Low carb works best for me for several reasons. I don't have the energy peaks and valleys when I eat LC. My hunger stays in check much better. My appetite is much more subdued and minds its manners. I lose weight faster and easier on LC than on any other method of eating.
Since I have started losing weight and exercising my blood sugar has been perfect and my blood pressure has been very close to normal.
My goal now is to maintain consistency in eating LC and daily exercise. When I am consistent the weight comes off and I feel amazing.
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