See that spirally thing above? That little thing changed my life forever. It's a cancer cell dividing -- doing what it shouldn't do. Cancer cells divide and divide and divided ... and divide. In 2009, they started dividing in my body and they took over, crowding into my lymph nodes like freshmen at a frat party. They didn't stop there. They took their party to my spleen and bone marrow. They were about ready to tap their next keg when I called in the big boys: chemotherapy.

Any person that smokes cigarettes should be required to take four infusions of chemotherapy. They wouldn't smoke anymore. The closest image I can put in your mind about how chemotherapy feels is this: imagine getting struck by lightning -- every three weeks. That's a pretty close description and if you had to do radiation treatment, it might be an exact description!

I made it out alive. Then those jokers came back last year, wanting to restart their good times, like alumni coming back on campus to gawk at the freshmen. Surgery took care of them this time, but I imagine they are in me still, looking for the next opportunity to party. I'll be ready for them this time.

I never knew if the chemotherapy would work. I had to come to the realization that I might die. As a Christian, we don't consider that necessarily a bad thing. Heaven is much better than this world. But still, here I am. I faced death so you don't have to. Here's what I learned:

What on Earth are you here for? Better learn the answer to this question fast. You are not an accident. You are here for a reason. God created you for his purposes. Read Purpose Driven Life for a great explanation of why you are here.

It's not about you. No matter what you're going through, there's someone somewhere who has it worse. Children are without water. Sexual exploitation is ruining children's lives. Governments are waging war on the less powerful. Will you stand up for what's right and help your brothers and sisters? Too long we sit around and think of only ourselves. Get the big picture. Live for something bigger and you won't seem so small.

Give God a chance. Many people wait until a crisis strikes before they start praying. And many times, they don't know whom they're praying to. I say give Jesus a chance. Read the New Testament. Don't wait until you are crying out in need before you start talking to God.

Take care of your body. We in the U.S. are killing ourselves with what we eat. Stop eating fast foods and processed foods. Eat real food. Not much. Mostly plants.

"Welcome to the planet. Welcome to existence. ... What happens next? I dare you to move." -- Switchfoot