That's what I thought to myself a few weeks after April 14, when I was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. I was stage 4, the most advanced stage you could have.

Cancer is serious. It's the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. Cardiovascular disease is first but not by much.

Cancer is either death or life. There's no in-between. It's not like a back injury where you might say, "My back's a lot better but it still bothers me sometimes." With cancer, you either live or die.

When I had to face death, I looked forward and back. That's what this post is about. But first, let's talk some health stuff.

When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was stunned. I've had great health my whole life. For me, it was life-altering because I had never had to deal with anything like this. I've had great health my whole life.

Leading up to my diagnosis, I was really getting tired a lot -- even more than usual for a father of three kids. I was losing weight, which wasn't unusual for a skinny guy like me.

But I was also having night sweats, where you wake up in the middle of  the night and your shirt is soaked in sweet. These are all the classic symptoms of lymphoma.

The doctor calls and I'm expecting news of walking pneumonia or some other common illness. What I got was instead was news that I had cancer.

From that point on, I began a journey that was for me, the equivalent of traveling to another planet, physically and spiritually. That journey really took off when my chemotherapy started.

Chemotherapy is kind of hard to describe. It's like being underwater for more than a week. Also, your appetite is off. Your taste is off. I took three nausea medications but I would still have small nausea battles for a week.

But the worst part is the fatigue and lack of energy. It's like a lightning bolt struck me and zapped all my energy out. Healthy blood cells are killed, along with the cancer cells, so my immune system was very low. I was blessed not to get any major infections.

I wouldn't want to go through chemo again but I can surely relate to what James says in The Bible about trials and persevering. Those aren't words to me anymore. You are going to face trials of many kinds. Sometimes we have to become weak to really start relying on God. That's what Paul is talking about here.

I started looking back on my life and realized I hadn't done much with my faith, so to speak. When you have a great gift you should share it!

I also wanted to return some of the love that my wife has given me over the years. There should be no regrets at the end.

Then I started looking forward because death was a real possibility. How do you deal with something like cancer? What really made the difference for me is my faith in Christ. And, my foundation in The Bible. You can read more about that here.

On September 3, after six rounds of chemotherapy, the oncologist said my cancer was in complete remission! Now I know what real joy is about!

There are all kinds of thoughts that run through your head when you are faced with a life-threatening situation. Like that Tim McGraw song that says, "What did you do when you found out the news? I went skydiving, Rocky Mountain climbing ...."

Well, what did I do when I found out the news?

I prayed to God to heal me.
I prayed to God to give me more time to help others, be a better husband and tell people how Christ can make a difference.
I prayed to God for wisdom.
I prayed to God that the Holy Spirit would descend like fire!
I prayed that I could have more time to tell others that when the stone was rolled away  ...

... he wasn't there. The dead man was alive. And I am alive and thank God for it!