Charlie’s new book is a must read for anyone seeking wholeness in body, soul, and spirit. He shares how God walked with him through very deep, dark waters. The fruits of this walk are the lessons he shares in this book. These lessons include challenges, blessings and guidelines intended to help you come to completeness with yourself and with God. Whether it is your body, your soul or your spirit, Charlie has a message for you.

—Gerald PhillipsPrincipal, Teacher, and Nutrition Educator

Charlie uncovers the very essence of life and explains it in a very simple, understandable way. He looks at every aspect of our being—spirit, soul, and body. He shares his journey to find wholeness through his life experiences and by examining God’s Word. You will discover many new truths about daily living from the excellent research he has done. This is a must read for all Christians who want to truly experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

—Dr. Mary Ruth Swope with Charlotte Bates, Author and Nutrition Educator

Through all the years I have known Charlie Brown, God has had him on a spiritual journey. When he was first diagnosed with lymphoma so many years ago, God got his attention and has been changing him ever since, making him fit for His glory. Let this book be the template God will use to bring you not only to a place of physical healing, but far down the road on your spiritual journey into the arms of the Great Physician and eternity beyond. Well done Charlie Brown!

—Dr. John Shewfelt Chiropractor and Nutrition Educator, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Charlie, it is my great pleasure to congratulate you on your new book Fit for His Glory. To say the least, it is extremely impressive. As a matter of fact, if I was still conducting nutritional seminars, I would be honored to use your book as a text book. As a fellow professional and brother

in Christ, I would love to see this awesome book in the hands of every American. THE BOOK IS SPOT ON. God bless you in your journey.

—Bill Frazier, NC, DNM

We have known Charlie Brown for over twenty years and have watched his journey toward spiritual and physical wholeness firsthand. In this book, he has done an excellent job of integrating spiritual, nutritional and biblical concepts in a way that the reader can understand. The sharing of his own personal journey toward health, shows us that he really knows his stuff. This is a must read for anyone wanting to improve their health and live fit for a King.

—Drs. Beverly and Tom Rodgers, Therapists, Speakers, and Authors of, Becoming a Family that Heals.

Copyright Page

© 2015 by Charles A. Brown. All rights reserved.

Published by Redemption Press, PO Box 427, Enumclaw, WA 98022 Toll Free (844) 2REDEEM (273-3336)

Redemption Press is honored to present this title in partnership with the author. The views expressed or implied in this work are those of the author. Redemption Press provides our imprint seal representing design excellence, creative content and high quality production.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version of the Bible.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, niv® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, King James Version, Public Domain.

Nothing in this book should be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician or other qualified health professional should your health problems warrant the need for one. None of the foods or products discussed have medical properties. They are not, therefore, intended for the cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of any disease, illness, or symptom.

ISBN 13: 978-1-63232-425-2 (Print) 978-1-63232-426-9 (ePub) 978-1-63232-428-3 (Mobi)

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2015939338

DeDication

I would like to dedicate this book to my wonderful godly parents, King and Frances Brown, who have already gone to be with the Lord. They

taught me the ways of God and by example, showed me how to love and serve the Lord and his Church and follow after his Word.

I would also like to thank my beautiful and faithful wife, Joyce, who stood by my side and encouraged me during the long hours of research and writing of this book.

Finally, I would like to thank my special friends and family members who supported me with their prayers and finances that made the publishing of this book possible. I love you guys more than you will ever know. This is a dream come true for me. This book is my life’s message to the world.

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contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii

Chapter 1: My Story: Cancer. . .the Dreaded Six-Letter Word . . . . 17Chapter 2: Wholeness: Spirit, Soul, and Body. . .God’s Design . . . . 25Chapter 3: Spirit Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Chapter 4: Soul Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Chapter 5: Body Health: God’s Masterpiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Chapter 6: Body Health: Feed and Nourish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Chapter 7: Body Health: Cleanse and Detox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Chapter 8: Body Health: Exercise and Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Chapter 9: Body Health: Food Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Chapter 10: Spirit, Soul, Body Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133Chapter 11: The Next Thirty Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Resource Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

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ForeworD

I read at least thirty books every year. Many years ago, another Char-lie—Charlie “Tremendous” Jones—taught me, “You will be the same

five years from now as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read.” Though he has passed on, I still hear his exhortation in my mind . . . “the people you meet and the books you read, the people you meet and the books you read.”

In the case of Charlie Brown, both have changed me. We met over twenty-five years ago. He was friendly, optimistic, caring, and fun to be around. To watch him from a distance, you would never guess that he was dealing with a death sentence delivered by a medical doctor. His presence was not that of a man filled with worry or fear. Instead, he was someone special, someone who defined himself by something much deeper than his circumstances. When he asked me to read his book and consider writing a foreword, I couldn’t say no because of who he is: a true role model in how he has lived his life. So I started reading . . .

Fit for His Glory is a treasure trove of wisdom. It is what my publisher refers to as a legacy book. You can’t read these pages without coming to know and be inspired by Charlie. Transparent, authentic, and pure are the words that came to my mind as I turned the pages. This book is much, much more than an interesting story. It is the accumulated love,

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joy, and peace of a man who stared death in the face and calmly said, “Not me, not yet.” It is a story of kindness, gentleness and faithfulness shared with the sensitivity of someone who has been transformed by a lifetime pursuing God. And it is an inspiring treatise of self-control, patience and goodness, shared by someone who reflects the consistency and character we all aspire to.

Many years ago, a US Supreme Court justice wrote, “I wouldn’t give a fig for simplicity on the near side of complexity. But I would give my right arm for simplicity on the far side of complexity.” Charlie has given us brilliant simplicity, full of wisdom, strength and hope. Read this book with both your mind and heart, and you will be changed. Galatians 5:22–23.

—Ron Price, Business Advisor Facilitator, Speaker, and Author

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introDuction

I have been in church all of my life. From the time I was born, my parents took me to Sunday school, worship services, Wednesday night

prayer meetings and special revival meetings. I became a Christian early in life, dedicating myself to serve the Lord and to follow His plan for me. I was a part of the youth choir and attended all the youth activities and camps. I participated in the Bible memory programs and evangelistic outreaches. During all this time, never once did I hear a sermon or any admonition regarding my diet or eating habits. I enjoyed the “eating on the grounds,” those special Sunday afternoon fellowship times where everyone brought a dish to share. We ate until we were stuffed. There were the dessert socials after Sunday evening services with all the brown-ies, cookies, cakes, pies, and cobblers—followed by all the coffee, soft drinks, and sweet tea that you could drink.

As I entered adulthood, I continued eating the standard American diet (SAD) like everyone else I knew, not giving it much thought. I ate burgers, fries, pizzas, sugared cereals, pies, cakes, candy, and mostly cooked or processed foods. I drank my share of milk shakes, soft drinks, and tea. I did eat some fruit and an occasional green salad. Then, at age forty, it happened . . . cancer. Through this wake-up call, I began to look at my diet and lifestyle. Did I contribute to this disease out of ignorance?

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Fit For His Glory

Now, I am convinced that I did. More and more, the researchers are finding that environment, eating habits, and lifestyle are the key factors leading to many degenerative diseases, not our genes. What we really inherit from our parents is an eating lifestyle that contributes to the same disease patterns that they have experienced.

After much prayer, God’s mercy, a change of diet and lifestyle, and some medical treatment, I recovered from this killer disease. I asked God and myself some very direct questions about these health matters as I searched for answers. “What’s wrong with this picture?” I asked. We are born into this world and midway through our lives, we begin to lose our health. We develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and more. Through years of overeating, over half of us are obese or overweight. This further increases our risk of developing these diseases. We are eating ourselves to death. We spend the next ten to twenty years trying to regain our health. We suffer through harsh medical treatments and prescription drugs with lifelong side effects. Our quality of life diminishes greatly and finally we end up in a hospital or nursing home, requiring constant attention at enormous medical costs. Our families suffer great emotional, physical, and financial stress as they try to care for us. Lord, is this what you had in mind for man when you created him? As I pondered these things and listened to God, I heard His still, small voice say:

No, no, no! This is not what I had in mind. You are not eating what I gave you to eat in its natural state. You are not drinking pure water as your primary liquid. You are not exercising your bodies. You are putting thousands of chemical substances (approved by your govern-ment) into your food supply that I never intended to be in your body. You are simply eating too much. Often, it has become an emotional escape. You are not casting your cares upon me. You are trying to fix yourself and everything around you. You harbor unforgiveness and bitterness from the past. Fear often dominates your minds. This affects your appetite and digestion—and ultimately your health and

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IntroductIon

longevity. Eat the foods that I have given you to eat in their natural state. Drink water that is pure and free of chemicals. Trust in me with your whole heart for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Wow! The truth of God’s words penetrated my inner being like a bullet piercing my body. I embarked on a journey to discover the relationship between food and the health of the body. I studied the human body and the various functions of the cells, tissues, and organs. I read nutrition magazines, attended health seminars, and researched various touted super foods. I read the Bible to find out what God created for us to eat. I read several books that were written by Christian doctors on their personal health struggles and the solutions they found in the Scriptures. I felt directed by the Lord to begin sharing my research in a more direct manner, through seminars, audiotapes, videos, and written materials. This book is a culmination of the past twenty years of study and working with people who have faced health challenges. Many of them have come to experience a new lease on life as they have changed their eating habits and chosen God’s way over man’s way.

As you read this book, prayerfully ask God to speak to your heart and show you how to honor Him with “all that you are” so you can be fit for His glory in every part of your being—spirit, soul, and body. He loves you immensely and wants you to experience the abundant life He has provided for you.

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Chapter 1

My story: cancer . . .the DreaDeD six-Letter worD

O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.

(Ps. 30:2, 3)

“You may only have only eighteen months to live if the cancer continues its current course,” replied my doctor in response to

my direct question about my future. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer in the lymph nodes, was my diagnosis. And this was not good. The lymph nodes are a vital part of the immune system. The swelling under my chin on the right side of my neck had suddenly popped up while I was sleeping one night. I had been feeling tightness in my neck for several weeks as if there was a rope around my neck. Now the biopsy confirmed what no one ever wants to hear, . . . cancer. My thoughts went back to an earlier time in my life when I was a teenager. One of my Sunday school teachers was diagnosed with lymphoma at age thirty-five and died four months later. This had left an indelible impression on me at an early age. Several years later, the first girl that I dated told that me her mother had died from cancer—Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Cancer was deadly and something to be feared. This could never happen to me, I thought. But it did—now, at age forty. How could this be?

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Fit For His Glory

I was in emotional shock. I thought I was in good health. Had I not started running thirty minutes every day to lose those thirty-five “college pounds”? Didn’t I take my vitamins every day and drink protein shakes? I ate the typical American diet like everyone else around me—meat and potatoes, eggs and bacon, pizza, ice cream and cake, etc. I did eat some fruit and even drank some water between my soft drinks and milk shakes every day. And what about the 5K and 10K races that I ran, and the ultimate—a marathon in 1980 (4 hours, 31 minutes, and 17 seconds); didn’t that count for something in regard to my health? Sure, I got several colds each year and picked up the flu bug in the fall just like all the other people I knew. But that was normal, wasn’t it? I had already suffered and endured a battle with a rare eye disease that had left me blind in my right eye. Wasn’t that enough for one lifetime? I had adjusted to this and was seemingly doing fine. Now, I had cancer with maybe less than two years to live. It didn’t seem fair.

First came several days of denial—“This is just a dream and I will wake up and all will be well.” Then the “Why me, Lord?” syndrome set in. Had I not given my life to God—receiving Jesus as my personal Savior when I was twelve years old? Had I not walked with God since that time—tithing, working in the church, and serving Him to the best of my ability? I wasn’t afraid to die, because I knew that I would go to heaven for eternity. But, deep inside, I didn’t believe that it was my time to die, not yet, at age forty. I had too much living to do—kids to father and a beautiful wife to love. They needed me. And my wife certainly didn’t want me to die this way after watching her father waste away with colon and lung cancer at age fifty-seven. What was I to do?

I told the doctors I was a Christian and I wanted to pray and do some cancer research on my own. We agreed to meet in thirty days to discuss a treatment regime. I began to cry out to God for help like David:

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried

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MY StorY: cancer . . .the dreaded SIx-Letter Word

to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. . . . He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. . . . You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

(Ps. 18: 4–6, 16, 28; emphasis added)

At the beginning of this thirty-day period, God brought to my remembrance four specific passages of Scripture that gave me hope. I had memorized three of them as young boy in church. I felt the Holy Spirit speak these specific words to me for such a time as this. These living words penetrated deep into my mind and spirit. I even wrote down the exact day in 1989 that God reminded me of these passages of Scripture. In the still, small voice of God within me, I heard Him say these words to me:

1. Keep rejoicing in me – May 24

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Phil. 4:4–7)

Charlie, I love you! I have not forgotten you. You love to sing to me and play your guitar and write worship songs. I like it. Keep on rejoicing in me. Keep that smile on your face and bless people with the laughter and joy in your life from your witty personality I have given you. My joy is your strength. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Prov. 17:22 kjv).

2. My goodness and mercy are still following you – May 24

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

(Ps. 23:6 kjv)

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Fit For His Glory

Charlie, I love you! If you will only look behind you, you will see that my goodness and mercy are still following you. They didn’t leave when you got cancer. They are there through every trial and testing you may experience including this one.

3. I have a purpose in this – May 30

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

(Rom. 8:26–28; emphasis added)

Charlie, I love you! I know what I am doing, and this will all work out for my glory and your good. Just trust me and I will take care of you. Just know that I am working on your behalf in regards to your health. You may not understand all that is happening to you right now but you will later. Just trust me. I am the managing director of your life.

4. I will sustain you – June 1

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.

(Ps. 41:1–3)

Charlie, I love you! I have observed you from your youth. You have become a friend to many who are weak and physically challenged. You have loved them with my love and been a servant to them. To this day, they are some of your closest friends. Now I will preserve your life and sustain you on your sickbed and raise you up to complete your mission on earth. I love you—never forget this. I will love you forever!

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MY StorY: cancer . . .the dreaded SIx-Letter Word

I have read through the Psalms many times. However, I do not ever remember reading this passage of Scripture. But when the Holy Spirit spoke it to me, it floored me. I began weeping after the first sentence: Blessed is he who has regard for the weak, the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. I paused and stopped reading and just thought about this verse for a while. Then, the Lord said, “Keep reading”: the Lord will protect him and preserve his life. Now tears came pouring down my face. I knew I was hearing from the living God. He encouraged me to continue reading: The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. That was it. My emotions couldn’t take any more. I was overwhelmed and crying profusely now. It is one thing to casually read the Bible in your devotional time. It is another thing when the Lord God of the universe, our creator God, speaks His word directly to you during a crisis. This was one of those special moments with God that I will never forget as long as I live. What an encounter with my heavenly Father who loves me!

In the midst of my uncertain future, I felt hope rise up within me as a result of the power of God’s word. Over the next few weeks, I wept often I as meditated on these verses. Even though I didn’t know the final outcome, I sensed God’s love surrounding me. I felt His mighty arms of love drawing me close to Him.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

(Jer. 31:3)

I knew, deep within my spirit, God was with me now. And He was going to help me through this crisis.

During this time, I was referred to a nurse in Texas named Janet Pauly who had recovered from an incurable type of lymphoma, after making some dietary changes. She had been sent home to die after the medical community had given up on her. None of their best efforts for two years had been successful. Then, she made some changes in her diet, and the cancer was gone in three months. In a twenty-minute phone

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Fit For His Glory

call to her, she gave me some suggestions on what to eat and what not to eat. Some were new foods like barley grass juice powder.

She said it was the most powerful food I could take into my body to build my immune system for its fight against cancer cells. I followed her advice. At the end of thirty days, before any medical treatment began, the tumor on the outside of my body under my chin had shrunk by about 40 percent from its original size. I was really encouraged now. What a combination—the living word of God (spirit food) and the natural whole food that God provided.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

(Matt 4:4; emphasis added)

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

(Prov. 4:20–22; emphasis added)

Also, during these thirty days, I acquired the services of a medical research firm to help me learn about cancer and lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease). A week later, they sent me their findings about cancer and all the traditional and alternative treatments available. In addition, they compiled a listing of studies from the top cancer research hospitals in America. These abstracts showed the results of various types of cancer treatments on groups of patients. They tracked their progress throughout the medical treatment and followed them afterwards until death oc-curred. While there had been some progress in developing a treatment modality of chemotherapy and radiation for my stage of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, all the patients still died in three to seven years, even after receiving the most successful treatment combinations. I discovered from this research, that it was possible in some cases to reduce or eliminate tumors—short term. So, maybe these treatments could reduce or eliminate my tumors. But, my biggest fear was I didn’t know anyone

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MY StorY: cancer . . .the dreaded SIx-Letter Word

who had developed cancer and then lived a normal life span. The cancer seemed to always come back within three to ten years—with death, the final outcome. I wanted to live out all of my days.

Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

(Ex. 23:25–26; emphasis added)

At the end of the thirty days, I went back to my oncologist to discuss my treatment. I was excited because of the shrinkage of the tumor in my neck area and because of the encouragement of God’s word. I told him about some of the foods I was eating and their effect. He just dismissed it and said, “It is all in your head. Just go buy some hats, because in about ten days your hair will start falling out, and you will need them.” He also said I would probably need to be isolated several times over the next six months because of the aggressive MOPP chemotherapy regime. It could cause my white blood count to decline to the point I could not resist even a common cold. In addition, he said I would be nauseated and need some medicines to help calm my system. Finally, he handed me three pages describing the other side effects I could expect from this treatment regime. But, God had other plans for me.

With the word of God in my heart, powerful new foods energizing my immune system, and praying family and friends, I was totally well in four months. I never lost my hair and never had to be isolated, although I did have to battle nausea. I lived the next five years in perfect health without even my usual colds and flu. I thought I would never get sick again. Then I finally got the flu. This humbled me, as I was getting a little proud of my good health record. Since then, I have experienced almost perfect health. I continually thank God for his mercy, grace, and love toward me.