Healthy Bodies

Chuckle: "A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter."

Quote: "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." --Marcus Aurelius

TAKING CARE OF OUR BODIES

    "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV).

According to the CDC, two major health problems in the United States are growing and growing rapidly -- obesity and accompanying diabetes. There are exceptions of course, but the rapid increase in these two conditions is largely the result of unhealthy lifestyles including over-eating and lack of exercise. The CDC estimates that 70 percent of Americans are over weight or obese.

In our society, I'm afraid eating has become and end unto itself for many of us rather than a means to an end. Food should be the necessary fuel that keeps our bodies healthy and functioning properly. However, many of us eat for pleasure, not because we are really hungry but because we just like to eat. All too often we eat much more of the wrong foods than we need for health, work, and recreation. Getting people to adopt healthy diets and get more exercise are urgent challenges facing our society.

Let me tell you a success story from a few years back. The CDC had declared Huntington, West Virginia the fattest city in the United States. The pastor of the nearby First Baptist Church of Kenova decided to preach a sermon on the physical and spiritual dangers of obesity, and that sermon began a process that resulted in the ABC hit mini-series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. The series was released March 21, 2010.

To make a long story short, the congregation received the pastor's message with enthusiasm, started several healthy eating and exercise programs, became the catalyst for healthier foods in their local schools, and their success has had impact across this country and around the world through the television series. According to the pastor, "collectively our people have literally lost more than 2000 pounds (a ton) and feel much better spiritually and physically."

Christians should have a special motivation for taking care of our bodies, which the Scripture says are temples of the Holy Spirit who resides within us. How can we serve and honor God when we are so overweight and out of shape that our activities for Him are severely curtailed. Jesus said, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." Pastor Willis of First Baptist Church of Kenova said this, "We cannot love God with all our strength if we do not take care of our bodies, nor can we love our neighbor with total effectiveness if we have perpetual self-induced health issues."

There are many unhealthy activities that do harm to our bodies. If we indulge, each of us must decide if we are "honoring God with our bodies."

Love, Jerry & Dotse