Health

Health – Pure, Fresh Air

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“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.”
The Ministry of Healing, 127

Consider the health benefits of breathing pure, fresh air.

“Air, air, the precious boon of heaven, which all may have, will bless you with its invigorating influence if you will not refuse its entrance. Welcome it, cultivate a love for it, and it will prove precious … .” Healthful Living, 203

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

The story of creation clearly depicts power in the breath of life. It proves vital to the lives of all living creatures on Earth. In turn, pure, fresh air proves vital to our health and has the same health benefits today as in Mrs. White’s day.

“… Its influence tends to invigorate the system and soothe the nerves. It purifies the blood and promotes a good circulation; it gives a healthful stimulus to the appetite and renders the digestion more perfect; and it induces sound, refreshing sleep. The pure, sweet air does its part toward making the body strong and healthy, and its influence is no less decidedly beneficial upon the mind, imparting to it tone and clearness, as well as a degree of composure and serenity.” Manuscript 58, 1890

The lungs are a part of a multi-organ respiratory system that allows the body to take in air while performing gas waste exchange. When we breathe in, air enters the lungs and moves through the blood stream where it is dispensed throughout the organs and tissues of the body. Air is vital to the life of each cell. Each cell exchanges air for gas waste which is then moved back through the bloodstream, into the lungs, and expelled as carbon dioxide when we exhale. Additionally, the respiratory system adapts the air breathed in to the appropriate body temperature and humidity level, prevents harmful substances from thriving, and supports the sense of smell.

The lungs are one of the largest organs in the body. Maximum lung capacity is about 1.5 gallons. Maturing by the age of 25, the lungs begin to decline in function after age 35; diaphragm muscles weaken, lung tissue loses elasticity, and rib cage bones get smaller. Slight breathing changes are normal. However, sudden breathing difficulties and shortness of breath indicate the need for a medical assessment.

In valuing the precious gift of fresh air, we must dedicate ourselves to spending as much time as possible outdoors. We do have to be careful because today we must deal with the harmful effects of air pollution, but this just increases our anticipation of the time when we will breathe in the crisp, refreshing air in the Garden of Eden.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6

 

Tips for improving breathing habits
 

1. Correct posture increases lung expansion and capacity.

2. Wear non-restrictive clothing.

3. Sleep in a well, ventilated room that has been thoroughly aired during the day.

4. Practice breathing exercises and breathing from the diaphragm.

 
Tips for improving efforts to obtain pure, fresh air
 

1. Enjoy the sunshine.

2. Spend time outside when the sky is overcast or in the cool of the evening.

3. Enjoy the beauty of a sunset.

4. Open the curtains and windows. Let in the sunshine and fresh air. This will eliminate stale air, germs, and allergens that cause illness.

Sources: American Lung Association (ALA) – Staff, STL Air Pamphlet – Jack Kendall, Vanderbilt Heath/My Southern Health Staff; lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/breathing-exercises; mysouthernhealth.com/4-outdoor-activities-to-bring-some-fresh-air-into-your-life/

Health Benefits of Drinking Water

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Throughout my nursing career, I have both heard this saying and said it to those entrusted to my care, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Although this advice was given by Benjamin Franklin to the fire-threatened Philadelphians in 1736, it can certainly be applied as a health principle. Preventive measures are invaluable.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

The body is composed of 50–70% water, depending on a person’s weight. Vital to survival, every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs it for optimal functioning. Water aids in maintaining the balance of body fluids, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells and muscles, lubricates and cushions joints, and regulates heartbeat, blood pressure, and temperature. It also controls calories, lowers tooth decay risks, increases perspiration, improves kidney and bowel function, and improves skin and tissue health. Consuming water may boost exercise performance, help with weight loss, and reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.

The general guideline for how much water to drink daily was eight glasses—eight ounces each or 64 ounces—but the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently updated it to about 15.5 cups (124 ounces) for men and about 11.5 cups (92 ounces) for women. Daily water needs are best assessed on an individual basis, and it is preferable to seek the counsel of a physician due to factors such as location, climate and altitude, activity level, metabolism, weight, and overall health. Pregnancy and breastfeeding must also be considered.

Whether young or old, drinking water can unfortunately be a low priority. “Older people don’t sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they’re on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic,” says Dr. Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

“Even if you’re not thirsty, don’t assume you’re drinking enough water. Instead, take a peek at your urine. If it’s a pale yellow color, you’re right on track. If your urine is darker or has a strong odor, then you could probably use more fluids.” says Dr. Sukol of Cleveland Clinic. Mild to moderate dehydration may include: constipation, dizziness, low blood pressure, dry mouth, fatigue, and muscle cramps. As the severity of symptoms progress, it can become a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Severe dehydration may include abdominal pain, confusion, and lethargy, in addition to the mild and moderate symptoms above.

Here are some tips to help encourage you to frequently drink more water:

  1. Keep water available in your vehicle, at home, and at work, and while exercising.
  2. Inspiration instructs that we should not drink water with our meals. But drinking pure water a little before or after a meal will help quench the thirst (Counsels on Diet and Foods, 420).
  3. Eat more fruits and vegetables like watermelon, grapefruit, tomatoes, and spinach, which have high water content.

To avoid dehydration and other risks:

  1. Avoid sugary beverages that can lead to weight gain and inflammation. These can contribute to the onset of diabetes and other diseases.
  2. Avoid caffeinated beverages that can cause feelings of nervousness and contribute to sleep deprivation.
  3. Do not drink alcohol. It can lead to an alteration of brain function, as well as kidney and liver disease. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are clear that we should not consume alcoholic beverages of any kind.
  4. Avoid sports drinks as they can cause fluctuation in the body’s electrolytes.
  5. Avoid energy drinks which cause an increase in heart rate. These drinks, because of their caffeine content, can cause anxiety, sleeplessness, an increase in blood pressure, and heart problems. If consumed in large quantities, they can result in death.

As with the possibility of becoming dehydrated, over-hydration is also possible. Although extremely rare, the condition of hyponatremia (low blood sodium) is quite serious, even life-threatening. This occurs when drinking too much water over a short period of time; the kidneys cannot sufficiently expel the excess water. Athletes tend to be among the most notable to experience over-hydration when attempting to prevent excessive water loss during prolonged or intense exercise.

“We are nearing the judgment. Already the plagues of God are beginning to be poured out. Upon some parts of the world God is permitting the plagues to fall. If we would escape these plagues, we must be pure, virtuous, holy, ever remembering that we are God’s property. Because He has redeemed us, He wants us to cleanse the soul-temple from every trace of pollution. He wants His people to be healthy Christians, physically and spiritually.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 5, 18

Sources: Nourish by WebMD – Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, Mayo Clinic – Staff, Harvard Health – Staff, and Cleveland Clinic – Staff; healthfully.com/food sources that contain water

Sha-Wanda Dillon, known to us as Sunny, is part of the staff at Steps to Life. In Sunny’s younger years, she was an aviation electrical technician in the United States Navy. After her naval service was completed, she went back to school and became a registered nurse. She may be contacted by email at: sunnydillon@stepstolife.org

Health Nugget – Rest

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“He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.”

Benjamin Franklin

The Cambridge Dictionary defines rest as “to (cause someone or something) to stop doing a particular activity or stop being active for a period of time in order to relax and get back your strength.”

Rest, composed of sleep, relaxation, reflection, and recreation, is as important to our health and wholeness as air, water, nutrition, and exercise. Proper rest can improve our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health.

Relaxation can give us more energy, better sleep, enhanced immunity, increased concentration, better problem-solving skills, greater efficiency, decreased stress, emotional stability, and less headaches and pain.

Rest helps us recover from the work we have done, whether it is our vocation, avocation or training. A day off per week is required to allow bone, muscle, tendons, ligaments, brain, and organs time to recover and repair themselves.

Relaxation gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate. This reduces blood pressure and slows the rate of breathing, which reduces the need for oxygen, increases blood flow to the muscles, and decreases muscle tension. Sleep can also maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Rest keeps us healthy by keeping our immune response functioning properly. Sleep produces molecules that help strengthen our ability to fight infection. These help our cells repair and mend our body when we have been exposed to infectious microorganisms and toxins.

Sleep and rest help our brain repair itself and develop new connections, which are useful when we are learning new skills or adaptations. Memory, focus, concentration, and cognitive function improve with proper sleep and rest. Sleep also reduces the occurrence of mood disorders.

Rest can improve hormone balance. It lowers stress by decreasing abnormal levels of cortisol (stress hormone), increasing alertness, productivity, and general health maintenance. Proper sleep regulates hormones that control appetite and can aid in achieving optimal weight. It also reduces the chances of diabetes.

Rest and relaxation promote restoration and rejuvenation. Proper rest and sleep are critical for overall health and energy. During the day, the chief work of the body is done, but during the night, the body is revived, the muscles are built up, the brain tissue is restored, and the nerves are recharged. For growth and health, a sufficient amount of leisure and rest is essential.

Sleep is essential to maintain a well-balanced mind and healthy body. It allows your body to renew itself and aids in healing. Rest strengthens the immune system and can add years to your life. For healing and cleansing to occur much rest and sleep is needed as these actions are done only while asleep.

If deprived of adequate sleep, great demands are made on your backup energy resources, rendering them unable to rebuild and recharge adequately. If you do this habitually, you can expect to have little resistance to disease and stress and an increase in irritability, while creativity, concentration, and efficiency suffer.

Sleep deprivation impairs judgment, causing values and priorities to change. Continued loss of sleep can result in exhaustion, depression, delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. Losing as little as three hours of sleep in a single night can cut the effectiveness of your immune system in half.

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, inflammation and pain, and even early mortality.

There are a variety of things we can do throughout the day to lay the groundwork for better sleep at night.

  • Engage in active exercise daily to best counteract mental and emotional fatigue.
  • Find an outdoor activity you enjoy and can do every day—sunshine, exercise, and fresh air promote sleep. The sweetest rest follows labor. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet.” Ecclesiastes 5:12
  • Avoid caffeine, even during the day. It commonly causes insomnia. Avoid sleep aids that suppress REM sleep. Avoid alcohol. Skip TV viewing.
  • Maintain a regular schedule for going to bed and getting up, even on weekends.
  • An empty stomach promotes better sleep. Make evening meals light and eaten well before bedtime.
  • Sleep in a totally dark room. Turn off devices at least two hours before retiring.
  • Don’t rehearse the day’s problems at bedtime. Count your blessings and fill your mind with gratitude and thanksgiving. Take a warm bath. Drink herbal tea.
  • Seek a relationship with God who can bear your anxieties and refresh your spirit. Read the Scriptures. Pray.
  • Science has shown that “one day of rest per week” enhances work performance on the other six. Enjoy a Sabbath rest!

Try magnesium glycinate at the evening meal for physical and mental relaxation. Magnesium relaxes the muscles. Tension in the neck or shoulders and/or muscle twitches as well as leg and foot cramps could indicate a need for magnesium, which is depleted by chronic stress. Studies show that up to 80 percent of the population are low or deficient in magnesium.

Excerpts from drlesmoore.com; nutricoach.co.za; granitebaysda.org

“I know that from the testimonies given me from time to time, for brain workers, that sleep is worth far more before than after midnight. Two hours’ good sleep before twelve o’clock is worth more than four hours after twelve o’clock.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 7, 223

“Make it a habit not to sit up after nine o’clock. Every light should be extinguished. This turning night into day is a wretched, health-destroying habit.” Daughters of God, 177

“Give yourselves … give all that are under you the fullest amount of sleep they will take, by compelling them to go to bed at some regular hour, and to rise in the morning the moment they awake; and within a fortnight, nature, with almost the regularity of the rising sun, will unloose the bonds of sleep the moment enough repose has been secured for the wants of the system. This is the only safe and sufficient rule—and as to the question how much sleep one requires, each must be a rule to himself—great Nature will never fail to write it out to the observer under the regulations just given.—Dr. Spicer.” How to Live, 193

The Lord has encouraged us to work six days and rest the seventh. That is His plan for the proper balance between work and rest. “On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:2, 3

The ultimate rest is found in Jesus. Leave your burdens with the Lord and accept His peace and forgiveness. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29, 30

Health Nugget – The Benefits of Sunlight

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“There are but few who realize that, in order to enjoy health and cheerfulness, they must have an abundance of sunlight, pure air, and physical exercise.” My Life Today, 138

We are used to being told that too much sun can age and cause damage to the skin, even lead to skin cancer. Over exposure can also weaken the immune system. But insufficient exposure to sunlight is likely to encourage other forms of cancer, such as colon, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate cancers, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

There are, however, many benefits to getting an adequate amount of sunlight.

God designed sunlight and darkness to release hormones in the brain. Exposure to the bright light of day increases the brain’s release of serotonin, the hormone associated with boosting mood and helping a person to feel calm and focused. The darker light of night triggers the brain to release melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep.

A lack of serotonin is associated with depression, often seen in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), found particularly when the seasons change and the days become shorter.

Being exposed to bright light as you near time for bed can prevent the release of melatonin and instead keep you awake when you might really want to sleep. This is one reason why it is not good to spend a lot of time gazing at the blue light on your cellphone right before bedtime.

Melatonin also reduces your stress level. Doing something active, like walking outside, can also help reduce stress.

Besides regulating the production of serotonin and melatonin, the sun’s rays cause the skin to create vitamin D. Five to 30 minutes in the sun each day, weather permitting, without sunscreen, is an adequate amount of exposure. Your skin type should be considered when determining how long to stay in the sun.

Vitamin D plays an active role in bone health, helping to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and arthritis, and helps the body maintain adequate calcium levels, all of which helps to prevent brittle, thin, and misshapen bones.

Since vitamin D also helps to control high blood pressure, the body’s creation of vitamin D when exposed to the sun can help with cardiovascular health. Conversely, insufficient exposure to sunlight, resulting in a deficient production of vitamin D, can be bad news for heart health.

Moderate sunlight exposure can also be of benefit in fighting certain skin disorders, such as fungal infections, psoriasis, acne, and eczema.

(Taken from healthline.com; vanitynoapologies.com; selecthealth.org)

It should be remembered that different places around the world have different climates and temperatures. The climate of some locations, like Hawaii, have minimal fluctuation in their hottest and coolest temperatures. Places completely or in part located north and south of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles can experience both constant sunlight and darkness, sometimes for months at a time. These include Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia. Antarctica experiences six months of sunlight followed by six months of darkness.

The Spirit of Prophecy speaks a great deal regarding the eight laws of health, one of which is an adequate exposure to sunlight.

“This is one of nature’s most healing agents. …

“Exercise, and a free and abundant use of the air and sunlight, … would give life and strength to the emaciated.” Healthful Living, 229, 230

“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.

“The things of nature are God’s blessings, provided to give health to body, mind, and soul. They are given to the well to keep them well and to the sick to make them well. …

“Nature is God’s physician. The pure air, the glad sunshine, the beautiful flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards, and outdoor exercise amid these surroundings are health giving—the elixir of life.” My Life Today, 135

“No room in the house should be considered furnished and adorned without the cheering, enlivening light and sunshine, which are Heaven’s own free gift to man. …

“If you would have your homes sweet and inviting, make them bright with air and sunshine. … If you have God’s presence, and possess earnest, loving hearts, a humble home, made bright with air and sunlight … will be to your family … a heaven below.” Ibid., 138

[Emphasis supplied.]

Satan’s Most Destructive Device

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Q:

Isn’t John 2:10 direct evidence that the wine Jesus made was alcoholic wine? The wedding host states that normally a better wine is served first, and then when the guests are drunk enough, a cheaper wine will do. But at this wedding it was vice versa.

Additionally, I recently spoke to an Adventist pastor who told me that alcohol abstinence cannot be proven from the Bible. It has just been accepted as church tradition. It is certainly a good tradition, but I remember that many Adventists believe that alcohol abstinence is actually a Biblical requirement for Christians.

A:

Where to begin. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, all my life I was taught that Seventh-day Adventists do not drink alcoholic beverages of any kind because the Bible says that we should not. It is true that the Bible does not say “Thou shalt not drink fermented wine or any alcoholic beverage.” However, I can quote many scriptures that describe what the Bible says we should not drink: Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 20:1, Romans 14:21, Isaiah 5:11, 22, and Proverbs 21:17. And perhaps the most well-known scripture Proverbs 23:31–35, “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: ‘They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?’ ” This is not an exhaustive list by any means.

Oinos (Greek) and Yayin (Hebrew) are the generic words used in the Bible for wine. Both words can mean either fermented or unfermented juice of the grape. And yet, it seems that it is assumed that these words always mean fermented wine. Why?

Proverbs 31:6 is often used to support the belief that the Bible allows the use of fermented beverages. The Scriptures do give permission to use fermented wine, but only in very specific situations. In Bible times, there was very little chemical means with which to control pain. God does not want anyone to suffer even an hour’s pain if there is a way it can be alleviated. The use of a strong alcoholic beverage was permitted in the case of someone in severe pain or to alleviate the pain of someone who was dying.

Another scripture used to support that the Bible allows the use of fermented beverages is 1 Timothy 5:23—“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.”

Just as is still done today, grapes in Bible times were preserved many different ways—they were dried like raisins or the grape juice was boiled until most of the water evaporated leaving a thick grape syrup. Because of the dense concentration of this syrup, it would keep at room temperature without spoiling just as honey or sugar does. This syrup was often added to water when grapes were out of season and the resulting beverage was called wine, though it was not fermented.

Cities in Bible times had the same problem transporting water through a piping system as we do today. If the water is acidic, it will deteriorate the pipe, so either lye or some other alkaline compound must be added to the water. Two thousand years ago, most city water supplies were alkaline just as they are today. If a person had a sensitive stomach or weak digestion, this city water could cause stomach discomfort. This is almost certainly what Paul was talking about to Timothy in this scripture. Timothy was having problems with the drinking water because of its alkaline content. By adding some of this grape syrup, which was readily available, his drinking water would be changed to wine—grape juice with an acidic pH—and his stomach problems would be alleviated.

Now let’s consider this compelling scripture found in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” How can a person, particularly a Christian, justify putting any substance into their body that causes harm to or destroys it and still claim to be a temple of the Holy Spirit? How can the Holy Spirit dwell in a temple polluted with alcohol?

Another compelling argument against intoxicating beverages can be found in what Jesus said in 1 Corinthians 11:25, “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ ” How can we believe that any scripture in the Bible would condone the use of fermented wine as a representation of Jesus’ blood?

But what I find most compelling of all are the following quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy. Directly addressing John 2:10 and the miracle at the wedding feast, Mrs. White writes: “For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided. Unfermented wine was used as a beverage.” Christ Triumphant, 229

“The unfermented wine that He [Jesus] provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. This is the wine that was used by our Saviour and His disciples in the first Communion.” The Ministry of Healing, 333

“The wine created by Christ at this time was the best wine those present had ever tasted. But it was free from all fermentation. Christ Himself had forbidden the use of fermented drink, saying, ‘Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean …’ (Leviticus 10:9–11).” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, 200

“We protest that Christ never made intoxicating wine; such an act would have been contrary to all the teachings and example of His life … . The wine which Christ manufactured from water by a miracle of His power, was the pure juice of the grape.” The Signs of the Times, August 29, 1878

In addition, Mrs. White says that Jesus meant this miracle as an illustration—actually more than one. “In this miracle, Jesus illustrates the truth that while the world presents its best gifts first, to fascinate the senses and please the eye, He [Jesus] gives good gifts, ever fresh and new unto the end. They never pall upon the taste, the heart never sickens and tires of them. The pleasures of the world are unsatisfying, its wine turns to bitterness, its gayety to gloom. … But Jesus provides a feast of the soul that never fails to give satisfaction and joy.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, 103, 104

“This donation of Christ to the marriage supper was a symbol of the means of salvation. The water represented baptism into His death, the wine, the shedding of His blood for the purifying of the sins of the world. The provision made for the wedding guests was ample, and not less abundant is the provision for blotting out the iniquities of men.” Ibid.

Finally, let’s address the statement by the Adventist pastor who said that abstinence from alcoholic beverages could not be proved from the Bible. The only reason there is doubt is because man misinterprets the Scriptures for his own benefit. “Some who claim to be Christians clothe themselves with fig leaves and feel at liberty to use intoxicating drinks, and they claim to be in harmony with Christ in this particular. But Christ did not set the example they claim to imitate. Be assured that Christ would not have made intoxicating wine on the occasion of His first miracle. He gave to those present a safe drink to give to all humanity—the pure juice of the grape. …

“Christ looked down the ages and saw in every generation what the use of wine would do for the users. Therefore at this [marriage] feast He set a right example.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, 201

“There are those who call themselves advocates of temperance who will yet indulge in the use of wine and cider, claiming that these stimulants are harmless, and even healthful. It is thus that many take the first step in the downward path. Intoxication is just as really produced by wine and cider as by stronger drinks, and it is the worst kind of inebriation. … A few quarts of cider and wine may awaken a taste for stronger drinks. …

“Moderate drinking is the school in which men are receiving an education for the drunkard’s career. So gradually does Satan lead away from the strongholds of temperance, so insidiously do wine and cider exert their influence upon the taste, that the highway to drunkenness is entered upon all unsuspectingly.” Temperance, 277, 278

“With the awful results of indulgence in intoxicating drink before us, how is it that any man or woman who claims to believe in the word of God, can venture to touch, taste, or handle wine or strong drink? Such a practice is certainly out of harmony with their professed faith.” Ibid., 42

Neither Christ nor His prophets nor His word would ever give leave or even suggest that we are able to drink alcoholic beverages, consume anything or participate in any activity that would cause harm to our relationship with Him. It is only with a transformed, purified heart that we are able to truly serve Him and only from a pure heart are we able to provide for Him a fit dwelling place.

“In the estimation of God a pure heart is more precious than the gold of Ophir. A pure heart is the temple where God dwells, the sanctuary where Christ takes up His abode. A pure heart is above everything that is cheap or low; it is a shining light, a treasure house from which come uplifting, sanctified words. It is a place where the imagery of God is recognized, and where the highest delight is to behold His image. It is a heart that finds its whole and only pleasure and satisfaction in God, and whose thoughts and intents and purposes are alive with godliness. Such a heart is a sacred place; it is a treasury of all virtue. …” My Life Today, 263

Satan’s Most Destructive Device

Satan has at his disposal a vast arsenal of weaponry that he successfully uses against the people of this world, but Ellen White points to one particular device that he uses very effectively. I saw the effects of this device in my childhood home. And I can tell you from this first-hand experience that it is most devastating mainly because so many people do not see it for the danger it is.

Ellen White tells us how Satan went about the creation of this terrible weapon:

“Satan gathered the fallen angels together to devise some way of doing the most possible evil to the human family. One proposition after another was made, till finally Satan himself thought of a plan. He would take the fruit of the vine, also wheat, and other things given by God as food, and would convert them into poisons, which would ruin man’s physical, mental, and moral powers, and so overcome the senses that Satan should have full control. Under the influence of liquor, men would be led to commit crimes of all kinds. Through perverted appetite the world would be made corrupt. By leading men to drink alcohol, Satan would cause them to descend lower and lower in the scale.” Temperance, 12

“Satan is taking the world captive through the use of liquor and tobacco, tea and coffee. The God-given mind, which should be kept clear, is perverted by the use of narcotics. The brain is no longer able to distinguish correctly. The enemy has control. Man has sold his reason for that which makes him mad. He has no sense of what is right.” Evangelism, 529

My father was a quiet, handsome, introverted man. But when he drank, he became loud, sometimes funny, if he hadn’t yet had too much to drink. But if he drank too much, he was sloppy, unsteady and ugly. He was a hard worker, leaving the house early in the morning every day of the week. But each day after he closed up shop he went to his favorite bar and drank until closing time. Then, with little sleep, he would get up at his usual time the next morning and head to work, basically still drunk.

I’m not writing this article to tell you about my dad except to give you a personal perspective of what alcohol does. I want you to specifically note that this is a definitive does, not a may do or could possibly do, but what alcohol does to the human body and mind, to the family and society, and why it is such an effective tool of the devil against us. Now someone might say, “I can have a drink and that’s it. I don’t abuse alcohol.” That may be true, but whether a person drinks a little or a lot, alcohol always does harm to the body and the mind. And one man may have a drink once or twice a week and it never goes beyond that, while another takes one drink and cannot stop. The dangerous part is that no one can know which they will do until they take that first drink and then it may be too late.

Let’s look at some basic facts and statistics regarding alcohol use. Consumed in excess, alcohol is poisonous and considered to be a drug. Herein lies the danger with consuming alcohol: most people consider drinking alcohol to be just something they do. It’s fun. They get a buzz. There are people who shout that they would never smoke marijuana or take heroin and yet, alcohol is as addictive as any other narcotic drug taken in some other form. It is estimated that 18 million adults, 1 in 12 in the United States, are chronic alcoholics or abuse alcohol to some degree.

Nearly 100,000 Americans die every year as a result of alcohol abuse and it is a factor in more than half of the country’s homicides, suicides, and traffic accidents. It also plays a role in domestic problems, missed work, property crimes, and spousal and child abuse.

    • 1 in 10 children have one parent who abuses alcohol
    • 80% of college students use alcohol, and half of them binge drink
    • Alcohol is racist; minorities suffer disproportionately from alcohol diseases
    • Rape and sexual abuse are now widely discussed, but alcohol’s significant contribution to these abuses is often ignored
    • An astonishing 70% of children in America’s foster care system suffer from some form of prenatal alcohol damage

Source: Adventists and Alcohol by Jack Hoehn 12/1/2020 Adventisttoday.org

Alcohol abuse results in weight gain, depression, chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, high blood pressure, heart failure, and changes to the brain, just to name a few. It also can increase the risk of infection, lead to impotence, damage a fetus, and increase the risk of several types of cancer including cancer of the larynx, esophagus, liver, breast, stomach, pancreas, and the upper gastrointestinal tract.

It also impairs liver function, and as many as one out of five will develop cirrhosis of the liver. The liver actually has about 500 functions, but those we are most familiar with are the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body, metabolizing nutrients from food to make energy, making most of the protein needed by the body, helping fight infection, producing most of the substances that regulate blood clotting, and helping to digest fat and absorb needed vitamins such A and D among others.

Alcohol abuse injures the liver. In an effort to repair itself, scar tissue is formed. This is the cause of cirrhosis of the liver. As cirrhosis progresses and more and more scar tissue is formed, it becomes difficult for the liver to do its job. Advanced cirrhosis is life-threatening, and while early diagnosis and treatment can limit the damage, the damage done by cirrhosis generally cannot be undone.

How is it, then, that one person becomes an alcoholic, but another does not? It seems to be a blend of genetics, physical, psychological, environmental, and social factors. A person’s risk of becoming an alcoholic is three to four times greater if a parent is an alcoholic, although there are many children of alcoholics who do not develop a problem with alcohol or even drink at all.

The mental effects of alcohol abuse can include fear, aggression, guilt, discontent, loneliness, anxiety, decreased impulse control, hypomanic behavior, sadness, and suicide.

Alcohol use can also bring about poverty. In the United States alone, as of year-end 2018, consumers spent $253.8 billion on alcohol. While families struggle to survive, the alcohol abuser throws away the money needed for food and housing for one more drink. Too many today are suffering homelessness, poverty, and mental illness as a direct result of alcohol and drug abuse.

References:
webMD/Understanding Alcohol Abuse Basics

healthline.com/Alcohol Use Disorder: Symptoms, Treatment & Screening

cancer.org/Alcohol Use and Cancer

Wikipedia/Alcoholism

mayoclinic.org/Cirrhosis – Causes

The Mental and Physical Effects of Alcohol/Alo House Recovery Centers

As Seventh-day Adventists, we likely feel that alcoholism is a worldly disease, a problem that does not apply to us. After all, we are instructed by Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy that we are to turn away from the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.

“What account will fathers [and mothers] have to give in the judgment? What account for the habits of liquor drinking? What accounts for the habit of tobacco using, the money consumed in lessening physical, mental, and moral power that belongs to God? All of it has been purchased by an infinite price, the price of the Son of God. You do not realize the necessity of sending light to those that are in darkness because your eye is not single to the glory of God. Your whole body is full of darkness, and you treat yourself as a slave, a slave to grant to taste and appetite that which is unwholesome and unhealthy, and which is destroying vitality.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 259

As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we should be able to say that alcohol is not a problem for us and I would imagine that would be true for many, probably most. However, alcohol consumption is not a problem confined strictly to the world. Alcohol may not be a temptation for most of us, but it is for some, maybe someone you know, someone you love.

While attending academy and college, many of my friends, as often as they could sneak away to do it, would drink alcohol and take drugs. Some of those same friends today no longer indulge, but for some, these habits persisted into adulthood until their bodies and minds were so permanently affected by the use of these substances that they suffer and struggle still with debilitating illnesses, both physical and mental.

The devil spends a great deal of time and effort preparing us to rationalize doing many things we know are not right. And each time we do something wrong and justify it, it becomes easier to do it again and to find a justification for it.

“The drunkard sells his reason for a cup of poison. Satan takes control of his reason, affections, conscience. Such a man is destroying the temple of God. …” Manuscript 130

The Sanctified Life, 33, tells us that the use of stimulants “deadens the natural sensibilities of both body and mind and renders him [the user] less susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit.” He will hunger for what pleases the body, his cherished idol, rather than for righteousness and holiness, making it impossible to glorify God.

As bad as all the above consequences of alcohol use may be, herein lies the real destructiveness of this insidious weapon of Satan: the more a person drinks, the less interest he or she will have in spiritual matters and a greater inability to respond to the pleading of the Holy Spirit.

“There is in the world a multitude of degraded human beings, who have, by yielding in their youth to the temptation to use tobacco and alcohol, poisoned the tissues of the human structure, and perverted their reasoning powers, until the result is just as Satan meant it to be. The faculties of thought are clouded. The victims yield to the temptation for alcohol, and they sell what reason they have for a glass of liquor.

“See that man bereft of reason. What is he? He is a slave to the will of Satan. The arch apostate imbues him with his own attributes. He is a slave to licentiousness and violence. There is no crime that he will not commit; for he has put into his mouth that which has intoxicated him, and made him, while under its influence, a demon.” Temperance, 36

Continued consumption of stimulating substances prepares the body for disease, affects the quality and circulation of the blood, and wears out the mind from excited and undue activity. It also affects a person’s moral qualities, and worst of all it creates unsound judgment and the inability to appreciate the value of spiritual things. The “sensibilities are blunted, and sin does not appear very sinful.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 4a, 129

As Christians we have two commissions in this life. The first is the preparation of our own lives to be fit to enjoy heaven and the association of heavenly beings; to strive to attain that perfection of character that God requires and so lovingly provides the ability to achieve.

“The body is the only medium through which the mind and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. Hence it is that the adversary of souls directs his temptations to the enfeebling and degrading of the physical powers. His success here means the surrender to evil of the whole being. The tendencies of our physical nature, unless under the dominion of a higher power, will surely work ruin and death.” The Ministry of Healing, 130

“Your part is to put your will on the side of Christ. When you yield your will to His, He immediately takes possession of you, and works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. … If you cannot control your impulses, your emotions, as you may desire, you can control the will, and thus an entire change will be wrought in your life. … You have a strength from God that holds you fast to His strength; and a new life, even the life of faith, is possible to you.” Temperance, 113

The second commission is to give the hope of salvation to a dying world.

“Your neighbor may be yielding to the temptation to destroy himself by liquor drinking and tobacco using. He may be burning up his vital organs by fiery stimulant. He is pursuing this course to the ruination of himself and his wife and children, who have no success in trying to stay the feet that are traveling the road to perdition. God calls upon you to work in His vineyard, to do all in your power to save your fellow creatures.” Manuscript 87, 1898

“As we face these things, and see the terrible consequences of liquor drinking, shall we not do all in our power to rally to the help of God in fighting against this great evil?” Evangelism, 265

“When the members of the church of God do their appointed work in the needy fields at home and abroad, in fulfilment of the gospel commission, the whole world will soon be warned, and the Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power and great glory.

“God will do the work if we will furnish Him the instruments.” Sons and Daughters of God, 280

It is our responsibility and must be our determined effort to preserve our bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is [our] reasonable service.” Romans 12:1. It is also our responsibility, for we truly are our brother’s keeper, to bring the hope of a transformed life through Jesus Christ to those for whom He died.

[Emphasis supplied.]

Judy Rebarchek is a member of the LandMarks team. She may be contacted by email at: judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org

Health Nugget – The Possibility of Peace

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Today’s headlines, portraying a world seemingly on the verge of self-destruction, were foretold in the Scriptures many years ago.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:6–8

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26

Not surprisingly, many people are overwhelmed by fear, useless fear. As I see them in the medical office, they are afraid they might die, even to the point that some demand unwarranted medical testing, treatment, and even surgery and hospitalization—in an effort to guarantee what no human can guarantee.

Fear can cause a person to be too worried about his or her health. But even worse is the fact that fear can literally paralyze a person, so they are not able to do the things that they ought to be doing.

Closely allied to fear of death is worry—worry about things that are happening, and worry about things that might happen. Both are useless.

A person must give concern and thought, enough to take appropriate action to meet situations that arise. Once he has done all he can, then he must accept what cannot be changed, and what God will allow.

How can one accept a bad situation and stop worrying?

Prescription for Rest

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30

Jesus is the Burden Bearer. Can you not give Him your heavy burdens in exchange for His light yoke? In the quiet hour of meditation, why not tie up your burdens in a bundle and give them to Jesus? Then quietly wait, and He will give you an assignment for the day.

Who Makes the Agenda for Your Day?

Many people simply try to do too much. It is true that some people are just lazy, but they are not the ones reading this article. Work is important. Work is life. Your work can also be considered your “calling.” But be sure your calling is of God and get your instructions every day. In fact,

  1. Look at those interruptions carefully. Some of them are special assignments that Jesus is trying to give you.
  2. Look again at your agenda for the day. Some of those things you must do are not necessary, and simply make up the burden that Jesus wants you to hand over to Him.

“Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.” The Ministry of Healing, 479

Are you really willing to hand over your day and your time schedule to Him? If so, your day will be different. You will be busy, maybe busier than you expected, but the yoke will also be light and easy.

Getting the Work Done

Just being a follower of Christ, obeying His great commission, inevitably opens before us the great needs of mankind. How can this work be done and the promise of rest be fulfilled?

“Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37, 38

“And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” Mark 6:31

It is clear that we, the followers of Christ, have a great work to do, but we are not expected to do it all. In fact, Jesus instructs us to pray for more laborers. His promise to be with us is in direct connection with our fulfilling the great commission, and in context, the invitation to rest with Him comes after a period of productive work for Him.

The psychology of work is that a man is most energetic and most effective when impulse strongly urges an action, and his will gives complete and unqualified approval. This response is called integrity and produces interest, confidence, and enthusiasm. There is no fatigue until the muscles themselves get tired.

Conversely, complete and utter fatigue is brought about when impulse strongly urges action, and the will strongly disapproves. The resulting conflict produces fatigue.

Prompt action is often required in daily life, but sometimes the reasoning powers move too slowly, and the will is not enlisted. The action may be performed as required, but accomplished by fear, anger, worry, or dislike. These instinctive reactions introduce inhibitions which require a tremendous amount of energy to overcome. A person can be five times as effective if he is willing and likes his job, and he won’t get tired.

Fatigue is also the cardinal symptom of depression and often is the only symptom. People who are depressed have very weak impulses and find it hard to start any activity. Coping with life is a real problem, and they have a tendency to retreat—not do much, no initiative, sit around and sleep a lot. There is a lack of motivation. The person has given up, and his self-image is low.

Persons who are depressed will actually feel better if they get involved in some activity, especially if it is interesting and vigorous. A good exercise program is one of the best things such a person can engage in.

Depression must be resisted. Another helpful activity is to write down ten things one is thankful for each morning. Thus the day is begun in a grateful, optimistic frame of mind.

Rest

When a person is tired, the first thing he thinks about is rest. In many cases rest restores energy so that a person can work efficiently again.

Rooted in the story of Creation is the seven-day week, with the seventh day set aside for rest. Many have attempted to disregard this principle in the drive to make a living, get rich, or accomplish certain goals. It was proved during World War II that factory production actually increased as the work week was shortened from 60 hours to 40 hours.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Exodus 20:8–10

Why Is Sleep Needed?

When the body is denied sleep long enough, the electroencephalogram, a machine that records the brain’s electrical activity, will begin to show repeated sleep spindles. These are episodes of microsleep which last just three to six seconds each, but do add up over a period of time. In many activities they might not be noticed, but are most dangerous when one is driving a car.

One has no control over these microsleep episodes. They occur suddenly and without warning when sleep is lacking. Just a few hours’ sleep will restore alertness.

After as short a time as 36 hours without sleep, there is impaired thinking, loss of attention, and poor memory. Time sense is lost. Eye symptoms occur—itching, burning, blurred vision, and double vision.

With continued sleep loss, perception of reality is weakened; delusions and hallucinations may occur similar to schizophrenia. There is an 80 percent decrease in ability to perform tasks that require accuracy.

If dreaming rapid eye movement or REM sleep is suppressed, irritability or depression can occur, and some persons become severely anxious. Experiments have also shown that dream-deprived subjects are much less able to adapt to stress. REM sleep loss tends to be cumulative, and must be made up in part. It is also thought that memory is consolidated, organized, and corrected during REM sleep.

Sleeping is closely bound to the daily cycle of life. If the sleeping habits are irregular, such as having to work a night shift from time to time, a person may become hyperirritable, critical, irrational, or even childish. The sleep pattern may require up to two weeks to return to normal.

How to Sleep Well

  1. Keep active during the day. Moderate-to-vigorous exercise is most helpful. Nothing promotes sleep like being tired physically.
  2. Go to bed on an empty stomach. Supper had best be a light meal, and at least several hours before bedtime, so that digestion is completed.
  3. Have a regular time for sleep. You will tend to get sleepy at the same time every night.
  4. Avoid drugs. Avoid drinks containing caffeine, which will keep you awake. Get off sleeping pills that suppress REM sleep. Alcohol is also a drug, and will suppress REM sleep even in small amounts.
  5. Be at peace with God and your fellow man. “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Remember, you are trading in your burdens of fear, worry, insecurity, compulsion to work all the time, lack of time, and your health problems. In exchange, He has an assignment for you that is “light and easy,” and He promises rest.

With Jesus as Lord of your life, you will have time to eat two or three meals every day, time to exercise and enjoy recreation with family and friends, and time to keep Sabbath holy.

[All scripture taken from the King James Version]

Health for Today, Hope International ©1991, Hubert F. Sturges, M.D., 14–16.

Health Nugget – The Necessity of Health Reform

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All who are expectantly watching and waiting for the final events that will soon transpire on this earth have need of a great work to fit them for the coming of the Lord. In Maranatha, 119, Sister White says, “God’s elect must stand untainted amid the corruptions teeming around them in these last days. Their bodies must be made holy, their spirits pure. If this work is to be accomplished, it must be undertaken at once, earnestly and understandingly. The Spirit of God should have perfect control, influencing every action.

“The health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord.”

How, then, are the bodies of God’s elect to be made holy, their spirits pure? “In the words of the apostle Paul there is a depth of meaning: ‘I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by  the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God’ (Romans 12:1, 2). No one can bring honor to God if he pursues a course of action that will bring blemish upon the body or the soul. Our sacrifice is to be holy and without blame. This is the reasonable service of everyone.” In Heavenly Places, 192

Solomon speaks about the renewed heart in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart [mind] with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

“Diligent heart-keeping is essential to a healthy growth in grace. The heart in its natural state is a habitation of unholy thoughts and sinful passions. When brought into subjection to Christ, it must be cleansed by the Spirit from all defilement. This cannot be done without the consent of the individual.” The Youth’s Instructor, March 5, 1903

The ultimate blessing of diligent heart-keeping is explained in The Desire of Ages, 181: “We can receive of heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ.  To all who do this, the Holy Spirit is given without measure.”

Health Reform and the Third Angel’s Message

“The health reform is closely connected with the work of the third message, yet it is not the message. … Its place is among those subjects which set forth the preparatory work to meet the events brought to view by the message; among these it is prominent.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, 559

“Again and again I have been instructed that the medical missionary work is to bear the same relation to the work of the third angel’s message that the arm and hand bear to the body. Under the direction of the divine Head they are to work unitedly in preparing the way for the coming of Christ.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 288

God’s Purpose for the Health Reform

“The work of health reform is the Lord’s means for lessening suffering in our world and for purifying His church. Teach the people that they can act as God’s helping hand by cooperating with the Master Worker in restoring physical and spiritual health. This work bears the signature of heaven, and will open doors for the entrance of other precious truths. There is room for all to labor who will take hold of this work intelligently.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 112, 113

“He who cherishes the light which God has given him upon health reform, has an important aid in the work of becoming sanctified through the truth, and fitted for immortality.” Maranatha, 119

Dear friend, may God richly bless us as we live out the principles of health reform, and help others to understand the importance of them, as we prepare for the final events of this world and the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

O for a heart to praise my God,

A heart from sin set free,

A heart that always feels Thy blood

So freely shed for me.

 

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,

My dear Redeemer’s throne,

Where only Christ is heard to speak,

Where Jesus reigns alone.

 

A humble, lowly, contrite, heart,

Believing, true and clean,

Which neither life nor death can part

From Christ who dwells within.

 

A heart in every thought renewed,

And full of love divine;

Perfect and right and pure and good,

A copy, Lord, of Thine.

 

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,

Come quickly from above;

Write Thy new name upon my heart,

Thy new best name of Love.

 

A hymn by Charles Wesley

Health Nugget – It’s a Big Job to Run a Body

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Do you ever say, “I’m dog tired—don’t feel like I could do another thing. I’m just too bushed to eat.”

Well, no wonder. In addition to your regular job, if you are an adult of about average weight, it has been estimated that every 24 hours

  • Your heart beats 103,689 times
  • Your blood travels 168 million miles
  • You breathe 23,040 times
  • You inhale 438 cubic feet of air
  • You eat 3¼ pounds of food
  • You drink 2.9 quarts of liquids
  • You eliminate 7/8 of a pound of waste
  • You move 750 muscles, some of them subconsciously but constantly
  • You exercise 7,000,000 brain cells
  • You speak 7,800 words, not all of them necessary, of course

Did you ever consider how perfectly your body is timed and controlled? How does it maintain a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees, how is the blood pressure regulated just right, why do you breathe an average of 16 times and your heart beat 72 times a minute? How is food chemically digested and the nutritive part transformed into body tissue—bone and muscle, blood and skin, hair and nails—and properly distributed, while wastes and poisons are eliminated with no ill effects?

Adapted from Abundant Living.

“Life is a gift of God. Our bodies have been given us to use in God’s service, and He desires that we shall care for and appreciate them. Our bodies must be kept in the best possible condition physically, and under the most spiritual influences. …

“A pure, healthy life is most favorable for the perfection of Christian character and for the development of the powers of mind and body. …

“The harmonious, healthy action of all the powers of body and mind results in happiness; the more elevated and refined the powers, the more pure and unalloyed the happiness.” My Life Today, 125

“But now, Oh Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

The human body contains trillions of cells, 78 organs, and over 60,000 miles of blood vessels, if stretched from end-to-end. Amazingly, they all work together to keep you alive.

Each of the 78 organs belongs to one of ten body systems. A body system is a group of parts that work together to serve a common purpose. These systems interconnect and depend upon each other to function. This is known as homeostasis and the process causes all these systems to maintain internal stability and balance. A disease or problem in one body system can disrupt homeostasis and consequently cause trouble in other body systems. For example, the heart does not beat unless the brain and nervous system tell it to, and the skeletal system is dependent on the nutrients gained from the digestive system to enable it to build strong, healthy bones.

The ten body systems are:

  1. Circulatory
  2. Respiratory
  3. Nervous
  4. Muscular
  5. Skeletal
  6. Digestive
  7. Endocrine (hormones)
  8. Lymphatic, or immune system
  9. Reproductive
  10. Integumentary (skin, hair)

So let’s see how this all works. The circulatory system consists of the heart and a complex network of blood vessels that run throughout the body. The heart pumps blood through the blood vessels and this performs a function that works with other systems. As the blood passes through the digestive system, it picks up nutrients absorbed from your last meal and these are delivered to the skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems to help make body tissue. Oxygen taken in by the lungs, part of the respiratory system, is absorbed into the blood vessels and is carried back to the heart (because the muscles of the heart cannot function without oxygen), and ultimately to the brain—we all know what happens if there is a lack of oxygen in the brain. The brain regulates heart rate and blood pressure and the position of your bones by controlling the muscles. The circulatory system also carries hormones from the endocrine system and white blood cells from the immune system to help fight off infection. It also picks up waste products, including carbon dioxide, and carries them off to the kidneys and lungs for disposal.

Adapted from How the Body Systems are Connected by The Live Better Team at reverehealth.com

“Our bodies are a wonderful exhibition of God’s incomprehensible skill and unceasing goodness. They are not to be trifled with. With all the power of a sanctified mind and a purified soul, they are to be consecrated to God.” The Signs of the Times, April 4, 1900

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14

“We are in a world that is opposed to righteousness and purity of character and to a growth in grace. Wherever we look, we see corruption and defilement, deformity and sin. And what is the work that we are to undertake here just previous to receiving immortality? It is to preserve our bodies holy, our spirits pure, that we may stand forth unstained amid the corruptions teeming around us in these last days. And if this work is accomplished, we need to engage in it at once, heartily and understandingly.” Counsels on Health, 44, 45

“God is the great caretaker of the human machinery. In the care of our bodies we must cooperate with Him. Love for God is essential for life and health. In order to have perfect health our hearts must be filled with hope, and love, and joy.” God’s Amazing Grace, 147

Health Nugget – The Blessing of Health Reform

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It was the autumn of 1978 when we arrived at Wildwood Sanitarium and Hospital to begin classes, home training, and work, and I selected the nurse’s training program. I did not realize how abundantly God would bless that choice in the years to come, not only for me, but also for many others.

In our world today, health problems are rampant. In Testimonies, vol. 3, 139, Sister White says, “The violation of physical law, and the consequence, human suffering, have so long prevailed that men and women look upon the present state of sickness, suffering, debility, and premature death as the appointed lot of humanity. Man came from the hand of his Creator perfect and beautiful in form, and so filled with vital force that it was more than a thousand years before his corrupt appetite and passions, and general violations of physical law, were sensibly felt upon the race. More recent generations have felt the pressure of infirmity and disease still more rapidly and heavily with every generation. The vital forces have been greatly weakened by the indulgence of appetite and lustful passion.”

She further states that “Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.” Counsels on Health, 168

“The words spoken to Israel are true today of those who recover health of body, or health of soul: ‘I am the Lord that healeth thee.’

“The desire of God for every human being is expressed in the words, ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.’ 3 John 2.” The Ministry of Healing, 113

“The Lord desires us to obey the laws of health and life. He holds each one responsible to care properly for his body that it may be kept in health.” Letter 123, 1903.

Sister White also gives the following counsel regarding what is the most important subject to be taught in childhood:

“A practical knowledge of the science of life is necessary in order to glorify God in our bodies. It is therefore of the highest importance that among studies selected for childhood, physiology should occupy the first place.” Healthful Living, 13

Unfortunately, I think that most of us did not receive this most wonderful and practical knowledge in our childhood, but it is not too late to begin at whatever age you are, as I was already 40 when I began it at Wildwood.

Let us consider what the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

And Sister White says, “We are God’s workmanship, and His word declares that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ He has prepared this living habitation [our body] for the mind; it is ‘curiously wrought,’ a temple which the Lord Himself has fitted up for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” Healthful Living, 9

True Medical Missionary Work and the Great Final Test

“The truth for this time, the third angel’s message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice [the power of the Holy Spirit] as we approach the great final test. This test must come to the churches in connection with true medical missionary work. We are told that in time of trouble ‘there will be sick ones, plenty of them, that will need help’ so because of the need, but also ‘for their own sake, they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention and cure, and those who will do this will find a field of labor anywhere.’ ” Pamphlet 144, 29, 30

Oh, friend, it seems that we are now entering the time. Now is our opportunity to “become intelligent in regard to disease, its cause, prevention and cure.”

“Nature will want some assistance to bring things to their proper condition, which may be found in the simplest remedies, especially in the use of nature’s own furnished remedies—pure air, and with precious knowledge of how to breathe; pure water, with a knowledge of how to apply it; plenty of sunlight in every room of the house if possible, and with an intelligent knowledge of what advantages are to be gained by its use. All these are powerful in their efficiency, and the patient who has obtained a knowledge of how to eat and dress healthfully may live for comfort, for peace, for health, and will not be prevailed upon to put to his lips drugs, which, in the place of helping nature, paralyzes her powers. If the sick who are suffering will do only as well as they know in regard to living out the principles of health reform perseveringly, then they will in nine cases out of ten recover from their ailments.” Medical Ministry, 223, 224

“The true method of healing the sick is to tell them of the herbs that grow for the benefit of man. … They can themselves administer the simple herbs if necessary.

“To educate the human family that the doctor alone knows all the ills of infants and persons of every age is false teaching, and the sooner we as a people stand on the principles of health reform, the greater will be the blessing that will come to those who would do true medical work.” Pamphlet 144, 13

“[W]hen the plagues of God shall be all around you, you will then see the principles of health reform and strict temperance in all things—that temperance alone is the foundation of all the graces that come from God, the foundation of all victories to be gained.” Temperance, 201

The blessing of health reform will come to all who live its principles to the glory and honor of God. [Emphasis supplied.]

Health Nugget – The Importance of the Sense of Taste

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As we all know, taste is a matter of, well taste … But what exactly is taste? Taste is one of our five senses. The sense of taste is really just our ability to perceive a flavor of a given food or dish with our tongue in association with our senses of smell and touch. Our tongues have the ability to distinguish between five basic tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (meaty or savory). A couple of additional tastes, probably more likely sensed in association with our sense of smell, are pungent and astringent. The rich diversity of taste sensations arise from the wide-ranging combinations of these five basic tastes, such as the sweet-and-sour taste we experience when we drink sweet lemonade or sweet-and-sour sauce with a favorite Chinese dish.

For a long time, scientists believed that it is the taste buds, located at different points on our tongue, that help us experience taste, but additional research has disproven this belief. While it is true that the edge of the tongue has more taste buds than the base and is thus more sensitive, the tongue is not divided into different types of taste. The one exception to this rule is the bitter taste, which is located chiefly at the rear of the tongue.

Approximately 10,000 taste buds,  pear-shaped structures with millions of receptors (sensory cells), are the components in the tongue that register taste. They are located around small structures on the upper surface of the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and back of the throat known as the gustatory papillae. Adults have between 2,000–4,000 of these papillae on their tongue.

Thanks to a special nerve in the mouth and throat, we are able to experience “hot” which is really not a flavor, but is perceived through free nerve endings in this nerve. In this way we are able to tell if a dish seasoned with a hot spice such as pepper, chili or curry is unpleasant or even painful.

Sensory cells have a lifespan of just ten days, but are constantly being renewed. However, as we age, our sense of taste deteriorates because the renewal process slows so that the number of sensory cells declines over the course of time. But here’s a tip: make generous use of fresh herbs when seasoning your food. This enables us to continue to have a rewarding taste experience as we age thanks to our other senses, including our sense of smell.

Whenever we eat a salty soup or a sweet dessert, the sensory cells in the taste buds are activated and taste signals travel from the mouth by way of the cranial nerves to the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the thalamus and on to the cortex, where you become aware of what you are tasting and can then respond appropriately. Appropriately would mean if it tastes good, you swallow and enjoy it, but if it tastes bad or harmful, you spit it out. Whew! Those taste signals are really hard workers.

Taste, however, is actually a multisensory phenomenon. While the sense of taste gives basic information about sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory, most of the food experience, how a blueberry tastes different than a raspberry, for example, depends on the sense of smell.

When we chew food or sip an aromatic beverage, chemicals are converted to vapor in the air passages connecting the mouth with the back of the nose. This stimulates olfactory receptors and allows us to realize the subtleties of flavor. Other aspects of the taste experience, such as food texture and temperature, engage additional senses.

It is interesting that while humans have five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—the knowledge of sight and hearing has played a more important role in understanding how the brain interprets sensory impressions.

However, Dr. Preet Bano Singh, Postdoctoral Fellow on the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Oslo, finds it quite surprising that the senses of taste and smell receive so little attention because taste is actually essential to life.

“If the sense of taste is impaired, it may often negatively affect [a person’s] food intake, nutritional status and consequently health condition. Senses of smell and taste are vital in identification of valuable nutrients in the environment, procurement of adequate energy and central to survival. That is an important reason why research into taste and smell should receive just as much attention as the other senses,” says Dr. Singh.

Although we have been talking about the senses of taste and smell, the enjoyment of food involves more than just these two senses. The different sounds that accompany food preparation, like boiling in a pot, running the blender, a knife slicing through an onion or the timer going off when the food is fully cooked, involves our sense of hearing. Our sense of sight allows us to appreciate the presentation of well-prepared food, including the play of various colors, on our plate. The sense of touch is also involved as the food touches our tongue and we experience the different textures and nuances of the food as we chew.

What a wonderful God we have! We must eat to survive and yet He made not only good, nutritious food, but He did so with such a variety of flavors, and made them in such a way so as to be a pleasant experience in the preparing as much as in the eating.

Yes indeed, what a wonderful God!

Sources: Alimentarium.com; The Dana Foundation; Medicalexpress.com Senses of Taste and Smell More Important Than We Think by Astrid Skiftesvik Bjørkeng, University of Oslo