Health

Health Nugget – The Benefits of Sunlight

by

“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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

Keys to Stress Control

by

It is a simple and obvious fact that the matter of stress control is dependent not merely on the amount of stress, but on the amount of the power to deal with it. A little stress can be fatal if there is nothing with which to deal with it. While a large amount of stress can be met if there is sufficient strength to deal with it.

God is developing a group of people who will go through the greatest period of stress that the world has ever seen. Daniel 12:1, last part, foretells it: “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation … and at that time Your people shall be delivered, everyone who is written in the book.” The great purpose of the threefold message of Revelation 14 is to develop a people who can deal with unprecedented stress. Verse 12 describes these people: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” They are patient, they endure, they do not wilt, they do not faint, they do not fail. They have the faith of Jesus.

God has a program to get His people ready. Ephesians 4:8–14 outlines this program: “… ‘When He [Jesus] ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.’ … He Himself gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the equipping [perfecting] of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

God’s program is meant to get His people ready so they will not be carried about with every wind of doctrine, cunning, or deceitfulness. This program is designed to resist stress and to equip God’s people with the gifts He has for them. Ephesians 4:7 says, “But to each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” That is immeasurable.

God gives us a revelation of His will in the Bible, which if studied and accepted, believed and received, will keep us from all the stresses around us. But to be of any value to us, that book must be of unquestioned authority. It is all or nothing, genuine or counterfeit, true or false. This is the way with every message claiming to come from God. It can either be depended upon fully and completely, or it must be rejected as a base counterfeit.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he said that he had met God there. When Daniel wrote his book, he said he saw visions of God, the angels of God, the Son of God and what he wrote down was what he was told to write. When John wrote the book of Revelation, we find him telling again and again of his interviews with Jesus and Gabriel.

The men who wrote the Bible are either telling the truth or they are not. There can be no neutral ground. It is these gifts that God has put in His church to make us able to meet stresses. When we read the promises of God, whether we read them in Genesis or in the Psalms, in Daniel or Zechariah, Matthew, or scriptures written by Peter or Paul, if God is speaking, we are reading the word of the living God and that has power in it to meet any stress.

Think of promises like: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. But if that is only Isaiah’s view of God, it is an awful offer to make to a poor, sinking soul. If what Isaiah wrote is the true word of the living God, then it is hope and it is quick, powerful, living, and full of help for every struggling soul. The power to meet stress all hinges upon whether or not we find the Bible to be what it claims to be—the word of the living God. And the greater the crisis, the greater must be the power to deal with that stress. God has promised to give us all the power of the living word of God to help in the ever increasing crisis into which we are now entering.

Let us look at the gifts God has given. He gave some to be apostles—Peter, James, John, Matthew; others to be prophets—Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John. The apostle Peter tells us that all wrote by inspiration in 2 Peter 1:21: “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” This statement is either true or false, friends. We may not be prophets, but we can all read the words of the prophets, and share the words of the prophets. When we share the words of the prophets, we are sharing the words written by the men who were moved to do so by the Holy Spirit. If we believe all of this is true, we can meet today’s stresses and those that are coming. If we do not believe, we will be confused and terror stricken as we view the conditions in the world today.

Jesus foretold our time saying, “ ‘… men’s hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ ” Luke 21:26. But God’s people need not be terror stricken. When these things happen, Jesus says, “ ‘… look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.’ ” Luke 21:28. The very things that are filling the hearts of men with fear are the tokens of our deliverance, omens of the coming King. Why? Because we believe the Bible. It is that simple.

All of us, in the various experiences of life—physicians and nurses in the medical profession, parents in the home, teachers at school, missionaries in the field—will deal with many stressful situations that affect our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. But God intends that every one of His people will be able to meet these stresses because he or she is solid in the word of God, knows and believes His promises, and finds them to be true in his or her individual experience. God is developing a group of people who can meet unmoved the coming hurricane-force winds of strife, because they are anchored fast in the word of God.

Here is a very beautiful and practical point. The Bible, which was written by men filled with the Holy Spirit, tells us that in the last days God will have a church particularly designated as the remnant who will not only keep the commandments of God, but also will have this gift of prophecy.

Revelation 12:17 says, “And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Satan was and is enraged. Sometimes he roars and is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he always is seeking to devour the flock, to destroy the church.

What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? Revelation 19:10, last part, tells us, “… For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” It is this Spirit that spoke through the prophets such as Isaiah, Daniel, and John. The whole Bible is the testimony of Jesus. In these last days, the testimony of Jesus will speak again because of the remnant of her seed. Is there anything left after the remnant? No, the remnant is the end, the last of something. We find in Joel 2 and Acts 2 that God speaks of the restoration and manifestation of the prophetic gift in the last days. This gift is to keep the people of God from being tossed about and driven by every wind of doctrine. It keeps them because they believe it 100 percent.

The manifestation of the gift of prophecy in this movement is the testimony of Jesus, but how shall we know? Because Matthew 7:15 says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” The first word in this verse is beware which means to look out, take care, watch. Don’t swallow everything, don’t accept everything. Verse 16 adds, “You will know them by their fruits.” We know if a prophet is true or false by considering their fruit. The fruit is displayed in the lives of those who accept that prophet’s writings. Do people bear good fruit if they accept the Bible as the word of God and follow it? What about the people who accept the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy? Have you accepted them in your life? What kind of fruit do you bear? Does seeing the fruit borne out in the lives of those who wrote and accepted the Bible and the gift of prophecy build confidence in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy and loyalty to the law of God?

What about the great health program that God has given His people through His gift of prophecy? Is that good fruit or bad fruit? Has it done anything for us? Can we testify that we have found in the writings of Ellen White a healthful way of life that we know has done great things for us physically? But far more important than any physical health, far more important than any successful way of life, is what this gift has done to lead people to Jesus. It has given them a deep, sweet, settled peace.

One might say, “I know someone who reads the Testimonies all the time, but that has not made them happy.” There are many people like that. And some people read the Bible, and it does not make them happy. But should we toss away our Bibles and the Testimonies because not everyone finds happiness in them? There are people who have gotten sick eating food, but does that make us quit eating food? When someone gets sick from eating food, it likely is because they need help in proper selection or for some other reason. The answer is not to quit eating food, rather it is to offer help in knowing how, what, and when to eat. It is the same with the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.

Testimonies, vol. 5, 675, 676 tells us: “Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room.” If I want to doubt, will God let me? God left us free to choose belief or doubt. That freedom of the will relates not merely to our actions, but to our beliefs. God will not force our muscles, neither will He compel our minds. “God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence. God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith.” Ibid.

Do you understand everything in the Bible? Do you believe it totally, or do you just believe the parts you can understand? O friend, believe the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We need it all. “… ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4. We should be thankful for the living word. As you keep studying it, it will become sweeter, better, richer to your soul. And we can look forward to continuing our studies with the writers of each book for the endless ages of eternity.

Do you ever find any problems in the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy? They are there. But, friends, the same problems that are in the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy are in the Bible. Show me one problem, one question, one quibble about the writings of Ellen White and I will produce a similar one in the Bible. That does not mean that we question the validity of either one, rather it means that we believe both because we hear Jesus speaking. Somebody says, “Hasn’t there been evidence that some things are copied?” Did you know that there are some things in the Bible that were copied? If you compare all four books of Kings and Chronicles you will find that one copied from the other. If you read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, you will find verse after verse in many of the chapters that are either exactly the same or almost the same. Does the Holy Spirit confine Himself? No. The Holy Spirit is perfectly willing for the prophet to use truth wherever found. The important thing is not that the prophet who wrote it down originated it, but whether it is truth that originated with Jesus.

W.C. White, speaking of his mother, wrote the following in 1933: “In her early experience, when she was sorely distressed over the difficulty of putting into human language the revelations of truth that had been imparted to her, she was reminded of the fact that all wisdom and knowledge comes from God. And she was assured that God would bestow grace and guidance. She was told that in the reading of religious books and journals she would find precious gems of truth expressed in acceptable language and that she would be given help from heaven to recognize these and to separate them from the rubbish of error with which they were sometimes associated.” Praise the Lord for the gift of inspiration. Inspiration is not a matter of God dictating by the Holy Spirit the words as an executive dictates to a secretary. In the Bible we see the prophets being given visions and then left to themselves, aided by the Holy Spirit, to pick out the words they would use to describe the things they saw. God has used many different agencies, including the Holy Spirit and angels, to communicate His word. The important thing is that the final production is the testimony of Jesus.

Bringing all of this back to how it relates to stress, we see that it should make all the difference to us whether we are listening to the testimony of Jesus or whether we are merely reading the ideas of some human being. Test and prove for yourself that the Bible is the voice of Jesus to your soul, and therefore, you will find peace and help, comfort and assurance in the promises contained therein, as well as the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy, for both are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Someone may be thinking, isn’t the Bible enough? Yes, the Bible is enough. In fact, the Bible itself teaches that the ten commandments are enough. Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Genesis to Revelation is an expansion of the law and in the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy we have the divine magnifying glass upon the whole Bible. Thank God for all the help He has given us. He tells us that He will, by His mercy, bring us back onto the path if we will follow Him, and this should cause us to rejoice. What leads to the Bible leads to Christ and obedience to the law. The fruit of it is a people made ready for the coming of the Lord.

Every promise in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is a beautiful, personal promise from Jesus with your name on it. Will you take the promises of God found in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy and claim them and prove them as your own? Will you thank God for them? Jesus says, “And try Me now in this … if I will open for you the windows of heaven and pour for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10, last part. We must not ask only for what we need or want; we must ask for what He promises, believing that God will do all that He has promised to do and thank Him for His wonderful love.

When we need help in knowing that the Bible is God’s word, in knowing that the Spirit of Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, or in knowing how to claim these promises for ourselves, God will help us. With His help we will meet all the stresses of daily life, the increasing stresses of tomorrow, next week, next month, and we will be made ready to meet the great stresses of the closing conflict and to stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, triumphant over all that the enemy has brought against us.

Elder W. D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. He was called to Utah as a gospel medical evangelist. During the Great Depression, when the church could not afford to hire any assistants, Elder Frazee began inviting professionals to join him as volunteers. Thus began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute in 1942. He believed that each person is unique, specially designed by the Lord, of infinite value, and has a special place and mission in this world which only he or she can fill. His life followed this principle and encouraged others to do the same.

Health – The Health Benefits of Singing

by

Many studies done over a number of years have focused on the health benefits of singing, and the evidence is overwhelming: singing is good for you.

Singing strengthens the health, broadens the mind, refines the intellect, expands the imagination, makes one happy and gives life a little added zest.

Singing boosts the immune system by causing the body to generate immunoglobin A, a protein considered a first line of defense against respiratory infections. It also increases the production of hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone.

Singing releases endorphins into your system and makes you feel uplifted and energized. People who sing are frequently healthier than people who don’t.

Singing gives the lungs a workout. It makes us breathe more deeply than many other forms of strenuous exercise. We take in more oxygen and in turn, our aerobic capacity is improved and we can experience a release of muscle tension.

All of these things—a more robust immune system, a happier mood, stronger lungs, reduced stress and improved circulation—can help prolong life.

And, singing is free. Nearly everyone has the ability, if not perfect tone, to sing for their entire lifetime. Greg Cohen of George Washington University tracked a Senior Singers Chorale in Arlington, Virginia. The chorale singers’ average age is 80—the youngest is 65 and the oldest 96. Preliminary data shows the singers suffer less depression, make fewer doctor visits a year, take fewer medications and have increased their other activities. So singing can provide an inexpensive, easily accessible and powerful way to improve physiological and psychological well-being.

Singing starts in infancy. Babies are known to sing to themselves in moments of absolute emotional tranquility. Like the infant, we sing to ourselves because we feel good. We often find ourselves humming along with a tune or singing in the car or the shower which, in turn, makes us feel even better.

Preschool and kindergarten teachers have found that children learn best through singing, and for a long time, have used music to help children learn and remember material. Music is used to engage the children in activities that are associated with the songs they are singing. Music, including singing, also helps to strengthen math skills.

In music therapy, certain sounds benefit particular parts of the body. For example:

  • Singing the short-a sound, as in ahh, will help banish the blues. It forces oxygen into the blood, which signals the brain to release mood-lifting endorphins.
  • To boost alertness, make the long-e sound, as in emit. It stimulates the pineal gland, which controls the body’s biological clock.
  • Singing the short-e sound, as in echo, stimulates the thyroid gland, which secretes hormones that control the speed of digestion and other bodily processes.
  • Singing the long-o sound, as in ocean, stimulates the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar.
  • To strengthen immunity, sing the double-o sound, as in too. This activates the spleen, which regulates the production of infection fighting white blood cells.

So, think about this: when a choir does vocal exercises that include ahh, a, e, o and oo, they are not only developing flexibility and helping to control pitch and tone—which is the purpose of vocalizing—they have just made themselves happy, given themselves a boost of energy, helped to regulate their blood sugar and have strengthened their immune system. This is one of the reasons why choral singers look to be in a state of euphoric happiness when they sing.

So, to summarize here are a few of the health benefits gained from singing:

  • improves mood
  • effective stress reliever
  • improves sleep
  • releases pain-relieving endorphins
  • improves posture
  • increases lung capacity
  • clears the sinuses and respiratory tubes
  • tones your facial and stomach muscles
  • tones abdominal and intercostal muscles and the diaphragm
  • stimulates circulation

And in addition, a few of the emotional and psychological benefits are:

  • strengthens concentration and memory
  • broadens expressive communication
  • adds a rich, more pleasant quality to speech
  • stimulates insight into prose and poetry and piques interest in the deeper meaning of words
  • is an ageless enjoyment—you are never too young or too old
  • is therapeutic
  • improves mental alertness
  • increases poise and presentation skills
  • increases confidence

And the best part is, you don’t have to be a world-class singer to enjoy all of these benefits. Singing enriches the life far beyond notes and music. Add a healthy, new dimension to your life—SING!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

Singing with grace in our hearts to God hymns, scripture songs and uplifting songs of worship are ways we can let the word dwell in us richly. At such times when words alone aren’t enough to convey the depth of our thankfulness or praise to the Lord, singing helps open our heart to Him in a way that words may be difficult to express. So let us sing for health and praise to our God!

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised.” Psalm 96:1–4, first part

Adapted from the following sources: Professor Graham Welch, Director of Educational Research, University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK; Jovita Wallace, Sound Therapist; www.barbershop.org/the-health-benefits-of-singing; Patty Mills, American Academy of Teachers of Singing

Health Nugget – Gratitude

by

How can I sing praises when things are so bad?

“It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy.”

The scientific evidence is conclusive when it comes to mood, outlook, and health. Happy people live 7–10 years longer than unhappy people. Additionally, optimistic people have a 77% lower risk of heart disease than pessimistic people. But how can you be happier and more optimistic in the world we live in today?

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” we are often told. And while it can be hard to avoid self-pity entirely, mentally strong people choose to exchange self-pity for gratitude.

Gratitude is more than just an adjective. It is a habit and practice that may actually change your perception of well-being. We all have the ability and opportunity to cultivate gratitude. Rather than complain about the things we think we deserve, we should take a few moments to focus on all that we have. Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life.

“Gratitude is good medicine,” says Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis and author of The Little Book of Gratitude.

“Clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life. …”

It appears that being grateful is the gift that seriously keeps on giving.

Here’s a simple way to get started:

Write these down before you go to bed or share them around the dinner table. In five minutes, you can practice gratitude from the heart.

  1. Health: What did your body do for you today?

Did you know you take about eight million breaths a year? Your feet can take you up a mountain; your arms can hold someone you love. Take a minute to marvel at the finely-tuned machinery of your body, and be thankful for the steps you take every day to keep it safe and healthy.

  1. Eat: What did you feed your body to nourish yourself today?

Was it an old favorite, something you made or something new and different? If you eat three meals a day, you’ll eat about a thousand meals this year! Take a minute to savor something especially yummy.

  1. Activity: What did you do that you really enjoyed today?

Did you give it your all when exercising, did you finally finish that craft project you started a while ago or did you find a quiet moment while sitting in traffic to reflect? Take a minute to think back on one particularly awesome moment.

  1. Relationship: To whom do you look forward to connecting with?

Is it someone who always has a smile for you, has your back or makes you laugh until you cry, or maybe someone you haven’t seen in a long time? Take a minute to smile as you think about this special person.

  1. Time: What are you doing right now?

Every single day you wake up with 24 brand new hours. The past is history, the future is a mystery and today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present! Take a minute to be thankful for the gift of time.

As God’s children, we will want to appreciate the gifts that He has given to us. Daily we will express our gratitude to Him.

“Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care—these are health’s greatest safeguard.

“The power of the will and the importance of self-control, both in the preservation and in the recovery of health, the depressing and even ruinous effect of anger, discontent, selfishness, or impurity, and, on the other hand, the marvelous life-giving power to be found in cheerfulness, unselfishness, gratitude, should also be shown.

“There is a physiological truth—truth that we need to consider—in the scripture, ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.’ Proverbs 17:22

“The true principles of Christianity open before all a source of inestimable happiness.

“We should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of mind; for our health depends upon our so doing.” My Life Today, 151

Sources: heart.org; perfectmadness.com/blog/not-happy-people-thankful-thankful-people-happy; Powerofpositivity.com and Psychology Today. Amy Morin is a psychotherapist and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

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