Positive-Talk Health

Seeing Through Your Eyes of Faith by Carol DeBlasis

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:44:00 +0000

October 2009 Edition

Mark 2:1-5 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

How blessed the paralytic man was to have had four such wonderful friends! Even though he could not pay back or participate in their faith, they still loved him enough to take him to Jesus. Actually, he could do nothing but be carried along by their love and friendship. But isn’t that exactly like God? Doesn’t He bring people into our lives who can support us, carry us and love us during the times when we are helpless? What a precious benefit of being a part of the Church where Jesus Christ is the Head! Just when we are about to give up hope and “cash it in,” God allows someone to come into our lives who can shine hope on a dead situation and cause faith to grow. Our job, should we choose to accept it, is to receive these friends with the same grace in which they are sent! The paralytic could have become very religious and prideful, and refused the help of his friends and missed the opportunity to be healed by Jesus Christ. Knowing that God never does anything haphazardly, we should never refuse or avoid saints He has sent to rescue or bless us. With The Father involved in every situation, who knows what things might lie ahead when we cooperate with, and trust, the Body of Christ!

I can’t imagine that these four men didn’t have anything better to do than to take their paralytic friend to Jesus. They probably all had families, jobs and responsibilities. Yet, they found the time in their busy day to take their friend to the Healer. And when they did, the Healer honored their faith! Maybe we need to learn a lesson from these four great guys and prioritize our lives based on the Spirit’s call. Do we want to take that extra coffee break or do we want to minister to a single mom who is struggling with life at the desk next to ours? Do we want to hit that next store with the big sale, or do we want to stop by the house of a friend who is ill? Do we want to have a good life, or a full life?

I imagine that I have missed some pretty miraculous opportunities because I turned left when the Spirit said to turn right! Yet God allows us more than one try at getting it right and He gives us opportunity after opportunity to see His glory. He never tires of calling us out of the mundane and into the miraculous. All we have to do is give Him the time it requires to put together a miracle, and since He’s God, that doesn’t take long at all.

Everything He does is done in the twinkling of an eye, so He really does fit into our busy day after all! Salvation, healing, restoration, forgiveness and peace come quickly and easily when faith is in operation and when we give Him the time He requests. Actually, He does all the work, all He requires of us is that we take the time to participate in faith, and watch!

One thing these four men did not lack was tenacity! Have you ever tried carrying someone on a cot? It is not an easy task! Yet these men carried their friend UP on the roof. We must remember that these guys did not have a crane, or a bucket truck, or an elevator.

Somehow or other, through a monumental effort, they got their paralyzed friend up on the roof! And once they got him up there, they tore a hole in the roof big enough to lower him through! Then, they still had to have the strength to lower him down in front of Jesus!

Good grief! How they must have loved their friend! Apparently they were determined that they were NOT going to carry him home! And think of the poor paralytic, how uncomfortable he must have been slipping and sliding all over the place, with no control over his situation at all! What an amazing drama! Yet, this story teaches us that no matter if we are the bearer, or the born, it takes perseverance to see the wondrous acts of Jesus. And all five of these men were willing to do, and to suffer, whatever was required to hear Jesus say "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

They never gave up, but were determined to participate in a miracle together as friends. How they must have rejoiced during the walk home! I imagine they created quite a scene, telling everyone that their friend had been completely restored by Jesus, while he jumped and cavorted for everyone to see! Yet isn’t that what love, grace, fellowship, perseverance and faith are all about? Aren’t we to esteem one another more than ourselves and to carry one another’s burdens?

It is our great privilege to pray and believe for one another. And even though we may never be required to tear through a roof, we can always “raise the roof” with our tenacious prayers and petitions for all of those we call friends! And then, when Jesus sees our faith, He will be moved to action, and we can rejoice together over the wonders of our God!

Treat Your Body As Your Temple by Laura Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:51:00 +0000

(photo: Laura Johnson) September 2009 Edition

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

When I think of my body as a temple, I realize how important it is to take care of myself. Eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, keep stress in check. These days, we are being bombarded with messages from the media about losing weight. The culture says weight is bad. At the same time as we are fighting the “war on obesity,” eating disorders are becoming an epidemic. How can this be? Some people think that dieting is the culprit.

A diet can be defined as overly restrictive eating based on external rules. Instead of being in tune with your body, you count calories or points, you limit the variety of food you eat (“no bread” or “no sugar”), you fast and call it “cleansing,” to name just a few of the ways we deprive our body and make food the enemy.

Healthy eating can cross the threshold into an obsession. It’s even got a name: orthorexia nervosa, which means taking the concept of healthy eating to an extreme. I had a co-worker many years ago who would announce to everyone in the office exactly what she had eaten: “20 almonds for a snack” or “a spinach salad with 1-1/2 egg whites, 7 walnuts and 8 cranberries for lunch.” This was a tall, thin auburn-haired Julia Roberts. She was proud of herself for her ability to control exactly what went into her body. At the time, I admired her resolve and I felt like a failure because I didn’t have her control.

On the other hand, many women put their life on hold until “I just lose that extra 20 pounds.” They think they’ll get a promotion, people will like them more or the man of their dreams will appear. In January, Oprah beat herself up on her television show for gaining 40 pounds. I saw a successful, vibrant, gorgeous woman. Heck, she’s a billionaire. Yet, she discounted all her accomplishments and practically called herself a failure because she had gained weight.

Diets do work. If you take in fewer calories than your body needs, you will lose weight. The problem is that our bodies are designed to preserve weight. As soon as our body feels it is starving, nature will kick in and try to get you to eat more. I always wondered why, as soon as I started a diet, within just a few days, I’d be craving all my forbidden foods: chocolate, pasta, bread, pizza. It seemed not only that my body was rebelling but my mind was too. As soon as your mind knows something is “off limits,” it wants it even more. The mere thought of going on a diet made me want to go soothe myself at Carvel with a large, soft vanilla ice cream cone. I’d tell myself, “just one last time and tomorrow I’ll start my diet.”

If dieting is not the answer, then what is? There are a few general concepts that I have learned in my own recovery and my counseling work with people with eating disorders.

• Focus on healthy behavior, not weight. The number on the scale is an external indicator and some people's natural healthy weight may be higher than the cultural standards or the body mass index (BMI) charts. Measure success on leading a healthy balanced lifestyle and a full life in the service of God instead of a number on the scale.

• Learn to eat mindfully. Savor your meals with intention and joy. Say grace and thank God before every meal. Try to get in touch with internal cues like hunger and fullness. After years of dieting, many people can’t read their body signals. Know that mindful eating takes practice. Prayer and meditation can help you get in touch with your deeper self.

• Eat a variety of foods. Nothing is off limits. If you want a piece of chocolate, eat it mindfully and enjoy your experience with all of your five senses: smell the chocolate aroma, feel the smooth texture, let it melt in your mouth. Many people report that they feel more satisfied and actually eat less when they eat mindfully.

• Make sure you eat breakfast and eat enough throughout the day to reduce your impulse to binge after dinner. It’s common for people to skip breakfast, eat a salad for lunch, then get home and “relax” by eating sweets in a compulsive manner.

• When you feel the urge to overeat, ask yourself, “What do I really feel right now” and “What can I do to take care of myself?” Are you bored, lonely, sad, or anxious? Did you deprive yourself so much all day that you are craving a sugar fix? What can you do instead of eating sugary snacks to take care of yourself? Can you take a bubble bath? Read a book? Listen to relaxing music? Sip tea? Call a friend? Write in a journal? Read the bible?

• Get a life. Food can be a comforting friend and it's something to do that can take your mind off your pain and worries. Don’t postpone your life until you lose that “extra 20 pounds.” Go to Italy, ride a bicycle, wear shorts. Do it now. A confident person is more attractive than a skinny one.

• Be positive. Look in the mirror and celebrate your curves, admire your eyes, love your lips and hips. If your self-talk about your body is negative, I can guarantee it will be much more difficult to achieve peace with your body and to stop compulsive overeating.

• Love yourself just as you are today. What if you never lose the extra weight? Can you live your life the way God intended, with the extra weight and all? Can you start, today, to more fully love yourself in spite of the extra pounds? God loves you just as you are. He did not put you on this earth so you can obsess about your weight and shape.

I believe God has a plan for you. It includes treating your body as your temple, living your life in His service and loving yourself as He loves you.

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:37:00 +0000

A Lender Not A Borrower by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:23:00 +0000

August 2009

Over the last year and a half, we’ve talked a lot about physical and spiritual health. However, we have not yet touched on another very important area – our financial health.
Many of us are going through an extremely difficult season financially. So I’d like to focus for a minute on what God has to say about our finances.

The Bible mentions money more than 800 times! So, you can be sure that God knows just how important our finances are and He cares deeply about how we handle our money.
We are expected to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us – our bodies, our families, our homes, our jobs and our finances. Only when we demonstrate that we have been faithful with a little, will God entrust us with more.

Proverbs 22 verse 7 states that: “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

God does NOT want us to be a servant to the lender. He doesn’t want us to carry any debt. Yet most of us are carrying far too much debt and living paycheck to paycheck.
Proverbs 21:20 “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

I don’t know about you – but I don’t want to devour all that I have. I want to be able to save for retirement, for a “rainy day” and I want to leave an inheritance for my daughter.
Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his childrens’ children.” God wants us to provide for our family and to leave behind an inheritance for our grandchildren!

There are no easy answers to getting out of debt, to saving for retirement and for being able to leave an inheritance for our childrens’ children. However there are some very good Bible-based financial courses and books that you can look into.

Crown Financial Ministries has been helping people to handle money God’s way for many years. They offer books, financial courses in your community, audio CD’s and more. They even offer a book for children on How to Handle Money God’s way. Check them out at www.crown.org

Dave Ramsey is a financial expert who has several books on managing our finances the way God intends for us to. He also offers a course entitled Financial Peace University. The course is offered all over the country at churches and various locations. You can look into it at http://www.daveramsey.com/

Finally, no matter what your financial health is at the moment – whether you’re in times of plenty or a time of need, God does care. He does not want you to struggle and barely get by. God is our Great provider, our Great Redeemer, our Great Physician and He loves to see His children doing well.

Matthew Chapter 6 verse 33: (New International Version) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

When we seek God’s kingdom and we are living according to God’s will, He will provide all that we need. That means we can count on God for everything – including a financially healthy life! Join me on the journey to be a lender and not a borrower!
Wishing you all of God’s blessings!

Confessions of a Night-Time Nosher by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:27:00 +0000

July 2009 Edition

My daughter is tucked into her bed, fast asleep, dreaming of sugar plums. I’m wide awake but dreaming simply of sugar! Ice cream perhaps, oreo cookies that I bought for my daughter’s lunch, something… anything chocolate. Yes, I admit it – I’m a night-time nosher!
I looked up “nosh” in the online dictionary and it says the following: “A Yiddish word for a light meal or snack.”

OK, so I’m a B-I-G night-time nosher!

I’m so “good” all day long, staying true to my commitment to take off the 20 extra pounds that I lug around. I exercise at the gym 3-4 times a week, I eat a small but healthy breakfast, a sensible lunch, a healthy dinner of fish or chicken and veggies for me and my daughter. But then it happens. The sun goes down, the stresses of the day replay in my mind, the house is quiet and suddenly the desire to sabotage all of my hard work builds to a crescendo as the goodies in the pantry “call my name.”

It usually starts with a little white lie I tell myself. I’m just going to have a very small portion to satisfy my craving, then I’ll stop obsessing about the need for a little something sweet.
It begins innocently. But soon, I am refilling my icecream bowl, I’m going back for more oreos, I’m making yet another batch of popcorn or dipping into a bag of chips over and over again.
Why would I do this? My guess is that on some level I am keeping myself “safe.” How so? Well, I have come to realize that relationships (especially the romantic kind) are very hard, sometimes very stressful and they scare me.

I have dug deep inside and I think that if I am carrying 20 extra pounds around, perhaps men won’t find me attractive, therefore I won’t have to worry about dating. If I don’t have to worry about dating, I don’t have to worry about another failed relationship. I won’t have to worry about all of the energy it takes to date, to get to know another person, to get “involved.”
If I’m carrying around this extra weight, I’m “safe” from all of that. There have been too many hurts in the past five years to put myself “out there” and take another chance on love. Only….guess what? Life without a partner can be lonely. Life without taking chances can be boring. Life with these extra 20 pounds makes me feel icky.

So, I’m going to practice what I preach. I am starting anew. I am believing what God says about me.

What does God say? First of all, He says I am a conqueror and I will triumph over my fears and those things that hold me back.

Proverbs 28 verse 12: (NIV) When the righteous triumph, there is great elation.
God says that He is with me in my times of trouble.
Psalm 9 verse 9: (NIV) The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
God says that I deserve good things. He says that I deserve to love and be loved.
Psalm 23 verse 6: (NIV) Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
So I ask myself. Can I really do it? Can I stop the night-time noshing and lose the extra pounds? Am I worth it? The answer is a resounding Y-E-S!.
God says I’m more precious than rubies.

Proverbs 31 verse 10: A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
I CAN do this. But I can’t do it alone. I need God’s help. So I am praying, I am asking Him to strengthen me. I’m going to defeat the whispers of the enemy when he tries to sneak up on me after the sun goes down. So, watch out enemy. You don’t stand a chance against my God.

I CAN do this. And if you need to get healthier and drop some weight, you can do it too.
Join me in this journey. I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing. Please let me know how you’re doing. I’m praying for you.

Are Your Hormones Making You Sick? by Patricia L. Peters, D.O.

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:55:00 +0000

June 2009 edition
Photo: Dr. Patricia L. Peters

We all know that the body we were given is the only one we’ll ever have. So, we owe it to ourselves to take care of the temple – our body – that God blessed us with.

1 Corinthians Chapter 6 verses 19 and 20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

One of the many ways we can honor our body is by staying ahead of the game. Traditional medicine has been focused on “disease treatment” while the American public is demanding – and is greatly in need of -- “disease prevention.”

Aging and how we look at aging is changing. As we age, there is a natural loss of the youthful production of hormones. Women lose their estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Men lose their youthful levels of testosterone. Both lose DHEA and many women – and some men – are affected by loss of thyroid function.

All these hormones are vitally important in disease prevention and maintaining a “zest for life.”

Traditionally, non bio-identical hormones have been prescribed. Non bio-identical hormones simply should not be prescribed. In fact, now we know how harmful they can be – leading to problems such as blood clots, stroke, heart attacks and cancer issues. Yet, many physicians will prescribe them on a short-term basis to help with initial symptoms of menopause. There are many safer and wiser regimes that benefit patients who are experiencing symptoms of menopause.

Bio-identical hormone replacement is available and can restore your hormones to the healthy levels of a 25-year-old. Replacing all of our deficient hormones – thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and melatonin to levels in our twenties is beneficial to both our health and quality of life.

Aging has been accepted as a natural event that cannot be altered. This is not true.

With bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and proper lifestyle along with nutritional supplementation, we are able to age with the vibrancy of youth. Loss of your hormones will cause fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, elevation of cholesterol, bone loss, decrease in sexual function and desire.

Specifically, estrogen deficiency causes hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, bladder problems, difficulty concentrating and anxiety.

Unfortunately, disease – such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s – only increase in the absence of estrogen.

Progesterone is produced by the ovaries and is used to balance estrogen. It too can safely and effectively relieve menopausal symptoms, protect against cancer, prevent osteoporosis and improve overall well-being.

Physicians have been accustomed to prescribing the synthetic brand Progestin (Brand Provera) and clearly this was the culprit in the increased incidence of breast cancer.

Natural progesterone enhances the action of estrogen and the hormones work together. Testosterone is for men and women. It is responsible for the sex drive of both men and women. As testosterone diminishes with age, so does the sexual functioning in both men and women. Restoring testosterone to youthful levels can reverse this situation.

Studies now show that replacement with natural testosterone results in decreased total cholesterol and increased HDL (the good part of the cholesterol). Patients see additional benefits in increased energy, increased stamina and an elevated mood.

A study from UC San Diego not only showed that men with higher baseline levels of testosterone had less cardiovascular disease, but supplementing to youthful levels prevented worsening of cardiovascular disease. Supplementation helps reduce obesity, raise lean body mass, normalize blood clotting and raise the good HDL cholesterol – all of which decrease the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also prevents cognitive decline and reduced C – reactive protein levels (CRP) a measurement of inflammation in blood vessels. Testosterone protected against heart attacks and progression of heart disease.

The summary article from the “New England Journal of Medicine,” January 2004, found “decades of reviewed research found no evidence that testosterone therapy causes prostrate cancer.”

Testosterone was found to protect against heart disease and is a beneficial and safe hormone.

Actress Suzanne Somers writes in her book “The Sexy Years” [on her comments on testosterone], “I feel so much like a woman again. I have plenty of energy and sex is like what it was at age 20.”

This hormone is critically important for a woman to physically and emotionally healthy. Replacement of testosterone in women, restores their libido, restores energy, strengthens bones, helps in the prevention of osteoporosis, improvement of overall well-being and zest for life.

Testosterone improves women’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and joints. Remember, it is only natural testosterone that does all these good things. DHEA or Dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and with age, decreases.

DHEA improves the function of the immune system, improves brain function, relieves stress and has been shown to be a very potent anti-cancer supplement.

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and is critically connected to deep stages of sleep. It is in these deep stages of sleep that our immune system is stimulated. The pineal gland controls the activities of virtually every cell in the body.

If published scientific studies show a natural hormone supplement can boost immune sleep patterns and possibly slow the aging process, then I feel most people should be taking melatonin as a supplement.

Thyroid function commonly declines with age and the conversion of the circulating T4 to the active form of Thyroid T3 also declines. Measuring the active form T3 can guide physicians on the need for replacement.

Everyone deserves a balanced regime of their hormones and to be given the bio-identical form given in the correct method. Dr. Neal Rouzier’s book “How to Achieve Healthy Aging,” covers this eloquently. He discusses the evidence behind bio-identical hormones and why everyone should replace hormones.

In short, we should all look, live and feel fantastic after 40 with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Patricia L. Peters D.O. is Board Certified in Family Practice. Her Live Younger Longer with Dr. Peters practice is located at 2218 Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines. To schedule a Free consultation with Dr. Peters, call 954.612.2112 or email her at liveyoungerlonger@yahoo.com For more information, visit Dr. Peters’ website at http://www.liveyoungerlongerwithdrpeters.com/

Laughter is the Best Medicine of All by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:43:00 +0000

May 2009 Edition

It’s been said that laughter is good for the soul. But did you know that it is SO good for us that it also is known to help us:

Reduce Stress
Lower Blood Pressure
Elevate Mood
Boost Immune System
Improve Brain Functioning
Protect the Heart
Connect You to Others
Foster Instant Relaxation
Make You Feel Good

That’s quite a list of benefits! So how do we get more laughter into our lives, especially when times are tough?

For starters, being connected is a key component in the happiness factor. We were not placed here on earth to be isolated. Sure, some alone time is healthy and we all need it now and then, but we also need to be with others and we need to hang around with people who build us up and encourage us.

We also can benefit from trying to see the humor in certain situations rather than letting those situations get the best of us.

I can recall a personal experience that happened about 4 years ago. At the time, it felt like the world was caving in on me. Looking back at that situation now, I am able to see the humor.

When my daughter was about 4 years old, she got her finger stuck inside of a bubble blowing apparatus while playing in the bathtub. It was a long, cylinder shaped plastic tube.

At first we tried all of the usual tricks, using soap, then cooking oil, then Vaseline, but her finger would just not budge. In fact, the more we tried to get her finger out of the bubble blower, the more her finger swelled up and the worse it got.

I finally had to call 911 and 4 paramedics showed up at the house a short time later. By this time my daughter was out of the bathtub and crying, while begging me to help her. It was an awful helpless feeling.

The paramedics tried everything they could think of and still we could not get my daughter’s finger out of that contraption. Finally, one of the paramedics went to the truck and retrieved a ring-cutter. He worked carefully with the ring-cutter for nearly 30 minutes to cut the thick plastic tube from around Isabella’s finger. When the plastic fell away and her finger was freed, you would have thought this paramedic was Santa Claus!

We all applauded their efforts, and my daughter even asked if she could take some pictures with the paramedics!

At the time, I felt desperate, helpless, and I even worried about my daughter losing her finger!

However, now this is one of our favorite family stories and we laugh about it today!

One of the ways we can find more joy is to lean on the Lord. He wants us to feel joy, contentment and happiness. What’s more – when we are filled with joy, God takes great pleasure in seeing us laugh, smile and share that joy with others.

Have you ever noticed how laughing is contagious? Sometimes I even laugh at my own jokes and they usually aren’t that funny, trust me! But the friends I’m with see me laughing and then before I know it, they start laughing too. Before too long, we are holding our sides to keep them from splitting because we’re laughing so hard!

Psalm 126 verses 1-3 (New International Version) When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

This is exactly what God wants for us – a life that is filled to the brim with joy, laughter, health and abundance. If your life needs more laughter, more joy, more happiness, ask God. He is listening!

The Four Horsemen by Laura Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Photo: Marshall and Laura Johnson

In chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation, the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” are the precursors of destruction to come, representing Conquest, War, Famine and Death. John Gottman, a psychologist in Seattle, WA, has done extensive research on couples' relationships and has determined that there are four very destructive elements that can wreak havoc in a relationship. These are criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. Like in the Bible, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in a relationship can predict the destruction to come. I believe God wants us to be happy and have a loving relationship with our partner. I believe God calls us to treat our partner in a way that is the opposite of these Four Horsemen, that is, with admiration, respect, openness, and listening.

Growing up, I didn’t have the advantage of positive role models in marriage. My parents divorced when I was seven. I still remember that day my mother kicked my father out of the house. I heard screaming, much louder than I was used to hearing, and I was used to hearing them fight. I knew something was really wrong. I knew they were breaking up. I don’t know how, as a seven year old, I knew this, but I did. I remember telling myself, “Go, get up, go stop their fighting,” but I was paralyzed to move. Later, I’d feel guilty, like it was my fault they got divorced. Eventually, as I matured, I’d come to realize it wasn’t my fault but that feeling of fear and helplessness stayed with me for many years. As I watched both my mother and father remarry other people (in fact, my dad has been married three times), I saw them repeating the same mistakes. Neither one was ever happy in their marriages. The Four Horsemen surrounded me until I was 18 and finally moved out to college.

I vowed in my childhood that I would not get divorced. The pain of my parent’s divorce, their subsequent re-marriages and continued marital turmoil was all I could bear in one lifetime. Yet, I desperately craved a husband and a loving, stable marriage. For years, that’s what I searched for. It wasn’t until I was 40 that I met my husband-to-be. I realize now that the years spent alone were years that helped me mature and heal from my childhood so I would be ready to treat my husband with admiration, respect, openness and listening. I don’t think I could have been a good wife any other way. God gave me these many years on my own so I could keep the Four Horsemen away.

In my own marriage, what has helped me to get along well with my husband has been to recognize that his strengths far exceed his weaknesses, to appreciate him for who he is and his good qualities, while not worrying too much about his weaknesses. In the past, I would nitpick at my relationships, looking at what was wrong, perhaps as a way to protect myself from my fear of marrying the wrong person and getting divorced. Now I look at what is right. Most of us are just human, with strengths and weaknesses. My husband accepts me as I am and I accept him as he is. I think that's why we don't always agree but we always respect each other and treat each other with respect. We have built a stable outside of our home where the Four Horseman stay.

Instead, we try to practice what the Bible says about love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13:
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
And now faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.

Positively Healthy in Mind, Body and Spirit by Laura Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:17:00 +0000

(Photo: Marshall and Laura Johnson)

As part of my New Year’s resolution to get healthier, my husband and I joined a walk/run group based on the Galloway method. Jeff Galloway was an Olympic runner who advocates that anyone can run a marathon if they take frequent walk breaks, even as little as running 30 sec and walking one minute. Our goal is to do the half-marathon course at the San Francisco Marathon in July.

On a Friday evening the day after New Year’s, I dragged my husband to the orientation session. My husband had never been a runner and I tried the run/walk method 10 years ago, until I injured myself when I reached 14 miles. In spite of that, I had good memories of the feeling I got from running, the stress melting away with each stride.

As we entered the running store, I scanned for others who looked like me. While there must have been 75 people in the store, I only saw a couple of people who were overweight. I didn’t feel like I belonged here. As we approached the registration table to pick up the program literature, a tall, slender gentleman named John smiled and asked me, “Can I answer any questions for you?” Hesitantly, I responded, “I want to give this program another try but I tend to get injured.” I explained to him how I was doing 5/1s – running 5 minutes and walking 1 minute – and he replied, “That was your first mistake. Our fastest group is a 3/1 and we have groups as gentle as :30/1.” John continued, “Anyone can do this. I started in the slowest group just one year ago and now I am averaging a 7 minute mile including walk breaks.” I thought, Yeah, but you are probably a natural runner. Look at your long legs and slim body. Instead, I said, “I also didn’t do all the mid-week runs.” John said, “If you do the program exactly as described, which is two 30 minute runs during the week and one long run with the group on Saturday mornings, then you won’t get injured and I guarantee you can do it.” Hmm, I thought, of course you can do it. Me, I am not so sure. I smiled and thanked him for his time.

My husband and I took a seat on one of the benches set up for the presentation. John stood up to tell his story. “One year ago, I was 50 pounds overweight and had diabetes,” he said. Wait a minute, I thought, he’s not a natural runner. I was wrong. He’s just like me, or at least he used to be just like me. He continued, “When I turned 40, I decided I needed to make a change in my life.” Now I was hooked. I listened intently as John finished his story and the next speaker, his wife, shared her story.

Later, Jenny, the program director, spoke about how she got involved with this group as a participant and became the leader two years ago. She said she wasn’t a runner when she started and she has two nearly grown children. While her words were just as inspirational as John’s, it was the way her eyes smiled that communicated the truth of her message. She emanated such joy from her very being that I wondered if she was a Christian -- or was it the endorphins from running? And while Jenny was beautiful inside and out, she wasn’t much taller than me nor was she rail thin like the runners you see out on the trails.

As I listened to the stories of overcoming physical challenges, I realized that I wasn’t being stopped by the limitations of my body. No, it was my mind. I had been filling my head with negative thoughts about what I could and couldn’t do – and I had been using a method that was too aggressive for my body: running too fast, too long and not often enough. No wonder I couldn’t do it before. This group was filled with amazing people who had transformed themselves from overweight individuals with chronic health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol to healthy, vibrant, joyful runner/walkers. I felt excited about being around such joyful people.

We are now in the fourth week of the run/walk program. My group – the purple group - completed five miles this past weekend by alternating 30 seconds of running with one minute walk breaks. More important, my husband and I remain injury-free and feel good during and after every run/walk. I look forward to waking up at 6:15 am several times a week to run/walk in the chilly Northern California mornings with my husband. Last week, my husband was so giddy after a run that he laughed for ten minutes straight, which is quite unlike him, a usually reserved person. While our external goal is to run/walk the half-marathon at the San Francisco Marathon in July, my real goal this year is to be healthy and fit in my mind, body and spirit and to be able to radiate the peace and joy I feel inside.

In Jeff Galloway’s newsletter (January, 2009), he writes, “When humans are faced with uncertainty in major areas of life, as now, we tend to ask deep questions, such as ‘what is really important?’ Happiness tends to rise to the top of most lists, and runners tend to be happier than others, according to various studies. When the pace is gentle enough, there is an inner peace that can be drawn from each run that is simple and powerful.”

I am seeking the inner peace that comes from the boost in endorphins from running yet I know it’s more than that. As a Christian, I know that the secret to happiness is to listen to God's word because it is through Him that one finds joy and peace. I not only want to be strong in body, but also in my mind and soul. I want to find that place where my roots are so deeply planted that I am not swayed off-course by the turbulent winds of this world.

The Bible says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, New International Version).”

Your Spiritual Health by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:21:00 +0000

This month’s column takes a special look at another aspect of our health – our spiritual health.

Physicians today are finally realizing and acknowledging that our physical health is linked to our mental and spiritual health. There is a mind-body connection that is incredibly powerful.

If one aspect of our lives is out of alignment, it is likely to have a ripple effect on other parts of our lives. If we are working 10-12 hour days, how can we feel good physically? How can we be spiritually connected if we are ignoring our temple?

If our bodies are fighting disease, how can we be happy? If you look at the word disease, it is dis-ease. If there is an uneasiness in our hearts, our lives our relationships, it can and will affect our health eventually.

However, while not all diseases can be cured, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God is the Great Physician, He is the Great Healer, the Great I Am.

When Jesus walked the earth, He healed the sick, the crippled, He even raised the dead.

If we are spiritually dead, we surely will feel it physically. I know that in my own life, when I suffered a miscarriage, a long bout of depression ensued along with a long bout of chronic pain. I had no idea that the two were linked. The more depressed I became the worse the chronic pain got and the worse the chronic pain got, my depression worsened. It was a vicious cycle.

God delivered me from that chronic pain and depression. It is what brought me to know Him.

I do not want you or anyone in your life to suffer and what more important, God does not want you to suffer.

He wants to make you whole. God wants your life to be blessed, filled with joy and with peace and with love.

Psalm 103 verses 1-5: Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”

I know that the nearer I draw to God the more I feel at ease. In this new year, 2009, I want to encourage you to focus on your spiritual as well as your physical health.

God is listening to your prayers. He wants to know you more. I pray all great things for you in this new year.

May God bless you, now and always.

Jump for Joy Over Your Health by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:47:00 +0000

(Photo: left to right - Isabella, Chelsey and Jenny jump for joy!)

Is your blood pressure a little too high? Cholesterol levels out of wack? Feeling lethargic, over-worked, stressed out and no energy or time for working out?

If so, this is NOT a club any of us wants to belong to!

And then there’s the “in-the-dark” club, of which I confess I AM a member. I’m in the dark about what my blood pressure is and what my cholesterol levels reflect.

I’ve been working out regularly (3-4 times per week) for the past few months and I do feel more energetic, calmer and I am sleeping wonderfully at night. I’ve been eating more fruits and vegetables and protein and paying more attention to my body’s natural cues when I’m eating so that I don’t overeat. And I’ve been taking a supplement for a year now called Juice Plus, which is comprised of 17 fruits and vegetables – living micronutrients that are actually “juiced” out of the fruits and veggies! At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, I have noticed a difference in my hair, skin and nails. I’m also (dare I say it) “regular” because of Juice Plus and I have not had a single cold in the year that I’ve been taking this wonderful product. I love the product so much I have become a distributor of Juice Plus. So, if you ARE interested in learning more about it, please send me an email.

In writing this article, however, I realize I’m now about six months or more overdue for my annual checkup!

Yikes! How did that happen?

I guess I have succumbed to the theory that “I’ll get around to it,” because nothing seems to “be wrong” right now.

That is just not acceptable. So, I am making an appointment for December to see my primary care physician in order to get that much-needed checkup.

I did go for a pap smear in July of 2008 and I also went for my mammogram the same month. All results came back “normal.”

But I should know if I’m at risk for heart disease or any other illnesses.

How about you? Are you jumping for joy over your health?

If so, that’s terrific! I salute and congratulate you! If not, won’t you please join me by making an appointment with your physician for a check-up. If you’re a woman and you’re over the age of 40, please make an appointment for your annual mammogram. And if you are a woman18 years of age or older, please make sure you are getting an annual pap smear.

God wants us to live abundant, prosperous, healthy lives. He has great plans for you and for me, but if we’re not healthy, we cannot do all that He has planned for us.

So, go make that appointment and write to me to let me know that you’re on the path to great health in 2009!

Love and blessings!

The Journey by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:43:00 +0000

Photo Left (Alexa, Carrie and Austin)

Photo Right (Carrie getting ready to train for her next duathlon)

Sometimes, a journey that begins in one direction, leads you on an entirely different path. Case in point.

A few years ago, my friend Carrie Smith, a former gymnast, an athlete, mother of two beautiful children, and all around go-getter, decided she wanted to take off a few pounds.

She enrolled in a weight loss program and within just about three months, took off more than 30 pounds!

Smith stuck to the program and as the pounds began to come off, she became more energized. This increase in energy and self-esteem led her to begin a workout regimen. The workout regimen led Smith to enter her first duathlon, (a running, biking, running event).

Several duathlon’s later -- many of which have included Smith taking home first place -- she has discovered a new-found love, which really is a love she has known all along.

It’s a love for and of herself. The love of taking care of herself, eating right, exercising regularly and challenging herself.

“When I’m running, or biking, I feel free,” says Smith. “I love to compete, to challenge myself and to work toward improving my timing with each race. I feel one with God when I’m running or biking.”

These days, Smith is still a busy working mom, trying to meet the demands of a hectic schedule on a day-to-day basis. However, she realizes that her fitness is completely connected to her sense of well-being.

“When I am taking care of myself, I’m setting a good example for my children,” says Smith. “I want them to grow up and take good care of themselves, and I want to be around for a long time. This is a life-long commitment. There’s no easy fix. It’s hard work and dedication.”

Challenge Yourself by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Have you challenged yourself lately? If you’re like me, your life challenges you on a daily basis. Our hectic lifestyles challenge us to get our “to do” lists accomplished, to get the kids to school on time, to get to work on time, to get the grocery shopping done, the dinner made, the errands done, and on and on and on it goes.
But this month, the challenge I want you to take is one that concerns your health. I recently challenged myself to get into the gym four-to-five times each week. I’m three weeks into the challenge and so far, so good. I am feeling great, feeling more fit, feeling more energized every day.
That challenge to myself led to something even more challenging. I “happened” to receive some information in the mail on an up-coming marathon (and half-marathon) in January, 2009. I’ve signed up to participate! I will do the half-marathon, but the best part is this event benefits the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
I’m excited to train for the 13 miles I’ll be walking, and I’m excited about recruiting a few friends who want to join me for this worthwhile cause.
If it’s not a marathon or half marathon you want to try, how about challenging yourself to a 30-minute walk after dinner each night, or riding your bike at least three times a week, or getting into the gym more, swimming a few laps each day, or eating smaller portions at mealtime, eating more fruits and veggies, etc. I’d love to hear how you have challenged yourself in a positive way and the positive difference it is making in your life. So how about it? Are you up for a Positively Healthy challenge?

Healthy and Simple Recipes for Your Busy Life by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:40:00 +0000

Since August is an especially busy time for parents who are readying their kids for the new school year, I thought I would keep it simple and offer some very healthy, yet quick and simple recipes for you and your family.

I would like to encourage you and your family to sit down at mealtime and eat dinner together.

I grew up in a large family of six, yet we always sat down together for dinner (without the television on), and we conversed. I credit my mom for making sure we always had a healthy meal and for bringing us together at the dinner table.

Eating together as a family is one of the best things you can do for your family. Studies have even shown that eating dinner together at the table strengthens the bond between parents and their children.

The recipes I am sharing with you have been taken from a book called, The 3-Hour Diet Cookbook by Jorge Cruise, New York Times bestselling author of The 3-Hour Diet.

These three simple recipes offer something for everyone. Honoring our bodies by taking care of them with proper diet and exercise is also honoring God. And I guarantee that when God sees families sitting together at the dinner table and enjoying each other’s company, it brings a smile to His face. Bon Apetit!

Tuna, Bean and Vegetable Salad

Small white beans, such as navy beans, pack the protein into this hearty tuna salad. Beans are high in starch, protein, and dietary fiber and are an excellent source of iron and folic acid.

Makes 4 Servings

One 6-ounce pouch or can of water-packed tuna, drained
One 15-ounce can small white beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup sugar snap peas
1cup shredded carrots
½ cup chopped red onion, about ½ medium
4 cups mixed salad greens
¾ cup fat-free ranch dressing
2 tablespoons canned sliced black olives, drained

Mix tuna, beans, sugar snaps, carrots, onion, and salad greens in a large bowl.
Toss with salad dressing and divide equally among four plates.
Top each with ½ tablespoon black olives and serve.

Shrimp Fajita Stir-Fry

Stir-frying is a valuable technique to learn because very little oil is necessary and the food cooks very quickly. To save even more time, buy precut stir-fry vegetables; they’re sold near the bagged salad mixes in most supermarkets.

Makes 4 Servings

4 teaspoons canola oil
2 red bell peppers, cut into strips
1green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 large onion, sliced
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice, about 2 limes
12 ounces cooked shrimp (thawed if frozen)
Four 6-inch flour tortillas
½ cup nonfat sour cream
½ cup prepared salsa

Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat and add the oil.
Add the bell peppers, onion, and tomatoes to the wok and stir fry until tender, 5 minutes.
Stir together the garlic, pepper, salt, paprika, soy sauce, and lime juice in a small bowl, and then add to the wok, stirring to coat the vegetables in the sauce.
Add the shrimp and cook until heated through 1 to 2 minutes.
Divide the shrimp mixture equally among four plates and serve with one tortilla, 1 tablespoon sour cream, and 2 tablespoons salsa.

Hot Open-Faced Roast Beef Sandwich

Thin, lean slices of beef are sautéed with onions and mushrooms to create a mouthwatering sandwich. A light vegetable salad rounds out this meal.

Makes 4 Servings

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
½ cup sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons onion soup mix
½ cup low-sodium beef broth
12 thin slices lean roast beef
4 cups romaine salad blend
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cucumber, chopped
¾ cup low-fat balsamic vinaigrette
4 slices whole grain bread

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the oil.
Add the onion and mushrooms to the skillet and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the onion soup mix and broth. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add the roast beef and simmer 1 to 2 minutes more or until heated through.
Meanwhile, toss the salad blend with the tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, and dressing in a large bowl. Divide evenly among four salad plates.
Toast the bread and place one slice on each of four plates.
Place three slices of roast beef on each piece of toast. Spoon the pan juices and mushrooms over the sandwiches.
Serve each person one sandwich and one salad.

Enjoy!

Rejuvenate, Revitalize and Restore Your Mind, Body and Soul by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:27:00 +0000

So, what have you done for YOU lately? Sounds strange, right? It even looks a bit strange after writing it. Is that even a “Godly” thing to do – think about yourself and focus on doing for yourself? Absolutely!

We are supposed to take care of our mind, body and spirit. If one of these is not doing well, everything else will suffer too.

Now that summer is in full swing – it’s time to focus on having a bit of good, healthy fun. It’s time to take a trip, to go to lunch with friends, to take a day or two or more off from work.

Taking care of ourselves – whether it’s a trip with friends or the family, or a trip to a nearby spa – is essential in order for us to recharge and revitalize our mind, body and spirit.

If you’re like most, you feel there aren’t enough hours in the day – you are running here and there and everywhere, trying to meet deadlines and take care of the every day “half-to-do” items on your list.

It’s time to think about doing something just for you. In fact, each and every day we should take at least 30 minutes for ourselves – it’s a timeout just for you. Whether it’s reading God’s word, relaxing on the couch, reading a good book, soaking in the tub or going for a walk – each day we should take time out from the business of life.

When we quiet our minds, even for a short time, we are able to restore some balance into our hectic lives.

If you are feeling out of balance, call on the Lord and ask Him to help you find the time to go within, to rejuvenate, revitalize and restore your mind, body and soul.

Psalm 145 verse 18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Remember to include God in all aspects of your everyday life, to talk to Him about everything – big and small. He is here for you.

I am hoping that you have a terrific July! Cheers to YOU!!!

Eat, Drink and be Merry While Honoring God with Your Body by Sage Buitron

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:26:00 +0000

OK, so Summer is upon us and the body staring back at me in the mirror is not at its ideal. What’s a girl to do? Can I pray away this extra around my middle? Nope. Can I ask God to give me a supermodel’s figure? Nope.

Can I ask God for help in losing a few pounds? Maybe. Better yet, can I ask God for help in having the willpower and determination to be at my healthiest weight? You betcha! Can I ask Him to give me the energy to begin an exercise program? That’s a supersize – you betcha!

Here’s a great example of how that can happen.

About seven months ago, my dear friend Renee joined the Mom’s bible study group taking place at my home on Thursday evenings. When she first joined the group she was in a valley – feeling low and overweight. At the end of each evening we would go around the room and write down a prayer request for each other. Renee’s request was for motivation to begin exercising and eating healthy so she could lose weight and feel good again.

Flash forward to today – Renee is 25 pounds lighter! She began with a simple regimen of a morning walk. She gradually increased her walk each week until she finally began walking five miles a day! She began with just a short walk and as her energy increased and her waistline started shrinking, she became encouraged, and began walking further and further. She also focused on eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing her portions at mealtime. Renee is keeping the weight off. She looks beautiful! Kudos Renee!

I’m inspired. How about you? Do you want to join me in trying to get healthier, eat better and begin an exercise program? I’m committing myself to walking each day for at least 30 minutes. I want to feel better, look better and yes, I want to honor God with my body.

Scripture says in 1Corinthians, Chapter 6 verses 19 and 20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

We can still eat, drink and be merry. But we can do it in moderation and we can honor God while enjoying a healthy body!

An Inside Job

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:06:00 +0000

by Dr. Gregg Wessler

What do you see when you look in the mirror? No - it’s not a trick question. We all see similar features – eyes, nose, and hair. But what do you really see today that’s different? If you are old enough to ponder youth and mortality, you probably have observed the changes that take place to your body over a lifetime. But these changes are superficial. While important to observe, these changes only give a very small picture of what is taking place ‘below the surface’. Unless we go to the doctor and have expensive tests performed on our vital organs, what happens within us is invisible.

When we stand on a beach looking out at a vast ocean, we often stand in awe of God’s immense creative powers. At least I am amazed. Again it is only the surface we look at. Consider coral reefs, sharks, fish, underground volcanoes, dissolved minerals in the water, we begin to see, our ‘vision’ of what is in front of us is again very limited. The same could be said for just about anything, even looking at your car. It’s a beautiful shiny example of modern engineering, but does it really speak of what’s below the surface metals?

Most people see their cars as just a vehicle to get around, and perhaps feel good about themselves in public. Unfortunately the majority of people see their bodies in much the same way. A vehicle to move ourselves around and hopefully, look good in the process. When we fill our car’s tank with gas, we don’t give much thought to what’s in that volatile liquid. We just assume it’s good for our cars. Now unless you’re reading food ingredient labels like I have for over 20 years, you probably don’t give much thought to what you’re putting inside your body either, assuming it’s just good. The problem with that approach is, with the abundance of food choices today, it’s just that, an assumption of quality. We certainly don’t question the quantity any longer, as modern agriculture and distribution has assured us of plentiful supplies for several generations now. Our ancestors didn’t have things so good, with regular cycles of feast followed by periods of famine everywhere in the bible and in literature.

Today we read about famine happening somewhere else far away ‘over there’. Rarely do we hear about it in the USA. We have quite the opposite. With obesity rates quadrupled in the last 40 years, we’re now up to 70% of us overweight, 30% obese. Should we blame our bountiful supply of food? It’s really a blessing. Why would our bodies be getting so large? Too many calories? Not enough exercise? Actually it’s very complex and obviously no one has found an easy solution. I have several theories, all of which work together to create the problem we have now. One is the food supply, which has changed more in the last 50 years than the previous 5,000 years. It is more abundant but not the same quality. We are producing enough foods to feed the planet, yet we have diseases in the USA that are diseases of malnutrition. This is unprecedented in human history. Example – can you survive on chocolate? Most would love to try, but we know better. We would get sick pretty quickly. What about white bread? Maybe not as quick, but eventually we would be lacking in something our body needs. Trouble would follow eventually. What about pizza? French Fries? Hot Dogs? Burgers? Ice cream? Soda? Chips? Cake? Cookies?

I just named most of the top 10 foods consumed in this country. We live in a country that is for the first time in human history overfed yet undernourished, and we are seeing the results now. Why can’t we eat JUST pizza? Exclusively Ice cream? Drink only Soda? Binge on Pasta? Gouge on White rice? I could go on and on. Because any one of these ‘foods’ fail to sustain life in the body (vehicle) to carry us around forever! Or at least for 120 years that the bible tells us is a normal lifespan. In Genesis 6:3 “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not contend with Man forever, for He is indeed Flesh; yet His days shall be One Hundred and Twenty Years”

Now – here’s the difficult leap I am going to ask you to take mentally. If we wouldn’t exclusively eat any one of the top ten consumed foods in America, why would we believe that combining them makes them any better? If you combine 10 unhealthy foods does it make them healthier? I don’t want burgers for 5 years straight 3 times a day. Neither do you. But why is one burger ok? One bowl of ice cream, one cookie, one of anything? Is variety making our poisons more palatable? Less toxic?

Now I know you’re already thinking – wait a minute! Unhealthy? I eat white bread & pasta, cookies, burgers, sodas, hot dogs…since when am I eating something that bad? Well the quick answer is... ‘Have you looked in the mirror lately and been totally pleased with what you see staring back?’ I honestly don’t know one person in my sphere of influence that can say emphatically ‘I don’t have any health problems, I am totally ok and healthy’. As a doctor, sure I see sick and suffering people daily. But hey, I have friends, family, I see people everywhere. We are a very sick and diseased society. I know from movies, reading, television, and just walking the malls observing, almost all diseases are diet related (lifestyle) choices which we were lead to believe by mass media were good for us, but were lies. I could give examples of literally hundreds of ‘studies’ published in the past 10 years dealing with how food and diet causes disease. So what’s the problem? Mass media doesn’t emphasize or even speak much of this topic, because these same media outlets get rich on advertising these same top 10 foods. That would step on too many toes.

I am not a nutrition expert and have learned most of what I know on my own. I do know God the creator does not make a body to last 120 years and place inside that magnificent body a heart, kidney or liver that will quit working in only 60 years. That’s just not a divine sounding plan to me. When we get a new car it comes with a manual, outlining in detail every repair and quality fluid to be ‘ingested’. Your body is the most complex machine in the universe, but it didn’t come with a repair manual, right? Actually it did, yet most people don’t see this as the case. The Holy Bible gives clear answers to spiritual problems and life challenges. What does it tell us about physical needs? In Genesis 1:29 we read “Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food”. It’s no coincidence this information is given in the first book of life’s owner’s manual. If we were to consume what today is labeled a ‘vegan’ diet, there is little dispute that one could subsist this way indefinitely. Most of the arguments against vegetarianism (lacks vitamins, not enough protein) are conjecture and don’t support themselves with science. Yet when was the last time you saw a vegetarian with an obesity problem? Or a heart, liver, kidney, or any organs malfunction? Yes they’re out there, vegetarians with health challenges, but the majority of these find vegetables as an answer to an existing health problem, after the fact! They are healing, working it through. Sometimes they won’t completely heal. But they aren’t dead!

Earlier I stated that for the first time in history we have obesity (excess) AND malnutrition (lack) in the USA. Let me be very clear; I am describing the very SAME people. Yes – it is possible to be very overweight AND lacking in specific nutrients. Why else would there be a hugely successful $200 Billion vitamin and supplement industry? They are capitalizing on this same problem. The approach is incorrect however. Consider the majority of foods in the grocery store to be ‘processed’, i.e. if it is pre-packaged and has an ingredient label on it, then it is what I like to call “man altered or messed with”. Think of a food at your local grocer that is not like that? Really, go ahead, I know you can recall one. How about fish, carrots, broccoli, beef. These don’t have that ingredient label.

When you see that label, I want you to begin to see that packaged product to be full of calories needed to fill the belly and satisfy the appetite, but mostly devoid of tiny nutrients needed to sustain healthy cellular functions. This is a new concept for many. We count calories but what are we really counting? Look at the label, it tells you clearly… percent calories from 1. Protein 2. Fats 3. Carbohydrates, along with some sodium and cholesterol information. Those are macro-nutrients (big) because they come in large quantity. It’s the bulk of what’s in there. But what about the micro-nutrients not listed? You heard of some, the minerals like calcium, the potassium (there’s over 70 needed for good health), the fiber, and what about enzymes? Vitamins? These occur in tiny amounts measured in milligrams and micrograms (too small to see). But they are powerful to cellular function, and if they’re missing it spells trouble. Here’s the challenge: the foods devoid of micronutrients don’t kill you right away! That’ would be too obvious in a cause and effect universe. Imagine if one cigarette or one doughnut was enough to kill someone? They would have been banned years ago. No this is much more insidious. And once we do build health problems, what medical doctor is going to sit and really council you on diet? They look at the broken organ and attempt to fix it with chemicals, only superficially considering ‘how did that heart get diseased’?

We can’t see disease happening inside of us, so we assume everything is ok until WHAM! We get sick or something doesn’t feel ok. Run to the man with the expensive equipment, peek inside there, and find the broken part. Either fix it or replace it. As Christians it should be easy to know, right from God’s original plan for us to consume more vegetables, it’s what’s inside the foods, what you cannot see that makes all the difference. This applies to people, for what you cannot see in a person’s heart, is what we shall be truly judged. Proverbs 21:2 “All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.” Proverbs 16:23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. The lesson I take from this comparison is the closer we walk with the Lord, in our thoughts, words, deeds, and how we live and eat, the likelier we are to succeed in being better stewards of not only this earth and all life inhabiting it, but of our own bodies. This means living disease free, happy, and full of energy and life so we can then serve Him more abundantly and the way He wants us to be.

Crisis Mode

noreply@blogger.com (Positive-Talk) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:26:00 +0000

by Dr. Gregg Wessler

We have all heard this term. Nearly anyone living today can give a testimonial to a crisis in their own life. Chances are good your story will include details of survival and how you “got through it.” In ancient Chinese writing, which uses characters that look more to us like pictures than letters, the characters denoting the word crisis actually consist of two letters. One is for danger, and the other opportunity. I think there is a lesson for us here; within every crisis or adversity that life throws our way, there also is opportunity. But we have to know where to look.

In America today we have the 9/11 crisis, the healthcare crisis, the financial crisis, the housing market crisis, the crisis in education, crisis in our prisons, crisis in our neighborhoods, the financial markets. The solutions seem to emerge from a battle mentality, in which we get the war on drugs, war on terror, war on crime, poverty etc. No need to dwell on these and others that we hear about in the media, because the media does such a wonderful job of keeping us in a state of emotional ‘crisis’ that we have become conditioned or numb to the danger. It’s only real if it threatens us personally right? We all can agree bad news sells, and crisis on TV is a good way to get more people glued to the tube, which boosts ratings and sells more ad space. But what is the cost to our emotions and way of thinking about the events in our personal lives? You know…the things in our daily grind which DO affect us. Like feeding our kids, having quiet time with our spouse, success in our careers, living healthier. These are some of the things that weigh heavily on us, more so than media-generated current events.

There is one aspect of culture in which crisis is so built-in to the psyche of Americans that it is not even considered a crisis…it’s just “business as usual.” And that is – in a word…your body! Very few even think about their own health unless it’s already a mess. I am a practicing doctor of Chiropractic for 15 years now. I have been on the front lines of promoting the concept of prevention to individuals and families, and I can tell you personally, it’s NOT pretty out there.

Let me share with you some key concepts. First, our healthcare system IS truly in crisis. No doubt on most people’s mind. But it’s not in trouble for the reasons that you think it is. For almost a century of “modern” medicine, we have built up a profession of the best qualified physicians of every imaginable specialty, well trained and compassionate nurses and staff; the best and most expensive technology and pharmaceuticals on the planet. If I were to get into an accident and break a bone or some life threatening injury, there’s no other country I would want to be in other than the USA.

After that broken bone, crisis is EXACTLY what mode of “health” I would be presenting to a doctor in the ER. Life-threatening conditions are what get people to watch and boost ratings of shows like ER on TV. We ARE the best at this stuff. But just how do we stack up with all other types of health care? You know, the cancer, cardiovascular and diabetic cases which claim the most lives every year. Look at the figures and you see exactly why we have a health care crisis. In 2007, the Government accounting office estimated our national expenditure on health was more than $2 trillion. That’s two TRILLION + dollars every year, increasing at four times the rate of inflation. This represents 17 percent of the entire budget of the USA, up from only 6 percent in 1970.

This dollar figure is eating away an ever larger slice of the so-called “American pie.” In August 2007, MSNBC featured an article stating in 2001, 46 percent of bankruptcies were attributed at least in part to illness and medical bills, up from only eight percent in 1981. Some argue it’s our high tech delivery of medicine and equipment which drives up the price and besides, America’s got the best so of course it’s expensive, right? WRONG! America’s healthcare is NOT the best, which I describe later in this article. We got here by being in crisis mentality from the beginning. Kind of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” approach.

If you break down that $2 trillion figure and look at what percentage of all those dollars goes towards the real crisis (emergency/trauma) medicine, it’s less than 1% of the total or about $2 billion. So, we as a nation are spending more and more on health care, paying for diseases which we should have been mindful to avoid in the first place because, in truth almost every disease takes years if not decades to produce a symptom. By the time you or I run to the doctor or ER for a test to find what feels bad, it typically leads to a diagnosis like cancer or heart disease, which is a result of lifestyle decisions that were incorrectly made 20 to 40 years ago or more.

Now as I said, this is close and personal. I am a health care provider. But my firm belief in God and my faith in good to overcome in any challenge is what led me to search for answers and present a few in this article. However, before any one can find solutions to a problem, one must really understand the problem, and most important apply the correct solutions! It’s very easy to focus on the disease (problem), because that’s what all of medical practice does today. Unfortunately -- like the media today -- if you keep focusing on bad news, you end up with more and more problems.

I continue to educate people about prevention in my office, and that is not easy. This is because as earlier described, we are in such a crisis mode in every area of this nation that it’s nearly impossible to rewind the tape, turn back the clock, to get to that point where we can see the truth of what prevention can do for us personally. Once I ask people a simple question like ‘what is the ONLY part of our body in which we practice prevention?’ Occasionally I get a correct answer. However, mostly I have to point to the body part (the teeth), and then it starts to sink in. The rest of the body just builds up future problems, and alerts us of dangers while we are in crisis mode.

Reflect for a moment on what I said earlier. Our health care system started in its present mode about 150 years or so ago, which is delivery of a treatment (chemical) for a specific ailment (symptom). Most of us would not imagine running to our favorite physician and proclaim, “I am totally fine, I feel great, now fix me!” This is not in our psyche and never has been. But what if we knew there was a possibility we would get a tumor, a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, you name it? Well I hate to say it but…there IS a real probability!

If you don’t already have some health challenge or crisis, you will, some day. Today 1 in 3 has -- or will get cancer. 1 in 2 has -- or will get heart disease and strokes. 1 in 5 diabetes. It’s built into the system! In a world where lawyers, judges, prisons and policemen only profit from criminals, it seems only logical that physicians, hospitals and pharmaceutical conglomerates only benefit from the sick. There’s no room in it for health because that would be very bad for the bottom line.

This may sound harsh. However, if you realize that in our entire field of medicine today there is not one type of prevention being delivered, you begin to see why we are in crisis mode.

I had a discussion recently about prevention with a medical physician and she argued her side, stating breast cancer screening has gotten so good now that it is a shining example of preventive medicine. I countered that she was mistaken by her concepts about prevention. Webster’s dictionary defines prevention as “to keep from occurring, to hinder, to “avert.” Therefore -- in my mind -- when you prevent something from occurring, it just doesn’t happen. It won’t even show up at all, period!

Thus, mammograms, colonoscopy, blood tests, EKG’s, MRI’s, osteoporosis tests, every medical test I am aware of, was designed for earlier and earlier DETECTION! That’s not prevention. It would be like calling a metal detector at the airport a device that can prevent metals from showing up. With diagnostics we are all stuck on looking for the problem to show up somewhere, just earlier. Some medical tests even carry a small risk of causing the disease they’re supposed to detect! Even my wife rolls her eyes at my insistence of this distinction, but I stand my ground on this concept because it is at the core of every health care decision made today.

It is also what drives both the dollar and the death toll up. Americans have the most expensive and worst quality health care system. The World Health Organization ranks the USA 37th out of 44 industrialized countries, behind Costa Rica. We are almost dead last! So we are not getting what we pay for here.

God gives us just one body, and he commands us in I Corinthians 3:16 “…your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, {honor God with your body}.” I believe we are not keeping his commandments and as a result we are paying dearly. So how do you prevent disease and illness? What WOULD Jesus do? No easy answers here. Everyone has a different answer and perhaps we are all correct.

I believe Jesus would Love! That’s what he did best. Love, Love, Love! His power came from his Father in Heaven, given to him in equal measure (I and the Father are one). When you or I come to a belief in loving God, then loving ourselves and others with such devotion and trust that it is a feeling and not just a thought (out of the head and in the heart), we can heal a boo boo, and perhaps the world. I love myself as God’s creation, and as such I appreciate His handiwork. I take care as best I can not to spoil his temple. I get busy like everyone and at times, I cut corners. But I know if the mind is clear of stress, and the body is free of disease and pollution, an occasional slip will not harm me. To a degree stress can even make us stronger.

I am a creationist AND evolutionist, so I appreciate that not all genetic mutations are deadly. Most of the changes in DNA throughout history occurred from environmental stressors that presented an opportunity for life to simply adapt (change) or perish. Very cut and dry really. But that’s what we have here. We can simply adapt to the challenges we face or we may perish.

There is no secret pill, no magic bullet, no potion, and no medical procedure that can add one bit of life to your body. Simply put, when your body was created by God you started as a single fertilized cell which took nine months to grow to trillions of cells. At birth we arrive with a perfect and beautifully organized body, functioning and capable of such incredible things which we take for granted. From our very first breath, our body can digest food, heal cuts, fight an infection, and even dissolve cancer cells. All from “within,” because that is where the gift is hidden. Our gift from the Father is LIFE force, which is unseen and immeasurable but we know it’s there, in every cell. The body is such a fantastic design, I can’t imagine something so beautiful happening by chance.

Every attempt at a cure in our expensive American system of health is really a crisis answer to a crisis problem. It’s treatment of a symptom or tinkering with an effect. When you get that chest pain or heart attack, if you survived – great! Two million others didn’t last year. Did you ever think to ask the doctor ‘hey how’d that happen to me…I didn’t even feel a thing until today? You think we can fix my heart and maybe go back to the way I was before all this danger?’ You’d get a pretty strange look at this point, followed by ‘take these pills, avoid salt, cholesterol, stress, and come every six months for follow-up’. You get the idea. So the culprit is salt, cholesterol, stress, and a deficit of drugs in the system. Live with it? Well no, you don’t have to live with it, because the real culprit is poor diet which clogs the arteries and which takes decades to accumulate enough damage to starve the heart of blood, complicated by stress (which wouldn’t kill a healthy person anyway), lack of exercise (funny how animals don’t exercise, and they seem fine…..huh?). Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer on planet earth today, and I am not a cardiologist, but I do believe we could at least do a lot to learn how to protect from damage a muscular pump in our chest, long enough to survive 100 plus years like the rest of our organs were designed, right? Would our Creator design a perfect body and put in there a heart with a design flaw? Not my GOD!

Problem with that reasoning is it requires a change in thinking, outside the box. Medical treatment revolves around risks, more specifically lowering risks. If you take those pills and avoid cholesterol you can lower your risk of a second attack, right? What about reversing the damage, repairing the heart, going back in time; Impossible? Not unless you step outside the box. There are numerous books around the corner at your local bookstore detailing how to fully recover from & repair cardiovascular disease and never go there again. But you don’t get those messages on TV.

Since 1860 or earlier, our forefathers have, in their limited understanding of physiology and life, been promoting what some have labeled “outside – in” fixes, allopathic, or anything we have to put in our mouth, apply to our skin, add to an orifice, basically going into the body. If it was not already there before, it was NOT put there by our Creator God. It gives no validity whatsoever to the notion that our bodies are self – healing. When you get a cut finger, you may apply antibiotic ointment, a band-aid or stitches. But ultimately what repaired the torn skin? Your body did it. The same is true for any other ailment. From scratches to broken bones, to cancer and AIDS; healing always comes from within you.

I don’t argue that medicine has saved countless lives in the last 150 years. But a doctor or procedure can only save a life through assisting what God already placed inside of us. Sometimes the human body is overwhelmed with conditions happening within (infection) or from the outside (burns, trauma), but ultimately no procedure can ADD anything to the body which is not already built into us as God’s ultimate tool for healing. Life force guarantees our body is fully equipped with incredible healing which -- when presented with a challenge -- knows exactly what to do, every time. There are more than 100 varieties of the common Cold virus. How do we get over a cold each time? From our very first breath, our immune system already knows what to do. It is rarely ever fooled! It’s too costly a mistake, so God gave us intelligence called Life Force to keep us adapting and surviving all of life’s crises.

While the world will provide enough crises to keep us busy for a long time, it is in the challenges that we must learn and grow. And to grow means to move on. The difficulty in crisis mode is that we throw the wrong solutions (like money – which will NEVER fix our prisons, courts, hospitals, schools, wars, ad infinitum) at the problems and wind up perpetuating crisis. In health - the crisis arises when we focus on the pain and give not a thought to where the pain came from. Yes - a lot of things like cancer can cause pain, and when THAT disease is found in a loved one, the doctor and patient’s first defense is cut/burn/radiate it out of me! Great place to start, but what allowed a cancer to be there? You can’t catch it from your spouse like a cold or flu. It’s our internal environment allowing that to grow. A change in our thinking, allowing a subsequent change in our internal environment, will reverse a cancer.

This is a simplistic metaphor which mirrors the entire “disease” care system which is bankrupting our economy. I know in my heart that the tide is turning, the forces of wisdom and compassion are prevailing, with good doctors, good legislators, and good citizens awakening to the challenges before us and seeing the real problems here.

What I hope you learned by reading this, is that by respecting the body and caring for it well -- kind of like your car -- it will carry you far with minimal breakdowns. Continue to get those tests at the doctor, because if it were my body I would want to know what is lurking inside me. But take this journey with me; take that bold step of a shifting belief system. Jeremiah 30:17 promises “I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, says the Lord.”

Know beyond a doubt, your body was designed by a wonderful God to be healthy, and to get back to health if it were in need of a “fix.” Instead of always buying into the crisis mode of our popular culture, start taking on a ‘Christ Mode’ instead. Love your body! See it healthy and whole. We can all speculate on “What Would Jesus Do,” if he walked with us today. I believe one thing is certain. Jesus would NOT take those pills, and he would NOT worry about his cholesterol level.

Dr. Gregg Wessler is a family chiropracter in private practice in Davie, Florida for 15 years. He can be reached via email at spinalizer@yahoo.com or by calling (954) 424-1142.