Feb
21
2009
The key to staying grounded during these economically difficult times is keeping your trust in God. After all, what are your alternatives – trusting in yourself, the banks, your employer?
As President Obama said in a speech on Monday, “This isn’t a “run-of-the-mill recession.”" That being the case, you will not be successful in resorting to “run-of-the-mill” solutions to managing your responses to the situation.
Financial Stressors Lead to Physical Problems
The less we trust in God, the more likely we’ll be affected emotionally. Our emotional responses, if left unchecked, will affect us physically. A USA Today article in September of 2008 stated, Read more of this article »
Feb
16
2009
The Feb. 23rd issue of Time is a special mind-body issue with the cover story “How Faith Can Heal.” The main article is The Biology of Belief.
There is another article that includes a question and answer forum by three experts that discuss the role that belief should play in science.
A third “User’s Guide” article provides a listing of research institutes, books, websites and pilgrimages that may be a resource for people who want to know more about this topic.
Most interesting to me was the Biology of Belief article as it explores what happens in the brain as a person practices certain behaviors or thinking patterns.
I was bothered by one aspect of this issue however. A sidebar in the hard-copy of the magazine addressed how various religions view life after death. Concerning to me is that Christianity is misrepresented. In that light, I have written the editors of the magazine and asked that a correction be made in an upcoming issue. This is my email to the editors:
On Page 70 in the Feb. 23, 2009 issue you have a sidebar on “How Religions View the Beyond.” Under Christianity, you say the vast majority of Christians believe “that your destination depends on your deeds and faith during life.” This is not at all accurate. We believe in scripture that says:
Romans 10:9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(after death you will live eternally in heaven – my notes) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
John 11:25 – 26 - “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” ”
Romans 3:28 - “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”
The bottom line for the Christian faith is that to be saved and have eternal life all we have to do is believe that God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins/wrongdoings. Jesus then was resurrected.
If we believe this in our heart and confess it, we will go to heaven. Our “deeds” do not determine our destination after death, it is our faith – whether we have accepted Jesus as our savior. I hope that you will make a correction of what you wrote in the Feb 23rd issue. What you printed is not true. It misrepresents the Christian faith and will mislead many people. Sincerely, Dale Fletcher – Founder, Faith and Health Connection
If you’d like to correspond with Time on this issue, they can be reached via email – letters@time.com.
Overall, these articles are very informative. You may want to run out to a book store and buy a hard copy for your further reading and use. Enjoy!
P.S. – Thank you Janice, my sweetheart, for alerting me about this issue of the magazine. 
Feb
10
2009
Are you struggling to change a behavior that you know is unhealthy? Maybe this will help.
In a blog post last week I wrote about how God can help us manage the stress in our lives. I mentioned how much God loves us and that he sent his son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10. I also posted a link to a presentation that shares the Good News about how God loves us and the difference that Jesus can make in our life. I thought it would be helpful to go deeper in sharing how God enables us to change our unhealthy lifestyle.
One thing that happens when we accept Jesus into our life is that God makes our old nature dead. Romans 6:6 says “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin. Romans 6:11 says “In the same way, count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. The New King James version of the Bible says that we are to “reckon” ourselves dead to sin.
I am learning of the importance of “reckoning” myself dead to sin and my old nature. The degree to which I really believe and receive deep in my heart and spirit the fact that my own nature was crucified on the cross when Jesus went to the cross, will be the degree to which I can be successful in living the full life that Jesus died for me to have and that God offers me now. You see, the Bible says that our old nature really died on the cross with Jesus. Our responsibility is to believe and receive this fact. When we are able to do this at a very deep level it has the ability to radically transform our life and our behavior. It is so very critical however that we really do believe this — that we “reckon” this in our spirit. In this there is great power.
Colossians 2:8 reminds us that we are not to rely on the ways of the world once we have become a child of God. The ways of the world would tell us that in order to make behavior change, we must muster up motivation and self-discipline and all sorts of strategies to make the behavior changes we desire to make. The way of God and the Bible tells us that we are to choose to depend on Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us to make these behavior changes. We must choose as an act of our will to depend upon Christ in the power of the Spirit.
Romans 13:14 says “Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Colossians 2:6 says “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. In Ephesians 3:16, Paul writes “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being.” Ephesians 20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
What we are invited to do as believers in Christ is to believe deep in our hearts that our own nature was taken away and died when we accepted Jesus as our Savior, and then we are to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within us each and every day to live life. This includes the ability to live and make behavior changes with the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
For me, to be able to make the changes in my life that I felt called to make, daily I surrender my own nature and ask God’s Holy Spirit to empower me to live that day and to be the one that enables me to make any lifestyle changes that I desire to make.
If you have been struggling to make a health behavior change in your life, “reckon” that the old behavior is now dead, and allow the Holy Spirit within you to live out the new behavior.
What challenges does this present? What obstacles have you encountered?
Feb
04
2009
Stressed lately? Are you keenly aware of how chronic stress can impact your health? Did you know that 75-90% of visits to the doctors’ office are related to stress? (The American Psychological Association)
I have sensed God calling me to share in a concise way the truth about stress and health and how a personal relationship with Him can help matters. Yesterday I posted a 3 minute automatic presentation on my home page that tells this story - Stress and Unhealthy Habits – See How God Can Help.
If you are struggling with life and the stressors of life, or know someone who is, you may benefit from viewing this or the person you know may be helped by seeing it.
During times of distress, it’s good to remember what God’s Word says about who He is and how He cares for us:
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
The nations are in chaos, (the economy is a wreck!) and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46
In times of stress, I know of no antidote better than to turn to God and receive His love and promises. Keep your connection to Him strong.
Have a great week!
