May
31
2011
Here’s yet another post with insight and thoughts captured from my reading of Health Care You Can Live With by Dr. Scott Morris, founder of the Church Health Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Excerpts From Chapters 9, 10 and 11
Wellness has to do with whether the person can see God’s presence in a way that draws the person forward into the glory of the kingdom of God. …. Wellness is what happens when you drink of the well.
The biblical concept of shalom is a powerful argument that God cares about the well-being of people. This word appears in the Old Testament more than 250 times and overwhelmingly points to well-being that comes from God in the widest sense of the word. Shalom describes not only a spiritual connection to God, but a life connection – bodily health, contentedness and social relationships.
I am convinced that true health always occurs through a community experience. When people live out their faith together, the health of everyone who shares the experience is enhanced.
Like the woman who suffered for 12 years (Mark 5), perhaps you are ready to reach out for a new level of well-being in your life, a well-being that springs out of being connected to God.
If God wants wholeness for us as whole beings, what gets in the way of experiencing it? What can I do to remove the obstacles in my own experience? What can we do to close the gap? Read more of this article »
May
12
2011
May has been recognized as Mental Health Month by many organizations for several years – and this year is no exception. Mental Health America is recognized by the US government as the lead agency for this national observance.
Live Your Life Well is a campaign that Mental Health America is conducting to raise awareness and educate people about mental health issues. They’ve put together
10 Tools to Live Your Life Well and they suggest that these tools are based on extensive scientific evidence, and that they can help you relax, grow and flourish.
May
06
2011
Here’s another post with insight and thoughts captured from my reading of Health Care You Can Live With by Dr. Scott Morris, founder of the Church Health Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Excerpts from Chapters 6, 7 and 8
Jesus gave us enough examples of mercy to challenge us for a lifetime.
Jesus calls all who follow him to demonstrate the same priority of healing the whole person, body-and-spirit, that he showed. He asks us to care about what he cares about – wellness and wholeness.
A congregational health ministry does not require medical professionals in the congregation.
Each of us can help others pursue wellness in their own lives because God created them body-and-spirit. That is the healing presence of the gospel, God’s kingdom power at work in real lives.
How can you be a healing presence in someone’s life?
A regular experience from stepping back [from life] nourishes [our] connection to God and restores wellness to body-and-spirit.
I no longer see health as the mere absence of disease. Health is built around community and grounded in the spiritual life that embraces the physical bodies God gives us. Instead of the absence of disease, I see health as the presence of those elements that lead us to joy and love and drive us closer to God. Living longer is not the goal for a healthy life. Rather, loving fully, with all our capacity, will define a well-lived life.
My Comments
One theme of Morris in these chapters is that believers have a responsibility to care for the well being of other human beings, just as Jesus cared for the well being of those he ministered to while he walked the earth. Each of us, whether we are health professionals or not, are able to be “wellness ministers” to others by simply caring for their souls. When we care deeply and genuinely for others who are on the receiving end of that care, we are being “wellness ministers” to them.
Imagine the impact that your church could have if this was an intentional and organized effort. Part of what the Church Health Center in Memphis, TN does is to teach and equip churches to be able to care for people. They train people to become Congregational Health Promoters. It really isn’t rocket science. All it takes is a decision and a commitment to have such a ministry in your church.
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May
05
2011
The first Thursday in May has been designated the National Day of Prayer for quite some time and today is the 60th year of the designation. The scripture for this year’s event is Psalm 91:2 - I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Pray With God is one of 42 Principles for Experiencing an Abundant Life that I have identified. Praying with God helps keep us connected with Him and it’s our ongoing connection with God that enables us to experience the kind of life that Jesus died for us to have. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ” Jesus in John 15:4-5
Isn’t it interesting that the shortest verse in the Bible tells us how frequently we are to pray – Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. The more we are intentional in staying connected with God through prayer, the more it demonstrates that we are dependent upon him to meet our deep needs and to live life. As we continually acknowledge our need for him, we are likely to remain humble, and being humble sets the stage for God to give us more grace. James 4:6
As you go throughout today, ask God to help you stay connected with him in an attitude of dependence and in prayer. Praying With God is a biblical principle that will contribute to you experiencing joy, hope and peace – an abundant life, and I believe an abundant life favors health and well being.
Pray With God – Relevant Scriptures
Matthew 6:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Hebrews 4:16, Mark 1:35, James 5:13-16
Pray With God – Other Resources
Other Blog Posts About Prayer
National Day of Prayer Website
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