Jul
02
2009

Obesity & an “F” Grade in Fat – A Need for Faith in God

Posted by Dale Fletcher under Obesity

obesity-and-faith There is a new report out by the Robert Woods Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health organization titled F as in Fat 2009 – How Obesity Policies in America are Failing. (Link provided is to the 108 page report.) A shorter Executive Summary is available here.

An MSNBC article provides insight into the report which indicates the the obesity epidemic in America is still worsening. In 31 states, more than one in four adults are obese according to the report. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year, and no state experienced a significant decline. It’s a national crisis that “calls for a national strategy to combat obesity,” suggests Robert Wood Johnson vice president Dr. James Marks. Read more of this article »

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Tags: America, bible and health, Faith and Health, God, Jesus, Life, Obesity, Spirituality and Health

Apr
07
2009

April 8th is Declared a Day of Prayer for Army Soldiers

Posted by Dale Fletcher under Healing, Stress, Trust in God

army-soldier-suicide With record-high suicide rates among U.S. soldiers, the Army’s Chief of Chaplains has proclaimed Wednesday, April 8, a day of prayer and fasting for the military. Read the proclamation here. Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L. Carver has called on all Army chaplains, as well as concerned Christians, to pray for the safety and peace of mind for soldiers and their families, according to Military Ministry.

The day of prayer and fasting focuses on suicide-prevention awareness and coincides with the Army’s 120-day “stand down” and unit training, which began Feb. 15.

Carver says, “This has been a long war we’ve been in – for eight years since 9/11,” in an interview with the Baptist Press. “The war has been on an up tempo and at an almost unsustainable rate, with fighting on two fronts,” he said in reference to Iraq and Afghanistan. “Suicide is something we’re now seeing as one of the residuals of this long war.”

In 2008, there were 140 suicides in the Army – the highest recorded number since the early 1980s, Carver said. Some chaplains, who are themselves under great stress, have also committed suicide, the chief of chaplains said.

Carver urges Christians to pray for all U.S. military servicemen and women.

“May God be glorified in the lives of our Army’s Soldiers and Families, and may God bless the United States,” wrote Carver in the Proclamation of Prayer and Fasting letter.

Having served 20 years in the Army and attended and presented at a Army chaplain’s training event recently, this initiative is touches me in a special way an is dear to my heart.

I invite you to join me in prayer and fasting on this solemn day.

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Tags: America, Army, fasting, hope, prayer, suicide

Jan
29
2009

Religiosity in America: A Gallup Report by States – What About The Relationship?

Posted by Dale Fletcher under God, Spirituality and Health

people in church A January 29, 2009 report by Gallup indicates that overall, 65% of Americans say religion is an important part of their daily lives. Their report provides a state by state ranking to the responses by over 350,000 people to the question “Is religion an important part of your daily life?”

There is a wide range in the self-reported importance of religion, from a high of 85% for residents of Mississippi to a low of 42% for residents of Vermont.

The author of the report on the Gallup site writes about the implications of the data in an attempt to address why certain states have higher percentages. The real question is, what is the significance of being religious?

At the heart of any religion or spirituality, for any kind of significance to come from it, there must be a personal, thriving and intimate relationship with the one true God. Life is all about relationships. The relationship we have with God first and the subsequent relationship we have with our self. Out of this, we are to have relationships with others. It all begins, however, with a relationship with God.

I have written an article titled, “It’s About The Relationship.” If you are not enjoying a personal relationship with God, a caring relationship with yourself or are not living in vibrant relationships with others, I offer it for reading.

God loves you and wants you to experience His love through a personal relationship with Him.

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Tags: America, God, Jesus, relationship, Religion