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Proverbs 4:20-22 and Our Health

How can words help our health? Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."

As I read this I understand God to be be saying to read the Bible, His words and to keep what we read deep inside... in our heart. I have intentionally read scripture over and over again and the more I read the more I sense that His spirit... the Holy Spirit, mixes with my spirit deep in my heart... my inner self. When this occurs my body and my mind responds in healthy ways. The more often I read the Bible the better I appreciate what God has in store for me and the better I understand how much He loves me.

I believe that is one of the secrets to living a really full life... understanding the love that God has for us as an individual. When we really believe this we begin to live it out. By that I mean that we are better able to develop and sustain habits that honor our body and honor God. We also are better able to keep our mind on things of God and not things of this world.

So, allow God's words... His truths... found in the Bible, to penetrate your heart. This will bring you a richer and fuller life... and good health, in spirit, mind and body.

Have a super day!

Psalm 119:143 and Stress Management

The Bible has much wisdom regarding stress and how to manage it. "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands" is from the New Living Translation of Psalm 119:143. The New International Version says "Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight."

This says that as a person becomes stressed that he can find relief by following the principles and commandments of God that are found in the Bible. I would contend that the Bible is the first book written on stress management. As you read and study God's Word you find that there are so many nuggets of truth and such great wisdom. The reader can gain so much if his heart and spirit are open to this great wisdom and God's principles.

More and more I have found that as I ask God to reveal to me His truths, I find them. And as I find them tucked throughout His Word, I then am challenged by figuring out how to implement these truths in my life. That is the challenge we all have... how to make it personal to us and then to do it!

There are many sites on the internet that refer to other Bible verses that might assist us when we are stressed. Here is one site. The principles found in these verses are in fact what God would want us to implement during stressful times.

As I reflect on a few of His principles a few come to mind. First, cry out to God. This is a form of Spiritual Exercise. So many times in the Bible you read where people cried out to Him when there had heavy burdens or we "stressed." Simply taking time to open up our hearts to God during these times is so very critical. For me, I have to make it a point to go deeper into my heart, not just converse with God from my mind. To be really effective for me, it has to be a heart thing. That is where we really live and relate... from our hearts. If we expect God to provide direction and strength and sooth us during difficult times, I believe He wants us to come to Him from deep within... from our hearts.

I have also learned that it takes making a certain amount of time to be alone with God. This must be a precursor to crying out to Him. We have to be able to slow way down and spend time with Him. Too often I let time rush by. One day becomes two and two days become three. I might have thought about my concerns and lifted them up to God in a quick prayer and this is good but it is not as good as spending some dedicated quiet alone time with Him. When I am able to do this and still by inner self...still my heart and go to God in an intentional deliberate way I am rewarded by the peace that comes my way. This more complete and deep peace and calmness does not come when I send off a 'quick' prayer to Him. Those quick prayers don't seem to give my spirit time to mix with His Spirit in the same way that comes from a lingering time with Him.

So, a key to being able to better manage our stress is to read the Bible and know His principles, His commandments and then to implement them into our day to day lives.

Read It. Study It. Do It! And have a wonderful day!

John 4:31- 34 and Nourishment

Recently the idea that blogging on scriptures related to health might be insightful and helpful for me as well as readers. With that in mind, this is my first entry.

In John 4: 31-34 Jesus was urged by his disciples to eat some food. They felt he needed some food because it had been a while since he had eaten. Jesus responded that he had food available to him that they did not know about. He told them, "my nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work." This "work" was to spread the news to people about his Father's love and of the joy and everlasting life that people could have if they knew of this love in a personal way.

Yes, Jesus needed the same type of nourishment in traditional food just as we do today. But He knew that His more meaningful nourishment came from doing what He came to earth to do... to bear all of our sins... past, present and future... so that we might have everlasting life when we die and so that we might have a more abundant/full life while we are here, being filled with His love.

As I read these verses, it causes me to reflect on what "nourishment" I need. True, I need carbohydrates, proteins and fats to fuel and nourish my body. I need to consume a healthy diet of foods so that I have the energy to function. I need the correct nutrients for my mind to work properly. When I run, I rely on a certain amount of glucose floating around in my blood to fuel my muscles. But these are for physical functions. What does my spirit need to perform the spiritual functions God would have for me?

Deep in my spirit I believe I am called to share the 'Good News' of who Jesus is and about the love of God with others. As my heart is set on this and I am in this mode, I am nourished in a way that I cannot be by eating even the healthiest of foods. As Psalm 81:10 reads, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things." God is telling the Psalmist, and me(and us), that if I open my spirit to Him that He will fill me with good things deep in my inner most being. Well, I think that God placed in me a deep desire to share with others about His love. To tell others about His goodness. To provide hope to others. And when I do this, deep in my spirit, I am nourished.

So my questions to you are.... what type of nourishment do you need? How is your spirit nourished or fueled? Are there other scriptures that speak to you on this topic?

Have an awesome day!

Is Belief in Your Heart or in Your Mind?

Is believing that Jesus is your savior a heart thing or a mind thing? Is it true that we have to pass that idea through our mind before we believe this in our heart? What if our mind blocks the concept that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was resurrected? If our mind does not accept this how can we believe it in our heart? Is it possible that our hearts can overrule our mind in this matter. Can a person chose to accept this in his/her heart even though the mind is not able to comprehend it?

This is an area where it seems clear that the mind and the heart are inseparable. So much of our faith is, on the one hand, a heart thing, yet it seems that the mind has a certain degree of control over what the heart will believe. Yet Romans 10:9 says that "if you believe in your heart that God raised him(Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved." It says nothing of your mind.

I believe that we must make a choice to believe in our heart even though our mind might think something else. Isn't this the essence of faith? Believing what we can not see or comprehend.

What are your thoughts? Have you struggled with something big and been able to believe in your heart something different than you were thinking in your head?

Being Connected to God

My most recent article for Faith and Fitness magazine is on the spiritual exercise of abiding with God. When we stay closely connected to God, we can enjoy the many fruits that He desires for us to have like peace and kindness and joy along with the power to make behavior changes that He intended us to have. We are more likely to behave and think in a way that aligns us with His will for our life. We can have the hope that can only come from being close to Him.

As I write this entry I have some soft Christian music playing on my Ipod. I feel His presence... and from that I feel joy in my heart. I hope that you'll take a few minutes to read the article at the link above. And I hope that you'll reap the benefits from abiding with God.

Have a blessed day! :-)

Dale

Where I Write My Best Stuff

It's Labor Day and it's been a few months since I have been able to get outside to my patio out back and write something. It's just been too darn hot in Charlotte during these hot summer months. I have read about how writers have a spot that they like to do their writing from. Some sneak away to a mountain retreat. Others make their way to a lush green park with flowers and birds all around.

I am fortunate to be able to have a patio surrounded by plants and flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. There is also a very small plastic-tubed pond with trickling water. I've missed coming out here to be in the presence of God's natural setting. When I am here, my thoughts flow more easily. I feel like I am closer to God and that I can better hear what His Spirit is saying to me.

It's especially here that I like to sit and ponder what to write for the series of articles on Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life I am writing for Faith and Fitness Magazine. All previous articles for the magazine are at that site or on the Resources page of my web site.

As a monarch butterfly flits from flower to flower on a nearby butterfly bush and a Ruby Red hummingbird whizzes by, I'm off to write my next article.

Hope you've had a relaxing Labor Day.

Whole-Person Health

When we know the healer and receive His love and know and believe who we are in Him, we can be set free!

Earlier today I spent an hour on the phone with a wise, gentle man, Dan Fountain, M.D.. In his career he has spent many years in Africa, caring for people of the Congo, attending to their "whole person" needs. He shared with me several accounts of how people would come to him with various illnesses and diseases. Time and time again, when he and his staff would take the time to care for their spirit, these people's physical health improved dramatically. He shared that when these people were "cleaned out on the inside" they were more healthy on the outside(physically).

Dan is now educating and training pastoral care staff and the medical community on how to care for the whole person, using a Biblical approach. He uses Psalm 139:23-24 as a sort of "Spiritual MRI" when he ministers to individuals. So many of us, he notes, have things in our past that are unresolved and impact in a negative way on our emotional health and subsequently on our physical health. He trains laypeople how to walk a person through their past to identify issues that impact on their health. Then, in a loving and caring way, these laypeople are able to guide persons through a process which restores their health. They share about the love of Jesus and how God sent His son to help us to be totally free and whole.

If you're in the health profession and have experience in providing this sort of ministry to the people you serve, I'd love to hear from you and about your experiences.

For those of us who have experienced God's love in a very personal way, and have experienced inner healing through His love, I think He wants us to share that with others... so that others can experience the same kind of freedom, and wholeness.

Is your physical health affected by what's been 'eating at you' on the inside? You can be free from that and enjoy improved physical health. Read Psalm 139 and ask Jesus to point out anything that might be impacting on your spiritual or emotional health.... and ask Him to free you completely from this burden or pain. He will if you ask Him deep in your heart! If you do not know Jesus in a personal and meaningful way, visit with a local pastor at a church or a trusted friend who you believe to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. If you're not sure about doing either of those things, send me an email and I'll share my insights with you.

Have a wonderful day!

Integrating Faith and Fitness

This morning I conducted a first session for a new personal training client. As we were walking during the 1 mile walk assessment to determine her cardiovascular fitness level she asked me what a good walking pace would be for a solid workout. I mentioned that a 15 minutes/mile pace would be something she could shoot for.

As we wrapped up the session we spoke briefly about goals and "targets" for the training and gained a commitment from her that she would look on the positive side of her efforts and to not focus on what fitness level she was currently at. We then briefly talked about some spiritual or faith-related "targets" to help her.

A strong believer, she understands the importance of mixing her faith with her intentions and actions to become more fit. I had previously challenged her to pick out three scriptures that spoke to her personally about her intentions to become more physically active. She had done her homework and written these out. I reminded her of the importance of speaking these scriptures out loud and that this would help to mix her spirit with God's Holy Spirit that is inside her.

Just as this new client of mine has done, if you are attempting a behavior change to impact upon your health and fitness level, I encourage you to integrate your personal faith into your efforts. Think Biblical truths about who you are and how God is helping you. Pick out a few scriptures that are meaningful and write them out. Perhaps put them on a 3x5 card and keep them visible to refer to them, even consider memorizing them. This is a form of spiritual exercise that if practiced regularly will help you in your behavior change efforts.

Well, it's going to be another near-100 degree day in Charlotte. I'll be drinking a lot of water and staying inside when I can.

Be healthy and be fit!

Morning Exercise & Personal Confessions

The last two days for me have been terrific! I attribute this to a practice I have incorporated into my morning physical exercise. I have read out loud

personal confessions that I have typed and printed out.

A few weeks ago I started to browse through my Bible, beginning with the book of Matthew, to find verses I had previously underlined. These verses must have made an impact on me at one time or another. I wrote out these scriptures in the form of a personal confession. A partial list is at this link. so you can get the idea. These are God's truths as they speak to me personally.

Reading these personal confessions out loud has a tremendous effect. It gets God's truth deep into my spirit. It helps to mix my spirit with His Holy Spirit that lives in me. It helps to renew my mind. It sets my mind on things above. And it gets me thinking about God and Jesus and who I am in God... my true identity. As I have taken time to do this each of the last two days, it has prepared me for the day and circumstances that lie ahead of me.

I challenge you to try this. Don't just take my list and use it but create your own confessions. Perhaps use the same technique I used if you have made it a practice of underlining scriptures. Or you might look into the books of Proverbs or Psalm to pick out relevant verses that you find meaningful. If you do this, I'll bet that you notice a difference in how the day goes.

Let me know....... and have a great day in the Lord!!

Study - Friends Can Make You Fat

The July 25th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine contains an article about the influence our friends can have on our body weight. When a person becomes obese, his/her friends and siblings are likely to gain weight as well. The researchers believe that this may be due to the fact that friends may subconsciously share ideas about what constitutes a healthy weight. They found that when a person becomes obese, the chances that a friend will become obese increases by 57 percent. Siblings of obese people have a 40 percent increased risk of obesity, and their spouses' risk increased by 37 percent. Here is a link to an MSNBC article on the research.

We should be aware of the influence that our friends have on us. If you are trying to lose weight and have close friends who are overweight or obese, the social influences that are involved in the relationship could be hampering your efforts. On the other hand, the research suggests that if your friends are a healthy weight, the opposite could occur- similar dynamics could be helping you.

The philosophy that we should choose our friends wisely may have some applications in this regard. Just be on your toes and be aware of the impact that your friendships may be having on your health.

On the last day of July... I pray that you are in good health.

What are You Thinking?

More and more I try to monitor what is in my head... what I am thinking about. Why? Because it is our thoughts that are the precursors to our feelings and our actions. The bottom line is that how we think controls how we live. So isn't that a strong enough reason to monitor our thiking throughout each day?

It takes discipline to do this but like any habit is formed, if you do it enough, it can become a habit and it can be a very positive lifestyle behavior in your life. The more I read about the faith and heallth connection and understand how our mind, body and spirt are integrated, the more I understand how critical the spiritual exercise of Renew Your Mind/Think Spiritual Thoughts is.

The more I read the Bible and let what I read soak into my mind, the easier it is to be reminded of these Biblical truths throughout the day. I try to ask myself- are my thoughts positive and based on Biblical truths? If they are not, then I consciously think of a truth that is spiritually/Biblically sound and correct. This can help me get out of thinking in a negative way.

Click here to read more about this spiritual exercise in an excerpt from my booklet on "Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life."

Have a terrific day!!

It Comes Back to You

When you give, it does come back to you.

This morning I was awakened by a by a pastor of a local ministry who I am providing complementary health coaching to. He was so excited that he started his day with a walk... a walk of a distance that he had not covered in years and years. I could tell by his voice that he was energized and hopeful about his efforts to lose weight and become healthier.

This was a blessing to me... hearing his voice and knowing that he wanted to share this moment of victory with me. It was a great way to start my day. It gave me encouragement and lifted my spirit knowing that he was grateful and encouraged.

It is a spiritual law... give and it shall be given unto you. Sow and you will reap. It is found throughout the Bible and it is a form of spiritual exercise because it is a principle of God and the Christian faith. We give not so that we can receive but we give from a loving heart that has been touched and transformed by God.

Go find someone to give of your time and talents because you care about them.

Have a great day! I know I will. :-)

His Instruction Manual.....Our Owner's Guide for Living

Have you ever wondered where to look in the Bible to read about the benefits of obeying God's commandments and principles? I have found that Psalm 119 is the most comprehensive chapter that speaks to this issue. You can read a contemporary version of this Psalm at Biblegateway.com.

In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, the writer uses the words principles, laws, precepts and commandments 156 times in the 176 verses to describe how God blesses him as he lives according to the principles of God. Happiness, joy, a renewed life, hope, freedom, understanding, comfort, wisdom, peace and health are some of these blessings mentioned that the author received and that we can have if we live as God instructs us to live in the Bible.

If you take time to read this chapter, I hope that you can identify with the reader in the blessings you can also receive as you live a life that lines up with God's precepts. Reading the Bible and Obeying God's Principles are two Spiritual Exercises that are important in living the full and abundant life that God intended for us all to live.

I have found that as I live in accordance with God's principles as outlined in the Bible that my life is more joyful and that I am more at peace. Our sinful nature beckons us to live in ways contrary to God's commandments but as we surrender more and more to Him, we can experience more true freedom and joy. This happens because God designed us to live His way, not our way. And the only way to live His way is to know His way and that comes by reading the Bible.

Try it and see if your life doesn't change.

Running in alignment with Him!

Back to Running My Race

It was 93 degrees and humid... sweat was dripping down my forehead and into my eyes... the kind of sweat that is salty - and it stung... but it was all good. Today was my first run in more than 6 weeks. In the last 40 years I can probably count on one hand the number of weeks that I have not gotten a run in. Six weeks seemed like a lifetime.

I was able to run because today I met with my Urologist for a 6-week-post surgery checkup and he cleared me for unrestricted exercise and physical activity. I am a runner at heart so I wanted to celebrate this news with a run right away. It didn't matter that when I arrived home it was the hottest part of the day and very humid. I am sure that you runners will be able to relate to this. When you are accustomed to regular exercise and it is taken away from you for any reason, it can be a challenge. I have been able to take brisk walks for the last month but it's not like going for a good run!

Recovery from the prostate surgery is going well all in all. The next medical checkup will be a PSA check in late August- 3 months post-surgery to ensure that it is a zero reading confirming that there is no remaining cancer.

Over the last week, when I talk with my family and friends they tell me that they can tell that my voice is stronger. The voice exercises for the paralyzed vocal cord seem to be making a difference. Praise God!!!

It is good to be back to "running my race!"

Confessions of Faith

Summer and more humid weather has arrived here in Charlotte. That makes it easier to spend just a little more time inside than outdoors. And this makes it easier to read and write more than normal.

Recently I have enjoyed reading and listening to CDs by Charles Capps, a noted faith teacher who lives in Arkansas. His material is based on the Spiritual Law of speaking/confessing God's Word out loud. He writes that there is power in this and that as one's mind is transformed and as our spirit mixes with God's spirit, that this releases the power of God to work in our life in a special way. I have spent time listening to his material on my Ipod on my walks and also reading his book, Faith and Confession-How to activate the Power of God in Your Life. This practice has helped me be even more mindful of my thoughts throughout my day and it has helped me look more positively into the future as I sense God providing direction. As I better appreciate this Spiritual Exercise of confessing God's Word and how it impacts my life I'll share this with you.

Stay Cool and drink plenty of water as you "run your race",

Dale

Great News From the Post-Surgery Lab Report!!

Today has been a long-awaited day as I made another trip to the Urologist's office to have my catheter removed and to learn of the pathology report from the surgery.


First things first... the lab report showed no cancer around the margins of the removed prostate. An answer to prayer... Praise God!!!


And the catheter was removed as planned. I should not drive for 5 days and can very slowly increase my activity level. I am looking forward to a brisk walk without a bag hanging off my side!


I am so thankful for all the people who have been praying for me. Many of my friends and family have told me that people at their church or in their Bible study have been praying for my healing. I imagine that hundreds of people that I do not know personally have kept me in their prayers over the last few months and for that I am grateful. Boy it sure is a beautiful thing to be part of God's big church family!

In three months the doctor will have another PSA test done to confirm that there is no remaining cancer.

If you have read my posts over the last 6 weeks and prayed for my health, I thank you. I have tried to provide others insight about my personal experience with the faith and health connection at a time when my faith was tested with the prostate cancer and my paralyzed vocal cord. Hopefully, what I have shared here has provided some readers with a glimpse into how one's strong faith can get a person through a challenging time.

Still turning to God for my strength and peace,

Dale

Some Insight For Men

OK guys, as I walked around the house this morning on the 7th day after my surgery with my catheter still in place, I thought it might be a good idea to capture some of my recent experiences for the men who will visit here. The literature says that one in every 6 men will have prostate cancer. I thought, perhaps I can share some of my experiences that might be of practical help. Here goes.

Right off the bat I will say that the stronger your faith, the easier it will be to go into the surgery and cope with all that you'll have to deal with and the more peace you'll have even as they roll you into the pre-op and operating rooms. Staying connected to God after the surgery will provide you a source of hope and strength and help you to remain positive.

As I write this I find a pretty good site (MaleCare- Men Fighting Cancer Together)that provides a lot of advice on dealing with prostate cancer. This site also provides lots of practical tips and "reports' from men who share their insight on all the the "how tos" of post-surgery.

Be prepared to remain in the hospital for 2+ days. Everything went really well for me so I was released 48 hours after my surgery began. The site above will also walk you through a discussion about the different types of catheter bags that might be used post surgery. My doctor requires his patients to use the Foley Bag and will not allow me to use the smaller leg bag. It just makes walking around in public a bit more challenging.

I was given a bottle of pain pills to take as needed. I have weaned myself over the last few days and today, as of 12 noon, I have not needed a pill. Throughout the night, I have been pretty comfortable sleeping on my back.

I guess the most aggravating aspect of this is the limited amount of physical activity I should be doing. My daughter, sister and girlfriend have all scolded me for dragging the water hose across the lawn to water my flowers. You see, the nurse told me not to lift anything heavier than a sh owe box for the first four weeks. I'm thinking this is a bit stringent! But I'm trying to be a good patient. I was out and about yesterday with my sister driving to three stores to pick up a few things. The most uncomfortable part of that was getting into and out of the car each stop.

My desire for food and eating is slowly returning. A tepid German beer tasted pretty good yesterday!

I have a good friend, Bobby, who had the same surgery almost a month before mine. It has been very helpful for him to share his experiences with me as it has helped prepare me for what I have ahead of me.

Any man that reads this and would like to ask me any question, feel free to send me an email.

Have a great day!

Dale

Waiting on God as I Try to Understand

How do you handle gaining your voice back for a day or two and then seemingly lose it again?

What do you say to people who read your post about a miracle healing and then call you on the phone and you're not able to talk with them in much of a normal tone of voice... you're whispering again because your vocal cords aren't as they were when you "boasted" about how God has healed you?

You pray. You ask God to help you understand. You remain steadfast in claiming that you're healed. You tell your friends that God is at work even though it is really difficult to understand. You grow in your faith.... and grow, and grow. And you wait... on God.

Drawing even closer to Him...

Dale

A Miraculous Healing

We do have an awesome God!

So here I am sitting upright in my room at the hospital. Yesterday was surgery at 12 noon... and it lasted 3 1/2 hours. The doctor came in on his rounds this morning and told me that it was a pristine surgery. It could not have gone any better according to the doctor.

I took my first walk around the floor at 9 AM and after a VERY slow start I gingerly picked up the speed. No doubt this was the slowest walk of my adult life. My daughter is here with me and she'll be taking me for my next spin at 10 AM. It's pretty cool that she can "train" me here on my walks as she is a personal trainer at a large club in Baltimore.

Now I know for sure the reason why circumstances were such that my surgery had to be postponed because of my vocal cords. My faith has deepened in a way that I suspect most of us only read about happening in other people. Without a shadow of a doubt my belief(deep in my heart) in God's marvelous power to do anything is solid as can be. "With God, all things are possible." Matthews 19:26. This verse is on a helium balloon in my hospital room.

This two week delay for my surgery has been all about me drawing closer to Him. It's also been about giving me time to begin to understand Him and also to know Him personally as a healer. I've been able to read a booklet by Charles Capps, God's Creative Power for Healing. This book teaches about the importance of speaking the Word...speaking scriptures out loud. I read a newsletter by David Wilkerson on Binding God to His Own Word. In reading this article, I learned how to apply the principle of "binding precedent" which enabled me to pray more boldly than I ever have before. My prayer life over even the last two weeks has been taken to a different level. I especially have begun to pray for God's healing in a way that I did not know how to do before.

On Tuesday morning I had a brief teaching from and was prayed for by Jim, a new friend from church. In addition to praying for the healing from cancer, he prayed for healing of my vocal cord. After his prayer he told me that my voice would return faster than I would think.

When I awakened yesterday, the morning of my surgery, my Dad called me. I was speaking in a strong near-normal voice! It continued to improve during the morning. As I lay in the recovery room it was even better. As I sit here now in my room, I am talking normally. Praise God, I have experienced a miraculous healing from Him!!!

Trials give us a chance to grow spiritually and I certainly have grown tremendously these last two weeks. The doctor indicated that I probably will be able to go home tonight. I feel great!

Keep running your race... as I walk mine for a while!

Dale