Our theme for this month: “Take care of your body”

Our Bible verse for today: “Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.” Joshua 14:10-11 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Being thin is one of the keys to longevity”

In 2008 the National Geographic Society published the results of a study conducted by Dan Buettner. The study was designed to discover why people in “Blue Zones” tend to live so much longer than other people. Blue Zones are geographic regions where it’s not uncommon for people to live to be 100 years old or more. In those places, common elements of lifestyle, diet, and outlook have led to an amazing quantity and quality of life. In other words, people in Blue Zones tend to live longer, they live healthier, and they live happier, than people in other places generally do.

The facts Dan discovered were so helpful that National Geographic decided to publish the findings in a book entitled “The Blue Zones”. In his research Dan discovered that longevity is determined approximately 25% by genetics and 75% by lifestyle.

In future devotional messages in this series I will draw on some of the insightful and helpful facts that Dan’s research reveals, but one lesson we can learn from the study is that being thin is one of the keys to longevity. Thin people tend to live longer than overweight people do, more than ten years longer on average.

And of course, thin people tend to have a higher quality of life than do overweight people, and for obvious reasons – thin people tend to experience fewer weight and lifestyle related health problems. Being thin puts less of a strain on all body systems. The more food you consume the harder you body has to work to digest and eliminate it all. The heavier you are, the harder your heart has to work. The more weight you carry, the faster the joints deteriorate. And on it goes. Thin people tend to live longer simply because being thin is less demanding on the body than is being heavy. Quoting Dan:

“Most of us have more control over how long we live than we think. In fact, experts say that if we adopted the right lifestyle, we could add at least ten good years and suffer a fraction of the diseases that kill us prematurely.”

Now again, please remember what I said in a previous devotional message, none of this is meant to be insensitive, to hurt feelings, or to make anyone feel guilty. This is simply intended to serve as motivation and encouragement for all of us to take better care of the body God has given us. A good diet, daily exercise, and losing weight are some of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself. Tomorrow I will recommend some resources you might find helpful in achieving that.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

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Our theme for this month: “Take care of your body”

Our Bible verse for today: “God also said, ‘Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you …” Genesis 1:29 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Avoid processed foods.”

Adam and Eve were vegetarians. In the Garden of Eden God gave them the plants, vegetables, fruits, and perhaps wild grains to eat. It was the perfect diet in the perfect paradise. Later, in the days of Noah, God included animals as a food source for humans. But even then, the food humans consumed was very close to its natural state. It was food as God created it and it was good for you.

Nowadays the majority of the food we consume is processed. It is made in a factory, infused with chemicals and preservatives, and it is far, far, from the natural state in which God created it. In fact, much of our “food” isn’t really food at all. Much of it is artificial food-like substitutes created by man in the laboratory.

Worse than not being good for us, much of the processed food produced by the food industry is chemically designed to cause overeating. Dr. David Kessler served as the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He has also served as the Dean of the schools of medicine at Yale and the University of California at San Francisco.

In his research about the addictive nature of food, Dr. Kessler discovered that the food industry today engages in the same practice that the tobacco industry engaged in for decades. The tobacco industry used to manipulate the amount of nicotine in cigarettes in order to increase the likelihood of addiction, thereby getting people to smoke more. Likewise, it has now been proven that the food industry has learned how to alter the chemical composition of processed foods in order to make them addictive, thereby getting people to eat more. You can learn more about this (and what to do about it) in Dr. Kessler’s great book “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite”.

The point I want to leave you with today is that one of the most important steps each of us can take to stop overeating is to lay-off the processed foods and to eat more natural foods. The closer any food is to its natural state the better it is for you. Vegetables, fruits, grains, and limited amounts of fresh meat are some of the best foods you can consume. The more processed any food is, the worse it is for you and the more likely that it has been chemically altered to get you to eat more of it. We will learn more about this in the days to come.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your body”

Our Bible verse for today: “Everything is permissible for me”, but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Eating right is the best thing you can do for your body.”

People often make the mistake of concluding they need to exercise in order to get in shape. While exercise is an important part of taking care of your body, exercise is only about one-third of the equation. Good nutrition is the other and bigger factor. Being fit and healthy is approximately two-thirds eating right and one-third exercise.

You can exercise like a madman every day but if you overeat you will still have weight and health issues. However if you eat right, if you consume fewer calories than you burn and if you eat mostly healthy foods, you will maintain a healthy weight even if you don’t exercise. And then, if you combine good nutrition with daily exercise, you will really be in good shape.

Good nutrition is approximately two-thirds of good health – and really don’t need to go on any of those fad diets. You also don’t need expensive pre-packaged foods, and you don’t need diet pills. A simple and basic rule of thumb for getting and staying in shape is to eat moderate amounts of reasonably healthy food and get some exercise every day.

That’s it. It’s no more complicated than that. Make sure your diet is mostly of healthy foods; limit your calorie intake to something less than what you burn (I will provide you with a formula to calculate that tomorrow); and then get some exercise every day. If you do that, you will get in shape and you will stay in shape.

Moderation is the key. But, I know that’s easier said than done, and I know it from personal experience. I’m a glutton at heart and by practice. I love to eat, and once I get started, I love to eat a lot. I don’t like to stop. I’ll eat everything on my plate even if I’m no longer hungry. I’ll eat ice cream directly from the ½ gallon container and I’ll keep eating until I can’t hold any more. So I know that moderation is not easy.

But it is doable. There are tricks that will help. Here are two that I have learned that have helped me with my personal struggle with overeating. When I go out to a restaurant to eat, if the portion is large, I immediately ask for a “to-go” box. I put half of the food in the box to take home and I then eat everything that’s left on my plate. With respect to ice cream (one of my weaknesses), I simply don’t have any in the house. If I want some I will go to the store and buy a single serving, but I don’t keep any in the house.

Tomorrow we will consider some other tricks and habits which will help us to implement a good nutrition program and to then maintain it long-term.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your body”

Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You have a God-given responsibility to take proper care of your body.”

When it comes to the God-given responsibility we each have to take good care of our physical body, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 may be the most important verse in the Bible. In the context of the passage, the Apostle Paul was explaining to the Corinthian Christians why they should never even consider committing acts of sexual immorality with their body. So first and foremost, this lesson was about sexual sin. But the general principle being taught applies to the entire body not just to our sexual activities.

In this passage Paul teaches first of all that our physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who resides within us. The New Testament is filled with references to the truth that the Holy Spirit lives within the hearts of the followers of Jesus. Jesus Himself said it would happen in John 14:17. In Acts chapter two, on the day of Pentecost, we see it happen for the first time. In Acts 4:8 it happens again. Then the Apostle Paul wrote about the reality of it numerous times, including in Romans 8:4 and 8:9, and 2 Timothy 1:14, just to name a few.

In Old Testament times the Jews considered the Temple in Jerusalem to be the place where the Spirit of God resided. In our day people often think of church buildings as special holy places where the Spirit of God can be encountered. But the reality is that the place the Spirit of God lives on earth is inside the physical bodies of the followers of Jesus. And so just as you would never consider desecrating a holy place (like a church sanctuary), it should be likewise inconceivable that you would desecrate your physical body, which is essentially a walking, talking, mobile temple of God’s Holy Spirit.

Then in the rest of the passage in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul tells us that we don’t even own our bodies, God does. On the cross Jesus purchased your body at the price of His blood so He could then use your body to be a walking, talking, mobile temple of His Holy Spirit. And for that reason, Paul teaches that we must treat our bodies as the holy thing that that it is. You must take as good care of your body as you would the sanctuary of your church building.

We will talk more about this tomorrow.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Take care of your body”

Our Bible verse for today: “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” Psalm 139:13-14 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Your body is a gift from God, so take good care of it.”

I love the way Psalm 139:13-14 describes God lovingly forming our body in our mother’s womb. It’s a picture of gentle and patient craftsmanship as He makes the body He wants you to have.

As a human being you are a complex combination of spiritual and physical. You are a spirit which inhabits a physical body. But more than that, your spirit is intricately connected to and a part of your body. The body is more than just a shell that contains the spirit. The two are interwoven and combine to form the unique person you are. Also part of that complex construction, along with your spirit and body, are your mind, will, and emotions. All of this – spirit, body, mind, will, and emotions, all come together to form the unique individual known as “you”.

And not only are the spirit, body, mind, will, and emotions intricately interwoven and connected, but they all interact with and impact each other.  For instance, if your mental health is bad, it will hurt you spiritually, emotionally, and physically as well. So too your spiritual health will impact ever other area of your life.

Likewise with your physical health. If you are physically unhealthy it will impact how you think, how you feel, and how you perform in life. Unfortunately, many Christians are not doing a very good job of taking care of themselves physically. Lifestyle diseases are quickly becoming an epidemic in our society. Obesity is now the norm rather than the exception. Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-two diabetes are almost entirely lifestyle related medical conditions that can be prevented and/or controlled by means of good diet and exercise.

As we begin this New Year we’re going to spend the month considering why it is so important to take proper care of our physical body, and we will discuss many ways in which we can do so. This is true no matter how old you are and no matter what your health condition is. There are always things we can do to take better care of ourselves.

Your body is a gift to you from God. He lovingly created it and He wants you to take proper care of it.  I look forward to exploring this important subject with you in greater detail throughout the month.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Celebrating Christmas”

Our Bible verse for today: “Do not fear; for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Jesus will be with you in 2019”

Throughout Christmas we have celebrated the great truth of “Immanuel – God is with us.” That was certainly true from the time of the birth of Jesus and then on throughout His thirty-three years on earth, but it has never stopped being true since then.

In Isaiah 41:10 we read an Old Testament promise that was written approximately 750 years before the birth of Jesus. It was spoken by God, through the prophet Isaiah, to His people, the nation of Israel. It was a general promise that God would watch over them, protect them, and provide for them. That was true for them in a big-picture general way, but it’s also a promise that was fulfilled through Christ in a very distinct and personal way for each of us individually.

In Matthew 28:20, just before He ascended back into heaven, Jesus promised His followers: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In Hebrews 13:5 He said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”

As you prepare your mind and heart for a New Year, and as you consider what the New Year might hold for you, remember that not only will Jesus be with you every step of the way, but also you will never enter into any situation where Jesus is not already there. In Deuteronomy 31:8, as Moses was preparing to hand over the mantle of leadership to Joshua so Joshua could then lead the people forward into the Promised Land, Moses said to him:

“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

What was true for Joshua and the nation of Israel is even truer for you, the disciple of His Son Jesus – wherever you go, God will already be there. More than just going with you, and more than just never leaving you, wherever you go, when you get there He will already be there waiting for you. He will have prepared the way for you and He will have good things waiting for you.

I hope the reality of what Jesus did for us at Christmas gives you hope and assurance about what waits for you in the New Year. Jesus is with you now, and He will be with you in 2019.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Celebrating Christmas”

Our Bible verse for today: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV) Proverbs 3:5-6

Our thought for today: “Make sure your heart is right, do your part, and then trust God.”

This morning I want to continue our lesson from yesterday about knowing and doing the will of God. Yesterday we learned that knowing and doing the will of God was the key to the life that Jesus lived. His desire to understand God’s will so He could then be obedient to it was so strong, that it was the motivating factor in His life. That is the key to our own successful life as well. The best life you will ever have is the one that is lived right in the center of God’s will. As we conclude our Christmas celebration and head into 2019, this is one of the most important lessons we can take with us from the life that Jesus went on to live.

When it comes to making good decisions and honoring God, Proverbs 3:5-6 may be one of the most important verses in Scripture. So let’s take a look at the individual pieces of guidance we’re given in that verse:

First, trust in the Lord with all your heart. Know that God loves you unconditionally and that He has a good and perfect plan for your life. He is more interested in your well-being and good decision-making than even you are, so you can trust Him unequivocally.

Second, lean not on your own understanding. In other words, do everything you can to seek His will and His guidance. Through prayer, Bible study, careful consideration of your circumstances, and good counsel from wise Christian friends, patiently place yourself in a position before God whereby He can speak to you and make His will known to you.

Third, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. If your heart is right and you genuinely do want to honor Him with your choices, then you can trust that He is not going to sit back and watch you walk off the edge of a cliff. If your heart is right and you are genuinely doing your part to seek His guidance, He will guide you. He might not give you specific instructions about exactly what to do, instead He might want you to consider your options and then use your spiritual maturity and good judgment to make wise choices. But if your heart is right and you really are trying to honor Him, He will guide you enough to keep you on track.

This Sunday at Oak Hill Baptist Church the New Years sermon will be about the opportunities will be have in 2019 and how to make good decisions. If you are close to Cumberland County Tennessee then we invite you to join us for the 10:00 service. If you’re not near us, then I encourage you to listen to the message on our website at http://www.oakhillbaptist.net. On the home page click on “listen” and then select the sermon for 12/30/18. You can also bring up the PowerPoint slides that go with the message.

When it comes to knowing and doing the will of God just make sure your heart is right, do your part, and then trust God.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Celebrating Christmas”

Our Bible verse for today: “But he said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about … My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:32; 34 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “What motivates you?”

In yesterday’s devotional we learned that Jesus was determined to obey the will of the Father, even to the point of death. When it came to making decisions, the will of the Father was always the determining factor for Jesus. That was true not just when it came to the crucial decision of whether or not to go to the cross, but it was true throughout His life. It was the key to the holy, sanctified, and sinless life that He lived.

In John chapter four we read of a time early in His ministry when He and some of His disciples were on a journey from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north. To get there they had to pass through the region of Samaria. At one point in the journey they stopped at a well outside of a town. Jesus stayed at the well to rest while the disciples went into the town in search of food. When the disciples got back to Jesus they offered Him some of the food they had, but He said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

That statement confused them. Perhaps they thought He had a secret stash of beef jerky. But no, in verse 34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

What Jesus meant is that He was so consumed with the thought of obeying the will of God for His life that it was what got Him out of bed in the morning, and it’s what kept Him going all day. Obediently accomplishing the work God had given Him to do was the motivating factor in the life of Jesus. Everything else took second place to that.

As our celebration of Christmas draws to a close, and as we consider the lessons we should learn from the life that Jesus went on to live, we need to pay particular attention to what factors motivated Him and guided His decision-making. As we have just learned, it was the will of God. Despite any other factors He faced in life, ultimately the only one that mattered was God’s will. That needs to be true for us too.

In 2019 you will have to make many decisions – most of them small, some of them big. As long as your heart is right and your primary concern is to discover the will of God so you can then be obedient to it, you will be okay. This lesson is so important that it warrants one more devotional message, so we will come back to this subject again tomorrow.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

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