Healthy Diligence

"Taking a holistic approach to health includes the principle of “prevention being better than cure”. While most of us may wait until we are in the grip of a cold or battling with emotional pain before we seek treatment to address symptoms, the holistic approach to health urges us to ‘start off how we intend to finish’. In other words, we need to maintain health and well-being in all aspects of our life.

The emphasis in holistic health is on building health, not only on fighting illness. This is achieved by creating a healthy lifestyle and healthy relationships." ~taken from the article, "The Healing Power of Nature," The Native Remedies Blog

I recommend reading the whole article. While I disagree that Nature itself has provided all we need (I believe our Creator made these things in nature for our healing), their point is well taken. We need to have a mind to maintain our health and work at it consistently. This kind of diligence prevents many severe illnesses. 

It's like keeping a house clean, if we pick up each time we see something out of place and quickly wash out the sink when we see a spot, our house remains clean and we don't have to panic trying to find an entire day to spend on cleaning. 

This daily-diligence principle holds true in every area of life. And what's more important than our health (spiritual, physical, mental, etc.)?

 

When Nature Groans

We're horrified by the multiple, natural disasters that hit Japan yesterday. We can't yet comprehend the devastation, death and long-term effects on that nation and many others as a result. Our minds reel to come up with a reason.

For this and so many natural eruptions in our world recently we want an answer. We want to assure ourselves that we are safe. Often, as Christians, we'd like to say that it's God's judgment on an ungodly nation. But can we say the United States is godly? Hardly.

It reminds me of something Jesus said when asked why certain people died in a tragic accident. They were really asking Jesus what those people did to deserve such a death. Jesus explained that they were asking the wrong question. They should've been asking why the tower hadn't fallen on them.

Today I'm thinking of the natural disasters that have been in the news in the last few years. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes. These have happened all over the globe not missing our own nation.

Today I read a verse written by Daniel centuries ago describing his people and circumstances. See if it doesn't ring true with us today.

". . .all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth."

Daniel 9:13

We are all sinners. We all deserve God's wrath. But God loves all people and is not willing that any perish, according to the Bible (2 Peter 3:9). He is patient toward us, waiting for us to turn to Him in repentance. If we do, He has already made the way to give us forgiveness--Jesus, the One who took our death-sentence and then rose victoriously to life again.

Natural disasters can bring our attention to God. What better time to seek Him in prayer and evaluate our own lives. But it is for all of us. It is not for us to judge another nation or group of people. And it is not for us to expect that we will not suffer similar disasters.

We're told in the Bible that nature (creation) groans. That's what I keep thinking about when I hear the news. The earth is groaning. Here in Romans 8 we see the weight of sin causing man and nature to groan under its curse. But here we also see the hope waiting for us just ahead.

Let us pray for those suffering from the earth's groaning and let us examine ourselves, looking forward to the hope we have in Christ.

Romans 8:18-25:

   ¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

   ¹⁹For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

   ²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

   ²¹that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

   ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

   ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

   ²⁴For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

   ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Puppies & Sin Nature

We have a new puppy at home. His name is Monty. He looks alot like this little one. He's a nine-week-old Beagle and is so adorable. His face says, "I'm sweet. I'm innocent and there's no way you could punish me."

Surprisingly, he already understands the word "No." He's probably heard it a thousand times in the two days we've had him. But when he hears the word he quits doing what he was doing and walks away, head down, very hurt that anyone could be so cruel to him. Then he promptly returns to what he was doing as soon as I'm not looking.

Can anyone say, "Original sin?" 

I'm kidding, of course, but the puppy does know what he's supposed to do and he chooses not to. That is James's definition of sin. (James 4:17).

How often do we as Christians knowingly participate in that kind of sin? "Oh, it's just a little thing, won't hurt anyone," we might say to justify ourselves. 

I work in the accounting office at a Christian university, believe me it happens all the time, those little lies to get around an uncomfortable situation or to get out of something unpleasant.

In the past, it was shocking to discover such a lack of integrity in someone (though it happened often enough), but it seems to be completely acceptable to this Millennial generation-those under thirty. Maybe "acceptable" is the wrong word. They understand it's not right or at least not the best thing, but somehow they're able to disconnect from the action and justify it.

"I don't say it's right, but that's not who I am as a person," one college student said to me recently. "It was just this situation because. . ."

Don't get me wrong, it's not just the younger generation, it has always been a problem--it's human nature. And, of course, there are always exceptions to a generalization, but however many fit this description in any generation is too many.

Like the puppy, we think we're too cute, or not bad enough, or that God loves us so much He wouldn't punish such a little sin.

Jesus, forgive us!

And may we never return to our vomit like a dog. (Proverbs 26:11)