FLC Articles

Health Control in the Church Part 1

God tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Cor 6:19).   Because of this command we should strive to take care of them.  I recently read in an article that West Virginia is the third heaviest state in the nation with 28.6% of West Virginians being obese.  The same article also stated that WV is number one in the nation for adult onset diabetes (which is preventable) with 10.4% and number two in the nation for hypertension (high blood pressure) at 32.5%.  We need to strive to improve these numbers.  Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans.  Cardiovascular disease kills two Americans for every one cancer related death.  These are all numbers that can be easily changed.  There are two keys to this change:  1) EXERCISE and 2) HEALTHY EATING. 

Health Control in the Church Part 2

Let’s look at key number one EXERCISE.  EXERCISE is not something that should be boring, but instead it should be something that you enjoy.  Here are a few examples:  basketball, golf (walking not riding), bowling, walking, running, lifting weights, aerobics, swimming and bicycling.  These are just a few examples of things that can be done to help improve the cardiovascular system.  Many people begin to EXERCISE, but quit over time.  Results may not be seen in the first week or even the first couple months, but the changes are happening inside your body.  EXERCISE is all about your heart rate.  The goal of exercising is to lower your resting heart rate.  A lower Resting Heart Rate means that you are making life easier on your heart.  Here are a few numbers to help with this theory… Let’s say your Resting Heart Rate is 80 beats per minute… that means your heart beats 4800 times every hour and 115,200 times every day and 42,048,000 beats per year.  If your work outs have lowered your Resting Heart Rate to 65 beats per minute then  that means your heart beats 3900 times every hour and 93,600 every day and 34,164,000 times a year.  The result of this is that the heart is beating 8,000,000 (25%) times less a year than when you began.  This means your heart is working less and it is providing more blood to your body per beat which results in more energy, feeling better, more active, and a longer life (Lord willing). 

Now let’s look at key number two HEALTHY EATING.  I know this is a sore spot to people, but it is important.  The key to HEALTHY EATING is not falling into the trap of fad dieting (i.e. Adkins, South Beach or Cabbage Soup), but to create a new eating lifestyle.  This new lifestyle can be looked at like this… eat whatever you want but eat in moderation.  Before we get carried away lets define moderation.  Moderation is avoidance of extremes or excesses.  So now lets combine the two thoughts -  eat whatever you want because your body needs to have every food group throughout the day (that includes fats and sweets) but the key to this theory is to eat each food group in moderation (without excess). 

It is important to eat foods from every food group each day.  Your body needs to have certain elements from each group to function properly.  Each organ in your body is energized by different elements.   Some organs are energized by minerals and some by vitamins.  If you cut out one food group, you are cutting out one source of energy that your body needs to function properly.  If your organs do not get the elements that is needed it will then begin taking them from the other organs and your body suffers. One thing to remember is that healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week, so if you want to lose 25 pounds plan on 20-25 weeks before you reach your goal.  The same thing that Pastor says about debt is true about weight lose, “Inch by inch it’s a cinch.”

The next step in this HEALTHY EATING process is to make this a lifestyle not a one month quick fix.  This is why you must not get caught into the fad diet syndrome because those do not usually last.  HEALTHY EATING must become your lifestyle.

What happens when these two theories are put into practice together??  A healthier cardiovascular system and better weight control.  This will result in more energy, more self esteem, better self body image, more enjoyment out of life. 

I challenge everyone to get involved in the Recreation Ministry here at Maranatha whether it be volunteering or beginning to workout and create a better lifestyle for yourself and your family.   I Corinthians 6:19 tells us “…our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us” 

Are you taking care of your temple?