11.15.08
Health Reform
One day God was looking down
at Earth and saw all
of the rascally behavior that was going on. So he called one
of His angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time.
When he
returned, he told God, 'Yes, it is bad on
Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not.
God thought
for a moment and said, 'Maybe I had
better send down a second angel to get another opinion.'
So God
called another angel and sent him to Earth
for a time.
When the
angel returned he went to God and
said, 'Yes, it's trueThe Earth is in decline; 95% are
misbehaving, but 5% are being good.'
God was not
pleased. So He decided to e-mail the
5% that were good, because he wanted to encourage them, and
give them a little something to help them keep going.
Does anybody
know what the e-mail said?
Okay, I was
just wondering, because I didn't get
one either.
“Here’s to your health!”—God
Who are we trying to
fool? We all need divine assistance when
it comes to health issues. It kind of
goes against our basic natures to eat right and to exercise and to do the
things that we know right, and to keep away from things we know are harmful.
We are weak, but God is
strong! It is HIS INTENTION that we be
in good health, that we prosper, and that we are happy. I know this is the case, because the Bible
says so—
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in
health, just as your soul prospers.”
3 John 1:2
God wants us to
be healthy, not only because He loves us tremendously, but also because He
wants to live within us, in the Person of His Holy Spirit. That’s right.
We are actually to be
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your
spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians
6:19
YOUR BODY BELONGS
TO GOD!! YOUR SPIRIT—YOUR MIND—BELONGS
TO GOD!! YOU DON’T BELONG TO YOURSELF,
YOU BELONG TO GOD!! HE CREATED YOU, AND
HE REDEEMED YOU WITH VERY COSTLY BLOOD—THE BLOOD OF HIS SON!! YOU’RE NOT YOUR OWN!! YOU’RE HERE TO GLORIFY GOD!! WHO ARE WE TRING TO KID, ANYWAY? WE DON’T BELONG TO OURSELVES!! WE DON’T CALL THE SHOTS, GOD DOES!! HAS A RIGHT
TO DIRECT US IN HOW TO LIVE!! IF YOU
AGREE, SAY AMEN!!
Our Health: The Battleground of Christ and
Satan
Let’s face it: We
are in the midst of a
On the other
side, we see JESUS, WHO WANTS TO HEAL, TO PUT BACK TOGETHER, TO SAVE, TO
RESTORE, TO BLESS, TO SET RIGHT, TO SANCTIFY, TO GLORIFY, TO SHARE HEAVEN WITH
US, ETC.
Now, who would
YOU rather get close to?
God the Author and Promoter
of life and health vs. Satan the author of suffering, illness and death.
The GREAT CONTROVERSY is not
a fanciful idea of how the world will end.
It is a REAL LIFE DRAMA in which each of us are ACTORS. Did you hear what I said? WE ARE ACTORS IN THIS SPIRITUAL WAR!! WE ARE NOT SPECTATORS!! WE DON’T JUST SIT AROUND AND VEGETATE!! WE
ACT. WE PROMOTE HEALTH AND GODLINESS,
BECAUSE IF WE DON’T, THERE WILL BE NO VOICE OF TRUTH IN THIS DARK ARENA OF
FALSEHOOD!!
Jesus said, “The thief does not
come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
This is the
express will of God: Abundant Life. It
is the very opposite of Satan’s plan to destroy. OUR HEALTH is the battleground—the spiritual
battleground. OUR HEALTH is where the
battle rages for control in our lives.
OUR HEALTH greatly influences our MINDS.
This is common sense, but it just so happens that there is plenty of
scientific studies that back up this truism.
YOUR LIFESTYLE—YOUR DIET, YOUR EXERCISE, YOUR DAILY CHOICES—WILL AFFECT
HOW YOU THINK, ACT, HOW YOU DISCRERN TRUTH AND ERROR, AND HOW YOU MAKE
DECISIONS.
And Satan KNOWS
that if he can drag us down in our health and in our lifestyle, he can destroy
us completely. Satan may be evil, but he
is no DUMMY. Don’t for a second think
that Satan would not INSTANTLY DESTROY YOU right now, if he had the
chance. He is FULL OF HATRED for God’s
people, who are made in God’s image, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Satan will not
hesitate to destroy you; if he can’t do it instantly, then he will do it
GRADUALLY.
GRADUALLY MEANS
YOUR HEALTH; YOUR LIFESTYLE.
When in Doubt, Read the Owner’s Manual
It’s one of the most basic
pieces of advice around, and yet you would be surprised how many men try to fix
their cars themselves, thinking that they don’t need the manual, only to MESS
UP what they’re trying to do, TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME in the process, and get all
aggravated over nothing. THEY SHOULD
HAVE READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL!
Or how many times have you
purchased something—a shelf, a Christmas toy, or piece of equipment or
whatever—and you think that you can do it yourself, because it can’t be that
complicated, right? Only to MESS IT UP,
WASTE MORE TIME, AND GET AGGRAVATED, AND START THROWING THINGS? Ever done that?
YOU SHOULD HAVE READ THE
OWNER’S MANUAL. THAT’S WHAT IT’S FOR—TO
KEEP YOU ON TRACK.
Now, granted, there are some
exceptions to this rule, no doubt. Some
owner’s manuals are not worth the paper they’re printed on, and they make
things even worse. But for the most part
OWNER’S MANUALS ARE IMPORTANT. They’re
important, because the one who designed that particular thing knows the most
about it. You follow me?
That’s the way it is with
God. He made us, and He knows what’s
best for us.
The Original Diet, Guaranteed to Help You Avoid
Disease and Premature Death
God’s owner’s manual—the
BIBLE—actually gives us an original diet; an original intent from God the
Designer Himself:
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields
seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit
yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to
every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there
is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.
So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:29-31
Let’s break this down. God have the human race, initially, every
herb and every fruit that yields seed.
This was the original diet. We’re
talking fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables.
Now, this must have been
quite a diet, quite a routine to be on, because THOSE PEOPLE BACK THEN LIVED A
VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME!! And as soon
as animal flesh started to be introduced into the diet, the lifespans started
to plummet. Instead of centuries of
living, they were lucky to live 100 years at best. As people got further and further away from
God’s original diet, and incorporated more and more meat in their diet, they
incurred more sickness, more disease, and they experienced earlier deaths.
IT WASN’T PART OF GOD’S PLAN
FOR PEOPLE TO EAT THE FLESH OF DEAD ANIMALS.
But when He saw that they were intent on doing that, He gave them further
guidance on which animals were safer to eat then others. He did this in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy
14. The animals were to have a split
hoof and chew the cud. The fish were to
have fins and scales. Most of the birds
of prey were not included, because they eat everything. Pigs and catfish were forbidden because they
are SCAVENGERS, AND EAT EVERYTHING!!
Clams and oysters and other seafood were eliminated because they are THE
FILTER SYSTEM OF THE OCEANS!!
God told them, in essence, to
stay away from blood as much as possible, because IT IS OFTEN THE BLOOD THAT
CARRIES THE DISEASES. God is very
practical.
The Original Diet in the 21st Century: What
it Looks Like
It’s much easier than you
think to modernize God’s original diet.
There are wonderful casseroles, Mexican food, Italian dishes, salads,
soy/nut/fruit power shakes, etc. There
are even sugarless, VERY TASTY, cookies and deserts that you can make, without
any animal products or refined sugar.
All it takes is an adjustment
in our attitudes, a simple vegan recipe book, a wok, a blender, and a hearty
appetite!
Did I mention attitude? Funny thing, attitude. We miss out on SO MUCH because we don’t have
the right attitude and willingness to do things God’s way. There’s no doubt about it—there is an
adjustment when it comes to switching to God’s original diet. That’s because WE ARE SO USED TO EATING AND
DRINKING JUNK ALL OF OUR LIVES!!! WE ARE
SO USED TO CONSUMING HIGHLY-SEASONED, SUPER SWEET, REFINED, DYED, PROCESSED,
STUFF, THAT WE THINK NATURAL FOOD IS QUITE BORING. SHAME ON US!!!
IT TAKES A WILLINGNESS TO
SHINE; TO STAND OUT IN THE CROWD; IN ORDER TO LIVE FOR JESUS IN THESE LAST
DAYS. WE HAVE TO GET BEYOND TASTE,
BEYOND FEELINGS, BEYOND THE TYRANNY OF APPETITE, IF WE ARE GOING TO RIGHTLY
REPRESENT OUR GOD IN THIS WORLD.
I wasn’t always a
vegetarian. I was raised eating everything. I wasn’t raised Adventist, and even after we
became Adventist we continued to eat meat and dairy products. I know what the adjustment feels like, going
from a calorie-rich, protein-rich, sugar- and fat-rich diet to a diet that is
based on vegetables, grains, and fruit.
It’s weird at first. But you know
what? It grows on you. That’s right.
I’ll say it again: IT GROWS ON YOU.
My favorite evening meal by far is a soymilk-fruit shake and two toasted
peanut-butter and honey sandwiches. It’s
tasty, it hits the spot, it’s got the protein equivalent of two steaks, and it
has VERY FEW CALORIES AND VERY LITTLE FAT.
That brings me to
PROTEIN. You know, we have been DUPED
when it comes to protein intake. You
were probably taught, like me, that we need lots of protein in our diet every
day, and that obviously you get your protein from meat, milk, cheese, and eggs.
Both of these notions are
INCORRECT. The fact is, the research
shows that it’s much better to have LOWER PROTEIN INTAKE than higher protein
intake. For one thing, high protein ROBS
THE BODY OF CALCIUM. And that is why
there is a high incidence of osteoporosis and fractures with people who have a
high protein intake. And you can’t fix
the problem by taking calcium supplements, because the vast majority of calcium
supplements contain calcium carbonate, which doesn’t get utilized by the body
very much calcium citrate is far superior.
The point is—if you eat a lot
of meat and dairy products, it will lead to a DECREASE OF CALCIUM STORES. A perfect example of this are the
Eskimos. Eskimos eat a lot of fish and
other kinds of flesh meats. They get a
WE JUST DON’T NEED THAT MUCH
PROTEIN IN THE FIRST PLACE. HIGH PROTEIN
INTAKE WILL DEPLETE YOUR CALCIUM STORES NO MATTER HOW MUCH CALCIUM YOU GET.
The other important
consideration here is that YOU CAN GET ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS EASILY
FROM THE PLANT KINGDOM. Protein is made
up of amino acids. Most people are not
aware of this fact, but the research is eye-opening. Everything we need is in the original diet
that God gave us. Plenty of protein in
the plant kingdom. That’s why Daniel and
his friends were not only smarter but STRONGER than any of the other young
men—because they ate grains and vegetables.
There is also a strong link
between CANCER and ANIMAL PROTEIN.
Americans are right at the top of the list when it comes to cancer
rates. We are also at the top of the
list for consumption of animal protein.
On the other hand, it has
been shown that certain fruits and vegetables appear to PREVENT cancer.
Underling Factors that Cause Death in the
*Poor diet, Inadequate
exercise 582,000
*Tobacco 468,000
*Alcohol 107,000
Infectious diseases 90,000
Toxic agents 60,000
*Firearms 35,000
*Sexual behavior 30,000
Motor vehicles 25,000
*Illicit drugs 20,000
All of the factors with
asterisks are directly impacted by lifestyle.
The total of these factors is about 1.25 million, which is over half of
the total number of deaths in
Today, a wealth of scientific
research has proven that most
of the leading causes of death are PREVENTABLE.
The Ten Leading Afflictions that Caused Death in the
Heart & blood vessel
disease 914,000
Cancer 538,000
Chronic lung disease 105,000
Pneumonia/influenza 84,000
Diabetes 59,000
HIV/AIDS 43,000
Suicide 31,000
Liver cirrhosis 25,000
Kidney failure 24,000
Other 398,000
Again, many of these causes
of death are PREVENTABLE, and have to do with your LIFESTYLE: WHAT YOU EAT,
WHAT YOU DRINK, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXERCISE, YOUR WATER INTAKE, HOW MUCH SLEEP
YOU GET, ETC.
What about breakfast? I won’t ask you to raise your hand if you
routinely skip breakfast. Many Americans
skip breakfast. We have this backwards
idea that somehow it’s the LAST MEAL of the day that should be the
biggest. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Breakfast is by far the most
important meal of the day.
What does the research show,
concerning breakfast?
Proven Advantages of Eating Breakfast
*More efficient problem
solving
*Improved memory
*Increased verbal fluency
*Improved attention span
*Better attitudes
*Better scholastic scores
Specific Problems
1. Caffeine
What’s wrong with drinking
coffee and tea and soft drinks? Well,
one of the problems is caffeine.
* Elevates cholesterol and
blood pressure levels (cardiovascular diseases)
* Impaired frontal lobe
functioning (concentrating, problem-solving, decision-making)
* Causes dehydration
* Can cause or worsen
psychiatric illnesses
* Impairs physical
performance
* Co-carcinogen: contributes
to the development of cancers of the kidney, breast, colon, pancreas, ovaries,
and bladder
* Increases risk of low birth
weight in infants born to caffeine-consuming mothers
* Can cause palpitations and
dangerous heart rhythms
* Stimulates excess stomach
acid production and gastroesophageal reflux
* May increase symptoms of
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
* Interferes with proper
sleep
* It’s addictive, causes
dependence and drug withdrawal reactions
2. High-fat,
High-cholesterol foods
* Deadly—CHEESE IS THE WORST! 75% of our saturated fat intake comes from CHEESE!! We have got to let go of our obsession with cheese. It's killing us.
Stay away from high-fat foods, fried foods, cakes, etc. Your life depends on it.
Seventh-day Adventist Diets and Coronary Heart Disease
Deaths
(Males age 35 and over,
compared to the general population)
Total Vegetarians: 14%
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians: 39%
Non-Vegetarians: 56%
If you avoid all animal
products, your chance of dying from heart disease could be as low as 14% of the
general population! That’s
astounding! We can significantly reduce
our risk of heart disease DEATH SIMPLY BY FOLLOWING A TOTAL VEGETARIAN DIET.
It’s interesting that even
those Adventist men who were non-vegetarians had only 56% of the usual death
rates related to heart disease. This is
because they didn’t smoke or drink. You
see, it isn’t just one thing that is a cure-all. IT’S THE TOTAL PICTURE OF OUR LIVES. WHAT ARE WE DOING IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES
TO PROMOTE HEALTH?
3. High-sugar
Foods and Drinks
What does the research
reveal?
* Cancer increases as sugar
intake increases: Eight different cancers are linked to sugar consumption
* Can easily lead to Diabetes
* Sugar weakens white blood
cells’ ability to destroy bacteria (lowered resistance)
* The number one cause of
death among diabetics is heart and blood vessel disease. For years diabetics were told not to eat
vegetables, so they naturally ate more meat, to avoid the carbohydrates. This led to high-consumption of cholesterol
in the meat, and the atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that is the
sure result of meat-eating.
* When diabetics adopt a
vegetarian, high-fiber diet, and begin to exercise regularly, their symptoms
diminish, and their numbers improve.
It’s up to us.
Eight Laws of Health: The Power of Prevention
God cared about us SO MUCH,
and He knew that we would have to be HEALTHY and CLEAR-MINDED in order to make
it in the last days, that He gave us a GIFT.
He gave us a PROPHET to GUIDE US ON OUR WAY.
This was no ordinary
prophet. She was DEAD-ON when it comes
to a variety of issues. She was way
ahead of her time, and the medical research is confirming the truthfulness of
her conclusions all the time. YOU CAN BE
PROUD TO BE AN ADVENTIST! BECAUSE OF THE
PROPHETIC GIFT, ADVENTISTS ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE! BECAUSE OF THE PROPHETIC GIFT, ADVENTISTS ARE
THE WONDER OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. WE
LIVE LONGER, WE ARE HEALTHIER FOR THE MOST PART, AND WE DON’T GET AS MANY
DISEASES.
So what does Mrs. White have
to say about basic, healthful living?
"God has ordained
laws for the government, not only of living beings, but of all the operations
of nature. Everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded. . . .
"The Faith I Live By, 179
Acquiring or
maintaining good/optimum health has everything to do with lifestyle choices. I
believe the every day, consistent application of the eight laws of health will reward us greatly with improved health
and happiness. These eight laws of health govern the whole man--man as a social
being, man as a spiritual being, and man as a physical being. If the whole man
is attended to, then only happiness and abundant health will be the result.
Even in the case where disease has taken a foothold in the body, the first step
in restoring health is through the proper application of the eight laws of
health without the use of "drugs". Only if this fails should we
resort to drug use. We are told that:
"Pure
air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water,
trust in divine power,--these are the true remedies." -- "Ministry of
Healing," p. 127.
"Nature will want some
assistance to bring things to their proper condition, which may be found in the
simplest remedies, especially in the use of nature's own furnished
remedies--pure air, and with a precious knowledge of how to breathe; pure
water, with a knowledge how to apply it; plenty of sunlight in every room in
the house if possible, and with an intelligent knowledge of what advantages are
to be gained by its use. All these are powerful in their efficiency, and the
patient who has obtained a knowledge of how to eat and dress healthfully may
live for comfort, for peace, for health, and will not be prevailed upon to put
to his lips drugs, which, in the place of helping nature, paralyzes her powers.
If the sick and suffering will do only as well as they know in regard to living
out the principles of health reform perseveringly, then they will in nine cases
out of ten recover from their ailments. Medical Ministry, pp. 223-224.
"...Since
the laws of nature are the laws of God, it is plainly our duty to give these
laws careful study. We should study their requirements in regard to our own
bodies, and conform to them..." Counsels on Diet and Foods, page 18,
paragraphs 1, 2; Chapter Title: Reasons for Reform
"It
is impossible for us in our own strength to maintain the conflict; and whatever
diverts the mind from God, whatever leads to self-exaltation or to
self-dependence, is surely preparing the way for our overthrow. The tenor of
the Bible is to inculcate distrust of human power and to encourage trust in
divine power. Conflict and Courage, p. 177
"I
have been shown that the principles that were given us in the early days of the
message are as important and should be regarded just as conscientiously today
as they were then. There are some who have never followed the light given on
the question of diet. It is now time to take the light from under the bushel,
and let it shine forth in clear, bright rays." Counsels on Diets &
Foods, p. 23
"The
eating of flesh meats has made a poor quality of blood and flesh. Your systems
are in a state of inflammation, prepared to take on disease. You are liable to
acute attacks of disease, and to sudden death, because you do not possess the
strength of constitution to rally and resist disease.-- Testimonies., V. II, p.
61.
"When
we feed on flesh, the juices of what we eat pass into the circulation. A feverish
condition is created, because the animals are diseased, and by partaking of
their flesh, we plant the seeds of disease in our own tissue and blood. Then,
when exposed to the changes in a malarious atmosphere, to prevailing epidemics
and contagious diseases, these are more sensibly felt, for the system is not in
a condition to resist disease.--U. T., Nov. 5, 1896."Healthful Living, p.
63
"Far
too much sugar is ordinarily used in foods. Cakes, sweet puddings, pastries,
jellies, jams, are active causes of indigestion. Especially harmful are the
custards and puddings in which milk, eggs, and sugar are the chief ingredients.
The free use of milk and sugar taken together should be avoided”
"Sugar
is not good for the stomach. It causes fermentation, and this clouds the brain
and brings peevishness into the disposition." Studies on Diets &
Foods, p. 144.
"Do
not eat largely of salt, avoid the use of pickles and spiced foods, eat an
abundance of fruit, and the irritation that calls for so much drink at mealtime
will largely disappear." Counsels on Diets & Foods, p. 311.
"How
can anyone desire to live on the flesh of dead animals, when he has the
privilege of using the fruit, grains, vegetables, and nuts that God has given
us in such abundance?" Peter's Counsels to Parents, p.26.
"In
health and in sickness, pure water is one of Heaven's choicest blessings. Its
proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the
thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of
the system, and assists nature to resist disease." Counsels on Diets &
Foods, p. 419.
"If,
in their fevered state, water had been given them to drink freely, and
applications had also been made externally, long days and nights of suffering
would have been saved, and many precious lives spared.-- H. to L., Chap. 3, p.
62.
"Frequent
bathing is very beneficial, especially at night just before retiring, or upon
rising in the morning.-- C. T., p. 141.
"A
bath, properly taken, fortifies against cold, because the circulation is
improved; . . . for the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and
regular flow of the blood through all the blood-vessels is obtained.-- T., V.
III, p. 71. " Healthful Living, p. 227.
"In
order to reach the highest standard of moral and intellectual attainments, it
is necessary to seek wisdom and strength from God and to observe strict
temperance in all the habits of life."Reflecting Christ, p. 86
"To
keep the body in a healthy condition, in order that all parts of the living
machinery may act harmoniously, should be a study of our life. The children of
God cannot glorify Him with sickly bodies or dwarfed minds. Those who indulge
in any species of intemperance, either in eating or drinking, waste their
physical energies and weaken moral power."
"But
even health reformers can err in the quantity of food. They can eat
immoderately of a healthful quality of food." Counsels on Diets &
Foods, p.136.
"There
are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two
every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a
week would be of incalculable benefit to them." Counsels on Diets &
Foods, p. 189.
"Recreation
is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor, and is still more
essential for those whose labor is principally mental." Counsels on
Health, p. 195
"Thousands
who are afflicted might recover their health if, instead of depending upon the
drug store for their life, they would discard all drugs, and live simply,
without using tea, coffee, liquor, or spices, which irritate the stomach, and
leave it weak, unable to digest even simple food without stimulation." The
Place of Herbs in Rational Therapy, p. 15.
"Sleep,
nature's sweet restorer, invigorates the tired body and prepares it for the
next day's duties.” Child Guidance, p. 341.
"In
many cases of sickness, the very best remedy is for the patient to fast for a
meal or two, that the overworked organs of digestion may have an opportunity to
rest." Counsels on Diets & Foods, p. 189.
"God
reserved the seventh day as a period of rest for man, for the good of man as
well as for His own glory. He saw that the wants of man required a day of rest
from toil and care, that his health and life would be endangered without a
period of relaxation from the labor and anxiety of the six days." My Life
Today, page 140.
"In
the building of houses it is especially important to secure thorough
ventilation and plenty of sunlight. Let there be a current of air and an
abundance of light in every room in the house. Sleeping rooms should be so
arranged as to have a free circulation of air day and night. No room is fit to
be occupied as a sleeping room unless it can be thrown open daily to the air and
sunshine." The Adventist Home, page 148.
"It
would have been better if from the first all drugs had been kept out of our
sanitariums, and use had been made of such simple remedies as are found in pure
water, pure air, sunlight, and some of the simple herbs growing in the field.
These would be just as efficacious as the drugs used under mysterious names,
and concocted by human science, and they would leave no injurious effects in
the system." The Place of Herbs in Rational Therapy, p. 15
"Vigor
Declines as Years Advance.--Those who have the aged to provide for should
remember that these especially need warm, comfortable rooms. Vigor declines as
years advance, leaving less vitality with which to resist unhealthful
influences; hence the greater necessity for the aged to have plenty of sunlight
and fresh, pure air.--MH 275 (1905)."Mind, Character, and Personality
Volume 2, page 747.
"In
the location of sanitariums our physicians have missed the mark. They have not
used the provisions of nature as they may. God desires that the places chosen
for sanitarium work be beautiful, that the patients be surrounded with
everything that delights the senses. May God help us to do our utmost to
utilize the life-giving power of sunshine and fresh air. When we as a people
closely follow the Lord's plan in our sanitarium work, nature's resources will
be appreciated."Testimonies for the Church Volume Seven, p. 79.
"Many
have suffered from severe mental taxation, unrelieved by physical exercise. The
result is a deterioration of their powers, and they are inclined to shun
responsibilities. What they need is more active labor. This condition is not
confined to those whose heads are white with the frost of time; men young in
years have fallen into the same state, and have become mentally feeble."
Christian Temperance & Bible Hygiene, p. 160.
"Neglecting
to exercise the entire body, or a portion of it, will bring on morbid
conditions.
"The
bloom of health fades from their cheeks, and disease fastens upon them, because
they are robbed of physical exercise, and their habits are perverted generally.
"Continued
inactivity is one of the greatest causes of debility of body and feebleness of
mind.
"Inaction
of any of the organs of the body will be followed by decrease in size and
strength of the muscles, and will cause the blood to flow sluggishly through
the blood-vessels." Healthful Living, p. 134.
"Exercise
will aid the work of digestion...The diseased stomach will find relief by
exercise." Healthful Living, pp. 169-170.
"Invalids
should have out-door exercise. That class of invalids, who have made themselves
such by sedentary habits, or constant mental labor, should have a change. It is
bad counsel that tells these persons to refrain from physical exercise. The brain-weary
ones should, in a great degree, let the mental powers rest, while they, and
also those whose habits of life have been sedentary, should stir the physical
energies. A part of the prescription for every such patient should be light
physical labor, pleasant employment out of doors." The Health Reformer,
July 1, 1868.
Eight laws to live by. Practical, doable, proven to be effective,
and INEXPENSIVE.
More Prophetic Advice
The Lord
has given clear light regarding the nature of the
food that is to compose our diet: he has instructed us concerning the effect of
unhealthful food upon the disposition and character. Shall we respond to the
counsels and cautions given? Who among our brethren will Sign a Pledge to
dispense with Flesh Meats, tea, coffee, and all injurious foods and become
health reformers in the truest sense of the term? If we could be benefitted by
indulging the desire for flesh meats, I would not make this appeal to you; but
I know that we can not. They are injurious to the physical well being and we
should learn to do without them. In this experience of backsliding from the
principles of reform, our people have been repeating the experience of the children of
Will
the people who are preparing to become holy, pure, and refined, that they may
be introduced into the society of heavenly angels, continue to take the life of
God's creatures and subsist on their flesh and enjoy it as a luxury? From what
the Lord has shown me, this order of things will be changed, and God's peculiar
people will exercise temperance in all things. Those who subsist largely upon
flesh cannot avoid eating the meat of animals which are to a greater or less degree
diseased. The process of fitting animals for market produces in them disease;
and fitted in as healthful manner as they can be, they become heated and
diseased by driving before they reach the market. The fluids and flesh of these
diseased animals are received directly into the blood, and pass into the
circulation of the human body, becoming fluids and flesh of the same. Thus
humors are introduced into the system. And if the person already has impure
blood, it is greatly aggravated by the eating of the flesh of these animals.
The liability to take disease is increased tenfold by meat eating. The
intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the
habitual use of flesh meats. Meat eating deranges the system, beclouds the
intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities. We say to you, dear brother and
sister, your safest course is to let meat alone. Testimonies for the Church Volume Two pg. 63
There
is a class who profess to believe the truth, who do not use tobacco, snuff,
tea, or coffee, yet they are guilty of gratifying the appetite in a different
manner. They crave highly-seasoned meats, with rich gravies, and their appetite
has become so perverted that they cannot be satisfied with even meat, unless
prepared in a manner most injurious. The stomach is fevered, the digestive
organs are taxed, and yet the stomach labors hard to dispose of the load forced
upon it. After the stomach has performed its task it becomes exhausted, which
causes faintness. Here many are deceived, and think that it is the want of food
which produces such feelings, and without giving the stomach time to rest, they
take more food, which for the time removes the faintness. And the more the
appetite is indulged, the more will be its clamors for gratification. This
faintness is generally the result of meat-eating, and eating frequently, and
too much. The stomach becomes weary by being kept constantly at work, disposing
of food not the most healthful. Having no time for rest, the digestive organs
become enfeebled, hence the sense of "goneness," and desire for
frequent eating. The remedy such require is to eat less frequently and less
liberally, and be satisfied with plain, simple food, eating twice, or at most,
three times a day. The stomach must have its regular periods for labor and
rest, hence eating irregularly between meals is a most pernicious violation of
the laws of health. With regular habits, and proper food, the stomach will
gradually recover. Spiritual Gifts. Volume 4A pg. 129
We
are not to make the use of flesh-meat a test, but we may and should consider
the influence that professed believers who use flesh-meat have over other
churches. Those who use flesh-meat disregard all the warnings that God has
given concerning this question. They have no evidence that they are walking in
safe paths. They have not the slightest excuse for eating the flesh of dead
animals. God's curse is resting upon the animal creation. Many times when meat
is eaten, it decays in the stomach, and creates disease. Cancers, tumors, and
pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating.
Testimony Studies on
Diet and Foods pg. 79
Make
fruit the article of diet to be placed on your table, which shall constitute
the bill of fare. The juices of it mingled with bread will be highly enjoyed.
Good, ripe, undecayed fruit is a thing we should thank the Lord for, because it
is beneficial to health. Try it. To educate your children to subsist on a meat
diet is harmful to them. It is much easier not to create an unnatural appetite than
to correct it and reform the taste after it has become second nature. Our
Sanitariums should never be conducted after the manner of a hotel. I am sorry
it is such a difficult matter for you to deny your appetites and reform your
habits of eating and drinking. A meat diet changes the disposition, and
strengthens animalism. We are composed of what we eat, and eating much flesh
will diminish intellectual activity. Students would accomplish much more in
their studies if they never tasted meat. When the animal part of the human
nature is strengthened by meat-eating, the intellectual powers diminish
proportionately. Spalding and Magan Collection Page 81
In the beginning, fruit
was pronounced by God as "good for food." The permission to eat flesh
meat was a consequence of the fall. Not till after the Flood was man given
permission to eat the flesh of animals. Why, then, need we eat flesh meat? Few
who eat this know how full it is of disease. Flesh meat never was the best
food, and now it is cursed by disease.
The thought of killing
animals to be eaten is in itself revolting. If man's natural sense had not been
perverted by the indulgence of appetite, human beings would not think of eating
the flesh of animals.
We
have been given the work of advancing health reform. The Lord desires His
people to be in harmony with one another. As you must know, we shall not leave
the position in which, for the last thirty-five years, the Lord has been
bidding us stand. Beware how you place yourself in opposition to the work of
health reform. It will go forward, for it is the Lord's means of lessening the
suffering in our world and of purifying His people.
Evangelism pg. 663
The
parents who know the truth in regard to the indulgence of appetite should not
permit their children to eat to excess, or to eat flesh-meat or other foods
that excite the passions. Man is built up from what he eats. The use of
flesh-meat strengthens the lower propensities, and excites them to increased
activity. Parents should discard everything that endangers the moral and
physical health of their children. They should not place flesh-meat on the
table. And if they allow their children to eat meat freely, use butter and
eggs, disease in some form will surely result, impairing the health of mind and
body. Thus spirituality is weakened and often destroyed. Pacific Union Recorder 10-09-02
You can tell from
her statements that Mrs. White was deeply concerned about the health,
well-being, and future of God’s people.
She wasn’t trying to be a hard-nosed grouch who takes away our fun. SHE WAS A PROPHET!! AND PROPHETS HAVE A
SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH GOD!! EVERY YEAR
THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS PROVING OVER AND OVER THAT HER INSIGHTS ON HEALTH
WERE CORRECT!!
WHY WOULD WE
HESITATE TO PUT HER ADVICE INTO PRACTICE?
WHY WOULD WE? GOD HAS GIVEN
Why Our
Health is Important to God
1. He loves us, and wants us to be healthy and
happy
2. Our bodies are His temple
3. We simply will not survive spiritually unless
we follow God’s special guidance for these last days
We need to have clear
thought, clear discernment of truth and error.
We need to be physically fit and strong.
The times will call for endurance—physical and mental endurance. It doesn’t surprise me at all that the Lord
would give us specific instruction in these last days to help us to survive.
What we eat and drink
directly affects our ability to reason and to make decisions.
We should not be afraid to
STAND OUT AND SHINE FOR JESUS CHRIST!!
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT US!! WE SERVE THE LIVING GOD—WE NEED NOT BE
EMBARRASSED ABOUT DOING THINGS HIS WAY!!
HE WILL SEE US THROUGH—HE WILL WALK US THROUGH OUR ADJUSTMENTS AND
LIFESTYLE CHANGES. HE WILL TAKE US BY THE
HAND AND LEAD US DAY BY DAY.
Do you want that? Do you long for that kind of spiritual
guidance and strength in your life? The
Lord is offering it to you today. He wants
you to prosper and be in health. He
loves you. HEALTH REFORM IS OF GOD. IT IS HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES.
Bring it on . . .