A Better Understanding of 3 John 2

Today was a good healthy day for me! After I had a light stroke (TIA) in 2006, I was forced to train my right side again. I had to get serious then because I was not allowed to drive for 6 months! It’s strange how serious we can get about physical fitness information, health, wellness, nutrition, and exercise when we have had a serious health challenge!

After I had gotten permission to drive again, I was so far in debt that I took on two jobs to try to catch up and get ahead economically. This didn’t leave much room to exercise, but since I was now watching my calorie intake (usually 2,000 per day), I felt like I was being good to my body.

It didn’t take too long before my body began to rebel---again! I began having all kinds of aches and pains. My wife told me I needed more rest. I figured that just wasn’t possible. I was active in church, working two jobs, trying to do some writing, working on completing Bible school, and stay somewhat current on my ever-growing e-mail.

Before I knew it, I was having some health challenges---again. After finishing Bible school, I was able to get a little bit more rest, but I figured out I was still losing about 8 days of rest monthly. My body began to be mean to me! My joints were hurting; my head didn’t feel right; and sometimes numbness began to creep over where I had the stroke, and my left hand would curl up and would not cooperate.

After several visits to my primary doctor and being sent to specialists, I began to figure out that while praying for my health was good, God wanted me to use my brain and take care of myself. So, I made a plan: I would begin back exercising when I felt better and I would cut down on one of my jobs…someday. Then it happened recently---pain on the left side of my chest!

One day I just couldn’t take the pain. I figured I must be having a very bad case of indigestion, or---I could be having a slight heart attack. Slight? There is nothing slight about having a heart attack!

I drove myself to ER after telling my supervisor that I just didn’t feel well. After the exam, the doctors asked me some questions about my routine. I had just started back doing some stretches and toning about two weeks earlier. Thus, they figured, I had probably pulled a muscle. Probably? I was STILL hurting!

My primary doctor was concerned about my continuing high blood pressure. Although she had me on several medications, now she was adding a stronger one for hypertension. I saw concern on her face and it made me somewhat uncomfortable. My wife told me I needed more rest. My mother told me from 2,000 miles away I needed more rest. My wife’s mother across the hall in our senior complex told me I needed more rest. Some of my grown children from miles away suggested I needed to take it easy. How was I supposed to take it easy when I had all these medical bills and bills from when I wasn’t working? Plus, there was a lot of ministry I wanted to do and since I didn’t have the temperament to be a pastor, I would need to be able to support myself or get a lot of friends and family members to help me.

The pain in my chest would not leave me alone. Then one day my wife noticed that although she had carried our five children, my belly was beginning to compete with hers! I tried to suck it in, but it would hardly bulge. I could push it up and it would just roll up and down. I began to think of all the other men who had those jelly roll stomachs. Now, I was one of them! One day I looked sideways in the mirror…I began to look like a pregnant man!

I finally decided to pray about my situation. Perhaps God had a miracle of healing and another one for my prosperity. After a season of prayer, I sensed He wanted me to quit one of my jobs. I resisted because it just didn’t make sense. I had plans to do so much for Him, but I also had these other obligations coming in the form of mail and phone calls.

Like Jacob, I wrestled with my decision, but I lost. When I told God that it didn’t make sense but He and everyone else was right and I was wrong---I needed to quit one of my jobs and cut back on the other job. As far as the bills, oh well, I had talked about faith, taught about faith, and was going to a church that strongly taught faith, now it was time for me to walk the talk, knowing there would probably be a season of being uncomfortable while the manifestations of my faith could catch up with my speaking faith and trusting God’s plan over mine. I just didn’t want to be uncomfortable. It was easy to talk faith when I had a great income, health insurance, credit cards, and some money in the bank. Take those things away from me and I was a little nervous!

Well, it has been almost two months since I made the decision to believe God for better and take care of my body. Oh yeah, it has been somewhat uncomfortable, trying to balance ½ of my income with double the expenses. However, it has been quite an adventure!

My health is much better, along with my attitude. Someone remarked about a month ago that I looked happier than he had ever seen me in about 20 years. Wow! There is something to be said about taking care of one’s health and on purpose spending more time with the Creator!

Yep! Today was a good day. I just completed my exercise and nutrition journal. I began keeping one about 3 years ago. I had no idea the affect of what I wanted to eat was having on my body. When I began to chart calorie intake needed, while tracking carbs, fat, and protein, I began to read labels of food I wanted. I had no idea how many calories a hamburger, fries, a shake, and certain sweets contained! Today, my 2,000 calorie intake was down to 1320. Oops! I forgot to add my snack of 3 large chocolate chip cookies my wife just made. Whoa! My calorie intake jumped up to 1527. I had no idea what three cookies could do! In times past, I would have had 4, 5, or 6 cookies. And I probably would have added a candy bar. Some things are easier to give up when one doesn’t have the money!

When I added the three cookies just now, my fat content jumped from 31 grams to 51 grams, my carbs went from 200 grams to 227, and my protein count jumped a little from 47 grams to 51 grams---I am glad my wife cut back on some ingredients!

Learning how to improve my health through understanding what I eat has been eye-opening. Three years ago I wasn’t concerned about things like: saturated fats, mono unsaturated fats, trans fats, dietary fiber, starch, sugars, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, galactose, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cystine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, valine, arginine, histidine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, hydroxyproline, cholesterol, retinol, retinal activity, betacarotene, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, folic acid, pantothenic, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, fluoride, water, ash, caffeine, theobromine, a whole lot of words I can’t even pronounce, and all those vitamins (A, B6, B12, C, D, E, K). God made all of the natural things to be taken in a certain quantity, in a right way, and in combination with other like items to match what our bodies need. He never planned for us to eat the chemicals we consume in canned and frozen foods. However, many of us just ate what tasted good, looked good, smelled good, and felt good. We are not too far removed from Eve when she consumed something not good for her at the time!

Now that I have a 3-year record of my consistent recording of what I eat, I plan to help others. The software program that one of my health consultants developed is fantastic! He and I are working on a plan where I can offer a virtual health center for all of my family and friends who are so interested. For about $30 a month, we can replicate this work nationwide. For another $30 a month, I can help anyone set up their program and help them record and track what they eat and meet with them weekly in consultation. Of course, if there are some who need more accountability, I can meet with them DAILY but that will cost them! Accountability is easier for me---I have a caring wife watching me!

Hey! You can start improving your health right now! Begin by drinking more water, but try to get the water as pure as possible. Then, begin to do some simple stretches before beginning a walking program. Then move into some aerobics. When it’s time to eat, learn what a serving is. Unless you have really big fists, a serving is about the size of the average fist. Check out the food pyramid. Eat more grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables and cut back, way back, on red meat. And, of course, cut out the pork! Ask God to give you grace if you have been raised on bacon, pork chops, pork sausage, and pork ribs. Of course, check with your doctor before you begin any exercise or change your diet. This is especially true if you are diabetic or have other serious health challenges.

If any would like to see a copy of one of my food charts for a week, send me an e-mail. I pray that you prosper mentally, physically, socially, and financially, even as you prosper in your soul spiritually.