Body Stewardship

John Roy Bohlen Articles 17 November 2023 Hits: 33

BODY STEWARDSHIP

John Roy Bohlen and John 5:30

BODY STEWARDSHIP

BODY STEWARDSHIP: INTRODUCTION

THE QUESTION: "What would you think of me, if . ."

EXAMPLES OF POOR BODY STEWARDSHIP: CAUSE/EFFECT

LOVE AND BODY STEWARDSHIP

"JESUS IS MY LORD!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

UPDATE!

SCRIPTURES: Verses on Discipline and Self-Control

HOW TO MAKE HUNGER DISAPPEAR

GREAT BODY STEWARSHIP SUGGESTIONS

EXERCISE!

MOVE IT AND LOSE IT!!!

LOVE AND BODY STEWARDSHIP

If I reeeeally loved you, I would want to take care of my body and do the right thing with it, in terms of good and proper and wise body stewardship. Stewardship means being like a servant, that is: servant minded, with a keen and real and deep sense of responsibility over something, in this case, one’s own body.

Why is body stewardship so important? It is because your body has been given to you as a gift from God, with which you are able to do God’s will.

Let’s presume that God has finally brought you to the place where you are now totally, totally committed, as a life-long life-style, to doing the will of God.

You need your body with which to do God’s will. It is something like deciding to take a person to another destination that can only be arrived at only by automobile. You will need a vehicle to take him or her there. You will need to treat that vehicle with respect and with a sense of responsibility, in order to do right by delivering your passenger. You must drive well. You must have enough gasoline. You must put the proper fuel into your tank, and have the other proper fluids in their proper places. It is exactly the same with your body.

"JESUS IS MY LORD!"

Another question I ask people: "Is Jesus Christ or God, your Lord?" Then I interrupt their thinking and caution them to think for a moment or two before they answer. Many people, perhaps, even you, will answer, confidently and boldly, "Jesus is my Lord!" But, before you answer, let me ask you if you are willing to make God the Lord over what you put into your mouth?????????!!!!!!!!!!. Does God want you to put into your mouth things that are not healthy, that are the nutritional equivalent of toilet water?

Would you put a fuel into your tank that you know will negatively affect the performance and condition of your vehicle? Would you do that to your body? Suppose God gives you a vehicle that He wants you to be responsible for. Are you going to do things to that vehicle that will do it harm, will irresponsibly shorten its life span, will do it permanent damage, will cause it to not go as fast, not last as long, not have as much power, not do as well as it otherwise might? Suppose that this vehicle is only on loan to you, that you are borrowing it, that it belongs to someone else? Will you be any more highly motivated to take even better care of it? Our bodies belong to God. You have given yourself to Him. You have declared that Jesus Yahshua, Father God, and the Holy Spirit is your LORD and Master. This means that you have promised Him that you will not do or permit or allow anything to happen to your body, of which God does not approve, or that would not be good for your body. If Jesus is your Lord, this means that you have given up all right to your own body, and that, from now on, you do not have the right over it, as to what it eats or drinks, what it sees, where it goes, etc. If Jesus is your Lord, you will automatically be committed to not put things into your mouth or body that you know are not healthy for you. If your car belongs to someone you love, you will not intentionally put things into the fuel tank that you know will harm that car.

In other words, if Jesus is your Lord, from now on, you must not eat or drink anything of which God does not approve. And, God will not approve of you putting anything into your mouth that will hurt you.

Are you willing to commit to a life-style of not putting wrong, unhealthy or harmful things into your mouth? Yah, but what about if the stuff tastes really, really good? What if whatever it is that we are talking about has also become an addiction, a habit, a bad habit? Are you still willing to not put anything into your mouth that is not healthy for you? Why is it that we would not think of putting swamp water or toilet flushings into our fuel tank, when we think nothing of putting the nutritional same thing into our mouth and stomach and digestive system?

What if you put toilet flushings into your fuel tank on your car? The car would stop. It would eventually be ruined. What if you then “trusted the Lord” to heal your car? Would God fix your car if you did that? Let’s say that He took pity on you and did fix it. Will you go out and do it again?

That’s exactly what people do to their bodies, if they put things into them that they know are wrong for them. They mistreat and give wrong food and liquid to their bodies, their bodies get sick, and then, they expect God to heal them. If I drink poison battery acid on purpose, then ask God to heal me, drink more acid, and ask Him to heal me again, will He do so? That’s exactly what people do when they eat or drink or watch something that is not healthy for them, or is actually harmful for them.

The same thing is true of over eating. If God gives you a very fine automobile, a car that is top quality, but with it comes a warning that if you put more that 2000 pounds into it, that it will break. The springs will break, the wheels will fall off, the tires will go flat, the steering will go bad, and the car will have to be pushed, pulled or carried. The motor will wear out, and a new one will have to be put in. Knowing all of this, and you repeatedly overload the vehicle, what will God think of you?

"I LOVE YOU!"

Suppose that you live in an isolated mountain village that has only one car, and that car belongs to you. Suppose that car is needed to bring supplies: Bibles, mail, medical supplies, food, clothing and building materials, and that you are responsible for all the supplies needed by that village and those needed by your family. You irresponsibly mistreat and overload your car and it breaks down. What will the village and your family and your spouse think of you? How can you say that you love them, and yet, act irresponsibly toward them? How can you say that you love your family, and do this to them? It is exactly the same thing, that if you say you love your family, but mistreat your body that is responsible to feed and care for and protect them, and to be with them.

I used to weigh 344 pounds. (NOTE: Please see the up-date on this below!) This means, according to the weigh charts that I was more than 150 pounds overweight. Can you imagine carrying around that much extra weight, every place you go? That weight is equal to THREE 50 pound bags of sunflower seeds. Then I have the gall, the audacity, the inconsistency, the hypocrisy to tell them that I love them!!! I way, way, weigh overload the car, then tell the guy I am borrowing the car from, that I like him. The truth is, I do not like him, or at least I am not acting like I like him.

Any friend of mine has the right to tell me that I am a liar, and they are probably wrong for not doing so, when I say, “I love you”, to them, but wrongly eat, or over eat, or to be out of shape, or to be overweight, to refuse to exercise. 1 Tim 5:8 says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (an unbeliever).”

I am not providing a healthy body for my family, nor will I be as likely to meet their needs, if I am overweight, or out of shape. I do not want to deny the faith. I do not want to be worse than an infidel.

I Jn 4:20 “If a man say, ‘I love God’, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

From now on, if I tell God or my friends that I love them, and I am in the habit of doing both, many times, I need to be demonstrating and proving my love for them, by being in shape, and by being the proper weight.

Mark 12:30 “And ‘thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength’: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ There is none other commandment greater than these.”

If I am going to love God with all my strength, I need to show my love to Him by having strength in the first place, and in losing weight in the second place, and in eating what God wants me to eat. In my worship of the Lord, it is difficult to dance before Him, if I am out of shape and/or overweight.

UPDATE!

A number of years ago, I did weigh 344 pounds! For over 30 years, I did have an insatiable, monster, out-of-control, raging appetite. I would come home from eating an all-you-can-eat buffet, and I would stand in front of the open refrigerator wondering what would taste good. My life was a cycle of 40 day fasts, taking only water, losing 50 to 80 pounds, then gaining it all back within a year or less. On the one hand, fasting can be incredibly healthy for a person, in terms of giving the body and the system a rest and a cleansing, but the weight gain was not healthy, nor the means by which I gained the weight. But then, on October 21, 2001, I discovered a secret, and I have not had a problem with my appetite since then. This simple discovery put my appetite to sleep!!!! I discovered that the healthy sugars found in fruit, honey, etc., turn to fat. I discovered that healthy carbohydrates and starches, such as that found in grains and rice and pasta, in starchy or carbohydrate vegetables such as corn and potatoes (1/4th cup of sugar in one medium sized baked potato) turn to sugar, elevate the sugar in the blood, and turn to fat!!! I discovered that, for years, I had been addicted to carbohydrates!!!

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, That ye ‘love one another, as I have loved you’. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Experts have proven that refined sugar is not healthy. It can lead to many nutritional deficiencies, and can cause obesity, diabetes, heart problems, etc. For all intents and purposes, sugar is poison. Are you being a good steward of your body if you put this poison into your body? Sugar has zero nutrition. Even worse, sugar depletes vitamins and minerals from the body. White flour does the same.

Salt, many preservatives, chemical additives, and food colorings are poison.

We recommend the following books that relate to Body Stewardship:

Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, by

How to Keep Healthy and Happy by Fasting, by Salem Kirban

Fasting As A Way Of Life by Allan Cott, M.D. (Bantam Press)

Fasting Can Save Your Life, by Dr. Shelton

Fasting and Miracles, by Mahesh Shavda

Food, Teens & Behavior by Barbara Reed, PhD (Natural Press)

Lick The Sugar Habit, by Dr. Nancy Appleton

Power Protein, by Dr’s Eades

Sugar Blues, by

Sugar Busters, by Stewart, Bethea, Andrew, Balart

The New Diet Revolution, by Dr. Aitkins

BODY STEWARDSHIP

Let’s suppose that God gives a person a great call and a great talent. But, suppose that person decides to be careless with food, and dies or becomes crippled and incapacitated before the call is fulfilled or completed, and, because of this, the talent becomes wasted and undeveloped and unused. The Bible says, 1 Cor 9:27:

In KJV: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

In NIV: “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

In ASV: “But I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.”

In (NAS): “But I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

Please notice, the word “buffet” is not to be pronounced or to be taken to mean, Buff-FAY!!!, but beat IT!!! J J J (So your body will be “buff”!) Eh?

My translation/explanation would go something like this: “I really discipline, and pound, and beat, and deny my flesh (like Jesus did, and like Adam should have done), and I insist that my body and my flesh DO what God wants me to do with it, because if I don’t, I could lose my life, and/or the quality of it, prematurely, and become like a piece of garbage or trash, fit for nothing but to be thrown away.” (jrb)

A famous evangelist is quoted on his premature death bed, as saying, to this effect, “Alas, I have a message to deliver, but my horse is destroyed.” He died before his time, because of poor body stewardship.

The Bible says, in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest.” (NAS)

I define body stewardship as being the wise handling of our own bodies, so that they will be used to maximum efficiency for my friends, for God, for the Kingdom of God. This involves the whole area of health, nutrition, self control, exercise, etc. We seem to understand the concept of stewardship as it relates to money. We understand “steward, -ess”, as it relates to helpers on an airplane. It can apply to a person who is hired or fired to or from a commission of responsibility, as in the parable of the talents from the Lord Jesus.

We can understand the concept of stewardship in the area of possessions, as with a car, for example. If we took an $80,000 Mercedes automobile, and put muddy water in the gas tank, or where the oil should go, we know that would be really stupid, but if we put junk food or junk liquid into our mouths and down our throat, that we know is not healthy for us, then ask God to heal us from sickness that is a result of our own stupidity - - ???

Our bodies do not belong to us, but to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible promises us that “He that destroys the body, him shall God destroy.” 1 Cor 3:16 “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (NIV)

Some people prematurely destroy their own body by improper eating or drinking, improper nutrition, etc. Some examples of this could be:

over-eating

eating too much of the following:

sugar: candy, white sugar, honey,

white flour: breads, pastries, pasta, cakes, cookies,

caffeine: coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, etc.

Salt,

Preservatives, food coloring, additives, chemicals like nitrite, nitrate,

BHT, etc., fake food,

Eating too much food that is healthy

Eating too little:

fruit

vegetables

salad

food

drinking too much:

sweets,

pop

alcohol

drinking too little water

Another kind of improper stewardship could be not getting enough of sleep or exercise or fresh air or bathing.

Another kind of poor stewardship could be to fast too long or improperly, or, to not fast, when one should, for one’s health..

Another kind of improper stewardship would be to do things that are foolishly dangerous such as reckless or irresponsible driving, or of driving or flying or riding in vehicles that are not kept in good repair, or of allowing ourselves to be in places or around situations, people or animals etc, that are dangerous, out side of the will and leading of the Holy Spirit.

GOOD FOODS TO EAT!

Any meat!

All vegetables!, but go light on the carbs, such as potatoes, carrots, beets, corn, etc., if you are a diabetic, or if you want to lose weight.

Eggs are perfect food! All nine of the protein building amino acids.

Eggs may be eaten in quantity, and often. They do not produce harmful cholesterol.

Water, green tea, black tea, herb tea, tomato juice!

Dairy!: The richer, higher in butterfat, the less fattening, the less rise in blood sugar, and better. But, 2% and skim milk are more fattening and raise cholesterol. The reason is: it's the carbs that cause weight gain, etc. Butter fat, and carbs displace each other. The higher the butterfat, the lower the carbs. Thus skim milk is the more fattening, as it's the carbs that are the problem, not the fat content in food! Cheese, etc., o.k.

All nuts!

Pork rinds are good. Minimize popcorn, corn.

Salads!

Beans and grains are o.k., but also have carbs.

Fruit is o.k., but in moderation, because of high sugar and carbs.

SCRIPTURES

Titus 1:5 “-- that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” (NAS)

Over the years, I have become increasingly convinced that body stewardship is to be considered a very extremely important part of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Verses on Discipline and Self-Control

Prov 23:1 “When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; 2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food. 4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. 5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. 6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; 7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ But his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments. 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (NAS)

Acts 24:25 “As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’ ” (NIV)

1 Cor 7:5 “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (NIV)

1 Cor 9:23 “And I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet (buffet [buff, eh!], not buffet [puff it]!) my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (NAS)

1 Cor 9:26 “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (KJV)

1 Cor 9:27 “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

(NIV)

1 Cor 9:26 “I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” (ASV)

I Cor. 10

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. - - 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (KJV)

1 Cor 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (KJV)

Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (NAS)

Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (NIV)

Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. (If I have a big stomach sticking way out for all to see, I am NOT letting my moderation be known, but just the opposite!) The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (KJV)

2 Tim 3:3 “- - without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (NIV)

2 Pet 1:5 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

HOW TO MAKE HUNGER DISAPPEAR

What I am about to tell you now is fact, not fiction. It is the truth, not theory. In the area of nutrition, there are many theories, ideas, opinions, convictions. There are widely contrasting opinions about:

- if distilled water is better, (I drink pure well water).

- if vegetarian is better, (I say "no").

- pork, or no pork, (I say "O.K. in moderation".

- Old Testament dietary laws of eating, or not, (I say, "No!)

- if meat or fruit or vegetables or even grain from the market is safe,

- if P.H. balance is important, (Sugar causes acid.)

- if food combining is important, (Some should eat fruit by itself).

- if vitamin and mineral supplementation is better, (Maybe).

- if dairy is o.k. for a person, (In moderation).

- if enemas are beneficial, (They can be, occasionally.)

- if this multi-level marketing is better than the next, (Be Spirit-led.)

- if fasting is good for a person, (Yes.) But break it slow & healthy).

- if coffee is good for a person, etc. (I don't know.)

Sometimes the field of nutrition can be a real jungle. One of the things I have tried to remember, and follow, is to agree with the experts on areas concerning nutrition about which they ALL agree! They all agree that:

- exercise is important,

- white flour is practically zero nutrition,

- white sugar is poison, as are all ingredients containing refined sugar,

- white rice is not that healthy,

- additives, preservatives, food coloring, flavorings, processing, nitrates, nitrites, chemicals, inhancers, etc., that have been added to the food, the more questionable and unhealthy it may become. Someone has said that a person needs to shop for food on the outside wall of the supermarket, where the fruit and vegetables are. The less processed and refined, the better.

But, what I am about to tell you now is fact, personal experience, and not opinion. For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from an insane, out of control, monster appetite. 35 years ago, I began greatly reducing the amount of white flour I ate, with benefit. I began fasting, for 40 days at a time, only on water, with benefit. I began reducing the amount of white sugar from my diet, with benefit. But no matter what I tried, or what I did, I could not get over my monstrous, out of control, raging appetite! I would come home from a buffet where I had stuffed myself uncomfortable with delicious food, then, stand in front of the open refrigerator and wonder what would taste good, then proceed to eat and eat some more. At long last, I would be satisfied, until a few hours later, be back in the kitchen wondering what would taste good. I used to condemn myself for being a glutton, for not having good self discipline, for needing to get a grip, for being a bad and naughty person where it came to food. I weighed 185 when I got married in 1964. 7 years later, I weighed 215, went on a 40 day fast, water only, and lost 58 pounds. 7 years later, I weighed 230, went on a 40 day fast, water only, and lost 67 pounds, gained weight until, at the age of 50, I weighed in the 300's, then fasting, then, gaining again, until, at my maximum, I weighed at least 344 pounds! And all of this with repeated fasts on water only, of 40 days at a time! Usually it would take me about a year to put that weight back on. But notice, this is only a gain of less than 5 pounds per year, average, less than 1/2 pound per month. I did not know at the time, that an excessive appetite can also be a sign of onset diabetes, as can be the case with excessive thirst.

Then, it was discovered that I had full blown diabetes!! I wept when I found out. I concluded: "Food is my enemy!" Someone comforted me with a prediction that I would become more healthy with my diabetes, than I was before the diagnosis. That prediction has become true.! Here's why and here's how:

Almost immediately after discovering that I had diabetes, I discovered something else that put my appetite to sleep. My appetite has been dormant and sleeping and within total control for over 4 years!!! No more monster, out of control, raging appetite! No more self- condemnation because of my gluttonous eating. Would you like to know how? You may not like the answer. You may not agree. You may have become prejudiced. You may be misinformed about the subject. Someone has said that a deceived person never knows that they are deceived. But if you want to know what I have learned, here it is:

Carbohydrates, starches and sugars, even the healthy ones, when eaten, cause the appetite, the hunger to return within an hour or so. Because of the insulin/blood sugar ratio and balance trying to adjust to each other, the body becomes hungry shortly after eating carbohydrates, starches or sugars, even the healthy ones. But, this is NOT the case when salad, non-starchy vegetables and meat or other protein is eaten. When protein is eaten, the appetite is gently put to sleep and becomes satisfied for a period of 5 to 6 hours! This means that if a person makes certain that they eat protein again within that 5 to 6 hour window, that they will NEVER have an out of control, monster appetite.

There is another advantage to eating this way, especially, for a diabetic, or for someone who is trying to lose weight: Starches, carbohydrates and sugars, even the healthy ones, raise blood sugar levels and make a person fat, whereas protein does not. When blood sugar levels raise, the carbohydrates, starches and sugars are stored as fat. FACT: I have controlled my diabetes for the last 4 + years by staying away from the carbs, starches and sugars! But, when I eat potatoes, corn, popcorn, or any other carbohydrate, my blood sugar goes through the roof!!! As long as I eat protein, my hunger and blood sugar and other numbers stay within the normal range.

Triglycerides can be a reliable warning indication of impending heart attack or stroke. The normal range for triglycerides is under 140 or so. At the time of my diabetes diagnosis, my triglycerides were 999! My blood pressure was dangerously high, my cholesterol was too high, my blood sugar was out of control, etc. But, when I began eating a low carb, high protein way of eating, ALL OF MY NUMBERS NORMALIZED or nearly so, WITHIN 4 to 6 WEEKS! The medical personnel could not believe their eyes. They did not know about Atkins or Protein Power, or Sugar Busters, or Sugar Blues, but they could not argue with my numbers, my medical statistics! When they looked at the charts, all they could say, was, "We don't know what you are doing, (I don't think they wanted to know), but it is working for you, so keep doing whatever it is that you are doing!!!"

And, so I have. At the same time, the doctors are carefully monitoring my kidneys and liver, and all of my numbers, and are completely satisfied that I am doing the proper thing. At the same time, for the first time in my entire adult life, I have NOT been gaining weight, nor, have I been intensely hungry!!! Without fasting, without much will power, except to eat only protein, salad, dairy, nuts, non-starchy vegetables, and to greatly minimize carbohydrates, starches and sugars, I have been progressively losing weight, at nearly the same rate that I gained weight for the 35 previous years! I am now almost 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest, and still losing!

In summary then, here are the 4 major benefits to this way of eating:

1) Slow but steady weight loss.

2) Diabetes and blood sugar more greatly controlled

3) Hunger put to sleep

4) Triglycerides, blood pressure, cholesterol normalized, or nearly so.

5) Take a minimum of habit forming medications that can have potentially dangerous side effects.

If you want to know more about these things, please study the following books:

Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, by Dr.s Richard and Rachael Heller

How to Keep Healthy and Happy by Fasting, by Salem Kirban

Fasting Can Save Your Life, by Dr. Shelton

Fasting and Miracles, by Mahesh Shavda

Lick The Sugar Habit, by Dr. Nancy Appleton

Protein Power, by Dr’s Eades

Sugar Blues, by Wm. Dufty

Sugar Busters, by Stewart, Bethea, Andrew, Balart

The New Diet Revolution, by Dr. Atkins

Food, Teens & Behavior by Barbara Reed, PhD

There are other books related to these things, but these will get you started.

GREAT BODY STEWARDSHIP SUGGESTIONS:

Stop eating any white sugar products.

Stop eating any white flour products.

Do the Atkins' or Power Protein diets if you want to:

Lose weight

Lower Blood pressure

Lower blood sugar

Lower cholesterol

Lower triglycerides

Reduce hunger cravings

Prevent or control diabetes

Stop drinking cola's.

For sweeteners, use the healthy ones, or for artificial, use Stevia.

Minimize artificial colors, preservatives, chemicals, etc.

Use whole grains (sparingly).

Maximize use of coconut oil, for body lotion, and virgin olive cooking,

Eggs are great source of amino acids, and protein, and are only healthy.

Fat does not make a person fat.

It is sugars, starches, carbs that promote hunger and weight gain

FAT DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON FAT!

The scientists have proven that fat does NOT make a person fat. It is carbohydrates, starches and sugars that cause weight gain, even the healthy carbs, starches and sugars. Since protein and fat minimize weight gain, and carbohydrates maximize weight gain, we will make a surprising statement: The richer the milk, the less fattening it is! Would you like to know why? Here's why: It is the carbohydrates in milk that cause weight gain, and not the fat content. Whatever fat we eat or drink, gets used by the body for useful things, like lubrication, etc., and the unneeded fat is eliminated through the waste our bodies excrete. But the sugar, starches, carbohydrates turn to sugar and are stored in our bodies as fat. Interestingly, with milk, carbohydrates and fat displace each other. The higher the fat content in milk, the lower the carbohydrates, and the higher the carbohydrate content, the lower the butterfat content. If you compare these numbers on the back of a milk or cream carton, you will prove this to yourself. Therefore, the richer the milk, the less fattening it is! Moxie diets (diets that are 'in the know') prescribe half n' half or whipping cream, as the dairy of choice!

EXERCISE!

MOVE IT AND LOSE IT!!! There is a saying, "Use it, or lose it!" God wants us to take good care of our bodies. Because of this, He also wants us to move our bodies around for great health maintenance. Proper exercise helps to maintain and increase muscle tone, blood sugar, weight, breathing, bone density, circulation and many other health benefits. A good rule of thumb is "exercise everything that can be exercised!" This rule applies to everything in our bodies that can be moved: hands, fingers, toes, neck, stomache, arms, legs, shoulders, neck, head, knees, legs, ankles, hips, back - everything!

Last New Year's Eve, I cheated and ate too much sugar and carbohydrates. Early the next morning, I tested my blood sugar, at 201, which is too high! So, I went out to my barn, and walked for 3 miles. Let me explain: With our car, I measured the distance of one mile. Then, several times, I walked that same mile, carefully counting my steps. This then, enables me to accurately measure the distance of a mile walked in any location, at any time, simply by counting the steps. Every person's step count per mile may be different. Mine happens to be less than 2400 steps. We happen to have a dairy barn that we have converted into a worship center. The barn is 32 ' by 70 '. If I walk a figure 8 from one end to the other, 30 rounds is over one mile for me, or, for any one. In my case, one round is 80 steps, times 30 rounds, or 2400 steps, or one mile! New Years Day, I walked 3 miles. Then, I tested my blood sugar, at 128, within normal range, a loss of over 70 sugar numbers. On another occasion, I dropped my blood sugar 100 points, by walking 3 miles. Any time I test my blood sugar, and find that it is too high, I simply walk, climb stairs or do other exercise that burns calories and consumes blood sugar within my system. There are many millions of people who have diabetes, here in the United States, that are not even aware that they have diabetes!! With the increase of white sugar and white flour in other countries, there are many that have diabetes that are not even aware of it. Sometimes I will use my blood sugar testing kit for others, and, by doing so, will sometimes discover that a person has full diabetes!

William Dufty, in his classic book on sugar, called, The Sugar Blues, mentions that between 20 to 40 million black slaves were kidnapped and enslaved so that white sugar could be produced. The white men gave to Africa, Asia, etc., white sugar and white flour. Every place that white sugar, white rice and white flour has become abundant, diabetes and other horrible diseases have also become epidemic. Nigeria is but one, good but bad, example: In Nigeria, where I have often ministered, many millions of people have diabetes, who don't even know it, until too late. In Nigeria, diabetes is almost always a death sentence! This is so, because there is very little means of detecting the disease in the first place, or available means of treating or monitoring it in the second place. The consumption of unhealthy carbohydrates, starches and sugars is epidemic, resulting in diabetes and other consequent diseases and poor health conditions.

I preach and teach principles of good body stewardship in Nigeria. When so doing, I teach them about the dangers of white sugar, white rice and white flour. I will hold up a waste basket and ask them how much nutritional value there is in this much white bread, this much sugar. The answer is ZERO!!!!!!! Calories? Yes, but they are empty and worthless. Nutrition? NO! When sugar is ingested, the body is robbed of valuable vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, in order that the sugar can be processed within the body. In Nigeria, a loaf of white bread can cost the same as bread in the U.S., while the national average income may be less than $500! With each of these, I kneel down in front of them, and beg their forgiveness for the white race having stolen the precious nutrients from their rice, their wheat and their sugar cane, and giving them poison or worthless food instead. Mostly, they forgive us, and, often, they immediately begin minimizing the ingestion of these harmful substances, which is a compliment to their wisdom and to their benefit.

Certain artificial sweeteners have also been suspected of causing damage, including aspartame, a common sweetener of soft drinks, and other 'diet' food. We recommend "Stevia", available in health food stores.

CONCLUSION:

Let Jesus be the Lord over what you put into your mouth, as to eat and drink! Will you allow God to control your diet and your exercise?? It's great idea to make a covenant with your eyes!! Are you willing to make a covenant with your mouth?!!

Will you???.

Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit: I hereby promise to make You the Lord, the Boss, the Master, of what I eat and drink. I make a covenant with my mouth, to eat/drink only what pleases God. Amen.

Signed: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Witness: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Witness: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _G O D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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