Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I'd go vege...
(Notes from and personal reaction on Dr. Clarence Ing’s lecture, The Adventist Advantage, at Youngberg Wellness Centre, Thomson Rd., SG, December 11, 2010)
As an introduction to NEW START Lifestyle Program series, Dr. Ing and his wife started their endeavour with a Sabbath afternoon service. In that short session, I learned a lot. I actually know almost all of those stuffs but I needed reinforcement (maybe) for me to apply such principles in my life.
By the way, NEW START is an acronym for nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest, and trust in God – natural healing gifts that our Creator offers us to be wholly healthy.
Adventists put more emphasis on lifestyle choices because nowadays, lifestyle is the main culprit on most health problems as latest medical research claims. Dr. Lamont Murdoch of Loma Linda University School of Medicine said:
“Faulty genetics loads the gun; lifestyle pulls the trigger.”
Indeed, very true!
The Gospel Good News
Every time spiritual matters are brought out into conversations, I notice that most people secretly scoff at it and divert the topic.
“Basta ang importante, sumasamba tayo…” (The important thing is we are worshipping…)
“Iisa lang naman Diyos natin…” (We only have one God…thinking of debate eh…)
Some even think that the Gospel is “taking all the fun out of life”, especially when we, Adventists, present the health laws.
“Hmp, andami namang bawal, yun pang masasarap.” (Hmp, so many to avoid – especially those appetizing ones)…
It’s so sad to note that these people don’t realize that the GOAL of the GOSPEL is to give us more life to enjoy eternity.
Indeed, what the National Geographic mentioned is right: many problems are started and worsened in the mind.
At other times, there are people who sceptically question our beliefs. They believe that we are following a plain (wo)man-made doctrines. (I will share about Ellen White some other time)
In Revelations 12:17, the remnants of God’s people are described: they keep the commandment and they have the testimony of Jesus. “…The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelations 19:10
Regarding prophecy, 2 Chronicles 20:20 states that if we believe in God, we will be established, and if we believe in His prophets, we will prosper.
Long before science achieved its full-fledge status, Ellen White has written books compiled as the Spirit of Prophecy. Many of these articles tackle about health, which now are validated by dieticians, nutritionists, and other medical practitioners. In her writings, Sister White instructed Adventists on the basic concepts of healthful living.
On March 1984, The Saturday Evening Post, a newspaper in the United States, published:
“Probably no religious movement, ancient or modern, has put greater emphasis on diet and nutrition than the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
Your stomach is not a graveyard for dead animals
Eeeeeewwwwwww….
This line really struck me.
Pictures of slaughtered animals flooded my mind. And all those health articles I’ve been reading in the internet, magazines, newspapers, and books came back to my senses.
Meat-eating has caused the number of cancers, tumours, and inflammations to rise. As Sister White pointed out, “meat is the greatest disease breeder that can be introduced into the human system.”
In addition, she also mentioned that students would accomplish much more if they never tasted meat – no meat in the body system makes a mind clearer. I like this idea^^ I am so happy that I am raised in an Adventist home, in an average family, who eats vegetables most of the time. I know this is one big factor in how I became an achiever (not to brag but I’m always first in class).
Now, people may say God gave us free will. He gave us the freedom to eat what we want. He gave us the animals for food too.
It is not God’s original plan to make animals food for man. But after the flood, when all plants were swept away and only animals and Noah’s family were saved, God allowed meat-eating – with requirement. Check your Bible. It says that pairs of every kind of animals and birds came in the ark, except for the eatable ones that came seven by seven.
Which are these eatable animals? You may see them in the books of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
Further, when consuming these clean animals, God made “a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood” (Leviticus 3: 17) “because the life of every creature is its blood” (Leviticus 17:14).
But the best thing to do is to go back to the basics, the original. Genesis 1:29 tells us of the original diet: “God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”
God says through Exodus 15:26, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
Friday, February 18, 2011
HISTORY OF MAN’S DIET
THE DIET IN EDEN
Gen. 1:29-30 fruit and grains for man; vegetable for animals
First dietary restriction:
Gen. 2:9 fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Gen. 2:16-17 Unfallen, perfect, sinless state
Ministry of Healing 395
In order to know what is the best food, we must study God’s original plan for man’s diet. He who created man and who understands his needs appointed Adam his food…
There was no fire for cooking in Eden
Counsels on Diet and Foods 81
God gave our first parents the food designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden
Isaiah 66:3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man…
AFTER THE FALL OF MAN
-nature became imperfect under Satan’s control
Gen.3:18-19 God gave man the herbs of the field for his use, because in his fallen state he was going to need them for medical remedies.
FIRST STEP DOWN eating food designed for animals
MH 296
Upon leaving Eden
Vegetus- full of life
BEFORE THE FLOOD
Gen. 6:11-13 man’s wickedness
CDF 373
The inhabitants of the old world were intemperate in eating and drinking. They would have flesh meats, although God had given them no permission to eat animal food. They ate and drank to excess, and their depraved appetite knew no bounds. They gave themselves up to abominable idolatry. They became violent and ferocious, and so corrupt that God could bear with them no longer. Their cup of iniquity was full, and God cleansed the earth of its moral pollution by a flood.
AFTER THE FLOOD (total destruction)
SECOND DIETARY STEP DOWN Gen. 9:3
v. 4, 5 –blood to be drained, unacceptable eating, because it contains impurities that are on the way to the kidneys to be eliminated
-decrease of lifespan of Noah’ progeny
Gen. 7:2 clean animals by 7’s
No retraction of what is permissible to eat.
MH 311-2
The diet appointed man in the beginning did not include animal food. Not till after the flood, when every green thing on the earth had been destroyed, did man receive permission to eat flesh.
Spiritual Gifts vol. 4 p.120-1
God gave man no permission to eat animal food until after the flood. Everything had been destroyed upon which man could subsist, and therefore the LORD in their necessity gave Noah permission to eat of the clean animals which he had taken with him in the ark. But animal food was not the most healthful article for man…
After the flood the people ate largely of animal food. God saw the ways of man corrupt…and he permitted the long-lived race to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives. Soon after the flood the race began to rapidly decrease in size and in length of years.
DIET FOR ISRAEL
God intended to take them to heaven- Exodus. 15:17-8
v. 26 conditions of being free from disease
Exo. 16:3-4 The very first thing God did was to provide diet reform to test if they would walk in God’s ways
v. 8-13 they failed the test
Numbers 11:31-4 greed of quail meat killed them
13:17-37 unbelief except for Caleb and Joshua
Ps. 78:23-37 desired for meat because their hearts were not steadfast toward God
Ps. 106:13-15 craved intensely in the wilderness
Heb. 3:17-19 first unbelief was in food
CDF 377-8
When God led the children of Israel Egypt Egypt
Lev. 17:11 ; 7:24 -27 fat and blood
EXAMPLES OF ABSTEMIOUSNESS
1. Daniel – Daniel 1
Bible Commentary vol. 4 p 1166
He purposed in his heart that that he would not drink of the King’s wine or eat of his dainties. He knew that in order to come off victor, he must have clear mental perception that he might discern between right and wrong. While he was working on his part, God worked also, and gave him knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom… This is the way God worked for Daniel; and he does not propose to do any differently now. Man must cooperate with God in carrying out the plan of salvation.
YI Aug. 18, 1898
As Daniel and his fellow were brought to the test, they placed themselves fully on the side of righteousness and truth. They did not move capriciously, but intelligently. They decided that as flesh-meat had not composed their diet in the past, it should not come into their diet in the future, and as wine has been prohibited to all who should engage in the service of God, they determined that they would not partake of it.
2. John the Baptist
Desire of Ages 72-3
John was to stand as a reformer. By his abstemious life and plain dress, he was to rebuke the excesses of his time. Hence the direction given to the parents of John, a lesson of temperance by an angel from the throne of heaven… In preparing the way for Christ’s first Advent, he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our LORD’S second coming…All who would perfect holiness in the fear of God must learn the lessons of temperance and self-control. The appetites and passions must be held in subjection to the higher powers of the mind. This self-discipline is essential to that mental strength and spiritual insight which will enable us to understand and to practice the sacred truths of God’s word.
Temperance 90-1
John separated himself from his friends, and from the luxuries of life, dwelling alone in the wilderness, and subsisting upon a purely vegetable diet.
His diet also, of locust and wild honey was a rebuke to the gluttony that everywhere prevailed… He was a representative of those living in the last days to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ.
And the same principles of temperance which John practiced should be observed by those who in our day are to warn the world of the coming Son of Man.
3. Jesus
CDF 185
As by indulgence of appetite Adam fell, so by the denial of appetite Christ must overcome… He exercised a self-control stronger than hunger or death. (40 day fast)
CDF 186
All who would live godly lives must overcome as Christ overcame… he would begin the work of overcoming just where the ruin began - on the point of appetite. When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation he ate nothing.
OUR DUTY
MH 129
Intemperate desire resulted in the loss of Eden Eden
7T135
By precept and example make it plain that the food which God gave Adam in his sinless state is the best for man’s use as he seeks to regain that sinless state.
2T 64 (1868)
We say to you, Dear Brother and sister, your safest course is to let meat alone.
1 Cor. 15:39 4 kinds of flesh or meat
CDF 407 (1884)
Use less and less meat, until it is not used at all.
TRANSLATION DIET
I Kings 17: 1-6 flesh
: 9-16 non-flesh
19: 4-8 bread and water
2T 352 fruit diet
Eccl 1:14 EGW Bible Comment: Jewish custom – 2 meals a day
CDF 394, 380 (1890)
Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back step by step, to his original design---that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth.
Among those who are waiting for the coming of the LORD, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to from a part of their diet. We should keep this end in view and endeavor to work steadily toward it.
CDF 411 (1898)
We cannot now do as we have ventured to do in the past regarding meat eating… The diseases upon animals becoming more and more common, and our only safety is leaving meat entirely alone.
eg. Mad cow, Avian flu, HIV
MH 296 (1905)
Grains, fruits, and nuts, vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful ad nourishing. They impart strength, power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet.
DIET IN HEAVEN
Rev. 22:2 tree of life
BIBLICAL IMPORTANCE OF OUR HEALTH MESSAGE
James 1:27 – pure religion is related to health laws- undefiled
3 John 2 – spiritual health is connected to our physical health
I Cor. 10:31 eating and drinking is a means of glorifying God
Romans 12:1 getting ready for translation
Acts 17:28 we are His by creation and redemption
John 17:14, 30:17 God is the healer
Ps. 103:3 healing means forgiveness
Isa. 40:31 endurance for the ministry and the time of trouble
2 Cor. 5:10 it is one of the basis for judgment
Acts 3:21 it is part of the restoration of all things before Jesus comes
Friday, February 4, 2011
Around the Corner
this poem applies to everyone. do things push you around and take all your time that you 'do not have time' to even say 'hi' to your loved ones? read this poem and think twice..before it's too late.
i remember my childhood best friend.we were so close when we were young, like sisters.but when they moved to another municipality and she transferred to another school after Grade V, it took 5 years before we had communication.Again, we shared our goals in life. We dreamed of forming a foundation to help the less fortunate ones.I will be the nurse and she will be the social worker.we also planned of initiating an elementary batch reunion someday.
i didn't realize we will fulfill the plan in just a year. two days after new year of 2006, she and her younger brother (who happens to be my younger brother's best friend too) met a fatal vehicular accident in Bauang, La Union. Her brother died in an instant but she fought hard for her breath until she 'came home' to Irisan, our home. there, she released her last breath...gathering our elementary batch friends.
most of our friends expressed their regrets of not keeping in touch with her while she was well and alive.i also grieved and thought of those 5 lost years i should have spent with her.we were so near each other,just one municipality away,just some kilometers away.but in a way, i am still thankful that before she passed away, we were able to gain that closeness we had when we were younger. however, i had never mentioned to her how much i valued her... worst, i didn't share the truth, the joy i found..
the last words she told me? (through SMS when i invited her for overnight group bonding at home with batch friends, last days of December 2005) "Sige, nu next time to.." (OK, next time..).
the question is, will there be next time?
the lesson is, we must use our precious time investing love to our loved ones and not on material things. God commanded us to love our neighbors; if we love Him, we should love His most beloved creation - people.
another lesson, stop manana habit! every millisecond is precious!
Around the Corner
Charles Hanson Towne
Around the corner I have a friend,
In this city that has no end;
Yet days go by, and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year has gone,
And I never see my old friend’s face
For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine.
We were younger then
And now we are busy, tired men;
Tired with playing a foolish game,
Tired with trying to make a name.
“Tomorrow,” they say. “I will call Jim.”
Just to show that I am thinking of him.
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And the distance between us grows and grows
Around the corner, but miles away…
“Here’s a telegram; Jim died today.”
And that’s what we get and deserve in the end,
Around the corner, a lost friend.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Pray, believe, receive!
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
One of my favorite topics is prayer. I am greatly amazed how it works especially in my life. It’s really a worth-living and fulfilling experience to be connected with Someone you love.
I admit I wasn’t prayerful as now, and even now, I have the tendency to forget praying. I always remind myself to pray and put God first in everything I do. But, would you believe prayer itself helped me to be prayerful? It did, indeed, because every time I forget to pray prior my endeavor, I pray midway that God will remind me to talk to Him first the next time I do something.
Lately, I was reading John Maxwell’s Partners in Prayer. I like the part there that illustrates someday when we get to our mansions in heaven. We will surely be surprised when we open the rooms filled with beautifully wrapped and decorated packages/gifts each labeled with our name. Accordingly, these are the things that were never delivered to earth because they were never requested. Aw, what a loss! We could have enjoyed these gifts had we asked for them.
It’s true that God knows what our hearts desire. However, we should not expect God to be feeding us spoon by spoon. We are not babies forever. We know our counterpart. We know what we want and need. All we need to do is specifically ask God of them. After all, God is just a prayer away. We need not kneel, clasp or fold our hands, or close our eyes when we pray. What matters is we pray from our hearts, and not just mumbling empty words. And, we just not ask, but more importantly, believe and trust that it will be given to us. The gifts are already there. All we need is just to grab them, and of course, thank the Ultimate Provider.
Surely, you would want a clean and spacious place in heaven someday and not rooms jampacked with large packages containing earthly things that you can’t use in heaven, wouldn’t you?
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| photo from the Internet |
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