Asia - Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12

Finishing Strong
Toward Balanced Health and a Happy Family
Homes of Hope and Health Book 3
JOHN B. YOUNGBERG, EdD MILLIE YOUNGBERG, EdD

WES YOUNGBERG, DrPH, FACLM
WIN! Wellness
Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA
Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 1 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Design and Layout: Glesni Mason
Copyright John B. and Millie Youngberg, 2012. All rights reserved.
Printed in USA
WIN! Wellness
A division of Marriage & Family Commitment, Inc.
For information and purchasing contact:
Web site: www.winwellness.org
Wes Youngbergs Web site: www.dryoungberg.com
John and Millie Youngberg
Email: youngbergm@gmail.com
Telephone: 269-471-1688
4731 Greenfield Dr., Berrien Springs, MI 49103 U.S.A.
Unless otherwise marked, Bible quotations are taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VER-
SION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All
rights reserved.
Bible quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971 by Tyndale
House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked The Message are from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995,
1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scriptures marked NEB are taken from the New English Bible, the Delegates of the
Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1961, 1970.
ISBN: 978-0-9824979-5-1
040112

DEDICATED
To the memory of Russell E. Youngberg, MD,
Co-founder of the WIN! Wellness concept of
Integrated Balanced Living.
His works do follow him.
To the Womens Ministries, Health Educators, Family Ministries

And Ministerial Leaders worldwide,
Who desire to encourage women and men, fathers and mothers,
Teens and children, young and old,
In the way of Total Balanced Livingmentally, physically, spiritually
And who desire heart-turning relationships
In the home, school, and society.
Prepared with love.
John, Millie, and Wes
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With appreciation to Don and Elizabeth Wilson, for their prayers and
their constant encouragement of the dream of seeing WIN! Wellness
Homes of Hope and Health be a blessing for the world.
Our helpers on the WIN! teamGlesni Mason for graphic design, layout
and going above and beyond; Abigail Eagan for organization and doing
the ordinary in an extraordinary way; and Cheryl and Kenneth Logan for
excellent contributions to content and editing. We thank Tim Lale for the
final editing.
We also want to thank readers whose suggestions enhanced this book:

Claudio and Pamela Consuegra, Evelyn Kissinger, Rosemary Smith,
Robert Crounse, and Janean Mason.
The goal of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health is:

To help people to LIVElive longer, healthier, happier, and holier.

Table of Contents
Introduction On to the Finish.................................................................... 5
Chapter 20 Dare to DreamNew You................................................... 10
Chapter 21 The Magic MedicineJoy.................................................. 29
Chapter 22 Rest for the RestlessRest............................................... 43
Chapter 23 From Trauma to TransformationConflict Resolution....... 58
Chapter 24 Dying for a DrinkWater I ................................................ 71
Chapter 25 Fountain of LifeWater II.................................................. 84
Chapter 26 Crooked ThinkingCommand Center II............................ 94
Chapter 27 Triumph as We Face Global TragedyCrisis II................ 112
Chapter 28 Trust MeTrust................................................................ 122
Chapter 29 Finishing Strong............................................................... 134
Progress Report 3................................................................................. 149
References............................................................................................ 158

On to the Finish
Introduction
W
elcome to Book 3 of the WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and
Health series. It is about Finishing Strongbeing a winner
through Integrated Balanced Living.
The graphic at the beginning of each chapter depicts the wreaths of lau-
rel that the Greeks awarded the winners of the Olympic races. As you
progress through the chapters of this book, may you too be a WINNER.
Your victory, however, will be celebrated by a healthier and happier life-
style, a sharper mind, more positive relationships, and a heart full of joy.
There are three phases to a race: (1) Getting Started, (2) Pressing For-
ward in spite of challenges and fatigue, and (3) Finishing Strong. These
stages correspond to the three WIN! Wellness small books in this Homes
of Hope and Health series.
The books in the series are unique in that the authors designed them for
interaction through thought questions and personal reflection moments.
Not only will you find a sharing of information, current research, inter-
esting stories, and inspirational thoughts, but also valuable health and
wellness principles for enhancing your own happiness and wholeness.
For the best life-changing results, find a partner or a small group to join
you in reading this book, discussing the content, and coaching each
other to take care of the one body God has given you.
Beginning the race or even keeping up with others is not enough. If

youre satisfied with being normal then youre strolling along with

Finishing Strong
the majority who are headed for pre-diabetes or full-blown diabetes,

cardiovascular problems or cancer. Most will be suffering from degen-
erative disease by the age of fifty. But if you want to stand out from the
crowd, become a real winner and live vibrantly, then this WIN! Wellness
Book 3, Finishing Strong, is for you!
On to the finish
The pistol sounded, and the contestants in the intercollegiate one-mile
race were off! At the first curve, one of the young men from a small col-
lege tried to move ahead, but he was tripped, and the long spikes on the
shoes of a competitor ripped through his leg, sharp cinders gashing his
hands and face as he hit the ground. When he struggled to his feet, the
pack of runners was thirty yards ahead of him. Everyone expected him
to drop out, but with blood trickling from his gashed leg and blackened
face, he pressed on after his fellow runners. Spectators from the grand-
stands called out, advising him to go back to training quarters for first aid,
but he ignored them. He staggered forward, his eyes fixed ahead.1
On the first lap the young man was far behind, but those watching noticed
that on the second lap the space between him and the crowd of runners
was decreasing. By the time the first half-mile had been run, he was well
up among the laggards of the race.
Then came the third quarter, when runners were panting for breath.
But the grimy, bleeding young man moved forward with determination
through the ranks of the runners in the rear. One by one he passed them.
Now he was moving through the middle of the pack. Meanwhile the lead
runners had finished the third lap, and the last quarter of the race was on.
The young mans reserve of energy surged through his body as he pulled
even with the group of leaders. On the backstretch he passed several
more runners. At the last turn into the homestretch the four lead runners
heard footsteps coming from behind, closer and closer.
Look! There are only three men ahead of the injured racer. The grand-
stands explode into cheering. The finish is in sight. A line of red wor-
sted stretches breast high across the track. The runner who breaks that
strand will be the winner. The men who are fighting for first place have

Introduction
approached the utmost limit of their endurance, but they call on the last
strength in their straining bodies.
What about the unknown runner? There he is, even with the third man!
As the crowd watches, he passes him. Only two more ahead of him! The
young man who fell at the start draws up on these competitors, racing al-
most neck and neck. Five yards to the finish! He is even with them. They
are almost at the last step! Suddenly the runner who at the start of the race
was left far behind, bruised and bleeding, throws himself forward a scant
foot ahead of the other two. The tape snaps! He is the WINNER!
You too can be a WINNER! Remember, God doesnt count how many
times you fall, but how many times you get up! The Bible reminds us, A
righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.2
How will reading Homes of Hope and Health benefit you?

The purpose of this program is to give your life an exhilarating sense of
satisfaction and purpose as you choose to make life-long health and well-
ness changes. As you read Finishing Strong, start putting into practice
what you learn here. It will enhance your health, happiness, and relation-
ships. You will never be the same again. Studies show that exercise cuts
down health risks by 50 percent. We believe that by including the other
WIN! Wellness factorsnutrition, water, rest, and so onhealth risks
can be lowered by a total of 80 to 90 percent.
Some say, Within two weeks of making positive lifestyle changes I felt
better. Within 90180 days of consistently following the WIN! Well-
ness program, most people sense a lifestyle makeover. You will discov-
er vibrancy to life that you havent experienced for years! The more of
these health-producing dimensions you integrate into your daily life, the
greater the synergistic effect will be. The result: You will live healthier,
happier, holier, and probably longer!
How to use the Homes of Hope and Health books
Solo learning
Read and learn alone for your personal enjoyment.
Begin a personal lifestyle change as suggested in each chapter.

Finishing Strong
Reflect on chapter questions. Become intentional.

Share content with someone else who may join you on a new health
journey.
Husband and wife or duo learning with a friend

Read and reflect together as part of devotional or study time.
Begin to put into practice healthy lifestyle habits, starting with small
changes.
Encourage each other to improve health habits.
Invite couples, friends, and relatives to a weekly health and wellness
get-together.
Family learning
Read together as a family to improve your healthful living.
Include reading Finishing Strong as part of your family devotion time
on a daily or weekly basis.
Each chapter has storiesdiscuss them with your children/teens.
Discuss as a family how you can share this information with others.
Invite friends and families to join your family and make it a fun
occasion. Teens can be presenters of topics or have a leadership role.
Small groups
Invite neighbors, coworkers, relatives, and friends to join a small home
group.
Meet for one hour once a week or more frequently. Busy people prefer
short sessions.
Share your book or arrange for each member to have their own copy.
Group members may alternate presenting topics at each weeks session.
Allow 3035 minutes to a Homes of Hope and Health topic and then
follow up with 2025 minutes of Reflect/Discuss interaction. If the
topic generates much discussion, finish the chapter the following week.
Discussion time is extremely important. Group support motivates
lifestyle change.
Large groups
Offer community or church weekend seminars covering a number of
topics.

Introduction
Have a team work together preparing, organizing, marketing,

assembling materials, and presenting these Homes of Hope and Health
topics in seminars.
Schedule presentations three to five times per week or on weekends.
Follow up with: neighborhood small groups, dinner clubs, cooking
classes, exercise groups, Dinner with the Doctor once a month, health
and wellness topics, or Bible studies.
Components of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health series

Accompanying the three books mentioned above are these other options.
Please see our Web site, winwellness.org.
Homes of Hope and Health DVD Digipacknon-video with three
DVDs, one for each book. These include parallel files containing about
800 graphics for use as PowerPoint slides with computer and projector
or to use with a DVD player and a TV screen. The slides also have
Reflect/Discuss questions, Personal Reflection questions, and some
motivational Intentionality charts. The computer files have total scripts
and small-group activities. You are the presenter.
WIN! Wellness Professional Editiontwenty-one wellness
presentations typically lasting 4550 minutes or more. Complete
scripts plus handout sheets for group discussion. This is the original,
longer series with 1,156 PowerPoint graphics published in 2009, often
preferred by health-care professionals or those desiring additional
research.
Spanish series entitled SI! Salud IntegralHacia Una Salud Integral
y Familia Feliz. Disponible en el Digipack Hogares de Esperanza con
tres discos, tres libros 1. El ComienzoHacia Una Salud Integral y
Familia Feliz, 2. Avanzando, y 3. Terminando con Energa. Tambin
hay la Edicin Profesional con 1156 grficos. Se puede usar con
computadora y proyectora o con DVD player y monitor del TV.
So here is WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health Book 3, Finishing

StrongENJOY!
John, Millie, and Wes

20 Dare to Dream
New You
B
eth had never been able to stick to a diet. Hardly able to walk,
shed never felt motivated to exercise either. Over the years she
had moved from small to extra-large clothing sizes, periodically
having no choice but to purchase a new wardrobe. She could hardly be-
lieve she had reached 225 pounds. At a medical check-up, her long-time
family doctor looked at her gravely and said, The tests confirm what
Id suspected. You have diabetes. You are overweight and out of shape.
Beth, youve got to get control of your lifenow!
The probable medical outcomes for Beth if she continued her past life-
style included stroke, blindness, kidney failure, circulatory problems,
and even amputation of limbs. Beth was devastated, feeling that shed
been given a death sentence. When she arrived home, she automatically
headed for the refrigerator for some comfort food when she ran into
her husband. What did the doctor tell you? he asked.
No more ice cream, sweets, potato chips, Cokesall the things I like,
she admitted in tears. Realization hit. A new lifestyle change was vital.
It wasnt easy. The whole family had a council and decided to join Beth
on her new healthy-living journey. The first hurdle they tackled was
diet. They decided that the easiest way to avoid eating junk food was
to not buy it in the first place. The decision was: no more unhealthy,
high-calorie, weight-buster snacks and desserts to tempt Beth and the fam-
ily. Now when they opened the refrigerator, they found ready-cut vegeta-
bles instead of desserts and fat foodsand they were all the better for it!
10

Dare to Dream
Knowing that daily exercise was essential to Beths health, her husband
bought her an exercise bicycle. (If she had been in another country it
might have been a regular bicycle.) The next morning, Beth grudgingly
began to use it. She was so out of shape that after a few minutes pedal-
ing at a low setting, she was exhausted and gave up in defeat. While she
sat on her soft recliner, winded and sweating, an inner voice seemed to
speak to her: Beth, you dont have to lose all the extra pounds at once.
Take them off pound by pound, minute by minute, step by step. After a
few reflective thoughts, she returned to the bicycle with fresh determina-
tion. I will spend the next five minutes of my life pedaling this bicycle, she
thought. Ill stick with my diet just one more meal. She also decided to
eat less at each meal.
This new determination and way of looking at diet and exercise helped.
All Beth had to do was make the right choices for just one more exercise
session, one more meal. Sure enough, her daily cycling and better eating
habits started to pay off. At her next doctors appointment, she weighed
in 17 pounds (7.7 kg) lighter! She started to feel energized, and for the
first time in her life she was in control. Beth felt like a changed person,
with new dreams for a new healthy future. So did her family, who were
tagging along with her, improving their lifestyle.
Overweight and obesity are advancing at epidemic rates in many coun-

tries and are major causes of diabetes and other high-risk diseases. Mil-
lions who are aware of this universal health risk are moving toward
changing their eating and exercise habits and becoming new, healthier
persons like Beth. It is a choice.
Becoming a new person

If you are like most people, youll probably have to admit that right now,
at this moment, you are not the person you want to be. Maybe youve
somehow settled for the person you are, come to terms with what you
see as reality, and given up on the kind of life you wanted to live. Lets
see if we can help you.
Getting out of the comfort zone

Why dont we make changes in our lifestyle or develop useful skills even
though it is our desire? On New Years Day we may write resolutions for
11

Finishing Strong
new life practices: stop smoking, exercise five days a week, cut out af-
ternoon snacks, orthe most popular resolutiongo on a diet. Perhaps
on any day of the year we may be impressed to change, to get out of our
comfort zone, to look for a better job, to pursue higher education, or to
volunteer in our local community. Perhaps we have a deep desire to do
something no one has done before, something that seems totally impos-
sible. Many have the desire to start a new spiritual journey with God.
So with these desires, what keeps us from going forward to higher and
higher levels of accomplishment?
What are the obstacles holding us back from becoming a new persona
healthier and happier person, an outstanding individual, one whom God
wants to use in a special way, someone who will make a significant dif-
ference in the lives of others? Could they be such barriers as not enough
self-control, or thoughts of Im OK as I am, I enjoy the status quo?
Might it be that you fear you cant change, dont have emotional energy
to make a change, that you might fail, or it just takes too much effort to
change? What might keep you from making changes you desire?
Are you aware that habitual thought patterns may impede you from
reaching your potential? What is it that really keeps you from going for-
ward, doing the impossible, and accomplishing whatever in your inmost
soul you want to do?
Ed was a heavy smoker who came to Mark Finley for help. After smok-
ing two packs of cigarettes a day for years, he now wanted to quit for his
healths sake. Pastor Mark encouraged Ed to ask God for victory over his
smoking habit. As they knelt with the cigarettes in front of them on the
floor, Mark encouraged Ed to pray in faith that God would free him of his
habit. Ed began to pray, Lord, You know I am a weak person and that
smoking has a grip on me. I just cant quit smoking. Its just too difficult
for me to
Suddenly Mark interrupted Ed. Stop praying like that! You are going
to be worse off after this prayer than you are now. You are convincing
yourself that you will never have victory over smoking and that God isnt
able to help you stop. The Bible says, Ask, and it will be given to you;
12

Dare to Dream
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will
be opened. 1
Then Mark told him to begin praying again, and this time Ed prayed dif-
ferently.
Lord, I know I am weak but You are powerfully strong. You made the
blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and I know You can help
me with this bad habit. Your power is stronger than my cravings for this
tobacco. Please deliver me!
And God did! By the grace of God, Ed was set free. All his cravings for
cigarettes were gone! For some smokers the miracle is instant, for others
it takes time, but God is there giving strength for victory in response to
sincere prayer.2
Blockers to becoming the New You

Ed wanted to quit smoking and did something about it. He asked for the
help of Mark Finley and God, even though he feared change was impos-
sible. Fear can block the path to successfully accomplishing important
goals and be an obstacle to success. We have good news!
How can I conquer fear?

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. . . . In God I have put
my trust; I will not fear.3
Perfect love casts out fear.4
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.5
Notice in these verses the relationship with God, who helps clear the way
for us to become a New Person. God is there to encourage us to make
good choices and do the impossible. He will remove the fear that blocks
our progress. One person who has fearful thoughts immediately prays,
Lord, take away the fear. I choose to trust You. And God answers her
prayer.
13

Finishing Strong
Biological blockers
Biological factors may block you from becoming a New You. Our
physical health impacts our mind and may affect our choices. Factors
involved may be: insufficient sleep, nutritional deficiencies, insufficient
exercise and fresh air, and inadequate water intake. Perhaps you need to
take certain supplements. Vitamin B complex, and especially vitamin B1
(thiamine), helps keep our nerves calm, memories keen, and our brains
thinking straight. Fortunately vitamin B is readily available from eating
whole grains. Deficiencies in vitamin B (thiamine) can cause memory
problems, mood swings, irritability, and confusion.6
A combination of nutritious foods and appropriate supplements helps the

brain, as do sufficient exercise, water, and fresh air. All of these help us
to improve our emotions, choice making, and total health.
As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.7

The human brain has the power to rise above emotional moods. Negative
thought patterns produce negative emotions and emotionally induced ill-
nesses. A person may be in a bad mood and not make good choices
because of some chemical imbalance in the brain. However, if that per-
son decides to have victory over negative thinking, he can rise above
emotional moods by choice.
One family educator said we can smile even though the heart be sad.8
Thoughts can create moods. Good positive thoughts can produce good
moods. You can try self-talk like this: I will not let circumstances put me
in a bad mood. I will make right choices that will help me be all that I
can be with Gods help.
The human brain has a God-given ability not only to generate thoughts
but also exercise will-power to accept, reject, act on or not act on good or
bad thoughts. You can still be a New You, make wise choices, and be the
person you always wanted to be. You are the architect of your life.
14

Dare to Dream
O that every one might realize that he is the arbiter of his own destiny! Your
happiness for this life, and for the future, immortal life lies with yourself.9
Gods makeover of Zacchaeus

Never underestimate the power of a divine appointment that changes
your lifethat changes you to a new person.
The Gospel of Luke tells of a shrewd businessman named Zacchaeus

who seemed to have it all. He was the local tax collector, and rumor had
it that all the money he took in didnt necessarily make it to the govern-
ment treasury. He probably owned a large and comfortable house and
a hefty bank account. Yet, even though he was wealthy, Zacchaeus felt
something was missing in his life. Here is his story in The Living Bible:
As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus

. . . tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the
crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree beside
the road, to watch from there.
When Jesus came by he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him

by name! Zacchaeus! He said. Quick! Come down! For I am
going to be a guest in your house today!
Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in

great excitement and joy.10
Jesus announced, Today salvation [healing of brokenness] has come to

this house.11 Zacchaeus was so moved by Jesus offer of friendship that
he repented of his dishonest ways and dedicated himself to helping the
poor. He repaid four times as much money to each person he had over-
charged for taxes to ensure he had made everything more than right.
Zacchaeus found a new dimension to his life after Jesus came to his
house. One of the meanings of the ancient word for salvation is to
be made whole. Wholeness had been restored to Zacchaeus home. He
became a new person. What was so exciting about this was that when Je-
sus came to his house, the whole family changed. And thats what WIN!
15

Finishing Strong
Wellness Homes of Hope and Health is all about: bringing wholeness to

the family, mending brokenness, and restoring its members to healthy
relationships and right principles of living. In essence, it is fulfilling the
lingering, unfulfilled dream. God had a makeover dream for Zacchaeus,
and the time had come for a transformation in his life.
Recall a time when you had a divine appointment that changed

your life and helped to make you a new person. Did it inspire you
with a new dream? How? Share your story with someone.
God is a dreamer
Lets examine some Bible characters God had special plans for before
they were conceived. Some of the parents dedicated them to God before
they were even born. Ultimately each of these discovered Gods big, un-
imaginable dream for their lives.
John the Baptist, Jeremiah, and Samuel

Before John was conceived, Gabriel, the highest angel, came from heav-
en and appeared to Zachariah and announced to this aged priest that a
son would be born to him.12 He told him what to name the child and what
work this son would performannouncing to the nation the beginning of
the ministry of Jesus.
It happened just that way. Gods dream became the dream of Zachariah
and his wife, Elizabeth, and ultimately became the dream of their son.
Even though, later on, John died alone in a prison, he fulfilled Gods
dream. Jesus paid him the highest tribute ever given to mortals when He
said, Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist.13
The Bible prophet Jeremiah lived in one of the most difficult times in the
history of a nation. He was needed to encourage and guide the people in
a time of invasion, destruction, and exile. At the beginning of his work,
God said, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you
were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. 14
God had a dream for Jeremiah and announced it to him personally. It
became his dream.
16

Dare to Dream
Hannah discovered Gods dream. She had been childless and pleaded
fervently that God would bless her and her husband with a son. She made
a vow and dedicated her unborn child to the Lord for all the days of his
life. When he was born she named him Samuel, meaning God heard
or requested of God. As a mere child Samuel heard God calling him,
and the third time he heard the voice, coached by Eli the high priest, he
responded, Speak, for Your servant hears.15 Progressively he became
the kind of new person God wanted him to be. Ultimately God used him
to appoint the first two kings of Israel. Under divine direction Samuel
founded the school system that contributed to saving the nation from
downfall for half a millennium. Gods dream became Hannahs dream,
and through Samuels long and fruitful life he fulfilled that dream.
Millies dream story

I was born to Czechoslovakian parents in the little town of Rosenberg,
Texas. I loved my parents dearly and knew they had immense love for
me. During the Great Depression, when I was nine, my mother and father
died six weeks apart, leaving my brother and me orphaned. Our cousin
Millie gave up a good job to come care for us in our home. She gifted me
with a happy childhood and had a positive spiritual influence on my life.
Cousin Millie believed in me so much that she later sold a house to pay
for part of my college education. She wanted me to be prepared with life
skills and to do something special for God.
Once when I returned home for a college vacation, I visited our small
church, which also had contributed to my journey in becoming a new
spiritual person. While I was there, one of my mothers friends shared a
story about my mother, Antonia. Before my birth she had prayed dedicat-
ing me to God as Hannah had dedicated Samuel for the Lords service.
Throughout my life I have sensed the evidence of Gods leading in a
powerful way. I know that God is answering my mothers prayers, which
are still encircling heavens throne and continue to be part of Gods dream
for my life.
Even though I was handicapped with learning disabilities caused by ex-

tremely high temperatures from scarlet fever, God helped me progress in
my educational pursuits. By Gods grace I completed a doctoral degree
17

Finishing Strong
in education. Like Samuels, my life has been spent in the Lords service.
God led me to minister in Christian education as an elementary multi-
grade school teacher, a supervisor of elementary education, and a profes-
sor at Andrews University.
My husband John and I have been instrumental in training thousands of

family life and health educators in many areas worldwide. At this time
we are convinced that our WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health
ministry is not so much our dream but rather a heaven-born idea. It is
Gods dream for us to help people to live healthier, happier, holier and
even longer, and for each precious individual to be transformed into a
New Person fulfilling Gods dream for them. Before I was born, Gods
dream became my mothers dream, which became my dream. I keep
praying for God to use me to continue to be the new person I can be at
my present stage of life. My greatest desire is that His dream for me will
be totally fulfilled.
Your dream
The greatest dreams dont originate inside you; the life-changing dreams
come from the God of the universe. Our success in life will depend upon
the degree to which we discover Gods dream for us and our faithfulness
in pursuing it once we have discovered Gods plan. God tailors the dream
to our own uniqueness and how we can contribute to the world in some
special way, since only He knows just what things we can accomplish
through His power. But if we dont discover God, we wont discover
Gods dream. And because of Gods gift of choice we dont have to re-
spond to His desires for our lives. It is our choice. Gods dream for each
of us is not a once-ina-lifetime event, but a continual growth in becom-
ing a New You under His training and polishing.
Gods dream for John Lomacang

His mothers one-night stand with a New York City jazz musician was
the beginning of life for baby John.16 He was born to Rosie, who one
day kissed him and his three-year-old sister Val goodbye, left them at
the babysitters, and disappeared from their lives. From the age of three
months, John grew up knowing only Momma Haynes as his mother.
18

Dare to Dream
Papa and Momma Haynes brought up little John in their Christian home,
giving him their heart full of love and a foundation for life. They taught
him to love Jesus, and at the age of nine he was baptized. But with all the
big-city temptations during the teen years, John lost his way and became
a party guy, bringing pain to Papa and Momma Haynes. Satan wanted
control of Johns life and was successful. During his teen years John
found himself in harms way many times; he was held up at gun-point
twice, was almost run over, and narrowly escaped death in a car accident.
Papa and Momma Haynes continued to pray for their boy during those
difficult years, and their prayers were answered. Later in life, John did
return to the Lord.
As John Lomacang matured, it was evident he had musical talent. Af-

ter he got married, he competed in a Christian talent search contest and
ended up in the top ten finalists. When his name was mentioned on the
radio, his aunt, whom he had never met, happened to be listening to the
program. Because the name Lomacang is not common, she contacted
him. John was moved to tears when he met his Aunt Teresa. A few days
later he and his sister Val wept with joy when their long-lost mother came
down the ramp as the last passenger on the plane coming in from the Vir-
gin Islands. At last they were not alone in life. For twenty-five years John
had dared to dream of finding his biological mother, and now he held her
in his arms! His mother Rosie was an alcoholic and had lived a turbulent
life. Finally Johns search for his mom was over. With love, John and his
mother held each other in a long embrace.
John had another dream. He longed to use his musical talent to help those
who had lost their way in life to discover meaning. He joined the Heri-
tage Singers and traveled with the group across the United States and
around the world, sharing music and bringing people to a better life. He
became a pastor and served in 19 countries.
This dedicated man has led many people to live transformed lives, but
the transformation that made him the happiest occurred just after he was
ordained as a pastor. The first person he baptized was his own mother.
Through the power of Christ, Rosie had given up all her addictions and
embarked upon a new spiritual lifeas a totally different person.
19

Finishing Strong
John says,
When my parents left, God did not need a forwarding address to

find me. Before I knew that I was abandoned God made sure
that I was not alone. You may not know who your parents are,
but God always knows who His children are! . . . When the Lord
has a plan for your life, detours dont matter. The Bible says,
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will
take care of me.17
Is there any hope for someone born in the ghetto, unclaimed by moth-
er and father? Jesus says, Can a woman forget her nursing child, and
not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget,
yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My
hands.18 Yes, our names are tattooed on Jesus hands. We belong to
Him. It doesnt matter if you dont know your real name for years. You
may have strayed away, but a relentless love will pursue you, inviting
you to come to the foot of the cross and become a new persona New
You.
Just suppose that John Lomacang, after being abandoned by father and
mother, never found a relationship with Papa and Momma Haynes. Sup-
pose he just grew up on the streets of New York City and never found
anyone in life who loved him unconditionally. Would the end of the story
have been the same? Its true that for a time he ran with the wrong crowd,
but he had something that kept drawing him back to his foundational
training.
Somebody loved him, somebody was praying for him, somebody cared.
God had a dream plan for John Lomacang to share his musical talents
that have touched the world through his ministry and through 3ABN tele-
vision, as a singer and a presenter of the Jesus Story in the Gospels. He
has shared the message of how Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and
set the captives free.
20

Dare to Dream
There are times that Father God has to do a makeover job before His
dream plan is carried out to its fullest in our lives. He did that for Abram
who became Abraham, Jacob who became Israel, and Saul who became
Paul, and He will do it for us today.
Gods dream plan for you today

Is God nudging you to do something special in your life for Him? Do you
have a clue as to what it might be?
What great idea, dream, desire has been planted in your heart and mind?
What is God nudging you to do for Him and for yourself?
Are you ready for the faith journey into new challengesnew horizons,
a New You?
Your makeover under Gods design can start at any age and any time.
Are you ready?
By having a positive relationship with God, you start a new adventure.

Go forward. When you follow a heaven-born idea, the dream unfolds.
Listen in the early morning hours as God whispers directions to you and
reveals new dimensions of your dream.
Rays moment of inspiration

The day that began a chain of lifestyle choices was a monumental day for
Ray. On this specific day, looking at a photograph of himself, Ray real-
ized he was overweight, out of shape, and looked unkempt in his sloppy
clothes. It did not make him very happy. He decided that no one else was
to see the photo.
But then it hit him. Everyone sees me this way every day. This is the way
I really look. Reality struck. Im not taking care of my body. My life is out
of control. I need to do something about it. I really dont want to change,
but . . . I have to.
Making this change would be a challenge, he realized. While thinking

about adjusting his lifestyle, he saw that life is like a movie. If I could
fast-forward to twenty years from now, what would I look like, what
would I feel like, if I dont change now? Will I be healthy, or ill like my
21

Finishing Strong
parents? For the sake of my health and profession, the time has come for
me to do something about this, starting today.
At that inspirational moment, Ray became aware that if he were to achieve

his lifelong goals, he must improve his eating habits. While processing
his thoughts he made a decision: I must be more disciplined in my daily
choices. I can do it. I can break old patterns.
Ray decided to take action right away and started a new health improve-
ment programgoing to the gym to work out, eating healthy foods,
drinking eight glasses of water a day, and being positive in his outlook.
He ate less at mealtimes, avoiding lots of fats he had been accustomed
to eating, and bit by bit the pounds came off. To get more exercise, Ray
began taking walks each evening, regardless of the weather.
When he had a hard time eating in a healthy way and was backsliding
on his diet plan, Ray took a nutrition class in his community. He began
to focus on eating nutritious, healthy foods: fresh produce, no processed
meats, more whole grains, fruits, and nuts. Ray struggled to vary his veg-
etables. His taste buds were not quite ready for the healthy greens, but
he started eating a small quantity of them. When there was a celebration
such as Grandmas birthday party, he participated by eating small por-
tions of sweets. Ray realized this new journey was for life and was an
ongoing lifestyle commitment. He was in earnest about his makeover,
which actually became his passion.
Finally, with his weight loss, new wardrobe, and trim haircut, Ray was
ready for a job interview at a firm looking for a marketing consultant.
And he got the job! His professional dreams and lifestyle goals were be-
ing realized, and he praised God, who had helped make his dreams come
true.
Ray now had more energy, was healthier, happier, and enjoyed a keener
mind. He was ready to go forward facing the new challenges of life.
There are many stories just like Rays. Perhaps yours is one of them or
will be.
22

Dare to Dream
God has a dream for all of us to reach our potential. However, research
shows that many with high intelligence do not reach theirs: one-third at-
tain high levels in their professional performance, one-third stay in the
average range, and one-third are at a low level of contributing to society.
Why? Did one-third give up? Were they willing to tolerate mediocrity?
Were they not willing to stretch their powers and reach higher levels and
get out of their comfort zone?
What will God do to make your dreams come true?

The short answer is: anything necessary.
What are your present dreams? To get a better education? To get a better
job? To be more attractive? To improve your health by eating right and
exercising daily? To be a more loving spouse? To improve a relationship
with family and others? To meet other peoples needs? To serve the Lord?
Think back over your life, and no doubt you will see many instances
where things just worked out perfectly.
If you start searching for your unique purpose in life with intentionality,
you will see instances where God works behind the scenes to help you
realize your dreams. Hell put you in the right place at the right time.
Hell give you new knowledge and direct your path with His guidance.
He will set up divine appointments with the right people. He will make
a way when there is no way for the dream to come truewhen everyone
you know says, Impossible.
Gods storehouse for dreamers has infinite suppliesand limitless ac-

cess! Sometimes we limit these blessings by not asking God for needed
things, through our preference to remain in the status quo, doing the same
things we have done for years. Have you noticed that God sometimes
allows pressures to force us to move forward out of our comfort zone?
Have you noticed that struggles and challenges strengthen our faith as we
go forward? We move out of the safe zone and leap into the faith zone.
We stretch our thoughts and our minds. This enlarges our abilities and
skills. When we reach up high, miracles are ahead!
23

Finishing Strong
There is much research indicating that a new lifestyle which includes

exercising thirty minutes five to six times a week, drinking six to eight
glasses of water daily, eating veggies and fruits and being a positive per-
son, results in drastically improved health. It will probably prevent 5080
percent of catastrophic diseases that otherwise would affect you. So why
wait? Start on the New You journey by adopting a new lifestyle.
Most of us want to enjoy lifestyle victories. But its not our power that
makes this happenit is Gods power. If we do our best, God will do the
rest. The changes may include being more interesting, being more kind,
patient, and loving, being more hopeful and caring. The New You will
want to take optimum care of this marvelous body God has given and to
grow stronger in muscle, mind, and abilities.
God is the Dream Maker.

Our relationship with Him ignites our dream.
God has big plans for your life. He is willing to give you the desires of
your heart. God wants you to be the amazing person you dream of being.
But remember that God wont force an entrance into your life. Hes not
going to have a telemarketer call you. You cant charge the new dream to
your VISA or American Express card. You cant mend brokenness with
MasterCard. That wont happen. It is not a matter of buying something,
but of befriending Someone in a personal relationship. His coming into
your life depends on you opening the door every day to an exciting rela-
tionship with Him. The psalmist David says, May He grant your hearts
desire and fulfill all your plans.19
Inside every person is a sense that she can be more than she is, and a driv-
ing desire to change. Redemption gives the free gift of restoration to the
you that you can beGods New You!
The Barry Black story

Is there any hope for a child born in the ghetto to become a New You
and be an agent to bring the Good News before legislative assemblies
and presidents? Barry Black fought against the odds of poverty and kept
becoming a New You in each phase of his life. He expected God to lead
24

Dare to Dream
and guide him even when God was taking him out of his comfort zone
into new territory. Barry kept being a New You every day, not by sitting
back and doing nothing, but by learning all he could learn and being all
he could be, even when others thought he would never make it.20
Born in inner-city Baltimore, in a home where the welfare check often

ran out before the month ran out, young Barry learned what every cater-
pillar knows, that if you want to survive youd better develop wings. The
cockroaches that stalked the house at night terrorized him and his seven
siblings. One looked as big as a shoe. Filth and debris littered the streets.
Drug dealers sold their wares on one corner; prostitutes sold theirs on the
next. Crime, drugs, and poverty infected this environment.
But within this toxic neighborhood, Barrys mother, Pearline, provided

a cocoon of safety, faith in God, and belief in each of her eight children.
She would often repeat, You are different, Gods child. Never forget
that! He vowed he would never forget he was Gods child, and he gave
his life to God at the age of ten.
Barry learned that God grows gigantic oaks from little acorns. He learned
that we often miss opportunities because they come disguised as work.
He joined the navy as a chaplain. By working hard and trusting God, he
was a blessing to the sailors whose lives he touched, especially in dif-
ficult times.
Some of Barry Blacks guiding life principles were: expect the unex-
pected; find blessings in affliction; take the less-traveled path; stay busy;
harness prayer power; surprise people; face lifes challenges; match chal-
lenges with inner resources; take time to develop self-mastery. He also
embraced diligence by following the guidelines in Ecclesiastes 9:10:
Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. He purposed
in his heart to do Gods will and to make the most of every moment of
his life. Barrys goal was to live in an ethical manner that prepared him
for his future work. He felt integrity kept him from a lot of heartbreak
and shame.
25

Finishing Strong
Against the odds of race discrimination and prejudice against his minor-
ity church affiliation, Barry worked his way up the ranks and became
the first African-American to be named a two-star admiral and the first
African-American in the history of the navy to lead its Chaplain Corps.
And God had still bigger plans for Barry. As he continued on the road
less traveled, he was named Chaplain of the Senate of the United States
in 2003, the only African-American ever to serve in that position. He
dreamed big dreams, and Gods dreams for him came true.
For you to be a new person and become a New You is a challenge. It isnt
easy, but its worthwhile. It is our choice to make, but we dont have to
do it alone. A promise many of us can claim when the temptations of life
are strong, tasks are difficult, or an impossible habit has to be broken, is:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.21
Many stories in the Bible are about people who had serious faults and
broke Gods commandments, including Jacob, Moses, Gideon, David,
and Peter. But by Gods grace and His miraculous power, they left the old
person behind and became a New Person for the glory of God. Doesnt
this bring hope to our hearts as we walk along our spiritual pathway of
life? You also can choose a new direction.
The old is gone, new life begins

Are you struggling spiritually? Are the sins of society ruling your life?
Are your vital forces going downhill because of bad choices? Do you
need a miracle to get you into a safer environment or on the path to real,
positive, healthful living? What you need is the guidance and help of
your Forever Friend. You need Jesus. All you have to do is to open the
door and invite Him into your life. The Bible says: If anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation. The old life is gone. A new life has begun!22
Thats the real New You. Old things have passed away; . . . all things
have become new. Will you accept Him now? Will you let Christ come
into your life? He wants to be your Friend and to help you.
26

Dare to Dream
If you are beginning on a pathway to a New You and desire for Gods
guidance, quietly tell Jesus that you choose Him as the Lord of your life,
and ask Him to forgive your sins. Jesus will help you do a spiritual life
makeover, which will start you on an exciting and exhilarating journey.
Is that your choice?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are the Dream Giver and the
Dream Maker. I want to be a new person and submit all my dreams
to You. You know what is best for me. I know You want to help me
achieve my potential. Please help me to be more like You, choose a
healthy lifestyle, and have positive relationships with my family and
others. Change me so that I can be all that You want me to be as a
new person and reach out in incredible ways to help others. Guide
by Your victorious hand so that Your dreams for me may come true.
In Jesus name, amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. If you could suddenly wake up one morning and be the ideal per-
sona New Youwhat would you be like?
2. What are your present personal dreams or goals? What can you do to
make them a reality?
3. What experiences did you have when you started on your new spiri-
tual journey with God? What changes did you make?
4. When you look at outstanding people you admire, what are the quali-
ties they possess and which of these would you like to have?
5. What are the obstacles or fears that are impeding you from taking the
steps to being the person you would like to be?
Personal Reflections
1. Do you see yourself as valuable? God does. What do you want Him
to do for you so that you can be all you can be? Ask Him for a spiri-
tual makeover.
2. What can you do today to begin making positive lifestyle choices?
Become intentional and take action.
27

Finishing Strong
Intentionality
I will pursue a dream that has been in my mind for some time. It is
____________________________________________________.
Even though it is out of my comfort zone, I choose to go forward in
the faith zone.
28

The Magic Medicine
21
Joy
A
fter months of chemotherapy, numerous side effects and hospital
stays, the long-awaited day finally arrives. Now the lab and X-ray
imaging reports are in. The doctor holds them in hand. With
eagerness I search Dr. Lesters face for a clue. Then he smiles. You are
cancer free! I want to hug him. My heart is bursting with joy. I have to
tell someone.
Its prayer meeting night. Though still weak, I pull myself up from the
pew and share.
I just want to tell you, God has answered your prayers. The CAT
scan report is in. Im cancer free! The whole congregation bursts into
applause. I cry with happiness. It is a day of joy.
Each of us has a different idea of what pure ecstatic joy is. Maybe you
think of the joy when your first child was born. Our family recalls the birth
of our first grandchild. When the news went out that the expectant mother
had gone to the hospitals maternity unit, family rendezvoused from three
states, racing with the stork. Two grandmothers, two grandfathers, an
aunt and young uncle all arrived via different means about an hour before
the birth. One grandmother came running down the hall to the rest of
the waiting family, all smiles, and announced, Its a girl! As soon as
we were allowed, we carefully passed the precious bundle from arms to
arms. Her eyes were wide open, taking in all this special bonding time.
She was loved unconditionally from day one.
29

Finishing Strong
There was joy, real joy! When the twentieth century came to an end,
there was great fanfare heralding the new millennium. As the hour of
midnight struck in one time zone after another around the globe, Sydney,
Australia, being close to the International Date Line, was one of the first
big cities where the year 2000 came to pass. Fireworks, laser lights, and
festivities marked this special moment in history. There was singing,
laughter, bursting smiles. Bells rang, car horns blared, ships in the harbor
sounded their foghorns, all in celebration. Some people praised God. It
was a noisy time of great joy.
Each of us has a story of a time of joy. We may surprise others and ourselves
by doing the unexpected. I made it to the top of Mount Whitney!
We have ten in our WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health small
group! Even at eighty Im learning to use a Mac computer. I think I
have found the right one; she is a jewel! And she said, Yes, I will marry
you! I passed the exam! The baby is a boy!
What brings you joy?
True joy
Joy is a God thing. We are born for joyborn to enjoy life at its fullest.
Even babies smile with joy in their safe and happy environments.
Joy is one of the basic human needs and is second on the Bibles list
of spiritual fruit, following love. The list includes love, joy, peace, pa-
tience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.1
All seem to go together in bringing us authentic and satisfying joy. Think
about this. God brings genuine joy into our daily lives. Joy signals the
brain to produce endorphins. The word endorphin means the morphine
within, and this natural analgesic enhances the mood, reduces pain, and
gives feelings of euphoria. To desire joy is normal, but true joy isnt nec-
essarily the same thing as merriment. If your desire leads you to seek
constant laughs or thrills, youll be unlikely to find lasting joy. Joy sought
in and of itself has a way of eluding the seeker.
A patient poured out his problems to his psychiatrist. There was an aching
void in his heart, and although other people in his life appreciated him, he
30

The Magic Medicine
really wasnt happy. The psychiatrist listened and nodded his head from
time to time. He asked the man questions and, at the end of the hour-long
interview, ventured to give some counsel.
What you need to do is to listen to some humorous TV show. You

need to laugh more. Then the doctor suggested his client watch a daily
television comedy show.
The mans face fell, and he shook his head. Im afraid that wont help.
Im a TV comedianlaughing on the outside and crying on the inside.
So where does true joy come from?
Joy in kind acts for others

A research study of 3,296 volunteers performing kind acts established
a clear cause-and-effect relationship between helping and good health.2
Happy feelings accompany kind acts. When we give unselfishly to others,
we create a boomerang effect, bringing joy to ourselves. Science has
discovered that how much joy we have determines how much distress we
can successfully manage. Little joy equals little ability to manage crisis
and a slow return to joy. The Bible says, The joy of the Lord is your
strength.3 The joy in Christs heart gave Him strength to endure the cross.4
After performing a kind act, volunteers sense a rush of euphoria followed

by a longer period of calm. Dr. Allan Luks calls this feeling helpers
high. We call it joy. It is a magic medicine. Helping others reduces
stress and releases the bodys natural painkillers, the endorphins.
When we face difficulties without joy, stress sparks the adrenal glands
to pump adrenaline into our bloodstream, plus other powerful hormones
called corticosteroids, to meet an immediate emergency. However,
in excess, these hormones will suppress immune-system functioning
and can aggravate diabetes. With prolonged arousal, fatty acid energy
released into the bloodstream is converted into cholesterol, which can
lead to arteriosclerosishardening of the arteries. The increased heart
rate will increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart
disease. A Bible writer knew the best antidote to these distress toxins
31

Finishing Strong
when he wrote, Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.5
As far back as 1883 a prolific author wrote, It is the duty of everyone
. . . to keep his thoughts under the control of reason and . . . to be cheerful
and happy. . . . Sadness deadens the circulation in the blood vessels and
nerves, and also retards the action of the liver. It hinders the process of
digestion and of nutrition, and has a tendency to dry up the marrow.6 The
wise man Solomon said something similar three thousand years ago: A
merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.7
Healing properties are released in the giver and in the receiver when we
help others. For years we have known that one of the best cures for a
depressed person is for that person to do something good for someone
else. It energizes them and encourages happy, positive emotions.
True joy is one byproduct of serving others. It is the sense of

exhilaration caused by doing something good for someone. It is
satisfaction, keen pleasure, and a state of happiness. Have you
found this to be true?
HOW CAN WE INCREASE OUR JOY?
Joy from compassion

A homeless man wouldnt smile because his front teeth had been knocked
out in a fight and he was self-conscious about his appearance. A group
of compassionate students and their teacher found this discouraged man,
raised some money for his dental work, and a willing dentist did the rest.
When the work was complete, the man looked in a mirror. He couldnt
stop looking at himself and joyfully burst out, I can smile again! Tears
of joy ran down his cheeks. What delight this brought not only to the
dentist but also to the caring students and to the donors as well. The
healing endorphins were working overtime for not only the receiver but
the givers as well.
Psycho-neuro-immunology
A branch of medical science called psycho-neuro-immunology is the
study of the relationship between our attitudes of hope and joy and how
they affect our brain, our hormones, and our immunity against disease.
32

The Magic Medicine
Famed author Norman Cousins says that the brain is perhaps the most
prolific gland in the body and is capable not only of providing secretions
but also of combining these secretions in prescribing for the body. In
other words, the brain is a master druggist and mixes its own hormonal
remedies. When a person feels emotions like joy and optimism, the brain
manufactures positive hormones, which enhance the immune system.8
Joy increases immune response by

up to 50 percent. This strengthens the
bodys ability to mount successful
counterattacks against invading
pathogens. In the graphic you see the
artists conception of natural killer cells
surrounding a cancer cell. If we are sad
or depressed we give an edge to cancer
viruses and other disease carriers.
Science has discovered that the brain functions best when a person feels
joy. Some sixty chemicals are manufactured in the boutons, which are
button-like bulges in the nerve fibers. The state of mind of the individual
influences whether positive or negative chemicals are produced. If we
have prolonged negative emotions, the brain sends its nerve networks a
cortisol bath that can damage the nerve pathways, especially in young
children. The process is called neuro-pruning. When adults replay
negative memories, this reactivates the same chemicals that produced
the original emotion. By contrast, joy is a will-centered experience that
produces positive hormones.
There are additional physical benefits of joyfulness. Scientific research

documents that joy helps the battle against:
obesity
sleeplessness
acid stomach
depression
colds and flu
headaches and backaches
arthritis
33

Finishing Strong
lupus
coronary artery disease
asthma: a reduction in stress for some people decreases the constriction
within the lungs associated with asthma attacks.
some types of cancer: researcher Sandra Levy found that joyfulness
was the second most important predictor of survival time for a group of
women with recurring breast cancer.9
Joy in returning to the essentials

Many people rich in material possessions have spent their lives
accumulating more and still more. A time of economic downturn brings
us to an evaluation. Could we get along with less? Have the material
things that seem to be the great preoccupation of most people really
brought that much joy to our lives?
For some people who have lost their jobs and had their houses repossessed,
downsizing and simplifying life has become a financial necessity. This
may be a blessing in the end. As we cut back on wants and begin to pray
for our needs, we may be led to give more priority to living the full and
balanced simple lifeintegrating the basic needs of mind/spirit, body,
and relationships. A simple life is stress releasing and even refreshing.
Paul says in the Bible, I have learned the secret of being content.10
Joy and contentment are not primarily hereditary traits but rather are
virtues that we can learn from hard experiences.
One couple ready for divorce was stressed out with the pressures of a
modern-world lifestyle. They had little time for their children or each other.
There was mutual bitterness and anger between them and accusations
that the other was not fulfilling their part of the responsibilities. All
the joy moments present in the early part of their marriage were gone.
They didnt even like each other. Their marriage seemed to be headed
inevitably for divorce.
A business trip took them to another country, a trip that unexpectedly

changed them. They were aware of beauty in simplicity in this unique,
unrushed region. They saw joyful people without luxurious living, and
they enjoyed interacting with friendly local people. They drank in the
34

The Magic Medicine
colorful beauty. There was time to walk the streets and the beach, to feel
the breeze flow through their hair, to smell the fragrance of the roses and
to hear the birds sing their morning songs. It was calming and felt good
to the soul. They relaxed and had time for each other.
Then the husband said, I could live here. At first the wife was
unimpressed and thought, Is he out of his mind? What about my divorce
plan? Then something strange happened. She relaxed, enjoyed the
warmth of the sun, and reflected on the peace that she was beginning
to experience. They began to talk about going back home, selling their
house, and moving to that country. And that is what they did.
That was the beginning of this couples return to the essentials and a
balanced, simple lifestyle. The joy emotion was returning to their lives.
They took action and moved from their stressful life to a simpler life. It
was a wow experience for the whole family and contributed to saving
their marriage.11
Joy without the essentials

The majority of the worlds population lives in poverty. For them, the
question of life is not how to return to the essentials, because they dont
even have the essentials! They have a dream in their hearts of someday
having a source of pure drinking water, enough nutritious food so their
children wont go hungry, and of enjoying the basic sanitary comforts of
life. In spite of poverty, positive individuals find joy. They are happy for
what they have. Whats interesting is that with a positive attitude, they
have greater hope and joy than people in wealthier countries, and even
live longer, even though food may be scarce.12
WHAT DECREASES OUR JOY?

For some, these things can make joy evaporate: unresolved conflict and
unconfessed sin.
Unresolved conflict
Our joy evaporates when we allow conflict between ourselves and an-
other person to go on. When someones offense against us occupies our
mental and emotional attention, it drains away joy. When anger burdens
35

Finishing Strong
our heart and our countenance is clouded and hardened, our joy and a
trusting relationship with God diminish. The Good Book challenges us
to not allow relational ruptures to fester, because bitterness can set in:
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without
holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of
God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.13
Unconfessed sin
Another joy buster, guilt, is perhaps responsible for chasing more joy out
of lives than any other. Israels King David thought that by making out
with Uriahs wife he was really going to have joy and a thrill. However,
he found guilt and shame instead. But when he realized the enormity of
his sin, he confessed. He says,
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are

covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count
against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For
day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was
sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to
you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the guilt of my sin.14
What happened to David when he owned up to his sin? His joy returned!
He says: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you
who are upright in heart!15 He was not able to rejoice and experience the
joy of the Lord until he confessed his sins.
Forgiveness is a healer of the emotions. It contributes to healing of the

body. Healing forgiveness therapy takes place when we ask forgiveness
from our harmful attitudes and acts. We forgive those who have hurt us
and accept Gods grace so we can be free of the past and go on with life.
Facial expressions
Researchers in Canada showed video clips of individuals showing anger,
sadness, disgust, and happiness and observed if the individuals watching
mimicked each of these emotions. The conclusion was that clear
36

The Magic Medicine
evidence emerged for mimicry during decoding of anger, sadness, and

happiness [episodes]. Research is confirming what our grandmothers
already knew: People respond in kind to the facial expressions they see.
So if you are joyful and smile at someone, this has a positive effect on
the emotions of the other person. But if you show a facial expression of
fear, anger or sadness, they will tend to manifest the same inner physical
changes that go with provoking that emotion, such as increased heart
rate, blood pressure, and adrenal hormones.16
Did you know that it takes more muscles to frown than it takes to smile?
Some reports state that it takes fifty muscles to frown, but only thirteen to
smile. Whether the numbers are exact or not, it is better to smile than to
frown. We even look better smiling than frowning, and people will more
likely smile back at us.
Joy in unpleasant circumstances

Eighteenth-century Bible scholar Matthew Henry wrote in his diary
after thieves robbed him and took his wallet: Let me be thankful first,
because I was never robbed before; second, because, although they took
my wallet, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took
my all, it was not much; and fourth, because, it was I who was robbed,
not I who did the robbing.17 Wow! Talk about changing unpleasant
circumstances into a blessing and joy! Biblical author Paul said it this
way: In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.18 And James adds,
Consider it pure joy . . . whenever you face trials of many kinds.19
This takes a conscious decision. Were commanded to work at it. While
we cant manufacture joy, we can give our problems to the Lord and go
on our way rejoicing.
The Bible advises us to rejoice always.20 How often do we follow this

advice? Arent we far more likely to complain, to be fearful, angry, or upset
when things dont go our way? Do you know that these emotions can have
a detrimental effect on ones overall health and well-being? Many times,
good comes out of bad, and that is something we can be joyful about.
Daryn Kagan had reached the peak of her career as a television news
anchor for CNN when suddenly she was informed that her contract was
37

Finishing Strong
not going to be renewed. In other words, she was fired. She left the office
in shock and disbelief! Reality hitshe had no job. A long walk helped
her not only to remove the pent-up emotions but was the first step toward
processing the question, What do I do next?
Daryns resilience processing kicked in. She had usually presented a

section on CNN called Spirit, a small positive story after all the bad
news. Now she realized she could major in good news on her own
television program and that this would be a happier job than telling
the bad news. Her dream was to spread inspirational stories to people
everywhere. Now Daryn is on camera in her own home or other places
in the world, spreading good news, not bad, to people all over the world.
She is doing what she really enjoys. Her past work prepared her to bring
joyful blessings to not only herself but also many others. Good came out
of bad.21
Joy of the world to come

We must remember our times of great joy as families. If we look, we can
find experiences every day to add to our joy journey memories. As great
as these joys have been, they will be far surpassed by inexpressible joy
when the great cosmic battle between good and evil is finished.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ
will rise first.22
The faithful will have exuberant joy as theyve never felt before on
that glorious resurrection day, when this mortal, corruptible person
receives a perfect, beautiful, immortal body. All blemishes, diseases, and
deformities will be left in the grave. Angels will gather Gods children
from the four corners of the earth. Whom do you want to see on the
resurrection day? Maybe your mother who died when you were a child,
or your unborn baby, a child snatched away by death, maybe your beloved
spouse, grandpa, or best friend? Instead of separation there will be family
togetherness again and never-ending joy.
38

The Magic Medicine
When Jesus returns, little children will be restored to their mothers arms.
What joy that will be! Friends long separated by death will be reunited,
never again to part. Wont that be exciting! Imagine the hugs and smiles
as we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air!23
What joy will fill our souls when those who have been faithful to God
are reunited with loved ones. Can you picture the joyful smile on Jesus
face as He welcomes us home? It was worth it all. His mission has been
victorious!
The air will be filled with our majestic songs of joy and overwhelming
ecstasy and delight as we ascend together en masse to the city of God
thousands, millions on a chariot cloud surrounded by thousands of
thousands of angels. Wow! What a joyful moment that will be. We have
to be there!
When we arrive to the glories of heaven, the celebration will outshine the
joy of winning the World Series, being the victor at the Super Bowl or
the World Cup, or the inauguration of a new leader in your country. The
cheers will dwarf the celebration on New Years Day in 2000.
Jesus Christ will invest you with the insignia of your royal state. He will
give you the crown of glory with His own new name written on it.
He will present you the victors palm, from ancient times an emblem of
joy and triumph. The angels will give you a shining harp. Without harp
lessons you and I will be able to play joyful, melodious music! Joyous
rapture will thrill every heart as our fingers brush skillfully over the
strings. We will sing as never before on earth in perfect harmony. To
Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and
has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, our desire will be
to say, To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.24
The Bible says that the nation which has kept the truth will enter into
heaven.25 Jesus says, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.26 Your
conflict is ended. You won the battle! You are victorious!
39

Finishing Strong
Then there will be:

No more sadness No more mortgage payments
No more depression No more debt collectors
No more illness No more doctors
No more crime No more undertakers
No more terrorism No more heartbreaks
But instead:
Endless happiness
Endless perfect health
Eternal never-ending relationships with those we love
Travel to worlds afar, exploring the universe, learning from the
Creator
Restoration to eat of the Tree of Life and growing up to our full
stature.
The battle won, the conflict ended between good and evil, our unutterable
joy will be in seeing those who, through our efforts, prayers, and sacrifice,
have been saved from a world of sin and who now share with us forever
the reward of eternal life. The saved of all ages are welcomed into the full-
ness of the joy of their Lord. The family of earth and the family of heaven
will be one. Well be part of a new family: Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, Isaiah,
Elijah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Matthew, and Paul.
Why not enter into joy now?

Do you want to enter into the joy of your Lord? It will be joy unmingled
with tears, pain, or sadness in heaven. But even now, in this life, you
can enter the joy of your Lord. On this earth you can find the joy of
giving, the joy of helping the needy and homeless and orphans, the joy
of encouraging your children and loved ones in the better life. You can
find the joy of better health, wellness, vibrancy, and zest for living as you
incorporate the dimensions of wellness into your lifestyle.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the joyful moments of life and
for the healing that comes from joyful experiences. Create in us
40

The Magic Medicine
daily joyful moments, and show us how to bring joy to others. We

look forward to the greatest celebration ever when You take us to
Your glorious heavenly home. What joy that will be! Please come
quicklywe can hardly wait. But until then, help us to have a
joyful heart no matter what our circumstances may be. Thank You
for Jesus, whose sacrifice on the Cross made joy possible. We love
You. Amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. Recall a time when you have experienced euphoria or immense
satisfaction.
2. Have you experienced a time when you knew you couldnt go on
without Gods help? What happened when you asked Him for help
and His response brought you great joy?
3. What do you do to avoid joy busters in your life?
4. In a world that is full of heartache, problems, and cares of this life,
how can you find joy in spite of difficulties? What do you do on one
of those sad days when problems are encircling you, to bring joy
back into your heart?
Personal Reflection
1. It seems that there is joy when we serve others who are in need. Ask
God to help you bring joy to someone.
2. What kind of service brings joy to you? What else can you do for
others? Consider helping the poor, orphans, widows, a single parent,
or a homeless person.
3. Which of the following joy busters have robbed you of great joy?
unresolved guilt
unconfessed sins
a wounded ego
unpleasant circumstances you couldnt handle
unresolved conflicts
unsatisfied expectations
stress
What can you do regarding these that will bring joy back to your life?
41

Finishing Strong
Intentionality
I plan to choose __ (number of people) to enrich their lives and
bring them joy. I pray for wisdom to know how and what to do to
help each one.
I will evaluate my joys of life and will plan some new activities that
will add to my joy moments. They are ______________________
____________________________________________________.
I choose to put my trust in God and determine to be joyful in good
and bad circumstances.
I will pray about bringing greater joy to the lives of those in my
family.
It is my desire to serve others in some way and reject selfishness.
Family Reflections
Think of ways the whole family can increase joy in their lives by
serving others. Record these ways and take action.
Discuss as a family how you can restore any bad family relations by
forgiving, helping the wounded, loving and praying for them.
Think of some fun activities that will bring joy to the whole family.
Write these down, choose one of the activities, and set a date when
this will be done.
When youre a little low on joy, read the short New Testament book
of Philippians every day for a week. The book was written by Paul
when he was in prison in Rome, yet he uses the words joy or rejoice
nineteen times in this short book. Write out any verse you especially
like in your journal. Personalize the passage by putting your name
into the verses.
42

22
Rest for the Restless
Rest
I
t is May 20, 1927. At 7:52 a.m. a single-engine plane loaded with 450
gallons of fuelmore than it was designed forbarely clears the elec-
tricity wires at the end of Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York,
and heads into the unknown to attempt what has never been done before.
Charles A. Lindbergh, at the controls of the Spirit of St. Louis, is trying to
become the first person to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. A reward
of $25,000 has been offered to the first person to do this, and Lindbergh
intends to claim that prize.
He is wide awake. He didnt sleep at all the night before, but for now
he seems buoyed up by the excitement of attempting the impossible.
The engine drones on as he travels northeast, following the great circle
route. Almost twelve hours later, the daylight of that first day fades as
the Spirit of St. Louis roars over the wharves and harbor of St. Johns,
Newfoundland, and out into the night. It is the last point on the last
island of Americathe end of land; the end of day. . . . North America
and its islands are behind. Ireland is two thousand miles ahead.1 In the
cockpit he is alone, and below him are icebergs, those silent sentries of
the Arctic Ocean. If the engine fails, there is no place to land.
An hour after leaving land behind, Lindbergh has 1,200 miles behind him
and 2,400 miles to go; he has flown one-third of the distance to Paris.
As hour after hour passes in the darkness, his eyelids feel heavy as lead.
He seems half asleep. His eyes appear to be tricking him. Last night I
couldnt go to sleep. Tonight I can barely stay awake. The moon comes
up. That helps. I shake myself violently. . . . Ive got to alert my mind,
43

Finishing Strong
wake my body. And those soft fluffy clouds down there look like a quilt
where I could sleep. Ive never wanted anything so much.
Why did I go to the public performance my last night in New York? But
I didnt know that my weather expert would find a break in the weather
and advance my leaving. Finally Lindbergh sees the faint trace of day,
and the desire to sleep seems to be uncontrollable. Ive lost command of
my eyelids. All I want in life is to throw myself down flat, stretch outand
sleep. Ive got to find some way to keep alert. Theres no alternative but
death and failure. I fall asleep with my eyes open.
As streaks of dawn slowly creep over the ocean, illusions torment

him. Look, over to the left I see an island. I see the trees and the waves
breaking on the coast. No, it cant be. Ive studied the maps and there are
no islands around here. I could just fly over and take a look. No, I cant
trust my eyes; I cant trust my senses. It is only a mirage.
After the torture of the endless night, and some hours into day two,
hopeful signs appear: sea gulls, fishing boats, and finally the southwest
point of Ireland! Land never looked so good! Pushed on by a strong tail
wind, Lindbergh is three hours ahead of schedule, with enough fuel to fly
across the Alps to Rome. On he flies, across the peninsula of southwest
England, and as the sun almost touches the horizon, he looks down on
the city of Cherbourg, France. As he flies up the Seine River Valley, air
beacons show him the way.
Little does Lindbergh imagine that the world is almost breathlessly

following his progress. News flashes from Ireland, England, and
Cherbourg have alerted the world to his imminent arrival. Now he sees
the lights of Paris. He flies by the Eiffel Tower and heads toward Le
Bourget Field. What is that almost endless string of lights? Its something
that is not on my map.
The wheels of the Spirit of St. Louis touch down. No sleepiness now!
Thousands break through police barricades. Those lights? They werent
industrial complexes. It was a traffic jam of cars carrying people who
wanted to see Lindbergh complete his historic mission. The entire field
44

is covered with running figures. His feet never touch the ground as he is
triumphantly carried on the shoulders of overjoyed well-wishers.
Hours later, he finds himself in the luxury of the American Embassy,

eating supper at an early morning hour. The clocks in Paris mark 4:15
a.m. as he crawls into bed. It has been sixty-three hours since he last
slept. The trip itself lasted thirty-three and a half hours. Rest never felt so
good! Sleep, sweet sleep! Later that afternoon his body awakens. He is
a little stiff but feels refreshed. His odyssey is complete. The world will
never be the same again.
Benefits of sleep
Although people under unusual circumstances sometimes go two or three
days without sleeping, as in the case of Lindberg, this temporarily cuts
down their alertness and their ability to make good decisions. How much
sleep do we need to assure positive benefits in a regular lifestyle?
Evidence indicates that sleep helps neural functioning and benefits the
brain, giving neurons a chance to recuperate. It is also linked to the
improvement of our immune system and the preventing of disease.
Research shows that the body renews tissues, forms new red blood cells,
and releases growth hormones during sleep time. When sleep deprived,
we react to stressful situations with more anger, sadness, and fear than we
would if we were adequately rested.
Most independent studies find young adults need about eight and a quarter
hours of sleep a night. However, Dr. Eve Van Cauter states that children
need about ten hours, those aged twelve to twenty-one require about nine
hours, and adults need eight to ten hours per night.2 For adults, research
indicates that those who sleep more than ten hours may have negative
side effects. Though various research findings may differ on the exact
amount, each of us needs sufficient sleep to help us function at our best.
We not only need adequate amounts of sleep, but we also need adequate
time in deep sleep. Deep sleep, characterized by rapid eye movements
(REM) and active brainwave patterns, is thought to be the time when the
brain processes and stores information. Good sleep is absolutely essential
45

Finishing Strong
to a positive, well-balanced life. Far too few of us are getting the sleep
we need for optimal living. Someone said, If you want to fly with the
eagles, youd better not hoot with the owls!
Sleep affects our appearance

Researchers at the University of Chicago studied eleven strong young
men. After six nights of sleep deprivation, they looked almost like old
menbags under their eyes and wrinkles on their faces. The good news
for the young men was that twelve hours of sleep a night for the next
week was all it took to turn back the clock and restore them. When we
get a good nights sleep, our skin is a little brighter because the oxygen
and nutrients have stimulated the production of collagen and elastin, the
fibrous proteins that make our skin springy and elastic. So lets all take
our beauty rest.3
Sleep helps children think well!

Sufficient sleep for children aids proper brain development and good
memory, strengthens the immune system, and contributes to good social
behavior. So tuck them in to bed early! A study surveying 3,120 high
school students found students who described themselves as struggling
or failing school with C, D, and F grades reported that on school nights
they obtain about 25 minutes less sleep and go to bed an average of 40
minutes later than A and B students.4
According to a different study, While changes in sleep across ado-

lescence are a normal part of development, many adolescents are get-
ting insufficient sleep and consequently are less likely to perform well
at school, more likely to be overweight, more likely to develop mood-
related disturbances, and are at greater risk for traffic accidents, alcohol
and drug abuse.5
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Sleep deprivation sparks changes in gene expression

The Allen Institute for Brain Science, in collaboration with Stanford
Research Institute International, report that 224 genes in mice show a
negatively changed gene expression due to sleep deprivation, and that
46

thousands of genes appear to be regulated by the twenty-four-hour

circadian rhythm.6 Sleep deprivation doesnt change the inherited gene,
but it does change how this gene expresses itself. It throws the switch and
turns off some of the positive genes and turns on some of the negative
ones. Research has shown that humans have the power to change the
expression of hundreds of genes by the lifestyle they choose.
Heart disease
Sleep deprivation contributes to heart disease. The Center for Sleep
Disorder Medicine at a prominent university reports that insomnia is
associated with a high risk for hypertension.7
David P. White and Sanjay Patel of Harvard Medical School reported

on a ten-year survey of more than 70,000 women in a 2004 interview.
This research found that those who slept about five hours a night had a
40 percent higher rate of having a heart attack than did people who slept
eight hours.8
Mary, in her seventies and overweight, had difficulty sleeping. Frequently

she got up in the middle of the night and found her way to the ice cream
container in the freezer. Some comfort food will help me sleep, she
thought. One morning her family found her on the kitchen floor with
a bowl of melted vanilla ice cream beside her. Cause of deatha heart
attack.
Cancer
Margaret Ann Hancock from Edinburgh, Scotland, needed some extra
money to care for her three children, so she took a night shift at the local
hospital that allowed her to take her children to nursery when she got
home. She would sleep a few hours and then pick them up again. During
the time that she worked at the hospital, she developed breast cancer that
required a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radium treatment.
But when the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the
World Health Organization, announced in 2009 that their investigations
placed night working just one category below known carcinogens such as
asbestos as a cause of cancer, the connection between her work schedule
47

Finishing Strong
and her cancer became clear. Margaret wishes she had known then what
she knows now. She says, If its risking your health, theres nothing
worth that.9
Obesity
Research shows that lack of sleep contributes to obesity and makes it
harder to lose weight. Short sleep duration may increase obesity risk by
causing small changes in eating patterns that cumulatively alter energy
balance.10 Obesity in turn may contribute to cancer risk.
Stress insomnia
Stress induces the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, called the stress
hormone. While cortisol is an important and helpful part of the bodys
response to stress, enabling fight or flight, its important for the relax-
ation response to be activated so that the bodys functions can return to
normal following a stressful event. Normally cortisol is higher in the
morning and diminishes by evening, allowing for low-stress sleeping.
Stress and excess cortisol can be minimized by proper rest, exercising,
relaxing, peaceful moments in nature, and breathing deeply of fresh air.
In contrast, prolonged stress may lead to catastrophic diseases, includ-

ing diabetes, depression, strokes, cardiovascular problems, cancer, high
blood pressure, digestive disturbances, emotional confusion, and suicide.
Two dangersdrowsy drivers and drunk drivers

According to the international consensus meeting in Stockholm on
The Sleepy Driver and PilotCauses, Risks and Countermeasures
. . . as many as 15-30 percent of todays traffic accidents are related to
drowsiness; thus it is an even greater risk factor than alcohol.11 Studies
show that if you go without sleep for eighteen hours straight, you suffer
from a level of impairment that is equal to having a blood alcohol content
of 0.05 percent. If you go without sleep for twenty-four hours, the
impairment is equal to having a 0.1 percent blood alcohol content,12 and
you are seven times more likely to have an accident.13 China considers
driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.02 percent illegal, while in
Canada it is 0.08 percent, and in the US, all states impose penalties for a
blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent, although some states are stricter.
48

Trucking accidents
A study done in the US found that fatigue was a primary cause in 41% of
heavy truck crashes in the western United States and a probable cause in
a further 18%.14 Another study reported, Insufficient sleep exacerbates
the sedating effects of alcohol so that even low levels of alcohol make the
sleepy driver much more impaired and much more likely to fall asleep
at the wheel.15 So Fatigue + Alcohol = Danger for drivers and for those
unfortunate enough to be in their path.
Have you experienced almost having an accident when driving because

you were sleepy? Make it a rule to not drive at such times. Stop and
change drivers or take a nap at some safe public place or rest stop.
Anti-insomnia ideas for restful sleep

After they were married, John and Millie started a tradition of reading
interesting non-professional, nonfiction books to each other after they got
in bed. John usually reads to Millie, but once in a while she reads to him.
This evening ritual of reading biographies and storybooks helps Millie
take her mind off the busy and stressful events of the day so she can get to
sleep faster. John says, My voice seems to be a sure cure for insomnia.
Somehow after I read a few pages I look to the pillow beside me and
Millie is sound asleep! The next night I may have to go back and re-read
the end of last nights story. This has been a great husband-and-wife
practice for forty years, and together they have read scores and scores of
books. It is a perfect, relaxing rest time at the end of the day.
One elderly woman who sometimes has insomnia reports that she quotes
Scripture when she cannot sleep in the night. Good verses are He gives
His beloved sleep16 and Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be
sweet.17 A single person says, I just start softly singing spiritual songs
in bed or repeat the words of songs which take my mind off stressful
thoughts. A husband says that when he awakens in the night he goes
through the letters of the alphabet repeating names or characteristics of
God. At last count he was working with some 324 names and attributes
of God. For instance, his As include Alpha, All Powerful, All Knowing,
Author, Altogether Lovely, Advocate, Almighty, Awesome, the Amen,
Architect. Sometimes he may get only to the letter Fwords such as
49

Finishing Strong
Faithful, Foundation, Forever Friend, Forgiver, before the words begin

to blend into his dreams. Others picture some restful story from the Bible
and dramatize in their thoughts the feelings of those who were involved.
Find a plan that works for you.
More than sleeprest

Sleep and rest are essential for health and safetys sake. If your body has
had a strenuous physical workout during the day, rest may mean getting
sleep or relaxation. If the activity has been mental exertion, rest may
call for having physical exercise. If youve spent the day rushing around
doing office work, rest may be quietly relaxing alone or talking with
family about the days events. It can be walking around the block or in
the park, or sitting in a hot tub bath with a fragrant candle scenting the
air while gentle music is playing. Even the scented soap bubbles floating
around help you relax from the days busy activities. Tell yourself, Forget
the day of work. Im not going there, and enjoy the moments of total
relaxation.
Rest recharges our mental batteries, revives energy, brings healing and
restoration, improves our immune system, stimulates growth hormones in
children, helps to keep the blood pressure down, and keeps us functioning
at an optimal level. Wow! It has positive, dynamic power! Rest is a gift of
Goda miracle renewal package.
Try to schedule moments of rest and relaxation into your daily life. You
can walk the stairs to deliver a paper, take a brisk walk in the sunshine
during the lunch hour, go to your favorite nature spot, or wrestle with the
little one on the carpet when you get home. By changing activities, we
relax and have restful moments.
Our bodies need more than just sleep. The rush of work and daily life
leaves millions fatigued, impacting the health and the soul. Its good
that we have the example of Jesus. He understood what it was like to be
human. He warned His companions not to be overcome by the cares of
this world [anxiety and rushing], the deceitfulness of riches [materialism],
and the desires for other things [more, more, more].18
50

On a certain occasion, life got very hectic around Jesus and His disciples.
And He said unto them, Come . . . apart into a desert place, and rest a
while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so
much as to eat.19 Someone has remarked, If we dont come apart, we
may fall apart.
A newly married couple decided to schedule a weekly time to deepen

their relationship and meet each others needs. They both had full-time
jobs, and it seemed that life was run, run, run. This weekly date was
like an oasis in life that they both looked forward to. The dates included
walking on the beach of a nearby lake, eating at a new restaurant, visiting
friends, making vacation plans, getting a massage, feeding the homeless,
or doing something they had never done before.
Burnout
Tiredness and fatigue characterize our world. Fatigue impedes
concentration and prevents creative, clear thinking. It decreases efficiency
and decision-making skills. Fatigued persons may seem apathetic,
distractible, and often depressed. They are more prone to negativity,
impatience, and anger. Homes are breaking up because husbands, wives,
and kids are just plain tired out.
Sue wasnt going to let that happen to her marriage. Jim was a professional
counselor. Hour after hour, he listened to peoples problems. His wife
Sue noticed that he was worn out and seemed to be carrying the weight
of the world on his back. Gone were the sparkle in his eye and the spring
in his step.
Sue, his good wife, took things into her own hands. She found Jims
appointment book, rescheduled his clients for the next five days, and
made reservations for him at a lovely mountain camp retreat. The
first three days he spent by himself. Jim walked the mountain trails,
listened to the melody of the streams as the water cascaded through
the rocks, and heard the singing of the birds. It seemed as though God
and the angels were speaking to him. He meditated and refocused his
thoughts. On the weekend Sue joined him. Together they celebrated
lifes blessings. Jim had been suffering from a common ailment
51

Finishing Strong
todayburnout. Now he felt like a new man and could return with
energy to help others in need.
WOW! A weekly day of resta gift of God

Wouldnt it be wonderful to have a day of rest when you didnt have to
do any work? Well, you have it! Exodus 20:911 says,
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day
is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work:
you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor
your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is
within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and
the earth.
It is a spiritual day off from work, a day to really rest from labor: stressful
assignments, deadlines, following the orders of others, rushing to work
early in the morning and rushing back to work at home. God knew what
He was doing. He doesnt want us to overwork and wants us to have extra
time for Him. He said Remember the Sabbath because He thought we
might forget and keep laboring when we didnt need to, and then we
wouldnt have any time with Him.
The word rest in the commandment means stop! Stop all work. Set it
apart as a holy day. God knew that we would need rest, and He set aside
a full day every week for us to relax, to be out in nature and enjoy a
relationship with Him and with our family and friends. At Creation, God
also rested or stopped work, and He sanctified the Sabbath as a holy day,
which starts on Friday at sunset and ends Saturday evening. He specified,
In it you shall do no work.20 His prescription was complete rest from
gainful employment and even from mundane tasks at home that can be
done during the week. God says to us, You dont have to work on this
dayenjoy it! I give you permission.
The Sabbath, a day of rest, was not going to be simply a cessation of

activities; it was going to be a different kind of activity. Since Adam and
Eve were created on Friday afternoon, they had not worked before the
Sabbath day. So that first Sabbath to them was not so much a rest from
52

labor as it was a celebration of Gods work. Genesis 1:1 says, In the

beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In six days God made
the earth and then He rested, blessed the seventh day, and set it apart as a
memorial of creation.
Genesis 2:2, 3 says, On the seventh day God ended His work
which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His
work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and
sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God
had created and made.
On that first seventh day, God and His two newly created beings, Adam
and Eve, stopped to enjoy what He had made. At sundown Friday
evening, they celebrated the arrival of the Sabbath day togethernot just
by refraining from work, but by honoring God for His finished work. By
the gift of the Sabbath, God established Himself as the Creator. It was His
mark of authority. The Sabbath was a love gift to us, and when we keep
it sacred for Him, it shows that we love Him and that we belong to Him.
The modern calendar has the day beginning and ending at midnight when
were usually asleep. Gods plan was better. Like Adam and Eve, we see
God paint the western skies in beautiful colors as the Sabbath day begins
at sunset, and then twenty-four hours later we enjoy seeing the first stars
appear. We pause at sunset evening worship time to thank God for His
holy day and begin our new week.
When Jesus came to this earth, He honored the rest day. As His custom
was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and read from the
scroll of the prophets.21 He healed the sick and set the captives free on the
day of rest. The Sabbath is Gods day and your day. So enjoy it!
Saint Augustine prayed, You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts
are restless until they find rest in You. God is not a hard taskmaster who
cracks the whip and says, Work harder! Work longer! He offers us rest.
Prayer
Creator God, thank You for Your promise, Come to Me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.22 Thank You for
53

Finishing Strong
giving us a day of rest from our weekly stresses and labors. You had
us in mind when You told us not to work seven days a week. Help us
to enjoy the day off, this special day with family, friends, and You.
Thank You that when our daily burdens are heavy, with too much to
do and activities too big for us, that You encourage us to rest from
the days of work. In Jesus name, amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. Why did God plan a weekly day of rest for us from work? How can
you better enjoy it? What do the words Sabbath rest mean to you?
2. Think of different ways of spending the hours of the seventh daythe
Sabbathstarting on Friday evening at sundown, which will renew
you spiritually and physically in preparation for another busy week.
3. During the six days of the work week, what activities will refresh
you at the end of a busy day when you have worked hard physically,
or when you have worked hard mentally? What is the difference
between rest and sleep?
4. Are you satisfied with the amount of sleep you get at night? What
seems to rob you of your sleep? If you have someone to dialog with,
brainstorm on sleep robbers and solutions to sleep deprivation.
1. Have you developed the discipline of releasing your daily, unfinished
business, your concerns about the future, and any relationship stresses
into Gods hands? Are you letting Him carry the burdens so that you
can sleep better? Talk to the Father God about your stresses and need
for sufficient sleep.
2. Think of different ways of spending your Sabbath time with God,
family, and friends. Will this help you to recharge your battery in
preparation for another week?
3. If keeping the seventh-day Sabbath is a new concept to you, how
would you like to spend your first Sabbath day of rest with God?
Intentionality
I choose to get sufficient rest breaks in the day and adequate sleep
each night.
I will record my sleep hours for two weeks on the chart provided and
54

will work at living a more simplified life so that I can get sufficient
sleep and relaxed moments during the day for self-care.
I like Gods plan for making the Sabbath a spiritual day with God,
family, relatives, and friends.
I choose to keep the Sabbath as a holy day.
Prescription: 8 to 8 Hours of Sleep for Adults.
My Sleep Record
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Week 1
Week 2
If your sleep chart indicates insufficient sleep time, what can you do to
increase your sleeping hours?
Parents, make a chart for your children. Then discuss the importance of
sleep time with them and share how sleep affects health, moods, and the
ability to do our best work at school and home.
Dr. Eve Van Cauter suggests children need about ten hours of sleep per
night, those aged twelve to twenty-one require about nine hours, and
adults need eight or more hours per night.
Sleep Enhancers
These sleep suggestions promote rest and a good night of sleep.
Be active. Exercise by gardening, walking, running, swimming, biking,
or aerobic activities for at least thirty minutes a day, but not too close
to bedtime.
Research says that if you want to live to a hundred, keep moving!
Avoid caffeine in coffee, tea, and sodas. Avoid smoking and alcoholic
beverages.
Avoid sleeping pills. Some people benefit from one or two tablets of
calcium citrate to help them sleep.
Consider taking a supplement of vitamin B complex, or if doctor
prescribes, B-12 shots.
55

Finishing Strong
Short naps of 1520 minutes may be helpful. Late afternoon naps may
interfere with night sleep.
Eating a light evening meal without protein and spicy foods three to
five hours before bedtime will give the stomach rest and improve sleep.
A fruit plate or light soup is excellent. You will sleep better.
Seniors awakening early in the morning, unable to sleep longer, can
consider rising to have devotions and other meaningful activities. After
being up several hours, go back to bed and finish getting your eight
hours of rest.
Drink liquids before 5:00 p.m. to avoid frequent wake-up trips to the
bathroom.
For a special pre-bedtime calming after a stressful day, take a warm
Epsom salts bath.
Turn TV off early in the evening. Have no TV, cell phone, or computers/
office equipment in bedroom. The bedroom is for sleeping and for
enjoying your spouse.
Have your bedroom noise free, cool, dark, ventilated, and clean, with
a comfortable bed.
Do not continue the work of the day into the evening. A change of pace
in the evening is refreshing and allows the mind to wind down.
Put your problems aside when you go to bed. Enjoy pillow talk. No
problems, please!
Plan for a regular bedtime between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. Sleep before
midnight is more restoring than sleep after midnight. Early to bed,
early to rise, makes a woman or man healthy, wealthy and wise. Try
to go to bed every night at the same time and get up at the same time.
If you have trouble nodding off, try listening to a CD of soothing,
relaxing music or nature sounds, or read a non-professional storybook
like a biography or travelogue.
For sleep apnea, try sleeping on your side. Get treatment in a sleep
disorders clinic.
As you go to bed, thank God for His blessings. Try the AZ blessing
plan. A for I was Able to finish my assignment, B for Thank you for
letting me see the Bluebirds Beauty in our tree, and so on.
56

Hints for how to enjoy a happy Sabbath

1. We prepare for the Sabbaths arrival all week long. We remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy all week, so that when it arrives, all
is ready.
2. Plan to have clothing ready, time-consuming baking and cooking
completed, and all regular mundane work finished or laid aside
before the Sabbath arrives Friday at sundown. Then what is done is
done, and what is undone is undone.
3. As the sun is setting on Friday evening, gather your family or friends
and have sunset worship with reading from Gods Word, prayer,
singing, and praising God for the blessings of the past week. Some
parents have children light a Sabbath candle indicating the beginning
of the Sabbath.
4. On Sabbath morning it is a privilege to rise early and go together to a
shared worship experience.
5. Since you are meeting with heavenly royalty, have special Sabbath
clothesneat, trim, and modest.
6. Enjoy a delicious meal with a Sabbath treat.
7. Plan some special family time like a hike in the woods or by a lake.
Nature is Gods second book. Enjoy it with family or friends.
8. Plan to do something as a family for those less fortunate than you
are; take flowers to a shut-in or a food basket to the poor. We call it a
Sabbath do-good activity.
9. If you have children at home, devote time to reading an inspirational
book with them. Or read a Bible story while the children draw it.
Have them act out Bible stories, or play a Bible game.
10. Some families have a Blessing Book in which they record the
blessings of the past week. Everyone contributes to the book.
11. You can light the candle again some time before the close of the
Sabbath and then have a child blow it out at sunset time.
12. Close the Sabbath at sundown with prayer and song. Wish each other
a happy and blessed new week.23
57

23 From Trauma to Transformation
Conflict Resolution
H
ave you ever felt that you were surrounded with conflict and
problems and you wondered if there was any way out? Ben found
a way out.
Ben Carson was born in the inner city of Detroit (USA). His mother,
Sonya, came from a home of poverty where there were twenty-three
brothers and sisters. At the age of thirteen she married her husband, who
was fifteen years her senior and had thirteen siblings. Sonya received
only a third-grade education and read with great difficulty. She bore
two sons in this marriage. When Ben, the younger son, was eight, his
father left home to live with another woman and never returned. At an
early age Ben said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up. Could he
reach his dream when they were so poor and lived in a crime-infested
neighborhood? Conflict? Problems? They were on the street outside his
door and in the school he attended. Was there any hope for Ben? Many
sociologists would say No.
Twenty-five years later, seventy members of a Johns Hopkins surgical

team successfully separated seven-month-old conjoined twins who were
joined at the back of their heads. It was the first time this had ever been
achieved. The surgery took five months of planning and numerous dress
rehearsals. The surgery itself was a grueling twenty-two-hour ordeal.
This surgical team was led by none other than Dr. Benjamin Carson.
Ben Carson was an unlikely success story. One of the many hurdles he
had to overcome was his anger. By the ninth grade, he had a pathological
58

From Trauma to Transformation
temper. One day Ben and a friend were listening to a radio when Bob
changed stations. An argument ensued about which music to listen to.
In that instant, Ben says, blind angerpathological angertook
possession of me. Grabbing the camping knife I carried in my back
pocket, I snapped it open and lunged for the boy who had been my friend.
With all the power of my young muscles, I thrust the knife toward his
belly. The knife hit his big, heavy . . . belt buckle with such a force that
the blade snapped and dropped to the ground. In a daze, Ben raced home
and locked himself in the bathroom. He had dreamed of being a doctor
since he was eight years old, but how could he fulfill this dream with
such a terrible temper? He passed two hours in agony. As he searched
his life, he felt impressed to pray. His mother had taught him to pray. For
months he had tried to control his temper but could not. Ben says: I felt
as though I could never face anyone again. How could I look my mother
in the eye? . . . Lord, I whispered, You have to take this temper from
me. If you dont, Ill never be free from it. Ill end up doing things a lot
worse than trying to stab one of my best friends.
Ben slipped out of the bathroom and grabbed a Bible. He opened it and
began reading from Proverbs. Proverbs 16:32 impressed him the most:
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his
spirit than he who takes a city (RSV). During those hours alone in
the bathroom, something happened to me. God heard my deep cries of
anguish. A feeling of lightness flowed over me, and I knew a change of
heart had taken place. I was different. . . . I walked out of the bathroom
a changed young man. My temper will never control me again, I told
myself. Never again. Im free. 1
Definition of conflict
Conflict is a natural disagreement resulting from individuals or groups
that differ in attitudes, beliefs, values, or needs. It can be positive or
negative. Do you know of any family that has not experienced conflict?
Conflict seems to be a natural part of life. It has the potential of building
healthy relationships or destroying them. It has constructive potential.
It seems God must allow conflict for a purpose. Maybe it is His way of
helping us to improve our characterto become more mature. Conflicts
are great teachers and polishers of character.
59

Finishing Strong
Research information
The professional literature dealing with conflict almost invariably speaks
to underlying causes in hostility and makes many references to anxiety
and depression. Anger is the fuel for conflict. But other causes include
jealousy, envy, selfishness, pride, and impulsiveness.
Physical effects of anger

A meta-analysis of forty-five studies showed hostility to be a risk factor
for coronary heart disease and premature death.2
Studies over the past thirty years indicate the so-called Type A
personalityhighly competitive, ambitious, rushing, easily angered,
and hostilepredicts coronary heart disease. Twice as many Type A
men developed heart disease in an eight and a half-year time frame as
those without these features.3 Later studies indicated hostility (anger)
specifically was the primary culprit.4
Highly hostile people seem to be more physiologically reactive to

interpersonal offenses than people with low hostility. The exaggerated
release of stress hormones during conflict is a culprit in coronary heart
disease. In conflict, the affected people show high fight-or-flight responses
of the sympathetic nervous system, while the calming parasympathetic
nervous system is weaker.
The net effects . . . increased cardiovascular activation, increased

mobilization of cholesterol into the blood, increased clumping of platelets,
and decreased immune system functions, to mention but a feware quite
capable of starting in motion pathological processes that would account
for the higher death rates observed among hostile persons.5
Psychological effects of anger

Anger comes in many forms. But left uncontrolled, the fallout is always
negative.
Have you noticed that some strong-willed individuals may manipulate

others either by the silent treatment or loud anger, demanding to get their
own way? They always have to win. Things have to be done their way.
60

And when they are married to another strong-willed personbeware.

Trouble is ahead if conflict management skills are not learned.
Dr. David Mace and his wife, Vera, were the founders of the Association
for Couples in Marital Enrichment, and for a generation were revered for
their contribution to the marriage enrichment movement.
According to Mace, failure to deal effectively with anger and conflict

destroys intimacy by resulting in too many or too few disagreements.
The management of anger is the one key issue that would explain why
so many marriages, embarked upon with such high hopes, finally falter
and fail.
After the couple has a series of heart-rending experiences over the months
and years, the partners grow fearful of intimacy. Eventually both parties
close up and withdraw from the dispute. Their sex life becomes poor
or non-existent. The couple is married legally but not emotionally. In
other marriages, one partner is dominant and imposes his/her ideas and
plans on the other, who then loses hope of happiness and doesnt even
argue anymore. Hostility is there, but it is passive aggressive (the anger is
held on the inside and not openly expressed). It is equally as dangerous,
and perhaps more so, as those situations where there is active-aggressive
anger.6
Hurts escalate in conflict

Both passive-aggressive anger and active-aggressive anger harm
relationships. This harm may occur in any relationship setting such as
at work or church, but unfortunately it most often occurs within the
family. Conflict may build to a high pitch and two or more people are hurt
emotionally and/or physically. In passive-aggressive anger, the injured
soul quietly and painfully stews over the incident and begins to give the
offending person the silent treatment. The silent treatment is a cold
warfare. The conflict is not resolved and results in harmful bitterness and
depression. It is a lose-lose situation.
Active-aggressive anger is illustrated by Ben Carsons story. It is the

type of violence often portrayed on TV and is also a lose-lose situation,
61

Finishing Strong
although the one inflicting violence may win the immediate argument.
Violence destroys trust, the essential foundation of healthy relationships.
Violence is not acceptable, and especially has no basis for defense within
the most tender of human ties, the marriage relationship. Violence injures
or destroys human life, which is created by God. Acts of violence ignite
retaliatory violence, as history has shown.
At times, our communication with children, siblings, friends, work

associates or spouse is difficult. If the problem is not dealt with, hurt
feelings continue, with disastrous results. Divorce becomes an easy way
out, or a teen runs away from home, and there may be depression and
even suicide attempts. Sometimes people move religious or social club
membership to another community or flee a problem by changing their
workplace.
What is the solution? Work at learning how to solve the serious situation
or concerns in a healthy way. And if it is not a big thing, drop it. Its
probably not worth fighting over or spending time on. Choose your
battles and avoid the petty stuff.
Before we go too far into solutions, lets get your opinion in an agree or
disagree activity on the topic of conflict. This activity will bring to our
attention valuable skills that help relationships with family and others.
Activity: Agree? Or Disagree?

As you read the following statements, give a thumbs-up if you agree,
thumbs-down if you disagree, and sideways if you dont know.
Conflict should always be avoided.
Wives seem to initiate conflicts more than husbands.
We usually follow the pattern of our parents in resolving problems.
When there is conflict in the home, it is better to give it time and it will
work itself out on its own.
In a conflict situation, the other party may be responsible for our actions.
Unresolved conflict interferes with growth and satisfying
relationships.
62

In the following pages you may find answers to some of your questions
on conflict.
Ways many deal with conflict

1. Accommodate and simply give in to the wants of others. Those who
give in usually dont get their needs met. If it is not a major concern, then
that is OK. The outcome is lose/win.
2. Compete to win and do anything to get your way. The outcome is

win/lose. One way some people compete is victimizationblaming
others. You made me hit you. You make me angry.
There are those who start conflict in an attempt to get everything they
want by manipulation, getting angry, screaming, kicking, hitting, and
throwing. One elderly woman recalled that she was this way when young
but realized it was harmful to her health. Knowing this, she began learning
how to solve her life problems in more healthy, happy ways.
3. Avoid the issues and walk away from conflict. Instead of facing the
reality of the problem, the person escapes. One way of escaping is to use
the silent treatment. When one husband and wife disagreed, he would
silently put on his hat and go for a long walk. Walking away from a
problem just postpones it. The outcome is lose/lose. Yet it is safer than
violence, and sometimes the walk time is a good conflict-processing
time. Sometimes avoiding immediate conflict is essential in protecting
human life from violence.
However, there are more positive ways of handling conflict that usually
give better results as we move toward peacemaking.
Six positive options toward peacemaking

1. CompromiseThis strategy results from a concern for your groups
interests along with a concern for the interests of others. At times one needs
to give up something, and that is OK. The outcome: win some/lose some.
2. Collaboratework together for a satisfactory solution. This results

from a high concern for your groups interest, matched with a high
63

Finishing Strong
concern for the interests of other people. The outcome: win/win. This
is a better way than accommodation, competition, or avoidance.
3. Reconcilemoves us toward peacemaking. Some writers have

observed that people say they forgive but they dont reconcile.
Reconciliation involves a return to unity and cooperation. Healthy
dynamics of repentance, change, and forgiveness are integral to strong
relationships. The outcome is win/win.
The process of peacemaking brings us back step by step to cordial

understanding. Oftentimes individuals dont have the skills or repertoire
to do this. They need a resource person to give them a hand. You can
obtain help by using a spiritual mediator to assist with peacemaking.
4. Use a spiritual mediator. The process of peacemaking brings us back

step by step to cordial understanding. Oftentimes individuals dont have
the skills or repertoire to do this. They need a resource person to give
them a hand. You can obtain help by using a spiritual mediator to assist
with peacemaking.
5. Surrender to the will of God.

Submit it to the God of justice, who is there to help when we call upon
Him. Simply ask in prayer for help, wisdom, and guidance, and release the
problem to God. But you still have to do your part in solving the problem.
6. Wait for heaven and the millennium. Although we may exert all
our efforts and pray for divine guidance, some problems have no earthly
solution. We can release conflict to God. Through this surrender, we can
trust Gods providence, although we may have to wait for the millennium
for complete understanding. Now we see things imperfectly, like
puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with
perfect clarity.All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I
will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.7
Bible illustrations of conflict

As you read the Bible, you will notice characters involved in conflict.
When Moses was leading the people of Israel from Egypt to the Promised
64

Land, many people came asking him to judge between them, and he could
not keep up with the workload. Moses father-in-law, Jethro, saw what
was happening and advised Moses to appoint assistants to share the load.
Because Moses listened to advice, the problem was solved.
The well-known story of Jacob and Esau is another example of conflict

resolution. Jacob was returning to Canaan,8 the land of his father. He was
alarmed to hear that Esau, his estranged brother whom he had deceived,
was approaching him with four hundred warriors. Jacobs heart beat faster
with fear. He sent his family ahead and divided them into two groups
for safety. Then, alone one night, he sought Gods deliverance. A Man
appeared to Jacob and wrestled with him. Jacob struggled and fought
with his unknown assailant for hours. Close to dawn. Jacob discovered
he was wrestling not with a man but with God.
At that point, his attack strategy turned to a bear hug as he held on tight.
Jacob reverently exclaimed, I will not let You go unless You bless me!
He did not want to let go unless he was forgiven and did not want to die
until he had made peace with his brother Esau. He wanted to be forgiven
by Esau whom he had deceived. At that moment of the nights struggle,
Jacob was truly broken and repentant. He asked God urgently to bless
him, and God did bless him by transforming the scheming Jacob, whose
name literally means deceiver, into a new person. Then he was given a
new name, Israel, which means Prince of God. He surrendered his life
totally to Gods will.
Conflicts are an opportunity for spiritual maturity and growth. As we

work through a conflict in a positive way, we begin to better understand
ourselves, as well as others. David in the Bible was in conflict through
many of his early years because King Saul was jealous and hated him.
Even though David was on the run, trying to keep from being killed, he
still respected Saul as the anointed of the Lord and was deeply sad when
Saul died. David wrote many prayers and psalms during these years.
Maybe that is why God spoke of David as a man after His own heart.
How do I respond and properly communicate about difficult issues in
the way God wants me to respond? I cant. Not without Himthe Great
Communicator to help me. Like David, I can pray and seek to live
65

Finishing Strong
after Gods own heart. God has given us a good mind. When we ask Him
in prayer, He helps us deal appropriately with conflict. He will teach
us skills and put people in our path who will help us. He will give us
wisdom and information. At times He will send angels to direct us to a
text in the Bible or a page in a book that helps us process our concern. He
works on our attitude and gives us healing words that set us free. We must
keep working at solving problems in the positive way. Dont give up.
TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNICATION
How do we communicate and process our problems in times of conflict
without hurting each other? How do we solve important issues so there is
agreement and in the end, so that you win and I win?
There can be agreeable win-win conclusions. When this happens we

are actually glorifying God by our actions, and more beautiful characters
can emerge in both parties. Conflicts are actually an opportunity time for
spiritual maturity and growth.
How do I respond and properly communicate to difficult issues in the

way that God wants me to respond? I cant. Not without Himthe Great
Communicatorto help me.
From trauma to transformation

How can we get to the root of anger and conflict?
Have you noticed that the Bible recounts lots of family conflicts? There
were blaming and lies, misunderstandings and bitterness, sexual sins,
sibling rivalry, scheming, and many differences of opinion within families.
It began with Adam and Eve. They played the blaming game from the very
beginning with the first sin, when Adam passed the credit along: The
woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.9
Then there was the conflict between the first siblings, Cain and Abel,
which ended in homicide. Cain killed his brother because he was jealous
and angry.10
66

Today, even if our problems are longstanding, when we stop blaming

others and face up to our own issues and pray to God, He will help us
with any personal crisis. There is nothing too difficult for Him. God starts
changing us if we are willing, and will even change us from being a
deceiver to being a prince or princess of God, as He did for Jacob. Like
Jacob, we need to fall on the rock of Jesus and be broken. God is the
God of the impossible. When our conflicts seem irreconcilable, God will
make a way where there seems to be no way. We are empowered for
victorious living with good family relationships.
Concepts from the Bible apply today

Judy had two beautiful antique crystal bowls given to her by a very
poor relative she had visited in a European communist country. It was
a sacrificial love gift to Judy that had great sentimental value. When a
relative was having a wedding reception, Judy offered her precious bowls
to be used at the occasion.
After the wedding celebration was over and loaned items returned, Judy
discovered one of her lovely antique bowls had been broken and the other
sold. Judy was extremely upset and disappointed about her loss and kept
thinking about it. Judys husband, a peacemaker, tried to comfort her
with, Dont feel bad. I will buy other ones for you.
But the bowls could not be replaced anywhere in her country, so that
did not console Judy. Besides, no purchased bowls would have the same
sentimental value. Later her husband commented, You know people
are more important than things, on which Judy reflected and later
acknowledged to be true. It took a little time to process her loss, but Judy
knew her husband was correct. People are more important than things.
When Judy released her loss to God, peace returned and emotional
healing took place by her choice and Gods help.
There are times that I may have to give up on something that is important
to me for the good of all concerned. The end goal is peace, understanding,
and love for one another, which is of more importance than some other
desired results.
67

Finishing Strong
The gentle response principle

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-
fire.11
The strong can afford to be gentle and soft. Today the macho man thinks
that he has to prove something. He has to prove he is strong, so he lashes
out with his tongue. But in reality, the strong can afford to be gentle. People
who are surrendered to God are nicer and easier to live with. The strongest
are the most tender. With their presence, home is a more peaceful place.
Today, millions are enslaved by anger, bitterness, disappointments,

misunderstanding, and jealousy. They are miserable people. But God
is there to set the captives free and to break that emotional bondage.
He is there when we find ourselves in miserable conflicts and call upon
Him. We submissively go to God for help. He will guide us through the
difficult moments of life.
A parent became angry at a school teacher for a minor problem, which

then upset the teacher. A friend advised the teacher, Dont let little
people and little things get you down. In other words, Major in the
majors and not in minor problems. Dont let little things offend. Drop
the charges. Say to yourself, Its no big deal. This teacher decided that
communicating kindly and trying to understand the parents point of
view was a better option than hurting over the situation. The problem
was diffused, and peace reigned.
Paul gives us good advice: Make every effort to live in peace with all
men . . . and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble.12
Cosmic conflict between good and evil

Conflict began in heaven. Satan was jealous of Jesus and rallied followers
to his side. When the issues became clear, Satan was thrown out of heaven
(Revelation 12:79). This conflict has extended to planet Earth. Today
we still live in the midst of that raging battle, which erupts in marriages,
families, businesses, churches, and governments. Satan is the inventor of
conflict and enjoys bringing discord, disagreements, disputes, and lots of
friction into relationships.
68

He doesnt play fair, so beware.

He arouses suspicion, jealousy, and evil surmising.
He makes efforts to subvert the mind.
He causes misinterpretation of the message.
He wants to prevent harmony and happiness.
He distorts innocent comments into faults.
He intrudes in marriages and families and tries to break them up.
He bewitches.
He brings dissension and division.
The very best way to fight the battle is with a prayer for Gods intervention.
God is more powerful than Satan, and He will help us in this fight. The
battle between Christ and Satan was won at the cross at Calvary. Jesus
will give us victory over anger and life-destroying conflict. Remember,
Satans days are numbered, and in heaven there will be no more battles.
Hurray!
The Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
And the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Reinhold Niebuhr
Reflect/Discuss
1. What part does selfishness play in initiating conflict?
2. What is your best way of resolving a conflict in a positive way?
3. What are some of the health dangers of conflict?
1. Do you have an unresolved conflict in your life? What conflict
resolution skill might you use to resolve the issue for the good of all
involved?
2. What blocks you from effective communication and problem solving?
What intentional steps can you take to do something about it?
69

Finishing Strong
Conflict Resolution Skills

1. Use I messages with feeling words. I am disappointed that this
cant be done.
2. Avoid You messages such as You always, You never, You
should. These tend to awaken a defensive attitude in the hearer. Do
not use belittling names.
3. When problems become heated up, take time out for processing and
praying. Later return to discuss the issues after tempers are cooled.
Intense emotions compromise and even shut down the reasoning
centers of the brain.
4. Do positive self-talk, and work through the problem in a positive
way; choose not to let little things throw you into an emotionally
unhealthy spin.
5. Brainstorm by listing alternate ways of solving a problem. Some
ideas may seem ridiculous at first that, in the end, may work. Evaluate
ideas given. Consider what is the best idea, or combine ideas and try
them to see if they are workable, and if not, adjust them.
6. One person at a time talks until they have fully expressed their
concern. Then they silently listen as the other shares. Dont interrupt.
Repeat this process several times until the problem is clarified. A
final decision may be made after prayer at a later time.
7. Overlook minor offenseschoose your battles.
8. One famous statesman said, Disagree without being disagreeable.
Another one added his personal touch: The thing to do is put your
arms around one another and work for a solution.
9. When things are tough, pray.
10. Give the gift of love by giving up your rights and being unselfish. It
pays off.
11. Be forgiving and do not let bitterness produce poisonous toxins in
the body.
12. Remember that Satan uses good people to hurt good people. Ask God
to give you wisdom to help solve the problem, to show you what
should be done so all concerned are winners.
13. Avoid violence. Protect limb and life.
14. Research the biblical steps of resolving conflict.
15. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
70

24
Dying for a Drink
Water I
I
n October 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, winner of the US Con-
gressional Medal of Honor, climbed into a B-17 Flying Fortress in Ha-
waii, carrying a message from President Roosevelt for General Douglas
MacArthur. His purpose was to visit US bases in Australia, New Guinea,
and the Solomon Islands. While on the way, the pilot became lost and the
plane ran out of fuel, so he ditched in the Pacific Ocean.
As green salt water rushed in through the planes broken windows, the
eight occupants rushed to evacuate. The pilot said they had only thirty to
sixty seconds to clear. In the confusion, they left the emergency rations
and jugs of water behind. The men spread out onto three life rafts. One
had stuffed four oranges into his jacket pocket, and another had a couple
of fishing lines and hooks. They tied the rafts together to make a larger
object for search planes to see. Although Rickenbacker was no longer in
the military, he assumed leadership.
By the sixth day, the men were starving and thirsty. They sang spiritual
songs to keep their spirits up. On the eighth day, a seagull landed on
Rickenbackers hat. Carefully he reached up and grabbed the gull. The
starving men ate it all, including the bones, and then they used the entrails
to bait the fishing line. For Rickenbacker, the gull was a sign from God
and a token of hope that they would soon be rescued. He insisted that God
had a purpose in all this and continued with evening prayers every night.
That night it rained. The water was carefully collected on their clothes,
wrung out into Rickenbackers big hat and rationed sparingly. Each man
received one to two fluid ounces a day. It was their sweetest water ever!
71

Finishing Strong
As the days passed, their situation grew more perilous. The blazing sun
burned and blistered exposed skin, and sea brine stung parched, cracked
skin and salt-water ulcers. Sharks circled them constantly and scraped
against the flimsy rafts, threatening to overturn them. But Rickenbacker
believed that there was a God in heaven, and he encouraged the men to
hang on. Small things would happen to encourage them, such as two fish
jumping and landing in their raft, providing that evenings supper. Even
so, the men could never get enough water, and every cell in their bodies
called out for more.
On the seventeenth day it rained again, and the water tasted so good!
That was the day they spotted the first airplane. Sadly, its engine drone
quickly faded away into silence; the pilot had not seen the small band of
rafts bobbing on the vast ocean. On the morning of the twenty-first day,
Rickenbacker poured rationed water for each of his raft mates, who were
too weak to raise their heads to drink. Meanwhile, every available navy
airplane was combing the ocean for hundreds of miles around, trying to
find the little rafts. Finally another plane flew into view. The men worked
up enough energy to wave their clothes. The pilot spotted them. Rescued
at last!
Rickenbacker had lost fifty-four pounds during the ordeal. In the

hospital, medical attendants limited him to two ounces of water every
two hours that first night to prevent shock. But during that night he
craved water more than at any time during his harrowing episode at sea.
Two weeks later, he had regained twenty pounds, mostly in water. The
other survivors returned home, but Rickenbacker insisted on flying on
to Australia to deliver President Roosevelts verbal message to General
Douglas MacArthur.1
Many factors helped ensure the mens survival, but none of these was
more important than the fresh rainwater. Drinking water had made the
difference between life and death.
Water is essential! In our own bodies, water can also make the difference
between life and death, between health and sickness. Having sufficient
suitable drinking water is critically necessary for optimizing body health.
72

Dying for a Drink
As you start reading this chapter, stop and have a refreshing drink of
water.
Water dehydration
Did you know that your body has a priority system in place if it has
inadequate water? It will take water from less vital areas like bones,
joints, and skin to give to the brain and heart and some other organs.
But continued dehydration has consequences such as urinary problems,
stress on the kidneys, arthritis, and even premature aging. The average
person is chronically dehydrated. According to the Mayo Clinic, the
average adult loses ten cups of water a day through breathing, sweating,
urinating, and eliminating waste. Dehydration most often occurs when a
person takes in less fluids than is expelled through these normal bodily
functions. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to dehydration.2
When a physician asks a patient how much water they drink per day, often
the answer is one cup. This means that the patients body is forced to
get additional needed water from other fluids and foods, and this causes
the body to operate at less than optimal levels. Good hydration gives us
better endurance and mental alertness.
Results of Dehydration
Thirst Fatigue Light-headedness Dry mouth and eyes
Weight gain Headaches Wrinkles Loss of clear thinking
Lethargy Confusion Nausea/Vomiting Loss of skin elasticity

BENEFITS OF WATER
Here are just a few of the ways water benefits our health.
Water makes up 70 percent of the brain.3 We have ten to thirteen billion

cells in our brain, and each is made up of 70 percent water. The lungs are
90 percent water; 83 percent of our blood is water that circulates to the
brain, lungs, and throughout the body. A hydrated body helps every organ
and system to function optimally.
When your body is dehydrated, the brain function is diminished and

thinking is confused. The level of energy generated in the brain is
73

Finishing Strong
decreased. In a dehydrated brain, brain-cell functions begin to disappear.

Dehydration affects our moods and worsens depression. A dehydrated
brain begins to shrink like a plum, gradually turning into a prune.
Seniors need a lot of water daily. Hydrated elderly live longer, think
more clearly, and tend to be healthier. Since older people diminish in
thirst desire, dehydration increases especially after the age of eighty-five.
Dehydration of older people is the most frequent cause of hospitalization.
Some caretakers of seniors are asked by family members to keep daily
charts of the water intake of their loved one. One caretaker of individuals
with dementia and Alzheimers reports that when she gives her patients
sufficient water daily, they seem less confused and are more alert.
Students on all levels will do better academically if their brains have

adequate waternot sodas, just pure fresh water. Some students take
a break on the hour from study to drink from their water bottles, walk
around a few minutes and then resume their studies. They are more alert.
Learning, brain function, and grades improve when there is movement
and when the brain gets sufficient water.
Heart disease and water

Want to decrease your risk of a heart attack? Drink water. A study at
Loma Linda University discovered that people who drink five or more
glasses of water each day were less likely to die from heart disease than
people who drink less than two glasses a day.4 Thicker blood is more
apt to clot. Imagine how it would be to have a tank full of a thick, gooey
liquid. You try to pump the liquid, but the pump motor strains trying to
do the job. If you pour some solvent into the tank, the pump motor will
have a much easier time. Sometimes our heart motor just stops because
the blood is too thick and it gums up the coronary arteries. Most heart
attacks occur in the early morning when the body is deficient in water
and the blood is thick.
Water drinking reduces arthritic pain

Sufficient water intake helps to reduce arthritic pain. Water helps relieve
intervertebral disc back pain. Joints are cushioned by fluid-filled sacks,
but if dehydrated, the body will take water from these nonessential
74

Dying for a Drink
areas to supply water to more vital areas. As a result, the joints are not
cushioned sufficiently and movement contributes to pain. Water drinking
helps cushion the discs and joints and reduces back and joint pain, while
dehydration may contribute to bone rubbing against bone.
Natural killer cells need water

A country may have the greatest and best-trained soldiers in the world.
But if at a time of national emergency they cant get to the place where
the battle is being fought, they will be of little use. Likewise, the body
has its soldiers, like natural killer cells and other white blood cells, which
can kill the invaders. Water in the circulatory system gets them to where
they can do their job.
Removal of toxins and kidney health

Water is a key to the removal of toxins. Our kidneys are recycling
machines similar to recycling apparatus used to reclaim used water on
the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS recycles water from urine
and respiration and returns it to drinkable quality. Without this recycling,
forty thousand pounds (18,162 liters) of water would be needed every
year for the four crew members.5
But the human kidney is even more amazing. Every minute, 24 percent
of your blood goes through the kidneys and is cleansed. One to two
quarts of water are excreted each day as urine. Without the kidneys, your
body would require 2,500 gallons of water (40,000 glasses) daily to keep
the body organs functioning properly. In other words, the body is an
environmental recycling plant of amazing efficiency.
Our kidneys want and require much water. They filter out waste products
in about two hundred quarts of blood each day, and then the detoxified
blood is recycled into the blood stream. Water is the magic substance
that makes this exchange possible. Six to ten cups a day ensures proper
kidney function and helps to prevent kidney stones. Water flushes out
impurities and guards against urinary tract infections. Sufficient water
helps urinary flow and may reduce urinary urgencies.
75

Finishing Strong
Kidneys filter out about a barrelful of waste each day, but then recycle,
concentrate, and reabsorb fluids after toxins have been removed. The
result is that we need to replace only about six to ten glasses of water
each day.
Water drinking helps the digestive system

Drinking warm water first thing in the morning flushes the digestive
system and reduces constipation problems. Drinking water between
meals is also good for digestion. Many people have a ritual of enjoying
two glasses of warm to hot, pure water when they first wake up in the
morning. Later their schedule calls for two glasses of water mid-morning,
mid-afternoon, and evening. Many attempt to drink all their water by 4:30
or 5:00 so that there will be fewer nighttime trips to the bathroom. This
program avoids water at mealtimes, which dilutes the stomach enzymes
and affects the digestive system.
Importance of water during strenuous exercise

While plenty of water is essential for everyone, it is especially important
for athletes who push their bodies hard to achieve good results. An
experiment at Harvard University School of Health compared three
groups: athletes who exercised without water; athletes who exercised and
drank water as desired; and athletes who exercised and were forced to
drink one-third more water than they wanted.
Group 1 was composed of athletes who exercised without water. Their

body temperatures rose to 102F (39C) in just three and one-half hours,
at which time exhaustion forced them to stop exercising. Group 2
included the athletes who exercised and drank water as desired. They
lasted six hours before exhaustion. Group 3 contained the athletes who
exercised and drank one-third more water beyond their own desire. Their
temperatures never reached 101F (39C). They still had not reached
exhaustion at the end of seven hours, and in fact felt they could go on
indefinitely.
In long-distance running or any endurance activity lasting more than

an hour or an hour and a half, if we become thirsty, weve essentially
compromised our ability to do well for the remainder of that activity.
76

Dying for a Drink
No matter how much water we drink thereafter, once we become thirsty,

we have already compromised the entire event, and we will not reach
optimal performance.
When climbing mountains, drink plenty of water

When Sir Edmund Hillary studied the records of repeated failed attempts
to summit Mt. Everest, he wondered what had gone wrong. Then he
made sure that his group increased their water intake. They were the first
to reach the summit of the worlds highest mountain. Water contributed
to the difference.
Water drinking will help you lose weight

Lucy had a well-paying job in a building where the temperature was fre-
quently hot. She was trim and attractive when she began working there,
but to satisfy her thirst she drank a number of sodas daily, and gradually
the soda calories passed from her lips to her hips. One day she looked in
the mirror and saw herself as others saw her, bulging and overweight.
Not happy with the increase in body size, Lucy began a weight loss pro-
gram. The pounds came off rapidly. When Lucys instructor asked her
what contributed to her thirty-five-pound (15.9 Kg) weight loss, she re-
sponded, I just started drinking water instead of pop, and after work I
joined an aerobics class for an hours workout five days a week. Thats
all! Didnt change my diet; just started drinking eight glasses of water
a day. Her instructor smiled and nodded. That makes sense. Water is
calorie free!
Many individuals who live in hot countries are overweight because of

their drinking habits. Cokes are cold and available. With just the added
calories from pop drinks come added pounds. Added pounds may lead to
overweight and diabetes. This is becoming a worldwide problem.
About drinking water

How much water should we be drinking and what kind? For adult women,
recommended water intake often is six to nine cups or two to three liters.
The World Health Organization suggests that men drink twelve cups or
more if engaged in heavy physical activities in hot weather. Children
drink less and need to be encouraged to drink water and not juice. Water
77

Finishing Strong
should be taken at regular intervals. A rule of thumb is drink to satisfy

your thirst plus one-third more. How much water do we need? One test is
to drink enough so that you urinate a liter or more per day and have clear
urine at least once a day. The formula is: weight in pounds divided by 2
= _____. Divide by 8 = _____, the result is the number of eight-ounce
glasses you should drink daily.
Choose the best water availablespring water, tap water that is filtered,
water that is processed by reverse osmosis, or bottled water. Distilled
water loses some minerals, but that is better than drinking impure water.
If the water seems flavorless, just add a bit of lemon juice. The drinking
water in your area may need to be boiled for safety.
Even though water drinking is a healthy habit, if taken to excess it can

be harmful. Drinking too much water lowers the level of blood sodium,
which can lead to the brain swelling. It also depletes the electrolytes,
causing swelling, slow breathing, irregular heart beat, lightheadedness,
cramping, confusion, nausea, and muscle spasms. Excessive thirst and
water intake merit medical attention, as these may indicate diabetes or
other serious conditions.
Schedule your water drinking time

Drink at certain hours, such as 6:30 a.m., 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 p.m.,
4:00 and 5:00, or drink on the hour until adequately hydrated.
Measure the appropriate amount of water in hard plastic bottles or glass
jars. Keep nearby. Follow your plan and not your thirst. Avoid soft
plastic bottles, as high temperatures may have leeched health-damaging
estrogen-like chemicals out of the soft plastic and into your water.
Busy people who get engrossed in their work and forget to drink should
set an alarm clock as a reminder to drink water.
Millie was a sipper and had a hard time getting the adequate glasses
finished daily. Then she started drinking fifteen swallows at a time but
still needed more at the end of day. Then she increased to twenty-two
to twenty-five swallows at a time. She now drinks an adequate amount
and has moved from being a sipper to being a real drinker of H2O,
of course!
78

Dying for a Drink
What about water substitutes?

There is nothing better than water. Water is more beneficial to your health
than sodas, tea, and coffee. The vast majority of people fail to drink
enough water each day and drink substitutes. Substitute drinks contribute
to health risks.
People say, Im trying to increase my fluids by taking in large amounts

of soda, juices, diet drinks, tea, and coffee. In fact, most products dont
really address the bodys certain need for water. Many of these liquids ac-
tually cause or promote dehydration, as opposed to rehydrating the body
according to its needs. Studies have revealed that the use of tea, coffee,
and sodas results in a diuretic effect. Even though large amounts of fluids
may be taken in with these beverages, the net effect can be dehydration
of body tissue.
Heavy tea drinkers often have vitamin-B deficiencies. Tannin, a chemical

component of tea, has been shown to interfere with iron absorption. Soda
pop is a primary cause of osteoporosis because the soda absorbs calcium
from the body. Soda pop is a leading cause of diabetes. A twenty-ounce
bottle of soda may contain sixteen teaspoons of sugar.
Juices are fine occasionally but may contain large quantities of sugar. It is
better to eat the raw fruit that has more fiber and fewer calories.
The research on water is clear: Drink lots of beneficial, pure water every
day! Make it a daily priority. Like reading the Bible, praying, brushing
your teeth, eating a meal, and taking a bath, it should be part of your daily
routine.
Water for a thirsty African village

Dad, Mom, I need seventy dollars, six-year old Ryan announced when
he got home from school. He was a first-grader living in Canada. What
for? they asked. Its for people in Africa who dont have clean water
to drink. My teacher says for seventy dollars they could dig a well. Can
I have the money?
79

Finishing Strong
Dad and Mom decided it would be best if Ryan worked for the money.
They gave him odd jobs, and the dollar bills began piling up in a cookie
tin on top of the refrigerator. After school, he and a neighborhood friend
sold lemonade, and the money kept coming in. Every night Ryan prayed,
Jesus, help me to get clean water for the poor people in Africa.
Four months later, carrying the cookie tin, Ryan walked into the office of
a famine-relief organization. Workers counted the contents. Seventy-five
dollars! Then he heard bad news: the money was enough to buy only the
hand pump. It would cost $2,000 to drill a well. Six-year-old Ryan was
undeterred. OK, Ill just do more chores, he said.
The local newspaper wrote up Ryans story, and more funds trickled in.
Then a newspaper in Canadas capital city, Ottawa, picked up the story,
and a TV station ran a feature on the project. Checks poured in. Ryan
didnt know what to do with checks, and he hadnt learned yet how to
write his name. Thats all right, his mom encouraged him, just print
your name. The bank will accept them.
Then a project coordinator for Uganda contacted Ryan and asked, Where
do you want your well to be drilled? He answered, Drill it near a school
so the kids can take water home every day. Together they picked Angolo
Primary School.
On New Years Day in the year 2000, Ryans next-door neighbors came
over. Ryan, how nice it would be for you and your dad and mom to go
to Uganda to see your well. We will give you all our frequent-flier miles
so you can all make the trip.
Summertime found Ryan and his parents in the back of a pickup

bouncing down a dusty Ugandan road. As they entered a village, they
heard hundreds of people chanting, Rayan! Rayan! Rayan!
The pickup rounded the final corner and all the children of Angolo Primary
School, in their blue and white uniforms, cheered and applauded. The
village elders came forward and, in triumphal procession, led Ryan to the
well. An inscription at its base reads, Ryans Well, Funded by Ryan H.
80

Dying for a Drink
Ryan and his family pumped the well handle, and a stream of pure water
gushed forth.6 It brings to mind Jesus promise: Whoever gives one of
these little ones only a cup of cold water . . . , assuredly, I say to you, he
shall by no means lose his reward. 7
Prayer
Lord, thank You that I have water to drink to give health to my brain,
bones, respiratory system, circulatory system, immune system,
and kidneys. Like Ryan, may I help thirsty people to find water and
help thirsty souls find the water of life. When the Master rewards
the faithful of earth, may I hear His voice saying, Whoever gives
one of these little ones only a cup of cold water . . ., assuredly, I
say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. Amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. What impressed you about this chapter? What were the spiritual
applications that spoke to your heart?
2. Reality checkhow many eight-ounce glasses of water did you
drink today? _____. How many glasses should you drink for your
good health? _____.
3. Discuss the health value of combining exercise with drinking water
and choosing not to drink soda, coffee, or tea.
1. What steps can you take to ensure that you drink more pure water
every day for your healths sake?
2. Evaluate how many extra calories you get per day from liquids that
are not water.
Intentionality
I plan to regularly drink ______ eight-ounce glasses of water daily.
A Record of My Water Intake

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
My Goal
Intake Week One
Intake Week Two
81

Finishing Strong
The formula for water drinking is: weight in pounds divided by 2 =

_____. Divide by 8 = _____, the result is the number of eight-ounce
glasses you need to drink daily. After reviewing my water intake record
chart, my choice is to ___________________.
Following is some additional information on the topic of water.
Waterkey to a healthy body

All your body functions are dependent on waterALL! Next to air, wa-
ter is our most urgent body need. Here are a few ways the body uses
water and signals us when there is not enough water for continued and
optimal health:
Water helps soothe breathing problems. Dehydration makes allergy
symptoms worse94 percent of asthma patients found relief in drinking
large amounts of water at the first sign of breathing problems.
Drinking water thirty minutes before meals gradually eliminated the
need for ulcer medication in three thousand cases of dyspeptic pain.
Alternate hot and cold packs can fight infection and increase circulation.
Chronic constipation is relieved with an increase in water intake.
Low back pain can be a signal that water reserves are low.
Water is the vehicle for body defenses and immunity.
Moving water in nature will relax your spirit.
Water promotes healthy digestion.
Water washes away germs.
Boiling water will kill microorganisms. Near sea level, a rolling boil of
one minute is sufficient. At five thousand feet or two kilometers altitude,
boil three minutes.
Did you know?

If you drink only when you are thirsty, you will experience dehydration.
Body dehydration levels of 2 percent or more result in significant
deterioration in various mental functions such as ability to do math and
short-term memory.
Insufficient water may contribute to the formation of gallstones.
People misinterpret the bodys messages when dehydrated. They think
they are hungry, but actually their body is thirsty for water.
If we are thirsty after overeating, it is a message that our body needs
82

Dying for a Drink
water to dilute our blood sugar level.

Many people live most of their lives with partially dehydrated bodies.
Going without water two or more days is life threatening.
Sufficient daily water can reduce risk of getting bladder, breast, and
colon cancer.
What is thought to be arthritic pain may actually be dehydration
affecting the bone joints.
Dehydration causes the body to constrict the air passages to avoid the
evaporation of water. Most people then treat the resulting asthma
with antihistamines, ignoring the true cry of the body for water.
83

25 Fountain of Life
Water II
B
efore the days of medical prescription of antibiotics, a physician
was performing an autopsy on an infant to verify the cause of
death. After locating a pocket of pus in the dead child, the physi-
cian was sewing up the incision when he accidentally punctured his own
finger through his rubber glove with the contaminated needle. Among
doctors it is proverbial that some pathologists have missing fingers from
just such happenings.
Within a few hours his finger became red and swollen, and the infection
threatened to advance up his hand and arm. Without delay he began water
treatments: three minutes in hot water, followed by twenty seconds in ice
water. He continued to alternate hot and cold for fifteen minutes at a time
and repeated the treatment five times a day.
Within a couple of days, the infection was gone. Why? Because hot
water dilates the blood vessels and attracts the white blood cells. These
include neutrophils and natural killer cells, which shake hands with
the invaders to identify whether they are for us or against us. Then
they plant a time bomb, exploding and destroying them. The ice water
then drives this blood away, and the next hot water draws new natural
killer-cell soldiers to the battle zone. These types of treatments are called
hydrotherapy.
This is a way of using the bodys natural immunity to fight disease.

Hydrotherapy treatments may be used when a physician is not available.
In case of a non-responding infection, see your health-care professional
84

Fountain of Life
as soon as possible. Hydrotherapy is also great for neuropathy and

circulation problems of the legs. Take precaution that the water is not too
hot for extremities with decreased sensation.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, in many instances doctors and medical
staff used hydrotherapy treatments of alternating hot and cold water and
saved the lives of their patients. Traditional medicine had little to offer
against the virus, and thousands died. A medical doctor compared the
survival rate of flu victims treated with hydrotherapy with flu victims
treated with conventional medicine. The result was a five-times-higher
survival rate in the hydrotherapy treatment group.1
A banker in Lodi, California, was distraught when his five-year-

old daughter succumbed to the flu and became deathly ill. The father
discovered a teenager skilled in hydrotherapy. This young student applied
hydrotherapy treatments around the clock and was successful in restoring
the bankers daughter to health.2
Dr. Mary Paulsen, the nursing director at Hinsdale Sanitarium in a

Chicago suburb, received an urgent request from the US Army during
World War I. She called an eighteen-year-old nursing student, Virginia,
into her office and sent her on a secret mission to Lake Winona, Indiana,
to treat flu cases. Since she had caught the flu and recovered, she was
immune to further illness from the flu. A gentleman met Virginia at the
train station and took her to the military barracks. Two other weary nurses
from the Hinsdale Sanitarium were already on site. Virginia grabbed
towels and buckets of hot water and supervised orderlies in applying hot
packs to the chests of the patients. Many survived and demanded to shake
her hand. One said, You looked like [expletive of the hot place deleted]
while walking down the halls with the hot steaming buckets, but you
saved my life.
During the 1919 influenza epidemic, the hospital in Eureka, California,

was overflowing with patients. The head physician arranged tents with hot
water bottles at the patients feet. No patients in the tents died, while in the
hospital rooms there were fatalities. In response, the heat in the hospital
was turned down and windows raised and patients given warm underwear.
85

Finishing Strong
A hospital in Yucaipa, California, was overwhelmed with flu cases. The

beds containing the patients who were deemed the most severely ill were
moved to the backyard of the hospital. Since they had the least chance of
surviving their flu illness, their nurses treated them outside in the California
sunshine and rain. However, instead of dying, these patients survived,
while the less ill patients inside the hospital continued to die in record
numbers. The nurses observed these developments and quickly threw
open the windows of the hospital and tied back the curtains, permitting
the air to flow freely and the sunshine to blaze inside. The patients inside
began to recover also, in spite of the flu being considered a death penalty.3
At 1:00 a.m. one morning, John woke Millie when he sensed she had a fever.
He found she had a temperature above 105F and was sweating profusely.
He rushed to the freezer and retrieved ice cubes. Using ice and ice water,
he gave her cold fomentationsice-cold washcloths to the forehead and
temples, changing the cloth as soon as it warmed up. He placed plastic bags
of ice cubes, wrapped in a cloth, under Millies armpits. At the same time
he gave her cool water to sip. It was a battle and hard work, but by 4:00
a.m. Millies temperature was almost normal, and she fell asleep.
Temperatures of 106F can be damaging to the brain. Immediate action

for Millie had to be taken. Why does this treatment work? Water has
unusual properties to transfer heat. Water and ice literally drew the
excessive heat right out of Millies body, protecting her brain and vital
organs. Meanwhile, the water she constantly sipped helped cool her off
inside and replenished the water her body was losing through perspiration.
At 6:00 a.m. John called the physician, who ordered a hospital stay and
intravenous antibiotics. Lab test reports were not good, showing three
simultaneous bacterial infections. The hydrotherapy that night had been
extremely important.
Hydrotherapy is a science employing water at different temperatures and

in different forms, including ice, steam, and water vapor. Jacuzzis and
home spas can be utilized as well as massage therapy and exercise therapy.
Hydrotherapy should be used judiciously. If the patient has numbness in
the limbs, care should be taken not to have the water too hot. Test the
temperature of the water on your wrist before applying it to another.
86

Fountain of Life
Hydrotherapys effectiveness stems from its ability to move blood from

one area to another. Hot water dilates the blood vessels 40 percent,
pulling blood from congested organs to the surface. The alternate ice
water drives this sluggish blood away, and a fresh hot fomentation brings
in new, nutritious, oxygenated blood. When wrongly used, hydrotherapy
may do more harm than good. Hydrotherapy is a natural remedy that is
free and can save lives. For further information on hydrotherapy, see the
follow-up tables below.
Cleanliness and hygiene

Wash your hands carefully with soap long enoughabout the time it
would take to sing the song, Happy Birthday to You. Hand washing
should be one of the early hygiene lessons for young children to use
after going to the toilet, after being out in public, and before eating a
meal. For young and old, hand washing is a first line of defense against
catching colds and not falling victim to epidemics. It not only helps
prevent influenza (flu) germs from entering the body, but also prevents
hundreds of other life-threatening diseases. Children and adults need
to avoid touching their eyes and nose and putting their fingers into the
mouth, as this can spread disease. If we could actually see the germs on
many things we touch, most of us would wash our hands more often.
Interestingly, it is only in the last 150 years that doctors and surgeons
learned the importance of hand washing. It was first advocated in 1847
by Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician practicing in Vienna.
He proved that deadly infections which were common in mothers after
childbirth could be prevented by the scrupulous hand washing of medical
attendants. In those days of limited plumbing, this was inconvenient.
There was great resistance to Dr. Semmelweiss insistence on hand
washing. His professional colleagues heaped ridicule on him, which
ultimately drove him insane. But by the end of nineteenth century his
recommendations were generally accepted.
Water will clean us up on the outside. Water will clean us up on the

inside.
87

Finishing Strong
The Water of Life

As this chapter concludes, it would not be complete without a spiritual
touch. Many stories in the Bible are related to water, like the storm on
the Sea of Galilee, the healing of Naaman the leper, and others. But well
start with the story of Jesus going to the Jordan River. Multitudes have
arrived in curiosity to see what is going on. There is John the Baptist,
baptizing many people in the Jordan River and proclaiming the message,
Repent! Be baptized and wash away your sins!
One day John is preaching and baptizing when unexpectedly he sees

Someone on the bank who steps into the water and wades toward him.
John is awed as he senses a holy presence. Although he has never met Him
before, he recognizes that he is looking on the face of Jesus of Nazareth.
He has heard of the spotless life of the One who is now approaching him.
Jesus asks for baptism of John, who is astonished by the request. John
remonstrates with him, saying that Jesus should baptize him. But Jesus
insists, not because He needed spiritual cleansing but because He desired
to leave an example for all of us who want our sins to be washed away.
It is a sacred moment between heaven and earth. A white dove descends

from above in a heavenly radiance and hovers over the head of Jesus, and
a voice thunders from heaven, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. When we are baptized, if we are truly repentant, we may
also sense the divine presence and hear the Father whisper to us in our
heart, You are My beloved son, My beloved daughter, in whom I am
well pleased.
In the days of Jesus and His disciples, the Greek word for dipping,
immersing in the water, and bathing was baptizo, which is translated
baptize. Today there are various modes of baptism, but there is
only one way that the Bible teaches. The Bible says, Jesus came up
immediately from the water.4 Jesus was baptized by immersion. Today
those who accept Jesus and renounce their past life of sin have the
privilege of following the example that Jesus left for us all by being
baptized.
88

Fountain of Life
Paul says baptism is a symbol showing that we have accepted the death
of Christ and have risen in newness of life, even as Christ did on the
resurrection morning.5 Peter also speaks to us about baptism. He says to
his hearers on the Day of Pentecost, Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.6
The pretty woman at the well

The pretty cover-girl face with the covered-up life, as Dwight Nelson puts
it,7 approaches the ancient well with her water pot. All the other women
come on this errand in the early morning or evening, but the cover-girl face
with the covered-up life comes at scorching midday to avoid disdaining
glances and unkind jabs from the neighborhood gossips. A Stranger is
sitting on the mossy lip of the well. She acts as if she is unaware He is
there. After all, isnt it a rule that Jewish men dont talk to women on the
street, especially if she is from a despised race like the Samaritans?
As her goat-hair rope draws up the water pot to the top of the hundred-
foot-deep well, she retrieves it and is about to leave when the Stranger
surprises her by asking, Would you be so kind as to give me a drink? Her
curiosity is aroused that He would ask a favor from a disgraced woman
of a despised race. She asks, How is it that you, a Jew, is asking a drink
of me, a Samaritan woman? He replies, If you knew the generosity of
God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give
you fresh, living water.
Jesus continues, as He points to the well, Everyone who drinks this water
will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will
never thirstnot ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within,
gushing fountains of endless life. Thinking that He referred to physical
water, she said: Sir, give me this water so I wont ever get thirsty, wont
ever have to come back to this well again!8
Jesus gazes into the pretty face and knows that behind her pleasant mask
is a woman with desperate spiritual needs. And so He looks into her eyes
and says, I desire to give you living water. In fact, I want to provide it to
you and your husband, so go home and bring him to Me. This woman
89

Finishing Strong
at the well is being led to face up to her past and the amazing fact that in
spite of that past, God is still willing to give her living water.
Jesus, who knows every detail of our lives, does not reproach her immoral
conduct of having lived with five different men plus living with another
one now. Instead, He offers her something better. The woman recognizes
her spiritual need and, that day, accepts Jesus as the Water of Life. Here
is waterpure, refreshing, artesian, and eternal.
Living as you and I do in a world of parched, painful dreams

and brittle, broken lives, wouldnt it be the height of insanity for
us to cling to our cracked cisterns and broken water jars while
Jesus stands before us, beckoning us to a gushing spring of living
water? His offer isnt only for her!9
Jesus also calls us to that gushing spring of living water. He says, Let
anyone who is thirsty come to me.
James Wilson of Kent, Washington, needed more water for his five-acre
tract of land. He hired a professional well digger, and they chose a spot
behind the Wilson home where they hoped to find water. They began to
sink a steel shaft into the earth. Slowly the work continued. Fifty feet, a
hundred feet, a hundred and fifty feet through earth and then rock. No
water! Shall I continue? the well digger asked. Yes! replied Mr.
Wilson. We must have water. As the drill crunched its way to 210 feet,
they heard a faint sound from far below. It quickly became a gurgling
sound of rushing water. The two men stepped back just in time as a geyser
shot up with unbelievable force into the sky.
Neighbors with shovels were called to dig drainage ditches, but that was
not enough. Someone brought a backhoe, but that was not enough. The
next day, heavy equipment from the county road department arrived to try
to channel the flood. Ditches were dug that could bring irrigation to the
entire valley. Geologists arrived and estimated that water was spouting
out of the ground at a rate of 1,600 gallons per minute. That was enough
water to supply the needs of a city of 46,000 people! They had struck an
artesian well that was ever flowing!10
90

Fountain of Life
Are you thirsty?

The Bible prophet Isaiah invites us, Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to
the waters . . . let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear,
and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.11 God will bring water
to the desert of your life. He will bring the water of life to the desert of
your heartache, whatever parched land youre journeying through. Come
to the Living Water. God promises you water that will quench the thirst
of your true desire.
God promises you, They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst
anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who
is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living
fountains of waters.12 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, The water
I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless
life.13 His invitation to us is recorded in one of the last verses of the
Bible, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears
say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely.14
Are you thirsty? Do you want to drink from the well that will never run
dry? If you want to say, Yes! to the heavenly invitation to enjoy the
never-failing fountain of the River of Life, would you like to pray this
prayer?
Prayer
Lord, I want to come, for I thirst for better thingsa better life
guided by You. I desire to be totally cleansed from my mistakes
of the past and to enjoy the water of life. Make me clean on the
outside and clean on the inside. Give me that ever-flowing artesian
fountain that will wash away my sins and purify my mind, heart,
and soul. Amen.
Reflect/Discuss
Jesus knew all the sins of the woman at the well, yet He did not recount
them or shame her. How do you feel about this? What if it were a church
member or friend of yours?
91

Finishing Strong
What spiritual lessons did I learn from the story of the woman at the well?
Family Reflection
How important is it to teach our children of all ages about water? Discuss
with your family this water topic and its importance to them.
Following is some additional information on the water topic.
How Water Can Help Make You Well

The art of treating health problems with hot and cold water is called
hydrotherapy. In our day of high-tech medical treatment, hydrotherapy
is much neglected. Yet it still remains one of the most effective ways to
treat basic body ills. Here are some of its benefits:
1. Ice water immersion is effective as immediate treatment for superfi-
cial burns, but not for broken, charred skin.
2. A tepid or warm (not hot) bath is sedative, promoting sleep.
3. A hot shower followed by a cold rinse invigorates you in the morning
and improves circulation.
4. Pool therapy hastens venous return of blood and lymph.
5. Pool exercises build strength and endurance.
6. Alternate hot and cold relieves congestion and pain in sprained ankle
or bruise.
7. Alternate hot and cold footbaths and a cold cloth to the forehead of-
tentimes will relieve headaches.
8. Ice-cold washcloths on head and under arms help reduce fever.
9. For relaxation try one cup Epsom salts in moderately hot bath water
plus a few drops of lavender oil fragrance. Play relaxing music. Light
a candle, hop in the tub, and think positive thoughts. Enjoy! Crawl
into bed for a good night of rest.
92

Fountain of Life
For Parents
What you have learned about the importance of water for family health
can be taught to your children. The earlier they learn it, the more likely
they will be to follow these health practices as they become adults. It is a
matter of a healthy future. Here are some basic suggestions for teaching
children more about water:
1. Teach children to wash hands before meals, for illness prevention.
2. Wash hands after going to the bathroom, and when coming home
from school or any public gathering.
3. Give each child his own small water bottle with lid. Encourage drink-
ing five to six or more glasses a day, depending on weight. Make a
chart of glasses drunk. In hot weather, more is required.
4. Drink water, not soda pop. Pop may contribute to hyperactivity and
diabetes.
5. Take swimming lessons and enjoy outdoor pools in the summer.
6. Read about the storms on the sea in Bible times. Have children tell
the story, draw it, or act it out (Mark 4:3641).
7. Discuss why one should not be in water when there is an electric
storm.
8. Dont drink water from dirty places. Have your family learn how to
purify water for drinking.
93

26 Crooked Thinking
Command Center II
I would exchange a thousand errors for one truth.

John Nevins Andrews
W
hen the great Indonesian earthquake struck under the ocean
off the coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004, the ocean
retreated from the beaches, leaving thousands of fish flapping
on the sand. Can you imagine the natural reaction of families who earned
their living from fishing? There were huge fish for the taking right before
their eyes! Hundreds of villagers ran to the beach with baskets and
containers and eagerly started gathering fish. But one man in a particular
village looked from his window and immediately saw the danger. He
commanded his wife and children to run to the hills. He himself ran to the
beach, frantically waving his arms and shouting, A tsunami is coming!
Run immediately to higher ground! Waves up to a hundred feet (thirty
meters) high swept the coasts of fourteen countries, killing as many as
228,000 people,1 but all the inhabitants of that village were saved. Why?
Because one informed man saw the danger that their crooked thinking
presented. He proclaimed the truth. And the truth acted upon saved the
lives of hundreds of villagers.
In our lives, danger lurks around us and within us. Our safety lies in
straight thinking. Thinking is a function of the human brain. How does
the brain think?2
The human brain traffics in thoughts. This is done by means of elec-

tro-chemical impulses. A situation presents itself, and a memory search
94

Crooked Thinking
reviews how the organism usually responds to these stimuli and consid-
ers the available options. These are forwarded to the control center in the
frontal lobe. Here the brain assesses options based on ones knowledge
and value system and chooses a course of action. Positive thoughts reveal
themselves in positive words and acts. These, in turn, produce positive
long-range outcomes.
Lets review the tsunami story and discover what it tells us about truth
and crooked thinking.
When a crisis occurs, our brain memory searches to find the best option.
In the Indonesian village, many ran to the sea bottom to gather fish.
They did not have the key knowledge about the danger of bare ocean
floors and tsunamis. They were not informed. But one individual had
the necessary knowledge.
Some simply did what others were doing. Perhaps they were thinking
that if everyone was doing gathering fish, it must be right to do.
The festive crowd on the beach expressed a value system based on the
importance of immediately available food and immediately available
merchandise in what seemed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The hero of the story valued human life. First he ordered his wife and
family to higher ground. Then he showed his highest value of self-
sacrificing love and service to othersvaluing everyone elses lives
above his ownas he rushed into the place of danger to warn the rest
of the villagers.
The mans straight-thinking mind understood the relationship between
cause and effect. There was a cause for the retreat of the ocean from the
land, and it would bring an inevitable effect in a wave of destruction,
which would destroy everything in its path.
His brain was thinking straight because it was biologically healthy, and
it was not cluttered or confused. What would have happened if he had
been drunk, high on drugs, or if he was sleepy, having spent half the
previous night socializing with friends at the bar? His mental functions
likely would not have had the clarity necessary to save the lives of
hundreds of his fellow villagers.
The frontal lobe is the sentinel at the gate, guarding the citadel of the
mind, and is located just behind the forehead in the upper brain. If the
95

Finishing Strong
sentinel is sleeping at its post, then feelings, instincts, and urges based in
the lower brain will predominate over reason and inaccurate choices will
be made.
In the world today, millions live in abject slavery to anxiety, depression,

addictions, and marital discord because they dont know the truth. They
arent thinking straight. They believe lies. So, what is crooked thinking?
What kinds of crooked thinking exist? And how can I base my thinking
on truth? Are there practical steps that I can take to prevent warped think-
ing and to help me think accurately and wisely?
DEFINITIONS OF STRAIGHT THINKING VERSUS CROOKED

THINKING3
Straight thinking: rational mental processingdecoding and interpreting
information and events. Reasoning from cause to effect. We are not
puppets to be manipulated by people and circumstances. Thoughts
positive or negativecause feelings and influence behavior. The Bible
says, As he thinks in his heart, so is he.4
Crooked thinking is believing false information and untruths and
allowing these to shape our lives.
Distorted thinking about health

The following five points are expressions of crooked thinking about our
health. As you read them, see if you can identify any flaw in each point.
My genes are my destiny. If my parents were alcoholics, then I

will be an alcoholic. If my mother, sisters, and aunts had breast
cancer, I am doomed to get it too. What is the flaw?
If I have Type 2 Diabetes, I am predestined to be a diabetic the
rest of my life. Diabetes can be managed, but it cannot be cured.
What is the flaw?
Since Alzheimers runs in my family, there is nothing I can do to
prevent it. What is the flaw?
I can live whichever way I want toeating what I want to, drinking
alcoholic beverages, drinking soda pop instead of water, going to
bed late, not exercising. It wont affect me. What is the flaw?
Emotions just are. I cant control my emotions. What is the flaw?
96

Crooked Thinking
All the above are not true. Like most lies, they may be based on a grain
of truth, but they are expressions of deluded thinking. The truth is that I
cannot change my genes, but it may be possible to throw the switch by
my lifestyle and turn the bad genes off and the good genes on. Straight
thinking says, Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.5
Ten kinds of crooked thinking

Lets review ten kinds of distorted or twisted thinking. For a fuller de-
scription, we recommend Neil Nedleys book, The Lost Art of Thinking.6
Distortion 1: Groupthink
An illustration of groupthink is events and attitudes leading up to the
sinking of the Titanic on April 1415, 1912. One symptom of groupthink
is Overestimation of the Group. The Titanic was the largest passenger
ship of its time and considered to be unsinkable. It was viewed as the
safest ship afloat. Based on these myths, it carried only twenty lifeboats,
enough for only half the passengers. Another symptom of groupthink that
contributed to the disaster was Closed-mindedness. Warnings of icebergs
from the SS California, another ship in the area, were ignored on the Ti-
tanic because of feelings of invulnerability. Resultthe death of 1,517
of the 2,223 people on board.
In groupthink, each member of the group attempts to conform his or her

opinions to what they believe to be the consensus of the group. Harmony
has come to be more important than critical appraisal. Groupthink usu-
ally includes an incomplete survey of alternatives and objectives, and a
selective bias in processing the information at hand. The decision makers
are a close, cohesive group that does not want dissenting opinion.
Distortion 2: All-or-Nothing thinking

Linda made a New Years resolution to go on a diet and successfully
lost eight pounds. She was doing well until her cousins wedding with
its three-day celebration. Linda told herself that she would count calo-
ries and limit what and how much she would eat. The rich food for the
event was attractive and tempting. Linda could not resist. She blew it
and gorged herself during the whole festivity. She had been on a good
diet plan, but that weekend the self-control cycle was broken. Guilt set in
97

Finishing Strong
when she went home. Now her negative self-talk began. Whats the use
of trying? If I cant do it right, I wont do it at all. Her diet was over.
This was all-or-nothing thinkingcrooked thinking.
I dont have time to clean the whole house right, so I wont do any-
thing. I dont have time to pay all the bills and bring all my accounting
up to date, so why begin? Wrong thinking! Working on accounts even
fifteen minutes a day would be better than nothing. Cleaning one corner
of clutter in the garage would be better than leaving it all cluttered.
All-or-nothing thinkers want perfection, and if they cant perform per-

fectly, they may give up, have guilt feelings, fall into depression, or in
some cases may even consider suicide. A better plan could have been
for Linda to forgive herself, start thinking positively, and begin a new,
livable lifestyle change that could be more flexible and more easily fol-
lowed. She also could do positive self-talk. Linda did not need to fight
the battle alone. She could seek Gods help with her choices. God was
interested in her diet. She could claim His promise, I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.7
Distortion 3: Over-generalizing
Judy says, I got a D on the examination. Ill never be able to finish
this course. Im just dumb. This test proves it. I have such bad panic at-
tacks when I take tests. Im going to drop out of school. Wait a minute!
Distorted thinking! We call this magnification. One or even several low
scores on tests do not prove that Judy is dumb. She exaggerated her fail-
ure. She was telling herself a lie. What can Judy do about her low grade
on the examination? She should talk to her teacher, ask for advice on
how to study for class, and claim the Bible promise, If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally.8 The proverb
says, If at first you dont succeed, try, try again!
Negative overgeneralization can contribute to failure to succeed, stress,

hopelessness, and even depression. Positive self-talk and straight think-
ing is needed. OK, I didnt do well on that test, but Ill study hard, get
someone in class to study with, or read a book on improving my study
skills, and Ill do better the next time!
98

Crooked Thinking
Thomas Edison worked on the railroad as a youth, and when his experi-
ments started a small fire in the baggage car, the angry conductor slapped
him and threw him and his scientific apparatus off the train at the next
station. The blows to his head, as well as a bout of scarlet fever, left
him deaf in one ear and 80 percent deaf in the other. His dreams were
doomed! Right? Wrong! He became perhaps the greatest inventor of
modern times. He invented the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph,
and the motion-picture camera. By the time of his death he had received
1,093 patents.
The Bible story of the report of the ten spies9 illustrates the two over-
generalizing delusions of magnification and minimization. They report-
ed, The cities we saw had walls up to heaven, and we were like grass-
hoppers. Was this a true and accurate report? Caleb and Joshua saw that
they could conquer the Promised Land with Gods intervention.
Distortion 4: Selectively screening out part of the picture

Rather than looking through the mental filter of a pessimist or pure op-
timist, the goal should be realistic optimism where you always expect
the best but prepare for the worst.10
Often people focus on minor aspects of a situation and selectively filter

out what they dont want to believe.
Mary, that was a delicious dinner! Not really, Mary responded, I

over-baked the entree. Mary has two problems. First, she refused to ac-
cept a sincere compliment of a guest. Second, she focused on the nega-
tive while mentally filtering out all the positives.
Your son has painted his first picture, and it has a small blotch on it. Do
you focus on the minor aspect of the blotch or see the accomplishment of
a budding artist?
When you have filtered thinking, you focus on the negatives and not
the positives. When you see a rose, do you see the thorns instead of the
beauty of the flower?
99

Finishing Strong
Some do not accept positive appreciation and reply with a negative state-
ment. Do you know anyone with this habit? Learn to accept compliments
and say, Thank you! Selective or filtered negative thinking is pessi-
mism, which indicates poor self-concept and may lead to health risks,
more doctor visits, and poor mental health.
To develop optimism: Start today to record each day that you say only
positive things, without any verbal negative or critical remarks. Try to
see how many days you can speak positively all day long. Your goal is to
be positive for fourteen sequential days without saying anything critical
or negative about anyone or anything. If you slip into criticism or nega-
tivity, you start over until you finally reach your goal of fourteen straight
days free of negative comments. As you practice saying positive things,
you become more aware of your inner thoughts. The critical habit can be
broken.
Distortion 5: Mind reading

Oh, I know what she is thinking. Do I really? When dealing with peo-
ple we dont know, only about 25 percent of mind-reading assumptions
are correct.11 Dr. Ickes suggests that individuals may become pretty good
at reading what lovers and friends are thinking, but they are still wrong
a significant number of times. Men and women mind read about equally
well, even though people often believe a womans intuition enables her
to read minds better.12
When there is mind reading, You assume that people are reacting nega-
tively to you when there is no definite evidence of this.13 Check your
mind reading by asking, Am I sure Im correct? or ask the person, What
are you thinking? Dont just assume your mind reading is correct.
In mind reading, a lot of assumptions are made, and the individual may
be unable to distinguish between what is certain and what is a belief.
Common assertions are: They are talking about me; They dont like
me; Im not good enough for their job. Some think they have a talent
of being a good mind-reader, but if their thoughts are shared with others,
much harm can be done by their misreading and crooked thinking.
100

Crooked Thinking
If through inaccurate mind reading we expect someone to be rude

or unfair and treat them as such, they may recognize our assump-
tions and treat us as we expecteven if this is not their normal way
of doing things. If we are not careful, inaccurate mind reading can
lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies.14
Distortion 6: Fortune telling

Suzy, youre never going to amount to anything! Youre going to be just
like your mother!
Oh, really? Does the speaker know what the future of Suzy is going to be?
Maybe the speaker is angry and is revealing his mental state rather than
giving an accurate picture of who Suzy will be in twenty or thirty years. If
the speaker were wise, he would realize it would be better if he encouraged
Suzy to become all she could be rather than prophesying her downfall.
Mom is tired of helping her daughter with homework every night and
verbally explodes, You are a Dumb Dora and lazy. You will fail your
grade and have to do it over again. The truth about Dora was that she
had learning disabilities and actually was doing the very best she could
and often couldnt read the story because tears were in her eyes. Her
mothers fortune telling pained her throughout her life.
Maddie has a mammogram taken and the results are positive, indicat-
ing possible breast cancer. After the biopsy, she waits for results. Her
fortune-telling mind says, Its breast cancer. She panics but gets a hold
of herself and decides, I cant think this way. Its bad for my health. I will
not worry about this now, and if the worst happens, God will help me.
The lab report finally comes in. No cancer. No problem.
In fortune telling the speaker is predicting that something bad will hap-
pen, and he imagines the worst. This is called catastrophic thinking.
Some fear that the sky is falling. This contributes to anxiety, unneces-
sary fear, and mental stress. It is harmful to health.
How can fortunetellers help themselves? Do self-talk. Tell the truth. I

really dont know the end result. I will think the best and wait to see
101

Finishing Strong
what happens. God will continue to guide me. Then be active. Jog or pull
weeds. Go for a brisk walk. Attend an exercise class. Clean the house.
Play the piano. Divert your thoughts to positive, optimistic thinking.
Distortion 7: Personalizing
Jo Ann listened to the sermon in church. At the conclusion of the service,
she waited until the others had shaken hands with the pastor, then ap-
proached him. Pastor Brown, I was deeply hurt when you spoke about
people who are angry and speak cutting words to others. You looked right
at me, and I know you were talking about me. The truth was that Pastor
Brown scarcely knew who Jo Ann was, and the idea of telling her faults
in public was the furthest thought from his mind. Jo Ann thought the
pastor was revealing her secrets in public. She was offended. That was
crooked thinking.
Wes tells this story. One day while I was studying for my doctorate, I
passed my good friend on the sidewalk. Hey, Dan! The response was
only silence as Dan walked right on by. My thoughts were, He ignored
me! Is he upset with me? Did I do something wrong? All these ideas came
to my mind. Now, was I thinking straight, or was that crooked thinking?
In the evening I saw Dan again. Hey Dan. I said hi to you this morning.
What? he answered. I didnt see you. Since communication is crucial
for good relationships, we talked about the morning incident. I needed to
understand. And then I heard the rest of the story.
That morning Dan had received the news that he had failed his board
examination for licensure as a physician. His mind was in a fog. He actu-
ally needed someone to encourage him and pray for him. He was ready
to give up on the career of medicine after five years of intensive study. I
realized that the incident was a God thing and that it had happened so that
I could be a support and an encouragement to Dan. We prayed through
the crisis together. Some weeks later, just before Dan went to take the
board exam again, I knelt and prayed with him. This time he passed. To-
day Dan is a department chairman in the School of Medicine at the same
university where he studied. Dan is doing an amazing job in his work of
teaching residents in his medical specialty.
102

Crooked Thinking
Distortion 8: Labeling
Ana was a long-time friend of Millies. She had come from the former
Czechoslovakia. One day Millie greeted her and asked how she was. Ana
answered, Im stupid. Millie answered, Youre not stupid. But Ana
continued, My husband says Im stupid. My daughter says Im stupid.
So Im stupid. Millie stroked her finger across Anas forehead and said,
Wipe that from your mind. You are a smart person! You are not stupid.
You are the Kings daughter. You are intelligent. Ana was an accom-
plished homemaker, painted her own house, was a good cook, enjoyed
regularly reading her Bible, and was fluent in Czech and English. But the
unkind labeling by her husband and grown daughter had convinced her
that she was stupid.
Psalms has good counsel for correcting crooked thinking. Psalm 139:13
17 (NLT) says,
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me to-
gether in my mothers womb. Thank you for making me so won-
derfully complex! Your workmanship is marveloushow well I
know it. . . . You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life
was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a
single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me,
O God. They cannot be numbered!
In ancient times, parents often labeled their children. Rebecca named

her second-born twin Jacob, which meant deceiver. He lived up to the
label. But after twenty years of exile from his angry brother who wanted
to kill him, he spent a night wrestling with the Angel. At that time God
renamed him Israel, meaning Prince of God. He became a new person
and lived up to new positive expectations.
The Bible dedicates only two verses to Jabez.15 His mother named him
Jabez, meaning he will cause pain, because she suffered a painful
childbirth. But Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh, that You
would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would
be with me . . . that I may not cause pain! So God granted him what he
103

Finishing Strong
requested. This historical figure rejected his childhood labeling and tri-
umphed over it. The Good Book records that Jabez was more honorable
than his brothers.
Distortion 9: Infatuated/emotional/impulsive thinking

Infatuation has been described as temporary insanity. Yet emotions can
be healthy and useful if they are evaluated on the basis of reason and the
teachings of the Bible.
A young man becomes infatuated with the attractive physical features

of a pretty classmate. But as desirable as these might be, what about her
other qualities that would contribute to a happy, long-term relationship?
What about her temperament? Can she handle stresses without falling
apart? Will she make a good mother? Can she keep an attractive and or-
derly home? Will she be able to overcome the difficulties and crises that
married life always brings?
Deep emotional attachment with someone of the opposite sex is wonder-

ful. Couples looking forward to marriage will feel romantic emotions and
experience the magic moments of love. Beware, though: there is a world
of difference between the foolish youth described in Proverbs 67 who
is seduced by the dress and allurements of a wily woman and the wise
young man who falls in love with a wholesome womanbody, mind,
soul, emotionsand makes a lifetime commitment in marriage. To fall in
love with a womans pretty face without adequate consideration of other
aspects of her life and character is crooked thinking. To avoid crooked
thinking, look beyond the present hormones, impulses, and feelings. Bal-
ance these with knowledge, good sense, and wisdom from God.
Distortion 10: Popular delusions

Some popular manifestations of deluded thinking include . . .
If it feels good, do it! If it tastes good, eat it!
Money will make you happy.
It is necessary for you to be appreciated and loved by almost everyone
for almost everything you do.16
A person should be thoroughly competent, adequate, and achieving
in all areas of life.17
104

Crooked Thinking
You should be a superwoman or a superman.

If everyone believes something, it must be true.
Blaming a specific ethnic group for the troubles of society. An example
is Kristallnacht, literally meaning crystal night or the night of broken
glass. On the nights of November 9 and 10, 1938, Hitlers government
blamed the ills of society on one particular ethnic group and gave free
rein to the breaking of shop windows and ransacking homes and places
of assembly of this minority group.
Can you see the common theme of distorted thinking? There may be
a grain of truth in it, but it separates this partial truth from a broader,
accurate perspective. Twisted thinking harms emotional, spiritual, social,
and physical wellbeing.
One manifestation of distorted thinking can be over-reliance on the truth-

fulness of the mass media. A relatively small group of owners of the
media who have their own agendas can shape the thoughts of billions.
Slanted and planted innuendo can be mixed in with reporting the news.
The spin, twist, or importance that the networks and media companies
give to news events may promote a particular political or ideological
point of view. Lies, lies, lies. The Good Book speaks of strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie.18
Straight thinking versus mirage thinking

Seeing is believing, right? Are you sure? Appearances can be deceiving.
Samuel Baker tells of a regiment of soldiers dying of thirst in the Ara-
bian Desert. In the distance the soldiers thought they saw water, but the
Arab guide warned that it was only a mirage. An argument ensued. The
guide was killed. The whole regiment rushed toward the water. Mile after
mile, the mirage led the thirsty troops deeper into the desert. Too late, the
parched soldiers realized the truth. They died pursuing a fantasy.19
What are you searching for? Are you chasing a mirage in the desert?
What would you like to pursue?20
105

Finishing Strong
TRUTH. You would like accurate, undistorted truth. If this is so, then you
will need to look for truth in reliable places, including the Bible.
FREEDOM. You want to be free to pursue the truth. You want freedom
from mind-altering substances. You want to be more than a robot or a
puppet with someone else pulling the strings. In your heart of hearts you
want true information. Truth restores our power of choice and frees us.
LOVE. This means altruistic, agape love. Agape is the Greek word used
in the New Testament Scriptures to refer to self-sacrificing lovelove
that is more interested in giving than receiving. The opposite of agape
love is selfishnessthat means being so bound up in myself that I cant
hear someone elses cry for help. Hoarded blessings turn into stagnant
pools, but shared blessings are like a bubbling brook. Agape love is the
God kind of love. God so loved . . . that He gave . . . He gave His Son
as the ultimate love sacrifice. And above all these put on love, which
binds everything together in perfect harmony.21
WALKING THE TALK. You want happiness? The Sacred Source tells
us: You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of
joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.22 Who will find this
fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore? He who walks uprightly, and
works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart . . . He who does
these things shall never be moved.23 It is not enough to have Truth, Free-
dom, and Love as ideals. We need to walk the talk and show that these
ideals work in our personal daily lives.
True truth is based on eternal realities that you can trust more than the
things your eyes see, your hands touch, your ears hear, or your heart feels.
The things that you can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch may deceive and
fail you in the end. But Jesus, the Ten Commandments, and the Bible are
ultimate truth.24 They will never fail us. They are true Truth. They are
the never-failing sources of Truth, Freedom, Love, and Walking the Talk.
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.25
106

Crooked Thinking
Straight thinking in the last days of earths history

The Bible foretells that in the crisis days just before Jesus second com-
ing, almost everybody will buy into lies, lies, lies. They will receive a
strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.26
One writer states, None but those who have fortified the mind with the
truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul
will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men?27
Babylon is a word that in Hebrew means confusion.28 Satan, our mor-

tal enemy, creates confusion and deception. Followers of Satan, the
great deceiver, will believe whatever he insinuates if it sounds good and
makes them feel good. But there will be a group of people who will think
straight. They will hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Pre-
pare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our
God. . . . The crooked places shall be made straight . . . [and] the glory of
the Lord shall be revealed. 29
These statements show the importance of searching the Bible for truth
and teaching our children what is truth so that our families will not be
deceived with the lies of the enemy of our souls. Bible prophecies must
be studied now, so that when events unfold we will make wise choices
and enjoy eternal rewards. Truth will be victorious in the end, in this last
battle between good and evilbetween crooked thinking and straight
thinking.
Cosmic thinking versus crooked thinking

We need a higher level of thinking than the cognitive distortions weve
outlined in this chapter. The Bible says: Set your mind on things above.
Yes, infinitely above and beyond us . . .
Astronomers now believe, based on data from the Hubble Telescope, that
there are some 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe.30 One of
these galaxies is called the Milky Way Galaxy and it contains 100-400
billion stars.31 In the fringes of the western spiral arm of the Milky Way,
halfway out from the center, on the inner edge of the Orion-Cygnus Arm,
there is a medium-size star we call the sun. In orbit around it are eight
107

Finishing Strong
planets. The third one out from this star we call planet Earth. On this
planet now live seven billion people. Somewhere on this planets surface
is the house I live in with my family. But small as I may be, God takes
notice of little me and my problems. And this God loves me! He sees
the sparrow when it falls and even knows the number of the hairs on my
head.
True cosmic thinking is this: somewhere among the billions of galaxies,

stars, and planets, there is a place where God sits enthroned. He loves
you. He has made a way so that when the conflict with falsehood and
deceit is over, He can take you and your family to live with Him in His
home for all eternity. This is true Truth.
The day Truth diedbut it still lives!

He had lived for ceaseless ages visiting countless worlds that He had
created. Trillions of creatures adored Him, knelt before Him, and did
His every bidding. Everybody loved Himeveryone, that is, except the
fallen angels and the creatures on one rebel planet. Even though He had
created human beings in His own image, after His own likeness, they
rebelled against Him and His commandments. He could have left the
millions there to the fate they had chosen, but He chose instead to ransom
them and give them a second chance.
So He came to the rebel planet, was born in poverty in a manger. The rul-
ing king heard about Him and tried to kill Him shortly after His birth. He
came to this rebel planet to show people the truth that God loved them.
But most religious people didnt want to hear truth. They preferred to
believe lies.
He was arrested on false charges, and false witnesses spoke lies to try to
convict Him. When He was arraigned before the Roman governor in an
open-air trial attended by a rabble of thousands crying, Crucify Him!
He said, I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the
truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.32
The governor was well schooled in Greek philosophy, and one of the ma-
jor disciplines of study dealt with the question, How do we know truth?
108

Crooked Thinking
The governor said to the prisoner, What is truth? He happened to be in

the presence of Truth with a capital T. He was talking to Truth personi-
fied, the One who was Truth. But the governor didnt wait to hear the
answer to his own question, and he ultimately surrendered the Truth to
be crucified on a cross between two thieves. Truth was on the cross in the
middle, meaning that He was the greatest criminal of the three.
When one of the criminals recognized who He was and asked to be saved
in His coming kingdom, Jesus answered, Truly, truly I say unto you to-
day, you will be with Me in paradise.33
God loved us rebels so much that when the planet went wrong, He sent
His only Son to earth to die to buy us back from the captivity of sin. He
would have sent Jesus if you or I had been the only one deceived and
lost. The question is, Am I willing to give up the lies and the fears that
plague me without and within and accept the only Truth that can make
me free? Can I trust my problems and anxieties into the hands that were
nailed to Calvarys cross and trust Him as the ultimate solution to my
distorted thinking?
On that sad day almost two thousand years ago, we human beings killed
the Truth. But three days later, Truth was resurrected. Truth went to heav-
en, and Truth is coming back to get all those who love Truth more than
life itself. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.34 The faithful
will enter through the gates into the heavenly city. But whoever loves
and practices a lie35 will be barred eternally from His presence.
These times demand of us clear thinking. Surrounding us on every side is

the Babylon of confused thinking. We are caught up in the greatest battle
ever foughtthe battle of the mind. You and I are the ones who get to
choose where we stand in the Great Controversy between Truth and De-
ception. Which side do you want to be onstraight thinking or crooked
thinking?
109

Finishing Strong
Prayer
Lord, help me to identify when I have been judgmental, critical,
and have believed lies about others and myself. And forgive me for
my own crooked thinking. Help me to search for truth. You have
said in the Bible that I can have the mind of Christ. That is what
I want. You have promised that in an age of lies and calculated
brain-washing, The crooked places shall be made straight, and the
rough places smooth. 36 Fulfill this in me. Amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. What did this chapter say to you personally?
2. What are some manifestations of crooked thinking found in adver-
tisements, newspapers, TV, politics, and religion?
3. When people are critical and judgmental, could they be crooked
thinkers? Discuss with someone.
4. What are these Bible texts saying to you?
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You
(Isaiah 26:3).
We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Personal Reflection
1. Over the centuries there have been men, women, and even children
who chose death rather than to lie or compromise truth. Do I love
truth enough to stand up for it?
2. What is an example of crooked thinking that has upset you?
3. Am I an optimistic or a pessimistic person? Since being pessimistic
promotes health risk factors, how can I overcome being pessimistic
and become a more optimistic, healthy person?
Intentionality
I will evaluate my thinking processes and try to identify where I am
guilty of distorted thinking.
Since crooked thinking affects relationships, I will try to avoid mak-
ing statements that are untrue and may hurt others.
I will pray that God will help me to think straight to share truth with
others.
110

Crooked Thinking
Family Reflect/Discuss
1. Do you think some children have crooked thinking when they say:
I cant do it.
Youre mean to me.
Youre the only parent in our town who wont let their children
watch that TV program.
2. Show your children in what ways they may be doing crooked think-
ing. Make this a teachable moment by helping them identify other
crooked thinking statements people make.
3. Parents may also have distorted, crooked thinking. What comes to
your mind?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is

right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif
anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. 37
111

27 Triumph as We Face Global Tragedy
Crisis II
I
n WIN! Wellness book 1, we presented From Tragedy to Triumph
Crisis I. That chapter dealt largely with how we can successfully face
personal crisis. In the present chapter, Crisis II, we emphasize massive
global crises.
Critical crisis
Tucked away in extreme southeastern Tennessee lies an area forgotten
by travelers rushing by on todays American interstate highways. This
quaint corner of the Appalachian Mountains lies near the confluence of
Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. It is a land of rolling mountains
just south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along with
rushing streams ideal for whitewater rafting. This had been Cherokee
Indian country from time immemorial, as the names of rivers, lakes, and
forests still bear witness. There runs the Hiwassee Scenic River; there
lies beautiful Ocoee Lake; and there stands the Chattahoochee National
Forest.
Around 1843, copper was discovered in the hills. By 1900, the Tennessee
Copper Company controlled most of the mining, and business boomed.
Copper ore had been dug out from deep mines by hand in the early days,
but as the years went by, machinery was added. Since copper is oftentimes
found with sulfur in its natural state, the trees were cut down off the hills
and the wood used to burn out the sulfur, and then this burned ore was
taken to the smelter in the town of Copperhill, where the rest of the sulfur
and impurities were removed. Huge mountains of toxic tailings were
left behind.
112

Triumph as We Face Global Tragedy
But something was wrong. As the sulfur was burned out of the ore, it
belched sulfuric acid into the environment. Trees and vegetation for miles
around had died off. This was years before the environmental movement
took hold of the public conscience. I remember driving through this
region on highway US 64 in the late 1940s. I couldnt believe my eyes.
It was like a moonscape! The countryside was carved by eroded gullies.
Wildlife had almost vanished. The land was toxic and desolate, and the
previously flourishing community had diminished to a few survivors. In
the mid-twentieth century, it was a high-level crisis time for land and
inhabitants.
Slowly, reclamation projects began to reverse the damage. Erosion was to

a great degree contained. Black soil was trucked in. Trees were planted.
Gardens, lawns, and forests began to return. Sixty-five years later, the
wilderness is again blossoming. Restoration has taken place.
Our world is like Copperhill on a cosmic scale. Its original state of beauty
is described in Genesis 1 and 2. A greedy and rapacious enemy took over,
promising progress and prosperity if his plans were followed. What has
he delivered? Crisis, sickness, desolation, and death. God looked down
past a million galaxies, and there in the western spiral arm of the Milky
Way galaxy He spied a medium-sized solar system and a fast-sinking
world that we call planet Earth. If left to Satan and to itself, the world
would perish. Something had to be done. The plan of redemption, kept
in silence through eternal ages, was put into immediate operation. God
would intervene and contend. God would reclaim. God would restore.
The Bible says: For we know that the whole creation groans.1 Of old
You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of
Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow
old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be
changed.2 Jesus spoke of the time of His glorious return to the earth,
saying, Behold, I make all things new. 3
Zeniths and nadirs

Years ago as a youth, I studied astronomy as my hobby. Although I have
not actively pursued it in recent years, I still remember some of the
113

Finishing Strong
definitions. The zenith is that point in the heavens which is vertically

above your head. The nadir, on the other hand, is that point of the celestial
sphere directly under the place where you stand. It is the lowest point.
In the great controversy between good and evil, humanity has had its
nadirs of crisis. There are common denominators in all of these crises,
namely misapprehension of the character of God and a corresponding
breakdown of human relationships, combined with natural disasters.
Interestingly enough, the nadirs are often immediately followed by
zeniths. It is like the law of action and reaction. God permits man to
go his own way. He goes down, down, down until it seems he can go
no lower. Then like a lightning bolt, God intervenes, bringing man to a
zenith of hope.
God has His answer to the nadirs of crisis. In the last days He will speak
loud and clear by His chosen heralds and will restore all things.4 God
will announce a zenith of hope.
The daily news brings us stories of disasters and calamities. Traumatic

and stressful times are no respecters of persons or their wealth, age, or
social status. Crises occur around the world, resulting in immeasurable
human suffering. The following examples provide evidence of nadirs.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear disasters

The Bible tells us that one of the signs of the nearness of the second
coming of Christ will be earthquakes, with the sea and the waves
roaring.5
On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:46 p.m., a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit
the eastern part of Japan. It devastated the land, and the sea responded
with unbelievable force, destroying towns and villages. But that is not
all: a third disaster brings an even greater fear. The people of the region
were in danger of death and catastrophic disease from radiation leaking
out of the quake-ravaged Fukushima nuclear power-plant reactors. What
could they do to protect themselves from possible radiation?
114

The fear was felt nationwide. Some remembered the past. Horrific
nightmare memories surfaced. One person said, There was enough
hardship with the earthquake and tsunami, but fears about the nuclear
power plants carry echoes from my early life Hiroshima, Nagasaki.
The crises escalate!
The tsunami caused the most damage, however. An eighty-three-year-

old man heard the sirens blasting and jumped on a bike, pedaling fast to
escape the coming ocean surge. Another man spent days in an elevator.
Three people were rescued from the mud-covered wreckage of a car sixty-
two hours after the tsunami. A woman opened the door of her house and
was caught in the ravaging waters, but managed to grab onto a nearby
tree where she perilously hung on for hours. Another woman floated to
safety on top of a mat. Two traumatized dogs survived, although shaking,
starving, and mud-covered. The fortunate people lived. Some wonder
if it would have been better if they had not survived. One asks, What
have we done to have this come upon us? Sometimes there seem to be
no answers.
The recovery and rescue is another crisislack of food and water, no

electricity in certain locations, no place to bathe. The horrors are many:
searching for survivors in the snow; smelling death in the rubble;
discovering your own family in the fragments of a home. Finding a
family picture in the waste, showing it to other survivors, and asking,
Have you seen them? A fireman continued serving others, although he
had discovered that all his precious family were no more. All these were
in a painful crisis. They were survivors. Those not going through such a
crisis can only vaguely understand what those people have gone through.
Financial crisis
The worlds wisest men do not know how to solve our interconnected
economic crisis. Unemployment, homelessness, and hunger are
widespread. Families are losing their homes in foreclosure. The economic
forecasts are bleak. This is another example of our worlds nadirs.
115

Finishing Strong
The crisis of war

The Bible foretells that in the last days
you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is
not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes
in various places.6
Surely this prophecy has been fulfilled in our day and age. Millions of
people around the world are impacted by war. Soldiers die in the prime of
life. Refugees flee their homes and are vulnerable to disease. Schools are
closed or destroyed, depriving children of an education. Infrastructures
of health care, communication, transportation, and food security are
destroyed. Regardless of the cause of war, the cost is terrible in terms of
human suffering.
Children in crisis
Trafficking in children and sexual exploitation are an increasing crisis
worldwide. We all know that the gauge of a society is how it treats its
children and its elderly people.
One million children enter the sex trade annually:
UNICEF reports that across the world, there are over one million
children entering the sex trade every year and that approximately
30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual
exploitation over the past 30 years.7
Worldwide pandemic of catastrophic diseasesAIDS

The Bible tells us that one of the signs we are in the last days will be
pestilence, or disease pandemics. Although in more developed countries
mortality rates are being increasingly worsened by degenerative diseases
such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, such epidemics as flu and HIV/
AIDS are claiming huge tolls on human life in other parts of the world.
116

AIDS is terminal. It is like a plague. With AIDS, one faces an inevitable,

irrevocable sentence.
HIV and AIDS are two stages of the same disease.
HIV is spread by
unprotected genital, anal, or oral sex with an infected person
having sexual contact with someone of unknown HIV status
infected blood from needle sharing
More than twenty-five million people worldwide have died of AIDS.8
More than thirty-three million are currently infected.9
Transmission of HIV to babies can be prevented.

The case of Marie
Marie, a lovely thirty-eight-year-old, never had sexual contact outside
of marriage. Her first husband died of AIDS, and she remarried. Her
misfortunes continued when her second husband was killed in an accident,
leaving her with his fourteen-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.
So then Marie and her stepdaughter, Shelly, lived together. But the crises of
their lives only got worse. Years after the death of her first husband to AIDS,
Marie discovered that she too was suffering from that dreaded disease.
So what do you do when life hands you a sour lemon? Marie decided to
make lemonade! Her young stepdaughter needed her, and someday, as
her condition worsened, Marie would desperately need Shelly. Marie and
Shelly made a pacta covenantof mutual support. Right now, Marie
is giving Shelly a good education and making her a comfortable, loving
home with food and the necessities of life.
Marie is an activist in the best sense of the word. Every opportunity that
she has, she goes to schools, churches, and civic clubs and tells her story.
She informs her listeners of the truth about HIV/AIDS and dispels the
hundreds of myths that people believe about it. She is a popular lecturer.
Marie has written her story in magazines with a wide circulation.
Is life easy for Marie? No. She is living under the shadow of a death
sentence. Does everyone see things the way Marie sees them? No. Her
own mother worries about the stigma of AIDS on the family reputation
and was very upset that Marie would identify herself in the widely read
117

Finishing Strong
article she wrote. But Marie moves ahead. She is an optimistic, positive
kind of person. With the time she has left, she will help and encourage
others, especially those who face crises similar to hers.
A coin has two sides. The day will come when Shelly will be caring for
terminally ill Marie. Even now, when you see them together, Shelly, offering
an enabling hand, is there to keep her adopted mom from falling. In the
end, life is not decided by the crisis we face but how we face the crisis.
Marie interprets her illness with AIDS as an opportunity to help others.
Facing death in faraway lands

Gary and Bonnie Witherall went as missionaries to Sidon in southern
Lebanon, where she was murdered as she attended to pregnant Palestinian
refugee women in a clinic. Garys life was turned upside down. His dearest
earthly possession was gone! He would never again feel Bonnies loving
touch. He was in crisis. It was devastating to see his wifes blood on the
clinic floor, yet he sensed an unspeakable presence of God in his life.
At the funeral, the press and television from around the world gathered
and asked Gary how he felt about the ones who killed his wife. They
were amazed to find that Gary forgave them. It wasnt easy for him to fly
back home in a plane carrying Bonnies coffin, leaving almost everything
behind. Yet he felt marvelously supported by friends, coworkers, and the
Lebanese people.
It wasnt the story that Gary had expected for his life. But the whole
world was moved during the following days as television and newspapers
told of missionaries who gave all and who loved their persecutors. And
someday, on the other shore, Gary will be reunited with his beloved
Bonnie. That will be the real end of the story.
David and Linda lose their son

David and Linda faced a crisis that was just as devastating as was Maries
and Garys. On a Thursday night, their seventeen-year-old son, Jim, was
killed when his pickup truck failed to negotiate a curve. Their pain was
excruciating. One recurring question bothered them during their grief
recovery time. Where was their son, Jim, now?
118

Many were saying, Hes in heaven, Hes in purgatory, Hes burning

in hell, Hes gone forever. David and Linda were very confused.
Where was their son?
Then someone suggested, Go to the Bible and see what it says. That
is exactly what they did. They began to read the Bible and made a big
discovery.
What did the Bible tell them about their departed loved one? To their
surprise they found that the Bible describes death as a sleep, and that their
son would remain in the grave without consciousness until the day of
the resurrection. When Jesus friend Lazarus died, He said, Our friend
Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up. . . . Then Jesus said to
them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 10 He said that the dead will sleep and
not awaken until His second coming: For the hour is coming in which
all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forththose who
have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil,
to the resurrection of condemnation.11
David and Linda found Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6: The living know that they
will die; but the dead know nothing . . . their love, their hatred, and their
envy have now perished.
In Psalm 146:4 (KJV) they read: His breath goeth forth, he returneth to
his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
This was all new to the grieving parents, David and Linda, but was a great
consolation to them. Their son was not watching from heaven, looking at
their grief and problems on earth. He was not suffering eternal torment
in hell or even temporary torment in purgatory. Jim was sleeping. This
new knowledge comforted them. Now they felt they could pull their own
lives together and go on, because there was light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bible made it perfectly clear to them that when Jesus comes, He will
call their son. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first.12 They would see their Jim again. Their
nadir of tears would be followed by a zenith of restoration.
119

Finishing Strong
Like David and Linda, we too may suffer pain in crises not of our making.
But the One who triumphed in the crisis of the ages is there to strengthen
us and guarantee personal and global victory.
Future crises are coming. How we handle todays crisis will prepare us to
face even greater future crisis.
From cosmic Copperhill to coming King

Today we have evidence that our world is in a nadir. There is global
crisis. The outlook is bleak, but the uplook is full of hope. A zenith will
soon occur. When Jesus Christ comes, He will restore the world that He
created.
In order to survive the crisis, we need to see light at the end of the tunnel.
We need to have a hope that points to something better awaiting us
beyond the trauma. The Bible foretells that times of refreshing will
come from the presence of the Lord and that the Father will send
Jesus Christ and there will be times of restoration of all things. But in
order to be ready, we need to repent therefore and be converted so that
our sins may be blotted out.13
There is great news! Soon Jesus will pronounce: And God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow,
nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed
away. . . . Behold, I make all things new. 14
The Bible tells us about future crisis. It is imperative that we study the
Bible carefully so that we and our families will not be deceived by our
adversary Satan, nor by popular opinion.
You have your story, and I have mine, of how we have been rescued
from crisis after crisis. But the greatest story ever told is how Jesus, by
His death, won the war against Satan and earned the right to write the
conclusion of this earths history. The world is a Copperhill, but it will be
restored to the beauty of the Garden of Eden. Jesus created Eden, and He
initiated the restoration of the world when Satan the adversary brought
blight and death. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice to win the war against
120

Satan. We are the heralds to prepare the way for the coming King. Very
soon He will return for His waiting children, resurrect the dead ones to
life, and restore us and planet Earth.
At this moment, do you want to look beyond the trauma of todays global
and personal crises and accept triumph in this life and for eternal ages
through the victory of Christ for you? He freely offers it to you. Do you
want to move from the nadir of crisis to the zenith of restoration?
Prayer
Lord, all of us are in a crisis. I am in crisis because I live in a world
filled with pain and suffering, sickness, and death. Thank You that
on Calvary You experienced a crisis for my sake. In Your crisis, Lord,
You moved from tragedy to triumph, and right now You are inviting
me to accept Your triumph. I have decided to move from the nadir
of earths prospects to the zenith of total restoration. Thank You
that I know the end to the story. In Jesus name, amen.
Reflect/Discuss
1. What is God saying to you about present and future crises?
2. What are your plans for present and future end-time crises?
3. What is God calling you to do to help individuals in present and end-
time crises? Are you willing to serve or be served?
1. How am I personally preparing myself spiritually, physically, and
materially for future crises?
2. Would it be wise for me to own a place in the country where I could
be more protected and have garden produce when circumstances
become difficult?
Intentionality
I will ask God for wisdom to help me handle todays crises and end-
time crises.
I will study about survival and start my survival plans for future
crises.
121

28 Trust Me
Trust
T
here is a basic human need for trust. All of us trust something or
someone. When we turn the key in the ignition of our car, we trust
that the engine is going to start. When we go to see our physician,
we trust that he/she is going to be able to help us. When we call the
police, we trust that they will come to our assistance. If we are going
down a precipice hanging onto a rope, we trust that the person at the top
isnt going to let go of the rope, and we trust that the rope isnt going to
break.
A physician was performing a delicate operation to correct certain

problems on an unborn baby. As he cut through the walls of the uterus
and placenta, the unborn little one wrapped his tiny fingers around the
surgeons finger. His heart was touched as it seemed that, even before
birth, this little one trusted him. We hope that as the child grows older,
there will still be a finger or a hand to hang onto.
Trust is a basic human need, since relationships are built on trust. Meeting
this need promotes what psychologists call secure attachments. We
learn to trust people who are caring and sensitive to our needs, who prove
to be trustworthy and dependable.
Will it be trust or distrust?

Erik Erikson, famous psychologist, originated the concept of the
eight important questions to be solved in life. The first and most basic
dilemma that humans need to decide is trust or distrust. Even babies and
toddlers begin to trust or distrust early in life. Whom can I trust in life?
122

Trust Me
Unfortunately, some conclude that they cannot trust anyone. The Random
House Dictionary of the English Language defines trust as:
Certainty, belief, faith, assurance, confidence. Trust implies

instinctive unquestioning belief in and reliance upon something or
someone.
The run-away girl from Traverse City

Karen, a teenage girl from Traverse City, Michigan, wanted freedom
from her fathers authority. He had probably spoken to her about her
dress, nose ring, and teen rebellion. She ran away to Detroit. At last she
was free, and life in the big city was exciting. A man in a fancy car picked
her up, took her to a luxury hotel, and gave her some pills that made her
feel great. This man, whom we will call Mr. Cool, turned out to be a
pimp and used her as a prostitute. At first, Karen enjoyed the big city and
was happy about the decision she had made to leave home. A year went
by, and when Karen contracted a serious infectious disease, Mr. Cool
turned downright cold toward her with amazing rapidity. Suddenly she
was on the street and broke. She still turned a couple poorly paying tricks
a night, but her drug habit gobbled what little money she had. Wintry
blasts found her huddled on sidewalk grates. Her eyes were shadowed
with dark circles. A hacking cough racked her frail frame. Sleep was
elusive outdoors in dangerous Detroit.
One night, Karen focused on the picture of her life. Once a worldly
woman, she sensed now that she was like a lost little girl, cold and
afraid, penniless and hungry. Desperate for a fix, she began to cry.
Memories of past days flooded her mind: Traverse City in May, the
orchard with millions of cherry blossoms, and her dog, Goldie, dashing
among the snowy trees to retrieve a tennis ball.
Suddenly she couldnt understand why she had left. Her heart ached.
Goldies not hungry like I am, she reflected. My dogs life is better than
mine! Karen wanted with all her heart to go home.
She made three phone calls, only to get an answering machine each time.
Twice she hung up, but on the third try she left a message. Dad, Mom,
123

Finishing Strong
its me, Karen. Ive been thinking I might come home. I can get a bus that
arrives tomorrow about midnight. If I dont find you at the station, Ill
just go on to Canada.
During the long hours of the bus trip, Karen wondered: What if my folks
are away? Should I have waited until I actually spoke to them? Maybe
they need more time to adjust to the shock of hearing from me.
She thought about what she was going to say to her dad. She wanted him
to know it wasnt his fault, that she was the wrong one. Would he forgive
her? She rehearsed her speech in her mind. She hadnt apologized for
anything in years.
The bus finally halted in front of the Traverse City station. Fifteen
minutes, the driver crackled over the microphone. Fifteen minutes that
would determine her life. She looked at herself in her compact mirror,
touched up her hair and makeup. Will my parents be here? she wondered.
She didnt know what shed find in the terminal. She walked through the
doors wondering if anyone would be there. What she saw was beyond
her wildest expectations. Karen was greeted with a sea of party hats
and noisemakers blown by familiar people. Forty family members were
there! Grandma, great-grandma, cousins, uncles, great aunts, brothers and
sisters. A huge Welcome Home! sign hung across the length of the wall.
Her father emerged from the crowd. She began her apology with hot tears
and quivering voice, Im sorry, Dad. I
Shh! None of that! You cant be late for your party. Wait till you see the
banquet weve got at the house!1
Whom can I trust?

Whom could Karen trust? Not Mr. Cool! And now Karen was
overwhelmingly impressed with the unconditional love of her whole
family. She could trust them. They were still there for her in spite of all
she had done. One of the topics in WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and
Health is crooked thinking. Karen believed she was thinking straight
124

Trust Me
when she ran away to Detroit, but a few months in the University of Hard
Knocks made her re-evaluate her situation.
Whom could Karen trust? What/whom can I trust? Can I trust myself?
Do I have the answers within me for lifes greatest problems? Can I rely
on human opinion when a crisis hits? Can I trust others for help? Is there
some power from above that will never fail me?
The crippled man lies waiting by the Pool of Bethesda, where his friends
have brought him. He has been coming to this same place for thirty-eight
years, hoping that when the waters ripple, someone would be there to help
him be the first one in, so that he could be healed. But there was no one to
help him. Having been continually disappointed in the past, he is lying on
his straw mat. Then one day he looks up and sees a tender, compassionate
face bending over him and hears an almost incredible question: Do you
want to be made wellto be whole? Sadly he responds as he looks up at
this unknown Speaker, There is no one to help me get well. Then Jesus
speaks gently with a tender smile, Rise, take up your bed and walk. Roll
up your mat and go home.2
The man is ready to be healed and doesnt even question Jesus. He trusts
the command. Instantly every nerve and muscle thrills with new life,
and healthful action comes to his crippled limbs. . . . Springing to his feet,
he finds himself an active man.3 The crippled man is no longer crippled!
He can walk! He can jump! He rejoices in his newfound powers. Joy
floods his heart as he hastily makes his way to share the good news with
his astonished family.
The crippled man trusted. He believed. He took action. He willed to

get up, and he did get up, and he did walk. Jesus spoke directly to the
mans will. Can you trust Me? Ultimate trust is a transaction in which,
through a sovereign act of the will, we place our lives unreservedly into
the hands of our Creator and our Redeemer.
What if the man had doubted that Jesus would heal him? What if he had
said, Well, heal me first, and then Ill try to get up? This man fully
trusted and was fully healed.
125

Finishing Strong
It is interesting that Jesus often said to those He healed, Your faith has
made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.4
If you are suffering some health problem, is that the request of

your heart? Are you saying, Thats what I want. Full healing. I
want to be made whole!
Trustwhat is it?
Trust is at the heart of relationship. Trust is a measure of relationship.
In order to fully trust, we need to put away anything that blocks that
relationship.
The crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda trusted Jesus, and his life
changed. He put his health in the hands of the Great Physician. We too
can put our health concerns in the hands of Jesus.
How to foster a trusting relationship with God

1. Through prayer. Apart from the book of Psalms, which is a prayer
book all its own, more than 650 prayers are recorded in the Bible. Out
of these, 450 received recorded answers. The remaining 200 are valid
prayers that were probably answered, but no record is given. Among
them, however, we find examples that violated the principles of valid
prayer, such as the prayers of Balaam,5 who prayed that he could die the
death of the righteous, but his life showed that he did not want to live the
life of the righteous. The duplicity of his life made it impossible for God
to answer his prayer.
Seven out of ten scriptural prayers were directly answered, most of them
immediately. If God answered so many prayers in ancient times, do you
think He will answer the sincere prayers of His children today?6 We too
can claim promises in our lives while we are participants in Gods plan.
The most powerful kind of prayer claims Gods promises because He is
trustworthy.
2. Through reading the Bible and claiming its promises. The Bible is full
of promises that we can trust today. Schoolteacher Everett R. Storms
of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, during his twenty-seventh reading of the
126

Trust Me
Bible, tallied the promises. It took him a year and a half. He found 7,487
promises of God to man.7
David, the writer of the Psalms, was number one on King Sauls list
of most wanted fugitives. Chased by hundreds of soldiers, Davids only
hope of survival was claiming Gods promises. He constantly quoted the
promises and composed music to help himself cope with life. He was just
like we are, always in need of divine help. David wrote, Your promises
have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.8
Other encouraging Bible promises include:
My son, do not forget my teaching,but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.9

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.10
In other words, there is nothing too difficult for God. He has thousands of
ways to help us. With His dynamite power, He is able to do anything and
to accomplish all He sets out to do. Above all, He will give us His peace in
this troubled world. It is a peace which surpasses all human understanding.
Our loving God has indescribable, incredible, extraordinary means for
meeting our desires and needs, if we make known our requests to Him.
There is no limit to Gods power.

There is no limit to what God can do for me.
There is no limit to what God can do through me for others.
Do these promises give you hope? They do for millions who go to God
daily with big financial, health, and family concerns. Our Creator is
worthy of our trust. We can count on Him.
So these factorsprayer, studying the Bible, and claiming Bible

promiseshelp us to establish and maintain a living relationship, a
127

Finishing Strong
personal friendship with God. We get better acquainted with God by

talking with Him in prayer and by listening to Him speak to us in the
Bible.
Relationship between prayer and health outcomes?

Herbert Benson, professor at Harvard University School of Medicine,
researched the effects of prayer on the systems of the body and concluded
that prayer slows down ones metabolism; reduces the rate of breathing;
amplifies brain-wave frequency; reduces blood pressure; causes feelings
of internal calm; and improves general health.11
Over the past few years, many researchers have investigated the
relationship between intercessory prayer and health outcomes. Do people
heal better when other people they dont even know are praying for them?
Some have marshaled evidence indicating that people who were prayed
for when undergoing coronary procedures had a better survival rate than
those who were not prayed for. Other research indicated that there was
no difference.
Perhaps we could consider the possibility that the two sides in this
controversy may be missing the most important considerations. Is it valid
prayer when we pray for healing but our lifestyle shows no intention to
follow the principles of health that God has taught us in Scripture? How
about the principle, Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God?12
Trust in God impacts lifestyle

When our lifestyle harmonizes with our prayers, then the physical
cooperates with the spiritual, emotional, and relational powers in our
healing.
What would you think of a case where a man asks God for physical
healing from a sexually transmitted disease, yet he continues to buy
pornographic material and to visit prostitutes? Would God be honored
by answering his prayers? We need to do our part in cooperating with
healing agencies.
128

Trust Me
What would you think of a case where a woman asks her friends to
pray for her healing from diabetes, yet she continues to consume large
amounts of sugar and fats and is grossly overweight? Could it be that her
prayer would be strengthened if she prayed that God would help her with
her lifestyle so she could avoid diabetic complications? She could pray,
Lord, give me strength to eat and do what is best for me and help me
with my diabetic problem.
Dr. Brian Schwartz, a cardiologist, tells the story of a motorcyclist who

came to his office to be checked out for chest pains. He weighed 280
pounds and had many risk factors: he smoked, his blood lipids were high,
his blood pressure was high, and of course he was grossly overweight. As
was his custom, after the medical evaluation, the doctor offered to pray
for the patient. He commended him to Jesus, the Great Physician, but
before he left the office, he told the patient that he could cooperate with
God by living a healthy lifestyle, free from smoking, fatty meats, and
empty calories. Eight months later Dr. Schwartz and his wife were taking
a tour of new homes, when whom should they meet but this patient, who
was the tour guide. At first they did not recognize him. He had lost a
hundred pounds and looked trim. The man announced to the group of
some thirty people, This is the doctor who turned my life around. Now I
dont smoke. Its because he prayed for me. He changed my life!
Are our prayers always answered?

For His children, who are in a relationship with Him, God always answers
prayers for healing. Sometimes there is immediate physical healing,
and sometimes healing comes slowly. Often prayer brings us emotional
and spiritual healing, which God sees is our greater need. For some
individuals, physical healing will come on the day when Jesus returns to
take His loved ones home to heaven. We can always trust Jesus to answer
us. But we need to cooperate with our prayers by doing our part.
Trusting God to meet our greatest need

We need to trust Someone who is always there to help us. We cannot
always trust in the police; they may arrive too late. We cannot always
trust in burglar alarms; they can go out of order. We cant always trust
in armies and navies; they are subject to defeat. We cannot trust in our
129

Finishing Strong
own strength; it may diminish. We need a trust that the devil cannot
disturb, that jealousy cannot jar, that death cannot deny, that sickness
cannot subdue. We need trust that transcends human understanding. God
needed no help in creation, no help in making available our redemption.
He liberates our souls and asks us to live out His love within us. Do you
want Someone like this to trust? Just tell God that you do.
We have a heavenly Father who gives us irrefutable evidence that He

loves us and wants to meet our needs, no matter what. He met our needs
on Calvary. He so loved us that He gave all heaven for usHis only
Son. He meets our needs of forgiveness and reconciliation. God meets
our need to experience emotional healing. Finally, He meets our needs
for wholeness and wellness. The Bible says, Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.13
Lets go back to the teenager from Traverse City. Karens problem was
that she believed lies. She believed the lie that her father really didnt
have her best good at heart. She believed the lie that if she could do
whatever she wanted, she would be happy. She believed the string of lies
Mr. Cool told her to trap her into prostitution.
A world of lies and crooked thinking

One of the big human problems is that we live in a world of lies. Lies
like, Youre no good. Lies like, Do whatever you want, and it will make
you happy. This is crooked thinking. Millions of people believe lies. The
self-help psychology books that fill our bookstores tell us that all you
need to do is to trust yourself.
The truth is that bank accounts, jobs, positions, and people can be here
today and gone tomorrow. Some believe the lie that they can eat whatever
they want, do little or no exercise, take drugs, cheat on their spouses
and still be healthy and happy. That is a lie! That is crooked thinking!
Today millions believe lies about God. They believe the lie that God
doesnt love them. They believe the lie that God is responsible for sending
them disease. Other millions believe the lie that there is no God.
130

Trust Me
We live in a world of doubt. Up to now, we have been taught to question

our trust. Maybe its time to question our doubts.
God Wants to Make You a WINNER

Have you sometimes shown yourself untrustworthy? Have you trusted
someone who is untrustworthy and been heartbroken? God can make you
trustworthy, and He can make that someone you love trustworthy too.
By trusting in God, you can change negative, self-defeating behaviors.

You can choose to live a healthful lifestyle. You can be a WINNER!
You can be victorious! But you cant do it on your own. The secret of
success is cultivating a trust relationship with God. You can trust God
anytime, anywhere. Start today by claiming the promise of Ephesians
3:20, that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think.
Millie, co-author of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health, lay very
sick for eighty-three days in four different hospitals. An orderly in one
of the hospitals shared the Bible promise of Psalm 56:3 with her. It says,
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. She believed and trusted God for
healing. Today, ten years later, she is alive and vibrant, full of energy,
and can even walk again. She graduated from a wheelchair to a walker
to regular walking, usually a mile or two a day. God healed her, and she
is extremely thankful. She had hope, trust, and belief, which kept her
fighting for life.
John, co-author of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health, while

living in South America, went into the Atlantic Ocean and fought against
a rip tide for twenty-five minutes, frantically trying to save the life of a
teenager at a youth camp. His strength ebbing, he was far from land. He
committed his own survival, his mission in life, and the salvation of his
family into Gods hands, asking in prayer and trusting in divine help. In
a flash, God impressed John that he should swim parallel to the beach
instead of toward it, going with the rip tide instead of against it. Within
less than a minute, he touched bottom on a sand bar and made his way to
the beach, where a group of youth had been pleading with tears to God
for his safety. Today, he, like his wife Millie, praises God for the gift of
131

Finishing Strong
life. They have found that God can be trusted, and they thank Him that
they have been saved to serve.
Armand lived with his father and mother in the country of Armenia.
His father told him that he would always be there whenever Armand
needed help. One particular day, his father dropped him off at school and
returned home. Then a powerful earthquake hit the city where they lived.
Armands father ran to the school and found it in total ruins. Locating the
area where his sons classroom had been, he began to dig frantically in
the ruins, moving obstructions out of the way.
The fire chief arrived and told Armands father to stop, since explosions
and fires were occurring not far away. The police told him his activities
were endangering others and he should leave the job to them. But the
father continued to work feverishly, removing broken metal, concrete
slabs, and stones. He ignored the it-cant-be-done people and labored
thirty-six hours without stopping.
Finally from the rubble he heard Armands voice. I knew you would
come, Father, because you told me whenever I needed you, youd be
there. Armand trusted his father.14
We, too, have a Father we can implicitly trust. Nothing that we go

through is beyond God. The truth is that we can and must rely on God
in every situation of life. Sometimes when all is going well, we might
be tempted to think that we can get along without God. We should trust
Him all the time. But most of all, we need to trust God when we are out
of our comfort zone, in the dark valley, when clouds of perplexity and
trial surround us. If we trust Him completely, He will always be there, in
sunshine or shadow. When we face things that just dont make sense in
human terms, we have a Father who can be trusted. The more senseless
life becomes, the greater is our need to trust in our heavenly Father, who
will never let us down.
132

Trust Me
Prayer
Father God, You are trustworthy and faithful. I choose to trust You
with my daily battles, for nothing is too difficult for You. Guide me
to the promises in Your Word that will give me hope and help when
I need them. I desire to fully trust You, for I know You will protect
me from my own foolish ways. You are the God of the impossible. I
am so thankful that I can trust You. Amen.
In God I Trust
Reflect/Discuss
1. Whom can you really trust? Can you trust yourself? Do you have all
the right answers for lifes unknowns? Can you trust popular opinion?
Whom do you trust when crises hit or you have serious medical
problems? Do you trust riches, possessions, and material wealth?
2. Proverbs 3:56 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean
not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths. What does this text say to you?
3. When I am afraid, I will trust in You (Ps. 56:3). How do you trust in
God during a difficult situation? Have you found that God was near
in some serious crises and found that trust made a difference?
1. Are there people in my past and present life whom I know I can
trust without reservation? What experiences have taught me that I
can trust them?
2. Is there anyone who knows they can trust me no matter what happens?
Am I always trustworthy in my dealings with others?
3. Can I . . . do I . . . trust God? Think about it.
Intentionality
I will trust God with my daily life.
I will trust His promises, such as I will bless you and you will be a
blessing.
I trust that God is guiding my family, friends, and me. I have prayed
and placed all of us into His hands.
133

29 Finishing Strong
I
n the year 490 BC, the hordes of the Persian Army that had been victo-
rious from Indias Indus River all the way to the Nile and from the Dan-
ube River to Hellespontmodern Turkeywere again on the move.
Transported by six hundred galley boats, the Persians landed on the
Plains of Marathon. Their goal was to capture and destroy Athens, which
lay southeast some 25 miles (45 kilometers) across to the southeast.
The Greeks numbered their troops on the overlooking hills. They were
outnumbered by the Persians ten to one. General Miltiades sent his most
able runner, Phidippides, to ask for reinforcements from Sparta, a city-
state to the southwest. He made the trip of 140 miles on foot in about
thirty-six hours over rugged, mountainous terrain. The Spartans were
willing to help against a common enemy but would march only when the
moon was full because of their religious customs. That would be many
days hence. Returning 140 miles, Phidippides brought the message that
no military help was forthcoming.
Miltiades decided he must attack immediately, and thus the battle start-
ed against a surprised enemy. Phidippides, weighed down by heavy ar-
mor, participated in the battle. The Greeks broke the Persian lines and
hurled them back into the sea. Six thousand four hundred Persians lay
dead, while only 192 Athenians were killed. However, as General Mil-
tiades viewed the Persian galleys sail away to the south, a fear gripped
his soul. Maybe those ships were heading for Athens, which was almost
undefended. Athens knew nothing of the outcome of the days battle and
might surrender.
134

Finishing Strong
Summoning Phidippides again, he sent him on yet another vital mission:

Tell the city fathers in Athens that they must not surrender, for the Greek
forces had been victorious at Marathon. Over the mountains, across rocky
terrain, now on the road, Phidippides sped toward Athens. The destiny
of Greece might well depend on his faithfully delivering the message.
Pushing himself nearly beyond the limits of human endurance, tired from
his almost 300 miles on foot the previous days and the days battle, he
pressed on. Now his blurry vision made out the walls and gate of Athens.
Almost completely drained of energy, he still rushed on into the agora,
the marketplace. Totally exhausted, he saw one of the city fathers.
Phidippides! What is it? the city father anxiously queried. Falling to

the ground as he breathed his last breath, the dying Phidippides gasped,
We have conquered!1
Historians consider the Battle of Marathon to be one of the fifteen crucial

battles of history up through the nineteenth century. It contributed to the
saving of Western civilization.2 In our own lives there are times we have
to go almost beyond the limits of human endurance as we fight for victo-
ries in our own marathons and life situations.
We too are striving for victoryvictory in our personal lifestyle so as to

LIVElive longer, healthier, happier, and holier.
As you have studied the three books, Getting Started, Pressing Forward,
and Finishing Strong, you have been challenged to follow body, mind-
spirit, and relationship guidelines. In WIN! Wellness we have taken the
basic health principles and related them to these three essential dimen-
sions for holistic, integrated, balanced living. Winning is your goal, and
to achieve this you need to develop harmoniously in these three dimen-
sions. If you have problems in any one area, it profoundly influences the
other two, and your overall well-being and health will be affected. We all
struggle to follow these life-giving rules, and with Gods help we can be
victorious.
If you have gained many or even a few victories, we congratulate you and
encourage you to write or print your name into the victors laurel at the
end of this chapter.
135

Finishing Strong
Keys to victory in lifes race

The wreath of laurel from the ancient Greek Olympics has been the com-
mon symbol used at the opening of each of the twenty-nine chapters you
have studied in the three books of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and
Health. Unlike the Greek games, in which only one could be a winner in
each event, we can each win in lifes race regardless of our handicaps, the
season of our life, or our circumstances.
The mind-spirit-emotions dimension

Holistic health is the integration of three dimensions: the body, relation-
ships, and mind-spirit-emotions. Lets consider the mind-spirit-emotions
dimension first. While we were made to excel in all areas, yet in this
life the body is not supreme. Humans on this earth will never have the
strength of a gorilla or the speed of a cheetah. The human body is made to
support the mind. The mind is the true you; it is where you learn, where
you make choices that affect health, life, death, and relationships. You
were not made to lift five-hundred-pound barbells. You were made to
think great thoughts, to love in lasting, meaningful relationships, to enjoy
a destiny beyond the stars. You were made for eternity and to live a life
that measures with the life of God.
Never think that you have learned enough, and that you may now
relax your efforts. The cultivated mind is the measure of the man.
Your education should continue during your lifetime; every day
you should be learning and putting to practical use the knowl-
edge gained.3
In 1964, Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, headed a cul-

tural delegation to Russia and had an extremely stressful trip. After his
return to the US he was hospitalized and diagnosed with a disease of the
spine and was given only months to live. The specialist informed him
that his disease was terminal. What are you going to do? questioned
Cousins. His physician answered, There is nothing to do. Your condition
is terminal. Cousins asked, What are my chances? The physician re-
sponded, Mr. Cousins, you dont seem to understand. The disease is fa-
tal. Set your affairs in order. What are my statistical chances? insisted
Cousins. The answer was, One in five hundred. Cousins said, I will be
136

Finishing Strong
that one! His motto was, Dont deny the diagnosis, but defy the verdict.
Norman Cousins called his editorial assistant and commissioned him to
find a treatment. The doctor had said he would die if he left the hospi-
tal. Cousins said, If I stay here I will die, and against his physicians
orders, he checked himself out and moved to a nearby hotel. Hours later
his assistant called apologetically and said that he had consulted numer-
ous authorities, and the only treatments that offered even a glimmer of
hope were laughter therapy and large doses of intravenous vitamin C.
Cousins hired a nurse to attend him, had regular laboratory tests run, and
started to watch humorous films that made him laugh and laugh. Within
two weeks he was off his medication, and within six months he was back
at work. He died twenty-six years later at the age of seventy-five.4
Cousins states,
Hope, purpose, and determination are not merely mental states.

They have electrochemical connections that play a large part
in the workings of the immune system and indeed, in the en-
tire economy of the total human organism. . . . Hope, faith, love,
will to live, festivity, playfulness, purpose, determinationare
powerful biochemical prescriptions. . . . In short, I learned that it
is not unscientific to talk about a biology of hopeor of any of
the positive emotions. The emotional state of the patient has spe-
cific effects on the mechanisms involved in illness and health.5
What role do you think faith and belief play in a persons physical
health? Does wanting to be well or even deciding to be well have
anything to do with healing?
Most people are just about as well as they decide to be. You can will
yourself sick, and with the help of God, in many cases you can will your-
self well. In other words, the mind affects the body. So we need to have
positive mental-emotional perspectives, because this will affect the body.
However, the relationship goes two ways. The state of our body also af-
fects our emotions and attitudes.
137

Finishing Strong
The physical dimensionOne Body6

Early one morning on a tropical Caribbean island, as the waves splash
against the sandy beach, an elderly man creates a sculpture in white sand
under the shade of palm trees. He thoughtfully sculpts with his fingers an
imagea chest emerges between broad shoulders, the abdomen forms,
and powerful legs are shaping into a human likeness. The arms lie mo-
tionless at its sides, and well-formed fingers are shaped carefully as he re-
arranges the soft wet sand, patting it down and reshaping it until it looks
life-like. He moves to refashion the head with care. There is a gentle nose,
and the motionless lips and eyes that cannot see are shaped. He thought-
fully views his creative image and is satisfied. It is his masterpiece.
The Creator Father God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit also had a plan
of creating a human form. They thought it through so that it would be
in Their imageperfect, designed well, and formed beautifully. Since it
was made in the image of God, it had to be magnificenthandsome and
functional beyond imagination. This was a divine plan carried out as a
sacred creation on the sixth day of creation week.
After God created man in His image, the form was perfect in
all its arrangements, but it had no vitality. Then a personal, self-
existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man
became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the hu-
man machinery were put in motion. The heart, the arteries, the
veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the perceptions of the mind,
the senses, were placed under physical law. It was then that man
became a living soul. . . . A personal God created man, and en-
dowed him with intelligence and power.7
The body was a gift blessed by God and passed through the reproduction
act from one generation to another. The divine plan was for each of us to
have one body guaranteed for a lifetime, until death do us part.
If, daily, we treat this one body of ours well from our young age through
our older years, it will give us good service so that we can have a long,
high-quality life. The body needs respect and protection from destructive
138

Finishing Strong
forces, which the media and the enemy of the soul and body promote.
If not, our body suffers the consequences of disease and illnesseven
death. Our body is like a childs toy that, if cared for, will last long, but
when bumped, broken, crashed, and improperly used, it starts wearing
down and becomes dysfunctional. If we, the stewards of this body, fol-
low the biological, physiological, psychological, and emotional laws of
nature and health, this one body will perform well with magnificent and
meaningful quality of life. This is our choicemy choice, your choice.
Our body is a sacred place for us to live within, but not only for us: the
Divine dwells in it also. The Bible tells us that our body is the temple of
God. This is another reason that we need to respect this one body and
care for it well. It merits the best of care throughout our earthly journey.
It needs balanced living to perform well and must be treated with awe
and reverence as well as respect. There is only one body to a personno
exchange, trade-in, or replacement. Care for it. Do not abuse it. It must
last you a lifetime.
The health laws, when they are followed, prolong life. As we study health
laws, we learn the secrets of a balanced lifestyle and longevity. It is a
challenge for us to live well. Up-to-date health information can save us
from pain and even early death. Plan well and care for your body. Healthy
care of our one body is a daily choice.
In the foregoing chapters, the theme has been developed of how to have a
strong body, strengthen it against disease, and apply proper health habits.
Our goal is also to have a strong mind in a strong body, enjoying mean-
ingful relationships. Lets look at the relationship dimension.
The relationship dimension

Some people live in a nightmare of suffering where a man under the in-
fluence of alcohol or drugs comes home and beats his wife and children
and robs them of what little money they have in order to feed his habits.
Do you think that this might affect the physical well-being of the family?
On the other hand, lets suppose that Dad and Mom have a growing
love bond and that they spend meaningful time every day meeting their
139

Finishing Strong
childrens needs and going interesting places together. Do you think these
children will have fewer health problems and will do better in school? There
are natural laws that make common sense, and they suggest that happiness
and physical health are more likely to be the results in such a home.
But beyond natural forces there are also powerful supernatural forces
that work to build or destroy relationships. The interplay of natural and
supernatural forces in the family is illustrated by the experience of Ed
and Nora.
Ed and Noras marriage relationship had reached a seemingly intractable

impasse. They needed help. As Ed dropped by Millies university office
he shared that he loved Nora, even though their marriage was having
problems. She had gone on a fling away from home, was seeing other
men, and had run up bills on their credit card which he didnt have money
to pay. Ed was happy that Nora was back home again and taking classes
at the university. Maybe things would work out. Millie listened as he
shared, and she could sense his pain.
The next evening as Millie was going out to her car, Ed appeared again.
With tears Ed lamented, Its bad at home. Unless something changes,
our marriage is over!
When John arrived home, Millie shared that Ed and Nora were in deep
trouble. John responded, We need to go this very night to see them.
Because it was exam time, Millie had deadlines, making it impossible for
her to accompany him. John was strongly impressed that he must go and
find this couple immediately.
John will never forget that winter night. In the darkness he drove down
the highway looking for the right house number. No luck. The numbers
are going the wrong way. I must have passed it. About 6:30 p.m. he found
the address. Ed had told Millie he was going to the library that evening,
but his car was still in the driveway, and the outside light was on.
John knocked on the front door. As Ed opened the door, he looked at

John as though he were a ghost. He and Nora had arrived home just a few
140

Finishing Strong
minutes before. If John had found the house number on his first drive by,
he would have missed them. Ed invited him in.
Within moments it was evident that John had walked into the middle of
a major family crisis. She was blaming him, and he was blaming her.
The charges and counter-charges continued for a few minutes. Then God
intervened. John raised his hand asking for silence. The fuming stopped.
He said, Lets give credit where credit is due. Ed, youre not to blame
for this problem. Nora, youre not to blame. Satan is to blame for this
misunderstanding. He is intruding in your marriage. But I come to you in
the powerful name of Jesus. He is the One who breaks down the dividing
wall of hostility. Lets get on our knees.
Gods angels drew near as they fervently prayed, and Satans angels were
forced to flee. As they claimed heavens promises and concluded the in-
tercessory prayer, they rose from their knees. John saw Nora and Ed in
tears, hugging each other in a lingering embrace, and he realized it was
time for him to leave.
To John it was just another days work, although a pleasant one. The next
day he heard the rest of the story. Two evenings before, Nora had been
at the university in a photography darkroom, processing film in the labo-
ratory for one of her classes. In the darkness she was overwhelmed by the
failure of her relationships and of her personal life. She decided to end it
all, right there! Nora picked up the tray full of poisonous chemicals and
was going to drink it. Then as she held the tray in her trembling hands,
she cried out to God and prayed a desperate prayer. God, I give You
twenty-four hours. Unless there is a break in twenty-four hours, I cov-
enant that this marriage is through! She turned on the light and looked
at the clock on the wallit said 6:47 p.m. During the next day she kept
watching the clock10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Ed told John, And then at 6:30 p.m. came your unexpected knock at
the door. It was just seventeen minutes before Noras looming deadline,
which she had shared with no one. It was the first visit we have received
in three years from a professor or pastor.
141

Finishing Strong
We have now reconciled. Our relationship, our marriage has been

saved! The miracle had happened; the relationship victory had been
won. True, they still had to continue to work at their marriage, but they
were making progress. They had forgiven the past and were focusing on
restoring their love.
Ed and Nora learned by experience that it is better to focus on restoring

love than on problems. In the chapter on commitment, we mentioned a
point that bears repeating as a part of the summary of the WIN! Wellness
model. After decades of helping couples with marriage problems, Dr.
Willard Harley stated that his emphasis in marital therapy changed over
the years from resolving conflicts to restoring love. He suggests that if
people learn to restore love, then communication, conflict, and problem
solving will be resolved at a higher, more effective level.8
If we focus on the problem, it usually gets bigger, not smaller. We begin

with a problem, emphasize it, and end with a problem. There is need of a
new perspective, a higher leveland that level is love. Most important
of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multi-
tude of sins.9 First Corinthians 13 says that the greatest factor in life isnt
power, money, or even generosity. It is love. The greatest of these is
love. We are saying that love is a plant of heavenly origin that will blos-
som and bring fragrance and happiness to the family if it is cultivated.
Pulling it all together

Where the three WIN! Wellness dimensions are brought together in the
lifestyle, health will be dramatically improved. Wellness is not so much
about taking this medicine or that one in order to get well. It is more
about employing natural means to prevent disease. If we remove all
hindrances such as addictions, toxins, hostility, negative emotions, self-
centeredness, and self-defeating behaviors, and provide the right nutri-
ents, exercise, sunlight, pure water, fresh air, rest, hope, trust, love, joy of
service, positive thoughts, forgiveness, appreciation, and commitment,
the body will tend to heal itself.
If we balance and obey lifes rules in the three master dimensionsmind-

spirit, body, and relationshipswe will LIVE: live longer, healthier, hap-
pier, and holier. Holistic, total health is the synergy of these dimensions.
142

Finishing Strong
Lets return to Phidippides10 and the running of the first marathon. This
faithful runner delivered the victory message, We have conquered! It
cost him his life, the supreme sacrifice. But there is another race to con-
sider. The apostle says, Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight . . . and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us like Jesuswho for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.11 As Jesus breathed
His last breath on the cross, in trumpet tones that resounded and echoed
through the entire universe, He proclaimed, It is finished! We have con-
quered.
Jesus announced not just a military-political victory but also a moral, per-
sonal, and planet-wide victory. Yes, even triumph for the galaxy and the
universe. The battle with our archenemy Satan has been won! Nobody
needs to give up. Jesus victory on the cross has conquered death and
guaranteed eternal life and health to anyone who is willing to accept it.
The cross is the attraction that gives meaning to our existence and holds
the otherwise disorganized factors of our lives together. This is illustrated
by the presence and function of laminins in the human body.
Laminins
Have you ever wondered what is the glue
that can physically hold us together? There
are fifty to seventy-five trillion cells in the
human body.12 But does each one of these
trillions of cells just do its own thing? Or is
there some kind of glue that binds or unites
cells in a given organ so that they can work
together in a special function? As protein
chemists have discovered, a great number of Image of a laminin
glycoproteins are involved in holding cells cell adhesion molecule
together. One large family of these binding (graphically enhanced).
proteins is laminins. Laminins are cell adhe-
sion molecules in the form of crosses that bind cells together. So there are
literally trillions of crosses in the human body that connect cells.
143

Finishing Strong
Importance of horizontal and vertical relationships

Could this molecule illustrate for us how human beings could best con-
nect and also unite in relationships? Is there something that connects,
unites, binds, and inseparably joins us in relationship? Do we want to live
by ourselves in splendid isolation? No, we need horizontal connected-
ness with others. The most intimate of these relationships is the husband-
wife union. Beside that, there are connections to family and friends. We
were made for companionship and togetherness.
When sin entered this world, it brought separation and alienation into
horizontal relationships. The connection was broken. It is only in Je-
sus, by means of the vertical tie, that the horizontal relationships can
be fully reestablished and strengthened. The Bible says, He [Jesus] is
the image of the invisible God. . . . All things were created by him and
for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.13
The cross he bore is health for us and by his scourging we are healed.14
Four points of the cross

The cross represents the race course of our lives. We can move upward
on it from failure to victory. In our relationships with others we can move
from rejection to acceptance. However, the cross also represents free-
dom. The cross doesnt push us; it draws us. If we dont want to accept
the victory of Jesusthe Man in the MiddleHe wont force us into
everlasting life and health. We can choose.
Do you want His cross to be the laminin to hold all things together
your marriage, the connection to your children, your personal and profes-
sional relationships, your physical lifestyle, your eternal fellowship?
144

Finishing Strong
VICTORY
REJECTION ACCEPTANCE
DISQUALIFIED
The Cross carries us to the Victory Circlevertically carrying us to the
finish line and horizontally reaffirming our freedom to accept or reject
eternal life and health.
At the finish line of lifes marathon, do you want to be in the Victory Cir-
clecomplete physical, mind-spirit, and relationship victory? Jesus Him-
self is ready and anxious to give you that victorynot a laurel wreath that
will wither and fade. The ancient Greek contestants in the race ran to win
a perishable laurel garland, but we run for an imperishable crown, a literal
crown of gold that indicates our kingship or queenship. We will co-reign
with Jesus forever.15 Is any price too high to pay for that eternal reward?
You may have seen at the end of the Olympic Games a great extrava-
ganza, a celebration with flags waving, the playing of national anthems,
marching of the victors, glistening gold medals, singing, fireworks, a gala
in brilliant colorsa dramatic display of success. Its a magnificent and
festive event.
However, that festival of victory is nothing compared to the spectacular

celebration that will take place when the trumpet sounds and Jesus the
Life-giver opens the graves, while thousands and thousands of angels
descend in clouds of brilliant color, singing praises in tones never heard
before. What a triumphant celebration that will be!
145

Finishing Strong
The regal celebration continues when we arrive at the Holy City, the New
Jerusalemcapital of the universe. Jesus is there. The One whom His
loved ones have been awaiting for millennia makes His regal approach,
not now as a babe in Bethlehems manger, but as King of kings and Lord
of lords. He marches forward with His royal splendor, accompanied by
His angelic entourage. With His own hand He crowns our brow, not with
a wreath of laurel but with a glistening golden crown. Each victor is giv-
en a harp for rejoicing over a battle well fought and won. The spectacular
orchestral concert floods the entire universe and is heard by the amazed
inhabitants of other worlds. And all bow their knees and proclaim, God
is love.
And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who
have the victory . . . standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb.16
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one
could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing be-
fore the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm
branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salva-
tion belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!17
Will you be in that triumphant throng? Just think: you will have a newly
created body, a massive intellect ready to study mysteries of the universe,
and friends everywhereFor now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then
face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am
known.18 WIN! Wellness for eternity. I call that Finishing Strong!
Prayer
Lord, help me to be faithful and strong and cross the finish line
and receive the crown of life. Thank You for Jesus, who finished the
race and won the victory. Prepare me to join my loved ones in that
heavenly home. Being like You and with You is my ultimate WIN!
Wellness goal. Today I accept Jesus victory for me, and I choose
to stand with Him in the Victory Circle. In Jesus powerful and win-
ning name, amen.
146

Finishing Strong
Reflect/Discuss
As you run the race of life and strive for victory, react to Hebrews 12:1
(NLT): Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
How can we do this and finish strong physically, emotionally, spiritually,
and relationally? How can we finish strong as families and experience the
warmth of our hearts turning toward each other?
1. Share what struggles and victories you have had during your WIN!
Wellness Homes of Hope and Health journey.
2. At this time, what are your new goals for integrated, balanced living?
3. From what you know about the athletes of the ancient Greek or the
modern Olympic Games, what did they do to keep their bodies and
minds in top shape to achieve victory? What does this say to you
about how you can be victorious and be in top physical, mental, and
spiritual shape, so you can be a winner?
Personal Reflection
1. At my season of life, what can I do to ensure that I keep my body,
mind, and spirit competent for peak performance?
2. How can I help family, neighbors, and friends enjoy optimal physical,
mental, and relationship health?
Intentionality
I will continue to improve my lifestyle so that I can enjoy a long,
healthy, and happy life.
I will share the balanced-living benefits that I have learned with
others by inviting friends and neighbors to Homes of Hope and
Health in my home.
I am thankful to God for the victories that He has helped me to gain
in this WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health journey. My desire
is to Finish Strong!
147

Finishing Strong
This is to certify that

_______________________________ has com-
pleted reading the three volumes of WIN! Wellness
Homes of Hope & Health: Getting Started, Press-
ing Forward, and Finishing Strong and is con-
tinuing their journey toward Integrated Balanced
Living. Congratulations!
_____________________________
Homes of Hope & Health Instructor
_________________
Date
148

WIN! Wellness Progress Report 3
Welcome to a new life one choice at a time!
P
ositive personal choices contribute to longer, healthier, happier,
and holier lives. New healthy habits are made one choice at a
time.
The series of the three WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health books
are all about change. Change has power to help us on an amazing journey
of growth and transformation. Changes may occur through little baby
steps or giant leaps. Either we choose to change for our healths sake, or
it chooses for us and the result is unexpected life consequences.
It is often difficult to make changesits hard and may even be painful.

Most of us want to improve our lifestyle. Divine power is available to
help us to triumph over our personal struggles. We are responsible to both
ourselves and to others for our choices. WIN! Wellness is about dynamic
change for good. The changes we choose to make can be transformation-
al, bringing us a higher quality of life, and they can reduce health risks,
visits to doctors and psychiatrists, and medical bills.
As you evaluate your progress on the WIN! Wellness factors for a healthy
lifestyle, think through your own commitment and progress. Keep learn-
ing and keep changing. Be resilient when you fallforgive yourself. You
can get up when you fall down. Go forward toward your life goals and
dreams. Love is the greatest healerlove others and yourself. Choose to
be positive and look for the good in others. Avoid crooked thinking. En-
joy a new makeover. You can be a healthier and happier New You.
149

Finishing Strong
How to complete the Wellness Progress Report

While reading the WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health series, you
have received information about healthful living and made many life-
style changes. You are in the Victory Circle. We congratulate you and are
excited about your improvement. In the Wellness Progress Report below,
you will find basic health principles. Check those items you have satis-
factorily reached or are choosing to accomplish during your New You
Makeover. Skip over those items you find challenging and over which
youve not gained the victory; but continue to work toward success. Re-
cord the date when you feel you have adequately achieved a higher level
for the item and reward yourself. Skip the items that do not apply to you.
All of these victories contribute to helping you be a healthier, happier,
and holier person, and will eliminate many health risks.
Physical
Exercise
I follow a regular exercise program.
I exercise five to seven days a week for 3060 minutes.
I choose to keep active, since movement aids in the healing process
and improves memory.
I encourage my family to begin an active exercising program.
Rest
I am consistently getting 78 hours of rest daily within twenty-four
hours as an adult, 910 hours as a teen or young adult.
I try to have a cut-off time from daily work and usually do not con-
tinue the days work into the evening.
I try to go to bed by 9:00 each evening so I can get better sleeping
hours before midnight.
I take time during my twenty-four hours to rest from work with relax-
ing moments doing such things as: reading a book, being out in nature,
playing with the children, taking a leisurely walk, visiting with family
or friends, or just doing one of my favorite things.
Food
I avoid overeating.
I eat simple foodsfruits, veggies, nuts, legumes.
150

Wellness Progress Report
I eat two cups of fruits/berries daily, preferably raw. (Make half to

three-fourths of your plate fruits and vegetables.)
I eat three cups of vegetables daily, with a large amount uncooked in
a salad.
I eat five to six nuts a day, and vary the types during the week.
I focus on eating a plant-based dieteating fruits, vegetables, nuts,
and whole grains.
I eat breakfast every day.
I eat meals at a regular time.
I am reducing the use of oils, fried foods, and high-fat dressings.
I eat high-fiber foods.
I avoid eating in between meals.
Water
I drink 58 glasses of water daily or the formula amount: weight in
pounds divided by 2 = _____; divide by 8 = _____. The result is the
number of 8-ounce glasses I should drink daily.
I drink water even when Im not thirsty.
I wash my hands after being in public, especially in flu season; after
bathroom use; before preparing a meal; or after taking care of some-
one with a contagious disease.
I take a warm shower in the morning and end with cool water splash to
awaken the circulation to every organ, muscle, and the brain. I some-
times shower or bathe in the evening, because warm water will help
me sleep.
I keep my clothing clean because the skin releases impurities from the
body and clothing absorbs them.
I eliminate any mold in my home or work place and remove any de-
cayed material, knowing they are harmful to my overall health.
I give careful attention to personal sanitation in my life and home.
Sunlight
I am out in sunlight between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for ten minutes,
34 times a week, when the sun is shining and it is not too cold/hot.
I take 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily as a supplement if I dont get suf-
ficient vitamin D from sunlight.
151

Finishing Strong
Brain
I am free of addictive substances: alcohol tobacco caffeine
drugs.
Protecting my brain is important to me so I choose to:
Wear a helmet when cycling or doing construction jobs.
Watch or listen to uplifting media and avoid spiritually inappropri-
ate electronic media.
Avoid taking addictive substances that will harm my brain.
Enjoy fresh air by taking walks and ventilating my home to get suf-
ficient oxygen to my brain and entire body.
I am trying to live a healthy lifestyle so as to turn off my inherited bad
genes and turn on inherited good genes.
Body, eyes, teeth

I brush my teeth twice a day for two minutes, and use the water pick
or floss my teeth once a day.
I have a yearly dental checkup and regular professional teeth cleaning.
I check with an ophthalmologist for eye care.
I eat foods with vitamins A, E, and C to prevent eye problems.
I avoid rubbing my eyes to keep from damaging them.
Relational
I am spending quality time with family, young and old.
I am doing loving acts for my family and neighbors.
I am choosing to be a loving person through: giving love gifts,
affirming, showing appreciation, appropriate touching,
sharing appropriate hugs, serving others, spending time with
family or friends, doing loving acts, listening when others speak.
I am improving my communication and relationship skills.
I frequently show appreciation to my husband, wife, children,
parents, friends.
I try to a peacemaker and do my part to resolve any conflicts in my life.
I choose not to be an angry person and am learning to manage anger.
I attempt not to be disagreeable when I disagree with others.
I choose my battles and do not let little things and disagreements pro-
voke me to anger.
I will be a good listener, ask questions, and communicate with others
152

in a positive way.
I ask God to help me identify when I am doing crooked thinking.
I pray to God to help me not to be a judgmental and critical person.
I am forgiving of those who have hurt me.
I ask forgiveness of those I have hurt.
I choose to look for good in my life and to help the less fortunate.
I joyfully serve others. I cannot help all, but I can help one person at
a time.
I find joy in my life even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances.
I will try to emphasize and discuss cheerful topics of conversation
when dialoging with people who are very negative in their outlook.
I will resolve problems in a mature way.
I will ask God to give me grace to accept with serenity the things that
cannot be changed and courage to change the things that should be
changed.
Mind/spirit/attitude
I am choosing to follow the laws of health.
I continue to obtain information on healthful living so that I can make
right choices in my daily life.
I choose to be a new person and become all that I can be. The past is
past. I go forward.
I choose to be active in making my big dream of life become a reality.
I choose to manage circumstances and not let circumstances manage
me.
I choose to use my time wisely.
I choose to live in an ethical way.
I desire to serve others with kind acts of love.
I am usually a positive and happy person.
I am optimistic and have hope.
I strive to be contented and happy in all circumstances of my life.
I desire to be a joyful person and know that if I am joyful I will handle
problems and crises better.
I am trying to handle crises well, trusting in God for resilience and
strength.
I choose to be a thankful person, since a spirit of gratitude and praise
promotes health of body and soul.
153

Finishing Strong
My choice is to be a more appreciative, loving, and cheerful person.

I choose to simplify my life so that I will live with less stress and enjoy
greater peace.
I choose to not let my mind dwell on thoughts of anger, hurts, guilt,
distrust, jealousy, slights and rebuffs, anxiety, discontent and distrust
since these contribute to illness.
I will foster healthy relationships through a balance of giving and re-
ceiving.
I plan for crises now: by having a daily connection with God, by good
relationships with family and close friends, so that I can be part of a
safety network, whether giving or receiving assistance.
Spiritualrelating with God

Morning devotions are my priority the first thing after awakening
reading the Bible or a devotional book and praying.
My choice is to daily thank God for His blessings to me and praise
Him for His goodness.
I have a two-way communication with God by reading the Bible and
praying daily to the Father God.
I desire to have a greater trusting relationship with God in all areas of
my life and know that He will guide me.
I ask God to help me trust Him more in my daily struggles and help me
to fight the battles of life.
I want to do a better job of searching for Truth so that I will not be
deceived.
I desire a closer relationship with God and know that He will help me
to have greater victories in my lifestyle choices.
I choose to keep the weekly Sabbath day of rest and spend time with
God in His second book of nature, with family and friends.
I will enjoy Gods Holy Day and will stop all unnecessary labor.
In sickness
I believe and have hope that when I am sick and in pain and pray to
God for healing, He, the Greatest Physician and Friend, is with me. He
cares about me, has sympathy and compassion for me, and loves me.
He will give me wisdom and good judgment about my health condi-
tion, will guide my healing team, and will strengthen me.
154

I believe that God desires me to have good health and that He wants
me to cooperate in my healing process by following the health and
healing principles.
I am aware that the spirit of darkness is the enemy of each ill person
and is the creator of disease. He wants to discourage me and have me
blame God for my illness. God is not at fault.
I believe that our heavenly Father cares about His suffering children.
He desires those who are ill to come to Him in prayer and tell Him all
about their fears, troubles, and perplexities. He encourages us to leave
these with Him and to trust Him. He will help.
I believe it is God who can heal instantly, or slowly, and/or by physi-
cians and caregivers. For some, healing will come on the resurrection
morning, when Jesus comes and gives those who died in Christ a to-
tally new, healthy body.
Problems and crisis

I am releasing crises to Godcooperating with Him in solving prob-
lems.
In a crisis I process the event, move forward with resilience, and ac-
cept reality and change.
I choose Jesus as my heavenly Friend and Lord of my life, who will
guide me to be a happier, healthier, and holier person.
If you follow health laws, your risks of having diabetes, cancer,

heart disease and other catastrophic diseases may be lowered 50
80 percent. It is worth it!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians

4:13).
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
155

Finishing Strong
I give thanks to God for growth in the following areas:

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
I ask God for help in these areas of health: physical, mental, spiri-
tual, and positive relationships:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
My prayers for others needs:

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Special invitation for continuing your spiritual journey

While reading WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health you have been
on a spiritual journey and learned how to change to a healthier lifestyle.
If you would enjoy learning more about what the Bible says and would
like systematic, sequential Bible study to gain greater knowledge and
understanding of the Scriptures, we encourage you to enroll in the New
Beginnings Bible Studies available from It Is Written in twenty-three dif-
ferent languages (www.itiswritten.com/new_beginnings/).
156

Other follow-up options appropriate for a small group include:

Amazing Facts Study Guides. (www.amazingfacts/org/free-stuff/bible-
studies/study-guides.aspx.)
Participation in another health program such as: LifeStyle Matters. For
information contact: www.lifestylematters.com.
Regular Walk Talk Fellowship programs.
Prayer Fellowship meetings.
Supper Club cooking demonstrations with vegetarian recipes.
Monthly WIN! Learning and Doing Things the Healthy Way with a
meal and presentations, demonstration, or video on healthful living.
Monthly Dinner with the Doctor, who presents a health message and
answers health questions while group members enjoy a vegetarian meal.
In conclusion, consider hosting a Homes of Hope and Health small
group, inviting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers.
It is often difficult to make changesits hard and may even be painful.

Most of us want to improve our lifestyle. Divine power is available to
help us to triumph over our personal struggles. We are responsible to both
ourselves and to others for our choices. WIN! Wellness is about dynamic
change for good. The changes we choose to make can be transformation-
al, bringing us a higher quality of life, and reducing health risks, visits to
doctors or psychiatrists, and medical bills.
As you evaluate your progress on the WIN! Wellness factors for a healthy
lifestyle think through your own commitment and progress. Keep learn-
ing and keep changing. Be resilient when you fallforgive yourself. You
can get up when you fall down. Go forward toward your life goals and
dreams. Love is the greatest healerlove others and yourself. Choose to
be positive and look for the good in others. Avoid crooked thinking. En-
joy a new makeover. You can be a healthier and happier New You.
157

References
Introduction
1
This section adapted and in part quoted from Lora E. Clement, Learning to Live
(Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1940), 7378.
2
Proverbs 24:16.
Chapter 20: Dare to DreamNew You

1
Matthew 7:7, 8, NKJV.
2
Mark Finley, Solid Ground (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 2003), 398
399.
3
Psalm 56:3, 4.
4
1 John 4:18.
5
2 Timothy 1:7.
6
Nancy Schimelfpening, Is It Depression or Bipolar Disorder, About.com Guide,
May 29, 2006, http://depression.about.com/od/bipolar/a/bipolarordep.htm.
7
Proverbs 23:7.
8
See Ellen G. White, Child Guidance (Washington, DC: Review and Herald,
1954), 148.
9
Ellen G. White, Messages to Young People (Washington, DC: Review and Herald,
1930), 31.
10
Luke 19:16, TLB.
11
Luke 19:9, NIV.
12
See Luke 1:525, 5780.
13
Luke 7:28.
14
Jeremiah 1:5.
15
1 Samuel 3:10.
16
Adapted from John Lomacang, Abandoned but Not Alone (Nampa, ID: Pacific
Press, 2002).
17
Psalm 27:10.
18
Isaiah 49:15, 16.
19
Psalm 20:4, NLT.
20
This section is adapted from Barry C. Black, Barry C. Black: From the Hood to
the Hill, A Story of Overcoming (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006).
21
Philippians 4:13.
22
2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT.
Chapter 21: The Magic MedicineJoy

1
Galatians 5:22, 23, NLT, emphasis supplied.
158

References
2
Allan Luks and Peggy Payne, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health
and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others (New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1992).
3
Nehemiah 8:10.
4
Hebrews 12:2.
5
James 1:2.
6
Ellen G. White, The Upward Look (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1982),
102.
7
Proverbs 17:22.
8
Norman Cousins, Head First: The Biology of Hope and the Healing Power of the
Human Spirit (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1989), 15; Norman Cousins, Anatomy of
an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration
(New York: Norton, 1979), 7273.
9
Luks and Payne, The Healing Power of Doing Good.
10
Philippians 4:12, NIV, emphasis supplied.
11
Susan Pease Gadoua, Meeting Your Spouse in the Middle, Psychology
Today, June 27, 2010, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/contemplating-
divorce/201006/meeting-your-spouse-in-the-middle. Reference is made to the
book by Susan Pohlman, Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought
Our Family Home.
12
A joint study by the University of Kansas and Gallup World Poll of 150,000 adults
in 140 countries found that positive emotions are linked unmistakably to better
health, even when taking into account a lack of basic needs. Negative emotions
were a reliable predictor of worse health. The relation between emotion and
physical health was stronger than the connection between health and basic human
physical needs, like adequate food. Even without basic food and shelter, positive
emotions boost health. The association was strongest in the poorest countries
studied. The chief investigator was Dr. Sarah Pressman, assistant professor of
psychology of the University of Kansas.
13
Hebrews 12:14, 15, NIV.
14
Psalm 32:15.
15
Psalm 32:11.
16
Ursula Hess and Sylvie Blairy, Facial mimicry and emotional contagion
to dynamic emotional facial expressions and their influence on decoding
accuracy, International Journal of Psychophysiology 40, no. 2 (2001) 129
141. Emiliya Zhivotovaskaya, Smile and others smile with you: Health
benefits, emotional contagion, and mimicry, Positive Psychology News
Daily, September 27, 2008, http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/emiliya-
zhivotovskaya/200809271036.
17
Quoted in Mike Cocoris, I Have Been Robbed! Insights From the Word (blog),
http://www.cocoris.com/POM/20PAGES/POM/20022.htm.
18
2 Corinthians 7:4, NIV.
19
James 1:2, NIV.
20
1 Thessalonians 5:16.
21
Daryn Kagan, Daryn Kagan: Getting ready for big change all along . . . just didnt
recognize it. Palm Beach Post, January 14, 2011, http://www.palmbeachpost.
com/news/daryn-kagan-getting-ready-for-big-change-all-1185000.html.
159

Finishing Strong
22
23
24
Revelation 1:5, 6.
25
Isaiah 26:2.
26
Matthew 25:34.
Chapter 22: Rest for the RestlessRest

1
Charles A. Lindbergh, The Spirit of St. Louis (New York: Avon, 1953). Short
quotations are from pp. 278, 317, 321, 332, 333.
2
Dr. Eve Van Cauters works include K. Spiegel, R. Leproult, and E. Van Cauter,
Impact of a sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function, The Lancet 354
(1999): 14351439, and K. Spiegel, R. Leproult, M. LHermite-Balriaux, G.
Copinschi, P. Penev, and E. Van Cauter, Impact of sleep duration on the 24-hour
leptin profile: relationships with sympatho-vagal balance, cortisol and TSH,
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 89, no. 11 (November 2004):
57625771.
3
Spiegel et al, Impact of a sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function,
14351439.
4
Amy R. Wolfson and Mary A. Carskadon, Sleep schedules and daytime
functioning in adolescents, Child Development 69, no.4 (August 1998): 875
887.
5
Ian M. Colrain and Fiona C. Baker, Changes in sleep as a function of adolescent
development, Neuropsychology Review 21, no. 1, 521. doi:10.1007/s11065-
010-9155-5.
6
Allen Institute for Brain Science and SRI International, November 2007, http://
help.brain-map.org/display/mousebrain/Documentation.
7
Jacquelyne Froeber, Suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure associated with
insomnia, CNNhealth.com, April 3, 2009, quoting Alexandros N. Vgontzas,
director of the Center for Sleep Disorder Medicine at Penn State University. http://
www-cgi.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/03/sleep.suicidal.thoughts/index.html.
8
Sanjay Patel, David P. White, Daniel J. Buysse, and Allen Blaivas, Sleep and
Heart Disease: Whats the Link? Video transcript. http://sciencedaily.healthology.
com/sleep-disorders/sleep-disorders-information/video2940.htm.
9
Kenneth MacDonald, Night shifts spark cancer pay-out, BBC News online,
March 15, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7945145.stm.
10
Allison Weiss, Fang Xu, Amy Storfer-Isser, Alicia Thomas, Carolyn E. Ievers-
Landis, Susan Redline, The association of sleep duration with adolescents
fat and carbohydrate consumption, SLEEP 33, no. 9: 12011209. http://www.
journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=27900.
11
P. O. Haraldsson and T. Akerstedt, Drowsinessgreater traffic hazard than
alcohol. Causes, risks and treatment, Lakartidningen 98, no. 25 (June 20, 2001):
30183023.
12
Driver Fatigue: Are you impaired? A & R Driving School online.
http://www.ardriving.com/Site/Articles_of_Interest_files/Driver/20Fatigue.pdf.
13
Driver fatigue is an important cause of road crashes, Smartmotorist.com,
http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffic-and-safety-guideline/driver-fatigue-is-an-
160

References
important-cause-of-road-crashes.html. A study conducted by the Adelaide Centre

for Sleep Research, Australia.
14
Narelle Haworth, Fatigue and fatigue research: The Australian experience, paper
presented to 7th Biennial Australasian Traffic Education Conference, Brisbane,
February 1998. http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/papers/fatigue.html.
15
Jane C. Stutts, Jean W. Wilkins, and Bradley V. Vaughn, Why Do People Have
Drowsy Driving Crashes, report, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 1999,
www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/sleep.pdf.
16
Psalm 127:2.
17
Proverbs 3:24.
18
Mark 4:19.
19
Mark 6:31, KJV.
20
Exodus 20:10.
21
Luke 4:16.
22
Matthew 11:30.
23
Millie and John Youngberg, Family Sabbath Traditions to Bless Your Heart and
Home: Filling the Sabbath Hours With Joy (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 2001),
4546.
Chapter 23: From Trauma to TransformationConflict Resolution

1
Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
(Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1990), 19.
2
T. Miller, T. Smith, C. Turner, M. Guijarro, and A. Hallet, A meta-analytic
review of research on hostility and physical health, Psychological Bulletin 119,
no. 2 (March 1996): 322348. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.322.
3
Charlotte van Oyen Witvliet, Forgiveness and health: Review and reflections on
a matter of faith, feelings, and physiology, Journal of Psychology and Theology
29, no. 3 (2001), 212224.
4
Redford Williams and Virginia Williams, Anger Kills: Seventeen Strategies for
Controlling the Hostility That Can Harm Your Health. New York: HarperPerennial,
1994, 38-40.
5
Witvliet, Forgiveness and health, 212224.
6
David Mace, Love and Anger in Marriage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1982);
Williams and Williams, Anger Kills, 4041.
7
1 Corinthians 13:12, NLT.
8
Genesis 32.
9
Genesis 3:12.
10
See Genesis 4.
11
Proverbs 15:1, The Message.
12
Hebrews 12:14, 15, NIV.
Chapter 24: Dying for a DrinkWater I

1
For a more complete version of this story, see W. David Lewis, Eddie
Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century (Baltimore, MD:
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005), 416441.
2
Linda J. Vorvick, Dehydration, Medline Plus, National Library of Medicine,
161

Finishing Strong
last updated February 28, 2012, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/

article/000982.htm.
3
The Water in You, US Geological Survey, last updated March 9, 2012, http://
ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html.
4
Loma Linda University researchers studied more than twenty thousand healthy
men and women and found that people who drank more than five glasses of
water daily were 40 percent less likely to die from a heart attack than those who
drank less than two glasses. See Jacqueline Chan, Synnove F. Knutsen, Glen G.
Blix, Jerry W. Lee, and Gary E. Fraser, Water, Other Fluids, and Fatal Coronary
Heart Disease: The Adventist Health Study, American Journal of Epidemiology
155, no. 9 (2002), 827833. doi:10.1093/aje/155.9.827.
5
Patrick L. Barry and Tony Phillips, Water on the Space Station, NASA Science/
Science News, November 2, 2000, http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-
at-nasa/2000/ast02nov_1/.
6
Ryan Hreljac, Ryans Story, Ryans Well Foundation, http://www.ryanswell.
ca/about-us/ryans-story.aspx.
7
Matthew 10:42.
Chapter 25: Fountain of LifeWater II

1
W. A. Ruble, Sanitarium Treatment of Influenza, Life and Health 34, no. 5
(May 1919): 114115.
2
Story told by Dr. Burnell Baldwin of Wildwood Sanitarium and Lifestyle Center,
Wildwood, GA.
3
John M. Barry, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in
History (New York: Penguin Books, 2005).
4
Matthew 3:16.
5
Romans 6:3-4.
6
Acts 2:38.
7
Dwight K. Nelson, The Claim: Nine Radical Claims of Jesus That Can
Revolutionize Your Life (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 1994), 12.
8
John 4:1315, The Message.
9
Nelson, The Claim, 17.
10
Ibid., 22, 23.
11
Isaiah 55:13.
12
Revelation 7:16, 17.
13
John 4:14, The Message.
14
Revelation 22:17.
Chapter 26: Crooked ThinkingCommand Center II

1
Earthquake information for 2004, US Geological Survey, July 30, 2010, http://
earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/2004/.
2
In Exciting Discoveries About the BrainCommand Center I, chapter
6 in book 1 of this series, the concept of brain anatomy was introduced. The
dimension of the effect on the brain of addictions was amplified in the Freedom
presentation. Because correct thinking is indispensable for wholistic healing, this
present chapter deals with various dimensions of crooked thinking that dominate
162

References
in the world around us.

3
Philosophical note: All educational and counseling theory and practice is based
on varying philosophical presuppositions that are usually not stated. The primacy
of reason (rational thinking) was taught by the Stoic philosophers of ancient
Greece. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) builds upon this framework. A
biblical expression of this theory would challenge its premise that unaided human
reason can arrive at truth. The Bible teaches that at the fall of Adam and Eve,
when sin entered the world, their reasoning and thinking became distorted. God
has intervened so that those who accept Him may again think clearly. Isaiah 1:18
says, Come now, and let us reason together (emphasis supplied). Sanctified
reason, not unaided human reason, should hold sway in our lives. By the help of
God, we can control our thoughts.
4
Proverbs 23:7.
5
Galatians 6:7.
6
Neil Nedley, The Lost Art of Thinking (Ardmore, OK: Nedley Publishing, 2011).
The authors express appreciation to Dr. Nedley for his presentations on the general
concept of distorted thinking. Part of this chapter is based on his framework,
although most of the illustrations are our own.
7
Philippians 4:13.
8
James 1:5.
9
Numbers 13, 14.
10
Nedley, Lost Art of Thinking, 51.
11
Ibid., 63.
12
William Ickes, Everyday Mind Reading: Understanding What Other People
Think and Feel (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2003).
13
Nedley, Lost Art of Thinking, 372.
14
Ibid., 64.
15
1 Chronicles 4:910, emphasis supplied.
16
Albert Ellis and Robert A. Harper, A Guide to Rational Living (Hollywood, CA:
Wilshire Book Co., 1970), 185.
17
Ibid., 97.
18
19
Adapted from Erwin Lutzer in Moody Monthly, September 1984, 92. http://bible.
org/illustration/1-thessalonians-519.
20
We are indebted to Neil Nedley for identifying these four concepts.
21
Colossians 3:14, ESV.
22
Psalms 16:11.
23
Psalms 15:2, 5 (emphasis supplied).
24
There are three sources of ultimate Truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the
life (John 14:6). The Bible is truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17). The Ten
Commandments are truth. Your law is truth (Psalm 119:142).
25
John 8:32, ESV.
26
27
Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press,
1911), 593594, emphasis supplied.
28
Babylon gets its name from Babel, where God confused the language of the
163

Finishing Strong
people. The Babylonians, however, stated that in their language Babylon meant
gate of the gods.
29
Isaiah 40:35, emphasis supplied.
30
How many known galaxies are there? in Curious About Astronomy? Ask an
Astronomer, blog by the astronomy department at Cornell University, http://
curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=40.
31
How many stars are there in our Galaxy (Milky Way)? in Curious About
Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer, http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.
php?number=31.
32
John 18:37.
33
Paraphrase of Luke 23:43.
34
John 14:6.
35
Revelation 22:15.
36
Isaiah 40:4.
37
Philippians 4:8, NIV, emphasis supplied.
Chapter 27: Triumph as We Face Global TragedyCrisis II

1
Romans 8:22.
2
Psalms 102:25, 26.
3
Revelation 21:5.
4
Matthew 17:11.
5
Luke 21:25
6
Matthew 24:6, 7.
7
Commercial sexual exploitation position statement. UNICEF UK. January 28,
2004. http://www.enough.org/inside.php?id=2uxkjwry8.
8
Global Statistics: The Global HIV/AIDS crisis today, US Department of Health
and Human Services, June 20, 2011, http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/
overview/global-statistics/.
9
Ibid.
10
John 11:11, 14.
11
John 5:2829.
12
13
Acts 3:1921.
14
Revelation 21:4, 5, emphasis supplied.
Chapter 28: Trust MeTrust

1
Adapted from Philip Yancy, Whats So Amazing About Grace? (Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 1997), 4951.
2
Adapted from John 5:19.
3
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Oakland, CA: Pacific Press, 1898), 203.
4
For example, in Mark 5:34.
5
Numbers 23:10.
6
Winston Ferris, Bible Secrets of Answered Prayer, 9, 10. Unpublished manuscript,
2008. Dr. Ferris defines prayer as a direct interaction between God and man. Of
the 640 interaction prayers referred to in Scripture, we have the record of God
answering 450 of them positively. The challenge is, if you know that 7/10 of
164

References
prayers referred to in the Bible had a positive response from God, how does that
change your prayer life?
7
Herbert Lockyer, All the Promises of the Bible; A Unique Compilation and
Exposition of Divine Promises in Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1962), 10.
8
Psalm 119:140, NIV.
9
Proverbs 3:12,NIV.
10
Philippians 4:6, 7.
11
Herbert Benson, Timeless Healing (New York: Scribner, 1996).
12
1 Corinthians 10:31.
13
Proverbs 3:56.
14
Adapted from Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Chicken Soup for the
Soul101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Deerfield Beach,
FL: Health Communications, 1993), 266, 267. This 1989 incident killed more
than thirty thousand people in four minutes.
Chapter 29: Finishing Strong

1
Centuries after the Battle of Marathon, the modern Olympic Games introduced
a marathon race to commemorate the running of Phidippides. The winners
in these events were crowned with a laurel wreath symbolizing victory. This
emblem illustrates the first page of each chapter in this series. The first marathon
was 40,000 meters or 24.85 miles. In 1908 the organizers of the Olympic Games
in London changed the marathon distance to 26 miles (46.3 kilometers) to cover
the distance from Windsor Castle to the White City stadium and added 385 yards
(352 meters) more so the race would finish in front of King Edward VIIs royal
box. This 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) distance is todays official marathon.
2
Sir Edward Creasy, The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World From Marathon to
Waterloo (New York: Dutton, 1962).
3
Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press,
1905), 499 (emphasis supplied).
4
Adapted from Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient.
5
Norman Cousins, Head First (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1989), 73.
6
This section was written by Millie Youngberg after a visit to the Caribbean island
of Tobago.
7
Ellen G. White, This Day with God (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1979),
273.
8
Willard F. Harley Jr., His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage
(Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2001).
9
1 Peter 4:8, NLT.
10
Tradition credits the running of the first marathon to Phidippides. Some modern
scholars question this. However, the victorious death and sacrifice of Christ is
unquestionable to any honest reader who accepts the authority of the ancient
Scriptures.
11
Hebrews 12:1, 2.
12
How many cells are in the human body? eNotes.com, October 11, 2011, http://
www.enotes.com/science-fact-finder/human-body/how-many-cells-human-body.
165

Finishing Strong
13
Colossians 1:15, 17 (emphasis supplied).
14
Isaiah 53:5, NEB.
15
Revelation 3:21; 20:4, 6; 21:7.
16
Revelation 15:2, 3.
17
Revelation 7:9, 10.
18
1 Corinthians 13:12.
166

Asia - Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Asia - Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Finishing Strong

Toward Balanced Health and a Happy Family

Homes of Hope and Health Book 3

JOHN B. YOUNGBERG, EdD MILLIE YOUNGBERG, EdD

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 1 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 2 4/2/12 10:31 AM

To the Womens Ministries, Health Educators, Family Ministries

John, Millie, and Wes

We also want to thank readers whose suggestions enhanced this book:

The goal of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health is:

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 3 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Chapter 20 Dare to DreamNew You................................................... 10

Chapter 21 The Magic MedicineJoy.................................................. 29

Chapter 22 Rest for the RestlessRest............................................... 43

Chapter 23 From Trauma to TransformationConflict Resolution....... 58

Chapter 24 Dying for a DrinkWater I ................................................ 71

Chapter 25 Fountain of LifeWater II.................................................. 84

Chapter 26 Crooked ThinkingCommand Center II............................ 94

Chapter 27 Triumph as We Face Global TragedyCrisis II................ 112

Chapter 28 Trust MeTrust................................................................ 122

Chapter 29 Finishing Strong............................................................... 134

Progress Report 3................................................................................. 149

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 4 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Beginning the race or even keeping up with others is not enough. If

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 5 4/2/12 10:31 AM

the majority who are headed for pre-diabetes or full-blown diabetes,

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 6 4/2/12 10:31 AM

How will reading Homes of Hope and Health benefit you?

How to use the Homes of Hope and Health books

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 7 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Reflect on chapter questions. Become intentional.

Husband and wife or duo learning with a friend

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 8 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Have a team work together preparing, organizing, marketing,

Components of WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health series

So here is WIN! Wellness Homes of Hope and Health Book 3, Finishing

John, Millie, and Wes

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 9 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 10 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Overweight and obesity are advancing at epidemic rates in many coun-

Becoming a new person

Getting out of the comfort zone

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 11 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 12 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Blockers to becoming the New You

How can I conquer fear?

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 13 4/2/12 10:31 AM

A combination of nutritious foods and appropriate supplements helps the

As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.7

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 14 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Gods makeover of Zacchaeus

The Gospel of Luke tells of a shrewd businessman named Zacchaeus

As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus

When Jesus came by he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him

Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in

Jesus announced, Today salvation [healing of brokenness] has come to

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 15 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Wellness Homes of Hope and Health is all about: bringing wholeness to

Recall a time when you had a divine appointment that changed

John the Baptist, Jeremiah, and Samuel

Asia_Finishing Strong Book 04-01-12.indd 16 4/2/12 10:31 AM

Millies dream story

Even though I was handicapped with learning disabilities caused by ex-