Sunday, April 28, 2013
Bits (5)
There are various types of meditation – coming to God and sitting at His feet is the best known, but there is also TM (Transcendental meditation), and Eastern Meditation like Zen meditation, Buddhist meditation, Taoist meditation and, of course, yoga.
All have something similar in common and that is to quiet the busy mind. The intention is not to remove stimulation but rather to direct your concentration to one healing element – one sound, one word, one image, or one’s own breathing.
At the outset let me say that meditation is not a New Age concept; it is a biblical discipline. The Creator never instructs us to direct our thoughts inward or on other elements, or to adopt a passive state of mind. We are to maintain anactive state of mind and direct our thoughts towards Him. But first we mustknow God personally. His peace that transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and mind. Meditate on the Scripture until your heart feels the peace and joy of God, and embrace the truth of His word that will set you free from your burdens.
Health Conditions that Benefit from Meditation
- Stress control
- Pain management
- Drug addiction
- High blood pressure
- Heart Disease
- Respiratory Crises (asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive airway disease)
- Irritable bowel disease
- Tension headaches
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Psychological conditions: repressed memory, depression, panic attacks
How meditation works?
When we become still, our metabolic rate falls, oxygen consumption becomes less and the heart rate becomes slower. During meditation, blood pressure stays at “low levels” with normal persons but falls markedly in persons starting meditation with abnormally high levels.
Meditation reduces activity in the nervous system. The parasympathetic branch of the autonomic or involuntary nervous system will predominate. This is the branch responsible for calming us down.
During a state of anxiety and tension, there is a rise in the level of lactate in the blood. Lactate is a substance produced by metabolism in the skeletal muscles. During meditation lactate levels in the blood decrease at a rate four times the rate of decrease in non-meditators resting on their backs or in the meditators themselves in pre-meditation resting.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Bits (4)
In August 1998, Duke University reported that a study of 4,000 people
aged 65 or over found that those who participated in religious
activities were 40 percent less likely to have high blood pressure.
Research has, in fact, shown that religious people are less depressed,
have healthier immune systems and deal better with addictions than
non-religious.
Prayer has been used as a healing agent for centuries. And now, medical research has proof that it really does work.
- An American footballer Dennis Byrd was paralyzed after breaking his neck during a football game, and doctors told him he would never walk again – yet today he does.
- A middle-aged lady, Christina was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given months to live – yet years later she is still alive and has become a faith preacher.
The above cases are two among thousands of cases of people who have
recovered against all odds. In each case, while medical care certainly
played a role, ultimately it was prayer that brought their remarkable
recovery.
Calling on divine intervention has been entrenched across cultures for
thousands of years. Medical researchers, reluctant until recently to
acknowledge a link between faith and recovery, are now concluding that,
indeed praying, may make sick people better. A team at the National
Institute of Health (U.S) reviewed more than 250 studies published since
the 19th century and found a positive connection between
prayer and healing for nearly every kind of cancer, cardiovascular
disease, hypertension, colitis, and enteritis.
There is even evidence that patients who are prayed for by friends,
family, or prayer groups – sometimes hundreds of miles away – are more
likely to recover faster from illnesses than those who have nobody
praying on their behalf.
How does prayer works?
Prayer is communion with God. When we come to rest in God, we become more relaxed. We must be still before Him. Enter
that rest in faith, believing that He is your Comforter and Healer.
Cast all your cares and worries to Him, for He is the Lord who heals you. Claim and confess healing of your ailments as by His stripes you are healed . God’s
Son Jesus took 39 lashes on the cross and each stripe represents a
major disease classification. All diseases, mental or physical fall into
one of the 39 classifications.
Prayer works
There is ample proof that prayer is beneficial.
In an attempt to understand the depression that often accompanies
hospitalization, Duke University researchers assessed 1,000 hospital
patients from 1987-1989; they found that patients who were religious and
prayed, coped better than those who didn’t.
In a widely publicized study of the effect of intercessory prayer,
cardiologist Randolph Byrd studied 393 patients admitted to the coronary
care unit at San Francisco General Hospital. Some were prayed for by
home-prayer groups; others were not. In this randomized, double-blind
study, neither the doctors and nurses nor the patients knew who would be
prayed for. But all the patients received medical care.
The results were dramatic and surprised many scientists. The people
whose medical care was supplemented with prayer needed fewer drugs and
spent less time on ventilators. In addition, the prayed-for patients
were:
- Significantly less likely to require antibiotics (2 patients versus 16)
- Significantly less likely to develop pulmonary edema (6 versus 18)
- Significantly less likely to require insertion of a tube into the throat to assist breathing (0 versus 12)
- Less likely to die (but this difference is not statistically significant)
Scientifically on a personal basis, prayer calms a person and the person
is nurtured by a sense of peace. This will inhibit cortisol, adrenalin
and noradrenalin – hormones that flow out of the adrenal glands in
response to stress. These chemicals in excess, over time can compromise
the immune system, cause hypertension and heart disease, stroke, peptic
ulcers, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Bits (3)
Qi Gong balances the body’s Qi with an inner force via mental and breathing exercises. Qi Gong is claimed to be beneficial in a wide variety of disease such as allergy, asthma, cancer, circulatory problems, deafness, headache, hypertension, injuries, kidney, liver disease, lung problems and stroke.
There are two ways qigong is practised. The patient can try to balance his own Qi through deep breathing and relaxation. Alternatively, a qigong master does it for them by transferring his or her Qi to the patient after having developed it within his own system.
THE BREATH OF LIFE
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground andbreathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being”. There is a very close connection between breath andspirit. Both breath and spirit comes from one word in the Greek as well as Hebrew. When our breath is gone from our bodies, so is our spirit. “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. ” So let’s be careful to breathe in the breath of God, rather than the contaminated spirit of the world. God is the Great Physician as it was He who created all the bones, tissues and organs in your body.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Bits (2)
The ancient Chinese believed that specific points on the feet could have a powerful effect on the overall functioning of the body. By massaging these points, the related organ, body structure or system is stimulated. This will improve the organ function and bring the person back to health. Reflexology is reported to be help deal with the cause of an ailment, not just the symptoms.
Some believe reflexology takes it roots from Taoism. Taoism proclaims that man is a microcosm of the universe since man is a reflection of the universe. In a similar way, it is believed that any organ of the human body can serve as microcosm of the whole body.
SPIRITUAL AND ANATOMICAL MICROCOSMS
The truth is man is made in the image of God and not the universe and that spiritual and anatomical microcosms are two different concepts. However, if one reads the Dao De Jing carefully, it can be argued that the universal force refers to the Almighty God. In this case an anatomical microcosm, though unproven, may be possible.
But whether massaging these points is medically beneficial or not, is another issue. Remember, all cells (brain, skin or liver cells) have the genetic material to develop all the organs in the body. If you know a bit about embryology you will appreciate that all internal organs derive from the mesoderm, etc and then develop to more distinct organs.
I personally don’t believe in reflexology, but see nothing wrong with, what is after all, a “foot massage” if the therapy stops there. There were other civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians, and Europeans in the Middle Ages that practised a similar kind of foot massage.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Staying Healthy, Staying Vital - Bits (1)
There are many forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) available these days such as acupuncture and acupressure. The principles that underlie TCM take their roots from Taoism which originated around 300 B.C.
ACUPUNCTURE is just one treatment in the broader system of TCM and is based on the concept of an energy flow called Qi through the body. According to Taoism, the Qi flows between man and the universe. The Qi is believed to be the life force that pervades the body and regulates most physiological functions to maintain health and vitality. It circulates around the body along pathways known as meridians.
It is believed that if the flow of Qi is blocked, imbalances occur leading to health problems. Acupuncturists then use needles to unblock the flow at specific points along the meridians. These points correspond to the various organs in the body. When needles are applied to the points, organ function is stimulated.
CONDITIONS TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURISTS
- Headaches, migraine and dizziness
- Anxiety and depression
- Addictions such as smoking
- Insomnia
- High/low blood pressure, poor circulation
- Digestive problems
- Kidney and bladder problems
- Liver and gallbladder problems
- Hormonal problems
- Respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis
- Skin conditions such as acne and eczema
- Arthritis
Types of Acupuncture
Other than using needles, treatment techniques can include moxibustion, cupping, electro-acupuncture and laser acupuncture which are beyond the scope of this book.
ACUPRESSURE is based on the same concepts as acupuncture but instead of needles, pressure is applied to meridian points with fingertips, knuckles or even the elbows and feet. The process begins as apply pressure-then release, apply pressure-then release and develops to a deep and constant pressure. In other cases only one kind of pressure is used.
Lao Zi
According to Taoism, the Tao is the “way of the universe “and is the first cause or cosmic force behind nature’s order. It implies an impersonal force rather than a personal Creator.
A careful look at the “Tao Te Jing” or “Book of the Way” in English, believed to be written by Lao Zi, has this confession: “I do not know His name. Name Him ‘ Tao’ possibly. For the lack of a better word, I call Him the Almighty”1 Lao Zi clearly refers the Tao as a person. Although Lao Zi is regarded as the founder of Taoism, he really had nothing to do with many of its religious doctrines and practices. He has even been misrepresented as being the Tao himself. But clearly he acted only as the messenger of the Tao1.
What is this Tao? The book states that the Tao is the “very progenitor of all things in the world”2. In the opening chapter, Lao Zi wrote that the “Tao can be told but is not the ordinary Tao. The name [of the Tao] can also be given, but that is not the ordinary name as well1.” Thus the Tao is not an ordinary Tao way or wisdom.
Does the Tao foreshadow Christ? In chapter 4, verse 4 Lao Zi writes that the Tao looks like Someone’s Son. He said, “I do not know whose son He is, He was before any king [born into the world] 1. ” “I am the Way (Tao), the truth and the life”3 is similarly found in another classical book.
The Tao has two faces, yin and yang, which oppose each other, but yet are one. The book On I-Ching reads, “In the I-Ching, there is Grand Terminus, which produced the two elementary Forms. One is Yin, and one is Yang. ” In I-Ching, Yin means the Earth, dark; and Yang means the Heaven, bright. Genesis 1:2 reads, “And God saw the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ”
1. Wang, S & Nelson, E. God and the Ancient Chinese. Published by Sinim Bible Institute 1998; page 61-65
2. Laozi. Revised and Annotated by Fu Huisheng. Translated into English by Arthur Wesley. Hunan People’s Publishing House 1999; Chapter 4 verse 4: page 9.
3. John 14:6
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Staying Healthy, Staying Vital
I will take bits and pieces out of a book I wrote and published in 2003, Staying Healthy, Staying vital, one of the 15 health books I have written.
Are you experiencing a kind of inner fatigue, or a sagging in the spirit?
Or perhaps your physical body feels a little run down!!!!
Well, be enlightened on the timeless principles of healthy living.
The key to your renewal is to know your Creator. Turn to the Ageless One. If He is the fountain of life, is He not then the fountain of youth?
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Wait on Him and He shall renew your strength. You shall mount up with wings like eagles.
There are three key areas for a wholesome renewal: our emotions, our spiritual life and the physical body. Invariably, each will affect the other. We humans are a psychosomatic whole of mind, body and spirit. For us to be completely healthy, all areas must be well.
Let the Creator renew you emotions
Our emotional equilibrium can affect our spiritual well being. If our emotions are downcast, prayer is difficult, if not impossible. Talk of joy and peace sounds like empty platitudes and God seems so remote, a distant relative rather than a heavenly Father.
Emotional stress, too, can cause all sorts of chemical imbalances and has been linked to all sorts of physical ailments. Prolonged stress can cause ulcers, hypertension, and chronic headaches, to name a few. This can “open the door” to many fatal diseases by depressing your immune system.
We can begin by being honest with God about our feelings. Wrestle through all your struggles with God, and you will discover how His love can heal you if you are prepared to plumb the depths of your emotions and relate them to Him. A humble confiding of one’s deep feelings to God and embracing His love is a surer road to recovery than a deep searching of the psychological sciences. Engage the Lord in depth with your emotions and He will touch you with His tenderness. A love that never ends, never fails.
Let the Creator renew your spirit
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Those that feed on the living Word shall live. We must continually seek fresh bread, and not live off the dry, old and infested manna of the world.
We must “serve God in newness of spirit”. Our spirit must remain fresh and new. Draw from Him and allow God’s words to soak in your heart, for are they not health to a man’s whole body? Many spiritual truths only reach a believer’s mind; they have no root in their spirit. That is why their spirit remains weak. They can never bear the fruit of the Spirit, cannot walk according to the Spirit, and cannot overcome in battle.
A stale spirit cannot effectively serve God. It cannot touch the hearts of people because it has not been touched anew by God. A stale spirit cannot see true life because it has not seen God. For our spirit to be fresh we must always be touching God. Let Him continually renew your spirit.
Let the Creator renew your body
There are many principles of healthy living in relation to the “body” in the Creator’s manual. The body is important; otherwise, God would not have given man a body. Although our emotions and spirit are healthy and renewed by the Lord, we will not have complete wellness of being if our outward body is not healthy and renewed according to the Spirit and His word.
Remember, “The body is…for the Lord.”.
FOOD
The original cause of man’s fall was food. God has a lot to say about our food intake. Food must be sanctified not only by prayer, but also by his word.
Much contemporary knowledge on healthy eating such as avoiding animal fats was made known by God a few thousand years ago. The cardiovascular benefits from moderate use of wine was also revealed .
No doubt God gives us all good things to enjoy and we must not forget that the purpose of eating is so we can be strong and healthy. However, eating and drinking was not meant to be an indulgence and taken to excess.
Many diseases can be avoided by a proper diet. This covers diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lipid disorders, gout, degenerative joint disease, ischemic stroke, gall bladder disease, heart disease and some types of cancers.
You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore glorify God in your body, by eating healthily. Eat balanced meals with plenty of vegetables, fruits, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Avoid saturated fats.
EXERCISE
We must not only exercise our mind and spirit, but also the body. Regular exercise can confer wonderful benefits to your health. It increases the good cholesterol, and burns off the excess calories that could be detrimental to your health.
Discipline your body, and keep it fit.
Wholly
Man’s search for complete well-being will never end till he finds God. Only the word of God which is living and powerful can penetrate us to renew the soul and spirit, joints and marrow He created in us.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The timing is now for the Lord to raise it up. Amen!
What is our highest calling?
I had an interesting conversation today with a friend who asked what is my answer to a question the pastor asked the congregation today. FYI today I visited City Lights Church in Damansara Damai.
Pastor Lee asked the congregation would you rather be a (1). pastor or, a (2) rich businessman and fund the gospel. Preachers always like to use hyperbole to illustrate a point just like Jesus and many middle-eastern preachers of his time.
My answer to her is that my highest calling in life is what God called me to be. If God wants me in industry, why should I be in ministry? No doubt the ministerial calling is no joke as it deals with livelihoods and eternal issues, but industry ain't without its perils either.
The great evangelist Billy Graham was asked by Larry King since he was even more popular than the then president of the United States, would he run for the US presidential office. Billy Graham replied and said "God called me to be a minister, why would I want to stoop down and be the President?".
Another question friends always ask me is "how do you know it is from God?, how do you know God wants you in China?". Friends firstly we have to know God and be His genuine disciple. His genuine sheep will hear His voice (John 10:27). Praying in the spirit helps build up our spirit man (1 Corinthians 14:4). As we edify our spirit man, we become more in tune with God and hear Him better.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The power that removed the stone will also remove the stones blocking your destiny
John 11 tells us the story of Lazarus. What happened to him can happen to us. It could be that your destiny has been buried by the devil, or our hopes of getting a child or getting married seems rather remote or buried.
You will be mocked that you are still believing God will make it happen for you (John 11:37) just as Jesus himself was mocked. Your love ones may think you are as good as gone. They may even ask you to give up the dreams God has placed in your heart.
Lazarus was dead for 4 day. Your critics may have even written you off as the stench of your death is already evident (verse 38). Yes, our glory and destiny may appeared to be buried by the enemy, but Jesus said if you believe you will see the glory of God (verse40).
Some of us are smelling already because the enemy has destroyed things in your life. But now in the fourth month of the year the power that removed the stone will remove all the obstacles blocking your destiny and restore you. Lets pray against the stones that the devil has placed. Oh yes Lord only You can remove the stone, not by my strength but the Sprit of the Lord. We are helpless without you O Lord. We cannot help ourselves.
Yes Jesus you will do it for us. Just as Lazarus walked out of the tomb, we will walk out with new blessings and newness of life. Amen!
I will follow the Promiser not the promise
Oh yes yes. The Lord may have given you or me a promise. The time will come for You to uproot me.
Whatever the promise I am following the Promiser, not the promise. Earth's best does not compare with heaven's least.
