And the Truth Shall Make You Free

I’ve become pretty impressed with the genuine hunger for God I’m seeing in today’s teenagers. Uncompromising, humble, and filled with wisdom. The other day I was involved in a conversation where one individual was struggling with the correct path to take, while the other party (a teenager) saw the simple solution as if there was really no other option.

They said something to the effect of, “For any problem you have, God has a simple solution. He’s not trying to confuse us. It’s not that hard….The solution here is to go tell the person the truth.”

Isn’t it amazing how a Word from God through another person can bring such complete clarity to a situation that we almost feel silly that we had toyed with the idea of something different. That’s how simple the good news of the Gospel is. Sometimes we just need to be reminded. Read more

Integrity…Walking it Out

Integrity. The dictionary defines integrity as possession of firm principles, steadfastly adhering to high moral principles, the state of being complete or undivided, whole, and honest.

In Christianity, integrity is one of the most important virtues that should influence our decisions, our actions, and steer our everyday lives.

In Philippians 1: 27-30, the apostle Paul urges the church to walk in integrity,

“Whatsoever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ…being steadfast and firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel without being frightened of those who oppose you…For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and that I still have.”

This dictionary definition is a good starting point, but the Biblical picture Paul paints tells me two things. First, it says “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” The phrase “whatever happens” lets me know that we can be sure, something is going to happen. We are going to be faced with numerous opportunities throughout our Christianity to make choices to walk in integrity. We may even be faced with these decisions daily. Read more

The Inner Judge…Are You on the Throne?

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7: 1-2

Seems pretty simple doesn’t it. I mean, read it again…slowly. Especially the part that says, “for with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged.” Ouch. That’s serious business. But don’t we all battle with some form of judgmentalism from time to time.

I find that a judgmental spirit often likes to run around with a “comparing yourselves among yourselves” spirit. First we tend to excuse our own sin, character defects, and problem areas by comparing ourselves to others and saying, “Hey, I’m not that bad…I don’t do what that person does.” Once we effectively excuse ourselves to the point of inner content and smugness, then the judge sits down on our inner throne. We think to ourselves, “Geez, didn’t I hear that Harry cheated on his wife a while ago? I wonder if they are going to counseling. I’d never do that. I mean, I’ve done some things in my day, but I’d never do that.” Did you see that? The two of them just sat down and had a conversation about poor Harry. Isn’t he struggling enough? He’s most likely going through some severe mental torment right now. He’s filled with guilt and remorse over the pain he’s caused. Possibly, he’s going through a divorce. It’s pretty easy to just sit on that smug seat and think thoughts like that without even realizing it. Read more

Success Breeds Success: But What About Failure?

I read a quote the other day that said, “The successful man is the one who falls down six times, but gets up seven.” I’m not sure who wrote it, but it is definitely food for thought, as well as being completely true. Often we hear motivational speeches that tell us that success breeds success, which it certainly does. But what happens when we fail? It’s bound to happen. No one is successful one hundred percent of the time. How you react to failure, and what you do right after you’ve experienced the sting of a setback or perceived defeat is vital to reaching your ultimate goals.

So, when we fail…What should we do?

A perfect place to look for the answers are right in the Word. Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with stories about individuals who failed miserably, but when they made the decision to keep going instead of giving up, success came in the end…and was usually very sweet! Read more

Family Life: Dealing With Difficult Relatives

Summer is almost upon us. It’s time to break out the BBQ grill, the sun tan lotion, and for many, it’s time for family vacations that involve visiting relatives. And while we may dream of postcard perfect times that create wonderful family memories for our children as well as ourselves, that’s not always the case.

For many, these dreams can quickly become a nightmare when challenging personalities are put together for an extended period of time. This is especially true if you have relatives who don’t share the same parenting ideas  or Christian values as your family.

Yes, of course, picture perfect families, who blend very well together and enjoy family vacations, visits, and even hotel sharing without a hitch, do exist…but for the rest of us, here are some tips that will ensure that family vacations and get-togethers can be “relatively” stress free…(pun intended) Read more

Big Interview Coming Up? Important Client Meeting? …Here’s Your Secret to Success!

In today’s world there are thousands of seminars, books, and conferences that attempt to teach principles of “winning in life.” Many of these try to appeal to our desire to take shortcuts, find the easy way, or provide us with some sort of secret formula that will lead us down the path to instant success.

Recently, as I was preparing to meet with an individual who (if things went correctly) could potentially prove to be a highly rewarding associate…both personally and in business, my mind started to reel. I remember thinking to myself, “Okay, what if he asks me this? What would be the right response?….Okay, what if he says such-and-such? What would be the best thing to say to that?” For several minutes, which seemed like hours in my own mind, I went over scenario after scenario and tried to come up with the “best” answer to each. Thankfully, that didn’t last too long before I was jolted back to reality by an “Aha” moment… Read more

Introduction to Nutrition: A Word on Supplements

The ideal way to get all of the nutrition you need is through fresh, organically grown produce, fresh fish, and meat. But, sometimes, even with all of your healthy eating, your body needs some assistance. That’s where supplements come in.

If you’ve never taken any type of supplements in the past but have looked at the shelves that are absolutely lined from one end to the other with them, it can be a bit overwhelming. Learning about supplements and their usefulness will take a bit of time. We’ll help you wade through the maze and provide you with some basic information on the ones that can provide you with that extra boost.

We don’t recommend that you add any supplements to your diet without first having a nutrition consultation with our staff. The following information involves the most common and basic supplements that may help jump start your diet makeover, providing the energy levels and daily nutrients that you may not be getting from your daily food intake.

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Overcoming Type 2 Diabetes: Nourishing Your Mind and Spirit

If you are just beginning your journey on the road to being free from type 2 diabetes, you may be wondering what your mind and spirit have to do with your physical health. The simple answer is, everything! There is no such thing as separating your physical health from your mental and emotional health. As a matter of fact, you really can’t have one without the other. Have you ever noticed that just getting outside and enjoying the sunshine can brighten your mood? It’s no coincidence. Physical activity has been proven to improve your mental health, your overall outlook, as well as your physical health.

By following our whole body approach to overcoming type 2 diabetes, you will finally find the life you have always desired. Your physical health and strength will improve, your mental health and focus will benefit, you will find yourself sleeping more soundly and experiencing a much deeper sense of peace and contentment.

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Losing the Weight and Keeping it Off: Why Do We Cheat?

Part of any life changing process, including making the decision to lose the weight you’ll need in order to be free from type 2 diabetes, involves a bit of “figuring yourself out.” That might sound like a tall order. It’s an ongoing process, to be sure, but if you’ll take the time to look at some of the triggers or reasons why you cheat on your diet, you’ll be ahead of the game. Every person is unique. We can’t tell you why you do the things you do, but with the following information, you’ll be able to take a closer look at yourself and discover why you are wired the way you are. In that process, you’ll also be able to find the success you need and break free from self sabotage where dieting is concerned.

Why Do We Cheat?

Let’s face it, nobody wakes up in the morning and makes the decision to become overweight or unhealthy. We all know what we are “supposed to do.” Then why don’t we? There are dozens of possible answers, and certainly everyone is different and unique. Only you can discover the real reason you can’t seem to stick to a diet and fitness plan, but once you do figure it out, you will have half of the battle won!

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Losing the Weight and Keeping it Off: Purging Your Pantry

In the first part of this series, Losing the Weight and Keeping it Off, we talked about life changes and the dedication and commitment it’s going to take to get from where you are now to where you want to be. This is going to take time and purposeful effort on your part. You’re going to have to follow a plan of action. It’s one step at a time, but you will get there. Today we are going to look at Purging Your Pantry and making the decision to change your eating habits once and for all.

Purging Your Pantry

When overcoming type 2 diabetes, there are many factors involved. First, you made the decision to end this cycle of destruction, instead of simply accepting it. That is an excellent start. If you read part one of this series, you have looked yourself in the eye and said, “Enough is enough. Things have gone too far. They’ve gotten too out of hand and I’m ready to start my new life.” That all important first step needs some follow up. The next thing we are going to work on is changing your eating habits. It’s going to take some time and effort on your part, but the first step, of course, is going to involve what you’ve already got to work with…your pantry.

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