ROBBING OURSELVES

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“Your eyes saw my unformed substance”

That is what King David wrote in Psalm 139.  He was speaking of his own creation…his time in his mother’s womb…when he was an embryo and then a fetus.

He goes on to say, “in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

How many days have we robbed from unborn children?  How many lives have we snuffed out?

How have we robbed ourselves?  How many discoveries  never happened?  What inventions were never made?  How many works of art will we never see?

A DECEMBER BLOG – AS YOU RUN AROUND

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“Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.“

The Bible is pretty good about explaining life, BUT HOW DOES THIS ANCIENT DOCUMENT CONTINUE TO DEPICT LIFE AS IT IS TODAY SO ACCURATELY?  Lots of people are definitely running (or flying) to and fro today.   It is expected that 9.8 BILLION passengers will fly this year by the end of December.  As for cars, there are close to 291 million in the US and in the world there are 1.5 billion vehicles.  Amtrak, this year, has carried 34.5 million people. That’s a whole lot of moving around.

As for knowledge, that is increasing also.   Prior to the year 1900 the amount of knowledge doubled approximately every 100 years. By the end of WWII, it was doubling every 25 years. But now it is estimated that human knowledge is doubling about every 13 months. We live in a time of information explosion. How are we to survive this onslaught? Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things will only increase these rates.

First of all, remember that knowledge is not TRUTH.  Knowledge keeps changing— always has and always will.  In my lifetime, a number of “settled science” issues have been debunked.  Some of our learning is unlearning things that were previously considered true.

Solomon said that who increases knowledge increases sorrow.  That is how I feel every time my computer gets an “upgrade.”

The scripture verse above was written in the 6th century, and recorded in the book of Daniel.  Daniel was exiled to Babylon from Israel as a very young man (probably under age 20) in 605 B.C.E. He served first under the King Nebuchadnezzar, and continued serving in the Babylonian empire for 66 years. Eventually, King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and Daniel then,  as a much older man, served under King Cyrus.   So there was some mobility back then, but only on foot or horse or chariot. Obviously there were empires fighting each other and people moving around some, but nothing like today.  Movement was slow. No running to and fro.

And yet it in Daniel 12:4, it says

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the TIME OF THE END.  MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO, AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE.”

How was this written so long ago? Who would know what the future held?

THINK ABOUT IT – This is recorded in the same Word of God that tells us that there is ABSOLUTE TRUTH that does not change.  It also tells us that Jesus, the Son of God came to earth to save us from our sin, so that we should not perish but have eternal life.  It tells us that Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.  Jesus, who knows the end from the beginning.

Jesus also tells us that  He will come back. 

Revelation 1:7- Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM?

Even as close as 75 years ago, this would have not been possible.  But now, we all have a phone in our hands.

Perhaps we should trust this GOD, this Savior, born in Bethlehem.  We should bow down this Christmas and every day to worship Him.

Celebrate Christmas and worship the God who knows the end from the beginning….look forward and be ready to welcome Him when He comes again. 

Who knows?….it could be soon!

HAPPY BE GRATEFUL DAY!!!

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It was 1621 when the Wampanoag and the Plymoth colonists spent 3 days together – a celebration that did not likely include Turkey or pumpkin pie, but did include lots of deer meat and other foods + the giving of thanks.  It had been a rough year for the colonists.  They were very grateful to have survived and were also grateful to the help given by the Wampanoag.

However, Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thurday of the month as a time of gratitude.  (Interesting side note – President Franklin Roosevelt tried to change the date and make it earlier in order to stimulate the economy with more Christmas shopping, but failed)

It is good to set aside a day to focus on our blessings, but it is a better practice to try and assimilate gratefulness into our  every-day life.  There are many health benefits!  Better sleep, lowering of blood pressure, a stronger immune system, more stable glucose levels have all been associated with a thankful heart according to studies.

So I wish you all a most Happy Thanksgiving.  But I wish you all, even more, the habit of cultivating a grateful heart!  No matter what position one finds themself in, there is always SOMETHING to be grateful for.  Perhaps in the year ahead make a list….write it down…every day add something new to the list that you are grateful for!  I did this once, and it really helped me improve my frame of mind.  When forced to write down new items to be thankful for every day, I discovered that there were  many things I took for granted.   It definitely helped to change my outlook, so I think I will plan to do it again in 2026.

‘Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Having Real Life

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As a physician, my goal is always to relieve suffering and to make my patient’s lives better. In medical school I was taught to prevent and fight disease.   For years I have sought to do just that.  But in the end, I am only a doctor and everyone’s life here on earth has an expiration date.  Additionally, over the years I have developed my own aches and pains that remind me daily of my mortality.  So I would be remiss if I ONLY focused on life here on earth. 

In Ecclesiastes 3, God says that there is a time to be born and a time to die.  But it also says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put ETERNITY into man’s heart .”  Even if you do not believe the Bible, you intuitively know this.  Does not every sunrise and every sunset  leave us longing for something more?  Instinctively, we feel that somehow life goes on after we die, and we want it to.  We KNOW there is more to this life than this life.

So a higher purpose than medicine and focusing on longevity here on earth, is to focus on eternal life and what that means. It is important to have the eternal life that God talks about.  And, probably most importantly, it is important to understand that eternal life starts here on earth and not when we die.   It not only makes life here much more rewarding, but will someday make life here seem like “sandbox” play. 

So then, what is this eternal life?  And why do I say that eternal life starts here and not when one dies?  It is because of how Jesus defines it. 

Jesus says, “And THIS is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”  You can do that here and now.

The definition of eternal life is knowing the only true God.  It is knowing Jesus Christ and following Him as closely as you can.  Then when we are transported to another realm by a beautiful sunrise or sunset, we enjoy it more because we know the author of that beauty.  In the jewish culture, disciples of a Rabbi would walk with him, hopefully close enough they would be covered in the dust he kicked up with his sandals.  They would live with him and “abide” with him.  We can do that here and now with Jesus.

Once you have given your life and heart to Christ, be prepared…….everyone’s story is special and unique, just as God made each of us unique.  There may be opposition from the world in some form.  But becoming a Christian means giving EVERYTHING to God and then gaining MORE and BETTER than you ever gave up.  

After all, Jesus told us that He came that we may have life and have it more ABUNDANTLY.  

He tells us what abiding in Him leads to when he says “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that ……….MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.”

So I plan to keep working to keep people’s bodies healthy.  But I don’t want people just to be healthy.  I would love to see them all have a JOYFUL, ETERNAL perspective also.  The only way I know to do that is to point them to the Saviour.

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!  Start your eternal life NOW!!

YOU CAN DO MORE THAN YOU THINK!

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The last blog was entitled YOU CANNOT FIX YOUR BODY IN A DAY.  We discussed that we are all too sweet, and how dietary changes can help. 

It is just as true that WE ARE ALL TOO SEDENTARY.   

I have a lot of patients that say I am active, but when they monitor their steps they are getting less than 5000 steps a day.  We all have our excuses.  As a physician, I have probably heard them all.

Doc, I don’t have time.

Doc, I am too tired 

Then there is “It is too cold outside.”  That is usually followed a few months later by “It is too hot outside.”        

Doc…my back hurts or my knee is giving me trouble.

God made the human body to MOVE! There is truth in the OLD adage, “If you don’t use it, you will lose it.” Each of our bodies is capable of so much more than we know or even dream of.

It is true that if we misuse and “junk up” our body, it will become sick and malfunction. However, even if we are very out of shape, overweight, and hurting, there is built into our systems a miraculous ability for repair. We are not like a fragile lamp that becomes useless once it is broken. Rather, God has given us an amazing ability to revamp and recondition our bodies.

Have you ever seen a piece of wood furniture that has been carefully restored? It is beautiful, right? Sure, when we look closely we can see signs of age, but a carefully restored antique can really catch the eye.

That is how we need to think about our bodies. Yes, they are creaky with a few scars but they can be refurbished. It just takes time, patience and persistence. So……

If you have a sedentary job….go purchase a standing desk

If you are mentally tired….discipline yourself to stop for 5 minutes every hour for a “quick fitness routine”

If your back hurts….buy a fitness mat and bring it to work and do some back exercises on your break

If your knee clicks (like mine does)….do “wall sits” on your breaks

MOTION TRULY IS LOTION

So…..If you are healthy, protect your health by remaining as active as you can be. If you are already having problems and cannot do much, do what you can.
Walk 50 feet today and you will be able to go a little further tomorrow.

Lift 5 pounds with your arms for a few days and your arm muscles will develop so that you can soon lift a little more.

Again, God has designed our bodies to respond to how we treat them. We deteriorate under poor care. We can improve under good care. Good care is hard work. It takes discipline but there is a reward!

You Cannot Fix Your Body In A Day!

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Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and thought “What happened?”  I certainly have.  The human body can definitely change over the course of years.

So let’s think about the human body.  Think of what it can be capable of.  For instance, it can cross Niagra Falls on a tightrope, as Charles Blondin did in 1859.   It can be made capable of lifting >5000 pounds, as done by Gregg Ernst on September 30, 1961 in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Now think of your own body.  Think of what you can’t do now that you used to be able to do.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The next few blogs will be about just that – what happened and how to change.  For many of us, what happened is the American lifestyle.  But that is something we can do something about!  We CAN recover at least some of what we have lost.  God has made the human body with amazing restorative properties.  It can recover from a lot, if treated properly.

So……

Lesson Number One………..WE ARE ALL TOO SWEET!

The average American eats about 100 pounds of  sugar per year.  That is about 20 teaspoons a day.

In 1700, we ate about 4 pounds of sugar yearly.

In 1800, we ate about 22 pounds of  sugar yearly

In 1900, it increased to about 90 pounds per year.

NOW, we eat OVER 100 pounds of ADDED sugar yearly.  In fact, in 2012, over 50% of people in America ate a half pound of sugar daily, totally up to over 180 pounds of sugar a year!!

Looking at it another way,

one 12 ounce can of coke has 9.75 tsp of sugar or 39 grams.

One 20 ounce gatorade has 9 tsp or 36 grams

one 12 ounce Mountan Dew has 11.5 tsp or 46 grams

One little Debbie Oatmeal Cake has 26 grams

Even one cup of apple juice has 27 grams of sugar (it is much better to eat a fruit than drink the juice)

Along with all that  sugar  comes a host of other problems, including obesity, diabetes, and many other afflictions.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

1- start by really considering what you put between your lips.  Look at the sugar in the foods you eat.  Only about 20% of items on grocery store  shelves do not contain sugar.   Begin to CUT OUT added sugars and instead substitute Stevia or Monkfruit.  Increase the amount of fruits and veggies, which have some natural sugar but it is limited and combined with adequate fiber. (again, it is better to eat fruit than drink fruit juice)

2-start by making small changes and they will add up over time.

3-let me know what changes you are making and what are the results.  The results are usually exciting and I would love to hear from you!

4-Remember, change will happen slowly, but it WILL happen.  Having a sugary drink or treat does not make you feel bad immediately.  In fact you may even get a sugar high.  BUT, in the end, it is never a step in the right direction!

FREE MEDICINE

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I can wake up in the morning, feeling good, and say to myself, “Today I will not grumble or complain all day long.”  But, to my chagrin, I am rarely successfull!  Why, oh why, is it so difficult not to complain?

There have been many studies looking at the effect of gratitude on health and well-being.  Gratitude has been linked to better sleep, pain reduction, better immune function.  It has been shown to increase optimism, happiness, resilience, and to lower levels of depression and anxiety.  It can lead to better relationships, improved eating and increase in physical activity. Gratitude even turns on the brain’s reward system, causing release of dopamine and serotonin to help one feel better.

You would think, if gratitude can do all that,  we would all practice it!  It costs nothing.  A completely free way to feel better……and yet we prefer to complain and look at things negatively.  Again, why?  According to Paul Tripp, “complaining is the default language of fallen humanity.”  That certainly has proven true in my own life.   There can be 99 things going right but I will focus on (and complain about) the 100th thing that is not to my liking.

Years ago, I read a book that encouraged listing 5 things every day that I was thankful for.  I had been struggling with being especially negative and it had a very positive impact on me. (at least temporarily) I still struggle and complain but at least I realize more clearly the positive impact a grateful heart can bring.

Proverbs 17:22 says that “A joyful heart is good medicine!”

Free medicine!

Try, this month, to start an “I’m thankful for” list.  You can list one or two things every day but don’t repeat yourself.  It is amazing how it can cause you to become more aware of life’s blessings.   From songbirds to sunshine, there are good things that are free to all mankind.  And even in the worst moments of life, there is usually some silver lining.

Above all, remember that God is good.  As we follow Him, he promises to supply all our needs according to His riches, even in times of pain and suffering.

It is up to us to remember to say thank you……………and be grateful

DO YOU HAVE A HEALTHY HEART??

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February is American Heart month….a good time to look at how you are taking care of yours.  Good heart care is multifaceted and includes many things you are already aware of.  These are the things that physicians always talk about…..good nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest. These are important, but………

There are other needs for a healthy heart.  For instance a calm and peaceful spirit, lots of laughter, joy and a healthy world view. 

It is true that how you eat affects your heart.  How you exercise affects your heart.  But ….so does worry and stress. 

So, in celebration of February and Valentine’s Day, here are some ideas for maintaining a heathy heart. 

Yes, you guessed it!  Avoid the sweets!  Opt for nuts, fruit, vegetables, healthy protein, healthy fats, and stay away from processed foods (usually in a box and easy to prepare)

Get AT LEAST one half-hour of exercise daily.  It DOES NOT need to be at a gym.  It can be something fun like dancing or walking with a friend.

Get adequate sleep  The amount can vary between people and there is not a magic number of hours.  Try to WIND DOWN before going to bed by avoiding screens and most sleep best if the room is DARK and COLD.  

And then………………consider a few more.

LAUGH!  Find things that are funny!  Even in the midst of trouble, you can usually find something comical.  Listen to your favorite comedian or just find things to laugh at during the day, even if it is yourself.  As God’s word says in Proverbs 17:22,  ” A joyful heart is good medicine.”

Avoid overload, especially mental or emotional overload.  We are FINITE and were never meant to take on the cares of the entire world.  Help someone right in front of you and pray for those you cannot do anything for.  Try to do today what you can do today and avoid worrying about tomorrow.

Be generous of spirit.  It is AMAZING how good you can make yourself feel by giving to someone else.

And finally, remember your Creator.  Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life.  He also says I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.  So…if Jesus dwells in your heart, it will be HEALTHY!!!

 STAY AWAY FROM THAT VALENTINE’S DAY CANDY!!!!!

Protect your ears!

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TURN DOWN THAT MUSIC!  Anyone remember their parents saying that?  They had a point.

Your ears are beautifully and wonderfully made.  Your outer ear, where you hang your earring,  is designed to capture sound waves and direct them down your ear canal to the  middle and inner ear.   Ears are truly  God’s artistry on display.

Hearing is such a blessing …….most of the time!  Whether it is the sweet voice of a toddler to the majesty of a symphony to the jokes of your favorite comedian, hearing (and therefore your ears) is something you want to protect.

BUT HOW?

Here are a few simple rules to follow.

1-START EARLY!   It may be too late for some of us to do that but we can help guide our children and grands.  For instance, It is felt that even the infant sleep machines can be harmful to young ears.  They are useful, of course, but it is best to place them as far away from the baby as possible and keep then  at a low volume

2-Avoid LOUD noises.  Not just people yelling at you.   This includes loud concerts, loud sporting events, fireworks.  It is a good idea to keep a pair of ear plugs in your car or purse (if you use one) because sometimes you end up someplace noisy without planning on it….. or you just forget to bring them.

3-AVOID INGESTING PRODUCTS THAT HARM YOUR EARS.  Of course this is not always possible, since even some frequently used antibiotics can do some damage.  If you already have decreased hearing you may want to think about this.

4.  If you are listening to a podcast or music on headphones, keep the volume low enough  that you can hear someone speaking to you

5.   AVOID USING Q TIPS – they can cause perforation in your tympanic membrane if you go too far

6.  Finally, take a breaks from noise altogether.

SILENCE REALLY CAN BE GOLDEN!

Happy New Year! New Body Anyone?

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FRAILITY………………………………………………………………………….VIRILITY

I have been a family physician for over 35 years!  I  kinda miss my younger body.  I know it is not coming back but there are some things one can do to improve.  I don’t know where you are on the continuum above, but wherever you are, there is wiggle room for change!

In the year ahead, I am going to explore different aspects of aging and what can be done to slow it down a little.   Every few weeks, I will talk about a different topic.  I would love some company along the way…..and would appreciate any comments please!

Let’s start with your MOUTH (oropharynx)

Your MOUTH is part of your gastrointestinal track.  The GI track extends from your mouth to your “other end.”  In between there are a lot of different places that could be good stopping points (for discussion – not food).  Anyway, beyond your mouth there is your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.  All told this is about 30 feet of track.  If it wasn’t curled up and packed so well we would take up a lot more room!

As you age you may develop a decrease in saliva (spit) production and develop a DRY MOUTH.  Certain medications can make this worse.  A common one that causes mouth dryness is benadryl.  Eventually, the transfer of food from your mouth to your  pharynx (throat) may be altered.  Studies have shown that up to 60% of older people without any symptoms have some abnormal transfer of food from their mouth to their throat

Also, your mouth has a lining called the oral mucosa.  As you get older, this lining gets thinner.  Your gums tend to recede.  This in turn causes the base of the tooth  to be exposed and you become more susceptible to root cavities. You may lose some of your teeth and not be able to chew your food as well.  This in turn can affect your nutritional intake.

In addition, inadequate flossing of your teeth can lead to increased inflammation of the gums.  Chronic inflammation has been linked to a variety of diseases.  Your dentist bugging you to floss is NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR TEETH! 

So………..  what are a few steps to take in the new year to protect this little area of your body and avoid downstream consequences?

1 – IF YOU HAVE TEETH, take care of them.

2- If you have not been getting regular dental cleanings, start.

3- Floss daily (gently)

4- Avoid medications that cause oral dryness (benadryl is one such medicine)

5- AVOID sugary foods, especially at night right before bed.

6- AVOID COLA DRINKS – They have a low pH and drinks with  a pH <4.0 are potentially harmful to your teeth.  The pH of cola drinks is  2.6 (I have been binging on diet lemonade which is pretty acidic and think I need to stop) Water is good.  Water is neutral

7- AVOID smoking.  It causes some pretty nasty mouth cancers.

Your  “new body” can start with good mouth care.

Remember, your mouth may not be what you think of first when considering a new body.  But it is directs a lot of traffic and needs a lot of care!  It’s a good place to start…..and we can move on from there!

MAY YOU BE happy, HEALTHY, and wise in 2025.

Christmas: A Season of Healing and Love

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IS CHRISTMAS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR?

Why do you  love (or NOT love) the Christmas season?

As a child, I LOVED Christmas.  I loved the festivities, the presents, the family gatherings.  I did not have to do much BUT SHOW UP.

Then I grew up.  I still loved the season, but it was a lot more work and a lot more stress.

NOW?? Well, through the years I’ve accumulated a lot of scars…..self-inflicted by my own sin, or inflicted on me by others.

Now Christmas is not so much about showing up, doing everything right, getting everything done.  It is about WHO SHOWED UP FOR ME.

Jesus came for the wounded.  He BECAME the wounded Himself…for our transgressions. By His wounds we are HEALED.  (http://ISAIAH 53:5)

SO…….CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT HEALING.

As the great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said,

THINK ABOUT JESUS’ LOVE.

SEE HIS TEARFUL EYES, HIS BLOODY WOUNDS.

THIS IS LOVE THAT STREAMS OUT FOR YOU

STRONG, FAITHFUL, PURE, AND LASTING LOVE.

THIS LOVE DOESN’T CARE WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

JUST TRUST IN HIM…….AND YOU WILL BE SAVED

The sweetest gift of Christmas is the same every day of the year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!