The Fit Christian Magazine Nov/Dec 2010 by His Work Christian Ministries

Nov/Dec 2010

PUBLISHER His Work Christian Publishing www.hisworkpub.com

Angela J. Willard Perez Scripture & Reflection editor@fitchristian.com

EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS

Angela J. Willard Perez editor@fitchristian.com

Jenny Harper Mix it Up With Jenny David Luther Through the Bible Spotlight diluther@cox.net

Updated Weekly! Our feature how-to videos are updated with new content every week.

Chris Chapan Laurette Willis

COLUMNISTS Dennis Ellingson God’s Healing Herbs

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Charlie Nardozzi Gardening with Charlie

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1 You Can Stay Fit During Thanksgiving “I am the bread of life” John 6:48 Those words really put Thanksgiving overindulgence into perspective don’t they? Perhaps the overindulgence we could enter into this Thanksgiving is filling up on the “bread of life” instead of the bread of this world...

3 Have a Holiday Heart-to-Heart The holidays are known as a time for family gatherings, catching up with relatives, and sometimes even the occasional family conflict. Like drama at the holiday dinner table, in many ways your health - for better or for worse - is influenced by your family. This year, why not start a conversation that benefits everyone? Gather your family health history...

5 The Paw-fect Holiday for Pets This holiday season, share seasonal celebrations and traditions with the entire family, including four-legged family members. According to a national PetSmart survey, 72 percent of pet parents include their pet in holiday festivities...

28 Spotlight: Sondra Carmen This month The Fit Christian is looking at a local church effort to build the physical body of Christ. First Christian Church of Cookeville, Tennessee is one body that benefits from their own fitness outreach. Sondra Carmen is a certified fitness instructor who serves both the church and the secular community through her fitness outreach...

Find these articles only at FitChristian.com:

Giftable Gadgets Chances are, someone you're shopping for has some kind of gadget on their wish list. If you're not sure where to get started, this gift guide will help you find just the right thing for that special someone...

Holiday Help for the Caregiver: Tips for communicating effectively with your family Mixing holidays and family produces some level of tension for each of us. When you add caring for an aging parent into the mix, those levels can easily skyrocket...

Parents Are the Key Every day, eight U.S. teens die in car crashes, the number one killer of teens in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is helping parents learn how to play a key role in keeping their young drivers safe on the road through its "Parents Are the Key" campaign. CDC offers parents safe driving resources-including fact sheets, tips and tools, flyers, a parent-teen driving agreement and more-for free... © 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved.

A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing. www.fitchristian.com

Merry Christmas from The Fit Christian Magazine! Available free at FitChristian.com...

7 Kids4Christ Holiday Shape-ups | Fun Ways to Get Kids Moving | Memory Verse | Word Search

10 Food & Nutrition

Holiday Roast | Holiday Party!

18 Mix It Up with Jenny Holiday Pie

20 God’s Healing Herbs

Herbs & Foods of Thanksgiving

24 Gardening with Charlie Blooming Gifts

26 Nancy’s New Beginnings

Pillar Talk

31 Exercise the Right Way Shake Weight–a Myth? | Present Your Body | Asthma & Exercise

35 Spiritual Fitness Through the Bible: How We Speak Scripture & Reflection: From Complaint to Praise 2 Corinthians 10:5

You can stay up-to-date on fitness events in your area by visiting these Web sites: Bodybuilding-Fitness-Figure Upcoming Events http://www.bodybuildbid.com/upcoming.html

Articles

Natural Bodybuilding, Figure, and Fitness Contests http://www.naturalbodybuildingevents.com/month.html

19 Book Review: Capital Hill Cooks

Professional Natural Bodybuilding, Figure, and Fitness Competitions http://www.naturalbodybuildingevents.com/ProShows.htm

December Holidays:

November Holidays: Aviation Month | Good Nutrition Month | National American Indian Heritage Month 1 All Saints' Day 7 Daylight Saving Time Ends 11 Veterans Day | Remembrance Day (Canada) 25 Thanksgiving Day

1 AIDS Awareness Day 7 Nat'l Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 10 Human Rights Day 21 Forefather's Day | First Day of Winter 25 Christmas Day 31 New Year's Eve

Source: www.holidaysmart.com

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iii

Greetings in Jesus! I hope you are all joyfully looking toward the holidays, as I am! I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family, they are a blessing to me. And even though we always have family, the holidays seem to bring us closer together. Especially, around the dinner table. As you gather around the dinner table with your family this holiday season, be mindful that the people in your lives are what matters, not the things. Be aware that what matters most today, could be easily taken from us tomorrow. Embrace them, cherish them, and love them so fully that they never have to wonder how you really feel towards them. And for those of you who are painfully aware of the loss of a loved one, as I am, my heart and my prayers go out to you. I pray you let God's Holy Spirit comfort you and fill the spaces left behind by the ones you have loved and lost. And let us let the One who matters most know how much we love Him, by walking our faith, living a holy life as Jesus did, and loving others in word and deed. May the peace of God reign in our hearts and in our lives.

Happy Holidays!

ÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing. www.fitchristian.com ÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing. www.fitchristian.com

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You Can Stay Fit DuringThanksgiving

Features

“I am the bread of life” John 6:48 Those words really put Thanksgiving overindulgence into perspective don’t they? Perhaps the overindulgence we could enter into this Thanksgiving is filling up on the “bread of life” instead of the bread of this world. When we think of the bread of this world, do you think of physical bread? It can be that as well as what I call the “soul junk food” of this world. I’m referring to the PG-13, R-rated (and worse) so-called “entertainment” of this world (TV, movies, music, etc.). Okay, now I’m meddling, right? It’s just that I’ve found that if I’m filling up on the world’s junk food through my eyes and ears (mentally and emotionally), I also have more of a tendency to want to satisfy my mouth with the world’s processed junk foods for my body. When I’m taking in less life through the Word into my spirit, my discernment and choices in other areas of my life aren’t as clear or focused. Psalm 103 exhorts us to bless the Lord (love, glorify, thank, and praise Him) – not because He needs it, but because we do. Verse five says God, “satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” This can be viewed as clean, natural, unprocessed foods (still in their fresh-from-God package!) which give us energy and renew our youth from the cellular level. God also satisfies our mouths with the goodness of His Word (“the bread of life”) which we speak out over our lives, our families, our day, our future, our nation.

is, as Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

More than a Conqueror during Thanksgiving You don’t have to be one of those persons who customarily gains five to eight pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Just because many choose to eat 2,000 to 5,000 If we speak the doom and gloom of the world’s predictions, calories during one Thanksgiving meal (zowie!) doesn’t our future looks bleak, we feel and look older, [we are] less mean you have to do that! Make the decision today that you fit physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The good news are not going to follow along with the world and become a statistic. See “Stay Fit” page 2 © 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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Features

Stay Fit cont...

You can say, “Since Jesus has overcome the world, and Jesus is living big in me today, I will be fit and healthy over the holidays! Thanksgiving will be a time I will fill up on God’s Word, the bread of life. I will take one verse or a portion of the Word every day and chew, chew, chew on it until I’m full! When tempted to overindulge my flesh, I will indulge my spirit and ‘chew on’ that healthy portion of the Word for the day. I can go over it in my mind and heart, say it quietly to myself when I’m with others, and praise the Lord for it! I always feel fuller on the inside when I praise the Lord and feed my heart with God’s Word. In addition to that, I choose to allow only those things which are pure and wholesome into my ‘ear gates’ and my ‘eye gates.’ I refuse to allow anything to dull my spiritual senses or God’s anointing on my life. I am a light in this world, not a dim bulb!”

more over the holidays, don’t make the mistake of skipping meals so you can “stock up” later. That’s a sure-fire way to overindulge on the wrong foods because you haven’t been eating a healthful breakfast, lunch, dinner and two whole food snacks during the day. Choose your indulgences carefully. Want Aunt Anna’s pumpkin pie or Uncle Joe’s wombat surprise? Eat sane portions, don’t skip meals and you can still have a piece of that family favorite. Don’t try to “diet” during the holidays – you know how cranky you can get (and that’s not a very good witness to your unsaved loved ones!).

Don’t skip meals. Even if you think you may be eating

Drink plenty of water. Stay well-hydrated. It will also

ensure you eat less when you drink more water. We often reach for a high-calorie snack when our body is really crying out for water.

More Practical Tips Pick a Scripture “Snack” Every Day In addition to ensuring your heart and mind are full of the Above all, stay focused on making sure your spirit is wellWord, here are five tips to help you spearhead the movement fed. Pick one scripture “snack” to chew on each day. Today in your family to a healthier Thanksgiving holiday: my scripture “snack” was the verse at the beginning of this article where Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Throughout 1. Make a difference in someone’s life. Focus on one or the day when I was working, writing, driving, shopping – two people you are going to get to know better over the eating – I went back to that Word and asked the Lord to give Thanksgiving weekend. This can be a member of your own me new revelation on it. I noticed my focus became clearer, family, a friend, a neighbor, perhaps even someone at church I made better choices in a number of areas and I feel fuller on who needs to be with a family at Thanksgiving (why not the inside as a result (not “stuffed” and numb from overindulging my flesh as I had so many times before). yours?). If you don’t move, you lose. Much of the weight gain Armed with a battle plan worthy of those who are “more than conquerors” through Christ, I believe we will find more during the holidays is due to a lack of physical exercise. reasons than ever to be truly thankful to the One who has Purpose to get some exercise in early in the day before the given us all things to enjoy. We enter Thanksgiving and sail hubbub of activity starts. Even if you take 15 minutes to walk into the holidays and 2010 with our hearts full, our minds and pray, you’ve just combined faith and fitness that will clear and our bodies full of energy as fit witnesses for Christ. have a positive impact on your entire day (and the day of He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we those around you – you know you are a nicer person when ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” you take time to pray!).

Let’s believe Him for it – and share our victory with others Make it a family affair. After the turkey and fixin’s, be this holiday season. the instigator behind a “Let’s all go outside and walk off Romans 8:37 | Ephesians 4:20 some of that delicious dinner before dessert!” I think you’d And now I'd like to invite you to get my free "Fit Favorites Devotional" be surprised how many will think that’s not such a crazy and PraiseMoves FitNews. To get yours, go to http://praisemoves.com. idea! It’s just that not everyone wants to be the first one to Christian Fitness Expert and author Laurette Willis is the suggest something different – but remember, you are spearDirector of PraiseMoves, offering fitness programs, DVDs, books and training for those interested in a Christian alterheading the movement to a healthier family tradition (they’ll native to yoga, and fitness for spirit, soul and body at thank you for it later!).

http://praisemoves.com . To follow Laurette on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/Fit4Christ and on FaceBook: http://facebook.com/praisemoves

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Features

Look at your family's past to prevent type 2 diabetes in your future

he holidays are known as a time for family gatherings, catching up with relatives, and sometimes even the occasional family conflict. Like drama at the holiday dinner table, in many ways your health - for better or for worse - is influenced by your family. This year, why not start a conversation that benefits everyone? Gather your family health history. Why it's important Family history of disease is an important part of understanding your risk for developing a number of serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease that, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems including blindness, loss of limb, kidney failure, heart disease, and early death. In fact, most people with type 2 diabetes have a family member - such as a mother, father, brother, or sister with the disease.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Four questions you should ask The answers to these key questions could help you prevent type 2 diabetes in your future.

1. Does anyone in the family have type 2 diabetes? Who has type 2 diabetes? 2. Has anyone in the family been told they might get diabetes? The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) encour- 3. Has anyone in the family been told they need to lower their ages all families to gather their family health history this weight or increase their physical activity to prevent type 2 holiday season and help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in diabetes? future generations. 4. Did your mother get diabetes when she was pregnant? This is also known as gestational diabetes (GDM). By knowing your family health history, sharing it with your health care team, and taking important steps such as main- If the answer to any of these is yes, or you have a mother, taining a healthy weight or losing a small amount of weight father, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes, you may be at if you are overweight, making healthy food choices, and an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Talk to your being physically active, you can prevent or delay type 2 doctor and visit www.YourDiabetesInfo.org to learn more diabetes (as well as other serious diseases) and help ensure about managing your risk and preventing or delaying type 2 that you will be enjoying holiday family gatherings for years diabetes. to come. See “Diabetes” page 4 © 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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Features

Diabetes cont...

• My family background is African American, Your history affects your child's future Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or PaWhile you're gathering your family's history, you need to cific Islander. take your own into consideration as well. • I have been told that my blood glucose (blood sugar) levels Gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM, is a type of diabetes are higher than normal. that occurs during pregnancy and affects about 7 percent of • My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told all U.S. pregnancies - or about 200,000 pregnancies each that I have high blood pressure. year. If you had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, you and your child have a lifelong risk for getting • My cholesterol (lipid) levels are not normal. My HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) is less than 35 or my triglycdiabetes. eride level is higher than 250.

• Women with a history of gestational diabetes have a 40 to • I am physically active less than three times a week. 60 percent chance of developing diabetes in the 5 to 10 years • I have been told that I have polycystic ovary syndrome after delivery.

(PCOS).

• The children of pregnancies where the mother had gesta- • The skin around my neck or in my armpits appears dirty no tional diabetes are also at increased risk for obesity and type matter how much I scrub it. The skin appears dark, thick, and 2 diabetes. velvety. • Women who have had gestational diabetes should be tested • I have been told that I have blood vessel problems affecting for diabetes six to 12 weeks after their baby is born, and at my heart, brain, or legs. least every three years after that. Mothers should let their child's doctor know that they had gestational diabetes. Losing weight by making healthy food choices is one way to • Women with a history of gestational diabetes can lower help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Serve their risk for developing diabetes by making an effort to your family a quick and healthy dish like this as you gather reach and maintain a healthy weight, making healthy food around the holiday dinner table. choices, and being active for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Keeping a healthy lifestyle helps mother and child Cumin Pork and Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Butter Serves 4 lower their risk for getting diabetes in the future. For a free tip sheet on gestational diabetes, including steps to 2 ½ reduce the risk of developing diabetes, call the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) at 1-888-693-NDEP 4 (6337) or visit its website at www.YourDiabetesInfo.org.

8-ounce sweet potatoes, pierced in several areas with fork teaspoon ground cumin Paprika to taste 4-ounce boneless pork cutlets, trimmed of fat

Topping 2 tablespoons reduced-fat margarine 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar ½ teaspoon grated orange If one or more of the following items apply to you, be sure to zest ¼ teaspoon vanilla, butter, talk with your health care team about your risk for developand nut flavoring ing type 2 diabetes and whether you should be tested. 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 4 small oranges, quartered

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors In addition to family history and gestational diabetes, there are other factors that increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

• I am 45 years of age or older. • I have been told by my doctor to lose weight.

Photo courtesy of Burwell and Burwell Photography

Cook potatoes in microwave on HIGH setting for 10 to 11 minutes or until fork tender. Meanwhile, place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high See “Diabetes” page 6

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Features Seasonal tips for pet parents

his holiday season, share seasonal celebrations and traditions with the entire family, including four-legged family members. According to a national PetSmart survey, 72 percent of pet parents include their pet in holiday festivities. "The holidays are about being with our loved ones - and that includes our pets, too," said PetSmart Veterinarian and Pet Care Expert Dr. Robyn Jaynes. "Whether it's including your pet in a family photo, taking them on a family trip or giving that perfect holiday gift or treat, it's important for pet parents to consider the unique behaviors of each and every pet."

Traveling With Furry Friends Many families travel at this time of year. Whether pet parents are taking their pets along or leaving them at home, it's important to make sure their pets are safe and comfortable. -Pet parents who board their pets should look for facilities that are clean and have friendly, responsive staff and strict policies on health and safety issues.

As families everywhere kick off the season, PetSmart has a -If pets are included in a family's travel plans, many resources few simple tips to help pet parents make it a safe and enjoy- can help you find hotels that accommodate pets. Visit able time for their pets. www.petswelcome.com for more information. -Many products are available to keep pets safe in the car, Put Up Pet-Friendly Decor including harnesses and barriers that secure pets in the back Keep your pet's safety in mind and help furry friends steer of the vehicle. clear of dangerous decorations. -Holiday lights mean extra electrical cords and plugs. For pets, these items are tempting "chew toys." Taking extra time to tape down or cover cords will help prevent shocks, burns or more serious injuries. -Christmas trees are sure to attract a pet's attention. Secure Christmas trees to keep them from toppling over if a pet should try to climb them, use them as a scratching post or simply bump into them. -Forgo small ornaments, especially balls, bells and tinsel that are attractive to pets - but deadly if consumed.

Help Pets Get Camera-Ready Just like the rest of the family, pets need to look their best for the holiday photo or the traditional shot on Santa's lap. Try these tips to prepare your pet: -Help your pets look their best with a pre-photo bath. -For pets that enjoy dressing up, holiday outfits such as a reindeer or Santa costume, cable knit sweater, elf hat or jingle bell collar are festive.

See â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pet Parentsâ&#x20AC;? page 6 www.fitchristian.com

Pet Parents cont...

- Having treats or special toys on-hand can keep pets from getting anxious while in line and also help them behave during the photo. To find out when and where you can have your pet's photo taken with Santa Claws, visit www.petsmart.com. Keep Pets Calm and Comfortable The holiday season can be hectic for pets with the hustle and bustle of parties, travel and family dinners. To ease pet stress, pet parents should be mindful of the following:

Features

-Fisher-Price - Inspired by classic Fisher-Price icons, the whimsical toys for dogs feature items such as the Xylobone, Chatter Pup Telebone and Ruff-a-Stack. Available in two sizes - small ($7.99) and large ($11.99). -Martha Stewart Holiday Collection - The holiday Nordic Fair Isle sweater from the exclusive Martha Stewart Pets collection keeps your four-legged family members cozy during the cold winter months. Available for just $19.99. -Stockings for Dogs and Cats - PetSmart's classic holiday value pack stockMartha Stewart festive Nordic Fair ings are filled with an asIsle sweater sortment of toys for cats and dogs. Pet parents can pick a theme that matches their pet's personality, such as the merry pink gingerbread-man or the classic red and green reindeer. Price ranges from $4.99 to $19.99.

-Pets may not understand why their usually quiet home is filled with people and noise. Provide pets with a quiet place to retreat. -Pet parents often think they're "treating" their pets with table scraps from their holiday meals. The danger, say PetSmart veterinarians, is that dogs can become seriously ill from human foods because they do not have the same digestive system or nutritional needs as people. -For the most part, pets should stay indoors during the cold winter months. Some dogs may not adjust as well to the cold Courtesy of Family Features | Source: PetSmart weather, so pet parents may consider sweaters to keep their Diabetes cont... pets warm.

heat until hot. Sprinkle cumin and paprika evenly over pork The Best Gifts for Four-Legged Family Members chops and season lightly with salt and pepper if desired. With an estimated 71.4 million pet-filled homes in the U.S., Cook pork chops 4 minutes on each side or until barely pink many pet parents will be searching for the perfect pet gift this in center. holiday season. PetSmart offers special toys, treats and other great gifts that will make your pet wag their tails with joy. In small bowl, stir together topping ingredients until well blended. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, fluff with a fork, This year's must-have gifts are: and spoon equal amounts topping mixture on each half. Serve with quartered oranges alongside. -Chance and Lucky The adorable holiday collection includes Nutritional Information: Calories 335, Calories from Fat 90, Total Fat 10.0 stuffed animals, orna- g, Saturated Fat 3.4 g, Trans Fat 0.0 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 125 mg, ments, slippers, boxed Total Carbohydrate 37 g, Dietary Fiber 5 g, Sugars 22 g, Protein 24 g cards or gift cards Copyright (c) 2010 American Diabetes Association. From 15-Minute which are perfect to cel- Diabetic Meals. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes ebrate the holiday sea- Association. To order this book, call 1-800-232-6733 or order online at http://store.diabetes.org. Ten percent of all Chance and Lucky son and support a good sales go to save homeless pets through cause, too. Ten percent Courtesy of Family Features | All materials courtesy of: National Diabetes PetSmart Charities. of all purchases will be Education Program donated to PetSmart Charities to save the lives of homeless pets. The collection ranges from $5 to $20. ÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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Holiday Shape-ups © Chris Chapan

Stack the cups

Shoe Hustle

Materials: Set of 10 cups and tops and ball

Materials: Pair of Shoes from each person

Ask a local restaurant to give you a set of ten Everyone should sit in a circle on the floor. Remove both shoes, then remove the shoecups and tops. strings and place them in the toes of the shoes. Practice adding the tops and stacking them in a row of four then three, two and then one to The shoes then go into the center of the circle and have someone mix up the pile or rotate the make a cup sculpture. circle of kids. Relays can be composed of teams each adding a cup to the pyramid and the team that finishes At a signal, everyone races for the pile, finds his first wins the game. Then the cups are ready for shoes, laces them up, and puts them on. a ball knock down. The first child finished and standing is the winThe first team that successfully knocks down ner! the complete set of cups is the winner.

Resources: Fun Attic www.funattic.com/ President’s Challenge http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/program_details/physical_ fitness/events_shuttlerun.aspx Jump Bunch http://www.jumpbunch.com/kidsfitnessgames.html

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; —Psalm 92:1

†

Five Fun Ways to Get Kids Moving

ing. Put "Go Time" on the family calendar and let everyone come up with fun things do to such as: bike riding, a neighborhood hike, family tag, jumping rope, dancing, or hoolahoop sessions.

2. Feet First: Instead of driving them everywhere, let them walk whenever possible - to school, to the library or to a friend's house. When you do drive, park at the far end of the parking lot, furthest from your destination. Encourage them to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Give them an inexpensive pedometer to help them track their steps each day.

3. Move for a Cause: There are many local charity events that involve physical activity. Walks, runs, bike rides and even jumping rope for charity are fun ways that kids can help others while helping themselves. Make sure they have plenty Photo courtesy of Fotolia of time to train before the event and have the proper equipment they need. (Family Features) Physical activity is essential for a healthy 4. Cool Competition: Whether it's soccer, volleyball, martial lifestyle. And now, more than ever, it's important to get kids arts, dance or swimming, working with and competing engaged in physical activity for their long-term health. against others develops good social skills along with physiDecreased opportunities for exercise and increased con- cal ones. Don't have a league or a team in your area? You can sumption of calories are just part of the problem. Recent always start one. studies have shown that 8- to 18-year-olds average 7 1/2 hours a day using entertainment media such as TV, computers, cell phones and video games. All of that has added up to 17 percent of all children in this country being obese. That obesity rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has tripled since just one generation ago.

Go Natural: Kids don't need expensive equipment or a

formal playing field to get moving. Let them run around the back yard and create their own fun. Encourage them to climb trees, use playground equipment or just play kick the can. Take advantage of the natural beauty of your area to go hiking, biking or rock climbing.

Obese children and adolescents are at what the CDC calls an To help kids get more active and enjoy physical fitness, "alarmingly high risk" for elevated blood pressure, cholester- Sports Authority, Inc. has launched a national contest that ol, diabetes and for becoming obese adults. taps kids' natural energy and creativity. The Sports Authority Move It Challenge is a national invention competition deFortunately, there are things parents and caregivers can do to signed to uncover exciting new youth-created sporting and help reduce the risk of obesity for the children they love. One backyard games. A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded of the most important is to get them moving. to the winner, with four finalists each receiving $1,000. Most kids won't do something if it's not enjoyable, so here The contest runs through January 3, 2011 and is free to enter. are five fun ways to get your kids moving and on their way To learn more, get inspiration and helpful tips at to a healthier life. www.moveitchallenge.com.

Family Go Time: Doing things together sets a good Source: By Kids for Kids

example for the kids and creates some healthy family bondÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

A Toast to the

Holiday Roast For a free "Great Gathering Guide and Cookbook" filled with delicious recipes from Omaha Steaks, call 1-800-2289055, or visit www.OmahaSteaks.com.

Roast Buyer's Guide Use this rule of thumb to determine how much meat you need to purchase per serving: -Boneless Roast: 1/2 pound, uncooked -Bone-In Roast: 1 pound, uncooked -Standing Rib Roast, also known as a Prime Rib Roast: allow 2 servings per rib Rib Roast

hen it comes to holiday entertaining, there is nothing more elegant - or easy - than serving a beautiful roast. The elegance factor we can all understand, but easy? It's true. There is no need to be intimi2 dated by a roast ever again. Tender roasts are always cooked uncovered using dry heat methods, which results in producing the flavorful, deep brown crusty exterior. It's also important to allow the roast to rest before carving to ensure that the juices in the center have time to redistribute for maximum flavor and tenderness.

2 1 1 1 ½ 2 ½

Roasted Baby Red Potatoes Serves 4 to 6 pounds baby red potatoes tablespoons olive oil tablespoon garlic, chopped teaspoon rosemary, chopped teaspoon oregano, chopped cup Romano cheese, grated teaspoons kosher salt teaspoon black pepper, ground

By following a few simple guidelines, you can easily prepare Preheat oven to 250°F. and serve a holiday roast that will receive rave reviews from Wash and quarter potatoes. Add potatoes to a bowl and mix with remaining ingredients. all your guests.

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Place potatoes on a foil lined sheet pan. Bake for 45 minutes. Stir potatoes well, being sure to flip them all over.

Holiday Green Beans Serves 4 to 6

Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Bake potatoes an additional 30 minutes or until brown. 1

Blue Cheese and Cabernet Sauvignon Demi Glace Serves 4 to 6 ½ 2 1 ½ 1 2

teaspoon olive oil tablespoons shallots, finely chopped teaspoon garlic, finely chopped cup Cabernet Sauvignon cup Demi Glace* ounces Maytag Blue Cheese, crumbled

1 1 6 2 ½

pound green beans, trimmed lemon, cut in half cup croutons, coarsely ground slices bacon, cooked and coarsely chopped tablespoons butter, thinly sliced teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Blanch green beans in boiling water or steamer for 6 to 8 minutes until al dente. Cool in an ice bath and drain well.

Spread cooled green beans in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Squeeze lemon juice evenly over green beans. Sprinkle top In a sauce pan heat olive oil. Sauté shallots and garlic until of green beans with ground croutons and bacon bits. transparent. Place butter slices evenly throughout the dish. Sprinkle salt Add Cabernet Sauvignon to pan and reduce by half. Add over the top. Demi Glace to pan and slowly bring to a boil. Stir in blue cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with Beef Roast or Steak. Prepare the casserole a day ahead of time and place in the *Demi Glace can be made from scratch or purchased from a refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed. specialty food store such as Omaha Steaks. Source: Omaha Steaks

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Bring an Appetizer to Share

Set a festive mood. Pillar candles, strings of lights, evergreens and holiday music will create a merry atmosphere at a nominal cost.

f finances are tight this year, celebrate the holidays by hosting a shared small plates party where everyone can get together to have fun without breaking the bank. Small plates continue to be hot in trendy restaurants because people love to sample little bites and taste a variety of dishes. Ask each guest to bring an appetizer and a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic drink. With a collection of nibbles and libations, you're ready to party.

Consider an Irish cheese board to introduce guests to new tastes. Cheeses labeled "Kerrygold," imported from Ireland, come in a variety of types to please every taste, and are widely available in local supermarkets. These cheeses are made with milk from grass-fed cows raised on small family farms; no growth hormones are used.

For your cheese board, try Dubliner, a crowd-pleasing, fullDecor flavored cheese with a balanced sweetness and the bite of an Set a festive mood. Pillar candles, strings of lights, ever- aged Parmesan. Or consider Kerrygold Aged Cheddar, noted greens and holiday music will create a merry atmosphere at for its rich, round flavor and smooth body. It was a gold a nominal cost. medal winner at the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest. Blarney Castle, a creamy and mild, semi-soft, partFor an elegant tone, use china plates and wine glasses if you skim cheese, offers a pleasant contrast. have them. But don't use fragile or expensive ones that would leave you devastated if they break. Other flavorful Irish cheeses include Duhallow, a farmhouse cheese from renowned Irish cheese maker Mary Burns; and Food Ivernia, a hard cheese aged for three years to bring out The buffet will grow as guests arrive, but to provide for the complex flavors. first guests, have a cheese board ready. It takes no time to prep and is always popular. ÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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For a store locator for these Irish cheeses, go to ously, add the milk in a steady stream. Continue to whisk to www.kerrygold.com/usa/locator.php. keep the flour mixture from creating lumps. Stir until smooth and creamy. Lower the heat to simmer and cook the sauce 5 Logistics to 7 minutes. Stir from time to time. Set up separate stations for food and wine to keep traffic moving. Clear off kitchen counters so guests can prep their Gently stir the cheese into the sauce to reach a smooth, silken dishes. Have extra platters and serving utensils available for consistency. Remove from the heat and add the honey and people who forget to bring them. 1/4 cup of the walnuts. Purchase a few extra bottles of wine and non-alcoholic drinks to start the party off and to ensure there is enough to drink if guests forget to bring their contribution. If you end up not needing the extras, repurpose for the next festive occasion.

When cool, refrigerate. Best if made one day before serving. To serve, bring the dip to room temperature or warm in a double boiler or gently in the microwave, to soften. Scatter the remaining walnuts over the top. Perfect with celery hearts, sliced fennel, endive leaves, and thin wedges of crisp apples.

Here are some delicious appetizer recipes to share. Some ingredients, such as smoked salmon, are pricey, but a little goes a long way.

Smoked Salmon, Lemon Butter and Chive Tartine Makes 24 pieces

Each recipe makes 24 pieces. The recipes can easily be ½ cup (4 ounces) Kerrygold Salted Butter, at room temperature doubled or tripled, depending on the length of the party and 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice the appetite of your guests.

Dubliner Cheese, Honey and Walnut Dip Makes about 1 3/4 cups

½ 4 8 2

teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to 6 slices firm white bread (country, potato, etc.) ounces smoked salmon, sliced thin tablespoons minced chives

¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon roughly chopped walnuts 1 ½ cups whole milk 2 tablespoons Kerrygold Salted Butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 ¾ cups (5 ounces) grated Kerrygold Dubliner cheese 1 ½ tablespoons honey

Combine the butter with the lemon peel and lemon juice. Stir in the pepper. Best if made one or two days before using. Keep refrigerated. For serving, Heat oven to 325°F. Place the walnuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet and toast the butter should be Smoked Salmon, Lemon Butter and Chive Tartine until lightly browned, about 5 to 10 minutes; watch carefully very soft. to prevent burning. Transfer to a small plate to cool. To make the tartine, cover the entire surface of each piece of Heat the milk in a small pot over low heat just until a bubble bread with a single layer of smoked salmon. Trim the crusts begins to break on the surface; remove from heat. In another from the bread and cut into 1 1/2-inch squares. Spread a small pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Just before it small amount of butter in the middle of each piece. Sprinkle starts to foam, while whisking, add the flour. Cook, stirring 1/4 teaspoon chives over the butter. frequently, until the mixture forms a smooth paste and pulls from the bottom and sides of the pot. While whisking vigor© 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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Cut 24 slices of cheese 1/8-inch thick. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the pesto on each piece of toasted bread. Top with a piece of cheese. Serve at room temperature.

Aged Cheddar and Bacon in Puff Pastry Makes 24 pieces 2 1 1 6 3 1 Crostini with Blarney Castle Cheese and Sundried Tomato Pesto

Crostini with Blarney Castle Cheese and Sundried Tomato Pesto Makes 24 pieces 1 24 ¼ 3 ½ ½ ½ 1

cup (about 4 ounces) sundried tomato halves slices French bread (baguette) cut 1/4-inch thick cup slivered almonds tablespoons olive oil teaspoon paprika or Spanish pimenton teaspoon minced fresh thyme teaspoon kosher salt package (7 ounces) Kerrygold Blarney Castle cheese

Heat oven to 350°F. To reconstitute the tomatoes, put them in a shallow bowl and cover with 1 1/2 cups simmering water. When cool, drain the tomatoes and reserve the water. Meanwhile, arrange the bread in a single layer on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, turning once. Place the almonds in a single layer on another cookie sheet and toast until lightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes; watch carefully to prevent burning.

tablespoons flour piece (12 x 12 inches) frozen puff pastry, defrosted egg yolk ounces sliced bacon cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces tablespoons Dijon mustard package (7 ounces) Kerrygold Aged Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 375°F. On a floured work surface cut the puff pastry into 24 scalloped or straight-edged 2-inch rounds. Or use a scalloped 2-inch tartlet pan as a cutter. ComAged Cheddar and Bacon in Puff Pastry bine the egg yolk with 2 teaspoons water and brush a little of the mixture across the top of each piece. Bake according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a frying pan large enough to hold the bacon in a single layer, cook bacon until lightly browned and not too crispy. Transfer to paper towels. To assemble the appetizers, using a serrated knife, carefully cut the puff pastry in half like a hamburger bun. Spread 1/2 teaspoon mustard on the bottom of each piece. Place a piece of bacon on the mustard. Cut 12 slices of cheese just less than 1/4-inch thick and cut the cheese slices in half; place a piece on the bacon. Top with the other half of puff pastry. For serving, arrange the puff pastry on a cookie sheet and warm in a 275°F oven until the cheese just starts to wilt, 5 to 7 minutes.

Roughly chop the tomatoes then pulse in a food processor with the almonds and oil. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved water, Variation: Instead of bacon and mustard, spread puff pastry the paprika, thyme, and salt. Process until smooth but not with fruit chutney. pureed, using a rubber spatula to push down any of the pesto that accumulates on the side of the bowl. Best if made a day Source: Irish Dairy Board before serving.

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Cooking in the House: the Time Is Rice: Great Holiday Dinners By Jennifer Cote Author of From the Land of Milk and Honey, a cookbook/devotional

The headline's funny, but the message is no joke: Rice is so good for you. Using whole grain brown rice, wild rice and veggies, the following recipe tastes great and it's healthy too. Plus, it's quite convenient to have a recipe with do-ahead Chicken W/Wild Rice Stuffing steps; around the holidays, time can be scarce. Chicken and Black Cherry Sauce Stuffed with Wild Rice is an elegant entrée that fits the bill, This recipe is enough for a larger crowd; you can cut the recipe for convenience, taste, and health. in half if necessary. Also, the wild rice keeps well and can even be Heading up the food committee at our church, I proposed that we serve the chicken and rice dish for our annual Women's Christmas Dinner. We needed menu items that would be manageable, economical, and tasty for a very large group of us, so we took the following recipe and multiplied it to make a wonderful meal for two hundred and sixty women. We skipped stuffing the breasts, instead serving the rice on the side, with the Black Cherry Sauce poured over some baked chicken breast. It was easier than actually stuffing the chicken breast, but it was still a treat. Yes, we can take shortcuts when we have to! The last time we finished off a batch of the wild rice, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV): "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." The recipe tasted so nourishing and healthy; I really liked the idea that I was giving my body some "high-octane" fuel. All the better run the course God has set out for me!

frozen, to make a quick, easy meal at a later date. This recipe will serve 15 or so. 3 ½ c. water 1 c. wild rice 3-4 bay leaf 1 carrot, peeled 3 c. water 2 c. brown rice 1 small onion, diced 2 stalks celery, chopped splash of olive oil 2 ½ tsp. Vege-sal (found at Health Food Stores, or substitute 2 tsp. salt) 1 ½ c. walnuts 1/3 c. frozen orange juice concentrate ½ tsp. thyme 15 half chicken breasts with skin on 8 oz. can of pitted black cherries Juice of 8 oz. can black cherries, plus enough stock or more black cherry juice to make 1 ½ c. liquid 3 TBS. brown sugar 1 TBS. cornstarch

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Prepare Wild Rice Stuffing ahead of time, even a day earlier. In pot with a lid, bring to boil: > 3 1/2 c. water Add the following to the pot, to precook the wild rice: > 1 c. wild rice > 3-4 bay leaf > 1 carrot, peeled, left whole to cook until tender Let simmer 1 hour or so. After pre-cooking, remove carrot, let cool, then dice. Set aside. Add to wild rice in pot, bringing to boil: > 3 c. water Add brown rice and, then simmer with a lid on for 45 min. more: > 2 c. brown rice Grill in pan until tender: > 1 small onion, diced > 2 stalks celery, chopped > the pre-cooked, diced carrot > hearty splash of olive oil To the pot of cooked rice, add: > The grilled celery, onion, carrot > 2 1/2 tsp. Vege-sal (found in health food stores, or substitute 2 tsp. salt) > 1 1/2 c. walnuts > 1/3 c. frozen orange concentrate > 1/2 tsp. thyme In 13 x 9 " dish, use: > 15 half chicken breasts with skin on Lift skin from the chicken and stuff with: > approx. 1/3 c. of cooked Wild Rice mixture Bake at 375Â° for 50 min. or so, until chicken is golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, make Black Cherry Sauce. Black Cherry Sauce Turn pan on high, stirring until it comes to a boil. Lower Drain one 8 oz. can of pitted black cherries, set cherries heat, let sauce cook 1 min. more, then add reserved cherries. Serve over the chicken. aside, use juice in sauce. Mix together in sauce pan: > Juice of 8 oz. can black cherries, plus enough stock or more black cherry juice to make 1 1/2 c. liquid > 3 TBS. brown Find more of Jennifer Cote's sugar > 1 TBS. cornstarch recipes online at pccuisine.com

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A Showy, Snowy Holiday Pie (Family Features) When it comes to entertaining, especially during the holidays, I love to finish the party off with a beautiful dessert. And if it's as easy as it is pretty, it just makes my holiday even merrier.

Photo courtesy of Nestlé

For more fantastic holiday dessert recipes, go to This Peppermint Snow Pie is just such a dessert - gorgeous www.VeryBestBaking.com. to look at, scrumptious to eat, and very easy to make. And I have a few tips to make it even easier: Peppermint Snow Pie Makes 8 servings

Just the right crust. I like making a fresh graham cracker crust - and it's a snap, too. Prepare your chocolate graham cracker crumbs by either whizzing them in the food processor or putting broken graham crackers in a resealabe bag and crushing them with a rolling pin. To help you press the crumb mixture evenly into the pie plate, use a flat-bottomed measuring cup. Getting gelatin right. Putting the gelatin in a small amount of water to soften is called "blooming." It's best to use the bloomed gelatin right away, before it starts to set into a solid. If it does start to set, put the bowl in a small saucepan filled with an inch or so of water. Warm it over medium-high heat until it softens again.

CRUST 1 1/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs (8 crackers) 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/3 cup butter, melted FILLING 1 envelope (7 grams) unflavored gelatin 2 tablespoons boiling water 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk 1 cup (6 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided 1/2 cup coarsely chopped hard peppermint candies (about 24), divided

Pretty peppermint pieces. Put your peppermint candies into a resealable bag and break them up with a rolling pin or the PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. flat side of a meat mallet. You can crush extra candies and keep them in the freezer for the next time you make this FOR CRUST: COMBINE crumbs and sugar in pie plate. Stir in butter. show-stopping pie. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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Mix It Up With Jenny BAKE for 8 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack. FOR FILLING: PLACE gelatin in small bowl; stir in water. Let soften for 1 minute. HEAT evaporated milk and softened gelatin in small saucepan over medium heat; stirring constantly with whisk until mixture is dissolved and hot. Remove from heat; stir in morsels and peppermint extract until completely melted and smooth. Pour into medium bowl. Refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cool to touch. Gently whisk in 2 cups whipped topping. Sprinkle 1/4 cup candies over bottom of crust. Pour filling over pie crust. REFRIGERATE for 2 hours or until set. Spread remaining whipped topping over center of filling. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup candies. Serve immediately. Nutrition Information per serving: 470 calories; 210 calories from fat; 23g total fat; 18g saturated fat; 35mg cholesterol; 250mg sodium; 56g carbohydrate; 1g fiber; 38g sugars; 7g protein; 25% Calcium

Jenny Harper is Consumer Test Kitchen Project Manager for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com. Source: Nestlé

Cookbook Review Capitol Hill Cooks: Recipes from the White House, Congress, and All of the Past Presidents By Linda Bauer Reviewed by Ila Jo Harrell for The Fit Christian

Two thumbs up for Capital Hill Cooks by Linda Bauer! I am such a cookbook ‘freak’ that I read them cover to cover. This cookbook was fun to read with many interesting recipes and great tidbits of info, such as where the recipes originated, when a recipes was used (like a family gathering), or how well liked it was. I prepared “Hushwee Mediterranean Dish” from Representative Nick Randall, W. Virgina. I chose that recipe because of its intriguing name and because it uses lamb, which my husband loves. The ingredients were things I have on hand, the directions were clear, and it served up a wonderful main dish for our family meal. From the book: “Capitol Hill Cooks contains recipes from members of Congress, as well as every president from George Washington (cranberry pudding) to Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd Lincoln’s vanilla almond cake) to Barack Obama (the Obama family’s linguini).” Capitol Hill Cooks will raise funds for Homes for Our Troops to help build or adapt homes for severely injured servicemen and women. Visit www.homesforourtroops.org for more information.

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By Dennis Ellingson, Pastor for The Fit Christian

With these Bible verses in mind, “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving” Psalm 95:2 and “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4 James Bradford, the governor the Plymouth plantation or colony, called for a holy celebration, commemoration and feast. Bradford based this feast upon the biblical fall feasts that the Jewish people For many years I have studied about the Pilgrims who landed of the Bible times celebrated. at Plymouth Rock in 1620. This stalwart and courageous people were motivated to seek new lands for one purpose and The first guest of honor was to be God for His provision and that was to live out and share their faith. God led them to the love. Next invited were the natives who had been friendly North American continent and we owe more than we realize and helpful to them. Ninety of them showed up! How would for the heritage they have given us. One of the most popular you like to plan Thanksgiving dinner for that many guests? blessings, of course, is that holiday we celebrate the third The natives did not come empty handed. They had hunted and brought with them five dressed out deer and at least a Thursday of November, Thanksgiving. dozen turkeys.

The Herbs and Foods of the First Thanksgiving

Our holiday celebration looks a bit different than that first one. It was celebrated in the early fall, the feast that accom- The three day dinner also consisted of Duck, Goose, Swan, panied it went on for three days(!) and the menu was consid- Passenger Pigeon (now extinct), Codfish, Sea Bass and probably clams and lobster. erably different than what we traditionally serve today. The main reason for the Thanksgiving commemoration is different for many today. Yes, it is a time to be thankful for your family, health and prosperity and that your favorite football team won but it doesn’t seem to go any farther than that. For the Pilgrims it was a time to celebrate the “Providence” of God; or the providing nature of God for those who love Him and those He loves.

There would have been many vegetables such as carrots, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets, onion, garlic, corn (including popcorn) plus wild and cultivated fruit. The Pilgrims introduced the natives to one of my favorites: pie. None of this was eaten until William Bradford gave a long prayer of Thanksgiving for the favor God had shown them all.

As a pastor I marvel at those folks’ piety and bravery. They took on the challenge of an arduous sea voyage and then to start a new life in a land they did not know while all the time seeking to live out their Christian walk. The first group of Pilgrims was sorely tested in the harsh winter of this new land. Nearly half of them died the first year.

The traditional herbs that would have been used by them would have been ones we use today, Mint, Sage, Parsley, Thyme, Marjoram, Savory and Rosemary. These days the ladies buy a bottle of Poultry seasoning which contains similar herbs. In those days they would have been used fresh or dried as they gathered them throughout the summer and fall.

But they knew that God was good and after a successful spring and summer of farming, hunting and gathering their The natives introduced the Pilgrims to Wild Strawberries and storage sheds were full and they were ready to face the next Blackberries and showed them how to use the leaves. They also introduced them to Sassafras, Bee Balm and Birch Bark. tough New England winter. In reality God had provided much in the land for the natives © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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to survive on for centuries and the Pilgrims to discover and First on my list is Rosemary. In fact in some places the utilize. Rosemary bush is used as a Christmas tree. What a fragrant tree to have especially if it is a live one, planted after the That seems to be the way of it with God. In my new book, holidays. Rosemary is steeped deep in Christian lore. A story “God’s Wild Herbs” we explore herbs and edible plants that that is told that while Joseph, Mary and the new born baby we can find across our great nation. We have thousands to Jesus were in flight to Egypt that they stopped one night to discover and choose from. And some plants have naturalized camp next to a Rosemary bush. The Rosemary was in bloom and spread from seeds and cuttings from our ancestors. I but with white blossoms. Joseph draped Mary’s cloak over have begun to look at plants and weeds very differently these the bush and when they awoke in the morning the flowers days. had turned blue, now the plant’s common color. This symbolized humbleness for the knowledge that the Creator Babe I like to think first, here is something God has provided, and was there. then secondly, how did He mean for us to use it. Some herbs, like Tobacco, are used for wrong purposes and are downright In fact the Rosemary legends continue; Rosemary grows to deadly. But if we use what God has provided for good uses a height that is no taller than the average man and takes thirty then for bad purposes it is truly our fault if something bad three years to do that. It is said that it is done in reverence to happens to us because of that. Can’t blame God for smoking the God/man who lived upon earth for 33 years. related lung cancer can we? Sage is also a Christmas herb and is associated with immorNonetheless, the Pilgrims were very thankful for what God tality. A life everlasting is the aspect of God that is now had provided: A new place of freedom to live out and share given to humankind, because of the birth, death and the their faith and new friends who were there to teach and help. raising from the grave that Jesus our Lord did on behalf of Though they were sorely tested, that testing developed a us. deep trust for God which they practiced with great implicitly. To read more about the Pilgrims I highly suggest “The Light Lavender is a Christmas herb because it symbolizes purity and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. and virtue. Certainly those are qualities that Mary and Joseph ascribed to and were carried out in perfection by the Lord. The Herbs of Christmas “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with Rue is an herb that is associated with grace. This is interesting because the name has to do with sin and then they want gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” to repent because of our imperfect ways. The mercy and grace offered by Jesus is so we do not have to “rue the day”, If we take a moment to read the Christmas story then we each and every day, of our lives, caught in the web of sin. know two herbs were present at the first Christmas, the birth God offers us the way out. of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Those costly and rare herbs were Frankincense and Myrrh. They remain costly Thyme has to do with bravery. In thinking about the Christ and rare today and we will discuss them at the end of this we might think that it would have little to do with Christmas but more to do with the resurrection celebration. Perhaps a article. way to think about it is that God did not have to come to There are numerous herbs that are related to our Christian earth, He lived in glory but choose to come to earth anyway, celebration of Jesus’ birth and Christmas as it has developed and as a babe born in the most humble of conditions. Then He chose to lay His life down for us, not just on the day of over the centuries. his crucifixion but every day. See “Herbs” page 22 © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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Herbs cont...

The sweet herb Bedstraw is associated with the material placed in the stock animal’s manger that held the baby Jesus. Bedstraw is used for its quality as a tea, that uplifts and calms. Because of Jesus’ birth we are uplifted that God would come to walk among us and we discover that He brings that peace that passes understanding. Even the herb Mistletoe had its beginnings in Christian lore but I still hope to steal a kiss from a loved one during the Christmas season. One way to add to your celebration is to make a Christmas wreath of these herbs and then after the holiday you can use them for their culinary and medicinal purposes. As mentioned I would save Myrrh and Frankincense to mention last. We of course associate these with the gifts of the magi to the baby Jesus. But why bring such things as these? Gold we could understand, the parents would need that for their long sojourn in Egypt. Both costly and rare herbs were not associated with the beginning of life, rather the end of life. These herbs were most used at the time of burial—to treat or embalm the body. So why give a new born babe such a thing that was just beginning life? Gold symbolized the coming King. Frankincense symbolized that God would come to be with us, in person and in flesh. Myrrh symbolized His willing sacrifice for our sins. The magi that brought these gifts were the least likely to understand this, they were not part of the chosen people of Israel instead Gentile stargazers and yet they sought, at great expense and risk, to find the Messiah. We are the who-so-ever that God seeks. He seeks us so much and so hard that the promise of the Bible is that if we seek, knock and ask the door of God will open widely for us and we may enter in. I love these holidays and anything, including the herbs and foods we serve, that I can find that helps me to draw nearer to the purpose and the Savior just makes these holidays more blessed. † © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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Kathy Bond-Borie, Guest Columnist

Fertilize. Use a dilute soluble fertilizer according to label directions when plants are in active growth and flowering. When plants take a rest, stop fertilizing. Once a month, flush the pots for a few minutes until water drains from the holes to remove any built-up fertilizer salts.

Caring for Blooming Gifts Poinsettias, African violets, cyclamen, azaleas, holiday cacti, and kalanchoe - all are popular holiday gifts to give and receive. But once they are settled in their new homes, how do we keep them healthy and thriving? Here are some tips to keep in mind. Include the key points on a care tag with the plants you give as gifts. Keep soil moist, not wet. Saturate the soil with room-temperature water in the morning so foliage can dry before nighttime. If water drains out immediately, the plant is rootbound and needs to be repotted with fast-draining soilless potting mix. Water cyclamen and African violets from the bottom by setting them in a tray of water for a few minutes and letting the soil soak up water. Turn on the lights. Flowering houseplants often don't rebloom because of insufficient light. Place plants in a south-facing window or set them under full-spectrum grow lights.

Raise humidity. Many flowering houseplant species are accustomed to high year-round humidity. Run a humidifier near the plants, or group the plants together on a 2-inch layer of pebbles in a tray of water. The water should not touch the pots. Control pests. Oftentimes you can control spider mites by dunking plants upside down in a sink full of soapy water. Sprays of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil will control many pests. For more tips and garden information visit www.garden.org. A former floral designer and interior plantscaper, Kathy Bond-Borie has spent 20 years as a garden writer/editor, including her current role as Horticultural Editor for the National Gardening Association. She loves designing with plants, and spends more time playing in the garden - planting and trying new combinations - than sitting and appreciating it.

Provide optimum temperatures. Indoor temperatures of 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit are usually adequate for most flowering houseplants, although Courtesy of Family Features tropicals such as holiday cacti and gardenias need cooler Source: National Gardening Association temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit to set buds.

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Enjoy the God who loves you more than you ever dreamed possible. He will take your breath away!

God loves us more than we know. He gives us more than we can ask or dream. He’s unrestrained . . . excessive . . . outrageous . . . Over the Top.

over thet o p speakers

patsy clairmont

drama by

marilyn meberg

sandi patty

anita renfroe

lisa whelchel

nicole johnson

musical guests

mary beth and steven curtis chapman

mandisa

special guest

andy andrews

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God …? Romans 11:33 (MSG)

Greensboro, November 12–13, 2010 Coliseum Group Leader Name Contact Information

NC Greensboro

Over the Top weekend Friday 10:00 am – 3:30 pm 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Dates, locations, times and talent subject to change. Visit womenoffaith.com/ greensboro to see who will appear. No refunds/exchanges. Over the Top is a production of Thomas Nelson Live Events.

By Nancy Napolitano For The Fit Christian

It’s quite evident that lifestyle, more than anything else, affects our food choices. Easier is not always healthier. It requires not only advance planning to continue to make healthy food choices, but each day must be steeped in prayer/devotion to make each bite count. Our excuses are This past week, have you been eating to live or living to eat? just that, excuses ... every one of us has a good excuse or two. Maybe a little of both? It’s a scary question, but one we all Stress? Oh, yeah ... lots of it. But we can rise above it with need to answer ... honestly! conscious choice.

Pillar Talk

If you answered, “living to eat,” you are not alone. Recently, I completed a life study group based on the book, The Seven Pillars of Health by Dr. Don Colbert. We all learned so much from this book; it’s hard to know where to begin. But let’s engage in a little “Pillar Talk.”

Without recounting the specifics, my biggest lifestyle change has been giving up Diet Coke entirely. For many years, I have forsaken drinking water for drinking Diet For starters, the overall awareness/consciousness this Coke every day. For two Getting fit for Jesus, Seven Pilbook/study produces is well worth the read. Basically, the lars Group, Rockbridge Church) months, I have not had a diet Seven Pillars are: coke. My exercise is now more consistent than sporadic. Our Seven Pillars study group Ÿ Water in 50 days managed to lose 50 pounds! I emphasize that this Ÿ Exercise study is not about quick weight loss, but lasting lifestyle Ÿ Sleep and Rest changes. The weight loss that materialized is a result of Ÿ Living Food beginning to follow the “Seven Pillars.” Ÿ Nutritional Supplements Ÿ Detoxification Ÿ Coping with Stress For the first time in my up and Upon first glance all this seems logical. You may even say you are doing a few, or even most of these things. However, having faithfully read each chapter, “devouring” each word, I realize that not only were our bodies created by a marvelous God, but a God that provided us with all the essentials we need to survive. I believe we take this for granted. The scriptures that are quoted serve to prove that if we are to carry God’s will out for our lives we need healthy bodies to accomplish these tasks.

down weight loss/weight gain, I can say I really feel successful. I’ve lost seven pounds, feel so much better, and I have a partner engaged in the healthy lifestyle-my husband. Years ago, he gave up exercise following a knee injury ... now he’s up and Nancy with her husband, Pat, moving again, too. We have a her partner in life and lifestyle change. Saturday morning walking group now that we hate missing!

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PIC Women of Faith Conference 2010

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Women of Faith Conference in San Antonio with a few other women. Our conscious choice was to walk several miles, rather than drive and take it easy.

Even better, I had my physical yesterday and my total cholesterol, according to my Doctor is “enviable”! My HDL (good cholesterol) went up and my LDL (bad cholesterol) went down....YIPPPEEEE! I can only say one thing. It is a very favorite saying these days...NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! So many times I’ve gotten discouraged, but I haven’t given up ... I will succeed, and what’s more, God’s given me a vision to somehow influence the lives of others along the way in this struggle. Hope I can be up for the challenge!

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Spotlight: Sondra Carmen By David Luther for The Fit Christian This month The Fit Christian is looking at a local church effort to build the physical body of Christ. First Christian Church of Cookeville, Tennessee is one body that benefits from their own fitness outreach.

Sondra Carmen is a certified fitness instructor who serves both the church and the secular community through her fitness outreach.

FC: Sondra, tell us a little about the path that led you to the Lord and this outreach.

SC: My main career is a Park Ranger with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. I love the outdoors and love being active. I am married to Mike Carmen, Minister of Christian Education at First Christian Church (FCC), Cookeville TN.I also teach 3rd & 4th grade Sunday school. I started teaching fitness for a local university and parks and recreation department and became certified with the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) in 1992 and later achieved certifications from Fitour. While these are titles and things I enjoy doing, they are not who I am. I am a Christian who loves Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus gave me a gift of teaching fitness and helping to motivate others to good health. As a Christian, I believe that in order to minister to others, Christians should be physically fit as well as spiritually fit. In 2004, an opportunity to provide a free fitness outreach ministry to the church and community opened up at First Christian. After 12 years of teaching for fitness studios in the community, I made the change to teaching for free as a ministry to the community.

FC:

What is the format of your fitness

outreach?

SC: The fitness class is a free ministry that I offer at my church two nights a week; Monday and Thursday. Before class starts, we are busy socializing and catching up on the highlights of each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Then we gather and take prayer requests. We corporately lift up prayer of praise and intercession before the music begins or the first step starts. Jesus is put first! After prayer we engage into the fitness portion of the class. FC: What kind of training do you employ in these classes? SC: The class format varies; each class is different; one night we may start with cardio, the next mat work. Participants are encourÂŠ 2010 The Fit Christian. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of His Work Christian Publishing.

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FC:

That’s a good point. My experience shows that activities in Christian faith often bring a practical demonstration of the word to life. From your web site I read a scriptural reminder: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 9:19-20 How can we put this into practice?

SC: One of the ways we can honor God with our bodies is by eating right and exercising; a well known, but often neglected teaching of Scripture. As we all well know, when our bodies are properly taken care of and treated with respect it becomes easier to be spiritually disciplined and maintain a positive, spiritual, healthy lifestyle. In this life, the body and spirit are made to work together. God has given us a mission to go and make disciples; to share his free gift of salvation to our friends and family. I believe we can be a much better witness when we are in good health and thriving both spiritually and physically. The greatest motivator, however, is the literal fact that the Holy Spirit actually resides inside my physical body! I need to take care of my physical temple exercise and healthy eating. I hope that others will FC: Do you use any specialized equipment for these through notice my physical health and energy and they will in turn classes? want the same for themselves. Then I would hope they would SC: We started off with a sound system, mats and resis- want the spiritual gift of Jesus and would too honor God with tance bands provided by the church. We later took large their bodies. office rubber bands and interlinked them to make additional resistance bands for leg exercises. We were also very fortu- FC: It sounds like you are approaching the ultimate nate to have had some Reebok Steps donated to us from the multi-tasking here! local YMCA and hand weights from Leisure Services of the City Parks and Recreation Department. This equipment SC: The mission for FCC fitness ministry is three-fold: 1) needed a little “love” before we could put it into service but to provide participants an opportunity to enhance physical is has helped me to offer a more variety of exercises and stewardship of their bodies in order to improve their health physical challenges. It is wonderful how agencies in our through exercise; 2) to heighten Christian fellowship and community who offer similar exercise programs have been build relationships through contact in an informal setting; 3) and to provide an opportunity through which the unso open and supportive of our mission. churched members of the community can experience Chrisfaith in a real and perFC: So what is a typical class doing in each session? tian sonal way. I believe we are SC: Every class is different in the presentation of exercis- regularly meeting our mises, but the three basic fitness components are covered: car- sion. diovascular, strength and flexibility. Class concludes with a small devotional so each person leaves having both their FCC fitness program is physical bodies and spiritual lives challenged. Participants open to the community and are working at their personal level to reach their own goals. I have about 50-percent parI always start off the class at an easy pace and progressively ticipation of church memincrease the intensity level by level; similar to climbing bers and 50-percent of those stairs. Each person decides how much exertion they want or who do not attend the need based on their own ability and any limitations they may church. Mostly ladies attend have such as knee or back concerns. The program is focused the classes, and their ages on success, so that each person succeeds; and safety, so they range from early 20’s to 60’s. I happen to be 45 and going strong! will be able to return and continue physical improvement. aged, regardless of fitness ability or interest, to find some avenue they can achieve success and enjoy. It’s their class and they need to progress at their own, safe pace. At present I am leading burst training, which is similar to interval or sprint training. After a warm-up the class is challenged, in a low to medium impact format, to go as hard as they can for 30 to 60 seconds. Then we cool down and recover for about one minute. We will cycle through this six to eight times. Then we incorporate some form of resistance training and mat work.

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Sondra cont...

FC: So this can really help the body of the church to grow along with the physical body. But I suspect you have even more multi-tasking along this path. SC: Before we had hand weights donated to our program,

masculine. Regardless of attendance in group fitness or one-on-one with a bench press in a gym, the important aspect is that all persons, male or female, find some aspect of physical fitness that they enjoy, dedicate themselves to it regularly, and reap the benefits of a fit and healthy lifestyle.

the first Monday of each month was designated as “Food for Fitness” night. Each participant would bring two 16 oz canned food items that will be used in basic strength training exercises. At the conclusion of the class, canned food items would be donated to the FCC Food Pantry. The food pantry at FCC exists to help people in our community, as well as those within the FCC family, who are in need of assistance FC: Schools often to place meals on their tables. Now that we have weights in skimp on gym classes as our program we will donate to the food pantry as needed in budgets go lean. Can the church contribute to the whole order to continue to reach out to others. family by your example?

SC: I certainly hope that the fitness ministry at FCC is Do you have any thoughts on getting the guys to reaching out to contribute to the entire family and neighborsign up for your classes? hoods. Anyone can participate, not just church members. As SC: We have had several men try out our program. Cur- each participant leaves our program, they return to their own rently we have one loyal and dedicated man that attends and homes. Hopefully moms, sisters, friends will share their all the ladies love him! I have learned that for any fitness healthy and spiritual lifestyle in their homes and within the activity to be successful, it must be one that the participant circles of their personal influence. The church can and enjoys doing and feels comfortable. In our community men should meet the spiritual and physical needs of their memtypically are found enjoying fitness activities that are sports bers and those within their community. While our church related; hiking, swimming, biking, running, weight lifting. offers a variety of programs to reach out into the community, To draw more men into group-oriented fitness classes, the the fitness program is just one method. † class format should be athletically challenging, avoid dance moves, and provide an atmosphere in which they can remain All photos courtesy and copyright 2010 of Sondra Carmen. FC:

Shake Weight–a Myth?

Exercise the Right Way

There is a device that has been in great controversy for some time. It has become so popular for its commercials that Saturday Night Live has even done its own parody regarding this device! Be that as it may, I too laughed out loud because it looked like nonsense. Well, after watching the infomercial, I decided to buy one for the sake of research. You may be surprised with my findings! I have used the Shake Weight device for about 8 weeks now. The most noticeable aspect is the fact that I have more of the elusive pump that so many search for! That’s right, even after many months of doing my P90X videos (which also work very well, in fact!), I still didn’t have that feeling of fullness in my muscles. That is, until I added a regimen of the Shake Weight. The six minute series of exercises designed by Chris Thomas [C.T.] can leave you wanting to put the silly tool down! Not because of boredom, but because your arms just blow up! The skin can only hold so much don’t ya know! Consistently, I find that the same is true with every workout.

Firming up with the Shake Weight is a great place to start for the ladies as well. It’s not all about the mass for them of course, and the DVD that comes with the Ladies version will put them through the paces once they have the motion down! It’s not battery operated and it takes some work to get that motion just right to feel the tension that you’re striving for.

Do I still get my chops busted for using the device? You bet! Today as a matter of fact! “Oh come on Doc, you’re a Now the claims are that it has the same intensity value of a Bodybuilder and former Strongman competitor. Are you 42 minute dumbbell program. I find that there is the sensa- serious?” As an athlete and a Doctor, I tell it like I see it. It tion of exhaustion after a workout program, and of course the works! pump with the standard blast of regular dumbbells, so I won’t be giving that up! But, to add in a couple of Shake To see the video online go to Weight Workouts during the week in between will give you www.buyshakeweightformen.com. more mass if that’s what you’re looking for! I’m back up to 19.5 inches of mass in my arm right now, and I do believe If you have any questions for me go to that the Shake Weight has helped me get there. Granted, www.DrMcDougle.com they’re not the 21 inch guns that I use to have, but I’m 45 Enjoy the challenge folks! years old this month and I think I can get them back!

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Exercise the Right Way

Present Your Body By Laurette Willis, Director of PraiseMoves, LLC www.PraiseMoves.com

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). While exercise was not a priority in biblical times, Paul instructs us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Each Image courtesy of iStock.com/bloodstone of us is advised to take care of our body since it is the “temple of the Holy Spirit.” Here’s a sobering question: do you think we’ll be required to give an accounting to the Lord for the stewardship of our bodies and how well we’ve taken care of them? That’s a frightening thought for most of us! “You are not your own,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19. “For you were bought at a price” (the shed blood of Jesus Christ). Could that mean your body is not yours, but the Lord’s? How well are we caring for the Lord’s property? The good news is that since your body belongs to the Lord, He has a vested interest in helping you care for it. Your body is not only the temple of His Holy Spirit, it’s what you need to be able to walk around on this earth and spread the good news that Jesus is Lord! The more fit and healthy you are, the greater the probability is that you will be around longer to carry out His will for your life. The enemy wants you to fail at your task, to fail horribly and go to Heaven before your time. He doesn’t really care that you’re going to Heaven—he just doesn’t want you to take anyone else with you! If your body is out-of-shape and lacking energy, it’s difficult to do all the Lord is calling you to do. But you and the Lord working together can change that! © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

“What?!” you ask. “The Lord needs MY help? But He’s omnipotent, all-powerful and in control!” Well, yes—and no. He is all-powerful, but He will not wrestle the cake fork out of your hand or pick up the strings like a grand marionette master and animate your body to take a brisk walk. We are the ones who have to exercise our will to exercise our body and “choose life.” We’ll discuss the “secret weapon” of choosing life in our next article. (Adapted from The Busy Woman’s Guide to Total Fitness by Laurette Willis, Harvest House Publishers) available at www.PraiseMoves.com. And now I’d like to invite you to get my free “Fit Favorites Devotional” and PraiseMoves FitNews. To get yours, go to http://praisemoves.com. © Laurette Willis 2009 Christian Fitness Expert and author Laurette Willis is the Director of PraiseMoves, offering fitness programs, DVDs, books and training for those interested in a Christian alternative to yoga, and fitness for spirit, soul and body at http://praisemoves.com. To follow Laurette on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/Fit4Christ and on FaceBook: http://facebook.com/praisemoves

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Asthma & Exercise

Exercise the Right Way

Over 25 million people in the United States alone suffer from asthma. The incidence of asthma in Americans has gone up 75% in the last fifteen years due to urbanization. Seventy percent of those who suffer from asthma also suffer from allergies. Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the United States each year, and the costs associated with asthma in the US add up to $18 billion annually. Prescription drugs represent the largest single direct medical expenditure of over $5 billion each year. Children suffer from asthma at a rate of four times as much as adults, and the incidence of asthma in children has gone up Cold air is a common trigger for asthma, as are changes in 160% since 1984. humidity or temperature, household cleaner fumes, perfume, flowers, medicines, and colds and flu. Aspirin and ibuprofen Asthma seems to have a link to ethnicity, gender, and can be can also cause asthma to worsen in some individuals. Some inherited. Asthma prevalence is 39% higher in African food-related asthma problems such as eating celery, carrots, Americans than in whites. The prevalence of asthma in adult egg whites, bananas, shrimp, and foodstuffs can increase the females is 35% greater than the rate in males. Approximately chance of an asthma attack. 40% of children who have asthmatic parents will also develop asthma. Under a doctor’s care, medications can be effective in controlling asthmas. Inhalers, peak flow meters, and asthma and allergy medicine can all help control asthma. Using an inhaler from 15 to 20 minutes before activity should help control asthma and the effects of the inhaler should last 4-6 hours after the exercise. A peak flow meter measures air expelled from the lungs. More than a 10% drop in airflow resistance indicated the possibility of an asthma attack. The two main types of asthma medicine are quick-relief or rescue medicines, to relieve symptoms after they begin, and controller Signs of asthma include coughing, gagging, allergic reaction medications, to prevent asthma symptoms from arising in the to dust, pollen, chemical substances, smoke, and air pollu- first place. tion. Wheezing, tightness, or a burning sensation in the chest, abdominal pain, headaches, fatigue, stress, and shortness of breath are common signs of asthma. Asthma is an airway disease caused by swelling of the smooth muscle of the airways and an increased secretion of the mucus membranes. It is referred to as a chronic obstruction pulmonary disease. It is reversible, if controlled by medication, but it cannot be cured. Most asthma attacks are not life threatening and individuals usually recover within 30 to 60 minutes without treatment after an asthma attack.

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Exercise the Right Way

Asthma cont...

deter attacks by exercising inside. During cold weather, a Exercise may still be performed under a doctor’s care. Low face mask may help if the individual prefers to exercise intensity cardiovascular activity should be done first at 40- outside. 70% of a target heart rate for 5 to 10 minutes until person’s ability to breathe is tolerates exercise. Short bouts of activity Most individuals learn to control their asthma and are able to should be done with 4-6 minute intervals and a five-minute enjoy high-impact activities. Famous athletes such as Jackie rest interval between sets to gradually adjust to the workload. Joyner-Kersee (track and field), Jerome Bettis (NFL running back), Amy Van Dyken (swimming), Dennis Rodman (NBA Deep breathing from the nose may help. basketball), and Ray Bourque (NHL hockey) all enjoy the When signs of an asthma attack occur, the exerciser should benefits of high-impact exercise and have asthma. Asthma relax, rest, and discontinue exercise for 10 minutes until after cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Under the care of the attack. The individual should drink warm water, and if a physician and a trainer, exercise is still possible and enjoythere are doubts about the severity of the attack or if the able. individual’s skin or nails turn blue, medical help should be References: sought immediately. People with asthma may still exercise. Exercises for asthma sufferers should include low-impact aerobic activities such as biking, hiking, golf, baseball, softball, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events such as walking and swimming. Many individuals who suffer from asthma prefer swimming because of the warm environment and because it is a low-impact exercise. Anaerobic activities good for asthma suffers should include weightlifting, Pilates, and yoga. High intensity activities that are aerobic should be introduced gradually. These exercises include running, hockey, golf, cross-country skiing, ice skating, other cold weather sports, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, and basketball.

Asthma: Run with it http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/content.jsp?contentId=300 078 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, Sherman Oaks, CA: Fitness Theory and Practice. Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, 2002 American Council on Exercise, Personal Trainer Manual, San Diego, CA: ACE Fitness, 2000. Asthma Statistics http://www.aaaai.org/media/resources/media_kit/asthma_statistics.stm http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/asthstat.pdf Exercise-Induced Asthma http://www.emedicinehealth.com/exerciseinduced_asthma/article_em.htm http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/asthma/exercise_asthma.html

Air quality for sufferers can be checked by reviewing weath- Hatfield, Fredrick C., Fitness the Complete Guide, Santa Barbara, CA: er conditions on the Internet, TV, or in the local paper. 2004. During cold, dry, or polluted days, an asthma sufferer may

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oseph had trouble when he told his dreams to his brothers. Even today we can have a problem if we boast of what God has revealed to us. I think I lose support when I go on and on about my youth ministry ideas. I think some saints turn against us if they become jealous or disbelieve the vision we hear from God. King Hezikiah also set a problem in motion when he showed off the treasures of the temple to the Babylonians. He revealed too many of his secrets and treasures to an enemy.

When Joseph learned to be the “strong silent type” he gained the advantage over his brothers. He HAD the anointing from God, and didn’t have to brag about it. We should be careful to say nothing about others in the ministry, for good or bad. You do not know who lives behind our names, because God keeps it that way. He alone can judge His servants.

I still talk too much, as you see in my LONG bible studies. (Did I hear an “AMEN” out there?) I may learn silent, after I learn strong? We should be there now spiritually, since we At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of have power in Christ. If we can be as Israel, instead of Jacob, Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he we don’t need boasting or decisiveness. We can have the had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hear- power of anointing from God in humility. kened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and Because I can trust my Christian brothers, I can share my the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and struggles when I have a wrong to pray about. But I can only all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his share about my own failures. I am supposed to cover everyhouse, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them body else’s sins up, not to uncover them. That requires a not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and private chat with them alone. Here is what I call “The said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came Matthew three step”: they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. And he said, What have they Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, (1)go seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah hear thee, then (2) take with thee one or two more, that in the said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. Behold, mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be estabthe days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which lished. And if he shall neglect to hear them, (3) tell it unto the thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15-17 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the So our pastor should not allow anyone to come with tales palace of the king of Babylon. 2 Kings 20:12-18 until the conversation was done in private, then with a trusted witness first. The accused is always present for each discussion. Continued on next page... © 2010 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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Through the Bible cont...

Joseph did not reveal himself or his dreams to his brothers when they came to him in Egypt. The time was not yet fully If I am keeping a vision or dream to myself, a secret, I can go come. They could only tell their father that the ruler of the about with the confidence of the Lord about my hopes. land wanted to see their youngest brother Benjamin. Israel Perhaps we have only a glimpse of the vision, and not the full could not yet see the plan of the Lord in this. understanding. By revealing more than we know, we can look foolish. When I graduated from ministry training school And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved at my old church, I was expecting a prophetic word from the of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. And elders. We were passed over, and I was disappointed. Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will “...I might have run away if I had known how bring him to thee again. And he said, My son shall not go much fire was needed to purge me of my flaws.” down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then I have since learned that I was to lose our home, our life shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. savings, and eventually my wife. I might not have wanted to Genesis 42:-38 know all of that in advance. I feel that I am being used now in some of the things of my earlier visions. But I might have Joseph had a few trials on his path, but God did deliver his run away if I had known how much fire was needed to purge vision in His time. Jacob would see his two lost sons again after all. Even the book of Job has a happy ending! me of my flaws. I have some hopes that would bring me huge pleasure. Some of them are at least partially revealed to me, but not in full. If I tell what I see now, I will probably only repel people. I have had the experience of sounding foolish a few times. Not everyone will keep our secrets! I had more inner joy when I remembered to keep the vision inside for this season. I can wear this confidence with no more than a smile to the outside world. Or I can lose the smile to the little spirits that will try to tear the dream apart before its time. I do not know the time of my vision. Jesus did not know the time of his return either … only the Father knows! I do know that I walked into a huge bless“We cannot produce ing when I asked about getting fruit without the help our group into the Ronnie of the body of Christ.” Coleman Classic bodybuilding show. But that success was built on the knowledge and opportunity I gathered from Giana Holder and Brian Dobson. We cannot produce fruit without the help of the body of Christ. We need to allow everyone to be close without being repulsive in an erroneous pride from partial vision.

We have to be ready to rejoice when we are down, just as much as when we are in the winning place. You are already seated in heavenly places by faith. You ARE more than conquerors, EVEN NOW. † David Luther is a contract designer approaching retirement due to an economy that has already retired. He discovered great fitness help at the Metroflex gym in Arlington Texas, but struggles to stay regular at the gym between jobs. With help from "Metroflex Gym’s Down-To-Earth Guide To Your Ideal Body" he is back in training in Mesa, Arizona. He finds inspiration to manage diet, training, and daily trials in the great examples we interview, and in the scripture of bible studies. These bible studies are also inspiring an application for outreach. "Tabernacle Trails" is a pilot program on Meetup-dot-com balancing physical and spiritual growth. The Arizona wilderness offers an outdoor adventure that may bring the bible to life through hiking and camping. You may contact David at diluther@cox.net.

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From Complaint to Praise A scripture to help you focus on your Christian life. Meditate and pray on this verse from the Bible and see how it applies to your life, or how you should apply it. Ask the Lord for revelation and understanding on the scriptures and He will grant your request. "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 The Message. You may have heard this scripture more often in the King James version rather than in The Message version, but The Message says it loud and clear. Here is the original: “...casting

down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV.

With the holidays fast approaching, I am reminded that the year's end is also very near. The end of the year usually encourages me to ponder the past year's challenges, triumphs, sorrows, and joys, just as a birthday will do. However, today while preparing to write my column, I was steeped in today's challenges and sorrows: a broken-down car, a low-income, and our lack of proper housing to name just a few. Then as I read through my last column, I was reminded of all God has done for our family this past year. The realization that I was now grumbling and complaining about "things" made me cry like the helpless child that I am. I realized, once again, that if it were not for God I wouldn't have some or any of my kids, as they all had serious life-threatening/lifealtering events this past year–and God intervened in their lives and saved them all, one by one. And here I was complaining about my car! Yeah, He set my heart right in a fast, painful way. I was reminded very quickly of all I have to be grateful for; and I am thankful for His not-so-gentle reminder. I will, as I said in my last column, forever be grateful. I will also work on being a non-complainer–a big task for this gal! Sure, I try to keep a positive outlook, but that doesn't mean I never complain! Unfortunately, complaining and thinking negative about unfortunate circumstances and mishaps is one of the first things I usually do. I am working on renewing my mind and being transformed into the godly woman that God wants me to be. Some days are tougher than others, and God has to set my mind and heart on what is most important–and it's not "things"! Thank you, Jesus, for turning my complaints into praise! For the rest of this year (and the years to come) I am going to steep my mind in all the wonderful, miraculous things that God has done for our family. No more "stinkin' thinkin'" or complaining! If you catch me being negative or ungrateful, just remind me that I have five beautiful blessings to be thankful for: Joshua, Nicholas, Zachariah, Cristina, and Christerpher. Who could ask for a better holiday season! Happy Holidays and Merry CHRISTmas! Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

Send your comments to editor@fitchristian.com Scripture quotations provided by www.biblegateway.com, biblos.com, and www.biblestudytools.com

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