 You won't find much emphasis on counting calories. Karen and Jane will
not tell you to take certain foods out of your diet. You will have the freedom
to decide exactly what you will do. This book is about whole-person
transformation, so you will be challenged to live differently! What you think,
what you say, what you read, and even what you do with your hands and feet, how
you move, will be discussed in "Transformed
for Glory".
This book is about YOU. It is written for you and to encourage you.
Research points to a multiplicity of reasons or causal factors for weight gain.
So concern for whole-person health is the approach these authors have chosen.
Transformation is the goal, and this goal engenders physical, mental, and
spiritual change.
HOW will these aspects of change occur?
Through the next twelve weeks of individual and group study and discussion, you can accomplish the following:
1) Keep a food journal for four weeks. No skipping meals! Do not even begin to "cut calories" because this would only focus your mind on what you are missing.
2) Focus on God and His Christ. Make prayer and "koinonia" or fellowship a more integral part of your life.
3) Build a foundation of Truth in your life. The Holy Word of God, the Bible, is this Truth. When doubts, fears, disappointments, or discouragements might overwhelm you... the Word of God will give support.
4) Start breaking old sinful thinking habits. Put your faith into action, step by step. Eating, working, exercising, talking, loving, caring for self and others... you will be encouraged to learn new habits.
5) Every aspect of your life may be challenged to renewal and Godly purpose.
You can be transformed!
"Transformed
for Glory" offers you a coordinated, comprehensive health
program for the whole person. The goals are for you to achieve combined health
in the physical, mental, and spiritual arenas. Nutrition education is not just
about what you put in your mouth! YES, it would be "good for you" if
you put healthy food, nutritious food, into your mouth, but there is more to
healthy living than just what goes into the mouth and stomach. Consequently,
what and how much you eat is important, but research has established the need
for patterns of healthy living and improvement of quality of life as key
factors in general health.
"The concept of nutrition education, then could be expanded to encompass basic changes in attitudes and life style and would not be restricted to efforts at food habit change per se."
Baird (Peterson) and Schultz at
the University of California at Davis found that just telling people what
"good stuff" should be put into their mouths was not enough!
Unresolved, underlying attitudes and beliefs will cause repeated unhealthy
choices in food. "I deserve it!" "I've had a hard day, so I need
it." "Nobody cares anyway." These feelings and attitudes
preclude the ingestion of unhealthy substances in large quantities. Negative mind
states, socio-economic distress, and spiritual ignorance are the major factors
combining to build whole person "sickness".
"Transformed
for Glory" aims to encourage behavioral and cognitive changes. But there is
also the powerful dynamic of spirituality. If you are a follower/disciple of
Jesus Christ, you are hopefully open to learning more about His power and
promises available to you as a "believer". Joining with other
Christians in support type groups will add encouragement and accountability.
You'll experience the glimmer of hope. You can change. It is possible. And in
this process you will begin to see transformation in all areas of your life.
What you think, what you do, and what you feel.
"As the general quality of
life... improves, so the nutritional status of the population can be expected
to improve."
A synopsis of each chapter will help you understand what "Transformed
for Glory" will present. Reading assignments are thought
provoking and get you moving on the road of renewal. Questions are designed to
stimulate your thinking and move you into the practice of journaling.
"Transformed
for Glory" offers suggestions on five different
levels: this enables participants to take "Transformed
for Glory" for multiple sessions and still learn and be continually
challenged. Maturity in Christ is a life long process of sanctification...
becoming closer and closer to His image. Group and individual work assists each
person in coming a closer to Christ.
The focus in NOT on self. The
focus is on God, the Father of Jesus Christ. You will not have permanent change
in all areas of your life unless you allow His Holy Spirit to live and work
within you. Find the areas of hurt and rebellion, acknowledge their presence,
then allow the healing balm of God's love and wisdom to renew your mind. Change
is possible. Let His Glory be manifested in your life step-by-step.
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