Topics: Appearance; Beauty; Body; Self-image; Self-worth Reference: 1 Samuel 16:7 Find out how attractive you are by sending your picture to AmIHotOrNot.com. The Internet audience will rate you on a scale of 1 to 10. If this is too intimidating, you can simply choose to rate other people. —Newsweek (December 18, 2000)
WEIGHT-LIFTING TRIAL
Topics: Body; Commitment; Consequences; Dedication; Exercise; Laziness; Parenting; Promises; Responsibility; Teens Reference: Galatians 6:9 Though skeptical of his teenage son’s newfound determination to build muscles, one father followed his teenager to the store’s weight-lifting department, where they admired a set of weights. “Please, Dad,” pleaded the teen, “I promise I’ll use ’em every day.” “I … Continue reading “WEIGHT-LIFTING
TRIAL”
QUANTUM WEIGHT LOSS
Topics: Adversity; Endurance; Perseverance; Trials References: Romans 5:3–4; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7 I had put on weight and was out of shape, so a year ago I began working on my sagging waistline. Day after day, I worked hard on cardiovascular exercise and weight training, seeming to get nowhere. Straining. Sweating. Sucking wind. Questioning … Continue reading “QUANTUM
WEIGHT LOSS”
DOCTORS AND FAST FOOD
Topics: Character; Christian Life; Example; Hypocrisy; Imitation of Christ References: Matthew 5:13–16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Timothy 4:16; James 1:22 At the 1993 annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Atlanta, three hundred thousand doctors, nurses, and researchers came together to discuss, among other things, the importance a low-fat diet plays in keeping our … Continue reading “DOCTORS
AND FAST FOOD”
DEADLY TANS FOR TEENS
Topics: Addiction; Appearance; Beauty; Consequences; Coveting; Foolishness; Health; Human Nature; Popularity; Pride; Self-worth; Teens; Temptation; Vanity References: 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 11:22; 31:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 3:3–4 An estimated 2.3 million teenagers go tanning at least once a year. That has helped indoor tanning become a $5 billion a year industry. … Continue reading “DEADLY
TANS FOR TEENS”
BITING CANCER
Topics: Arguments; Conflict; Fighting; Gossip; Tongue References: Psalm 5:9; 57:4; Proverbs 12:18; Jeremiah 9:8; Galatians 5:15; Hebrews 12:15; James 1:26; 3:5–10; 4:1–2, 11 In January 2006, Australian scientists discovered the cause of a mysterious disease that had killed thousands of Tasmanian devils on the island state of Tasmania, off the coast of Australia. The scientists … Continue reading “BITING
CANCER”
PAIN CAN BRING HEALING
Topics: Confession; Courage; Denial; Fear; Health; Pain; Repentance; Running from God; Self-deception; Self-reliance; Suffering; Truth References: Jeremiah 6:13–14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 7:8–11; Galatians 4:16; Colossians 3:16; James 1:2–4, 21–22; 1 John 1:7–9 All of us tend to avoid pain. Sometimes, though, avoiding pain can lead to much greater suffering. Consider the story of William “the … Continue reading “PAIN
CAN BRING HEALING”
HURTING YOURSELF
Topics: Consequences; Danger; Human Condition; Risk; Sowing and Reaping; Temptation; Vices References: Proverbs 22:8; Amos 4:12; John 3:16–18; Romans 6:23; Galatians 6:7; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 21:6–8 You could be injured brushing your teeth—or stapling a few pages together. Here are stats on the number of injuries sustained by people doing everyday activities during 2005: brushing … Continue reading “HURTING
YOURSELF”
INNOVATIVE INOCULATION
Topics: Atonement; Blood of Christ; Body; Creativity; Determination; Diligence; Disease; Illness; Opportunity; Perseverance; Problems; Resourcefulness; Results; Salvation References: Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 26:28; John 6:56; Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:55 Dr. George Moore, a public health worker, was sent to Nepal in 1952. He found only one hospital in the country, which was for the royalty. … Continue reading “INNOVATIVE
INOCULATION”
SHREDDED MAKEOVER
Topics: Appearance; Beauty; Body; Discouragement; Emptiness; Self-image; Shame; Tongue; Truth References: Genesis 1:26–27; 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 31:30; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 3:3–5 Deleese Williams, a woman who was promised cosmetic surgeries on Extreme Makeover that would “transform her life and destiny,” has sued the producers of the hit TV show. That dream was shattered … Continue reading “SHREDDED
MAKEOVER”