Health tips from a linguist

A friend of mine was invited to be a resource speaker for a ministry involvement program in Cebu. She asked me to go with her and be their French language resource person. I did not think twice to say yes because I was interested in the topic which was assigned to her (Cross-Cultural Communication /Language Learning and Worldview). Also, I told myself that I would only teach French for an hour for three days. In addition, I would learn from the experiences of missionaries to different cultures. True enough, the participating students were international! They were even of different ages, educational background and status in life!

For three months, the students are taught to:

• learn how to plant indigenous churches (churches that fit to cultures different than their own),
• learn languages without existing textbooks using new approaches by linguists, and
• understand people with a different world view or mindset and impart the gospel to them.

My friend, aware that I am into fitness instruction, asked me to also conduct a workshop that would relax the students and relieve them after much stress from previous days of exams and other activities. So I taught them a fitness program incorporating deep stretching, gentle movement, combined with Scriptures verses for stress relief, flexibility and strength. Check out this link for more information: www.praisemoves.com.

In one session, the topic was about “Worldview and Bible Translation.” My friend spoke of the three substructurings of worldviews called “themes,” “paradigms” and “models,” and one of the Biblical themes she discussed was God as a forgiving God to Christians. Little did I think that even with such a topic, which was seemingly unrelated to the physical body, could lead us to talk and think about health. According to her, there are four negative emotions that cause people to get sick:

• Fear – Are you fearful? Are you worried for what may happen in the future? Some Christians still hold on to fear, even though Someone has already made 365 promises against fear. We can, in fact, go through each one of God’s promises a day. So vanish fear away!
• Anxiety - If only we will learn to throw all our anxieties to God, casting all our cares upon Him, we can avoid the negative emotions which are very potent in destroying us physically.
• Guillt- Have you done something in the past but have not yet surrendered it 100 % to God. Are you pulling yourself down because you are the only one who knows it? Release it to God and ask for forgiveness. The blood of Jesus can wash it away.
• Unforgiveness – It is said that “An unforgiving spirit is like drinking poison and thinking the other person will die.” If we truly experience God’s forgiveness, we can definitely forgive. If God can forgive us, who are we if we cannot extend the same forgiveness to others?

Studies have shown that these four negative emotions cause hypertension, cancer, constipation, diarrhea, itching, and skin diseases. They cause havoc inside our bodies, secreting all our weaknesses. If we keep holding on to them, we will soon be constipated in no time! These, I firmly believe, are NOT part of God’s plan! Besides, didn’t He make a promise on that too in John 10:10? (The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.).

What about you? Any health tips to share?