Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
(Steve Furr) You know your sugars are much better
and your blood sugar is much better controlled on what it is.
But, we might even, if you could lose a little more weight
we might even be able to get you off one of your diabetic medicines.
I am a family physician, a doctor who measures
a patient's height and weight as markers of health.
But my vital signs were out of line for many years...
and I chose to ignore them.
At one point, I weighed 236 pounds.
That's a good body weight for a professional athlete
who is 6 ft. 8 inch tall...
but I am 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall.
I gradually gained weight--- until one day I realized
my closet was full of clothes I could no longer wear.
The scales and my wardrobe did not lie to me--
but in my mind I continually denied the sad shape
into which I had allowed my body to be transformed.
Usually transformation means for the better-- but not in my case.
The physical temple that my Creator had given me--
to take care of -- was now in disarray.
I was guilty of desecrating this precious gift from God.
Saddest of all, I could no longer comfortably wear
the cherished wedding ring, that my wife had placed on my finger
when we exchanged our vows.
(patient) Good Morning
My patients saw the change too...
and some seemed to be comforted that I was in such bad shape.
That gave them an excuse not to care for their own physical temples.
They knew any words from me about weight loss
or proper nutrition would be that, only words.
Obviously I didn't really mean them because I had not
taken them to heart and practiced what I preached.
I had to decide to preach a sermon...
or be one.
I needed to act on the words of St. Francis of Assisi--
to "Preach the gospel always, use words when necessary."
So, without surgery or drugs, but by the grace and power of Jesus Christ,
I began the process of reconstructing
my physical temple.
I began daily workouts on the treadmill,
gradually increasing the time, distance, and intensity.
I made a conscious effort to eat less food
and choose more nutritious foods.
I went back to the regimen I used as a high school wrestler,
lifting weights to increase my muscle strength.
There were good days and there were bad days.
There were days that I won the battle
and there were days that I lost.
(congregation) …the Kingdom, the power, the glory forever. Amen.
(Steve Furr) However, every day I was becoming
a different person.
(congregation) Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
I was not only increasing my physical discipline
but also increasing my spiritual discipline--
with Bible reading and prayer.
(communion) Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth
and the light. Go now on the way that leads
to the truth and life everlasting.
I knew I would not win this battle on my own strength.
For me this was not just a physical problem--
but a spiritual challenge--
and I would prevail only in relationship to the strength
that I received from above.
Over time, something unusual happened.
Instead of having to plead with patients to lose weight and exercise,
my patients noticed my weight loss
and began to ask me how I did it.
(Patient) You're really looking nice.
(Steve Furr) Good. Thanks.
People came up to me at the gym
asking how I had become so strong.
A physician and writer, Oliver Goldsmith, was correct when he said,
"You can preach a better sermon with your life-- than with your lips."
My temple is continually being restored.
It is in daily need of service and repair.
If I do not choose to exercise daily and watch my nutrition,
this temple deteriorates.
Maintaining the temple requires sacrifice.
It is not easy but it is achievable.
Whether it's early in the morning or late at night
while others are sleeping,
I am busy restoring my temple as I exercise sacrificially.