Week Forty-Five, 2017
“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days” (1 Kings 3:14).
Violet Brown, age 117 died recently. She was born in 1900 and spent most of her life cutting sugarcane in her native Jamaica. At the time of her death, she was noted as the oldest person in the world. She was baptized at age thirteen at the Trittonvale Baptist Church and remained a member throughout her life, long serving as the church organist. Shortly before her death she said about living longer: “This is what God has given me, so I have to take it.”
Recent studies have shown that people, like Violet, who worship regularly, tend to live a much longer life. Many Americans say they attend church because attending helps them stay grounded and gives them spiritual guidance. A new study suggests that regular attendance may also help increase their lifespan.
People who attend church live longer and are less stressed. The new study found middle-aged men and women’s health benefit from going to church. The research from Vanderbilt University reveals non-churchgoers are significantly more stressed than those who attend religious services.
The study said attending church is actually good for your health particularly for those who are between 40 and 65. For those who did not attend church at all were twice as likely to die prematurely than those who did attend church. According to the study, men and women who attend church or other houses of worship reduce their risk for mortality by 55 per cent.
The attitude about the place of religion in medical care is becoming more common among health care professionals and has been introduced into the curriculum of more medical schools.
Why should we be surprised about the results of these studies. It is spelled out so clearly in the Bible. “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).
We should attend church to study and learn God’s Word, but a good off shoot of that is: Go to church regularly and live longer.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
$2.99 SPECIAL
If you are a Senior you will understand this, or if you deal with Seniors, this should help you understand them a little better, and if you are not a Senior yet…….. God willing, someday you will be.
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the ‘Seniors Special’ was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $2.99. ‘Sounds good,’ my wife said, ‘But I don’t want the eggs.’
‘Then, I’ll have to charge you $3.49 because you’re ordering a la carte,’ the waitress warned her. ‘You mean I’d have to pay for not taking the eggs?’ my wife asked incredulously. ‘Yes!’ stated the waitress. ‘I’ll take the special then,’ my wife said.
‘How do you want your eggs?’ the waitress asked. ‘Raw and in the shell,’ my wife replied. She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.
STAND UP
A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, stand up!” After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up. The teacher said, “Do you think you’re stupid, Little Johnny?” “No, ma’am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!”
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
If we harbor hatred, our actions will usually give us away before our words ever get spoken.
Today’s children need a tackle box more than they need an X-Box.
When I was a child, I thought nap time was punishment. Now it’s like a mini-vacation.
It is the Christian’s duty to praise God. It is not only a pleasurable exercise, but it is the absolute obligation of his life.
—Alister Begg
FAKE NEWS
The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps Proverbs 14:15.
You can never give another person what you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have.
—Oswald Chambers
It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.
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©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618