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The Citizen, 2009-01-15, Page 12By Pastor John KuperusBlyth Christian Reformed ChurchJesus Christ came into the worldand brought “grace and truth” (John 1:14 and 17). Sometimes it’s a challenge to discover what truth is. Sometimes it’s difficult to sort out a motive.What motivates the people who are helping us? I have been blessed by the attention I recently received from the medical people. On Oct. 21, I went in to St. Marys hospital in Kitchener for a test. The previous radioactive test showed that one of my arteries was clogged. My doctor explained that heart problems often times happen with people, who smoke, are overweight, have high cholesterol, have high high blood pressure and don’t exercise. I was good in all those areas, but have family history of heart problems. One artery was closed by 99 per cent so given a choice I opted to have a stint put in. After the procedure, the nurses explained the different medications I needed. To thin my blood I needed an aspirin once a day and Plavix 75 mg. The Plavix would be for three months to a year, so my blood doesn’t clot and my body doesn’t reject the stint. I was also prescribed a blood pressure-reducing medication. The third medication I was prescribed was to reduce my cholesterol. I was never on medication in my life and now I was on it for life. The body that God had given me needed medication to function properly. I wondered why I needed to reduce my blood pressure and cholesterol when it was okay. I also wondered about the side affects of the medication. The nurses said I could back to my normal work in three days. That Sunday I had off. Then I preached two Sundays. I was feeling a little depressed. So I asked to take a week off and went to visit my family in New Jersey. I was staying at my mom’s and she had a book there entitled, More Natural Cures Revealed by Kevin Trudeau and The Bible Cure for Heart Disease by Don Colbert, M.D. Trudeau blasts governments worldwide, the international pharmaceutical medical cartels and the new media. He argues that the “entire pharmaceutical and medical industry only have an interest in selling you drugs and getting you to use their expense medical tests and treatments. They are profit-based businesses. Most are publicly traded corporations whose only objective is to increase profits (p.3). He quotes Sir William Osler who says, “One of the first duties of thephysicians is to educate the massesnot to take medicine.” In anotherquote he says, “Drug companies aretaking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities and selling you ineffective drugs that all have negative side affects” (p.3). He paints a very bleak picture of how the pharmaceutical companies are influencing doctors and how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are supporting the drug companies at the expense of ordinary people. He says, the pharmaceutical companies are interested in pushing drugs, to increase their profits. So what is the truth? Is the medication I am taking really needed or is it being pushed on me so the pharmaceutical companies can make more money? Colbert calls people with heart disease to “change the way they eat, exercise and even think” (p.13). He also emphasizes the importance of God in the healing process. In addition to these two books, a friend, Jack Quartel gave me a DVD by Dr. Charlie Majors, a chiropractor from Florida. Dr. Majors says that the body is amazing in how it cures itself and people need to listen to their bodies. He raised red flags about the pill fixing culture. His concern is for proper nutrition, exercise and reducing stress. One point he made was that cholesterol is not the enemy of clogged arteries; the problem is inflammation. He also commentedthat people with both high and lowcholesterol are still having heartattacks, so he asks the questionwhether or not cholesterol are still having heart attacks, so he asks the question whether or not cholesterol medication is necessary. He says the way to address inflammation of our arteries is reducing sugar and grains, acidity and the free radicals in a diet. He also commented that our genes are not the cause of clogged arteries. What is the truth? The medical doctors say that cholesterol is the enemy and this doctor is saying cholesterol is not the enemy, inflammation is. The medical doctors say that clogged arteries are the result of genetics and this doctor is saying clogged arteries are the result of nutrition. So I dug a little to discover what Maximized Living is all about. The founder is Dr. Ben Lerner, also a chiropractor. He wrote a best seller entitled, Body by God: The Owner’s Manual for Maximized Living. He offers a plan that he calls the “un-diet.” Simply put, he says cut out the man-made foods and start enjoying the natural God-made foods. With natural foods, you don’t have to worry about unhealthy fat, additives and chemicals being absorbed by your body. A person connected to Maximized Living who is more local is Dr. B.J. Hardick, a chiropractor in London. I was introduced to this chiropractor by my friend, Jack Quartel. I listened to one of his talks and went for a free consultation visit. He commented thatbefore 1920 we do not have anyrecord of heart attacks. Now it is theleading cause of death in NorthAmerica. What are we doing so different that is causing all these heart attacks? Needless to say my head is swimming a little. I am very thankful that the medical doctor was able to open my artery, while I am a little skeptical of all the pills the doctors are putting us on. I am also skeptical of all the preservatives and chemicals we consume, as they do take their toll. On the other hand, I am not convinced we need to go this whole organic way either. I have discovered that we have a lot of different theories out about why things are the way they are. I am not sure who or what to believe. What I am sure of is that Jesus Christ “became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In a world where we may wonder about what is truth, our God is trueand we can count on him. I am verythankful for Him. He will not deceiveus. Jesus Christ is “full of grace andtruth,” and by His grace I am alive. While on this earth, we definitely need His wisdom to determine what is deception from what is true. PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009.From the Minister’s StudyUsing God’s wisdom to find life’s truths Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, January 18 Morning Worship Service and Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Chili luncheon after church (by donation). Bikes for Humanity Fundraiser featuring Men of Note and the Durnin Brothers Sunday, January 18 at Blyth United Church at 7:00 p.m. ------------------- Confirmation Gathering January 18 at 2 pm Open to anyone 13 and over who wishes to join the church. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Sermon Topic: Jeremiah 35 “The Power of God’s Blessing” MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, January 18 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school) Evangelical Missionary Church January 18: 1 Cor. 8:1-13 Consideration for Those who See Things Differently POTLUCK, Annual Congregational Meeting 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Sunday School 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies See you Sunday! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, January 18 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sermon at 6:30 p.m. service: The wise family manages their money. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Parish of New Beginnings Sunday, January 18 Trinity, Blyth Holy Eucharist 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels Morning Prayer & Annual Vestry Meeting 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862PASTOR DAVID WOOD 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Services Evening Services are cancelled for the winter months. UPCOMING EVENTS GOD’S MEN MEETING Saturday, January 17th 7:45 - 9:00 a.m. Join us in the Fellowship Hall as we begin a new 10-week video series entitled... “What In The World Is Going On?” by Dr. David Jeremiah All men are welcome!