Where Is God in Our Storms?

Many of us are asking how any good could possibly come from something as devastating as hurricane Helene or the oncoming hurricane Milton.  Many whose lives and homes have been destroyed feel powerless and helpless.  Still, with hope in God, we pray that Milton will turn away or stop in the Name of Jesus, the One who stilled the storm when He said, “Peace, Be Still.”  

We want to have faith that our prayers are heard.  But doubt creeps in, especially for the many whose lives have been so abruptly changed.  Many have asked, “If there is a God and if He is good, how can He allow bad things to happen?   It’s a good question, but there are more basic questions we should ask.

We should first ask ourselves, “What is ‘GOOD?’”  What is “good” for some may be “bad” for others, and vice versa.  “Who among us knows how to define GOOD for all who are involved?”
Most people of faith would agree that only God can do this.  God is the only One who can still the storms around us and within our anxious souls.

In the Bible we read that Job was so severely tested that he questioned God’s purpose and goodness.  Job lost most of his livestock and possessions; and then, lost his sons and daughters in a windstorm.  Job’s wife advised him to give up and blame God for the calamity.  But Job said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2: 9-10).

We can search the Book of Job in hopes of finding an answer to why God allows “bad things” to occur.  But the answer is not there.  Nor did God answer Job directly when Job asked God why he had to suffer.  Instead, God pointed Job to the evidences of His wisdom and sovereignty in creation and in sustaining His created order.  When Job heard God’s powerful message to him, he bowed down in humble adoration and
    …answered the Lord and said, 
    I know that You can do all things,
       And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
       “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
         Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
  ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
       I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
   “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
       But now my eye sees You;
   Therefore I retract,
       And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Several millennia later, James, half-brother of Jesus, reminds us of ancient Job’s sufferings:
We count those blessed who endured.
You have heard of the endurance of Job
and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings,
that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. – James 5: 11

Today, in the midst of suffering and loss, Christ-followers, moved with God’s compassion and  mercy are coming together to assist each other and participate in the restoration.  May each of us who are not directly affected by these storms participate in the supply of “good” from the hand of God through our supportive involvement by prayer, by giving, and by hands-on help where possible.  For those who want to provide financial assistance to recovery efforts, we recommend giving to Samaritan’s Purse a faith-based organization led by Franklin Graham.

God Is in Our Storms
Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
 - Mark 4: 38-41

F.B. Meyer wrote an encouraging message for us when we question God’s goodness and love:

“We sail the lake with Him still, and as we reach its middle waters, far from land, under midnight skies, suddenly a great storm sweeps down.  Earth and hell seem arrayed against us, and each billow threatens to overwhelm.  Then He arises from His sleep, and rebukes the winds and the waves.  His hand waves benediction and repose over the rage of the tempestuous elements.  His voice is heard above the scream of the wind in the cordage and the conflict of the billows. Peace, be still!
Can you not hear it?  And there is instantly a great calm.”
He giveth quietness.   (Job 34: 29)
         -- F.B. Meyer (Great Verses through the Bible. Zondervan, 1966)

Add Your Word of Encouragement
We welcome you to share your words of encouragement, a comforting Scripture, or an account from your experience of how you saw God working through your time of trial.  Use the “Comment” link below to share, anonymously if you prefer; or communicate with us by e-mail:  silviusj@gmail.com 

What If You Could Interview the Candidates?

Our national election season is in full swing and many Americans are concerned about the outcome.  Our expression of opinions and concerns range from polite conversations to brash confrontations and even violence.  But Christ-followers have the extra responsibility of being peacemakers without compromising God’s moral standards.  Many Christians who want to engage politely in discussing the candidates and issues are told to “be nice and go along.”  Those who refuse face intimidation, fear of rejection, and outright threats.  To navigate on this stormy sea, we have focused on identifying which candidates best demonstrate   the character qualities and experience suitable for leadership. 

We have already discussed the character qualities that should distinguish the most qualified candidate for president regardless of their party affiliation.  Our recent blog, “Choosing Our Leaders by Looking Beneath ‘Politics’” expresses this approach and should provide a helpful background to what follows.  Click HERE to read.

Doing Homework on the Candidates
Most of us would like to think we are being objective and nonpartisan in our choices of who will receive our vote.  But how do we achieve this?  Maybe one way is to consider what questions we would ask each candidate if we had the chance to interview them.  First, we would need to “do our homework” on each candidate and come up with our questions.  What is their political ideology based on their understanding of the role of government, the role of the U.S. on the global scene, and the importance of law and order and due process under the law?  What is their understanding of the nature of mankind?  How do they interpret the U.S. Constitution and view our freedoms as defended under our Bill of Rights?

Because we cannot interview the candidates directly, we completed our “homework” by consulting a variety of news sources-- conservative, liberal, and those claiming to be unbiased.  Then, we developed a “Candidate Checklist” that gives a sketch of each candidate based on their ideology, their actions in the office(s) they have held in the past, and the manner in which they have pursued the presidency in recent months.  We cannot claim that the checklist is either comprehensive or unbiased, but we have tried to make it so. 

Using the Candidate Checklist
The “Candidate Checklist” gives a series of categories, each with summary information that you can use to judge each candidate as to which most closely aligns with your own political ideology and qualifications for good leadership.  Along with this summary information, we have provided links to further reading. 

Based on what you learn from each category of the checklist, make your tentative choice between the two candidates, then award one (1) point to the candidate whom you believe to be the better of the two for that particular category.  If you believe there is no difference between the two candidates, simply award one (1) point to each.    Suggestion:  You can use the live internet links provided in the checklist, but you cannot score your points directly into the checklist.  So you may wish to make a screenshot and save it as an image (e.g. JPG) so you can print it out, mark, and total your scores.

Presidential Candidate Checklist

1) Prior Experience Kamala Harris:  Dist. Att. of San Francisco (2004-2011) Att. General of California (2011-2017) U.S. Senator (2017-21) U.S. Vice President (2021- present) Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump:  Businessman, builder, and media personality until 2017; President of the U. S. (2017-2021). Score (1)  point for Trump: ____

2) Endorsements Received (Sample) Kamala Harris:  Americans for Democratic Action Freedom from Religion Foundation Planned Parenthood Everytown for Gun Safety Nat. Center for Transgender Equality Am. Fed. of Government Employees Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump:  Americans for Limited Government Family Research Council National Rifle Association National Right to Life Committee National Fraternal Order of Police Conservative Political Action Conf. American Energy Alliance           Score (1)  point for Trump: ____

3) Political Ideology Kamala Harris:  Harris was the 3rd most liberal in the 115th Congress (2017-2019); and 2nd most liberal in the 116th Congress (2019-2020). For more, Endnote #3.  Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump:  Trump’s ideological score on economic and social issues from the website OnTheIssues.org (2018) rates him “moderate.”  Read more, Endnote #4. Score (1) point for Trump: ____

4) Consistency on Policy Kamala Harris:  Having provided only brief, off-the-teleprompter interviews to date, Harris’s positions are unclear although they appear to have changed radically. Click HERE for a recent assessment. The website, OnTheIssues.org provides records of her policy decisions and recommendations.  Read more HERE Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump:  According to NPR, “Donald Trump’s Been Saying the Same Thing for 30 Years.”  Read article, click HERE. The website, OnTheIssues.org  provides records of his policy decisions and recommendations.  Click HERE to read.    Score (1) point for Trump: ____

5) View of Child’s Right to Life Kamala Harris: The position of the Harris-Walz ticket on abortion is quite different from that of Bill Clinton where the emphasis was that abortion is to be “safe, legal, and rare.”  Harris-Walz supports the abortion policy of Minnesota “which does not restrict the practice at any stage of pregnancy.” Read details HERE and HERE.    Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump: “After 51 years [under Roe v. Wade], because of us, that power [under the 14th Amendment which protects human life] has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and fertility treatments.” GOP Platform à HERE.    Score (1) point for Trump: ____

6) Securing the Nomination Kamala Harris: Harris became the Democrat party’s nominee after President Joe Biden decided to drop out of the presidential race.  By an uncompetitive primary process Harris was awarded 99% of the delegates earned by Joe Biden.  Read more, click HERE. Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump: Trump competed in > 50 primaries, defeating over 10 candidates to earn the GOP nomination with 2,231 delegates, defeating Haley (97), DeSantis (9), Ramaswamy (3), Christie (0), and others. Read more, click HERE and HERE. Score (1) point for Trump: ____

7) Solution for the Economy Kamala Harris: Harris claims to understand from her own experience growing up what middle-class and poor families now face with high inflation, but has offered little detail on how to repair damage done by excessive spending under the Biden-Harris administration.  Read more, click HERE and HERE. Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump: Trump plans to lower inflation to pre-Biden-Harris levels by cutting federal spending, lowering corporate taxes, increasing energy supply, and using tariffs to incentivize companies to return to the US, thus creating jobs. Read more, click HERE and HERE. Score (1) point for Trump: ____

8) Immigration, Law Enforcement Kamala Harris: Harris ran for president in 2020 in support of an easy path to citizenship of illegal immigrants resulting in a flood of millions of illegals that overran legal border entry processes during the Biden-Harris administration.  She has also supported defunding police and use of cashless bail all of which are believed to have made us less safe. Read more, click HERE Score (1) point for Harris:_____

Donald Trump: Trump plans to restore control of immigration by resuming building of border wall, insuring only legal entry of immigrants, and working with local police to deport dangerous criminals. Local crime will be reduced by better training and support of police and return to justice and due process of law for criminals.  Details, click HERE. Score (1) point for Trump: ____

9) Global Deplomacy Kamala Harris: Harris claims to be “the last person in the room” during major diplomacy decisions of the Biden-Harris administration. Meanwhile Biden-Harris has allowed wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East under an emboldened alliance of Russia, Iran, and China.  Read more, click HERE and HERE. Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump: Trump plans to restore our military and our alliances with friendly nations; and, to end wars by diplomacy so that we can bring troops home and use our military less under his “peace through strength” policy. Read more, click HERE and HERE.     Score (1) point for Trump: ____

10) VP Choice: A Heartbeat Away Kamala Harris’s VP: Tim Walz is Governor of Minnesota, is a retired non-commissioned Army officer and represented his state for 6 terms in the U.S. House.  He is noted for his lenience toward protestors who burned parts of several Minnesota cities during the 2020 George Floyd riots. He has deep affection toward Communist China, and signed a law allowing abortion in MN at any prenatal stage.  More, HERE & HERE. Score (1) point for Harris: _____

Donald Trump’s VP: Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio, professes to be a Christian and has supported legislation that favors biblical marriage, the family, and sanctity of human life.  As a political and social conservative Vance favors limited govt. and wise diplomacy to end and avoid needless wars (e.g. Ukraine). Read more, click HERE. Score (1) point for Trump: ____

Total votes for Harris =  _____               Total votes for Trump =  _____

Tallying the Points
Your tally of points for each candidate is meant to help you distinguish which of the two candidates are most deserving of your vote.  We want to stimulate your thinking and preparation to vote wisely.  We do not wish to oversimplify or minimize the challenge of making wise choices in the upcoming national election.  Nor do we mean to imply that we have presented the complete picture in an objective manner. 

You may wish to point out any unfair comparisons we have made.  If you have additional points that ought to be considered, or questions needing answers, we urge you to politely respond using the “Comment” link below.  Meanwhile, we still have questions of our own that we would ask the candidates if we had opportunity. How about you?

What Would You Ask the Candidates?
What would you ask the candidates if you were in a townhall and were handed a microphone?  We will close with a few questions that may help at least some readers make the right choice when you vote.

1.     Why should I trust you to choose the next _______ (Fill in the blank—e.g. Supreme Court justice cabinet secretaries, federal judges.)?

2.     Why should I believe you are prepared to enter into delicate negotiations with world leaders, some of whom are enemies of the United States?

3.     Do you believe you earned the nomination of your party based on how you were selected?

4.     How can I trust that you will govern in a manner consistent with your current positions on issues like petroleum fracking, border security, gun control, law and order, etc. in view of the positions you have held prior to this year?

5.     What should I conclude about your willingness to be transparent with the American people and to be able to “think on your feet” in unscripted press conferences or town halls based on the number and quality of those you have allowed?

6.     You have plans to restore the economy and lower costs through more government programs, new regulations, and changes in taxation.  How are your plans different from those of the Biden-Harris administration?  Different from your opponent’s proposals?

Now Its Up to You
We hope this blog has been helpful, and we hope you will faithfully perform your civic and God-given duty to honor those in authority by exercising your right to vote.  Our future as Americans depends upon it.  What questions or comments can you voice after reading this blog?  Please feel free--we hope you do--to respond politely, and anonymously at the "Comment" link below, or if you prefer, by silviusj@gmail.com .

-------------------------

Endnotes:
Endnote #1:  No candidate is perfect in character.  None will have a perfect past life.  All of us are flawed human beings in need of redemption and forgiveness that only God can provide.  Therefore, as Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone (John 8: 7).  The God who works all things together for overwhelming good is also known repeatedly to use pagan kings like King Nebuchadnezzar, flawed Jewish leaders like King David, flawed disciples like Peter, and flawed apostles with a sinful past like the Apostle Paul who considered himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1: 15).  If we agree that no candidate is perfect, we must look at their records and experience as leaders.  Remember, it is our duty as citizens to exercise our blood-bought freedom to cast our votes.

Endnote #2:  U.S. Senate Ideology Score 2018 by GovTrack.us -- Harris is most liberal (0.05/1.00) except for Bernie Sanders (0.03/1.00) and two other senators.
Click HERE and HERE to read more.

Endnote #3:  “When you totaled up Trump’s ideological score on economic and social issues from the website OnTheIssues.org (2018) — which assigns an ideological grade to politicians’ statements and votes on a scale that we’ve converted to go from -5 (very liberal) to +5 (very conservative) — he came in at +42.5. His score was closer to 0, perfectly “moderate,” than any incoming president of the past 40 years except George H.W. Bush.”  Read more, click HERE.

A Tribute to Rex Young

…for we walk by faith, not by sight
— we are of good courage, I say,
and prefer rather to be absent from the body
and to be at home with the Lord.” 
                        - 2 Corinthians 5: 7-8

“Our loss is Heaven’s gain.”

These words are a comfort for those who have trusted in Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sin.  This is especially true for us who now grieve the death of our friend and brother in Christ, Rex Allen Young (1949-2024).  Rex died on his seventy-fifth birthday, September 20, leaving behind his wife, Carol; daughters Dawn and Amy, and son, Brad; their spouses and many family members and friends.  But there is comfort in our awareness that Rex is set free from his long battle with cancer and now rests in the glorious presence of His God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In 2017, it was our blessed privilege, Abby and I, to become acquainted with Rex and Carol through our church, West Hill Baptist Church, here in Wooster, OH.  At first, our conversations were restricted to our phone calls to ask about Rex’s treatments for cancer; and also to inquire about Rex’s brother, Nester, also with cancer.  Rex and Carol always greeted us with a gracious welcome, and in spite of the trial of his cancer, they were always cheerful and thankful.  These phone conversations led eventually to meeting them at church.  We had begun our 7-year friendship with the Young’s; a friendship that afforded us with many happy times of fellowship together.

The more Abby and I came to know Rex and Carol, the more we could understand several things about them.  We learned that they possessed a strong faith in God, partly the result of their practice of daily reading the Bible together and praying together; and partly as a result of being sharpened by their own spiritual, emotional, and physical challenges as a couple—challenges not unlike ours and of many Christian couples.  In a very gracious and encouraging way, Rex and Carol became part of the “iron sharpening iron” that God used to challenge us in mind, body, and spirit.  Humbly, they claimed that we were also an encouragement to them.  Like shining silver from the refining fires, we became brothers and sisters in Christ by walking together through our blessings and trials. 

We also learned that Rex and Carol were loved and respected by many other brothers and sisters in the faith.  Amazingly, God led us along with several other members of West Hill to form one of several “small groups” that became part of the small group ministry of our church.  It was our privilege to partner with Rex and Carol to lead the group.  From 2019 until this year, this small group of approximately a dozen people, half being couples and half widows, has been learning and growing through our study of the Scriptures used each week in pastoral messages and through praying for each other for consistency in our walk of faith.  [CLICK on image below to enlarge.]



Rex and Carol attended church and the small group as long as Rex’s health permitted.  When it was no longer possible to attend our group, they would read Scripture and pray with us over the phone.  Throughout his declining health and increasing pain, Rex remained strong in faith with beloved Carol by his side.  Many often said, “They make it seem easy to endure the struggle that goes with Stage IV cancer.”  However, we know it wasn’t easy, yet they had learned where to turn for comfort—to the Word of God, and passages like 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 (emphasis added):

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Throughout his 7-year battle with cancer, Rex and Carol drew upon God’s comfort.  And, they also brought comfort to others, giving honor and preference to others above themselves (Romans 12: 10).  In short, their “affliction was producing” something!   For example, their family members could see the “power of Christ being made perfect in weakness” and through the love expressed by their dad and mom, grandpa and grandma, and so on.  Rex and Carol’s prayers were that their loved ones would each choose to “walk by faith” into the saving arms of Christ.  If they too would put their trust in Christ’s atoning work, their loved ones could also gain right standing before God so that one day, all could be together in Heaven.

On the day before Rex’s birthday celebration and “graduation” to Heaven, the four of us read Revelation 21: 1-7 which reveals the promise of Heaven’s glory:  …and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.  And then, we prayed together and bid Rex along with Carol, “Good-bye.” 

We miss you, Rex, but we will “see you in the Morning!”

Rex A. Young, Obituary:  Click HERE. 

Stretching Toward Better Health

A wonderful thing happened to me along my path to recovery from an injury, in 2023:  I decided to become a better steward of my health—body, mind, and spirit.  During that June, I injured by back while lifting a heavy solar battery.  The pain in my lumbar region was not new but it persisted.  So, I made an appointment with Dr. Bryce Chaffee, MD, Chiropractic Specialist.  Dr. Chaffee and his wife Tami are co-founders of Paragon Physical Medicine here in Wooster, OH.

The Stretching Began
During my first appointment with Dr. Chaffee, he utilized full-body X-rays and manipulation of my legs and fingers to identify three lower lumbar vertebrae with swollen discs.  He used this assessment to propose a plan which consisted of three visits per week for ten weeks. 

Each visit involved about 45 minutes of stretching routines under the direction of Dr. Chaffee’s capable staff.  Then, he provided chiropractic adjustments and polite encouragement to become more disciplined based on his faith-based, holistic view of human health.  During some of my visits, I received injections into various joints containing an extract from the Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea).  This formulation, aptly named Sarapin¹, is known to relieve musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. 

As my rigorous regimen of appointments became a significant part of my summer schedule, three changes began to occur.  First, I experienced relief from the pain in my lower back, legs, and knees.  Second, I became interested in the various bodily stretches to which I was subjected.  I decided to incorporate some of them into my daily routine during my off days.  And third, I began to study the causes of spinal problems. 

I was surprised to read that “an estimated 70–90% of all people in the US will suffer at least one back injury in their lives. Up to 25% become chronic.”  This statistic² was given by Dr. Richard Porter, emeritus professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.  I wondered how this could be if our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 14).  

Some of us do not have the slightest of back problems while others are plagued from an early age.  Could it be our heredity?  Maybe our problems come from faults in the divine design of God; or, from a failure of Darwinian evolution to adjust the human posture properly as it became upright from our quadruped ancestors.  Or could our skeletomuscular problems be the result of sin and the curse upon creation?  Maybe our back problems are the result of our own lack of stewardship of the bodies with which we were born?  Let’s briefly examine each of these possibilities.

Blame It on Heredity?
There is no doubt we each begin our lives with differences in many genetic traits including those affecting our skeletal system.  Some people inherit congenital defects while others begin life with bones, joints, and postures that are prone to injury.  From a faith perspective, we are not given to understand why some of us are blessed to inherit better health than others.  However, we must remember the words of the Apostle Paul when explained why we should not to be “puffed up” (prideful): 
For who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive?
And if you did receive it,
why do you boast as though you did not?
                                      - 2 Corinthians 4: 7

Given that our health is partly influenced by our heredity, the challenge for us is to be humbly thankful for what we have received and good stewards of our bodies and health.  We will return to this principle after we consider other possible reasons for skeletomuscular problems.

Blame It on Evolution?
Evolutionary biologists face a challenging dilemma when it comes to explaining the supposed evolution of the human skeletal system.  On the one hand, they are challenged to explain how the amazing assemblage of interconnected bones (206 bones in the adult human; 270 at birth)³ [See HERE.] could have evolved by undirected natural causes instead of by intelligent design⁴ [Click HERE].  On the other hand, evolutionary biologists must explain the pain and suffering humans frequently encounter from the spinal column, knees, and shoulders. 

Evolutionary scientists offer a creative way to address this apparent contradiction between “evolution is amazing” and “evolution is imperfect.” For example, anthropologist Matt Cartmill explains that evolution “doesn’t ‘design’ anything.” ⁵ Instead, it must progress slowly using the genes and traits it has available.  So, instead of yielding perfection, evolution “acts to yield function.”  In other words, evolution could have given us a much better skeletal system but it had to work with already evolved skeletal structures in our ape-like ancestors.  [But isn’t Dr. Cartmill ignoring the well-established biological principle that form and function are complementary?  What do you think?]

Anthropologist Jeremy DeSilva gives an example that applies Cartmill’s claim.^{5, 6}  In his presentation, “Starting Off on the Wrong Foot,” DeSilva reasons that the requirements of the human foot; namely, to provide a stable platform and a propulsive lever, are only partially satisfied by evolutionary modification from the grasping foot of our supposed tree-climbing primate ancestors.  Similarly, anthropologist and anatomist Bruce Latimer at Case Western Reserve University blames the painful problem of our achy backs on the poor evolutionary transition of the spine from the quadruped (four-footed animal) skeletal system to that of humans who are upright bipeds.

Extended a bit further, “evolution logic” is used to refute intelligent design.  This claim suggests that our supposed human skeletal flaws and frailties are evidence that our human skeleton could not have been intelligently designed.  Seems that evolutionary biologists want to have it both ways.  To learn more about the notion of “Scars of Evolution or of a Sin-Cursed World?”, click HERE.

But wait!  Is our skeletal system, spinal column in particular, really a poorly formed primate version carried over from supposed quadruped ancestors?  Not so, says Dr. Richard Porter, emeritus professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.  Porter believes the human spine is “among the most ingeniously designed structures to be found anywhere?” ²   

The scope of the debates between evolutionary scientists and creation/intelligent design scientists is too broad to fully address in this blog.  However, the literature we have reviewed and referenced below provides strong evidence for intelligent design expressed by reputable scientists and practitioners in the field of orthopedics.  The table below provides a sampling of the contrasting logic of the two worldviews.

Blame It on the Curse of Creation?
Beginning in Genesis, the inspired revelation in the Scriptures supports a creation and intelligent design explanation for what we see in our world.  Genesis 1-3 gives the account of a perfect creation with perfect humans created by God and to whom God gave the responsibility to exercise dominion and stewardship over His creation.  Instead, they acted on their God-given free will to rebel against the order of God’s creation, and the consequence was a curse upon them and upon creation (Genesis 3). 

The results of the curse included expulsion from the Garden of Eden and gradual shortening of the longevity of human life as we can read in the carefully recorded and preserved biblical records of the lives of Adam and Eve and their descendants.  It is hard to refute the claim that sin and resultant moral and physical corruption has taken a toll on human health, including every organ and system of our bodies.  Instead of “evolution” to greater and greater intelligence and perfection, we have witnessed “devolution” which continues today biologically, spiritually, and intellectually.  The “design flaws” of the human skeletal system can now be understood more clearly in the context of the sin-cursed creation in which we live.  Thankfully, for those who place their faith in Christ, the downward spiral of our cursed creation has been thwarted by Christ’s victory over sin and death (Romans 8) which Christians celebrate each Easter.

A Call to Stewardship of our Health
The genes we inherit operate within the context of our experience of living in a sin-cursed world where our bodies deteriorate and eventually, we die.  However, the Gospel of Christ calls us to live in the hope of His return; and because of His promise, we are looking for New Heavens and a New Earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3: 13).  But the hope of an eternal Heaven does not mean we can be careless about our health while we live on this Earth.

If we are Christ-followers, we must realize that our current health condition is both a consequence of past events and a call for responsible stewardship.  Our health is a consequence of two factors: our heredity and the environment.  Some of us have been exposed to work or recreational environments that have produced skeletomuscular injuries.  For example, some of our dearest friends now suffer injuries during their athletic careers during which they were devoted to the disciplines of conditioning, winning, and enjoying the opportunity to thrill their parents and peers in the stands.  Painful consequences, yes!  But still many have learned how to compensate and respond to the call to be stewards of their health. 

Regardless of our current state of health, God calls us to exercise stewardship of our bodies at every stage of life (emphasis added):

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
within you, whom you have from God?
You are not your own,
for you were bought with a price.
So, glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This command of Scripture is broadly stated because God entrusts us with a good judgment to discern how we ought to steward our health, both physical and spiritual.  Our life in Christ with His Spirit living in us ought to empower us to manage our physical and spiritual health through proper nutrition, hydration, work, play, exercise, rest, reading, worship of God, serving others, and sleep—all done as unto our Lord (Colossians 3: 17, 23).  Depending on the consequences of our heredity and past injuries or illnesses, it may be more or less difficult to manage all of these in proper balance, but God only calls us to strive with the health and well-being we have. 

In my case, with proper chiropractic help, a mild back injury was not only relieved but it led to an improvement in my overall skeletomuscular health.  Dr. Chaffee’s request for a full-body X-ray revealed that my lower lumbar vertebrae were affected.  He concluded that I was on a path toward deterioration of the lumbar vertebrae and the disks that serve to cushion between them.  Dr. Chaffee also recognized my spinal scoliosis, a lateral (or side-to-side) curvature of my spinal column.  In addition, the X-ray image of my colon suggested that my intestinal microflora would be helped by regular ingestion of a probiotic supplement.  Finally, we discussed my protein intake and concluded that a regular supplement of a whey protein formulation along with careful attention to maintaining good hydration would be helpful.  I have incorporated these recommendations in to my daily routine and developed a regular regimen of stretching exercises.  I am convinced of the value of the holistic approach offered by the chiropractic profession.

A Stretching Plan for Stewardship of our Health
An unexpected result of my chiropractic visits and follow-up with the helpful stretches, nutrition, and hydration has been my opportunities to encourage others who have skeletomuscular problems.  However, I recommend starting with a visit to a good chiropractor, especially for serious problems.  [Of course, I recommend Dr. Chaffee for those who live near Wooster, Ohio.]  When friends ask what kind of stretching exercises I use, they are difficult to describe.  When I mentioned this to Dr. Chafee, he urged me to lay aside my modesty and fear of not offering a good example, and produce some videos of my stretch routines.

Stretching Videos:
We are in the process of producing a series of videos, one for each day of a 3-day rotation that we are currently using.  Each video offers an abbreviated demonstration of each of the stretches.  We also provide a compressed view of the spreadsheet we use to check off each stretching exercise in the sequence I follow.  [Click on Table to enlarge.]
Day 1 Stretching Exercises - Click HERE. 
Day 2 Stretching Exercises - Click HERE.
Day 3 Stretching Exercises - Click HERE.

Leave a Comment:
We invite readers who have questions or suggestions to respond using the “Comment” link below.  Stay tuned to see links to more videos.

References:
¹ “Sarapin:  Dynamic Pain Rehabilitation.”  2020.  Click HERE.
² Jonathan Sarfati. 2002. “Standing Up for Creation.” Creation 25(1):25–27.  Click HERE.
₃ “How Many Bones Are in the Human Body?”  2024.  Science Notes.   Click HERE.[JS1] 
⁴ “Creation’s Complexity Can Be Convicting.” Oikonomia, March 13, 2020.  Click HERE.
⁵ “Scars of Evolution or of a Sin-Cursed World?” Answers in Genesis.  News to Note, March 2, 2013  Click HERE.
⁶ Jeremy DeSilva. 2013. “Starting Off on the Wrong Foot,” AAAS.  Click HERE.
⁷ Paul E. Leimkuehler. 2013. “Human Foot and Ankle Versus Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Mechanism Function,” American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists.  Click HERE.
⁸ R. Smail.  1990. “Oh my aching back!” Creation 12(4):20–21.  Click HERE.

Acknowledgements:
Our thanks to Dr. Bryce Chaffee for his part in my healing and for his encouragement to overcome my sense of modesty to create the YouTube videos of stretching exercises that we hope will be helpful to others.  Thanks also to Anna, Matt, Courtenay, and Wendy for working with me through the stretching exercises; to Melissa for administering the Sarapin, and to Jaycee and Olivia for cheerfully handling scheduling and insurance matters.  Finally, our thanks to Nathanael Davis, Assistant Professor of Library Science, Cedarville University, for his assistance in searching the literature on the human spine.

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