THE DESTINY OF YOUR CHOOSING

“More than a century before his birth Cyrus the Great was named, predestined to overthrow Babylon and prepare the way for the restoration of the Jews to their homeland. (See Isaiah 45:1-3.) And John the Baptist was one named and predestined to be the forerunner of the Christ. (Luke 1:11-20, 57-65.) But again his eternal destiny was dependent not upon this special assignment, but upon his personal choice.

“…predestination plays no part in the doings, undoings, and events which develop in the life experience of the average man. The eternal destiny of each man is fixed by his own choice.”

—”Replies to Your Questions,” by Calvin E. Mosely, Message, October 1968

not sure where you’d like to be with your health. When you think of it, though, where do you see yourself? Less weight, more weight, pregnant, free of hot flashes, no more diabetes or heart disease, improved mobility, free of anxiety or depression, in meaningful relationships? What does that space look like to you?

Some of the best ways to get to better health lie in the power of your own choices. The field of Lifestyle Medicine is proving more and more every day that even if you’ve not quite landed where you want to be, you can definitely “reroute/redirect” yourself and arrive safely at your destination.

Here are some things to remember on your journey to better health:

Once, an intoxicated patient who drank too much alcohol celebrating a holiday came to the ER with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The history is that while he was intoxicated, he was told “charcoal” would help decrease the effect of the alcohol. He therefore began to “chew on the charcoal from his outside grill.” Not a good idea. This was not the “charcoal” that is helpful.

Common charcoal is made from peat, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum. “Activated charcoal” is similar to common charcoal, but is made especially for use as a medicine. To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or pores. These pores help activated charcoal trap chemicals.

What makes this investment unique is—as one of my friends described it according to the biblical story in Genesis—God hasn’t created any more land since “in the beginning.” Land is a finite resource, a limited in supply. It’s no wonder then, that many investors can generate wealth or improve their financial portfolio through real estate. Here are four reasons why this is true:

you want to know what leaders are made of, it would be good to find out how God builds them. Throughout history, we notice a type of pattern that repeats often. Though some differences exist, it seems there are some necessary building stages that He uses for those He chooses as leaders.

Look at two examples: Moses and Joseph.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Moses was a great leader. But many times we don’t think of Joseph as a leader. Joseph led Potiphar’s house extremely well, however, to the point that it prospered as never before. Eventually, Joseph rose to become none other than the prime minister of the greatest civilized nation at the time. And, he made it prosper in one of the most difficult times. Then, he led his father’s house to Goshen and managed to bring a very broken family back together.

If that’s not being a great leader, then I don’t know what it means. So let’s compare some of the stages in their lives.

Trauma does not build character, but the image of the tree can be a valuable mirror for traumatized victims.

When Hollywood stars converged for this year’s Oscars, and two iconic Black American male figures took center stage (along with all Black America) old stereotypes revived: Black Americans are angry and cannot control that anger.

Even in the unblemished Fresh Prince of Bel Air. What the nation witnessed was traumatizing optically and auditorily, but it was Will Smith and Chris Rock whose personal traumas emerged for the world to behold.

You’ve Been Strung Along for Way Too Long

Lust, likewise is also characterized by a compelling drive to secure something just beyond reach. Lust, however, pursues an object that cannot quite be secured. Lust promises a certain gratification; and while simply engaging in the pursuit of the thing lusted after may offer pleasure, somehow lust never quite delivers. In short, lust lies by making promises it cannot keep.

Lust invites us to direct our desires towards wholly unobtainable things, ever feeding us on the illusion of a fulfillment that never arrives—because it cannot arrive.

1. What about this story/context/verse stands out to me?
2. How is this different from the life I live now? How is this different from the society and culture I’m a part of? (John 9:5)
3. How does this passage challenge me? (1John 1:5-9)
4. Where do I see Jesus, or miss Jesus in this passage? (John 8:12, Colossians 1:24-29)
5. Assess myself. What am I missing in my life that God wants me to have? (Psalm 18:28)
6. Is there someone else who could use this in their life? How would I share it?

Is it possible that many faith communities read Revelation 14: 6-13 in a similar light? And in doing so, have believers assumed that since the happenings recorded by John appear to be either historic events or those of a prophetic nature, they pose no present danger for us, thus no need for action on our part? Perhaps, that explains why many in the household of faith are dismissive of the three angels, and their messages, introduced to us in chapter fourteen of Revelation.