Another news letter

Dear Friends by Carole Lewis
Memories
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you are brought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I recently attended a conference at a church in Virginia where the Pastor Steve Reynolds, lost 108 pounds and is leading his congregation to also lose weight. During the fall of 2007, his congregation lost 2100 pounds. The meeting I attended in January was the kick off for their second session where 270 men and women attended and signed up again to lose weight. Steve's alumni group is going through First Place together, which is the reason I was there.
Some of the below facts shared at that conference were sobering to say the least. This is a sad commentary for all of us as Christians.
Of 100 pound losers, only one (1) out of 1,000 keeps off the weight.
Christians are the most overweight people group.
The word "body" is mentioned 179 times in the Bible.
66 million Americans are obese (BMI>30%).
One million Americans are super obese (BMI>50%)
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Leadership Training by Vicki Heath
What a Looser!Steve Reynolds is just that! And now he is leading his whole church to be a bunch of losers too! Over a year ago, Pastor Steve realized that because of his lust of the flesh (For him it was over indulging in ice cream!) and sedentary lifestyle, he was digging his own grave with a knife and fork! He decided to do something about it and has lost 108 pounds. And that was just the beginning!
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Balanced Living-Emotional by Bill Heston
Cut the Bitter RootMake every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15 4:4a
It is impossible to live very long before hurtful things happen. Some we just stumble into and others seem to be well-conceived plots. Even good people end up hurting other good people. Apologies are welcomed, but they do not take away the harm that often has been done.
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Balanced Living-Physical by Jeannie Blocher
One Step at a TimeIs exercise one of the hardest things for you when it comes to healthy lifestyle changes? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. Many people feel the same way. There are so many things that seem to happen in life that sabotage our efforts to exercise. We have to find time to do it, and our lives are busy.
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Nutrition Notes by Erin DuBroc
The (not so) Secret to Sticking With ItI read a great article in Newsweek by Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D. a few months ago. Entitled "Forget about Willpower", I was quite curious to read what Dr. Ornish believes one shouldn't forget about in the quest for successful weight loss since willpower is, after all, believed by many to be a large piece of the weight-loss puzzle. You can find the article here: http://www.newsweek.com/id/81153Once you read it, I hope you'll see some major similarities between what Dr. Ornish touts as the secrets to losing weight and what First Place teaches.
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Devotional
Clueless and Busy in Illinois
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. COLOSSIANS 3:1-2
I became aware of the hectic nature of my life when I found myself dyeing my hair at midnight! The 20 minutes I had forced myself to stay awake so that I could cover the gray, I had just enough reflection time to day, "My life has been w-a-y too busy for the last week."
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Recipes: Soups On!
Tortellini SoupServes: 6
2 1/2 cups water
2 14-1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cups loose-pack frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
2 1/2 cups refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 1/2 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, undrained tomatoes, chicken broth, basil, oregano and pepper. Bring to boiling. Stir in frozen vegetables and tortellini. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 6 minutes or until tortellini are tender. Add parsley and serve.
Exchanges: 2 Breads, 1 1/2 Meats, 1 1/2 Vegetables
Creamed Turkey with Bow Ties Serves: 6
1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1 bunch green onions, chopped
6 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
2 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey breast
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 (10.75 ounce) can reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
pepper to taste
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile saute onions, celery and mushrooms in butter until tender. Reduce heat. Add the turkey, broth, soup and sour cream; heat through (do not boil). Season with pepper. Drain pasta; top with turkey mixture. Note: Can use a bag of veggies in place of the mushrooms.
Exchanges: 2 1/2 meats, 2 Breads
Apricot Glazed Asparagus Serves: 4
1 pound asparagus spears, trimmed
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 400°. Place asparagus spears on a jelly roll pan lined with foil and coated with cooking spray. Combine apricot preserves, soy sauce, garlic, and salt and pour over asparagus. Toss well to coat. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Serve immediately.
Exchanges:1/2 vegetable
Green Beans with ChivesServes: 4
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon stone-ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Steam green beans, covered, 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from steamer; toss with remaining ingredients.
Exchanges: 1 1/2 vegetables, 1/2 fat