Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul
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Loved, loved, loved this book
I just loved, loved, loved this book. ÃÂ I purchased this book after listening to Focus on the Family. ÃÂ I was intrigued by a part of the book the author was reading about the sloth in the Bible and the modern day version of it. ÃÂ I finished this book in four days. ÃÂ It is truly an inspirational book. ÃÂ I have been on my journey to getting healthy and fit but I came to a halt. ÃÂ After reading this book I am getting back on track. ÃÂ We should not become soft but ready for what good work God has for us. ÃÂ Thank you for such a great book I am now inspired to reboot my fitness and healthy lifestyle. ÃÂ If you feel it is time for a change. ÃÂ That you are tired of feeling. The way you feel. ÃÂ Ask God to help you and pick up this book it will help you in the right direction. ÃÂ God Bless
February 18, 2013
A must read!
I just finished this book and I can say that this is the kind of book that can change lives. It shows how the physical and spiritual impact each other. If we ignore one aspect of our lives the other will suffer as well. It is very motivational in nature. By cultivating good physical health we make ourselves more available to be used by God.
September 29, 2012
Great Book for Encouragement
I received this book free from Zondervan Publishing as part of the blogger review program.
I needed this book and timing was perfect. Mr. Thomas takes scripture and points to the much needed encouragement to care for the "temple of the Holy Spirit".
Various sins in our lives are obvious and need to be addressed in our churches. But the gluttony issue never seems to make it to the forefront. BUT, "Many thru the ages have warned against the spiritual dangers of overeating, we would be wise to listen" states Mr. Thomas. Discipline takes on many forms and discipline in one area will bleed over into another area.
If you are one who struggles with a "healthy" balance physically in your life and wants to find some victory, then the personal challenge and encouragement of this book makes it a must read.
March 16, 2012
Balanced, truthful and grace based approach
âÂÂEvery Body Mattersâ by Gary Thomas is a book full of relevant information for the Body of Christ today. This book has been very insightful in making the correlation between the physical body, including healthy eating plus exercise habits, and comparing it to spiritual health via the strength of soul with the corresponding benefits of endurance and self-control. Thomas directly ties this into the ability to fulfill the plan and purpose of God in the BelieverâÂÂs life.
The author uses a very balanced approach to the subject of carrying too much weight. In referring to the Body Mass Index (BMI) Thomas summarizes it by stating it like this, âÂÂSin can lead us to become overweight but being overweight is not, in and of itself, a sin.â He is quick to point out the drawbacks from carrying too much weight in terms of the decreased mobility, breathlessness, discomfort of moving around and accepting the gradual decline in personal health.
Gary Thomas stresses that caring for our bodies is a form of stewardship that must be taken seriously. The temptation to eat more, sleep more and lie around more rather than engaging in life are the greatest thieves of life purpose. An unfortunate effect of laziness is that it can become an ingrained behavior that spills over from the physical into the spiritual. Physical activity benefits the brain and can help prevent age-related brain fogginess that develops by age 65.
Also covered in this book is the late nineteenth-century movement from England called Muscular Christianity. I had never heard of this movement before and it is one that the modern church would benefit from greatly. Even more fascinating was that movementâÂÂs awareness of the need to have a body fit for service to the Lord for an effective, influential, energetic life that commands respect as an effective witness to the world. Their goal was to have Christians ready for the warfare of the Kingdom, by having victory in the warfare of the flesh through the disciplines of self-denial, courage and perseverance.
Thomas notes that we are all susceptible to the draw toward comfort and ease rather than sacrifice and denial. Unfortunately the American church has been so focused on loving and not wanting to hurt peopleâÂÂs feelings that we are guilty of loving them to an early death by not having an honest conversation with them. Even worse is that over weight pastors minister from pulpits across the country giving the impression that there is nothing wrong with all the extra weight. The question is do we love them enough to confront and bring the hidden things of darkness into the light so true freedom can come?
This is a very truthful and grace based approach to a subject that many in the church would rather avoid for fear of offending. Gary Thomas does this beautifully and with a heart that recognizes the value of each individualâÂÂs contribution to the overall plan and purpose of God. One of the great things he does is help the reader think about and identify circumstances that make you vulnerable and offer ideas for safeguards that help the reader to fortify their soul against failure. I highly recommend you add this book to your library and pass it along to others when youâÂÂre done with it.
By way of disclosure: I received a free review copy of âÂÂEvery Body Mattersâ by Gary Thomas from Zondervan in exchange for writing a reviewâÂÂgood, bad, or otherwise.
February 22, 2012
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