Bodily Exercise

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> From: Tyler G. Nally <tgnally@prairienet.org>
>> You know, I know of another tradition that really trancends most
> all of oneness apostolics.  The attitude towards their body.


me:
I just *had* to respond to this one.  My attitude toward
my body *before* I became an Apostolic was that I HATED it.
It seems I have had a weight problem for most of my adult life.
In order to maintain the "ideal" corporate image for success in the 
business world I have done the following:

1)  Diet pills (several times)
2)  Weight Watchers (3 times)
3)  Physician's Weight Loss Clinics (once)
4)  Major Surgery (stomach stapling in 1980, lost 65 lbs)
5)  Health club/gym membership (met some cute guys, (single at the time)
     didn't lose much weight, just toning up then). 
6)  Optifast Medical Weight Loss Program
     ( I was on a complete, medically supervised, fast for 12 weeks.
      No food whatsoever, only liquid supplements, lost 52 lbs, almost
      lost my mind!)
7) Cleveland Clinic Diet (once, got sick on it and quit)
8) You name it, I have "probably" tried it. 

I am sure there have been a "few"  more, but these are the ones that
stand out the most in my memory. #4 was especially rough!  By
medical standards I was not obese "enough"  to qualify for the 
surgery but I *begged* the doctor to perform it. I desperately wanted
to be *thin*.  When I came out of the anesthetic I had never felt so
much PAIN in my life. I was cut open from my breastbone to my 
bellybutton. My stomach had been folded up in quarters and stapled
together to reduce the amount of food it could contain. I had a tube
stuck up my nose down into my stomach for three days to drain
out all the blood from the surgery. I was hospitalized for seven days.
Almost every meal I ate for the next eight weeks following the surgery,
I vomited. I vomited so much,  and SO violently, that I pulled several 
of the staples loose.  It got to the point that I didn't want to eat 
anything at all, because I knew it wouldn't be "down there"  for long
All THIS to be "normal".

Since I am sharing so openly here, I will admit that 
yes, I have gained weight since I have been in the
Church (about 30 lbs.) but I have been at this weight several 
times  BEFORE  I came into the Church.  The difference between
the weight gain now, and then, is that it doesn't DEVASTATE me
ANYMORE. With the Lord's help, and much prayer, I have learned
to accept myself for who I am on the inside,  *not*  on the outside. 

I don't consider myself a glutton. I wish I did, because the Word says
that gluttony is a sin. If I felt I was in sin, I would be *much* more
diligent in correcting the situation. My weight problem stems primarily
from poor food choices *and*  lack of physical exercise. Sitting at a
desk all day, and in a church pew several times a week, doesn't
provide much physical exertion (unless it's a good shouting service)
I *am* concerned about the weight for health reasons now, not 
cosmetic. I have a great deal of stress on the job at times and
for the first time in 41 years I find myself needing to take blood
pressure medicine. I know if I lost the extra weight, I could probably
lose the medication, too.

You said: 
> What does that say to someone outside of the church.  They come into
> the local assembly and feel a wonderful spirit, but most everybody
> is larger-than-what-they-should-be-in-life.  They then think:  "Hmmmmm...
> should I go to church here and eventually gain weight and become like
> them?  Or should I continue seeking elsewhere?"
> 

me: I have spent the majority of my adult life being larger-than-what-
society-says-I-should-be-in-life, and have almost destroyed my
body through various methods of weight control in order to conform 
to society's idea of "normal". I know your post was mostly 
"tongue-in-cheek",  but for those of us who have seriously struggled
with our weight through the years, it is *not* a laughing matter.

The night I received the Holy Ghost I never noticed how overweight,
or anorexic, anybody was in the congregation. I only knew that
there was *something* that those people had,  that I WANTED.

I hope, and will pray to God, that my size would  *never*   become 
a hindrance to someone's salvation.  I hope they will be able to
look *past* my body, and *into*  my spirit, to see the love, peace and joy 
that I now have in Jesus Christ. 

Donna ( I'm not heavy, just "too short"  for my weight) Perine
fmbritchie@citynet.net