Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:7-8).

I can't tell you the number of ways that I've tried to maintain health throughout the years:  the Atkins (no carbohydrates) diet, the 100 push-ups challenge, training for (and running) a 5K, roller-blading, Ambrotose nutritional supplements, the Cornhusker weight-training program, the G2 Matrix, Life Extension Mix vitamins... and I would honestly (try to) claim that I'm not as health-obsessed as most contemporary Americans!  I don't like to stress out or quest after some impossible "fountain of youth," as if I wanted to spring for a 2010 Corvette, so much as simply taking care of myself, like bringing my 1992 Camry in for regular oil changes and tire rotations.  But stepping back and looking at my life from the standpoint of an objective third-party -- just scanning through that (incomplete) list of health programs I've tried through the years -- I feel convicted and freshly challenged (in a good way) by the health advice of Proverbs 3:7-8.

The truth is that it's dumb for anyone to claim, "I've found the secret to losing weight / building muscle / feeling younger / living longer."  When we say this, we're effectively establishing ourselves as being wise in our own eyes.  "I've got it figured out..." or "I know what's best for me..." (or for anyone else who might get swept up into the conversation along the way).  It feels good to have someone notice that I've lost weight or thickened my muscles a bit.  I feel proud and wise when I can explain, "Well, let me tell you the secret to my success..."

But what if we could take those opportunities -- where we would typically enumerate all the marvels of the latest program that we're on -- and instead give the glory back to God?  What if your friend asked you, "How'd ya do it?"  And you responded with something like, "Well, buddy, let me tell you how I did it:  I feared the LORD and shunned evil."  Wouldn't that be funny?  (I can hear the television commercial now!)  But seriously, isn't that ultimately what every health program in the world comes down to?!?  Fearing the LORD -- giving up our idols of image, youth, food, comfort -- and shunning evil, especially gluttony and sloth.  I think there's really something to this.  At the end of the day, I really believe that this is the way we bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones.

The best thing about this health plan is that you don't have to worry about operators standing by, and you can keep that $19.95 in your bank account.  If you wanted to, of course, you could contact me and I'd take that money off your hands for you.  But really, if you apply yourself to this simple, proverbial "Fear-and-Shun Program," you're already on your way to well-being.