1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Later in the chapter, in verse 4, he states this:
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about living a pure and holy life, which is brought about by devotion to the Scriptures and submission to the Spirit. These "promises," as he relates can contribute to our cleansing. And, in this overall journey, even when we are facing tribulation, the apostle Paul declares that he is joyful - not happy, or mildly joyful, but exceedingly joyful. We can possess that joy as we recognize we are right with God, that we are walking in His will, and we growing in Him. With that attitude, we can withstand the trials we encounter.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about living a pure and holy life, which is brought about by devotion to the Scriptures and submission to the Spirit. These "promises," as he relates can contribute to our cleansing. And, in this overall journey, even when we are facing tribulation, the apostle Paul declares that he is joyful - not happy, or mildly joyful, but exceedingly joyful. We can possess that joy as we recognize we are right with God, that we are walking in His will, and we growing in Him. With that attitude, we can withstand the trials we encounter.
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The Scriptures give us direction about what we should be pursuing as servants of Almighty God. Consider the words of 2nd Peter chapter 1:
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gatwick Airport in London is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "happy meal." Flying can sometimes be a harrowing experience, with the lines to go through security, the potential of delayed flights, or finding one's way through an unfamiliar airport. So, there were airport restaurants during August that tried an experiment that might make the skies a bit friendlier.
According to a story on the CNN website, restaurants updated their menus to include dishes designed to put travelers in a better mood. Frankie and Benny's, for example, added a salmon citrus salad that promises to improve brain function, while Lebanese chain Comptoir's falafel and fattoush salad was meant to keep blood sugar levels steady.
The airport has teamed up with nutritionist Jo Travers, who says that, "There are certain foods that will help the 'happy' chemicals in your brain to keep flowing. Two key players are the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, along with amino acids tryptophan and theanine, which can contribute to the creation of serotonin, known to most as 'happy hormones'." She adds, "Low levels of these chemicals can cause fatigue in addition to lowering existing levels of serotonin. Similarly, a deficiency of Omega 3, can lead to fatigue and mood swings."
Raymond Kollau, founder of travel website Airline Trends, is quoted in the article as saying, "Passengers traveling by air often have a long and tiring day that is filled with snacks, and making it easier for them to choose the right kind of food, promoting a light meal instead of one that is high in carbs, will make them feel better." Kallau points to innovations such as the FlyFit 'fatigue fighting' juice range, which claims to improve blood flow, and is now sold at 50 airports.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gatwick Airport in London is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "happy meal." Flying can sometimes be a harrowing experience, with the lines to go through security, the potential of delayed flights, or finding one's way through an unfamiliar airport. So, there were airport restaurants during August that tried an experiment that might make the skies a bit friendlier.
According to a story on the CNN website, restaurants updated their menus to include dishes designed to put travelers in a better mood. Frankie and Benny's, for example, added a salmon citrus salad that promises to improve brain function, while Lebanese chain Comptoir's falafel and fattoush salad was meant to keep blood sugar levels steady.
The airport has teamed up with nutritionist Jo Travers, who says that, "There are certain foods that will help the 'happy' chemicals in your brain to keep flowing. Two key players are the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, along with amino acids tryptophan and theanine, which can contribute to the creation of serotonin, known to most as 'happy hormones'." She adds, "Low levels of these chemicals can cause fatigue in addition to lowering existing levels of serotonin. Similarly, a deficiency of Omega 3, can lead to fatigue and mood swings."
Raymond Kollau, founder of travel website Airline Trends, is quoted in the article as saying, "Passengers traveling by air often have a long and tiring day that is filled with snacks, and making it easier for them to choose the right kind of food, promoting a light meal instead of one that is high in carbs, will make them feel better." Kallau points to innovations such as the FlyFit 'fatigue fighting' juice range, which claims to improve blood flow, and is now sold at 50 airports.
Also, in Amsterdam's Schiphol and Brussels Airport, passengers can get a serotonin boost by recharging their phones with power generated from riding indoor bikes.
A story about the experiment on the Telegraph website says that ten of the top ingredients used in the dishes that Gatwick says will help you eat yourself happy include salmon, chickpeas and oats. The special meals are designated by a smiley face emoji beside them on the menu. Tuna, bananas, citrus fruit, and green tea also make the top ten list.
Well, you can assume that these food enhancements can help keep travelers in the right frame of mind. And, as believers in Christ, it's important that we possess the right mental approach to life, as well as to be good stewards of the bodies that God has entrusted to us. I think of what Dr. Pete Sulack said on the radio show the other day about making sure that we are not sidelined in our fulfillment of God's plan for our lives. I think about how health issues, including stress, which we can bring upon ourselves, can reduce our level of effectiveness for the Kingdom. In order to fulfill God's purpose for our lives, we need to be at the top of our game, sort of speak.
We all know that correct food consumption and exercise can contribute to better health. We also know that what we consume mentally can either enhance our lives or be a destructive force. So, we have to be careful what we allow to go into our minds, which can affect our bodies. In our pursuit of happiness, we recognize that God's intent for us is to experience more of His character and to walk in His joy. We have to evaluate, or filter, what we allow into our spirits so that we are not weighed down by thoughts and emotions that have the potential to get us off track in our pursuit of Godliness.
The "happy hormones" are a valid attempt to contribute to good health and make the airport experience a bit more pleasurable - and our adaptation or consumption of some of these foods might be beneficial for good physical health for us. More importantly, we have to take stock of our spiritual health, putting good spiritual food into our minds and hearts and rejecting those factors that can cause us to be weakened in our walk with Christ.
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