The Voice of Destiny

The Master Cleanse

I have been feeling quite sluggish over the past several months. Of course the extra weight around the mid section doesn’t help at all. So I have decided to try the master cleanse to de-tox my body, lose some weight and hopefully feel much better in the end.

This particular de-tox actually cleans the lining of your stomach so that your body can receive the full nutritious value of what you are consuming. It also cleanses all the way to the cellular level of your body. In a sense it removes the veil from your body so that you can have more energy and be healthier.

Recently I read an article by a former minister about de-toxing from the church. Not from the gathering of people with whom you have a relationship with, but from the religious system that man has built. You see, just as your body needs to be cleansed from toxic build up, so does your spirit man. Years of doing things that we all believed were in the Bible and “of God” often shield you from the very life that comes from the Truth! All the extra curricula activity that we have been instructed is godly, often keeps you from sincerely knowing the love of the Father, from hearing His voice and from simply living in His grace!

It is interesting because when you de-tox your physical body you feel worse in the beginning. Shedding all those toxins is a drag and they don’t go easily. The same is true when de-toxing your spiritual man. When you stop doing all that was expected of you to do as a Christian you often feel worse. Questions will arise; “Am I doing the right thing?” “Shouldn’t I be doing more for God?” “What will people think about me?” I encourage you to hang in there. It will get better. I promise!

In the end, isn’t it all about being healthy from the inside out? Reflecting what God has truly given to us to live out of and not having to put something on to identify ourselves as a believer. I keep hearing about returning to the basics, to the garden experience of what is rightfully ours through Jesus Christ. When you begin to dwell on who the Father really created you to be, it is totally amazing. So I am hanging in there, both with the master cleanse and with the Master cleanse!

Building Character

Most everyone knows that I am an avid Red Sox fan. Having played the game as a youth and had dreams of reaching the major leagues I don't miss too many games. In my mind there is so much more to learn from the game than just final scores and balls and strikes. It is about the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory. Underdogs, over achievers and rookie sensations. The game never gets old because it is more than just a game. It is real life!

Don't get me wrong, I don't have lots of sympathy for millionaire cry babies, but even they have bad days, injuries, sickness in the family and yes, death that causes the game to be reduced to just that a game! It is in the midst of all of this that much can be learned if you pay attention.

Just this past week the bottom has fallen out of Boston's drive for another world series. Injuries, slumps, and failed comebacks have all happened at once for the Sox, but here is where you learn from the game. When Terri Francona, the manager of the Red Sox was asked about his team and how they were going to handle all the difficulties they were experiencing, he made no excuses. He said, "It is at times like this we will discover what we are made of. These things happen to all teams and they present an opportunity to build character."

To me that is what sports is all about! Yes I love to watch the games and see the incredible athletic ability of men placed in high pressure situations. But to me it is more about overcoming the adversities of life and coming out a winner as a person.

Earlier this season the Los Angeles Angels lost one of their pitchers to a car accident. It devastated the team to lose someone so close to them. That very night he had pitched a great game. Everyone was happy until the news of someone running a red light changed every thing. They could have allowed this tragedy to destroy their season, but instead they are using it to build character in their lives. They are now on top of the standings and look like they are on their way to the playoffs.

How are you dealing with the difficult situations you are facing in your life? You are no less important as a person than million dollar ball players. Are you allowing the difficulties to build character in you or are you making excuses? Times are tough. We read about it everyday in the news paper or hear it on the TV. That is no excuse to give up. It is time to "suck it up" as they say and allow God to develop character in your life. In reality character is not developed in hard times, it is revealed! I continue to stress that hard times cannot stop your destiny, they define it ! Character does count!!! What's in you?