It has been said and we at Embellir adhere to the principle that unless you are healed by God's ways; then you are not healed.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29 )
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that He may bring forth food out of the earth. (Psalm 104:14)
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those whom it is cultivated, receives blessings from God. (Hebrews 6:7)
Jordan Rubin, author of “The Maker’s Diet: The 40-Day Health Experience That Will Change Your Life Forever” and founder of Garden of Life natural health supplements, understands that good health comes from a good foundation. He believes that when we understand God’s plan for health, we can unlock the door to success. He shares his ideas here, in this cover story.
We are in a health crisis. Virtually every disease is on the rise, and we have never been at greater risk. Statistics indicate that nearly 25% of the population is morbidly obese, with 60% classified as overweight; childhood obesity is a health concern for the first time in our recorded history.
Fortunately, there is a way for us to help control whether or not we become part of the grim health statistics, but it requires proactive participation. From the inception of humanity until now, there has been a plan for optimal health.
Humanity's design has not changed, and neither has its nutrition requirements. Historical human nutrition and contemporary scientific studies indicate a way of nourishing the body that will attain and maintain overall health in the way it was designed. In as little as 40 days, "The Maker's Diet" can transform the way you eat and live.
The health statistics reflect what the "modern" diet can do; the challenge is to discover what "The Maker's Diet" can do!
The Maker's Diet
You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creep, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
The Three Sides of MAN... Man was created, not evolved. There is an enormous gulf, practically an infinite divergence between the lowest man and the hightest beast confirms it, and Science cannot find evidence to bridge the gap. Man, as created by God, and living on earth in mortal flesh, is a triune being, composed of “spirit and soul and body” (1 Thess. 5:23 ). These three parts constitute the man. We were created as 3 in 1.
The Spirit (Inner Man) ...that part which knows and allies us to the spiritual creation and gives us a God-consciousness. It is the spirit that makes us a moral and accountable being. “The spirit of man which is in him” (1 Cor. 2:11), “formed within him” (Zech. 12:1), a separate entity in each individual, his highest part, linking him with God, who is the “Father of spirits” (Heb. 12:9), and the “God of the spirits of all flesh” (Num. 16:22; 22:16), which is equivalent to saying, of all men (see Gen. 6:12; Luke 3:6), saved and unsaved. This “spirit” which animates and controls the bodily organism is from God Himself, and without it the body is “dead “ (James 2:26 ). At death, it returns to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7). In the case of the believer, it is received by the Lord Jesus (Acts 7:59 ), and exists in consciousness apart from the body (Heb. 12:23 ). To the spirit is ascribed the functions of intelligence, understanding, and judgment. It can “know “(1 Cor. 2:11 ), be “stirred” (Acts 17:16 ), be “provoked” (Ps. 106:33), while by its moral and spiritual qualities may be developed, such as a “right spirit” (Ps. 51:10), a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:4). “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1: 47) tells of its capability of spiritual joy, while the Spirit of God bearing witness “with our spirit” (Rom. 8:16 ) tells of its capability for intercourse with the Divine.
The Soul(Mind) ...that part of us that is self-conscious--alive--distinguishable from plants which have unconscous life. Yes, animals have a soul (Genesis 24), but man has one with far vaster content. The mind is the seat of our emotions, our desires, and our affections. Derived, as Genesis 2:7, informs us, from the inbreathing of the Creator, which raises him far above the beasts, which are said to have “soul” (Gen. 1:30, margin), man is the offspring of God (Acts 17:28), formed to have dominion, in the image and glory of God (1 Cor. 11:7), even though now fallen from his first estate. Man is linked with the inferior creatures by being, as they are, “a living soul,” and distinguished from angels, who are only “spirits” (Heb. 1:7, 14), but not “souls.” While man is alive in the body, he is a “soul” (see Ezek. 18:20 ; Lev. 5:2, 4; 7:20 , where the person—the individual—is clearly meant); when out of the body, he is then called a “spirit” (Heb. 12:23 ). It is the intermediate link between spirit and body, and the life of the latter. To it are ascribed the functions of loving (1 Sam.18:1), hating (2 Sam. 5:8), desiring (Job 23:13 ), longing (Ps. 84:2). Affections, appetites, desires belong to the soul. The soul is said to be the seat or spring of sin—“the sin of the soul” (Mic. 6:7)—for it atonement is said to be made (Lev. 17:11), and as it is by the soul needed, so by it is it made, as we read, “When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isa. 53:10-11).
The Body ...that part that is the shell or house of a man. It is home to the spirit and the mind. It houses our life forces of blood and tissue. It provides movement and mass. “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” There was first the figure of clay, formed of the dust, concerning which it is written—“Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19). Into this lifeless form, God inbreathed “the breath of life.” The body is spoken of in Scripture as man's “tabernacle,” which he may “put off” (2 Pet. 1:14), in which he may be “at home” (2 Cor. 5:6), or from which he may be “absent” (v. 8). It is said to be “mortal” (Rom. 8:11 ), that is, subject to death, as a result of the fall. Men may kill it (Matt. 10:28 ), and it may see corruption (Acts 13:36 ), from which it will be delivered at resurrection (John 5:28 -29).
In Life and Death While spirit, soul, and body continue in the harmonious relations to each which constitute the man; he is in LIFE, as that word is ordinarily used. When the triunity breaks up—when the soul and spirit leave the body—the condition is reached which is called DEATH. Neither of the three component parts becomes extinct, but their disruption breaks up the man—the man dies. The body returns to dust; the spirit to God who gave it. The former we know by sight; the latter comes to us as a revelation from God (Eccl. 12:7). Death is separation: never extinction. Something survives, in which the identity of the man is preserved till resurrection and judgment (John 5:28 -29; Rev. 20:12). This “something,” Scripture informs us, is the disembodied spirit, which, liberated from its tenements continues to exist. The question remains, though—Where?
So therefore, in the words of Mary, mother of Jesus, if God tells you something--just do it.
The Maker's Diet
King David Spoke of the Benefit of Hyssop Herb Tea
An herb is defined as any part of a plant with culinary, aromatic, cosmetic, insecticidal, insect-attracting, or dye-making uses beyond the usual uses of plants for landscaping or producing food.
The Hebrews of the Old Testament are remembered for their high standards of health and hygiene..the use of plants for medicinal purposes was an accepted custom. They ate grapes, figs, dates, cucumbers, beans, honey, dill, cinnamon, garlic, olives, olive oil, beans, mustard, rue, barley, wheat, millet, poultry, fish, fruits, grains, nuts, and drank wine and herbal teas. Generally, meat was rarely eaten except at special occasions. Wine was the beverage of choice during meals; and they also ate cheeses.
Throughout the world man accumulated a useful body of herbal knowledge through a process of trial and error--difficulties in describing and remembering plants lessened with the advent of written language; and by 3000BC China, Babylon, Egypt, and India had begun to record their knowledge of medicinal plants.
Herbalism today has benefited from advancements in Science and Medicine. Now, because of a greater concern about the side effects of drugs, and the understanding of ecology, and people's desire to take greater responsibility for their own health, herbal medicine is experiencing a remarkable revival. Drug companies recognize the benefits of herbs, as well, and are busy investigating worldwide lore with unprecedented zeal.
Whether using teas, decotions, powders, syrups, tinctures, essential oils, ointments and creams, compresses, or pultices, herbs can greatly enchance our health.
According to the Bible, the promised land was filled with milk and honey, but it had so much more. It was a cornucopia of all kinds of healthful, healing foods. Nearly every book in the Bible contains references about foods and how to grow them. Bible scholars have been studying the foods of the Bible for centuries, but only recently have modern nutritionists realized that what was good for the people who lived thousands of years ago is still good for us today.
No biblical food has gotten more bad press than the apple--even though the Bible never designates what type of fruit Adam and Eve acutally ate. Yet, apples possess potent healing powers--assisting in everything from lowering high blood pressure to fighting cancer.
Foods of the Bible are naturally healthful; and the books of the Old Testatment spell out in great detail dietary, health, and hygenic laws. Instead of processed sugar, natural sugars were eaten such as honey and fresh fruits. Foods of the Bible are aloe, figs, flax, pomegranates, dates, cucumbers, carrots, beans, lentils, dill, cumin, garlic, frankincense, myrrh, milk thistle, coriander, mint, tumeric, cinnamon, bark, saffron, mustard, rue, and bitter herbs (dandelion, endive, chicory, lettuce, watercress, mint, & sheep sorrell). The meat of the tree shall be for food and its leaves for healing. (Ezekiel 47:12)
You can sum up the biblical diet as having plenty of whole grains, poultry, fish, fruits, nuts, cheeses, and wine.
THE LEVITICAL DIET
MEAT
Whatsoever parts the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and chews the cud, of these beasts you can eat. (Leviticus 11:3).
Ruminating animals digest their food more fully than others; thereby, the flesh is free from excessive toxins and contains more the nutritious juices of the plants eaten by the animal. These would include cows, goats, and lambs.
Avoid eating and touching the hare (rabbit), camel, coney, and swine (pig).
You shall eat no manner of fat from the ox, sheep, or goat; nor the fat of the animal that dies of itself or that is
injured by other beasts. You may use it in any other use, but you shall in no way eat of it. Neither shall you any manner of blood be it fowl or beast. (Leviticus 7:23-27)
SEAFOOD
These shall you eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall you eat. (Leviticus 11:9)
The fins and scales are the means by which the excrescences of fish are carried off, similar to perspiring in animals.
Avoid eating any water creature that does not have fins AND scales. In hot climates they can cause the most malignant disorders when eaten--in many cases they prove to be a mortal poison.
Water can be polluted by human and animal waste. It can contain toxic chemicals, bacteria and viruses. Shrimp, crab, and lobster are scavengers; and shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels) improve water quality by filtering microscopic particles from the water. One oyster can filter up to 15 gallons of water a day. A single mussel can filter 300 times its weight in one hour. This is why they should not be consumed by humans.
FOWLS
And these are they which you shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, and the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven (including the crow and pie) after his kind; and the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, and the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. Avoid all birds of prey; those which feed on flesh and carrion.
INSECTS/WORMS/REPTILES
Avoid all fowls that creep, going upon all four unless goes upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth. This prohibition is extended to insects, reptiles, and worms.
You can eat the locust after his kind; and the bald locust after his kind; and the beetle after his kind; and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying, creeping things, which have four feet you shall not eat. And whatsoever goes upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, you shall not eat or touch.
OTHER BEASTS & CREEPERS
Other prohibited beasts are horses, donkeys, asses; and those which divided the foot into paws such as lions, tigers, panthers, cheetahs, etc.
These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, the tortoise after his kind, the ferret, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail, and the mole. Whatsoever crawls upon its belly (such as the snake), you shall not eat. (Leviticus 11:20-42).
TO PREVENT DISEASE
Do not touch the flesh of dead animals. When dead reptiles, moles, mice, or lizards are found in your environment, do not touch them or allow them to touch your clothing or your skin.
False Concepts
It's God's will that you are sick. God intervenes regardless. Diet has no effect on the body for illness nor insanity. I can be unforgiving and remain healthy.
True Concepts
Illness can be a direct result of sin. The body has a superior wisdom within it that is biased toward health, rather than disease. Health is a state of being whole, hearty, solid in all phases of your being--spirit, soul, body, and affairs. You must forgive; unforgivness generates poisons that can manifest in the form of cancer.
