The Strong Temple: A Man's Guide to Developing Spiritual and Physical Health

By Kathryn Baker and Dr. Wayne Jacobs

Developing good health habits, selecting the right foods, getting enough exercise, and managing stress are important. But did you know that a Christian mans wise health choices hold benefits beyond the physical? They can lead to a lifestyle that supports spiritual values and lends strength for the faith journey. Mark 12:30 teaches, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. In The Strong Temple: A Mans Guide to Developing Spiritual and Physical Health, Dr. Wayne Jacobs gives men the tools they need to adopt a personal wellness plan to help them do just that.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490897592

Kathryn Baker

Kathryn Baker has loved teaching wellness topics to all ages her entire adult life. In 1971 she received her first degree, a BS in Education from the University of Houston. Ten years later she completed her masters’ in Sports Performance from the University of Houston. Her first twenty years of teaching were in the field of Health and Physical Education to lower, middle, and upper school youngsters. Her following fourteen years of serving in the wellness field has been with LeTourneau University, where she currently teaches kinesiology classes to the Global students. Wherever Kathryn resided, she has been active and enjoyed teaching in her local church. She has served in the Sunday school and has also helped teach and facilitate Women’s Bible studies for over 30 years. She is passionate about bringing the truth of God and wellness topics to women of all ages. Her desire is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with women and help them serve the Lord in an energetic, strong temple!

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Copyright © 2015 Dr. Wayne Jacobs.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

ERQ used with permission, copyright ExRx.net

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9758-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9760-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9759-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015911248

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/20/2015

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Session 1 Blessings of Wellness

Wellness Continuum

Exercise Log

Food Journal

Session 2 Benefits af a Healthy Heart and How To Have One

Exercise Readiness Questionnaire (ERQ)

The Talk Test

My Basic Cardio TRAINing Prescription

Session 3 Maintaining Healthy Habits and Reducing Risk

Stroke

Cancer

Session 4 Keys to Building Muscle Strength and Endurance

Strength-Building Exercises

Warm-Up

Flexibility Test

Stretching Exercises

MY TRAINing SCHEDULE

Session 5 Essential Tips for Eating Well

Caloric Need Estimate

BMI Index

Ideal Body Weight Calculation

Session 6 Reducing Stress and Choosing Joy

Activity Log

Sleep Deprivation Quiz

Wellness Continuum

About the Author

To my

loving and supportive wife, Karen.

In this journey of life, God has truly blessed me with an encourager and friend.

I am forever grateful for you.

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and with all your strength.

Mark 12:30

PREFACE

While growing up, I spent the summers with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles in Central Florida. It was wonderful getting to know my extended family through these long visits, but they did come with a price. My grandparents had one way to show their love: they served up piles of delicious food—the nutritional value of which mattered little. They believed that an overweight child was a happy child, and I was very happy by their standards during one particular summer just as my adolescence began. By the time I returned home, however, I could no longer fit into my clothes. I have struggled with my weight ever since.

Over the years between that summer and today, I went from being teased about my weight to sinking myself into bodybuilding as a means to compensate. I grew so interested in bodybuilding that I chose to major in Physical Education in college and obtained a doctoral degree in Health Education and Promotion.

The quest to understand weight gain and its solutions led me to the realization that weight management—and maintaining wellness in general—links to my journey as a Christian. As I surrender my will, cravings, and habits to God, He gives me the strength to confront my weakness with His power. Reliance on my Savior has freed me from the bondage of sinful choices and has helped me to see that pursuing wellness strengthens this temple, the body the Lord gave me in which I live to serve Him.

Making wise decisions, whether in matters of morality or physical wellness, is a day-to-day journey. For me, the journey has proven to be a long road trip of following God one day through my choices and eating habits and giving in to sugar and sinful mistakes the next. Still, He is faithful and remains a constant, faithful source of strength as I seek to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

In writing this Bible study, I hope to share with others what God has taught me about building a healthy body and living in submission to His will. It is my desire that in completing this study you will find not only helpful wellness tools and a better grasp on the benefits of good health, but that you will know that your personal struggles—whether related to bad habits, genetics, or even apathy—need not define you. Change can start today.

Dr. Wayne Jacobs

Professor of Kinesiology

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Heartfelt gratitude goes to Kathryn Baker, my faithful teammate in this journey to educate readers on the benefits of living a lifestyle of wellness while sharing the life-changing good news of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sincere appreciation also extends to LeTourneau University and Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview, Texas. Each gave me opportunities not only to teach this material for several years prior to the creation of this book, but provided environments in which God received glory as His people took care of their temples (bodies).

And finally, many thanks to Bethany McShurley of Faith-Based Editorial Services. She helped