Article

A Friend in Need

Editorial Perspective

The wise man Solomon, in an old English translation of Proverbs 23:7, tells us that how a person thinks in their “heart” determines who they are. What we say and do begins with how we think. Ralph Waldo Emerson, well-known American philosopher of the 1800’s made the following observation: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” How true! One of the primary purposes of Adventist Recovery Ministries and The Journey to Wholeness is to help men and women develop Christ-like characters and be ready for Christ’s return.

With the feature article in this issue of the Journey to Life, written by Arlene R. Taylor, PhD. In “Besotted Brain Blunders,” she makes it clear that the brain can only do, what it thinks ares the brain to a “pot of chemical stew” and a “pharmacy.” “As chef, you self-medicate through what you ingest. As pharmacist, you alter brain chemistry through behaviors or thoughts that release brain chemicals that change the way you feel.” Her inclusion of the “list of the top twelve foods ranked in order of most problematic in terms of addictive-like behavior,” will be very helpful as we near the end of another year with its many festivities which usually include one or more of these foods. Our next issue of the Journey to Life, will feature a follow-up article by Dr. Taylor, “Busting Bad Behaviors.”

The great, good news is that Jesus Christ is able to empower us to be free of all the negative, destructive habits that keep us from living Christ-centered lives that are filled with love, joy and peace.

Ray Nelson, MDiv, MSPH