I will never forget the Sunday I walked into the foyer of our Church just two weeks after Summer Youth Camp.  We had a western theme that year and the Junior Camp director had taken a picture of me and had it enlarged and then displayed it in the Church foyer for our camp Sunday. This was the day when everyone who attended camp would come and celebrate all God had done for us that week.  Many visitors, family, and friends always attended.  Everyone who was in the sanctuary would walk by the enlarged picture of me in the foyer that day.  You may be asking yourself by now, “Why is this such a big deal?”  Well, to put it simply, the picture revealed just how much I had neglected by physical health by becoming extremely overweight.  I had also become the recipient of those so-called “friendly jokes” about being overweight and I really thought I would explode if one more person poked me in the belly on the way out the door.  That day was the beginning of a changed mindset about my health.  I knew I needed to do something as I was reminded, I believe by the Holy Spirit, that my body was not my own and He wanted to live in a body that was better cared for.  The very next Sunday I stood before the entire congregation and asked them to pray for me in my efforts to lose weight and begin to exercise.  I absolutely had to make this what it was, a spiritual matter and a spiritual battle.  Over the next 13 months I lost 55 pounds, changed my eating habits, and regularly exercised.  It was one of the  most rewarding experiences of my life and ministry as those around me became weekly encouragers who prayed for me and became the greatest cheerleaders in my endeavor to succeed.  It was also an opportunity to help the congregation to see me as a real person with a real struggle.  So many times we pastors preach so hard against the things that we personally do not struggle with, especially in the area of addictions and bad habits such as smoking and drinking.  However, when we fail to take care of our own bodies, especially when it is not related to a medical problem and is just a problem of self-control, many see this as a double standard.  Please do not be offended by this.  I realize that many of us have struggled with overeating and weight issues and I know how that feels.  Some struggle more than others and the path that I took to help me deal with it in my life may not look exactly the same as others.  We can be successful in our efforts to be healthy whether it be spiritual, emotional, or physical health.  My body is all I have to serve the Lord with and I must continue to keep it as healthy as I possibly can.  I wish I could say that after that 13 months of success that the battle was over.  I still fight day after day with the encouragement of others and the knowledge that when I made this a spiritual matter, I can truly do “all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If you are in this battle for the body, don’t give up.  We do not get ourselves into this condition overnight and we will not correct it overnight.  Take one day at a time, allow yourself to be accountable, and pray!  The results will be tremendously rewarding.