What change is needed? Food part 3

Over the course of the last few days, so much has changed in my heart and mind upon ceasing taking Keppra, it is difficult to put it all into words. In fact, I don't know if I could explain it all, but I will begin to attempt to record some of what has occurred for the benefit of those who may struggle with similar circumstances and need encouragement. I am also using this blog in part to remind myself of the many blessings given by the Lord as we seek to glorify Him in every aspect of our lives.

Readers may recall that I have had a preliminary diagnosis of complex partial seizures, which have gone away and returned at various times, since 2003. I want to be clear that while "diagnosis" is a term we all may use often, it is at times not terribly helpful in a situation such as mine. This diagnosis is less like knowing that your bone is fractured and needs to be put back in place, and more like I have a series of symptoms that cannot be seen nor measured with current technology, but which symptoms also do not fit into diagnoses which are measurable and repeatable. Therefore, my diagnosis is not actually a factual explanation of what is wrong in my body, but rather what seems to be the case given the available evidence. This is one reason why the neurologist has prescribed a test which lasts for days in a hospital setting. In that setting, they can monitor what I eat, when I sleep, oxygen levels in the blood, and more, the most important piece being electronically monitoring the function or rather malfunction of my brain.

With this process in mind, I have begun to challenge much of the conventional wisdom that is used in diagnostics. To be sure, I am not saying that we should stop searching for answers or at times trying new therapies. Rather, I want to examine how we understand what is and is not appropriate function of the human body, and ways in which we might have fallen off track in methodology. To someone whose only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I would argue that the same applies to some extent in the medical field. As with many other manifestations of poor health or improper body function, there is no real test to see what is going on in my brain, but rather testing to rule out other measurable activity. It is also the case that there is no pharmaceutical product known to man that can treat or cure a condition which is not notably measured and tested scientifically. We don't even know for sure, even in our modern society, that what we currently understand about brain function is indeed true. It wasn't that long ago that phrenology was all the rage, but as with Darwinian evolution, the longer we examine the evidence, the more problems we find with what we think we know. 

This is to some extent the argument of Creation vs. Evolution, in that outside of an all-knowing, perfectly honest being, incapable of error, that not only knows where the world came from, but also has revealed expressly when time, space, and matter began, we cannot know for sure where/what/when everything came into being. Indeed, nobody has tested, nor can test, the age of the Earth outside of the historical account given by God in the Bible. I know, some will challenge that sentence, but I highly doubt that anyone interested in this blog will argue this point. For those who will, I would be happy to point you to the work of others, as this blog is given to Biblical explanations and the associated practical applications thereof. 

In the same way that no fallible man is able to state with certainty outside of divine revelation when or how God created all things, no man knows precisely how the human body functions, how the brain is "supposed to work", nor what circumstances have led to the improper function of the body. To be certain, I presume that the human body was not designed to fall over unconscious sporadically, nor that even in the mass diversity among the human race that my body is functioning properly as designed. 

I also admit into evidence that, so long as my memory is functioning properly and I am still able to discern reality for the most part, I endured 7 traumatic head injuries or concussions over a course of 2 1/2 years, a history or alcohol and drug abuse, and even got struck by a tree twice (different trees, different days). While I have no absolute knowledge that these events caused my first seizure nor the thousands to follow, these facts certainly seem suspect in the long term function of not only my brain and nervous system, but also in chronic back pain and other problems that did not exist until that series of events began. 

Now all of this is history and foolishness if we do not attempt to apply what we know to identify causes and effects in the grand scheme of things. I spoke about alcohol and drug abuse earlier. It must be stated that even using these terms demands that there is such thing as the proper use of alcohol and drugs. We will look more into that in later posts, and I am working on some research in that vein also. However, our primary field of view today is what God created and designed our bodies to use, and what the use of items outside of, or contrary to, that design might cause in our lives. This is where we must go to the Scriptures. In the case of alcohol, one must examine what God's Word says about alcohol use, what methods were used, prescribed, or avoided in the Bible, and whether or not there were specific instructions and commands for use, and also whether those commands included avoidance of use under certain circumstances. 

Some questions to consider in the use of alcohol would be the following:

1. Does the Bible mention alcohol?
2. Assuming alcohol is discussed in the Bible, has that term changed from our current cultural definition, and if so, what would the original reader understand the term to mean?
3. Is there any specific command to use or avoid the use of alcohol?
4. Is there any circumstance in which God takes credit for, or creates alcohol for the purpose of human consumption?

We could certainly add many more questions, but for now we are looking at a process rather than a specific treatment of alcohol as a topic. As we look at these questions, we begin to think outside of what we think we know, what we have been taught or assumed, and we go back to the source of all wisdom, God the Creator, to see how we need to think about the topic. We also 

challenge ourselves to read in context, to see more than just a few conscripted thoughts, and actually understand what God has told us. This is one of the beautiful things about God's Word, the Holy Bible. If we will just honestly seek God's wisdom, ask Him in faith, and then do what He tells us, we will find the answers we need. If we merely seek to read studies, articles, and such, we will stay at the level of human wisdom and circumvent the process God gave us to learn. 

I saw this yesterday in that the prescribed means of the church, functioning under the authority of God's Word, that being the gathering of Christians for worship, teaching, fellowship, prayer, etc. As we discussed not man's ideas, but the very Word of God, we found that while we all come from a different frame of reference, various life situations, that we can find absolute truth about which we can all agree. When we stay at the surface level about "what works for me" and "in my opinion" we will never find genuine answers. Instead, as we come to God for wisdom, asking in faith, we will no longer be tossed about by every wind of teaching, but will find genuine wisdom that applies to our lives, that encourages and equips us to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

I had to take a lengthy break in writing today, and now have much more to do, so this is going to have to be the end of today's blog post. I hope to pick up a point of application tomorrow, Lord willing. Until then, I hope that in all things, we continue to consider the marvelous creation of God, to give Him glory for all He has done, and in times when we must endure difficulties and trials, learn to trust the Lord and give Him praise for His grace and strength to endure trials. 

Soli Deo Gloria