Messenger-Inquirer from Owensboro, Kentucky • 14

Messenger-Inquirer News editor Hunter Reigler, 691-7310 Religion editor: Janice Fulps, 691-7344 Re LIGIONCtvaLUE 8B SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2003 i. li i mi. i ii i. hp, iiiii-i --ir 'i 'n i Doctor turns to Jesus for health I A I ill inspiration By Mark I. Pinsky The Orlando Sentinel f5 1 on Colbert, family physician and nutritionist, thinks we'd all be better off by adopting one Jesus-inspired marketing leaves some uneasy By Mark I.

Pinsky The Orlando Sentinel Don Colbert is not the first doctor to use religion to sell a healthful lifestyle to Christians. Walt Larimore, a physician who practiced in Kissimmee, for 16 years, grappled with the issue before releasing "Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook." "We did debate how to title this book," says Larimore, now with Focus on the Family, an evangelical organization in Colorado. "Our decision was that because it was coming from a decidedly Christian worldview we had an obligation to the reader, the publisher, to let them know where we were coming from." But for some Christians, there are larger questions raised by Colbert book, "What Would Jesus Eat?" like, "What products or causes should Jesus' name promote?" Or, "Where would Jesus draw the line?" "There is a grand tradition, 'Imitatio Christi' the imitation of Christ, and there is something to the idea of using him as an example," says Martin Marty, former professor of religion and church history at the University of Chicago. At the same time, he cautions, "so far as I can tell, every application of what Jesus would have done eaten an ice cream cone, cinched his belt with Velcro, condemned or supported birth control has been exploitation of the name of Jesus. It drags him down for our commercial or partisan purposes." This merchandizing approach began in 1989 with simple, motivational bracelets for teens, with the letters "WWJD," which stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" First sold in small ads in the back of Christian magazines by a Michigan youth group, the line has mushroomed into a huge industry and, some say, into a cynical marketing ploy.

And there have been efforts to enlist Jesus in a variety of causes. Every four years, in cities where the major political parties hold their nominating conventions, and sometimes in cities where the Southern Baptist Convention meets, the advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals buys billboards reading "Jesus was a vegetarian," a claim for which there is scant biblical support The latest controversy involves an advertising campaign launched by evangelical environmentalists. Responding to the sponsorship of a Christian music tour by General Motors, the group asked in a magazine a "What Would Jesus Drive?" Its answer which has drawn sharp criticism from conservative evangelicals was that, as a model for stewardship of the Earth's resources, Jesus would drive anything but a gas-guzzling SUV. "I've never had much use, or any use, for See MarketingPage 6B of the world's oldest diets. "What Would Jesus Eat?" is the title of his newest book, which has sold more than 120,000 copies, bringing total sales of his health-related books to nearly 2.5 million.

"Do we want to eat as Jesus ate?" he asks in the introduction. "Why shouldn't we? We seek to follow Jesus in every other area of our lives. Why not in our eating habits? If we eat as Jesus ate, we will be healthier. He is our role model for good habits in eating, exercising and living a healthy, balanced life." Colbert spends long days spreading the gospel of nutrition, vitamins and exercise, from his busy Longwood, clinic to church pulpits to religious television. A strong believer in charismatic Christianity, the 46-year-old doctor is on a nationwide crusade to convince skeptics among the faithful as well as among the medical profession that there are effective supplements to healing.

Like maybe step out of the line waiting for a miracle and start eating like the French. "Jesus ate like the French," Colbert says. While they may not say grace, they do take plenty of time to enjoy their meals, and they drink heart-healthy red wine. Careful readers of Don Colbert's books will recall that the Bible suggests that Jesus followed a full and healthful diet With some judicious interpretation, the doctor's suggested menu includes: Loaves (made from whole grains) and fishes (fresh, from unpolluted waters); red wine; organic and unprocessed fruit and vegetables (especially beans and lentils); eggs and pure olive oil; yogurt, milk and honey. Lamb, beef and chicken, in sparing amounts and under certain conditions.

That is, if slaughtered according to the traditional Jewish ritual called kashrut that drains off most of the blood; trimmed of fat; and without hormones or preservatives. Oh, and once a year, at Passover, the bland crackers known as matzohs. And what wouldn't Jesus eat? Knight Rictoer Newspapers Dr. Don Colbert is the author of a series of books on health and cooking. His latest book is "What Would Jesus Eat?" Again, courtesy of the Bible's Old Testament Anything from a pig; all shellfish; horses and camels; birds of prey and all carnivores; and any creepy-crawlies.

Anthropologists note that the average life of a First Century Jewish peasant such as Jesus was fairly short, due largely to poverty and disease. Still, "it's the healthiest diet in the world," says Colbert, whose book is subtitled "The Ultimate Program for Eating Well, Feeling Great and Living Longer." How Jesus ate is as instructive as what, he says. So fast-food is definitely out The ideal eating experience, he says, involves relaxation, laughter, conversation and prayer. At lunch at the Macaroni Grill in Lake Mary, Colbert seems to practice what he preaches. Dressed in a tropical sport shirt, his wife, Mary, by his side, he lingers ever a meal of bread and olive oil, grilled chicken and a few sips of red wine.

The physician also acknowledges that his efforts at combining faith and healing in a series of See HealthPage 6B Marriage, and the hope it offers, shouldn't be taken lightly Perhaps she chose a total loser. Living together first wouldn't necessarily tip her off to that People can put on a pretty good act when they have to. In the meantime, she could have wasted a lot of years without enjoying any of the benefits that come from marriage. I realize some people should not be married, and not every marriage is made in heaven. As a rule, though, studies show people who are married live longer and are healthier.

Their children generally do better in school and are less likely to get in trouble with the law or become parents themselves too soon. Studies have shown those who divorce often find they are no happier, in the end, than those who toughed it out And couples who co-habitate don't seem to benefit from the experience once they marry. ing up my purchases, never missing a beep-beep-beep of the scanner. Dam. Why can't these chatterboxes just forget and stick the stuff in the bag? "What's that?" asked her co-worker.

"Live together," responded my associate. She looked bored. I couldn't tell if it was the job or my unexciting merchandise or the marriage she wished had never happened. By this time I was busy scribbling out a check. But my mind was reeling with so many things I wanted to say.

"You wish your man wasn't man enough to commit to marriage?" "You believe you could have avoided a divorce by avoiding marriage?" "Do you really think you could leave a relationship untouched, unscathed, even if you weren't bound by legal documents or lawyer fees?" You hear the most interesting conversations sometimes standing in line. Clerks at grocery and discount stores, for instance, happily chatter away even while scanning my merchandise. It's so charming when iney start trashing their employers. Usually, though, they want to talk about their personal lives. It would all be quite entertaining, if I wasn't worried their fingers aren't keeping pace with their mouths.

One day the "associate" at my check-out line and the "associate" in the next line were discussing their significant others. "I told Joe I'm getting nervous," said the voice behind me. "I don't know why. We've been together two years." Awww. A wedding.

She had my attention now. "I wish I did what you did," said the woman ring Most of the time, marriage makes economic and emotional sense. It is the bedrock of a stable society and the best incubator for children. Perhaps this woman's relationship really has been hell on earth. But that's not the institution's fault Maybe they shouldn't but there's a reason Americans are willing to marry and re-marry and marry again.

Call it cockeyed optimism or being a poor judge of character, but these serial monogamists still know a good thing when they see it the hope marriage offers, the very real promise of a better life. By now I felt I knew this clerk better than I know many of my casual acquaintances. "Maybe you've given up on this man," I wanted to tell her but held my peace as I handed her my check. "Maybe you've had good reason. But don't give up on marriage." Karen Owen.