How About a New Year’s Resolution? Read More!
By Kathy Ferguson, RN, Parish Nurse, and Sue Thalacker, Bethel Library Coordinator.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Psalm 119:66
Happy New Year! Have you checked out Bethel’s libraries? Bethel has two self-serve libraries—one for adults and one for children—that are available for book, CD, games, and DVD check-out whenever the church is open. On Sunday mornings a volunteer is available to assist with locating materials.
What are the benefits of reading?
Mental Stimulation: The mental activity of reading can help keep your memory sharp and can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. (Wilson, 2013)
Stress Reduction: Reading can reduce stress levels by 68%. (Mindlab International at the University of Sussex) Think of the last time you were immersed in a great read. Did it help distract you from your stressors?
Increases Knowledge: The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face.
Vocabulary Expansion: The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to.
Improves Focus and Concentration: Have you heard the term “lost in a book”? When you read a book, your attention is focused on the story and things that are happening around or within you tend to fade away.
Tranquility: Reading the Bible can lower blood pressure (Koenig, et al, 1998) and bring about an immense sense of calm while reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders (Jackson, 2016).
There are a number of books available on health and wellness in the libraries. Our guest columnist today is Sue Thalacker who is Bethel’s library coordinator.
We read in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,to present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
One of God’s most precious blessings to us is the physical body we have been given. We worship and bring glory to Him by caring for it. The Bethel Library offers an opportunity to grow in knowledge and inspiration in your pursuit of becoming healthier.
Here is a sampling of what our collection offers:
Developing healthy habits
What Would Jesus Eat? By Don Colbert.
How Not To Be My Patient; A Physician’s Secret For Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis. By Dr. Edward Creagan
Surprise Around the Bend- Reflections from 50 People Influenced by the Practice of Walking for Fitness Healthy Habits for a Fit Family. By Ron Eaker
Dealing with intense emotions
Mayo Clinic Guide To Stress-Free Living. By Dr. Amit Sood
The Bible Cure For Stress. By Don Colbert
Anger-Taming A Powerful Emotion. By Gary Chapman
The Book Of Forgiving. By Desmond Tutu
Serving as a caregiver
Self Care For Caregivers. By Pat Samples
The Hedge People. By Louise Carey
Facing a serious illness
Alzheimer’s: Finding The Words. By Harriet Hodgson
Don’t Waste Your Cancer. By John Piper (audio)
A Journey Through Cancer. By Emilie Barnes
The Measure of Our Days. By Jerome Groopman
From the Children’s Library
I’m Deaf and It’s Okay. By Lorraine Aseltine, Evelyn Mueller, Nancy Tart
Someone I Loved Died. By Christine Harder Tangvold
The Year My Mother Was Bald. By Ann Speltz
Healthy Habits for a Fit Family. By J. Ron Eaker, MD (for adults)
In addition to books, our shelves offer helpful DVDs. Check out the following: Stretch and Pray, The Daniel Plan, Survival Guide For Pain-Free Living, Easy Yoga For Arthritis, Sit and Be Fit, Fit Family Circuit, and Reflections on Psalm 23 For People With Cancer.
Current research is available through the magazine “Arthritis Today” published by the National Arthritis Foundation. We also receive the timely Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter. The current issue explores the topics of memory loss, colorectal cancer, cold sores, and jaw pain.
Let’s Get Healthy!
References:
Jackson, K. (2016). Bibliotherapy: the healing power of words. Social Work Today, 16 (6), 10.
Koenig, H., George, L., Hays, J., Larson, D., Cohen, H., Blazer, D. (1998). The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 16 (6), 189-213.
Wilson, R., Boyle, P., Yu, L. (2013). Life-span cognitive activity, neuropathic burden, and cognitive aging. Neurology (81).