Taste buds may hold new key to obesity

FARRAH TOMAZIN March 8, 2010
The key to avoid getting fat may be in your ability to taste it.

A Deakin University study has found that humans can detect a sixth taste - fat - and this may hold the key to reducing obesity.

Building on US research that used animal models to discover fat taste, researchers tested the ability of humans to identify fatty acids commonly found in food.

Subjects were asked to taste three samples of a modified milk drink, one of which contained a concentration of fat.

By using this method, researchers found that humans have a taste threshold for fat that varies from person to person.

Those who were ''sensitive'' - and could taste it relatively easily during the tests - were found to have a lower body mass index than those with lower sensitivity.

''When we broke it down even further and looked at their diets, we found that they were actually consuming less fat,'' said lead researcher Russell Keast.

''We are now interested in understanding why some people are sensitive and others are not, which we believe will lead to ways of helping people lower their fat intakes and aid development of new low-fat foods and diets.''

The study - a joint project between Deakin, the University of Adelaide, the CSIRO, and Massey University (New Zealand) - has been published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

It concluded that fat is another taste that can be detected by humans, in addition to five other tastes: sweet, salt, sour, bitter and umami (a taste for identifying protein-rich foods).

According to Dr Keast, the study could pave the way for the creation of better-tasting foods with low levels of fat - that more consumers actually enjoy eating.

''Obesity is a major problem and the leading cause of preventable death worldwide,'' he said.

''So when we understand one of the factors involved in developing obesity - which we think this certainly is - it could help us look at a set of strategies to reduce obesity.''

Our Gospel

You're more sinful than you ever dared believe;
You're more loved than you ever dared hope.
—Tim Keller-

Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian
Author of The Reason for God

Dare to Go the Second Mile

The message, The Second Mile, in an inspirational movie from Inspired Faith From The Second Mile by Paula J. Fox is wonderful

We often hear the phrase "going the Second Mile" in our modern conversation, but it actually has its roots in first century Palestine.

During Bible times, the Romans had conquered much of the known world and ruled with an iron hand. A Roman soldier could compel a subject of one of the conquered lands to carry his backpack, or "load," for him one mile, but only one mile. When Jesus spoke to His followers in the Sermon on the Mount, He said to them...

"If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Matthew 5:41 NIV).

The choice to go the second mile is the key that unlocks the secret of joy in difficult circustances. It has the power to transform a tiresome, menial walk into a joyful act of giving; to infuse a contentious relationship with a new spirit of kindness and generosity; and to change an individual's self-perception from that of a victim to a victor.
The Second Mile represents a much higher law - the law of kindness, generosity and love.

The Second Mile, the key to a life of purpose and joy. Experience in your heart and mind the powerful truth that you can live above "the norm" to accomplish things that change the world for others - and your own life! Drawn from a few short words delivered on a hillside by the Jesus Christ,

Paula Fox has crafted one of her trademark poetic narratives that will capture and entertain your imagination-and teach Seven simple principles of walking the second mile:

Generosity, Humility, Kindness, Gratitude, Excellence, Choice and Victory.

This book is the roadmap for experiencing new levels of purpose and joy in your life.

Missional Map-Making : Skills for Leading in times of Transition

When Maps no longer Work
Shaping Our Imaginations in Modernity
Our Common Sense no longer Common
Leading in an in-Between Time
Playing Pool to Herding Cats
Strategic Planning no Longer Work
Eight Currents of Changes
Formation of the Internets

Map-Making Process
Cultivating a core–identity
Cultivating Parallel Cultures
Partnerships between local church & neighborhood

Alan J RoxBurgh 2010

Essential skills for Great Preaching

Text Analysis
1. Diagramming the Text Structure
2. Noting The Text Details
3. Asking Research Questions

Theological Intepretation
4. Naming The Text Ideas
5. Bridging From Text To Sermon
6. Writing The Sermon Divisions

Sermon Development
7. Balancing Persuasive Elements
8. Exploring Natural Analogies
9. Drawing Pictures, Telling Stories

Sermon Design
10. Touching Human Experiences
11. Aiming for a Faith Response
12. Planning the Oral Presentation

Wayne Mcdill 2006 On 12 Essential skills for Great Preaching

On The Character of Leadership

There are nine qualities as suggested by the President of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary :

Maintaining Integrity
Finding Security
Maintaining Purity
Learning Humility

Developing Servanthood

Gaining Wisdom
Practicing Discipline
Showing Courage
Sustaining Passion

-Jeff Iorg 2007 -

福音文宣與考據

讀于中旻文宣與考據有關加拉太書部份，他提出 ABCDE 為福音真偽辨如下，很是有啟發性:

A 真本的標準（Authority and Authenticity）
B 信仰與態度（Belief and Behavior）
C 內容與爭持（Content and Contention）
D 聖果與分別（Divine and Division）
E 見證與印記（Ensign and Endorsement）

读老子《道德经》之三十四章

原文 ：
大道泛兮，其可左右。万物恃之而生而不辞，功成而不名有。衣养万物而不为主，可名于小；万物归焉而不为主，可名为大。以其终不自为大，故能成其大。

了解 :
最为博大的自然规律，它广泛地渗透在天地万物之中，既可主宰万物，又可协助万物。万物正是倚仗着道的法则赖以生存发展，虽然它造就了万物，但人类从不说它是客观的实在。它给万物提供了生存条件，但它从不把这一点当作主要的因素，可以说，它是对自身地位的弱化；尽管万物都要归属于道这一法则，然而它又不把这一点当作主要的因素，可以说，它的胸怀非常博大。正是由于它始终不自以为伟大，所以能高居主宰地位。

反省 :
在此真謙卑者具二表現，一方懂得弱化自身地位，同時亦具博大胸懷。但自眨是難事，因可以是假謙卑，心胸博大也不易，面對不平不美，如何能有容乃大，把不美說成好且加以接納，那豈非虛假? 謙卑若只淪為一種對人的策略，目的只為息事寧人或及時討好，那仍是否可叫作謙卑?

老子道德经三十三章

原文：
知人者智，自知者明；胜人者有力，自胜者强。
知足者富。强行者有志。不失其所者久。死而不亡者寿。

理解 :
能了解别人的行为和心理的人，是一个具有洞察力的智者；
能正确认识自己的长处和短处，是明智的表现；
能战胜别人，他必然有大力气；
永不满足已有的业绩，能战胜自己的自满、畏怯心态，
必然是一个好强的人；
能知足的人，他总觉眼下的生活已经心满意足了；
对事业追求不止，是具有远大理想的表现；
具备赖以安身立命的长处，他的寿命也必然长久；
那些死了还不会被别人忘怀的人，才是真正的长寿。

省覺 :

善解人心真智慧，
人貴自知是明慧，
勝過他人顯力量，
誇勝己傲是剛強。
知足者常樂是福，
川流不息顯理想，
特立獨行不遺忘，
真壽者人長廝念。

Sermon Qualities, Stages of Homiletical Plot and possible structures

Six qualities put forth by Fred Craddock in his 1985 Preaching Book are as follows :

Unity
Memory
recognition
Identification
Anticipation
Intimacy

Five stages of Homiletical Plot by Eugene Lowry in his 2001 book The sermon as Narrative Art Form :

Upsetting the equilibrium
Analyzing the discrepancy
Disclosing the clue to resolution
Experiencing the Gospel
Anticipating the consequences.


Five possible sermon structures by Kenton Anderson in his 2006 Choosing to Preach:A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and structures :

Declarative—make an argument
Pragmatic—solve a mystery
Narrative—tell a story
Visionary—paint a picture
Integrative—sing a song