Meditations on Healthy Living

                                                                   KOINONIA

Acts 2:44-46 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising GOD. [Living Bible translation]

Definition: “Koinonia” is a New Testament Greek word that means “commune by intimate participation.” The word is frequently used in the New Testament to describe the relationship within the early Christian church as well as the act of “breaking bread” that Christ prescribed during the Passover meal.   It identifies the state of fellowship and community that should exist among Christians. See, www.wikipedia.com. Koinonia embraces concepts like “sharing,” “joint participation,” “contribution” and “fellowship with each other and with GOD”

DISCUSSION
Acts 2:44-46 is often cited as a prime example of ‘Koinonia’ among members of the early Christian church. The idea of meeting together, sharing their resources, worshipping together, praying together, meeting in small groups for fellowship and the act of participation in communion is expressed in Acts 2:44-46 and elsewhere in the gatherings of the early church. The word “Koinonos” means a companion, a partner or a joint owner. Koinonia can also refer to a spiritual relationship, as when something is held or shared jointly for GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT acting within us and through us for the mission of helping the poor or to achieve a higher purpose thereby glorifying GOD is also expressed in the concept of ‘Koinonia.’ Koinonia also refers to a bond between comrades, as when friends share their joys and pain, when one prays for another, or when people are united because of their common interests and goals. Koinonia involves action. It is the “doing together.” It is a blessed, interdependent friendship and fellowship among believers and with GOD.

2013 KOINONIA GOALS

Although it may be traditional for people to enter their own, separate and private “mental closets” and make their own individual lists of new year resolutions or goals, I would like to suggest that we, as a body of Christian believers, in the spirit of Koinonia, set a few 2013 goals together.

The suggested guidelines for these KOINONIA GOALS are as follows:

1. The goals will only be for the month of January, 2013 (i.e. short term);

2. You should spend Wednesday praying about which goal(s) you should select;

3. Pick no more than three goals for the entire month;

4. Make sure that you pick at least one physical goal and at least one spiritual goal;

  1. You are encouraged to pair up with others regarding your goal, particularly the exercise goals;
  2. The person you pair up with need not be a part of this internet fellowship;
  3. The individuals in our internet group who have selected the same goal that you selected will be part of your “prayer group” or your “KOINONIA subgroup” for that goal. Please pray for each other.

5.  Please send me an e-mail as soon as possible telling me which goals you have selected. I will make a list of all the goals and all the individuals who have also selected that goal

6.  Beginning Wednesday, January 8, 2013 please send me an e-mail every Wednesday confirming that you have completed your goal for the prior week. (e.g. Alvin, Goal B-4, “Completed”). Please send me your final e-mail on February 6th.

7. If you only completed part of the goal (e.g. Alvin, Goal B-4, 3 days only), please share that too. We are all in this together!

 2013 JANUARY KOINONIA GOALS

 FOOD/DRINK GOALS

  1. I will eat raw at least 2 days per week;
  2. I will forgo using salt (i.e. shaking salt on food);
  3. I will forgo using processed white sugar on my food or in my drinks (or give up “junk food purchases) 5-6 days per week;
  4. I will eat a vegetarian meal 5-6 days a week or I will give up 2 types of meat (e.g. pork, beef, chicken) 5-6 days per week.
  5. I will forgo drinking alcohol and soft drinks beverages.
  6. I will not eat any canned foods, frozen food or any foods with preservatives (i.e., chemicals) in it.
  7. I will not eat any fast food or frequent outside desert places (e.g. yogurt stores, cookie stores, ice cream places, donut places, cupcake store).  

    PHYSICAL FITNESS GOALS*

  1. I will walk, jog or run around my block or around some designated area (e.g. school track, work block, trail, etc.) 3-5 days a week;
  2. I will perform at least 4-5 chair exercise** 3-5 days a week;
  3. I will perform at least 4-5 stretching exercises/yoga exercises *** at least 3-5 days a week;
  4. I will gradually increase my cardio tolerance by exercising (e.g. bike riding, stair master, walking up stairs, walking, treadmill, exercise classes, jumping rope, jumping jacks, etc.) least 3-5 days a week so that each week is better than the week before. [This will require some record keeping or working with a friend.]
  5. I will join a gym, attend exercise classes or schedule 2-4 sessions a week with a certified personal trainer. [a few gyms offer “specials” during the month of January or usage for a limited fee.]
  6. I will not watch TV (other than the news) or waste time sitting around the house for more than 2-3 hours, 4-5 days per week. I will turn off the TV, read a book, or do something that expands my mind.

 SPIRITUAL FITNESS GOALS

  1. I will read at least 20 chapters from one book of the Bible during the month of January (e.g. 1 Samuel, Matthew, Mark, Luke John, Acts, Romans, etc.) during the month of January. I will divide up the chapters in the book that I select so that I read something from the Bible at least 4-5 days a week.]
  2. I will work on memorizing scripture so that I can recite scripture from memory for at least one minute (60 seconds) [speaking at a normal rhythm—not speaking too slowly]. If I am able to recite scripture for 60 seconds during my first week, I will increase my time each week (e.g. aim for 1.5 minutes, 2 minutes, etc). [Note: this is an excellent exercise to do with a friend---one person can recite and one person can keep time. This is also a good Bible study group exercise, with small groups of 2-5, since the scripture recitations should take no more than 10 minutes.] If you take up all your time reciting a whole chapter (e.g. Psalm 23) you are not allowed to repeat that same scripture every single day, since that would defeat the whole purpose of learning new scripture.
  3. I will attend a Sunday School class and/or a Bible study class every week.
  4. I will go through my possessions (clothes, books, electronics, “stuff”) and make at least 1 donation per week to my church, Goodwill, Salvation Army, shelter or some other organization that needs it. Each week’s donation should contain at least 5-10 items.
  5. I will tithe during the month of January; or make a donation of at least 10% of my January monthly income to an organization (e.g. library, shelter, Doctors Without Borders, AIDS foundation, HABITAT, etc.)
  6. I will pray at least 3 times a day for 4-5 days a week. In preparation for this activity, I will read scripture (e.g. Psalms, Proverbs, etc.)
  7. I will attend church and donate at least ½ -1 hour of my time per week (e.g. to your local library, to visit a sick relative; to grocery shop for someone in need; to tutor; to encourage a teen, to visit a hospital; to some organization; to your church; to sweeping/picking up trash in the street/neighborhood (be sure to use safe gloves) or helping a neighbor, etc.).

*If you have a physical illness, a medical disability or you do not exercise, please consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

** Chair exercise program can be found at, http://www.ehow.com/how_4857697_exercise-sitting-down.html; http://www.ehow.com/how_5777600_exercise-sitting-desk.html . You should consult for own physician for a chair exercise program that fits you, if you have medical problems or injuries.

***There are a number of books (e.g., check out your local library) and internet sites on stretching. Again, you should consult for own physician for a stretching exercise program that fits you, if you have medical problems or injuries.

THANK YOU

For some of you this is your 1st year participating in Koinonia. For others, it is your 3rd time selecting new year Koinonia goals! For the more seasoned members of the group, hopefully each year becomes easier to complete your goals. But, whether it is your first or you have participated before, thank you so very much for being a part of this Koinonia experience!

I am excited about 2013! I hope you are too. I hope that everyone will work diligently on and accomplish his/her January 2013 Koinonia goals. I know that each one of us will grow physically and spiritually stronger as we “work” and I pray that everyone with whom we interact during this process will “see” the HOLY SPIRIT of Koinonia in us! As it was in the case of the early Christian church, I look forward with much anticipation to “great joy, thankfulness and praising GOD.”  

Have a prayerful, safe and productive KOINONIA NEW YEAR!

PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD! AND, BE BLESSED!