The Adult Sabbath School Lesson for the second quarter of 2010 was written by the Health Ministries Department of the General Conference. A church member in Florida sent us the following adaptation of the lessons in poetry form. With Mr. Erhard's permission, we are posting them here for you to use in your church if you would like to. Please give credit to Mr. John Erhard and the GC Health Ministries Department.
 

By John Erhard

 

God has an interest in you.

            He made us, called us, saved us too.

Was not according to our works.

            Was willing to forget our quirks.

Foresaw what we would do with grace,

            How we’d react in every case,

We may not always understand,

            We’d trust, and praise, for in His hand.

 

We’d think of joy laid up above,

            (That all His acts are done in love.)

Think with our heart, and soul, and mind,

            How He became part of mankind.

Thus Paul exhorts by grace of God,

            Considering the path He trod.

The reasons given that we do,

            Are really reasonable too.

 

Once God came walking in my shoes.

            Said, “Better if we walk in twos.”

I’m sure they pinched, and smelled, and hurt,

            Seemed didn’t mind the scuffs and dirt.

Said, fear and guilt He’s take away,

            For trust and health not found that way,

As Abram found when walked with God.

            There’s hope and peace the way God trod.

 

He marks the way that’s best to go.

            Warns other ways bring fear and woe.

He doesn’t hide His ways from men,

            But hearts of men confused by sin.

He sets before man life or death.

            “Be sure, choose life,” the Spirit saith.

So love the Lord, obey His voice.

            He doesn’t force, but must make choice.

 

Man’s muscles must be trained to race.

            But Spiritually, must start with grace.

Paul tried his best to set man’s pace,

            Had not met Jesus face to face.

The way we’ve come, He’ll help us trace.

            Must study Word to find home base.

The pray a lot in every case,

            And meditate to find our place.

 

Another lesson we may see

            Spiritual muscles atrophy.

When faith not tried, what tragedy,

            Soon prayer not used on bended knee.

But back to physical exercise,

            Self mastery is very wise.

It’s often boon to eyes and size,

            And age one dies, a real prize.

 

Now water can be cause of strife.

            It’s so important for man’s life.

It flowed from Eden to the earth,

            In four directions at its birth.

Our very lives depend on it.

            Sixty percent (not a little bit).

Without it man could not exist.

            That’s all of life (no need for list).

 

So Jesus used appropriately

            For health, cleansing, spiritually,

Baptism, healing, foot washing,

            For leprosy, and therapy,

Internally, externally,

            For diluting, comfort, purity,

No wonder “Living Water” used

            By Christ. That though was not abused.

 

The garden God made, sure beat man’s.

            It looks like God had real plans.

When man was made, given work to do,

            “To dress the garden” – but world? – Who?

Would need some long necked, sharp teeth beasts,

            For dinosaur’s “vegan” feasts.

Especially if for a million years

            As science claims, - yet death and fears?

 

God gave man work, but also rest.

            Each seventh day, also a test,

Will they “Remember” properly,

            The God who made world awesomely?

The Sabbath says, “This is God’s world!”

            Exploited, Satan’s flag unfurled,

But someday soon, God makes it new.

            When all who choose, can be there too.

 

Our minds are very powerful.

            Can make us fearful, peaceable,

Or joyful, stressful, curable,

            Expendable, or practical.

Acquainted with God’s promises,

            The truly trust what Spirit says,

A merry heart is medicine,

            Brings rest, and hope, freedom from sin.

 

The God of hope brings joy and peace,

            Knowing His joy will never cease.

So talk to God as to a friend,

            In times of stress, that heart can mend.

Don’t plead that God will do our will,

            Lest it might be a bitter pill.

Sometimes God has a better plan.

            Just trust that you are in His hand.

 

The world is rushing on so fast.

            Our soul needs rest or it won’t last.

Even in Eden, work to do.

            Was not that hard, yet must rest too.

Jesus, as human, needed rest.

            Plus animals and birds have nest.

Our minds need restoration time,

            And Sabbath day to breathe God’s clime.

 

In God’s design it answers stress,

            And spiritually, He wants to bless.

Helps answer burnout, restlessness,

            Mental depression, loneliness.

But more than that, we rest in Him,

            With sins forgiven, not just a whim.

The Sabbath tells us of His love.

            A sign we plan to meet above.

 

Now I’m so glad God had a plan.

            Was food to eat before the man.

Man was not made in some dark slime.

            First day and night, for all man’s time.

The earth and seeds on the third day,

            Before the birds and beasts – God’s way.

What’s that tell us about our God?

            His thoughts, His love, not something odd.

 

We’re something special in God’s plan.

            God breathed His own breath into man.

We’re really worthwhile in God’s sight.

            Let’s praise our God, for it is right.

Stand tall for God, more than we do.

            Breathe atmosphere of heaven too.

That is, of joy and hope

            Sing of His goodness all our days.

 

Fermented grape juice, some call good.

            Nebuchadnezzar though he could.

But Daniel felt that God said, “No!”

            Not even small amounts, and so –

God blessed, promoted, guarded them..

            Abstain from every passing whim.

Self mastery is a Godly trait.

            Intemperance is the devil’s gate.

 

Considered perfect in his day,

            Still Noah drank where devils play.

Don’t tempt yourself with Satan’s games,

            And don’t believe all healthful claims.

It has been said in many ways,

            But listen carefully, it pays.

“You’re not your own, bought with a price.”

            Christ died for you, to be concise.

Genesis 6:9, 22; 9:20-27; Proverbs 20:1; 23:31-35; Isaiah 5:11; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Patriarchs and Prophets page 562

 

Don’t compromise with what is wrong,

            Because you just want to belong.

Now Jesus showed no compromise,

            For food, presumption, pride, or lies.

Eve heard the fruit would make them wise,

            But what she learned was whole world dies.

Christians must show integrity.

            For wrong bites with tenacity.

 

The devil tempts us sensually,

            With appetite, impurity.

Reality, consistency

            Satan attacks us mentally.

He questions our sincerity,

            Our loyalty, our constancy.

He downplays our security,

            And God’s reliability.

 

All kinds of “Ty’s” he has out there:

            Like dependability,

Duty, piety, fidelity,

            Sensibility, sanity,

Veracity, and on and on.

 

An optimistic frame of mind,

            Brings hope and healing, and is kind.

It fosters courage, happiness

            Forgiving blunders or duress.

A pessimist tends to despair,

            Depression, other things out there.

Like weeping, suicide, so odd.

            But David prayed, placed trust in God.

 

A merry heart’s good medicine.

            Live justly, love mercy, shun sin,

Like Mary, choose priorities,

            When she had found God’s treasure keys.

Then folks will see how you have changed,

            And how your life’s been rearranged.

There’s joy in sharing that with them.

            Your life He’ll fill right to the brim.

 

Now what we eat affects our brain,

            Our bones, our blood, our pain.

Our God has chosen what was best.

            To give us taste, and strength, and zest.

But disobedience changed all this.

            Time, freedom, innocence, they’d miss.

Hard work, rest, fiber, they would need.

            Must week, and see, and listen, heed.

 

Adam was told that he would die,

            “Return to the ground.” God did not lie.

Nine hundred thirty years, then died.

            Think how in fear, some must have cried.

The vegetation killed with flood.

            They could eat flesh, but not the blood.

At least at time of flood they knew,

            The unclean animals – before was Jew.

 

When someone smiles, calls us by name,

            We feel good, lifts us, we claim.

And others feel the very same.

            God’s family! That’s why He came.

He doesn’t want us to feel alone.

            Coming again to take us home.

There’s comfort, healing in that word.

            Forgiveness too, if we’re assured.

 

He gave us gifts to help us grow.

            Inter relations makes it so.

Brings health and healing, body, soul

            And interaction makes us whole.

The same is true in larger sense,

            For neighbors, friends, across the fence.

To feed the hungry, inspires too.

            Service to others helps us too.