I recently concluded a medical study that was designed to test the idea that selenium and vitamin E would help reduce the risk of cancer of the prostate in men. I was one of 24,000 men involved in the study nation-wide.

Every day I would take two pills, not knowing what I was taking. It is called a double-blind study, the research center at Scott & White did not know what the pills contained and neither did I. It could have been both the real thing, or both placebo, or one was vitamin E with a placebo, or it could have been selenium with a placebo.

Since the study ended, it was time for the big reveal: I found out that I was taking vitamin E but no selenium. The study concluded that neither selenium nor vitamin E (either alone or together) made any difference in the rate of prostate cancer when compared to the control group that received nothing.

This study disproved the myth that floats out there in popular culture that somehow increased levels of vitamin E or selenium can prevent prostate cancer from developing. Such a carefully designed study can help curb fantasy and unfounded notions that exist that give false hope or lead people to supplement their diet with unnecessary, often expensive items.

What does this have to do with us at church? It’s not about dispelling myth or popular beliefs that are embedded in our culture. I believe that the season of Lent is time to renew our efforts to study the Word, really dig into the Word of God made alive in Christ who came to give his all for us.

There are extra worship services during Lent each Wednesday at 11:30am and 7:00pm. There are extra devotional materials from Lutheran association of Missionary Pilots as well as the regular Christ in Our Home series. There is the “Opening the Book of Faith” study going on in Adult Bible Class … so many opportunities to get some help in studying the Word of God. There&srquo;s no placebo here, just the real thing, for you and for me!

See you in church!