“I have failed over and over and over again in my life.
That is why I succeed.”

Have you failed recently?
Join the ranks of the most succesful people in history.

Here is the link for those of you reading this in a feed.

People watching should be a sport!  Watching how people dress, carry themselves, interact with others, and even just walk can be very interesting.  Great places to people watch are the mall and the airport.  There are tons of people heading a lot of different directions doing a lot of different things!  Another great place to people watch is the gym.  There is a whole culture waiting to be studied in the gym.  Have you seen these people?

“The Screamer” – He screams, grunts, and yells with every repetition of his workout.  I recently saw “the screamer” benching an average amount of weight and yelling with every repetition.  He moved on to a light dumbbell exercise and continued with the screaming, yelling, and grunting.  The Screamer’s Ultimate Goal: “Look at me.  Tell me how hard I’m working out.”

“Cell Phone Guy” – This guy comes into the gym and lays his cell phone down right next to where he is working out—which could be very necessary if someone needs to reach him in an emergency.  BUT, this guy answers his phone every time it rings and even stops in the middle of a set to do so.  Once he answers he talks loudly for several minutes.  Cell Phone Guy’s Ultimate Goal: “Look at me.  I’m important.”

“Inappropriate Outfit Guy/Girl” – This individual enters the gym with a workout outfit that is rated at least PG-13!  He or she has either painted their outfit on (how do you get clothes on that are that tight?!) or they barely have any clothes on at all.  As they workout they look around to see who is watching them.  Inappropriate Outfit Guy/Girl’s Ultimate Goal: “Look at me.  My body rocks!”

Some people exercise or frequent the gym to be noticed or show off.  They may have achieved goals you are trying to reach, but it’s obvious they are still searching for more.

Here’s the ultimate goal of this site: to provide information, support, motivation, and encouragement to people pursuing spiritual, physical, and emotional health.

With spiritual, physical, and emotional health as your goal you will find other goals like weight loss and six-pack abs not as important.  The crazy thing is when we’re focused on the appropriate goals our less important goals tend to show up anyway.

What is the ultimate goal in your fitness plan?

Labor Day Weekend – the official end of summer.  Listen closely and you’ll hear a combination of moans and cheers from across the nation.  Those who moan have had a great summer and have enjoyed the more flexible schedule that summer provides.  Those who cheer are ready for the more structured schedule that comes with school and the end of summer traveling.  In our home we are both moaning and cheering (but our cheers are a little louder).  With three school age children we’re ready to get back into the swing of the school schedule!  Are you moaning or cheering?

I’m excited about what the routine fall brings!  Already, attendance in my worship service has increased as members return from vacations.  The fall routine also provides more structure to my day that enables me to evaluate my pursuit of “genuine faith and lifelong fitness.”  Since the new routine is . . . new . . . it’s easier to implement changes in my life.  That is the power of a routine.  Here are some questions I’m asking myself this Labor Day Weekend:

Pursuing Genuine Faith
o How is my regular time with God going where I spend time in personal Bible study and prayer?  One of my goals this fall is to refocus my prayer life.
o Is my personal time with God in a rut?  Is it time to make changes to make it fresh?
o How is my personal time with my family?  Am I spending enough one-on-one time with each of my children?  Am I praying with my wife?  Another goal this fall is to get back in the routine of praying together before we go to sleep.

Pursuing Lifelong Fitness
o Am I seeing the results I want from my fitness and nutrition plan?
o Am I consistently following this plan?
o If I’m consistently following my plan is it working?
o Is my plan too complicated?
o Does my plan require an unreasonable time commitment?
o Maybe you’re new to exercising regularly and it’s time to start!

Now is a perfect time to make some changes in your pursuit of “genuine faith and lifelong fitness.”  The power of a routine will change your life!  Make a mark on the wall to achieve your goals by the Holiday Season.  Many use this blog for motivation.  Check out how Skip Moziek used this blog to get started towards his goal.

I also offer Fitness Coaching to clients that are really serious about achieving their goals.  Lisa Hendey recently posted on her blog about her current coaching experience.  She is extremely pleased with the investment she has made in one-on-one fitness coaching.  Lisa is doing awesome in The Total Life Change Club where the focus is on long term success and not short term results.

How are you going to take advantage of the power of a new routine?

One of the best visual illustrations of a transformed lifestyle is portrayed on the show The Biggest Loser.  Parts of that show get on my nerves (the guy that cried all the time), but the results the participants experience are incredible.  Some lose the equivalent of a whole person!  We see two keys here for those who want to transform their lives.

1. Draw a line in the sand.  On the show you can see the look of determination in the eyes of those who have done this.  They made the decision and there is no turning back.  Those without this mindset get voted out early on.

2. Realize transformation is a daily process.  Even though a one-time decision is made true transformation takes a daily commitment.  The majority of the show focuses on this process.  The participants face daily temptations, emotional challenges, relationship issues, and struggles with changing bad habits.  The successful learn to prepare and engage this daily process head on.

Transformation in “Pursuing Genuine Faith”
The Apostle Paul encourages us to transform our lives spiritually in Romans 12:1-2.  He too challenges us to draw a line in the sand and make a one-time commitment to change by “offering” or “presenting” our bodies as “living sacrifices.”  Check out Genesis 22 and John 19:16-20:18 for some examples of “living sacrifices.”

He also challenges us to realize spiritual transformation is a daily process when he writes, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  The word “transformed” is an awesome word in the original language the Bible was written in where the concept of metamorphosis is communicated.  Check out Matthew 17:1-8 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 where the same word is used.  Combine that with what is meant by renewing in Ephesians 4:21-24.

Are you being conformed to this world or are you being transformed by the renewing of your mind?  Maybe it’s time to draw a line in the sand, make some changes, and pursue genuine faith.

What is a 77 year-old nun doing competing in the Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile ocean swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon-26.2 mile run)?

Sister Madonna Buder believes exercise is the one thing that can truly harmonize body, mind, and soul.  It has become her ministry and a kind of tribute to God.  She says to God, “If You did this for us this is the least we can do for You.  And it’s with Your power that I am able to do this in the first place.  So, if it’s Your will keep me going.”

Here is the video link for those reading this in a feed reader.

I recently took my lawn mower in for a tune up.  Mowing the lawn was beginning to take a lot longer than it should.  I felt like I was wasting my time.  When my lawn mower returned I was excited to efficiently get the weekly grass cutting routine over with.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that my lawn mower was still having problems.  After a quick inspection I found the source.  The blade was put on backwards.  When the blade turned it hit the grass with the dull side of the blade instead of the sharp side.  It still cut grass, but a lot slower.  I flipped the blade around and began to cut the grass in the efficient manner I was hoping for.
 
This whole event reminded me of my fitness routine a little over a year ago.  I was in great shape, but I was spending an obscene amount of time to get the results I wanted.  My “blade” wasn’t sharp.  I was cutting with the dull edge of the blade.  My routine consisted of the traditional plan of cardio in the morning and weight training in the afternoon/evening.  I was easily spending 2-4 hours each day.  This is not a routine that enables lifelong fitness.
 
I did some research and made some changes.  I’m now working out between 30-60 minutes each day.  I’m achieving better results in a smaller amount of time.  How is that possible?  I’m using the sharp side of the blade now.
 
Are you using the sharp side of the blade in your fitness plan?  Ask yourself these questions to see if you are:

1. Are you getting the results you want?  If not, something needs to change.  Is it your plan, you, or both?
2. How consistently are you exercising?  Consistency is the key to any fitness plan.
3. Can you continue on this plan long term?  A reasonable time commitment makes lifelong fitness possible.  My time commitment a year ago was not reasonable.
4. Do you need fancy or complicated equipment?  Simplicity is also a key factor in lifelong fitness.  A complicated plan with expensive or extravagant equipment can be more of a hindrance than a help.

My personal fitness plan and the plans I custom build for my clients follow these key principles: results oriented, consistency, a reasonable time commitment, and simplicity. 
 
Now that the “blade” of my fitness plan is sharp there is only one other factor that determines my success.  Me.
 
So, how sharp is your blade?  Which factor do you need to focus on?  Your fitness plan, you, or both?

What is a key factor of success?  Determination.

What is a key factor of failure?  Excuses.

If you want something bad enough make it happen. Adam Bender shows us the results of his determination in this video. Talk about courage. The struggles involved with “pursuing genuine faith and lifelong fitness” pale in comparison to Adam’s struggles.

Do you have something to achieve? Are there goals you want to reach? Are there changes in your life you want to make? It’s time to make it happen. No more excuses.

(Here’s the video link for those reading this in a feed reader.)

The excitement and enthusiasm is contagious.  Go to one of the networks covering the Olympics and look for the video of the Men’s 4×100m Freestyle Relay.  If that doesn’t get you excited about achieving personal goals, than your excitement meter is broken!  What a great payoff for years of strict training and preparation.  Events like that motivate me to be faithful to my fitness plan and achieve the goals I’m pursuing.  How about you?

The Olympic season is such an exciting time as athletes from around the world gather to test how effective their preparation has been over the past several years.  For some, the Olympics are a regular event every four years, but for others it is the pinnacle of their athletic career.  It is their one shot to participate in the world wide event.
 
The anticipation of what could be the result of their hard work must be tremendous!  They have given everything they have to their training.  The question, “Am I the best in the world?” will be answered.
 
Unless you’re Michael Phelps (he just won his third gold medal and is on track for eight) the chances of being best in the world can be limited.  How do you think these Olympic athletes will respond if they don’t achieve gold?  I’m sure they will be disappointed, but I also imagine there will be some great outlooks as well.  “I came up short, but I am still one of the best in the world.”  “I gave this everything I had.  I’m very happy with my effort.”  “Look at the progress I made over the past four years.  I have covered a lot of ground.”
 
Pursuing Genuine Faith
If Olympic athletes can approach the Olympic Games with such great anticipation how much more can we approach our relationship with God in the same fashion?
 
“All athletes are disciplined in their training.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)
 
Our personal relationship with God is this eternal prize!  A genuine faith and relationship with God is forever.  We can approach our relationship with God with much more anticipation than the Olympic athletes do the Olympic Games.  They pursue a prize that will fade away.  Heaven and a relationship with God are forever!  When you attend worship or sit down to spend time with God in personal prayer and Bible study do you do so with great anticipation?
 
Pursuing Lifelong Fitness
As we pursue lifelong fitness let the enthusiasm of the Olympics motivate us to follow these basic athletic principles:

1. Set specific goals with a date to reach those goals.  For example: I want to run a 5K Race in three months; lose 15 pounds by October; exercise six days a week; I’m going to beat Michael Phelps in 2012.
2. Make a plan to reach those goals.  For example: 5K Race training schedule; a nutrition plan.
3. Keep logs to track progress.  This is key!  Exercise and nutrition logs motivate and help to evaluate progress.  Make changes along the way if necessary.  Keep what is working.
4. When you reach your goals make new ones.  Celebrate like the American team in the Men’s 4×100m Freestyle Relay!
5. Your attitude is your biggest asset.  If you come up short by not reaching a goal don’t get discouraged!  Look at the progress you did make and keep a positive outlook.  Re-evaluate your goals and plans.  Your attitude will decide if this process will be a positive or negative one!

During the 2000 Olympics we were watching platform diving.  There was a young, female diver that was doing quite well.  As we watched her throughout the Olympics my wife turned to me and said, “She’s a Christian.  I can tell by her smile.”  I gave a small laugh and thought to myself, “How can she tell that?”  Well, my wife was right (which she usually is)!

Laura Wilkinson is numbered in Time Magazine’s 100 Olympians to Watch and she’s an outspoken Christian as well.  What an awesome opportunity she has to represent her country and also her Lord in Beijing.  Pray for her as she lives out her faith in front of the world.  You can read her testimony on her Official Website.  She writes about how she gave her life back to the Lord on the diving platform during a competition.  What a great example of the connection between faith and fitness!

“I realized during this meet that I had become dependent on myself, my decisions, my wants and my goals. It had been all about me, and my world had fallen apart. As I was climbing up the ladder for that handstand dive, I remembered a Bible verse that I had loved when I was younger: ‘I can do everything through him, who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4:13, NIV). Right there on the platform, in the middle of the meet, I asked God to forgive me for following my own path, and I gave my life back to Him.”

Two Questions
1. What challenges in your pursuit of lifelong fitness have drawn you closer to God?
2. What Christian Olympian are you going to follow during the games?  Visit here and here for bios of Christian Olympians to watch.

In June I posted about “Fat Church.”  There was a study conducted that asked the question “Is Your Church Making You Fat?”  If you are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) the answer was “yes.”  As a Southern Baptist pastor this study really caught my attention.  You can read my post and follow the link to the study.

Perry Noble is a pastor who writes a blog I follow.  He posted about the sermon he preached on alcohol this past Sunday.  He mentions that “alcohol deaths in America are around 100,000 per year…but obesity related deaths are around 300,000 and climbing…WHY ISN’T THE CHURCH TALKING ABOUT THAT?  (The church is the only place in America where a glutton can look at a drunkard and somehow feel more righteous than them!)”

He referenced the SBC (we’re an easy target) and posted, “I also mentioned that the SBC passed a resolution several years ago about drinking alcohol…what I’m wondering is when they are going to pass one against abusing buffets!” 

Perry pulls no punches and went on to post:

• “When I said to the pastors who would watch by internet, ‘I know some of you are pastors and are going to email me and tell me I’m a liberal and that I’m going to hell because I say it is ok to drink alcohol in moderation.  BUT…before you do…please look down and make sure you can see your toes!  Because if you can’t…you writing me would be sort of like you trying to remove a speck in my eye with a plank in yours!’”
• “Oh yeah, that won’t be happening anytime soon…I read this week that 76% of pastors are either overweight or obese!  Uh…that’s a sin…just as much as being a drunk!”
• “Pastors–the hypocrisy MUST be stopped.  How dare we call those who are using alcohol to get to the grave to repentance and ignore those who are digging their way there with a fork and a spoon!”

Perry also comes clean this morning with a post that talks about his own struggle with his weight.  At one point he weighed close to 300 lbs.  This pastor isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, but he is also very transparent.  I may not have been as antagonistic as he was, but I agree with what was said.

What do you think?

UPDATE: August 5th - here is Part Two from Perry’s post on his weight struggle.