The sun was just coming up over the mountain in the distance. I watched the sun melt away the shadows as it rose. The slight chill at 6,295 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains was disappearing quickly with the rise of the summer sun. I was sitting there alone enjoying God’s creation. Roads, cars, phones, TVs, and the fast pace of life were many miles away. The only way in and out of this place was by foot. Backpacking is an awesome way to get away to spend time alone with God away from distractions. It helps me to focus. If I could describe these excursions in just one word it would be contentment.
Contentment can be an elusive at times! Here is an excerpt from my journal after one of my deployments:
———- We sung the praise song Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman in worship today. It totally caught me off guard on how it impacted me. Here are the parts of the song that really got me.
Blessed be your name
In the land this is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as lit should be
Blessed be your name
I realized that was exactly where I was at that moment. I was deployed and made it back in one piece. I’m home with my family. I’m standing worshiping my God with my church family. The sun is “shining down on me” and “the world’s all as it should be.” Those thoughts were contrasted with:
Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Oh, there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
I realized that I experienced these stanzas as well this past year. These words are easy to sing when I’m not going through “the wilderness” or “the desert place”—no pun intended! I found it very difficult to have this attitude during really hard times. There were days when I couldn’t bring myself to that place. There is definitely “pain in the offering.”
———-
I recently found myself in a similar situation at a church service. We sung Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, I Stand in Awe, and Jesus What a Friend of Sinners Medley. We then celebrated the Lord’s Supper. It was the first time I was able to thank God for my deployments. Worship is so powerful!
Contentment—it’s so elusive especially when we “walk through the wilderness.” Let us never forget that even when we struggle God never leaves us.
Matthew 28:20, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Also, let us not forget Job’s response to suffering and the strength he found in worship.
Job 1:20-21, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
The day of the swim test in our military unit had arrived. Everyone was confident (or at least made it look that way). Each of us started at a different station, and the pool was quickly filled with Soldiers. Some were swimming with rifles. Others were entering the water with all their gear then ditching it underwater. Personal flotation devices were being constructed with worn uniforms. Blindfolded Soldiers were entering the water from the diving platform.
I will never forget one Soldier who briefly confessed he wasn’t a great swimmer before leaving the diving platform. He entered the water and quickly came back to the surface. Immediately, he was a frenzy of activity—arms flailing and water splashing. When a lifeguard would approach him to help him out he sent them away. He was determined to swim to the side on his own. He gave it every ounce of effort he had. He was motivated to succeed. Then he was gone under the water. The lifeguard calmly swam over and fished him out. To our surprise this Soldier went back and repeated this whole process over again! He had a lot of determination, motivation, and sincerity, but in the end he did a lot of work without any results to show for it. He needed someone to focus his efforts in the most effective way to learn how to swim. He needed someone to show him what works.
Have you ever felt this way? Have you invested a lot of effort without the results to show for it? I sure have. I’ve dedicated countless hours to a weight lifting, running, and calisthenics program. This required me to work out twice a day for an hour or two. What was the end result? A lot of work without the results I was looking for. With that amount of effort I wanted huge results. I wasn’t getting them. I was just spinning my wheels. I needed someone to focus my efforts in order to be more effective in my workouts. I needed someone to show me what works.
I then ran into a mindset that focused on functional strength through functional (natural) movements. This is when I totally revamped my fitness plan into an attainable program that enables life-long fitness. A fitness plan focused on functional strength produces a toned body with a strong core. That is what I was looking for. I was also looking for simplicity with a reasonable time commitment. I have achieved and continue to progress towards goals I’ve chased for years, and it’s exciting!
It’s equally exciting seeing others progress towards their personal goals. I received this from one of my clients a couple of days ago:
“Working with you has been such a positive experience for me. I’ve started and stopped fitness routines tons of times. But what I like about your approach is that it’s condensed into something that feels so attainable right from the start. It’s simple, and it makes sense. You showed me how to eat right so I can get just the right kind of fuel for my body. And I feel great! And what I love about the exercise routines you walked me through is that they easily fit into my schedule. I don’t have to carve three hours out of my day to be serious about getting in shape. And that’s what makes this work! The only kind of fitness plan that’s going to give you long-term results is something that’s doable. It fits into your life and becomes part of who you are. This is life change.”
- Total Life Change Club Member in Portland, OR
What works to help us not fall into the “cliché trap” when we see others struggling?
I have come along side many who have walked through circumstances that can best be characterized as “the nightmare we pray never comes.” When I look into their eyes of despair this is what they seem to say to me,
“Walk with me, listen to me, and support me. Please don’t talk just to fill the silence. If I have questions I’ll ask them. If I don’t, then just be around and help me with the basics of life. Please don’t try to explain my world, concern or struggle to me if I don’t ask. AND PLEASE don’t try to explain God to me if you have never experienced what I am experiencing. If you have experienced this same pain please share how God worked in your life when appropriate. I want to hear your experience, not Christian clichés. Clichés don’t help when the wheels have fallen off.”
So, what works? The basics: love, support, being around, and sharing (when asked) how God helped in similar experiences.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
What works when life has just kicked your feet out from under you? You know . . . the kind of event (or series of events) where you find yourself laying flat on your back with the wind knocked out of you. You’re dazed and confused.
Where do we go from there? Do we bounce back up on our feet? Not in these kinds of circumstances. Do we struggle with anger, frustration, bewilderment, depression, and/or bitterness?
What works to weather the storms of life? I’ve been there. My last trip to a combat zone was extremely challenging. It was war at its worst. My world turned dark, and there seemed to be no answers. I was frustrated, confused, and disappointed. I sought out a Christian colleague I felt I could trust for some guidance. How did he help? He gave me a good ‘ole Christian cliché, “Trust God brother.” Unfortunately, many well intentioned Christians tend to give clichés during tough times.
A cliché is “a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty, especially when at some time it was considered distinctively forceful or novel.”
You’ve heard them: “I’ll pray for you.” “Let go and let God.” “You know, God loves you.” “Have faith.” “What would Jesus do in your situation?” “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.”
What works for me when life kicks my feet out from under me? The basics: personal Bible study, prayer, Christian fellowship, and accountability. Even when focusing on the basics God can be silent at times. When He is silent I am drawn to this inscription found in a Jewish hideout in Nazi Germany,
“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.
I believe in love even when not feeling it.
I believe in God even when He’s silent.”
Are you laying flat on your back dazed and confused with the wind knocked out of you? Hold on tight my friend, and focus on the basics. I understand how you feel.
Tomorrow is “The Biggest Loser” finale on NBC. Finally . . . a reality show that may have a little “reality” in it! I love the message of this show: exercise + eating right = a healthy life style. The “reality” of this show is anyone can do it. Granted, the participants soley focus on exercise and eating healthy. They don’t go to work, take care of kids, pay bills . . . so in that respect the show is not “reality” as you and I know it. The participants’ sole focus enabled them to lose an amazing amount of weight is a short amount of time. Check out the finale tomorrow night, and see how these folks have transformed their lives.
“The Biggest Loser” documents the struggles they had with staying consistent, staying disciplined during temptations (to slack or eat junk), and how some battled the emotional issues of an unhealthy life-style. It is extremely hard work to accomplish what they have accomplished! Could we do that? We can all show the same kind of dedication if we want something bad enough. Did you get that? If we want something bad enough. This principle of dedication follows one of my bottom lines of life:
“Anything worth having takes work. If having it didn’t take work, then everyone would have it.”
Let me explain. Having a good marriage takes work. In our society more than 50% of marriages end in divorce. Now, think of the couples you know who are married. Do they all have a good marriage? Probably, not. Couples with a good to great marriage in our society are in the minority. Why? It takes work. “Anything worth having takes work.”
We hear in the news regularly about how out of shape the United States is. This is painfully obvious if you have spent an extended amount of time outside of the good ‘ole USofA. It slaps you in the face when you return! We’re an out of shape society. People who are fit and in good shape may be in the minority. Why? It takes work. “Anything worth having takes work.”
Spirituality - only you and God know where you are at spiritually. Living a life growing closer to the Creator and walking in a personal relationship with Him takes discipline. It takes discipline to cut time out of the day for a quite time, Bible study, and church fellowship. It takes discipline to follow God’s manual for life–the Bible. Does everyone have a growing relationship with God? No. “Anything worth having takes work.”
There are many other areas where this bottom line applies - friendships, raising kids, finances, and employment (just to name a few). So, don’t wait around for the winning lottery ticket or your luck to change. Take responsibility for what you want to accomplish. Write down some goals (planning), tell someone about them (accountability), and get to work (action)! Do you want to make changes in your life? Well, get after it!
“Anything worth having takes work. If having it didn’t take work, then everyone would have it.”
Pursuing genuine faith and a fit life-style have many parallels. Here are some keys to staying motivated:
Consistency – same time, same place. This goes for both workouts and personal Bible study/prayer (quiet time).
Accountability – if someone is going to ask you how your workout was or how your quiet time went you’ll stay more consistent. Seek out both spiritual and exercise accountability (friend, co-worker, pastor, fitness coach)!
Realistic Goals – set reasonable short term goals that lead to your long term goals (e.g., stick to a regular quiet time or workout plan for a week, eat healthy today). Short term goals turn into habits and life-styles.
Record Goals and Progress – keep a quiet time journal of growth in your relationship with God, record the workout for the day, list detailed goals and prayer requests. This will help you to stay on track and will serve as a great motivator when you look back on your successes, spiritual growth, and answered prayer. I have looked back in prayer journals from years ago and was struck by the faithfulness of God in my life!
Get Moving! – The most difficult part of the day for me is the first 10-15 minutes after the alarms goes off. What helps me the most is to just “get moving,” not think, and hit my routine. If it’s a run day I get my workout clothes on, splash some water on my face, brush my teeth (helps to wake up), drink some water, and head out the door. I try not to think, but just move. If I think I tend to talk myself out of working out. “Get moving” also applies to working out later in the day. So, GET MOVING . . . YES . . . YOU!
Aim for the A.M. - try to workout and have your quiet time in the morning before your day begins. I know . . . I think the same things, “In the A.M.?! Before the sun is awake? Is God awake? Ahhhggggg!” Here is what you gain by getting going early. Morning exercise awakens the metabolism and senses and kick starts your day. I believe a morning quiet time does the same thing for us spiritually. A morning quiet time sets the day in perspective, allows time to pray for the activities of the day, and quiets the soul helping us to hear from God. I’ve always felt better when I have started my day out right—quiet time and exercise! I don’t hit this everyday, but when I do it’s well worth it.
Achieving goals in faith and fitness takes determination and consistency. Both take “strict training” and a desire to “get the prize,” but remember which one is more important.
I Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Yesterday, I went for a great run through an area I haven’t run through in a long time. I’m on vacation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and this run was amazing! Running is my “fringe sport.” It’s what I love to do in addition to my regular workout routine. I’ve found that I make larger gains in fitness if I keep a foundational fitness plan, and add what I really enjoy doing on top of it. So, I hit my foundational program first, then add my “fringe sport” second. Other fringe sports that people enjoy are basketball, racquetball, marathon running, etc.
As I ran down this road I was struck by the beauty of God’s Creation . . . a meadow, a thick forest of trees, mountains, and snow on the mountains in the distance. Once I crossed the meadow the road turns up into the thick forest. The fresh, clean smell was unbelievable! Then, there was the stillness . . . it was so quiet it was loud! I was reminded of verses that tell about God’s creation.
Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 8:3, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
Have you spent time with the Creator today? Here is a great list of books on Spiritual Formation. He not only created the universe, but he also made you in His image (Genesis 1-2). Are you taking care of His creation? Which includes you? Spiritually, physically, and emotionally? If not, maybe today is the day to do something about it!
One of the simplest exercises that requires little to no equipment is the pull up. All you need is a bar, and a consistent plan to greatly improve strength. Pull ups mainly target the large muscle in your back (Latissimus Dorsi), but also uses many other stabilizing muscles in the back, shoulders, arms, and chest. Since the pull up targets these other areas it creates functional strength. For this reason the pull up is a major component of military and law enforcement physical fitness programs.
The fitst step is to get a pull up bar. I use a removable pull up bar at home. It goes up in a second and is really stable. I know others who have drilled pull up bars in their doorways, garages, or built a station in their back yard. A great place to find a fixed pull up bar is at a play ground or on a running route at a park. The removable pull up bar is the simplest and requires the least amount of time to install or travel to!
The next step is self-explanatory! Grab the bar with your palms facing away from you or your palms facing towards you (easier) and pull your chin up over the bar. I rotate palms facing away and palms facing towards my body with each set. If pull ups are not a regular part of your fitness plan they can be very difficult to begin with. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
1. Get someone to spot you. As you pull yourself up your spotter (spouse, friend, or enemy) can assist you.
2. Do jumping pull ups. Stand on a sturdy box and pull yourself up as you jump. This creates momentum and allows you to pull up as far as you can. (The linked video shows a jumping pull up with a slight “kip” in it - see #4. Anytime of “kipping” on a removable pull-up bar is not recommended.)
4. Do kipping pull ups. I do these pull ups when I have a fixed pull up bar (not the removable one; you’ll find yourself on the floor!). The kipping pull up works more of the core. When I first began doing these I would wake up the next morning and wonder why my abs were sore! It works the core and builds more functional strength which is what I’m after.
The key here is to be patient and consistent. Allow yourself to progress slowly. Do these every other day, and focus on 3-4 sets of as many repetitions as you can do. Before you know it you will be doing regular, unassisted pull ups!
I recently returned from a conference where Dr. Stu Weber (author, Vietnam Veteran - 5th Special Forces Group, and pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church) was the keynote speaker. It was one of those conferences where most of the conference was mediocre, but the keynote speaker was top notch.
One point Dr. Weber drove home was “the healthy human being is never isolated.” He motivated us to always move towards “oneness” in our relationships. A great example of “oneness” is in the military. Dr. Weber told the story of his Ranger Platoon on a formation run. There was one bigger Ranger that began to struggle with the distance and the speed of the run. His Ranger Buddies began to lighten his load. One took is helmet. A little farther down the road another took his weapon, and another his ruck. Calls came from within the platoon, “you’re going to finish this” and “you’re not stopping.” The Rangers around him began supporting him from under his arms. He finished the run because the “oneness” within the platoon would allow nothing less.
A retiring Special Forces General was asked to name on thing that he would always take into combat. What would it be? The latest and greatest weapon or equipment? Above all the specialized weapons and equipment he answered, ”I want someone big enough to carry me when I get hit.” Oneness - someone that will support you, carry you when you fall, hold you accountable, help to see you succeed. This concept is not new!
There is a scene in The Gladiator where Maximus takes the leadership role in a group of gladiators in the arena. They were standing there in the middle of the arena waiting to defend themselves from whatever would come out of the doors. Maximus says, “If we stay together we survive.” = oneness.
“Oneness” is an essential aspect of our lives as we deepen our faith. When we look at the early church in Acts we see a great example of “oneness,” Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32. They were staying together, supporting each other, and sharing each other’s burdens. What an essential part of our faith! When we “get hit” in life we need someone to carry us. When we are tempted to stray we need someone to keep us accountable. When it feels like we just can’t go on we need someone to grab us under the arms and keep us going.
Greg is a certified fitness coach with a passion for pursuing genuine faith and life-long fitness.
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