Lessons On The Run

Yesterday we talked about the physical work required to stay fit. Today I want to ask you how much work do you put in on the spiritual side of your life?

I think that many of us just want to become more like Christ by osmosis. We eat, live, and breathe, and magically God transforms us into the person, spouse, parent, child, that He wants us to be. Unfortunately, God tells us often in His Word that it is just not that way. Consider the following scripture references.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Philippians 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Colossians 1:10
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:29
For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 4:5
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

James 2:17
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

1 Corinthians 9:27
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Timothy 4:7
But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

It seems like our spiritual health is much like our physical health. If we want to be spiritually strong and fit, we must work, expending time, energy, and effort. We must prioritize out time in His Word, speaking and listening to Him in prayer, serving and finding fellowship in His Church, and sharing the gospel in an unwelcoming world.

I believe that the lack of effectiveness for the American church in the world today is that we as believers have become spiritually obese, eager to eat of the goodness that God gives to us but unwilling to workout our faith as God has commanded. We love the desserts of God’s blessings but shun the the effort required of God’s commands. What do we get? A lethargic body of believers looking to be spoon fed at the table and missing the rewards that come from a healthy mix of nutrition and work. In addition, we add the junk food of culture which makes us go from bad to worse. We are a sitting duck for the enemy who is prowling, looking for who he may destroy!

Consider your spiritual health even more than your physical health! What does a man gain if he gains a perfectly fit body and yet loses his soul.

until next week,

steve

Hope everyone is off to a great week! I thought I would spend just a few minutes on a topic that is hot in the news right now and yet seems to be dismissed by most of us.

That topic is obesity. Recent reports put South Carolina in the number 8 position of the most obese states in the country. Nearly all of the southeast is in the top fifteen. If you add the overweight and obese categories together, most states have at least one out of every two people covered. It is killing us and yet I see very few people who seem to care enough to take action. As I have stated in an earlier entry, in the south we call overweight “healthy” and lean and fit “sickly”.

I take my health and fitness serious. I think since the Word tells us that our bodies are the temple of God, we should take care of the temple. There are some things I cannot control. I can’t control my genes, the fact that accidents happen, and I cannot control every aspect of my health. But I can control my weight and you can too! It is simply an act of the will. It requires discipline, sweat, and a priority system to life. Let me give you a look at my week to hopefully spur you on to excellence in your fitness and to hopefully get many of you to start your journey toward a leaner and healthier you.

To control your weight you have to make sure that calories burned are equal to calories taken in. To lose weight, you must burn more than you ingest. It is very simple math. The problem is that most of us have no clue how much we are eating and therefore have no idea how much we have to burn off.

Weight tip #1 – Monitor your caloric intake.

There are some very good tools out there today to help you. If you eat out (try and limit this) make sure you are paying attention to the nutrition info at the restaurant. There are apps for your phone, websites, and brochures at the restaurants to help you with this. If you are ignorant in today’s culture about nutritional facts on the food you eat, it is because you are choosing to be that way. Here is what my daily intake looks like.

Breakfast -

Protein shake (190 calories)

Coffee – black with artificial sweetener (o calories)

12-15 almonds – healthy fat with more protein (100 calories)

Breakfast Total – roughly 300 calories

Lunch  – I try and keep lunch under 750 calories. If I have a lunch appt. I simply try and make smart decisions when I order. If I am on my own for lunch, I generally eat a protein bar, some fruit, or a low fat/low calorie sandwich (grilled chicken, subway under 7 fat gram, etc). I try to avoid fried food and avoid high calorie items.

Dinner – I worry about dinner the least. My wonderful wife is great about cooking healthy. We eat a lot of veggies and a lot of lean meats, chicken, and fish. But don’t misunderstand because I also have the occasional steak, burger, fries, pizza, etc. I do not get deprived. I also usually have a small dessert each evening. I am a sucker for ice cream and love love love my wife’s cakes, pies, and fruit cobblers. I splurge a LITTLE at night because I have worked hard during the day to manage my caloric intake, but I still do not go crazy!

Snacks – I try to avoid them, but I do keep a few things in my office and in my small office fridge to allow me the healthy alternative in snack foods.

Water – I drink between a half gallon and a gallon of water a day. It keeps me feeling full most of the time, and I have learned to really like water. I simply refill my Nalgene several times a day while I work.

What I avoid like the plague ? – Sweetened Drinks. They are a waste of calories.

There is a look at a daily eating routine. If you are overweight or obese (using the BMI calculator, not southern speak), see if you can start altering your eating patterns to find a manageable eating plan for yourself. My plan will not work for you, but you can find a system that you can get comfortable with if there is a desire and some discipline. It will not be easy and there will be a lot of overweight and obese people trying to derail you, but push ahead and you will be surprised how fast you can make the adjustment.

Tomorrow I will look at the fitness side of the equation.