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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Give Your Faith A Work Out"
April 14, 2010
This week I met with Marc Nee up at World Gym for my first session
with a personal trainer. He laid out the plan for our time together. It looked
easy enough but I had this sneaking suspicion that it would be more than I
had bargained for.
Let me tell you that I was worn out as we neared the end of the hour. We
didn't do that much. We did some stretching and flexing and rolling and
pulling. As I thought back about what we had done I realized it was just a
lot of little things that my body wasn't used to doing. That explained why I
was sweating so profusely. It was screaming "What are you doing to me!"
It prompted me to realize that even though I have been going to the gym
for twelve years, I have never had this kind of a workout. I usually do
cardio. I ride the bike, walk the treadmill, or do the elliptical trainer. I sweat.
I feel good. But today I probably burned off just as many calories but, I
engaged my whole body in the exercise.
It made me think about some of us who come to church for years and
years but don't really feel our faith has any depth to it. We get a good
baseline. We develop some good habits. But the power and security of living
with Christ in every day life just isn't there. Jesus still seems like more of a
historical figure than the Lord of life. He is more of a character in a book
than a real presence in our every day experience.
The truth is that if you want to exercise your body you need to engage it,
all of it. You can't just run in for a few minutes a couple of times a week
and hope to get fit. The same is true with our faith. An hour on Sunday a
few times a month is not going to strengthen and deepen your faith. It
needs to be lived out every day.
We need to power walk with Jesus every day. We need multiple reps with
his Word several times a week. We need to get up and praise and worship
God with our whole body. Then we will feel the change in our life and
begin to do some powerful faith walking.
So think of Jesus as your personal trainer. Start spending some time with
him and you will be amazed at how quickly your faith will develop and
grow. Before long you will be flexing your faith and be an inspiration to
others. Be blessed!
See you in church! Cal
April 14, 2010
This week I met with Marc Nee up at World Gym for my first session
with a personal trainer. He laid out the plan for our time together. It looked
easy enough but I had this sneaking suspicion that it would be more than I
had bargained for.
Let me tell you that I was worn out as we neared the end of the hour. We
didn't do that much. We did some stretching and flexing and rolling and
pulling. As I thought back about what we had done I realized it was just a
lot of little things that my body wasn't used to doing. That explained why I
was sweating so profusely. It was screaming "What are you doing to me!"
It prompted me to realize that even though I have been going to the gym
for twelve years, I have never had this kind of a workout. I usually do
cardio. I ride the bike, walk the treadmill, or do the elliptical trainer. I sweat.
I feel good. But today I probably burned off just as many calories but, I
engaged my whole body in the exercise.
It made me think about some of us who come to church for years and
years but don't really feel our faith has any depth to it. We get a good
baseline. We develop some good habits. But the power and security of living
with Christ in every day life just isn't there. Jesus still seems like more of a
historical figure than the Lord of life. He is more of a character in a book
than a real presence in our every day experience.
The truth is that if you want to exercise your body you need to engage it,
all of it. You can't just run in for a few minutes a couple of times a week
and hope to get fit. The same is true with our faith. An hour on Sunday a
few times a month is not going to strengthen and deepen your faith. It
needs to be lived out every day.
We need to power walk with Jesus every day. We need multiple reps with
his Word several times a week. We need to get up and praise and worship
God with our whole body. Then we will feel the change in our life and
begin to do some powerful faith walking.
So think of Jesus as your personal trainer. Start spending some time with
him and you will be amazed at how quickly your faith will develop and
grow. Before long you will be flexing your faith and be an inspiration to
others. Be blessed!
See you in church! Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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