Category Archives: Physical Health

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3 Physical Health Strategies

Did you know that more people will die from heart disease this year than any other cause? Why? We eat a lot of junk! The truth of the matter is most of us treat our bodies like a human dumping ground as opposed to a temple of the Holy Spirit. We “calorie up” with sugar saturated drinks, eat way too much fast food, and exercise for some of us consists of going for a run…from the couch to the refrigerator. This is not God’s best for us. God cares about our bodies and he wants us to take care of what He has given to us. Tired of those extra few pounds you are carrying around? Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure?  As we continue in our expectation series I want to take time to introduce you to another key area of health we will be tackling.

What does Physical Health look like?

“whoever loves discipline loves knowledge…” (Proverbs 12:1 ESV)

Most of us eat what we want, when we want and we use the argument, “it’s my body, so I will do what I want with it.” This is not true, it’s a lie from the culture.  It’s not your body, your body belongs to God and he desires for you to use it to glorify Him.  Discipline can create a marvelous dependance on God as long as your motivations are correct.  but most of us struggle with the nasty ‘D’ word, DISCIPLINE. Here are a few things that helped me as I have started new habits and increased my own discipline factor.

  • Don’t Compare – Nothing will discourage you more if you try and compare yourself to other people.  Some people are gifted to be vegans.  Some people are genetically predisposed to be thin.  Stop worrying about everyone else and what the magazine adds tell you to be and seek God for his plan for your health and nutrition.  What worked for someone else may not necessarily work for you.  Seek God!
  • Take it Slow- One mistake we usually make is we pull the plug and make drastic changes all at once.  Then we fail miserably and pile on the guilt later and claim, “we tried.”  Unfortunately, most of us want instant results and instant gratification.  It didn’t take you a week to gain that extra fifty pounds or have high blood pressure so it is going to take more than a week to remedy the problem.
  • You Need A Buddy – Seriously, don’t even try and change a major habit on your own.  You need the support and accountability of a friend who will let you succeed and sometimes fail without piling on the guilt.  You need someone who you can model your health after and someone who will celebrate with you.  Isolation = failure.

“ I urge you therefore brothers in view of God’s mercy to present your bodies a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship.”        Romans 12:1-2

We can do this, together!  Josh

 

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church meets Sundays at 9:30am & 11:00am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information, or watch a weekend message here.

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What I Hate About My Body

Most of us have thought something demeaning about our body.  We look at our face that has a nose that is too big, skin tone that we want a little darker, a belly that we can’t seem to get rid of, hips that just won’t quit!  What I hate about my body is my perspective.  Most guys look in the mirror just like the girls do.  Our hair is falling out, our pecks aren’t manly enough and the dude on the cover of the men’s health magazine, well, he is too fabulous for me.  I have struggled with hating certain attributes about my body, but there are certain things I have to accept about me.  There are some things I can change and some things I just have to live with.

Will power is exhausting, His power is exhilarating! 
weights 5-18-14

 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? ”   1 Corinthians 6:19

Trying harder to reach a goal with our physical health is EXHAUSTING.  I’m not saying be a “quitter”, but the motivation matters.  Whenever I choose to set a goal now, whether it is running a marathon or strengthening my upper body (I weigh a buck forty-five). I first choose to do it by HIS POWER.  I run the marathon first to GLORIFY GOD with my body, after all, it’s HIS exclusively.  But I told you before, what I hate is my perspective so here is how to go about changing your view…

Four Ways To Change Perspective About Your Body –

#1 Release The Guilt –  Ok, so you are overweight, there I said it.  So what?  Why are you letting the world’s standards of beauty and desire define you.  What if you stopped beating yourself up and held your hands up to the heavens and made your physical health a spiritual issue.  Your body matters to God.  He cares what you eat and he has forgiven, empowered, strengthened and loves you.  Fasting is a great way to release the guilt.  Struggling with guilt?  Skip ONE meal and take the time you would ordinarily eat and pray to God for the whole time.  Proclaim that your body is His body.  Let Him give you the grace you need.  Receive from HIM.

#2 Stop Comparing –  This is difficult because the culture has programmed us to compare everything we are to others.  We have been corrupted!  Our faces, stomachs, legs, how big this is or small that is, it’s destructive.  Whenever you proclaim dissatisfaction with your genetic make up, you demean God.  Here is a truth, there will always be somebody better, faster, and stronger.  Comparison will kill your motivation.  Be content with who God created you to be.  That face is a one of a kind.  If they don’t like it so what? Stop letting others own you!

#3 Start Reading –   You need to concentrate on what God says about you!  Yes read the BIBLE!  Many issues of physical health have roots in other spiritual things like depression, anger, abuse, and low self esteem.  You may just be listening to the wrong voices.  You may need to seek professional counseling, but once you wrap your heart around who God says you are, your identity becomes clear and you have a starting point.  It is the Gospel of Jesus that should motivate and guide us, not the magazine cover girl!  He created you and has redeemed you.  Here is a start… Colossians 1:2-3 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  YOUR LIFE IS IN GOD!  GOOD NEWS!

#4 Take Responsibility – The first three are easier but the last one is hard.  It’s time for us to stop blaming everyone else for our circumstances, including those parts of our physical health we can control.  The three ways you can become more healthy that almost everyone accepts are:  Eat more things that are green, Exercise on a plan, and set goals that are attainable.  This means we need to be focused and disciplined.  Ask God what he wants for your body.  Maybe He will tell you to lose those 30 pounds so you have energy to bounce those grandkids around another 5 years?  Whatever it is, stop blaming and start changing. 

My final thought is this, find someone to help!  You are always better with a coach!  This Sunday we will have time to pray for those of you who need specific physical healing.  I can’t wait.

Now go work that body…

Josh

 

Join us at 217church for the final week of our series Live Differently.

May 18 – Physical Health

Join us at 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater 9:30 & 11am and Grace Rogers School in East Windsor, NJ at 10:15.  Our new East Windsor Campus meets every Sunday.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information.  Celebrate mother’s day with us Sunday May 11.

 

 

 

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Unlock The Secret to 2014

Tonight, many of you will be out acting crazy, having more fun that you can handle as you ring in the new year!  I look back at my New Year’ Eve celebrations and I remember a few of them.  One year Summer and I went to New York City and ran a four mile race that kicked off at midnight, another year I remember going outside and yelling at the top of my lungs “Happy New Year!”  But here is where you can find me this year…

unlock combo

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth”  Psalm 86:11

AT – HOME.  There are 4 things I plan on doing at the stroke of midnight that are going to define my year.

My First 4 Actions of 2014…

#1  Kiss My Wife –  That is right, while millions of people will be kissing random idiots with meaningless expressions, I will be smooching the girl I plan to spend the rest of my life with.  I plan to love my wife deeper this year than I ever have.  Today I had the opportunity to take my bride on a lunch date and we talked about all the blessings of God in 2013.  I love this girl more than any other person and will do everything I can to make sure she knows it. Kiss the girl, then love her deeply the other 364 days.

#2 Pray With Her –  After the kiss I am going to sit on the couch, grab her hand and I am going to pray a prayer of blessing over her, our family and our year.  I am going to pray a prayer of provision, purpose, and protection.  God is faithful.  All I am doing is leaning into His promise of blessing.

#3 Do 25 Push Ups  –  Next the pushups…why?  because I still can.  God has given me a body to take care of and I plan on taking care of it.  25 push ups really won’t change much but I am drawing a line in the sand.  He gave it to me, I need to take care of it.

#4 Give a Gift – Finally, I am going online and making a financial gift to the church as a symbol.  I know where EVERYTHING comes from, Jesus!  The Lord gives and takes away.  I’m not sure what 2014 will bring and neither do you but it is His kingdom, His world, His 2014 and I exist to bring glory to Him.

You may think these are small things, but for me, these things will unlock how I define success in 2014.  Depend on God, love my wife, take care of my body, celebrate his provision.

Party on!

Josh

 

P.S.  In case you missed it here is a short video encouragement for 2014

 

New-Years-Video

Click Here to Watch the Video

Josh is the lead pastor of 217church, a multi-site church in Mercer County NJ planted in 2009.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater and Ethel Mcknight School in East Windsor, NJ.  Our new East Windsor Campus Launches Sunday January 12th, 2014  10:15 am at Ethel McKnight School.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, don’t miss our weekend services in Hamilton at 9:30 or 11 am! Visit www.217church.com.

 

 

 

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I wanted to QUIT today

There I said it, I am normal.  If you are anything like me, the feeling comes and goes periodically.  It was around mile 4 of my 10 mile run and my body just didn’t feel right.  Every step was a struggle, a labor, and my legs felt so heavy.  I was out of breath and began to ask myself, “do I really need to do this run today?” I wasn’t even half way done and my body was telling me, QUIT, GIVE UP, STOP!  I just wanted to be done with this work out.  EVERYONE has wanted to QUIT something at one time or another, and it was time to see how serious I was about training for this marathon.

Wanting to quit is normal and even healthy.

Have you wanted to quit lately?  Maybe you have wanted to quit your job, your marriage, your workout plan, your day, your week.  Wanting to quit can actually be a sign of great self-awareness and can be a powerful revelation of deep purpose and progress in your life.  It may get tougher before it gets easier, but know that perseverance is where the power is…

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”            James 1:12

How To Cope With Wanting to QUIT

1. Remember The Vision –  When I want to quit I visualize myself crossing the finish line.  I cannot tell you how many times in ministry, exercise, marriage, parenting or other big project, I have used this tactic.  The finish line is a POWERFUL motivator in my life.  It lets me know that pain is temporary, but pride is forever.  I am talking about good pride, not self-indulgent arrogant pride.  The self-satisfaction in knowing that I crossed the finish line and I did the best I could on that day propels me forward.

If you don’t have a vision, you better get one. How?

  • Evaluate – This is where you compare where you are to where you want to be.  You can’t get to where you want to go until you are honest where you are.  I read scripture to understand what God wants from me.
  • Motivate – What will propel you forward?  For me there is always scripture behind everything I do.  A HUGE motivator in my own life is 1 Timothy 4:12, “but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”  I make OTHERS a key part of my motivation.
  • Activate – You must be clear about the major action steps you need to accomplish in order to reach the vision.  A good vision should be action oriented.  By the way, if you can get there on your own, you may have what you think is a good vision, but it probably is not a GOD-VISION.

2. Retreat from Everything – When I want to quit, I get away and reevaluate.  Let’s be honest, you need a break and probably more than you know.  Many of us run a breakneck speeds and wear out ourselves and all the people around us.  It becomes even worse when we have unrealistic expectations of the people around us.  I DEMAND that my staff takes all their vacation time during the year.  If they don’t, they don’t get to wear it as a badge of honor and hard work.  I see it as a sign of life mismanagement and immaturity.  If you feel like quitting, you better take a break in a hurry.  How do you take a meaningful break?  

  • Disconnect from the technology – Laptops and phones are perhaps the biggest evil in our world.  you can now take your work home with you.  Somehow, we thought that was a good idea.  being ALWAYS ON leads to being overwhlemed.
  • Decompress emotionally –  Exercise, take a walk, watch a TV show, put your feet in the sand, do a service project but  don’t be s person who thinks you can run and run and run and never stop.  You are foolish.  The first thing that Adam in the bible experienced was God taking what is called a “Sabbath.”  Learn to sabbath well!
  • Deal with unresolved issues – What is the elephant in your life that you don’t want to deal with?  Maybe you need to see a counselor?  If you are one of those “guys” who is self-reliant and prideful, maybe it is time to man up and talk to someone about your issue.  Put it off and the price to pay goes up and you will eventually pay it.

3. Refrain From The Guilt – When I want to quit, I remember Jesus Gives 2nd Chances – and third and fourth and fifth.  We tend to beat ourselves up at the first hint of failure, which tends to come from our family of origin.  Most of us who deal with major guilt issues never had a father who believed in us, much less encouraged us to go forward.  When we give in and QUIT, we give away the victory. God is not into beating you up over guilt, he is into building you up through grace. 

4. Rely on Your Friends – When I want to quit, I think of my friends, those who have my back.  The power of others is the untapped secret of success in your life.  If you continue to try and accomplish things on your own, you will only go so far. If you will submit yourself to a team of people who encourage you and hold you accountable, you will be unstoppable!  God gives us each other for a purpose, and you can’t do it alone!  Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

After mile seven it got even harder, but my perspective had changed.  I knew there were only a few minutes left of the run.  The last two miles I was able to run faster than I have all season in training.  I completed the workout and was exhausted, but knew I was preparing for something with much more meaning, RACE DAY.

God is preparing you and testing you now for a future with more purpose and meaning than you can possibly imagine.

God NEVER gives up on us. Don’t quit!

Josh

 

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How’s Your Health?

I woke up Wednesday and there it was.  The feeling none of us enjoys but all of us are familiar with, I had the first signs of a COLD.  My Health was on the decline. I HATE BEING SICK.  I got up went downstairs and looked for anything and everything I knew to do to stop this thing dead in its tracks.  I ate a banana, an apple, drank some water and then attacked the vitamin cupboard.  Physical health is NEVER something to take lightly, but why is it that so many of us treat our bodies as a dumping ground for garbage food and then are surprised when we get sick?

An apple a day keeps the free radicals away.

God cares about our bodies.  He is the giver of life who enables every beat of our heart and breath in our lungs.  Life is a gift and a privilege from Him and he expects us to do something good with what we have been given.  The bible says, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? ” (1 Corinthians 6:15) This means that our bodies are connected to the very Spirit of the living God through the power of Jesus.  So what should we be doing with our bodies to keep them healthy, glorifying God?

Three Principles of Physical Health…

1. Management Principle –  God expects me to manage my body.   Let’s talk about food.  It’s up to you, and what you put in now you will reap later in your physical health. Food is the gateway to our feelings and emotions.  One reason so many people feel like garbage is because they put garbage in their bodies.  Let me just give you one:  High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS.  This stuff is basically poison for you and it’s in soda and too many other things! Don’t even get me started on diet soda, it isn’t any better.  Did you know that one soda a day is equal to twenty pounds of extra weight over the course of a year?  We are the gatekeepers of our body and that starts with controlling our mouths, what we put in.   

Here are some reasons you need to manage your body well according to the CDC Website…

  • In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths, almost one in every four in the United States.  The primary cause of heart disease is bad diet.
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2008 were in men.
  • Every year, about 785,000 Americans have their first heart attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more heart attacks have another attack.
  • In 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States $108.9 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Question: What is one habit you need to start & stop to limit this risk in your own life?

2. Ownership Principle – My body is God’s property.  So many people find comfort in food, and that is not a bad thing!  God gives us everything for our enjoyment, but he owns us.  Addiction, compulsion and inactivity are huge problems in our culture.  What about you?  Let me ask you three simple questions to see if you really are living under the ownership principle.

  • Do you exercise?  I am not talking about being a marathon runner or an Olympic athlete.  I am just talking about regular exercise four times, a week 20-30 minutes a session.  I am not talking about a gym membership either.  Walk, jog, play basketball, but just do something that gets your blood pumping to stay healthy.
  •  Do you limit the free radical four?  Alcohol, caffeine, sugar and sugar substitutes, and cholesterol?  in excess, these will KILL YOU!  Eliminating these for most people feels unrealistic and out of reach, but limiting them is a very reasonable goal.
  • When was the last time you saw your doctor?  Don’t wait to see him until your body breaks down.  Make your physician a regular part of your physical health plan.  You need to know your blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat numbers etc.  These are not scary numbers, these are essential pieces of information if you are going to honor the ownership principle.

Question: What is your motivation to take a risk and try one of the above in the new year?  Maybe it’s because you want to see your grand children graduate from college!

3. Eternity Principle – My body will be resurrected after I die. The bible promises us that we get a new body in 1 Corinthians 6:14,  “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.” This is a pretty amazing thing as we struggle forward with our current bodies.  Do you have a nagging ache or a pain?  Maybe you have a terminal illness? God is not leaving us here with these bodies, but he will resurrect them as a new flawless spiritual body!  We don’t know exactly what they will look and feel like, but we do know that Revelation says we won’t hunger, thirst, or have any tears in our eyes.  This should propel us forward to complete the mission of God, anticipating all that he has for us in our life after our physical death, for those who believe and trust in Jesus!

Question: When was the last time you thought about the future body you are going to receive as a NEW gift from God?

It’s time for a FRESH START IN YOUR HEALTH!  Take care of that hot body of yours!

I Would love to see you at 217church at 9:30 & 11 am at AMC 24 theaters in Hamilton, NJ as we explore this truth further this Sunday.

  • January 13 – Fresh Start in Your Health
  • January 20 – Fresh Start in Your Faith

Josh

 

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2013 – A Fresh Start

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FRESH STARTS!  I have a personal affinity for new things.  (This has gotten me in trouble more than a few times.)  I think this is why I love mornings.  There is nothing quite like the crispness of the morning air, enjoying a cup of coffee, watching a sunrise, or quite honestly, the feel of a fresh clean shave.  It all signals a Fresh Start.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

In a few days we will welcome in 2013, which is an incredible opportunity for us to see the faithfulness of God over 2012, and a time to anticipate his plan for us over this next year.  I always do two simple things when a new year comes.

I Look Back…

As an example:  Here are some things God did in 2012 through our 217church family!

  • 61 baptisms (141 total since we started 217church)
  • Doubled our small groups ministry
  • Doubled our youth ministry
  • Started a Partnership with Urban Promise in Trenton & gave them $25,000!
  • Increased giving by 30%
  • Produced our first ever DVD “Live Differently” curriculum for our small groups
  • Gave away $11,500 to single moms one Sunday in April

1. Retreat – You have to get away to do this!  I can’t stress this enough.  One of the only ways you will be able to be spiritually healthy with a correct perspective about what really happened to you over the last year, is to isolate yourself from the busyness of life and take an extended sabbath.  The end of the year gives me an opportunity to reflect on where God has taken me.  It also helps me to see what God enabled and what he disabled.  Just start by planning a time to get away, even for a half day!

2. Reflect – Is there something you know you need to STOP doing?  Now that you are on that well deserved retreat, it’s time to recount what God did and ask Him what needs to go.  Is it an unhealthy relationship you need to get out of?  C’mon single ladies, do you need to dump the loser?  Does he really measure up?  Are you settling for less than God’s best for you?  Is there a job you need to transition out of?  Is there a bad habit that is crippling you?  When you find your place of isolation, it’s time to recount what God did in your life and get rid of what needs to go.

3. Reposition – Is there something you know you need to START doing?  The ability to dream gives us hope and anticipation of God’s faithfulness to us.  I like to divide this into two specific sections:

  • Personally how do you reposition yourself?  Did God do a deep work in you?  If there was a word to describe what happened in 2012 what would it be?  Here are five ‘f’ words to help you personally reposition yourself.  What is one way you need to reposition yourself in your:  Faith? Family? Finances? Fitness? Friendships?  Just pick one tangible action step for each area.  Even if you just pick one area, you will see the possibility of what God wants to do through you.
  • Professionally how do you reposition yourself?   Did you learn a new skill or lesson in 2012?  Maybe you are working your way through college or started a new ministry or have aspirations to start a business.  You need a compelling vision!  What is that vision for you?  Take courage and Initiate!

I Look Forward…

1. Ramp Up – Is there something you know you need to KEEP doing?  Build on your greatest successes and use them to your advantage in 2013.  Oh man, this is where is gets really fun! How do you motivate in order to initiate a new goal or vision?  Everyone is different, but you will need a strategy to ramp up your training to reach the vision God has for you personally and professionally.  It’s time for action!

2. Request – What people do you need to enlist to help you?  DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!  I have seen so many people fail because they failed to include others in on their plan looking forward. “…in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 24:6  If your plan is only your plan and you haven’t shared it with anyone, you will probably fall short.  No one is that good alone.

3. Reap the Harvest! – Go and Get it!  It’s time!  What are you waiting for?  This is where all your planning is proved powerful.  A plan not executed is a collosal waste of time and energy.  Get out your tools, get ready for the hard work and get out there! One tip that helped me:  Realize your plan will never be perfect.   You have to just start.  If we would have waited until every circumstance was perfect to start 217church, we would still be planning.  This is called paralysis by analysis!

It’s time for a FRESH START IN YOUR LIFE!

217church meets 9:30 & 11 am at AMC 24 in Hamilton, NJ

  • January 6 – Fresh Start in Your Finances
  • January 13 – Fresh Start in Your Health

Tic-Toc it’s almost here!

 

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Training Matters

Every day after high school, I would jog down to the track and get the days training schedule from my track coach, Mr. Graves.  He always knew what I needed and helped me to be a better, more disciplined runner.  As a freshman starting high school track, there was so much excitement and vigor around doing the exact workout he wanted us to do.  But about two weeks into the season, as the miles began to pile up along with the sore muscles, I wasn’t as enthusiastic.  I was a 14-year-old undersized boy dragging myself to the track every day.  It was painful, and to be honest there were some days I not only didn’t want to train, I wanted to quit.  I began to wonder if this whole “track” thing was for me.   This Sunday at 217church we will discover some key truths about what TRAINING has to do with us being a church on mission.

Proud of my kids as they finished their first ever race!

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”  1 Corinthians 9:25

Training is tough work.  It isn’t glamorous putting in all those miles when no one is looking and your race is sometimes months away.  But one thing we forget: God is preparing us for what is next, even when we don’t feel like it matters.  Trust me, It all matters!  In every difficult situation and every phase that seems harder and harder, God is constantly teaching and training us.  Here are some hints to train smarter in every area of your life:

4 Hints on Training

1. Be Realistic – Most of us think we can do more than we actually can.  In our spiritual lives, reaching the goals Jesus wants us to achieve has to do with us being realistic about our training.  As we enter into the new year, be realistic about what you can achieve and what you can handle.  God will not give you more than you can handle and remember not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to.

2.  Have a Long Term View – In a world of instant gratification, it’s those who see the future race while they train that excel the most. I have seen so many people, marriages, athletes, small group leaders, pastors, friends, and co-workers burn out and flame out because of a lack of long term perspective.  The more I can connect today’s activity to the vision of the big picture, the more meaningful the training becomes.  This means that you have to pace yourself. Perspective will lead to better training.

 3. Get A Good Plan – Once you have a long term perspective, you need a training plan.  Sure some of the things you will learn will be on “accident”, but intentionality matters when it comes to personal growth.  Identify key areas of your life where you want to grow, then ask what is one action that will lead me to the end vision.  A good plan keeps you on track, encourages you along the way and provides confidence and enthusiasm.  This also allows you to trust God’s voice.  If God gives you the plan to execute and you see results, it helps you to trust him more.  By the way, if He changes the plan mid stream, it doesn’t mean you were “wrong,” it means that now you are at a different place in your training and He wants you to go further!  Once my track coach saw I had mastered certain runs, he changed it up and this allowed me to run faster!

4. Execute with Accountability – Training alone is NEVER as good as training with a coach.  Once you have a plan, YOU MUST SHARE IT!  If you think you are better alone, you have a pride problem.  If you think your ideas are the best, you have a trust problem.  Still not a believer?  Here is why accountability makes you better:

  • You’ll Feel A Sense of Urgency – If you have the habit of training with someone, you are less likely to sleep in on your workout partner.  The easiest way for me to go on a run is to take someone with me.
  • You’ll Want Others To Succeed– When I actively train with someone, I find myself wanting them to finish strong as well!  It’s not about me beating them, but helping them.  It is harder to feel tired and sorry for yourself when you are helping someone else succeed in their plan.
  • You’ll Finish Stronger – When you are at the end of your training, others can push you when you don’t think you have energy left.  Trust me!  There is usually more left than you think there is.

Now let me leave you with this thought:  I was far from the best athlete on my track team, but I will say this.  There weren’t very many people who out-trained me.  My philosophy was train hard and the results will come.  Training hard may not lead to a championship but it will lead to character and respect.  As you live on mission this week, Train hard or go home!  I believe in you church!

Josh

 

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Lose That Weight!

Over 100 people took the weight challenge last Sunday at 217church!  We are counting up all the pounds we lost and then we are going to have a HUGE party June 3 to celebrate what God has done!  Did you know that more people will die from heart disease this year than any other cause? Why? We eat a lot of junk! The truth of the matter is most of us treat our bodies like a human dumping ground as opposed to a temple of the Holy Spirit. We “calorie up” with sugar saturated drinks, eat way to much fast food, and exercise for some of us consists of going for a run…from the couch to the refrigerator. This is not God’s best for us. God cares about our bodies and he wants us to take care of what He has given to us. Tired of those extra few pounds you are carrying around?  Sick of low energy days and unhealthy habits?  Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure?  Have you had enough?  It’s time for a heart change, a literal one! It’s time to ask God, “What do you want me to do with my body?”

What does Physical health look like for us?

“whoever loves discipline loves knowledge…” (Proverbs 12:1 ESV)

Most of us eat what we want, when we want and we use the argument, “it’s my body, so I will do what I want with it.” This is not true, it’s a lie from the culture.  It’s not your body, your body belongs to God and he desires for you to use it to glorify Him.  Discipline can create a marvelous dependance on God as long as your motivations are correct.  but most of us struggle with the nasty ‘D’ word, DISCIPLINE. Here are a few things that helped me as I have started new habits and increased my own discipline factor.

  • Be Honest With Yourself- That means we have to address the brutal facts.  You can’t get to where you want to go unless you are honest with where you are.  Know these 5 numbers.  Your weight, waist, blood pressure, blood sugar, & cholesterol.  Get a good doctor to help and monitor these vitals and prevent disease!
  • Don’t Compare – Nothing will discourage you more if you try and compare yourself to other people.  Some people are gifted to be vegans.  Some people are genetically predisposed to be thin.  Stop worrying about everyone else and what the magazine adds tell you to be and seek God for his plan for your health and nutrition.  What worked for someone else may not necessarily work for you.  Seek God!
  • Take it Slow- One mistake we usually make is we pull the plug and make drastic changes all at once.  Then we fail miserably and pile on the guilt later and claim, “we tried.”  Unfortunately, most of us want instant results and instant gratification.  It didn’t take you a week to gain that extra fifty pounds or have high blood pressure so it is going to take more than a week to remedy the problem.
  • You Need A Buddy – Seriously, don’t even try and change a major habit on your own.  You need the support and accountability of a friend who will let you succeed and sometimes fail without piling on the guilt.  You need someone who you can model your health after and someone who will celebrate with you.  Isolation = failure.

Treating our bodies well is not an option, its a requirement of those who want to follow Jesus!  The big target on the wall is writing a LIFE TRANSFORMATION VISION for your Physical Health.  You should be doing this in your small group this week. Pray, then write the God inspired vision He has given to you, then make it happen!

“I urge you therefore brothers in view of God’s mercy to present your bodies a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship.”        Romans 12:1-2

You are a part of something incredible!  Credit Cards are being cut up, debt is being paid off, people are giving at levels that we have never seen before at 217church!  Are you maximizing your life for the advancement of the message of Jesus?  This Sunday is about nutrition and exercise!  Post your workouts here and be encouraged!

I have to admit, this is really fun!

Josh

 

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Getting Healthy #3 – Physically

Easter is ALMOST here!  On April 8th we launch into a new series Live Differently focusing on 4 areas of health:  spiritual, financial, physical and family.

Did you know that more people will die from heart disease this year than any other cause? Why? We eat a lot of junk! The truth of the matter is most of us treat our bodies like a human dumping ground as opposed to a temple of the Holy Spirit. We “calorie up” with sugar saturated drinks, eat way to much fast food, and exercise for some of us consists of going for a run…from the couch to the refrigerator. This is not God’s best for us. God cares about our bodies and he wants us to take care of what He has given to us. Tired of those extra few pounds you are carrying around?  Sick of low energy days and unhealthy habits?  Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure?  As Easter is just a few short days away, I want to take time to introduce you to another key area of health we will be tackling through the “Live Differently” series.  It’s about transformation against the odds.

What does Physical health look like?

“whoever loves discipline loves knowledge…” (Proverbs 12:1 ESV)

Most of us eat what we want, when we want and we use the argument, “it’s my body, so I will do what I want with it.” This is not true, it’s a lie from the culture.  It’s not your body, your body belongs to God and he desires for you to use it to glorify Him.  Discipline can create a marvelous dependance on God as long as your motivations are correct.  but most of us struggle with the nasty ‘D’ word, DISCIPLINE. Here are a few things that helped me as I have started new habits and increased my own discipline factor.

  • Don’t Compare – Nothing will discourage you more if you try and compare yourself to other people.  Some people are gifted to be vegans.  Some people are genetically predisposed to be thin.  Stop worrying about everyone else and what the magazine adds tell you to be and seek God for his plan for your health and nutrition.  What worked for someone else may not necessarily work for you.  Seek God!
  • Take it Slow- One mistake we usually make is we pull the plug and make drastic changes all at once.  Then we fail miserably and pile on the guilt later and claim, “we tried.”  Unfortunately, most of us want instant results and instant gratification.  It didn’t take you a week to gain that extra fifty pounds or have high blood pressure so it is going to take more than a week to remedy the problem.
  • You Need A Buddy – Seriously, don’t even try and change a major habit on your own.  You need the support and accountability of a friend who will let you succeed and sometimes fail without piling on the guilt.  You need someone who you can model your health after and someone who will celebrate with you.  Isolation = failure.

Treating our bodies well is not an option, its a requirement of those who want to follow Jesus!  The big target on the wall is writing a LIFE TRANSFORMATION VISION for your Physical Health.  We will be doing this in our small groups starting the week of Easter.  Write the God inspired vision He gave you then make it happen!

“ I urge you therefore brothers in view of God’s mercy to present your bodies a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship.”        Romans 12:1-2

How can you live more healthy spiritually, financially, physically and in your family?  I believe is starts with a heart change and then a commitment to a 217group.  You will grow more in a group than you will on your own. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)  These next 50 days of Live Differently at 217church will be life changing!  join a 217group today! How will you make the most of each Life Transformation Vision?

We can do this, together!  Josh