Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Old School Feel

It's been a bit, but I finally started hitting the gym again. It's strange, really. I got so used to the gym back in the Chicago area. The equipment was newish, and was about to be upgraded to brand-spankin new shortly after I left. The free weight station was good, solid new equipment. The machines were in good shape, a bit worn, but up to date. I had my groove in place. I knew what to use, how to use it and what I could handle.

But now I'm at a new gym. It's an old school style. The equipment is good and solid but olderish. And it's not as crowded and so I've done most my workouts alone. Now, I'm a big advocate for having a spotter and workout partner, or at least having someone around. But I also know what I'm doing and have the safeties in place.

It's not that the gym is bad, it's different from what I'm used to. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Old School gyms in the least. Some of the greatest body builders of all time and some celebrity body builders too (Hulk Hogan, Arnold "The Govenator" Schwarzeneggner to name two) have come from the Old School style of lifting. And there've been many greats who have come from a new method of working out.

But the problem comes when you lift Old School over New School and vice versa. There are many lifting books out that are touting that we need to go back to Old School lifting. And there are other books out that bring forth the latest in exercise science in weight training. Both have their merits and their problems. Somewhere a good balance can be found and used to be effective in lifting and weight training.

Recently, I've started pastoring a church here in South Dakota. To be honest (and I'm not putting anything down at all, I love the place) it has that Old School feel. Old School isn't bad. It's different. I'm trying to get used to it. I'm trying to get used to how it works, how it functions, what's available to be done and what I need to improvise on. The church here in Corsica is a good solid body of belivers who have a solid foundation--Old School and good. I came from a different area. Not cutting edge but different. And it was also good.

I do know this--since moving out to South Dakota, I've placed 3 inches around my waist and 20 lbs on me. That I don't like. I'm trying to get my self motivated again to hit the weights. I miss it. I need it. I don't want to gain weight spiritually. And I know that there is strength in the Old School I am at. Good. Solid. Strong. And I like that.

This is all new to me. But I'm looking forward to building up with them, Old School style and finding our way in Serving God and doing his kingdom work here in Corsica, SD.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Confession Time

I'm pastoring a great church right now--Corsica CRC and Grace Reformed. Two denominations (CRC and RCA) but one congregation. When we worship at Grace, we have a time called God's Guide for Living. Two weeks ago, I read from 1 John where it says, if we confess our sins, he will forgive us. I have a confession to make. I haven't been as healthy as I should be as of late. I haven't been eating the way I know I should be, I haven't been working out--at all! And I'm feeling it. I'm feeling bogged down, I'm feeling frustrated, I'm feeling, I don't know, bleh. I know I don't like how I'm feeling, yet I don't do anything about it.

I wonder if this is how it feels when we don't confess. My wife took out the garbage from the kitchen this morning because I (again) forgot to take it out. I'm wondering, is it the same thing as not working out or not confessing. If you don't take out the garbage, after a while it builds up and stinks. You know it's not good to have it out all the time, you know you need to get rid of it, you know you need to dispose of it and give it over to the garbage man, but you still don't.

If we confess, he will forgive. So, I'm confessing. I'm not working out the way I should and I'm I think I'm feeling it physically, emotionally and spiritually. I'd lift, do devotions, focus, clear out my self, and give to God and be ready for the day, the week... now, not so much. And yet I don't do ANYTHING with it. It just sits there. I haven't even gone into the weight room I set up because I just feel guilty about not doing anything. So, I think about trying it again, and then I hear Yoda in my mind "there is do and do not, there is not try." So, yeah.. well.. still gotta do it before the garbage piles up too high