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.

Being guided

Yesterday morning, as I sat and drank my coffee, I was doing my devotions. That is, I was taking time, reading through the book of Mark in the Bible and then reading through a book with daily thoughts on Scripture called Today (www.thisistoday.net). The small reflection on how to live my life in a way that is good and pleasing to God. It was about living in God's grace found in Jesus. As I have been reading through the Today booklet and through the Book of Mark, I've been reflecting on how I need to live my life and how I HAVE been living my life. In my own personal readings, I've been seeing how I need to strive to be more like Jesus in my day to day living. In the Today booklet, there's advice on how to do this. Not much, just a few words here and there, but enough to be helpful.

When I was done with my devotions, I realized that there was a weightlifting exercise I wanted to take another look at in one of my books. I wasn't sure if I was doing it right and I wanted to also reexamine exactly which muscle groups I was working. I have a book called Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavir which I have found helpful in better understanding how the muscles work and how to do the exercises properly.

And then it hit me. I was doing something similar with exercising as I was doing with my own spiritual walk.

In our spiritual walk, we can't do it alone. We need guidance and direction. In trying to be healthy, we can't do it alone. We need guidance and direction. I was flipping through the Today devotional to see who had written it, two pastors for the months of May and June. Both pastors were had been in the ministry for a number of years. Looking at Strength Training Anatomy, the author is a long time weight lifter, editor of a European lifting magazine and award winning artist.

Guidance and direction in our spiritual journey as well in our journey for better health comes from those who have gone before us. It comes from those who encourage us and lead us and guide us. We need people to help cheer us on and help us know where to go in our spiritual journey.

IN the Book of Hebrews, there's this great section that speaks of a Great Cloud of Witnesses (http://read.ly/Heb12.1.NIV). This Great Cloud is cheering us on as we keep our eyes upon Jesus, the one who we strive to be like in all that we do.

Who is cheering you on? Who is part of your Great Cloud of Witnesses? What books can you read that will help foster a healthy spiritual walk with God? What books can you read that will help you foster a healthy lifestyle? Who can you talk with to help guide you along your personal spiritual journey?