Recently I began a new exercise regimen with the idea of building muscle and burning fat. To maximise the effectiveness of a workout, a good diet and quality supplements are key components. After doing some research, I bought a big tub of whey protein powder from Costco, along with a good multivitamin. Whey protein isn't cheap, but the health benefits from building a stronger body is worth the investment.
As I loaded the protein powder into the cart, I wondered, "Will this stuff really make a difference? What happens if I take all this and nothing changes? Would I buy another tub if the results are negligible?" So I determined I would commit to the workout while carefully monitoring my progress. If I don't see improvement, I'm not going to keep going back to what is ineffective. Why should I pay money for what is not beneficial?
It occurred to me that it is wise to have this sort of self-examination on a spiritual level. The books we read, the way we spend our time and money, the thoughts we dwell upon, all these things and many other factors can either strengthen us spiritually or cause us to languish. For many years of my life, I collected vinyl. At one point I had about 450 albums, filling heavy crates in my apartment. But a day came when God led me to give them away as a donation to someone in need. It was a fairly valuable collection. I loved the music, especially classic rock, but a lot of it did not bring glory to God.
Over the next few years, I can't remember if I had records. But very slowly I began to acquire records I would find in thrift stores. I was very picky about their condition and quality. Ten years later, I had about 100 albums again! I would listen to them on my Marantz turntable with great enjoyment. A day came when I felt God speaking to me about my classic rock collection. "I told you to get rid of these things before because they do not benefit you," I perceived God say. "It's time for them to go." I thought back on how subtly godless music had crept into my life. It was true: the music didn't benefit me spiritually at all. This collection was more valuable than my previous one, having been carefully collected. With the exception of a couple of classical albums and a Star Wars score, I gathered up the rock albums and went to the trash can. After dumping them in the bin, I looked at them for a moment. Never again, I told myself. Never again did I want to acquire things I would have to throw away. The feeling of loss I experienced when I chucked those albums, knowing I had wasted much money and effort, was a greater sense of loss of living life without them. But the feeling quickly fled away as I knew through obedience I found strength in God.
How many times do we acquire things at great cost which are actually worthless! Our flesh enjoys them for a while, but what our flesh loves can be spiritually harmful. In the same way we should watch what we put into our bodies, we ought to consider what we feed our minds and hearts. If it doesn't make us spiritually stronger, it's probably not worth having. Isaiah 55:2-3 reads, "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-- the sure mercies of David."
Unless that whey protein makes a positive impact on my health, I will not buy it again. I must show the same resolve with other things in my life. I praise God that He gives us fresh perspective on things through His Word and the Holy Spirit. May we exercise faith in obedience to God as we live out our days on this earth, considering carefully the benefits or potential harm of our affections.
05 June 2012
04 June 2012
An Inspirational Walk
Much of the world is looking with anticipation to the Olympic summer games being held this year in London. Since I was young, I always enjoyed watching the televised events. It was an opportunity to see people compete in events I didn't even know were events! No one makes an Olympic team without dedication and sacrifice. In the sporting world, there is no stage greater than the Olympics. With the exception of the boxing scoring system, the Olympics leave nothing to be desired: tradition, rivalry, patriotism, emotion, determination, and grit.
The Olympic games are more than a platform to crown the world's best. It is an opportunity to join with athletes from all over the world who have dedicated their lives to excellence in sport. Sprinkled in among the televised action, I remember Bob Costas narrating inspirational vignettes documenting the struggles and difficulties of athletes who obtained their Olympic dreams of simply being able to compete. Most of the stories were of American superstars, but included athletes from all over the world. I am very interested to see what events will be televised now that I live in Australia. And I'll be wearing my Aussie green and gold, thank you very much!
It would be a sad commentary if we needed to wait four years to be inspired by stories of people overcoming obstacles to obtain Olympic gold. In fact, some people who I find most inspirational will never make an Olympic team. They are not athletes with ripped physiques. They are not recognized in their hometowns on the streets, no passerby asks for their autographs, and they have never been on TV. Sometimes seemingly ordinary people can be extraordinary. They exhibit inner strength through God which makes the strength of world-class Olympic lifters appear puny. When faced with challenges, their faith in Christ remains steadfast and true. Whether they find themselves on a sickbed, caring for a infirm spouse, or working through grief and disappointment, it is God who makes them strong. I have been blessed to know many people who fit in this category.
At a church family meeting a couple weeks ago, I witnessed something more inspirational than seeing someone win a gold medal. It was a culmination of events that began several months ago. Kevin and Anne Guest were enjoying a cruise when Anne suffered a stroke, losing the use of her left side. This led to months of hospital treatment, constant visits and chronicling of events by Kevin, and hard work for Anne with physical therapy. Slowly Anne began to gain strength. It was a joyful day when Kevin and Anne could return home together without time restrictions! During the family meeting after church, I asked people to share with all what God had been teaching them. I was nearly overcome with tears when Anne deftly stood to her feet alone, took her walking stick in hand, and began to walk slowly forward. With a gleam of valiant determination in her eye, Anne looked intently upon the people at the meeting. She quoted Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." She added, "I'm not running yet, but I'm walking." She slowly returned to her wheelchair and sat down. That was an incredible moment, one I will never forget.
Whether you are a world-class athlete, someone laid low with illness, or experiencing trials of all kinds, God grants strength to those who fear Him. There is no one more inspirational to me than Jesus Christ, and I am so blessed when I see His strength on display through His people. Let us continually honour God, drawing strength only from our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:10 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Thank God for the many ways He inspires us!
The Olympic games are more than a platform to crown the world's best. It is an opportunity to join with athletes from all over the world who have dedicated their lives to excellence in sport. Sprinkled in among the televised action, I remember Bob Costas narrating inspirational vignettes documenting the struggles and difficulties of athletes who obtained their Olympic dreams of simply being able to compete. Most of the stories were of American superstars, but included athletes from all over the world. I am very interested to see what events will be televised now that I live in Australia. And I'll be wearing my Aussie green and gold, thank you very much!
It would be a sad commentary if we needed to wait four years to be inspired by stories of people overcoming obstacles to obtain Olympic gold. In fact, some people who I find most inspirational will never make an Olympic team. They are not athletes with ripped physiques. They are not recognized in their hometowns on the streets, no passerby asks for their autographs, and they have never been on TV. Sometimes seemingly ordinary people can be extraordinary. They exhibit inner strength through God which makes the strength of world-class Olympic lifters appear puny. When faced with challenges, their faith in Christ remains steadfast and true. Whether they find themselves on a sickbed, caring for a infirm spouse, or working through grief and disappointment, it is God who makes them strong. I have been blessed to know many people who fit in this category.
At a church family meeting a couple weeks ago, I witnessed something more inspirational than seeing someone win a gold medal. It was a culmination of events that began several months ago. Kevin and Anne Guest were enjoying a cruise when Anne suffered a stroke, losing the use of her left side. This led to months of hospital treatment, constant visits and chronicling of events by Kevin, and hard work for Anne with physical therapy. Slowly Anne began to gain strength. It was a joyful day when Kevin and Anne could return home together without time restrictions! During the family meeting after church, I asked people to share with all what God had been teaching them. I was nearly overcome with tears when Anne deftly stood to her feet alone, took her walking stick in hand, and began to walk slowly forward. With a gleam of valiant determination in her eye, Anne looked intently upon the people at the meeting. She quoted Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." She added, "I'm not running yet, but I'm walking." She slowly returned to her wheelchair and sat down. That was an incredible moment, one I will never forget.
Whether you are a world-class athlete, someone laid low with illness, or experiencing trials of all kinds, God grants strength to those who fear Him. There is no one more inspirational to me than Jesus Christ, and I am so blessed when I see His strength on display through His people. Let us continually honour God, drawing strength only from our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:10 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Thank God for the many ways He inspires us!
03 June 2012
Open the Door!
There have been a rash of electricity salesmen knocking on my door of late. The thing that bothers me about them is their dishonesty: they claim they are not trying to sell me anything when the exact opposite is true. Listening to them talk, it is simply out of the "goodness of their hearts" they are trying to save me money on my electricity costs. They all have similar tactics: they butter me up or ask a loaded question, and then try to sink their hooks in. No matter how direct I am, a salesman who understands the point and walks away before I close the door is rare.
Because of the influx of well-intentioned salesmen who want me to switch my electricity provider (and I'm not changing, so please stop bothering me!), when I hear a knock at the door I instinctively groan. Who could it be now? Who else wants to make me their customer? How many more times will I have to endure the shallow chatter and repeat myself over and over? "No thank you. And no, I will not allow you to look at my previous bill." The other night our whole family just sat down to dinner and there was a loud knock at the door. I had dealt with one electricity salesmen of the overweening variety that day. The previous night at dinner a man came trying to sell me some Spanish art! I continued to eat dinner. "I am not answering that," I announced to the family. "If they were someone who knows me, they could ring."
The next day it came to light that it was not a salesman who came to my door, but a FedEx courier with an overseas shipment! I knew a shipment was coming soon, but at that moment I was so fed up I didn't care who it was! In retrospect, that was a rare occasion when I wished I had opened the door. My decision to ignore the knock at the door reminded me of an anecdote titled "Afraid of the Landlord" told by D.L. Moody. It is recorded in John Lobb's book Arrows and Anecdotes on page 135, written in 1877:
God provided the Jews manna in the wilderness; bread from heaven to sustain them. Jesus is the Living Bread! He proclaims in John 6:35 & 51: "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst....51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." When Jesus comes knocking at your heart, don't ignore His call! Open to Him!
Because of the influx of well-intentioned salesmen who want me to switch my electricity provider (and I'm not changing, so please stop bothering me!), when I hear a knock at the door I instinctively groan. Who could it be now? Who else wants to make me their customer? How many more times will I have to endure the shallow chatter and repeat myself over and over? "No thank you. And no, I will not allow you to look at my previous bill." The other night our whole family just sat down to dinner and there was a loud knock at the door. I had dealt with one electricity salesmen of the overweening variety that day. The previous night at dinner a man came trying to sell me some Spanish art! I continued to eat dinner. "I am not answering that," I announced to the family. "If they were someone who knows me, they could ring."
The next day it came to light that it was not a salesman who came to my door, but a FedEx courier with an overseas shipment! I knew a shipment was coming soon, but at that moment I was so fed up I didn't care who it was! In retrospect, that was a rare occasion when I wished I had opened the door. My decision to ignore the knock at the door reminded me of an anecdote titled "Afraid of the Landlord" told by D.L. Moody. It is recorded in John Lobb's book Arrows and Anecdotes on page 135, written in 1877:
Many think God comes wanting something from us. When he was in Glasgow, Dr. William Arnot heard that a poor woman was unable to pay her rent, and he thought he would go round to her house and give her some assistance. After knocking he heard some one moving; he knocked again, but no one came; he waited some time, but after knocking repeatedly he had to leave without gaining admittance. A day or two afterwards he met the woman in the street, and told her that he had been at the house, with the view of helping her. "O doctor!" exclaimed the poor widow, "was that you? Why, I thought it was the landlord, and was afraid to open as I had nothing to pay him with." Now that woman just represented a sinner. Jesus comes knocking at the door of our heart; He says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man open I will come in and sup with him." He is knocking - knocking today, and yet we keep the door fastened and hide trembling, imagining all the time that He has come to demand something we cannot pay.How true this can be of us in a spiritual sense! We can be so involved in the cares of this life, so focused on extinguishing fiery darts of the wicked one, and be caught up in trials that when Christ comes to spend time with us we feel too weary to give Him the time and attention He deserves. How many times has Jesus stood out calling our names at the door of our hearts and we run and hide, thinking he brings greater guilt and condemnation! We see our lack and are ashamed of any meal we might prepare for the King of Kings, forgetting that He is the one who supplies the food for the table! Christ desires to commune with us. He has already provided Living Water of the Holy Spirit, His broken body, and His shed blood - food and drink for our souls indeed! Jesus has given us Himself, become the propitiation for our sins, and purchased us with His own blood.
God provided the Jews manna in the wilderness; bread from heaven to sustain them. Jesus is the Living Bread! He proclaims in John 6:35 & 51: "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst....51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." When Jesus comes knocking at your heart, don't ignore His call! Open to Him!
31 May 2012
God is Our Strength
It's amazing what is considered news these days. I saw an online story about a family who claims to have seen the image of Jesus in mold on the wall in their bathroom! According to the family, the image has given them strength. Now it's possible in what we see, even in a bathroom filled with mildew, God will teach us things. But to attribute power or divine ability to an image, article, or patch of mold is superstitious and unbiblical. No person, object, or activity should ever usurp God's rightful position of honour and worth. If I saw mold growing in my bathroom, it would be a loud and clear message to invoke the power of bleach and a little elbow grease!
There are many things from which people draw strength. It could be an item that is considered "lucky," like a kangaroo pouch. Some people take to heart what they read in the newspaper listed under a daily horoscope. Others start their day with thinking and speaking positive mantras, to convince themselves of their own goodness. I know of others who have embraced feng shui, the arrangement of furniture to support your personal energy and provide life improvement. There are probably an infinite amount of things people draw strength from rather than the true source of strength: Jesus Christ. We are told in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Human beings are beyond incorrigible, seeking any direction to run but God's way.
The Israelites were forbidden in the Law to make an image of any kind because God knows the human need to worship (Deut. 4:16-19). All people worship. All people hold certain things, people, God, or the multitude of false gods in high regard. We often praise and extol the goodness of actors, artists, musicians, or athletes. To worship does not necessarily mean the burning of incense, the offering of sacrifice, or the physical bowing of the knee. Worship is when we treasure something in our hearts. Idolatry, a grave sin, is when we adore, reverence, or honour anything either at a level only God deserves or when we honour something in the place of God. All that is in the world and of the world will perish, but they who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. In Christ we have strength which cannot be washed away with disinfectant, lost, forgotten, re-arranged, stolen, burned up, or left behind when our bodies perish.
Instead of being caught up with the worship of the blessings God bestows, let us place our faith in Him alone. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight. It is when we look to Jesus that we can say with the prophet in Habakkuk 3:17-19: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-- 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Praise God, for He is our strength.
There are many things from which people draw strength. It could be an item that is considered "lucky," like a kangaroo pouch. Some people take to heart what they read in the newspaper listed under a daily horoscope. Others start their day with thinking and speaking positive mantras, to convince themselves of their own goodness. I know of others who have embraced feng shui, the arrangement of furniture to support your personal energy and provide life improvement. There are probably an infinite amount of things people draw strength from rather than the true source of strength: Jesus Christ. We are told in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Human beings are beyond incorrigible, seeking any direction to run but God's way.
The Israelites were forbidden in the Law to make an image of any kind because God knows the human need to worship (Deut. 4:16-19). All people worship. All people hold certain things, people, God, or the multitude of false gods in high regard. We often praise and extol the goodness of actors, artists, musicians, or athletes. To worship does not necessarily mean the burning of incense, the offering of sacrifice, or the physical bowing of the knee. Worship is when we treasure something in our hearts. Idolatry, a grave sin, is when we adore, reverence, or honour anything either at a level only God deserves or when we honour something in the place of God. All that is in the world and of the world will perish, but they who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. In Christ we have strength which cannot be washed away with disinfectant, lost, forgotten, re-arranged, stolen, burned up, or left behind when our bodies perish.
Instead of being caught up with the worship of the blessings God bestows, let us place our faith in Him alone. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight. It is when we look to Jesus that we can say with the prophet in Habakkuk 3:17-19: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-- 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Praise God, for He is our strength.
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