Have you ever read those Chicken Soup for the Soul books. You know, they are uplifting stories that make you feel better about yourself and the world. It's a great idea and they seem to have a book or two now for every genre of people. Chicken Soup for the Mom's soul, Chicken Soup for the graduate's soul, Chicken Soup for the vegan soul (read that one again if you didn't get it). Anyway, you get my point.
Too often, we live our lives where we think of food as only for our physical bodies. However, those of us living a PIES lifestyle realize that it is also important to fuel our IES (intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual) side as well. You may not know it but you are feeding your Spirit one way or the other.
Just as we choose to eat healthy natural food or factory-made junk, we choose to feed our spirit as well. If I spend my time gossiping, thinking negative thoughts and watching tv shows that promote violence, lust and greed, I am putting "junk" into my body. However, if I concentrate on "whatever is good, whatever is pure" what a difference that can make in my life simply by changing what I'm "feeding" my spirit.
I urge you today to start keeping a Spiritual food log. Take note of your thought life, what you are watching and the conversations that you are having. Always remember the saying, "Garbage in, Garbage out"
Showing posts with label Christian Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Fitness. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Fill'er up!
My first job ever was as a gas station attendant at local full service station. Each day in the summer of 1994, I would fill up cars and trucks with unleaded or premum gas. We also offered diesel.
On the very first week of my job, the boss' son rolled in driving his father's new pick up truck. He asked me to fill it up with 87 (or so I thought) I filled the truck up as full as possible in order to impress the boss. When I was finished, the son asked me what I put in the tank. I said, 87 like you asked. "87? I said diesel!", he replied.
To make a long story short, we then pushed this new pick up into the garage bay and had to drain the tank and then put the proper fuel back in. On a quick sidenote, as I was steering the truck onto the lift to drain the tank, I didn't judge something correctly and drove the truck off the lift. What a day! Why didn't they fire me?
However, as dreadful as that day was, I learned an important lesson. Nothing runs properly on the wrong kind of fuel. Cars don't, motorcycles don't, even weedeaters don't. You know what else needs the right kind of fuel? You guessed it, our bodies.
We need to eat the proteins, fats, fruits and veges that are going to give us the energy we need to live our lives productively. Unfortunately, we continue to dump 87(simple processed sugar junk) into a diesel tank. However, unlike my pickup truck experience we can't just pull in to the bay and drain the tank. We actually have to function on the junk until it gets out of our system.
One of the principles of living a FitChurch lifestyle is realizing the importance of fueling the body. Believe it or not, how we eat is actually an act of worship. Each time we are about to eat or drink, we should ask ourselves two simple questions. 1. Is this food glorifying to God? 2. Is this food helping or hurting me live a life worthy of his calling? If we can answer yes to those questions, there is a good chance we are on our way to fueling our bodies properly.
On the very first week of my job, the boss' son rolled in driving his father's new pick up truck. He asked me to fill it up with 87 (or so I thought) I filled the truck up as full as possible in order to impress the boss. When I was finished, the son asked me what I put in the tank. I said, 87 like you asked. "87? I said diesel!", he replied.
To make a long story short, we then pushed this new pick up into the garage bay and had to drain the tank and then put the proper fuel back in. On a quick sidenote, as I was steering the truck onto the lift to drain the tank, I didn't judge something correctly and drove the truck off the lift. What a day! Why didn't they fire me?
However, as dreadful as that day was, I learned an important lesson. Nothing runs properly on the wrong kind of fuel. Cars don't, motorcycles don't, even weedeaters don't. You know what else needs the right kind of fuel? You guessed it, our bodies.
We need to eat the proteins, fats, fruits and veges that are going to give us the energy we need to live our lives productively. Unfortunately, we continue to dump 87(simple processed sugar junk) into a diesel tank. However, unlike my pickup truck experience we can't just pull in to the bay and drain the tank. We actually have to function on the junk until it gets out of our system.
One of the principles of living a FitChurch lifestyle is realizing the importance of fueling the body. Believe it or not, how we eat is actually an act of worship. Each time we are about to eat or drink, we should ask ourselves two simple questions. 1. Is this food glorifying to God? 2. Is this food helping or hurting me live a life worthy of his calling? If we can answer yes to those questions, there is a good chance we are on our way to fueling our bodies properly.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Have some PIES?
No, no, I'm not talking about apple, peach or blueberry pie. (Although I'm a sucker for a piece of homemade boston cream pie every so often.)
The PIES I'm talking about can change your life. You see for some reason we as christians have this dualistic mentality. We pursue spiritual fitness with all that we have while we run our physical bodies into the ground....literally. However, God cares about every part of us and He wants us to pursue Him in all areas.
PIES stands for Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual. It is our job as Christians to glorify Him in all these areas. Let me give you a few examples.
1. Let's say I'm with it spiritually. I'm praying, talking to God daily and walking by faith. At the same time I'm barely sleeping, eating twinkies and ho ho's and living a sedentary life. Can God use me to my fullest potential? No. I'm missing the opportunity to bless others and be blessed because most likely I'm overstressed, overweight and overwhelmed.
2. However, let's say that I'm in great physical condition. I rest 7-9 hours a night. I exercise and eat right. However, my busy schedule has left little time for God and I'm not praying and reading like I once was. God and I have an as needed relationship. Am I glorifying God with my body? Part of it, but not the whole thing.
3. Now let's say I'm exercising, reading, praying but yet my emotions get the best of me. I'm on a constant emotional roller coaster as I get angry easily and find very little joy in my life. Am I glorifying God with my body?
The PIES approach causes us to realize that all areas of our life are under God's jurisdiction. Not only that, but they are deeply innertwined. The decisions that I make in my physical life play a huge part in how I react intellectually, emotionally and spiritually and vice versa. Our goal is to live a life in which God is glorified at all times.
A Fit Church lives by the PIES lifestyle and so does it's members. A Fit Church member realizes that they can glorify God by eating well, exercising, and even sleeping.
Is your church a Fit Church? Find out how it can be!
The PIES I'm talking about can change your life. You see for some reason we as christians have this dualistic mentality. We pursue spiritual fitness with all that we have while we run our physical bodies into the ground....literally. However, God cares about every part of us and He wants us to pursue Him in all areas.
PIES stands for Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual. It is our job as Christians to glorify Him in all these areas. Let me give you a few examples.
1. Let's say I'm with it spiritually. I'm praying, talking to God daily and walking by faith. At the same time I'm barely sleeping, eating twinkies and ho ho's and living a sedentary life. Can God use me to my fullest potential? No. I'm missing the opportunity to bless others and be blessed because most likely I'm overstressed, overweight and overwhelmed.
2. However, let's say that I'm in great physical condition. I rest 7-9 hours a night. I exercise and eat right. However, my busy schedule has left little time for God and I'm not praying and reading like I once was. God and I have an as needed relationship. Am I glorifying God with my body? Part of it, but not the whole thing.
3. Now let's say I'm exercising, reading, praying but yet my emotions get the best of me. I'm on a constant emotional roller coaster as I get angry easily and find very little joy in my life. Am I glorifying God with my body?
The PIES approach causes us to realize that all areas of our life are under God's jurisdiction. Not only that, but they are deeply innertwined. The decisions that I make in my physical life play a huge part in how I react intellectually, emotionally and spiritually and vice versa. Our goal is to live a life in which God is glorified at all times.
A Fit Church lives by the PIES lifestyle and so does it's members. A Fit Church member realizes that they can glorify God by eating well, exercising, and even sleeping.
Is your church a Fit Church? Find out how it can be!
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