Lately I have been talking up the fact that I am back in the gym and that I can probably out lift all of the guys in the student ministry. I enjoy comparing the size of my forearm to the biceps of the guys in our ministry. For me it has been a lot of fun shedding some extra lbs (I have a long way to go) and it has also been fun showing off my bigger arms.
I want to make sure everyone understands my motivation for getting back in the gym. No it was not just to bench more than the guys in the Student Ministry. For the past year I felt that I really was not living out my mission statement. I want to love God with my EVERYTHING! As I was adding weight and getting fatter, I was also getting lazier. I didn’t feel like I was loving God with all that I am because I was not healthy.
Now that I am hitting up the new Golds Gym my energy level has increased and I feel that I can be more productive for MY GOD. Being in the gym has also given me another opportunity to make some friends outside of the Church.
THE reason I am hitting up the gym is for God’s Glory. I desire to love Him with my everything.
Filed under: God's Glory | Tagged: Church, God's Glory, Gold's Gym, Losing weight, Student Ministry, Working out
I like your new strong arms except when I bump into you and they hurt me. Thanks for the example you are for me. I love you with or without big arms!
So-are you saying a fat person is not glorifying God?
No I am not saying a “fat person” can not glorify God. I know plenty of people who are overweight and making a difference for Gods Glory. I am saying that for me my increased weight was affecting how I was loving God with other areas of my life.
I would say the same goes for a person who does not get enough sleep.
Hey!!!!!!! Now you offended MEEEEE! Are you saying a hard-working, outta shape, middle-aged, soda deliveryman, who works a long day to support his family, and works even longer hours for a hard-nosed, young punk of a youth pastor, on six hours of sleep isn’t glorifying God????
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Whenever weight is talked about, it is a very sensitive issue. I have learned though that in everthing we do, we need to be able to bring glory to God. Anyone can do that regardless of weight, race, background, etc..However, if something is holding you back from bringing glory to God- then I think it is awesome to recognize that, pray about it, and do something about it.
It doesn’t have to be about just weight, but for me it was. I know that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and FOR ME- my weight was affecting my health and relationship with God. Therefore, by God’s grace, I was able to loose that weight in order to become healthy.
Some people might not struggle in this area, but there might be something else they struggle with. I applaud the fact that you (Jeremy) personally felt that you weren’t giving God your everything and you are trying to improve in that area.
I gotta give you some props Jeremy (I’m so ghetto ain’t I?). It’s difficult to get in shape and much more difficult to stay in shape (take it from a 37 year old youth pastor who is trying to do just that).
Weight may be a sensitive issue, but if one does not care about his/her weight and continues to shove twinkies in their mouth, they are NOT bringing as much glory to God as they can. The same goes for the skinny guy who smokes a pack a day or sits in front of a TV all day.
Glorifying God is not a matter of perfection, but a matter of effort. God wants effort. When the effort stops (i.e. one stops caring about being overweight) then the glory to God is minimized.
Once again, Way to go Jeremy!