ThatGuyKP

Cheese Cheese Sugar Sugar

2011-09-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

The standard American diet consists of dairy products and/or sugar at every meal. While consuming these can bring momentary pleasure we do have to be careful how much we consume in order to keep our bodies healthy and functioning properly.
God says in:

1 Cor 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

And again in:
1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy my Dolly’s Pizza and a Mountain Dew Throwback once a week. But moderation is the key.

Here’s a workout that will help burn that Cheese Cheese Sugar Sugar. (Note: the kettlebell weight exposed my weakness/improper form during the snatches.)

Start with a heavy Kettlebell (32Kg) and do 3 reps per hand of each exercise – Swing, Snatches, Rows, Chest Press.
Rest 1 min and then repeat with lighter Kettlebell (28Kg) but do 4 reps per hand.
Rest 1 min and then repeat with lighter Kettlebell (24Kg) but do 5 reps per hand.
Rest 1 min and then repeat with lighter Kettlebell (20Kg) but do 6 reps per hand.
Rest 1 min and then repeat with lighter Kettlebell (16Kg) but do 7 reps per hand.

PS. Props to my Brother-In-Law Joe for the sweet music.

Do you know where you’re going?

2011-08-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Life is full of uncertainty. We don’t know how the stock market will perform. We don’t know what leaders will rise to power. We don’t know what health issues will arise. We don’t know if we will wake up tomorrow. So do your best and truly trust God with the details.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 says “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

Uncertainty can be overwhelming and even crippling. We might live stagnate and unproductive lives due to a fear of failure or loss. The truth is that we are not in control, God is. We can’t completely control our future but God has it all planned out we just need to obey Him and trust Him.

Jeremiah had a very difficult life yet in Jeremiah 29:11 God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Keep in mind that the “Future and Prosperity” is in heaven (for believers in Jesus) and will not necessarily be realized on earth.

The flipbook above is of me getting triple blobbed by 3 guys who’s combined weight was in the 750 to 800 pound range. I knew I was going to go up and come back down but I didn’t know how I’d fare along the trajectory until the flight was all over.

Troubles and surprises will come our way, it’s up to us to decide how we react to them.
James 5:11 says “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance, and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
This verse gives me peace because God’s love and mercy are always there providing comfort no matter where He has me go or what He has me do.

Don’t want to be a bother to God

2011-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:24-34
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments? "And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, "Daughter,) your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

I can relate to this woman. She tried to fix her disease herself. I’m guilty of this. She checked WebMD. I’m guilty of this. She went to the best doctors. I’m guilty of this. She asked everyone but God for help. And in doing so she suffered a lot. I’m guilty of this. It wasn’t until she exhausted all her options that she turned to Jesus. Even being inches away from God she still didn’t want to bother Him and ask for help. It wasn’t until after she was healed that she felt guilty, confessed and humbled herself before God. I’m guilty of this. She was afraid that God would take back the healing but instead God was compassionate and she was free to “go in peace”, healed.

Many times we hold suffering tight and try to fix it ourselves instead of giving it to God and being okay with His will in our lives. Always know that God is never “bothered” by our prayers but, rather wants us to let Him know what we think our needs are so that He can show us what our real needs are and how we can “go in peace”, healed.

Training

2011-04-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

I know it's not a good practice to direct people away from your website, but this one is worth it. Check out these 5 videos. EACH one is about 20 minutes long and very interesting. Give them a view over the next month and let me know what you think.
http://www.woodsidebible.org/each/training-videos/

Burdens

2011-03-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

We all have burdens. Some are good and some need to be removed. A good kind of burden makes you stronger. Like voluntary exercise and moving weights. A negative burden is something that makes you weaker or breaks your spirit. Like being enslaved and/or sin. God says a lot about burdens in the following verses:

Psalm 55:22a “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.”
Psalm 8:16 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
Matthew 11:29-30 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice in these verses that God doesn’t say our life is supposed to be burden free. We will have struggles. But, sin should be cast off and turned away from. Sin will weigh you down and cause unneeded suffering. The burdens we do bear should bring glory to His name.

Consider the video below and it’s spiritual applications.

Way vs. Where

2011-02-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how God usually works? He generally doesn’t tell us the final destination. He generally doesn’t describe your future. He gives us a path and asks us to trust Him for each step along the way. John chapter 14 has some interesting insight to how God works. Jesus taught by saying in John 14:4 “You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus went right to the heart of the matter. The important thing is knowing the way, following Jesus’ commands from the heart with love one day at a time, one step at a time. We complicate things by focusing energy on the ending/destination. We also stress ourselves out with burdens we were never intended to bare all because we rush ahead of where God wants us today.

It’s interesting that Thomas gives our typical human response in John 14:5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Thomas missed the point. The “where”, the future details are not important but the way is important. God wants us to trust Him one step at a time by faith. And He’ll prepare us and train us along the way for the final destination. But if you jump right to the Emerald City you’ll miss so many things God has planned for us along the way and we won’t be properly prepared once we get there.

When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven He didn’t leave us helpless and lost. He sent the Holy Spirit just as He said He would do in John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit teaches us like our conscience. Not only does He teach us but He pleads with us. Check out the definition of Advocate: One who pleads in another’s behalf. The Holy Spirit pleads with us on behalf of Jesus to daily walk along the way God has told us to go. It can be scary to let go of control and stop trying to intricately plan out the details of our lives. But, that’s what God commands us to do. As a very wise man once said, “Take the next obvious step for the glory of God”. That’s what Abram did in Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Notice the future tense in that verse. God didn’t give him a google map with all the way points and stops laid out. He said take one step at a time and honor me with each step. Let’s do the same.

Obstacles

2011-01-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

Most of life is about perspective. A hill can be viewed as a nuisance, a pain, a challenge or as an opportunity for fun. This time of year I have fond memories of tree skiing. I enjoy the cold weather, the speed and the trees as obstacles that I must go around or suffer the consequences of hitting one. A lot of life is like tree skiing. Some elements seem controllable but most aren’t. That’s why it’s important to go to God in prayer and for daily direction. The Bible says in:

Prov, 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”

This New Year let’s seek God’s direction and follow Him and by doing so we’ll avoid hitting the “trees”.

Iceman 2010

2010-11-19T16:35:00.000-08:00

This year’s Iceman mountain bike race was very different from last year (http://www.thatguykp.blogspot.com/2009/11/present-sufferings-dont-compare.html) .
Last year it was sunny, dry and a high of 63. This year there was a blizzard and hail the night before. The temps were in the upper 20’s at the starting line the morning of the race. Part way through the race it warmed up to the upper 30’s which caused some of the snow to melt and made for very muddy conditions. Even though the conditions were much more difficult this year, I was (by God’s grace) able to knock 12 minutes off my time in a year that most racers added 10 minutes. I’m not saying this to brag but to make the point that proper physical training and preparation can help a person perform. My training for this year involved over 800 miles of mountain bike trails, many crashes and some nutrition changes. I did well but all the Glory Goes To God. What’s also encouraging is that even though I moved up 460 places there was a guy in the 70 year old and older class who beat me by 1 minute. Hopefully I’ll be able to beat his time when I’m 70 :-).

In a similar way, spiritual training helps a person prepare for their eternal home. I Corinthians 9:24-25 says “ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” In the Iceman I didn't win any prize except for a very fun experience. How much greater it will be when we get to heaven, after a life of spiritual training, and see the scene described in Revelations 4:9-11 "Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” God’s words always puts our purpose in the proper perspective. Let's never quit our spiritual training until we reach our final destination in God.

Here’s a video of me from the race and some audio from a woman who I think is the best and most supportive wife in the world.

Drop Your Nets

2010-10-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

If Jesus walked up to you today and said “Follow me” would you? Would you drop your nets like Peter and Andrew and follow the creator of the universe or would you cling to the created things? The nets symbolize the things of this world that trap us, things that hold our daily attention. How about money, fame, possessions or even people? How about a sin that your comfortable doing and don’t want to give up?

Mark 1:16-20 says:
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen."Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”

James and John not only left their career, they left their Dad and family business as well.

Would I give up the temporary things to follow the Eternal One? Logically, this world is temporary and I should have no problem following what is eternal. We even sing songs in church with lines that say, “This world has nothing for me.” Does my life demonstrate that as a true statement or do I sing lies? Ponder these thoughts this month and leave me a comment as to what God reveals to you.

The Wind

2010-09-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

Being led by the Spirit of God can mean that what we say and where we go doesn’t always make sense to others around us or even ourselves. Being obedient to God might cause us to be in odd places or situations. One caveat I should mention is that if you think God’s asking you to do something that goes against His word in the Bible then it’s not God’s Spirit asking you to do it. Obeying God, however, may seem strange at the time or take us out of our comfort zone. It might even require a thing called faith. But, after being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s calling and looking back, what was asked of us usually makes complete sense and it is obvious that God’s hand was in the whole thing.

In John 3:8 The Bible says “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Let’s not fear being different and let’s exercise faith this month. Listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to interrupt our busy daily agenda. Post a comment of the great things God did when you where open to His requests this month.

Being Different Part II

2010-08-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the workout I promised that I'd post from last month's article

Let me know what you think.

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
Let this be a true statement for our daily lives.

Being Different

2010-07-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Why is it that people in general strive to make everyone average? I recently got a pair of Vibram FiveFinger shoes and was talking about them with some friends. One friend expressed their disgust by implying that they wouldn’t want to be around me if I was wear the FiveFingers. Really? Are the shoes more important than the person? Why would looking different create such a response? People of all different ages like to fit in. We like to feel a sense of belonging. We dress similar, do our hair similar and live in similar houses. We have home owners associations to keep everyone similar. Some even undergo plastic surgery to fit in. Standing out from the crowd is generally frowned upon. God tells us to be who He created us to be, with our unique appearance and talents. Jesus stood out even though it’s said of Him in Isaiah 53:2 “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” He didn’t invest in His outward appearance. However, He spoke different and acted different. He stood out like a light in the darkness and like a city on a hill. We are called to do the same. Matthew 5:14-15 says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

When I was growing up I stood out in school because I didn’t swear. People actually felt uncomfortable around me because I talked with non-vulgar words. One day I actually was offered money if I’d say a swear word. They wanted to be able to justify they’re cursing by getting me to participate. Let’s stand out for being followers of God. Don’t be concerned with what others think. If it’s not a sin, just be yourself and bring honor to God’s reputation by being who He created you to be.

Next month I'll post a workout that incorporates my new shoes….

Sirens

2010-06-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

When you hear sirens during your day do you stop and pray for the people in need? If you’re driving a car you’ll pull over and let the ambulance go by. If you’re in the ambulance you’re most likely thankful for the help of the EMTs. These events interrupt our busy agenda and with justification. What about situations in life when God is sounding sirens to get your attention? How do we react? Can we even hear God’s calling? Are we to busy with our own agenda to do what God wants us to do? Most of the time it seems like God whispers but sometimes He raises his voice like an ambulance siren. Let’s practice listening to God for the next 30 days no matter how many decibels He uses.

Ps. 26:2 Test me, O Lord, and try me. Examine my heart and my mind. Pray this verse as a prayer this month and then listen. See what God does with your faith and openness. Share your experience with others in the comments below.

The Square

2010-05-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

It’s good to test yourself every once in a while. In school, tests always forced me to study. If I wasn’t going to be tested, I wouldn’t study. In life God tests us by asking us to do something that we can’t accomplish. When we realize we’re helpless to complete the task, that’s when we realize we need to depend on God and that with Him we can do whatever He asks. I know someone who hates public speaking but felt that God asked her to give a talk to a Mom’s group. She was stressed for weeks leading up to the talk. She was praying about it, reading Bible verses as encouragement and receiving support from loved ones and friends. This was a test and she was faithful. The day came and she couldn’t eat until the speech was over. There were about 70 people in the room and she got up there and talked about what God told her to say and touched many ladies lives. A+. Here’s a sobering verse: 1 Chronicles 29:17 “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”

And here’s some verses that when you think about it, take great faith and trust to pray. Psalm 26:2 “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;” Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

Another way God tests us is financially. All that we have is from God. Christians would agree with that statement. Even every breath we breathe is given from God. However, when God commands in His word that we give Him back a tenth (tithe) of our wages, many Christians fail the test and don’t obey. This is just one way that we get stretched by God. Malachi 3:10 says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” If you’re currently failing the test with your finances, take a leap of faith and give God what already belongs to Him. Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.”

Here’s a workout, I call The Square, that you can do with a friend to test each other. This is how it works. You do a round and then hand off the weights to your friend to do a round. Continue like this for 7 rounds. Physical and Spiritual tests can be very difficult at the time but, the benefits are worth it. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”

Wisdom from Dad

2010-04-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

Life is a balance of work (serving God) , rest (serving God) and nourishment (serving God). There was a time when I was to busy. I was in college, working 2 jobs, helping lead a puppet ministry and helping lead the junior high youth group. All the things I was doing were “good” things but, I was out of balance. God used my Dad to repeatedly tell me to cut some things out. He’d say I was burning the candle at both ends and it wasn’t good. I ignored the warnings since I thought I was “serving God” with the ministries at church and honoring my parents by going to college and helping with some of the cost. I was crushed when I got very sick and had to lie on the couch for an entire day. When my Dad came home from work that night he walked right up to the couch were I was laying, hit me on the shoulder and said these words that I still remember to this day,
“You punish your body; your body will punish you.” I punished my body by depriving it rest and it forced me to rest. Others have been out of balance in the area of nourishment and exercise and reaped the health problems that accompany such behavior. A loved one recently changed their habits by eating healthier and exercising and praise God within less than a year they were cured of diabetes. No more finger pricks and medication!
The Bible sums up our purpose in the following verses.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” 5:19 “Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.”

God designed us to work. After all even in the paradise of the garden of Eden Adam had to work. Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

God designed us to rest and led by example. Genesis 2:2 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

God made food for us. We should stick to the simple foods He created that our bodies need instead of consuming the man made stuff that has little benefit to the body.

None of us are perfect and we all get out of balance sometimes. Let’s pay attention to the warning signs when things go off kilter and make the necessary and sometimes hard corrections to get back in balance with God’s plan for our lives.

In regard to balance here’s a video from 2001 (sorry about the tracking)….

Max Heart Rate Special

2010-03-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

This month I’m giving away a free workout. Give it a try and let me know what you think. And always remember physical exercise is good but we need to exercise what’s important to God even more. In the words of Jeremiah 9:23-24 “This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.” So, let’s not just exercise our bodies but let’s also exercise Kindness, Justice and Righteousness for the glory of God!

Perception

2010-02-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how “perception” of time does not reflect reality? Take for example a 3 hour trip to an amusement park. You get in the car early in the morning and are excited about the prospects of the up coming day. The car is filled with discussions of which roller coasters you’re planning on riding and other favorites of the park. If you’ve been there before, there are even discussions of fun memories of previous years. However, after the day is done and you start the 3 hour trip back home, time seems to drag and it feels like it’s going to take forever before you can crawl into your bed. In reality 3 hours is 3 hours but it doesn’t “feel” like the same amount of time. In a similar way, after 3 years of unhealthy eating and lack of consistent exercise, a person might decide to want to get healthy again. If so, a 3 year trip back to health would seem impossible. In fact the 3 years would seem like eternity. But, in reality 3 years would be the logical and proper mindset to have. Thankfully the body usually can recover with healthy eating like in the Precision Nutrition program and intense exercise as seen on this blog, RossTraining and Art of Strength faster than the time it takes to get unhealthy. The apostle Paul understood that the concept of time on earth didn’t matter when compared to a person’s soul spending eternity in heaven or hell. In Acts 26:28-29 the Bible says: Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Paul knew that the length of time didn’t matter compared to the destination of a soul. Moses also understood the concept of time as stated in Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Whether you’re on a road trip, a trip to a healthier body or like all people a trip to your eternal destination I pray that you’ve confessed your sin and accepted Jesus as your savior. Here’s an exercise called the “Farmer’s Walk” that can be performed with dumbbells, suitcases or like me with hay hooks and metal plates. Do this for distance and I’ll guarantee that the return trip will “feel” like it takes more time.

Roadblocks

2010-01-16T17:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life we come across Roadblocks which can come in many different forms. For me, I do a lot of exercises that involve the shoulder. And because of this sometimes I’ll be woken up in the middle of the night with numbness and tingling in my shoulders. Now, most people would use this as an excuse to stop working out and figuratively sit in front of that Roadblock sign perhaps for the rest of their life. Discomfort would be the excuse they needed to live a less healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, when a Roadblock rears its head in regard to my health goals I start looking for something to add (not remove) from my training regimen. So I did some researching and found some very old exercises that use Indian Clubs to strengthen and increase the range of motion of the shoulder. Thankfully my brother is a very skillful woodworker and he was kind enough to make me some custom Indian Clubs that are easily modifiable in regard to weight. In the video below I demonstrate the daily routine I’ve been using since Christmas with the Indian Clubs at 1.5lbs.

Now I can sleep on my stomach with one arm under the pillow for an entire night without any discomfort. In the same way as we try and walk with Jesus through this life we will encounter Roadblocks. Psalm 119:101 says “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.” When we come across spiritual Roadblock don’t become stagnant. Ask God to show you what you need to change in order to advance in a righteous path with Him.

What’s wrong with this picture?

2010-01-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

Just by looking at this apple you’d probably say nothing’s wrong. It just looks like a normal apple that’s been sitting out for about 10 minutes.
Unfortunately this piece of fruit has been sitting out for about 17 hours. Since real food is supposed to rot, the question needs to be asked “what’s been injected into this thing and should I put it in my body?” Even though apples should rot when left out, our bodies shouldn’t rot until we die. However, I’m sure we all know of people who sacrifice their health in the form of heart attacks, ulcers, sleep deprivation, etc. in the pursuit of amassing material possessions. Some have even called this pursuit the American dream. Is it worth it? Let’s see what God says in Proverbs 14:30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” With the New Year upon us let’s make resolutions that will produce a heart at peace with our Creator and not waste time with envy and “keeping up with the Jones’".

Present Sufferings Don’t Compare

2009-11-29T18:03:00.000-08:00

Recently I competed in the Iceman. It’s a 29 mile mountain bike race from Kalkaska to Traverse City in Michigan. It was my first race and it is touted as the longest one day point to point mountain bike race in the nation. You can check out the details at http://www.iceman.com/. I pedaled for approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes non stop through hills, trees, sand, etc… I lost about 5 to 6 pounds of body weight while drinking 64oz of fluids. I placed 38th out of 93 in my wave. During the last couple miles I was mentally exhausted and was telling myself it was good to do once but I’d never do it again. About 2 hours after the finish I started to reflect back on some of the fun portions of the race. The next day I came up with a list of things I could’ve done better and thought I’d like to do it again next week to try and better my time. It amazed me how quickly I forgot about the pain and suffering that I experienced and how much satisfaction was felt by finishing the race.

Being a follower of Jesus has some parallels to the Iceman. Jesus said that if we follow Him we will suffer. This is not our home and we won’t be comfortable or at total peace until we are with Him in heaven. Paul says in Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Please understand that life is hard and suffering prevails for now. But, there is a day coming when those who have confessed their sin and turned to Jesus for salvation will no longer suffer but praise God in heaven where no sin exists and no tears are shed. Also, please understand that we only have one life to live. Life isn’t like the Iceman where you can have a second chance next time around and try and better your time. We are only given one life to live. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” I pray that when you face the judgment your sins will be found paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Take some time

2009-11-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Watch this and let God speak to you.

When sin looks more enjoyable than God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszVTWUGQQM

Sometimes life feels like this…

2009-10-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

You’re being dragged along by your own agenda and the busyness of the life your living. Most if not all of our busyness is self-inflicted. We schedule sports leagues for ourselves and our children, music lessons, parties, etc… Driving from one thing to the next constantly on the go and being stressed out the whole time and not really enjoying life, just being busy. No time for setting down as a family to eat a meal. There’s barely time to swing by a drive thru window. Sometimes I get to work on Monday and am asked “How was your weekend?” And I can’t remember all that I did. All that comes to mind is that it was busy. Life doesn’t have to be that way. A prolonged life of busyness can lead to many health problems: ulcers, insomnia, heart conditions, increased blood pressure, decreased immune system, infertility, digestive problems and depression just to name a few.

So, who do you turn to put things in perspective? The right answer is the one who created us. God. He made us so He knows what we need. And what does He say?

Ps. 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God”
Ex. 20:9-10 “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work”

We need to work but not mindlessly. Work on things that will matter in 5 years. If it won’t matter in 5 years maybe we shouldn’t be wasting time on it. Remember it’s okay to rest. In fact it’s not a suggestion. God commands it. Let go of the handle once and a while and float and rest. This applies to all aspects of life: physically, mental, spiritual. Many kids don’t know how to rest because they’ve never seen it modeled. Sit them in a park without an iPod, XBOX 360, Internet or cell phone and it’ll drive them crazy. Let’s lead from the front and show our children and the coming generations how to work hard, eat right and REST.

Still No Shortcuts

2009-10-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

I was highly disappointed the other day when I received a magazine in the mail from a shop I buy my whey from loaded with a ton of marketing lies lightly dusted with fragments of truth. I read these statements:

“Warning: Massive muscle gains ahead. 21 Supplements for industrial–strength results”
“Just one pill will cause Extreme fat loss and mind alteration.”
“The most potent concentrated Pre-Workout formula ever.“

Just to quote a few. The problem is that deep down inside there is a part of me that wants to believe statements like this are true. These marketing people are no different than the old time tonic and elixir salesmen of days gone by. They make absurd claims. Sell their products. And then when their name gets a bad reputation and sales drop off they just change the label and tweak the ingredients in order to sell it to the next guy. The idea of paying some money, taking a potion and receiving results sounds great. But, don’t be deceived. There are no short cuts for hard physical work, rest and dietary discipline.

Job 15:31 Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.

Save your money and avoid nasty side effects by working out, eating right and getting proper sleep. Don't waste time looking for short cuts when you could be pursuing your goals.

Challenge Yourself

2009-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend of mine came up with a ridiculous deck of cards (DOC) workout. [A deck of cards workout is a workout in which you pick 4 exercises, one for each suit. The required reps to perform are dictated by the value of the card that’s flipped over. 2’s are 2 reps, 10 and face cards are 10 reps, Aces are 11 reps. You shuffle the cards. Flip them over one at a time and then do the corresponding work. By the end you will have performed 95 reps of each exercise. ]. We were discussing what would be 4 very difficult exercises to use. Jim came up with the following:

DOC by Jim

Ab wheel – full roll out from knees
Burpees – (see http://thatguykp.blogspot.com/2009/08/inspiration.html)
Thruster – with 2 25lbs dumbbells (see http://www.ehow.com/video_2260367_do-thrusters-strength-training-exercise.html)
ManMakers - with 2 25lbs dumbbells
(see http://www.gymjones.com/schedule.php?date=20051123)

This challenge can be a good thing. It exercises more than just your body. It exercises your mind and will. One caveat I’ll mention is to “be wise” (see http://thatguykp.blogspot.com/2009/08/smart-vs-wise.html) and don’t set yourself up for injury. That being said, I had to give it a try. I completed it. It took 66 minutes. Sweat was everywhere on the floor and even on the walls. I had to chalk my hands 5 times to keep them from slipping on the mat during the burpees. But, I completed the challenge. How are you challenging yourself physically, mentally and spiritually? Control what you eat? Control your wandering thoughts? Read the Bible and pray daily? Take on a new challenge today and don’t be afraid of failure. If failure comes, redefine your challenge and try again.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Are you asking the wrong question?

2009-09-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Questions asked determine answers given. My father-in-law was at a gas station in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and asked the attendant “Where can I get pasties (a tasty meal consisting of beef, potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, onions in a pastry-like pod)? The attendant told him of a place near by. My father-in-law thought for a second and then rephrased his question. “Where do you get your pasties?” The attendant responded with a place slightly farther away that made the best tasting pasties in the area.

Similarly, when it comes to our health we need to be asking the right questions. When deciding what to consume most people ask: “Is this bad for me?” Most people would say diet pop has zero effect therefore they can enjoy a sweet tasting treat without incurring a negative effect to the body. That mindset leads many people to reduced wellness and wasted dollars.

The right question to ask would be: “Is this good for me?” Asking this question takes you down the thought process of; can my body use the components of this food or beverage to better itself? For example the phosphoric acid in diet pop binds with magnesium and calcium in the digestive tract to form salts that aren’t absorbed. This robs the body of the building blocks of magnesium and calcium that it needs to build strong healthy bones. Did I hear someone say hip replacement?

In regard to fitness if you ask “Is watching 2 hours of TV a night bad for me?” You’d probably answer, “No”. If you ask “Is watching 2 hours of TV a night good for me?” you’d probably also answer, “No”. So, replace some of that time with this workout called “Fat Loss” from David Whitley at www.irontamerblog.com and do something that’s beneficial to your body.

Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Fat Loss
Renegade Rows (5 Left, 5 Right) with 40lbs dumbbells
Double Kettlebell Front Squats (5 reps) with 35lbs kettlebells
Try and get as many rounds as you can in 10 minutes
Rest 2 minutes

Double Kettlebell Clean and Press (5 reps) with 35lbs kettlebells
10 Burpees
Try and get as many rounds as you can in 10 minutes
Rest 2 minutes

Swings with 53lbs kettlebell 30 seconds work 15 seconds rest for 12 rounds

Smart Vs. Wise

2009-08-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

For many years I’ve enjoyed wakeboarding and learning new tricks. However, there was this one trick I nicknamed the “Nemesis“. That trick was the heelside wake to wake 180. Time after time I’d attempt this trick and time after time I’d fail. I kept trying to learn from my mistakes. I tried various handle placements, various take off stances and various landing techniques. However, all failed and I’d repeatedly end up floating in the lake waiting for the boat to circle around and get me. Finally one day I read a tip in a wakeboarding magazine. It was simple and accurate. The tip stated that a person attempting that trick needs to look to the shore during the landing . I had always looked at the boat or down at the water. Once I looked where I was going instead looking everywhere else, I started consistently landing the trick. You see a “smart” person learns from their mistakes but, a “wise” person learns from others mistakes. Someone else figured out how to land the trick and I benefited from their experience. Being “wise” helps you avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering in life. The best place to go to increase wisdom is the Bible. We can learn from God, our Creator, when making daily life choices by obeying Him and thus avoiding self-inflicted suffering. Psalm 119:98 “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.” Proverbs 1:5 “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Let’s seek out the advice of those who are succeeding in areas where we are failing (marriage, job, finances, parenting, etc) and increase wisdom. And most importantly seek out wisdom from God.

Parallels to the Christian Experience

2009-08-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which a creature physically develops after birth, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the creature's form or structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some creatures undergo metamorphosis, which is usually (but not always) accompanied by a change of habitat or behavior. To a follower of Jesus this should sound familiar. Insects which undergo this transformation pass through a larval stage, then enter an inactive state called pupa, or chrysalis, and finally emerge as adults. While inside the pupa, the insect will excrete digestive juices, to destroy much of the larva's body, leaving a few cells intact. The remaining cells will begin the growth of the adult, using the nutrients from the broken down larva. Similarly 1 Cor. 15:50-52 says “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” The journey we’re on as followers of Jesus will include suffering at times, like the cell death talked about above, but in the end the resultant glory will be worth it all. On a smaller scale we’ve all seen the typical “Before and After” pictures of remarkable changes in body and health composition of people losing large amounts of weight and getting in shape. Change can be uncomfortable and painful but at the same time change can be a necessity and beautiful. Here’s a workout that will help morph your body.

Inspiration

2009-08-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

A 71-year-old Japanese man has become the world's oldest person to climb Mount Everest. His age made him the oldest person to have climbed the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) peak. The list of climbers who have conquered Everest include a blind person, a man with an artificial leg and the youngest, a 16-year-old boy. We all know there’s great risk and therefore great preparation involved in attempting a feat like that. Approximately 10% of the people who attempt the climb die. I’m not encouraging you to climb Mt. Everest, although that’s a great goal to work towards. However I am encouraging you to work your body at least 3 times a week. Try this workout. It requires nothing but you and floor space. Do 30 burpees demonstrated below. A burpee is basically a squat thrust with a pushup at the bottom and a jump at the top. Rest as much as needed. If you have to break it up into 30 sets of 1 burpee that’s fine. Just get 30 in. The future goal is to get in 30 consecutive burpees. The extended future goal is a ladder called Jason’s Burpees (20, 19, 18 … 1) in under 25 minutes.

Remember 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Solar Panel

2009-08-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

In a past post l talked about being MEEK. And said, "Let's be MEEK as Believers, Husbands, Dads, Friends.." The order (Believers, Husbands, Dads, Friends) was intentional. GOD has to have first place in our lives and we have to keep focused on Him. It's like we are a Solar Panel. When our gaze is directed at God we are at full power. Look away and we quickly lose the ability to perform anything meaningful. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”. God is the source of our power and in order to have strength and wisdom to be Husbands, Dads and Friends we must give Him first place.

To demonstrate focus here’s a strict military press with more than half my body weight. With proper practice, form and focus you can accomplish great things.

Fire Hose

2009-07-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

You get to drink from the Fire Hose!

A wise man recently told me, “We do what we value.” It really doesn’t matter what we “Say” we value because our actions prove what is really important to us. James 2:18
“But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do”. For example, one might say their wife is important to them but then spend numerous hours blogging, surfing the web, playing video games or repeated trips to the golf course. [ Caveat: None of these things are bad in moderation. But, you know when they’re causing problems if your wife “feels” you value them more than her. ] Proverbs 27:19 “As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.” Remember it doesn't matter what you "say you value" what you invest your time and energy into "shows others watching you what is truly important to you". God First, Wife Second, Kids Third and so on..... One of the things I value is physical well being. I work exercise into each week because it helps me be better equipped to serve God for the long term. God is in control and He can take me out of this world any time He pleases. I can’t lengthen the time God has for me on this earth but, I can shorten it. Therefore, I shouldn’t take this body and knowingly shorten it’s lifespan by mistreating it with artery clogging, gut destroying foods, ulcer causing worry, sleep depriving side effects or laziness. This week I’d like to show you how to get an awesome full body work out without costing you a dime or much time. The equipment is free. In the time it’d take most people to drive to their local gym and back, I will have already worked out, showered and be sitting on my patio drinking a protein shake. And I’ll also say that this work out will burn more calories in 10 minutes than your standard gym hamster running for an hour on a mindless treadmill listening to an iPod. Here’s a video:

You can get a failed fire hose for free from your local fire station. Just stop by or give them a call and ask if you can have one that they’re throwing away. I cut off the couplings of a 50 foot 2 ½ inch diameter hose, rolled and zip tied 8 inches of the ends and then wrapped them in gorilla tape to make handles.

Try 10, 30 second rounds with 30 seconds rest between rounds to start.

Give it a try. Let me know what you think.

The Pit of Despair

2009-07-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a letter I came across one day that is loaded with life applications:

These thoughts came to me as I was praying for you yesterday. You've proven that you have the resolve to stick to your budget and suceed in the family finances. By this I mean, you had the resolve to do what very few people in the world have been able to do. You had the resolve to lose a huge amount of weight (80-ish pounds) and keep it off. Most people wallow in self pity when they're over weight and instead of doing something about it they lean on excuses like, "it's a gland problem" or "I have a slow metabolism". But not you, you spat in the face of excuses and mustered the resolve to control what your hand put in your mouth. Not only did you keep off the weight but you were able to get muscular definition in your arms and legs. ***Applause Here*** You also possess the resolve to get up at the butt crack of dawn each morning and do devotions, spending time in God's word and in prayer while most people's alarm hasn't even given them a chance to hit the snooze button. Given the two previously mentioned seemingly insurmountable tasks, you've proven that you possess the resolve to meet and exceed whatever financial goal you and your spouse decide to strive for. Let today be the day that the step of resolve that you took when you decided to lose weight and when you decided to do morning time with God be applied to you financial goals.

The letter above in some way or another applies to us all. Some things we're good at and some things we're bad at. The problem is that many people fail instead of succeed in some areas because they trade what they need most for what they want at the moment. Let's not stay in the "Pit of Despair" letting something suck years of our lives away.

We control what our hands put in our mouths. If you’re like I was you’re thinking of the excuse that eating healthy is expensive. That’s dead wrong. If you take the money that you’d normally spend on detrimental calories like: cookies, dough nuts, bagels, chips, pop, fried whatever, etc. and redirect it to the beneficial stuff God made for us like: fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and drink only water you’ll actually save money. God made our bodies to repair themselves, for the most part, if we give them what He made. I refer to these quotes: “If you can't grow it or kill it, don't eat it.” and “Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.”

We also control how we spend our time. There are many activities in life that are like detrimental calories: TV, video games, hours on the internet, etc. For most people it really wouldn’t be that hard to squeeze in 20 minutes of intense exercise 3 times a week. That’s only 1 hour. Our bodies were designed for physical labor. Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. It’s crazy how the body when subjected to periods of work followed by rest actually gets stronger. “ Or to coin the old phrase if you don’t use it you lose it. Now keep in mind that getting stronger is gradual. A big mistake people make is they’re too impatient and do too much too soon and get injured. You need to know your body and how far you can safely push it. Pain is good. Injury is bad. Practice self control: Hebrews 12:11–13 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen you feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Remember it’s not vain to be in shape: Proverbs 24:5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength.

Don’t try and eat healthy and/or exercise like John Wayne. Get an accountability partner. Someone you know and trust and ask them to hold you accountable weekly to how your progress is coming. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. It’s a lot harder to give into temptation when you know you’ll have to confess it to someone else. As you go on this journey don’t step on a scale. Let the fit of your pants be the way you measure progress.

Rest is another thing that’s frequently overlooked. In our society days seem to be so busy. On the other hand, the body repairs itself during sleep and periods of rest. The time your central nervous system (CNS) repairs itself is during sleep and it takes longer to repair your CNS after exercise than it does to repair muscles. So, it’s a necessity to sit and relax for a while. People who think they don’t have time to relax are the very people who have the greatest need to rest. If you feel overly stressed and don’t know what to cut out of your day, use the 5 year rule and ask yourself if the stuff that’s occupying your mind and day will matter in 5 years. If the answer is no, then replace some of that time with rest.

We need to “lead from the front”. That’s what Paul did: Philippians 1:14 – Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been more encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. As Christians we are called to honor God with our heart, mind, soul and strength. When we’re obedient to that calling, others like our kids, friends, family and co-workers are more apt to be encouraged that change for the good can happen and actually follow our example as we follow Christ. Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Remember: “Anyone can tell you what they want. Few will tell you what they will sacrifice to get it.” So escape from the Pit Of Despair and reap the benefits of a healthier life.

MEEK

2009-06-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Men,
The other day I was informed of the meaning of the word MEEK. Jesus is described as MEEK. We call ourselves Christians which means Christ-like. Therefore, we also need to be MEEK. MEEK is a term used to describe a horse that's been broken. Ultimate power, under control.

MEEK could also be used to describe a nuclear power plant. The best example of ultimate power under control is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let's be MEEK men both spiritually and physically. Let's be MEEK as Believers, Husbands, Dads, Friends... And get beastly strong.

Let's be MEEK,
KP