A 2005 Spiritual Workout

“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.

HEB 12:12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Heb. 12:11-13

I want to share with you exerpts from a Magazine article form the Saturday Evening Post, on Jack La Lann: Fit for life.

At 86, Jack La Lanne has dipped, chinned, pushed, pulled, and lifted more often than anyone in recorded history. His present training regimen is tailor made for only superheroes. While many of his contempories are content to sit on the sidelines, La Lanne rises at 5 am every day, heads to the gym, and logs in a vigorous two hour workout.

La Lanne’s rise to prominence and respect gives new meaning to the popular phrase “no pain, no gain”. When he began promoting the virtues of sound nutrition and regular exercise in the 1930’s and the 40’s, people thought of him as a “nut”, he says. Many people made fun of him publicly. But his big break came in television when the “Jack La Lanne show” was started in the 1950’s, and the world started to hear about the importance of fitness.

Listen to this interview:

Q. How’s your health?

A. Wonderful, I work out for two hours everyday.

Q. Do you work out everyday?

A. Seven days a week.

Q. Do you ever miss a workout?

A. Never, even on the road.

Remember that Jack La Lanne is 86 years old as he is giving these answers.... He says, ‘You get out of the bed in the morning tired and with aches and pains, but this body works for me. It’s my slave. I take care of it. Many older people complain that they are too old to exercise or they really like to eat. They have so many excuses. They are thinking about the good old days. Jack said, “The good old days are today.”

When I was 40, people said, “Your over the hill.” If you were a bodybuilder or gymnast, people thought you were muscle-bound and therefore couldn’t swim. So I put handcuffs on and swam from Alcatraz prison to the mainland. It got international attention. Then every two or three years, I would do something more difficult. I swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge underwater towing a 2,000 lb. boat. On one of my birthdays, I did 1,000 chin ups and 1,000 push ups in one hour and 22 minutes. On another, I water skied behind a helicopter for over 70 miles through rough waters. On my 70th birthday, I towed 70 boats with 70 people on board, handcuffed and shackled, a mile and one half. He finished by saying, On my next birthday, I want to swim from Catalina Island to Los Angeles underwater. It’s 26 miles, and it will take me over 20 hours....”

This morning I’m not going to spend my time talking to you about the benefits of physical exercise.... we all understand that truth don’t we? But this morning there are many similarities between physical exercise and spiritual exercise.... how each one will make us stronger, healthier, and give us more peace than if we ignore this discipline.

So this morning I want to share with you a 2005 Spiritual Workout Schedule.... I want to share with you some simple exercises that you can incorporate into your lives that will really make a difference in your spiritual health and happiness.

Do you know that when you work out and get your heart rate up to a certain level and keep it there for at least 12 minutes that your body releases “endorphanes”..... What are Endorphanes? It’s a natural anti-depressant. These endorphanes make you feel at peace, feel good about yourself, they relieve stress. These are released when you exercise, that’s why I feel so good after a work out...... If God thought about that as he created this human body, don’t you know that He wants us to get that same kind of feeling of well being and satisfaction as we exercise Spiritually also?

This morning, If you had to rate your Spiritual Fitness between 1 and 10 where would you be?

A one would be poor health... low on Faith..... a non giver..... in my gifts or resources for the church.... not very committed. Obviously a One needs some exercise right?

A Ten would be Great health..... a strong and growing faith.... a giver... active and using my gifts and resources in the church.... very committed to my church family and more importantly to God.

1........... 2 .......... 3 .......... 4........... 5 ............ 6 .............7.............8............. 9 .......... 10