| Dennis Bates |
|
Back to Archive List |
|
  |
Dennis Bates Dennis L. Bates: Ex-steroid dealer, gym owner, competitive bodybuilder and bodybuilding contest promoter. Director of Muscle Missions www.musclemissions.org |
| 1) What's your favorite Scripture? I love the entire Authorized King James version of the Bible. God's word says: ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) 2) Who were your childhood heroes? The Six Million Dollar Man...Col. Steve Austin played by Lee Majors. I was impressed by his superhuman strength and his bionic vision. I remember being so infatuated by him as a young kid. I remember my dad taking me to the barber for a haircut. I brought along an autographed picture of Col. Steve Austin and requested that my barber cut my hair like the bionic man's. I can't remember how I ended up with an autographed photo, I think I got it through the Six-Million Dollar Man fan club. The haircut was not at all as I had anticipated. I was disappointed. I think I was expecting to look just like The Six-Million Dollar Man in that photo. 3) If you could meet anyone from the Bible, who would it be and why? You can't say Jesus, we all want to and we prayerfully will one day! I have met Jesus and still meet with him daily. When I finished writing and editing chapters 1 - 10 of "Anabolic Outlaw" he spoke to me and said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." It was 4 A.M. on February 7, 1999. 4) What is a typical day in your life like? Fulfilling God's calling in my life which is MUSCLE MISSIONS. The official web site address is www.musclemissions.org 5) What Biblical figure do you most identify with and why? Just a few years ago I would have said Jonah. God gave Jonah a mission to do and he ran away from God. I too, ran from the mission God had in store for me (see: www.musclemissions.org ) Jonah was swallowed by a whale for his disobedience. I too, was caught up in the cares of this life instead of fulfilling my calling. Jonah cried out to God from inside the belly of the whale and was set free to go on with the mission God had called him to do. I too, cried out to God and he delivered me from the bondage that was keeping me from fulfilling God's mission. 6) What trait do you like most about yourself? I do not think about things like that. I will not even allow myself to spend much time in the mirror. There was a time in my life that you could not keep me away from the mirror or from glancing at my own reflection in a store window. When I sold the first gym that I owned, I was devastated. For months I went through a period of depression and feeling out of sorts. Later, it had dawned on me that I spent a large portion of my time in front of those mirrors inside my gym gazing at my reflection. 7) What trait do you least like about yourself? I'll let God decide. 8) How have you been able to represent God in your sport? I do not hold any sports in high regard. If you mean bodybuilding, it is not a sport, it is a false religion. We distribute literature at the Arnold Classic each year exposing it as such. In the July 1980 issue of Muscle & Fitness, Tom Platz said, "I am turning people on to my religion. I'm a bodybuilding priest in a sense." You can read about this in the online version of "Anabolic Outlaw" at our ministry web site: www.musclemissions.org 9) If you could change one thing in your sport, what would it be? Again, if you are referring to the false religion of bodybuilding, the goal of www.musclemissions.org can be summed up in one verse: To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. - Acts 26:18 10) If you were to die today and go to heaven, what would you like to hear God say? He already said it and I pray that I hear Him say it again. |
|
| Thank you Dennis for sharing with us. If you haven't already, we recommend you read Dennis' book "Anabolic Outlaw." It is Eye opening look into Dennis and his salvation. You can purchase his book at www.musclemissions.org. | |
 |
|