January Newsletter
Greetings to all and a Happy New Year. We
pray that it will be a fruitful
and blessed
one for you all. This month’s
newsletter
is inspired by the passing of
a fellow Christian
warrior - Reggie White. We know
that he is
with the Lord and we pray for
his family.
Also for by those who perished
in the tsunami.
Like so many things in life, you just don’t
know what’s around the corner.
I am reminded
of an article I read in an old
weight lifting
magazine. This guy was completing
a dead
lift during competition when
all of the sudden,
his bicep tore from the bone
and rolled up
into his upper arm by his shoulder!
Can you
say OUCH?! The picture said it
all. The weight
falling to the floor, the intense
grimace
of pain on his face, and the
awkward look
of a fully extended arm but the
bicep looking
as if it was in the flexed position.
End
of career. Then there was Franco
Columbu,
on national TV with a refrigerator
on his
back had his lower leg snap under
the weight.
OUCH and double ouch! It can
all happen so
quickly.
Too much weight on the bar, body not in proper
alignment during a lift, your
lower back
sways during a set of heavy squats.
It’s
all over, maybe for a little
while and maybe
for good. That is why we need
to be careful
and pay attention when we are
tossing around
the iron. It is important as
well, for us
to look out for the younger,
more vulnerable
lifters around us on the gym
floor. Poor
form is the enemy of the young
lion who gets
caught up in ego lifting and
suddenly, with
way too much weight on the bar
and a friend
"helping" him with
a weak spot,
pop goes a rotator cuff or worse!
Yes, they
can be obnoxious, irritating
and cocky, but
hey, I think we all may have
been there at
one time or another. Be a mentor,
give advice
on form, diet, you name it. Any
knowledge
that you have acquired over the
years, impart
it upon them with a glad and
joyful heart.
Be an example of the smart lifter
for them
so that they too can enjoy a
long life of
lifting as well. Don’t pass up
the opportunity,
it may be life-altering for that
person in
the gym…literally!
Like life in the gym, living life serving
the Lord can be over in the blink
of an eye
as well. Look at our brother
Reggie White
as an example. Here and in seemingly
good
health yesterday, gone from our
midst and
sitting with the Lord today.
He touched so
many lives while on this earth.
I bet it
can be said that he didn’t pass
up many opportunities
to speak about Jesus. I would
love to know
how many came to the Lord because
of his
witness. I can also bet that
he will be sorely
missed in his community. Fellow
Christian
Dan Boomhower said it well in
reference to
these words spoken about Reggie:
"a
gentle giant, who professed a
passionate Christian faith, and lovingly
shared his hope with all he came
in contact
with" when he said, "I
hope and
pray with all my heart that when
the Lord
takes me home, the same things
would be said
of me!" Don’t we all wish
that? I know
I do! I pray that we all can
touch lives
and bring them to the Lord. As Christian warriors, we cannot let those
opportunities to minister pass
us by. It
is our duty. ("Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All
authority in heaven and on earth
has been
given to me. Therefore go and
make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them
in the name
of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything
I have commanded you. And surely
I am with
you always, to the very end of
the age."
Matthew 28:18-20).Today could be someone’s last day on this
earth and YOU may be the one
to lead them
to the Lord! Don’t miss the chance.
It is
your duty, the Great Commission
as ordered
by Jesus Himself. ("Then he said to his Then he said to
his disciples, "The harvest
is plentiful
but the workers are few. Ask
the Lord of
the harvest, therefore, to send
out workers
into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:37-38). There is also Romans 1:14-16 "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,
both to the wise and the foolish.
That is
why I am so eager to preach the
gospel also
to you who are at Rome. I am
not ashamed
of the gospel, because it is
the power of
God for the salvation of everyone
who believes:
first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile." So let’s get out there and win some souls!
And now our prayer. Dear Lord please Give
us the courage and the words
that we need
to minister to those who so truly
need you.
Help us bring in the lost sheep.
Amen.
Until next time all! Go with God and Lift
that iron!
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