Exercise
I am not a big exerciser. I should walk more. And part of the time I do. It is one of the most frustrating parts of my life. I just am overcommitted enough that giving up an hour a day is really a big deal. I know I should so don’t write me.
I am overweight. Well, maybe a lot overweight. I take a couple of medications to deal with a glandular issue that causes me to keep weight on no matter what I do to begin with. But it does help to exercise.
I walk my dogs. I walk with a blind friend on a long walk every Tuesday. Sometime during the day I walk a mile or so around the office. But I need to do more.
I have concluded that exercise does increase the quality of your life. I am pretty sure, however, that genetics and levels of stress may effect you more. I think stress and worry are far more dangerous than not exercising.
I went through a long phase in my life where I exercised fiendishly. But I was a stressed-out, adrenal-addicted, worry-wart. I had pretty serious asthma. Suffered from a nasty case of depression. And was angry quit a bit of the time too.
About ten years ago I went through a real make over. I started doing a lot of music. I started writing songs and choruses. I took up oil painting. And began practicing my awareness of God’s presence daily. (I did ride my bike more too) And I worked on how I talked to myself seeking to increase trust in God and reduce stress. It worked.
I have had no asthma for ten years now. I am depression free. I feel at peace most of the time. My satisfaction with my relationships is much higher. I just feel a whole lot healthier. And I laugh twice as much.
I know – I know – the exercise factor has to come into line. But I feel I am going to live way longer than some of my in-shape skinny friends who are loaded with stress.
Church Viability
Some of my friends think conventional church is not working. I disagree. There are several reasons why I do.
First you have to cut churches into two categories. There are effective church and ineffective churches as in anything. Just like you have ineffective businesses and effective businesses. We need to study ineffectiveness versus effectiveness not the whole gamut of churches at once.
The issue isn’t form but the quality of application and execution. Just like anything if you put out substandard effort or application you will get ineffective churches. We need to keep studying effective churches and ask what makes them tick.
So don’t be so quick to rule out church as we know it.
I think churches however will have many different environments they operate from. Missional church will keep conventional church vibrant if it is embraced as part of the definition of what a church is.
Prayer
I have concluded it is impossible to pray correctly unless you are empty and needy. I don’t think God responds to full hearts with little need. There is a level desperation that has to be part of all prayer.
The cry of real prayer is I am in complete need. I am needy and broken and undone by how deep my need is.
This may be why third-world prayers seem to get stronger answers to prayer.
