weak

I've broken the long hiatus of physical inactivity and started working out again. It's been nearly three months since I've felt the burn. And man, it took me almost three times longer to complete a certain workout than it did a few months back. Although others may not have noticed, I almost felt embarrassed by how much weaker I had become. Reason: lack of discipline and laziness.

A mantra I try to go by is: "No excuses". Watch this

Kind of a funny one... "no excuses". Who am I kidding? I will, at times, fail and feel like giving up. So it's not so much of a "I have to be perfect and expect others to be perfect" mentality (although that's pretty much what I've been going off of...) but understanding that there's nobody else to blame but myself if I am not growing. If there is a training regiment and I don't faithfully follow it, even when nobody is looking, I simply won't grow stronger. No matter how much I talk about fitness and know about it and pretend to be fit, if I'm not working out daily, I won't grow. Funny how some people (who just don't know better) assume I'm a really fit guy. Sometimes my reputation precedes me but it's not always based on truth, on who I am.

Today was a good reminder of who I really am. I'm weak. I can fool people sometimes, and sometimes even fool myself, but times like today are God's gift to me. He's saying: "Be strong and courageous, not because you yourself are so strong and bold but because I am strong. I've already won the fight. It's a slow thing - growth - but in the end, you'll be way stronger if you'll just endure. Just trust me and keep going."

I have roughly 3 months to hit the gym hard. (a goal I've set for myself).
That's the beauty of it. The hard work really does pay off. How do you know if someone is fit? Physical results. It's pretty obvious. But don't expect the results to be quick. There are no short-cuts! How do you know if someone is living in the will of God?

Matthew 7:13-23 (The Message translation)
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'"