A small rant on racism, Drudge Report, theology

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This was the headline on the Drudge Report this morning. It bothered me quite a bit.

We wouldn’t be asking this question if it were two white men back to back.

These are two brilliant men with two sets of ideas each of which appeal to millions of people.

Both men are articulate, passionate, and smart.

To ask this question is to do to these men what the sports media did to two great coaches who took their teams to the Superbowl (Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith).

When content of character and significance of accomplishment is trumped by the matter of race or sex it is clear that we have not yet achieved God’s view of humanity which happens to be…

All are created in God’s image!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You have to have two sets that suck”

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That’s what Rob (the owner of the gym where I work out) told me.

A couple of weeks ago Rob spent an hour with me teaching me about form, style and the methodology of proper weight lifting.

I took three pages of notes during that hour.

He told me that every exercise should have at least one warm-up set and consist of at least “two sets that really suck.” “Really suck” means they hurt! The body part you are exercising is screaming under the pressure!

Yesterday I worked out my legs. They were screaming! I worked them so hard that they actually failed to perform… they just gave out. They were so fatigued and sore that they couldn’t go anymore. That’s what a “set that sucks” looks like.

Today my legs hurt… BAD!

So why do “two sets that suck”?

Rob says that when you’re done exercising your legs (or any other body part) they leave the gym saying, “Whew! If he’s going to be moving that kind of weight, we’re going to have to grow!” And then they grow.

Gosh! There’s such a parallel here to the growth process required for development of every kind!

Want to grow spiritually? Do you want a specific character trait to develop? Are you interested in maturing? Then guess what?! You’re going to have to do “two sets that suck!”

Growth follows pain. If you aren’t interested in pain, you’re not likely to grow.

Don’t run from the pain in your life. Consider it one of the “two sets that suck” and watch how God uses the pain to develop you as a person.

The biggest growth follows the heaviest lifting!

CAVEAT: there is a difference between healthy and helpful pain and unhealthy and unhelpful pain. Healthy pain is inconvenient and makes you sore, but produces growth. Unhealthy pain breaks you and removes you from the game. Healthy pain is chosen and embraced. Unhealthy pain is often the result of bad form, inadequate preparation for the exercise, or ignoring the signals that the body is sending.

As you view pain as a tool for growth be sure to listen to your emotions, body, and spirit making sure that you are not crossing the line from healthy pain to unhealthy pain. Bill Hybels wrote an article entitled “Reading Your Gauges” that you may find helpful as you figure out where that line is for you. (click here to read the article).

“Your form sucks”

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“Not to be mean… but you’re form sucked on those last few.”

That’s what my buddy, Dave, told me after I finished a set of seated rows (a back exercise).

He was right.

Typically I’m a stickler for good form. I’d rather move less weight with proper form than more weight with sloppy form. Proper form targets the muscle I’m working on and decreases the likelihood of injury.

On that day I was just trying to move more weight than I should have. I got sloppy. He called me on it.

From that point forward my form looked better.

I was better and my back workout more effective because my buddy pointed out my sloppy form. I’m grateful for that.

Reading this morning in Proverbs I ran across this idea from Solomon:

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1 NIV).

I don’t want to be stupid. I don’t want to incur injury because I acted stupid. I want to be strong and healthy. And in order for all of this to happen I’m going to have to have friends in my life who love me enough to occasionally say, “Your form sucks.”

Thanks Dave and thanks to all of my friends who love me enough to correct me along the way! I’m better because “heeded” correction.

How about you? Do you embrace correction or do you move away from it?

Cancer… passion… cause

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Right now I am doing some reading that is well outside of my comfort zone both in terms of content and normal interest. I am reading The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.

This is the story of the doctors, patients, researchers, activists, and warriors who have fought the battle against cancer.

This story is filled with the accounts of skeptics turned believers, victims turned heroes, outcasts turned trailblazers, and “failures” that led to breakthroughs.

Some of the words that come to my mind as I read through this amazing account written by Siddhartha Mukherjee are:

  • Desperation
  • Determination
  • Panic
  • Frustration
  • Fanatical
  • Heroism
  • Visionary
  • Risk
  • Courage
  • Heart
The passion and intensity with which these warriors fought and continue to fight cancer… hunted and continue to hunt the cure for this “emperor of all maladies” is breathtaking.
Many gave their lives for this cause. Nothing was more important. The risk they took in laying their own reputation on the line… the criticism they endured as they broke new ground in the fight against this disease… the dogged determination they displayed as they suffered setback and defeat often resulting in death of patients (many times children) and public humiliation all point to one thing… they were gripped by a cause that called and demanded everything of them.
Because they answered the call and gave everything it required many people are alive today having stared the “emperor of all maladies” in the eye and won.
Do you have a cause that has gripped you like this? Are you called by something so extraordinary that you will take great risk, suffer the pain of humiliation, and press on even when the quest seems impossible?
I pray that we will all find such a cause and give our lives completely to it.

Parents – your words are a tool

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This month I am reading through Proverbs and noting everything it has to say about “listening”, and closely related concepts.

It’s insightful that Solomon consistently reminds his son (as do other wise parents in this book – e.g. Proverbs 31:1-9) to pay attention to his teaching, and then do what he says.

Yesterday I noted something of interest and the theme was repeated today. I journaled about this topic both days and today I thought I’d share the journal entry from this morning.

Proverbs 7:1-5 – “My son keep my words… they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her words.” He then pointed to a young man who was seduced by an adulterous woman and said to his own son, “with persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.”

Words! There is an unrelenting competition of words and ideas… competing for my children’s heads and hearts! I must always be teaching my children well and effectively.

One way to do this is Proverbs 16:21, “…pleasant words promote instruction.”

I must kindly and consistently teach my children about God and life. If I’m not the most persuasive words and influence in their lives, there will be another and that one not so good.”

Parents, our words matter! The content and the consistency of what we say (and do) will save our children a lot of heartache and set them up for success! Of course there is always the matter of free will (i.e. they have the power to choose to ignore what you teach and model), but why not give them every opportunity for success and health?

Your words, what you say and how you say it are unbelievably important!

God help me and us to measure our words and teach with kindness and consistency!