Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
Another Step
The writer of the story, Joe Wuebben, was given specific instructions to interview the champ when the editor quit. He did not get his story.
Yesterday on our Instagram page, long-time friend and loyal supporter of PrayFit - Roy Gonzalez, Jr - said that he ran across an old 2007 Muscle & Fitness article where I was taking on then Mr. Olympia in a sort of exhibition training session.
It might as well have been yesterday. I drove to Vegas under the impression that the article, “Getting Ready for Mr. O.” was to be a story about how the best bodybuilder in the world trains legs as he prepares for the Mr. Olympia contest, and the magazine’s resident fitness editor was gonna experience it first-hand. However, come to find out days later that the writer of the story, Joe Wuebben, was given specific instructions by our editor-in-chief to interview the champ as soon as this editor quit.
He did not get his story.
In The Dark
Five years later, my eyes had not yet adjusted. After turning out the lights, I stood in pitch blackness. You know the feeling. Though your eyes are wide open, you can't see the end of your nose. So I did what you do. I didn't budge. I reasoned that with a new artificial neck and freshly-fused used spine, the last thing I needed to do was to trip and fall. But Loretta's eyes had already adjusted to the dark. "You're fine, take another step." And there it is. What had to happen for me to move? I needed to have faith that Loretta could see in the dark.
We encourage babies to do it. Patients that surrounded me at rehab needed to hear it. From someone discouraged because they haven't lost a pound, to someone trying to overcome the loss of a loved one, it's the most basic, difficult and necessary action any of us have to do to get through. Take another step.
Well, anyway, yesterday Roy asked me over social media, “What would the 2020 version of Jimmy say to the 2007 version of Jimmy?” My response could not have been more natural. What would I whisper to that Jimmy? Simple. “Don’t get under the bar.”
But I did. At the end of the training session and photo shoot, when pressed for answers, Mr. Olympia said, “He was like a little machine. He would not go away. He was relentless.”
For years, I took so much life out of my body. Sure, I had undetected degeneration, and it wasn’t that particular training session that caused my infirmities, but even after all these years, look at how resilient my body is! God filled my heart and nerve and sinew with such material. I’m a walking miracle. And I want to serve. I want to play. I want to hike. I want to garden. I want to travel the world to help those in need. I can still do so much and more. It’s just, I can’t pick up my suitcase. That’s haunting.
I may be over-simplifying it, but if my body is able to do what I can do now, imagine how strong it would be today had I not been so foolish. My flesh failed me, yes, but I failed my body too. It had so much to give, and I wasted it. God equipped my body and back for the long haul - for the big battles - and I spent it on little things like fitness. True story. But you don’t honor God with your body by damaging it under the guise of “bodily stewardship.”
Silly kingdoms we try and build. Foolish pride. Again, as healthy as I am today, able to do push-ups and planks and stretch and ride my stationary bike, I sometimes imagine how good I would feel and how able I would be to do the real work; the kind of work that puts meat on the bones of faith and fitness: the kind of work my heart longs to do for others who don’t have the choices I did.
I wish I would have stepped away from that weight. Five-hundred and fifty pounds across my back for a few seconds (for who knows how many years) and maybe a few weeks of strength as a byproduct, wasn’t worth it, Roy. But the best I can do now is keep walking. No longer in the dark, I want to take another step. And another. By grace, I will fight what would be my natural decline along with the wasting I accelerated, but I will do so in pursuit of real service.
- Jimmy Peña
A RISE EXPLANATION: ENJOY
This video will explain a lot; both of my story and why all the attention to the word RISE. It’s been a part of the lexicon at PrayFit for a few years now, and it will be one of the anchors at PrayFit U; the new education center at PrayFit. We will have The School of Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and of course, we will have The School of Grace & Suffering.
Click to watch this special message from Jimmy.
The Wheelhouse:
You’ve heard me talking about some exciting new things at PrayFit, well two of the new campaigns are launching soon. One that I am stoked about is called, “The Wheelhouse;” where we dedicate our leg training, our running, our cycling and basically anything “legs” to the purchase of wheelchairs.
Taken from Luke 14, where Jesus told the parable that it wasn’t a party until the blind, the lame and the marginalized were there, the Wheelhouse is exactly that. “Wheels” represent “disability” and “house” says we won’t stop until His house is full. PrayFit is uniquely positioned as the fitness industry’s answer to the crisis of mobility. Hope you join us and dedicate one leg per month to help us with wheelchairs.
He Held On
There's no better way to walk through life than with a limp that says you've been with God.
He held on. Wouldn't let go. Not until he got his blessing. Jacob went through something that forever changed how he related to God. The Lord weakened him physically to strengthen him spiritually.
Expecting the worst from his brother Esau, Jacob not only prepared practically (sending Esau gifts ahead of his arrival) but he talked to God. A lot. Then one night the Bible says he wrestled with a mysterious man. As the fight continued, the man touched and dislocated Jacob's hip. And that was enough to convince Jacob that this was no ordinary man, but in fact he saw God, so he held on, refusing to let go until he received his blessing. Well, after fight night, battle-tested and blessed, Jacob had two new things: A limp and a name.
The limp is significant to me personally, because Jacob knew that in his new physical state, he would never be able to defend himself against Esau. He had to rely on God alone to fight his battles. Not sure about you, but I know more than ever that I'm weaker than I think. In my own strength, I’m toast.
Funny, I spent the better part of my career writing about strength, teaching powerful tactics, educating the masses about mechanical advantage. For nearly a decade, one of my monthly articles at Muscle & Fitness Magazine was actually called, “Strongman” for crying out loud! (I’ll give everyone time for a good chuckle.)
But now what? I mean, I don’t knock my publishing career or my education, but I used to point up to the sky after a lift. But where was my praise in my missed attempts? That might sound a little harsh, but I know the heart that beats inside this chest. And in so many ways, I was so bogus. I mean, what about the bar we can’t budge? Shouldn’t that compel us to look up with a grin and shake our heads in wonder?
At the risk of offending the strongmen reading this (although I reckon I’ve cleared them out by now) imagine how much weight there is above our PRs and tell me how strong we are. Right? Compare what we can lift to what we can’t. It’s immeasurable. Our inabilities truly open my eyes. Our weaknesses, disabilities and infirmities help us see higher, don’t they? And isn’t that the idea?
MOST RICHLY BLESSED
There’s a wonderful poem called, “Most Richly Blessed” written by an unknown Civil War Veteran. A few lines from it are:
“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do great things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for God.”
Like Jacob, even Paul understood that we rely more on God when we embrace our smallness. What did he say? "I am content in my weakness...for when I'm weak, I'm strong." Maybe it’s just me, but we know that verse so well that we almost dismiss it as easily as we recognize it. But while I don’t yet fully accept it, I am becoming intimately aware of what the verse means, because I’m holding on. I’m at a point in my life, physically, emotionally, spiritually that I feel like I’m trying to squeeze a very thin thread. Not sure if that makes sense, but I have a feeling it may connect with some of you as you read this sentence.
TIGHT
Guys, I want nothing more than to realize the significance of my frailty so that I can do my small part in uniting the fitness industry with those impacted by special needs. It’s all I think about. This period of my life is fight night.
You know, Jacob's name went from "heel catcher, Jacob" to "he who struggles with God, Israel." Yeah, I’m holding on. Are you? Maybe to a dream? A calling or vocation? Maybe you’re battling an illness; something you didn’t see coming or something you probably could have prevented. Maybe you’re having trouble forgiving someone. Maybe that someone is yourself.
Whatever it is, for what it’s worth, the weaker I get, the more I realize there's no better way to walk through life than with a limp that says you've been with God.
Yeah, I really can’t budge the bar anymore. I suppose I’ll just point up to the sky and grin.
- Jimmy Peña
PRAYER REQUESTS:
If you have something you’d like us to pray for, please let us know. Say “unspoken” if you’d rather not get specific. And you can please be praying about some wonderful things we have planned in the coming weeks, I’d appreciate it.
Do The Work
My joy in life does not come from being physically fit, and God’s love is not dependent on my ability to walk. My disability has taught me how insignificant working legs are in the light of souls and their eternal wellbeing.
“Preach the Gospel, which can also be translated, “Do the work.””
With dreams of becoming a rich dentist, traveling the world on holidays and playing golf on Wednesdays, Barry Funnell, who loved bodybuilding and being the class clown was in his second year of school when all of that changed. He and a buddy wanted to impress some girls, so they decided to climb onto the roof of a gymnasium which was adjacent to the female dormitory. Unable to find an opening, they decided to turn back. That’s when Barry’s foot slipped through a skylight.
Hours later Barry woke up in the hospital with his spinal cord completely severed. Unable to feel his legs, his thoughts raced back to his days as a boy when he gave his life to Christ, was baptized by his dad and then how he ran away from God to pursue all sorts of other pleasures. He was haunted by the thought that he had never shared the love of Jesus with anyone. He had been “too cool” for that, he realized. He laid in the hospital for weeks and months reading his Bible, recommitting his life to Christ and leaning on God for encouragement.
“Lying paralyzed in my hospital bed, I recommitted my life fully to God. I repented of my wrongdoings, my pride. I asked God to forgive me and to pick up the broken pieces of my life and use me as he saw fit. I felt embarrassed that I had so often endangered myself due to seeking an adrenaline rush and wanting to impress others instead of living my life for him. My spinal cord completely severed, I had to face the prospect of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. A major part of my rehab was gaining the ability to empty my bladder via self-catheterization and also to evacuate my bowel manually. I can say this was, and still is, the most difficult and awkward aspect of paraplegia.”
In preparing for some really neat things at PrayFit, including the new education center - PrayFit U - to help fund the charity and the new wheelchair campaign - The Wheelhouse - for the purpose of wheelchair purchases and distribution, I came across the story of Barry. I’ve been diving deep into the subject of weakness and how God uses the weak, and how Paul and Job and Jacob and Moses all had disabilities or chronic illnesses to reveal God’s power and to help them realize their smallness and dependence. Fascinating. I think we all have the tendency to go through life searching for our strengths that we fail to realize we’re looking too hard.
Guys, my team and I are trying some things far too big for us unless God is in them. All of our efforts are to support the non-profit so that we can continue the mission of bringing the fitness industry to the doorstep of disability. But it’s not to rescue those impacted with special needs, but to be rescued ourselves. That conversation is for another time, but I covet your prayers as we begin unveiling our work.
As far as Barry, well, in his fourth year of dental studies he met his future wife Julia. They became medical missionaries but grew a passion for Bible translation. “People do need good health and strong teeth, but we sensed our passion was to instead give them a lasting gift; the Word of God which will never pass away.”
Along with their three adopted children, they have checked over fifty different Bible translations for accuracy and travel to South East Asia and Africa ten times a year. He relies on God to help him in every situation in developing countries. From waiting on buses or in getting help on airplanes, his dependence on God in the mundane only grows his faith. He once hand-cycled 1600km to raise money for Bible translation. It took him 23 days.
“My joy in life does not come from being physically fit, and God’s love is not dependent on my ability to walk. My disability has taught me how insignificant working legs are in the light of souls and their eternal wellbeing.”
Guys, this is faith and fitness. Faith and fitness isn’t on Instagram. You can’t fit it on a shirt, drink it in a supplement, or grasp it in a CrossFit workout. Faith and fitness happens in the work that will last. Isn’t it funny that we won’t need either in Heaven?
But I see it in people like Barry Funnell. Thrust into God’s work and sent to the mission field as a paraplegic, the former bodybuilder doesn’t let his body distract him from honoring God with it. He travels the world and translates the Bible, and all he needs is help with stairs. And in case you were wondering, Barry stays active to keep fit for the mission field. He swims twice a week and took up sailing. And yes, he plays golf once a week; usually on Wednesdays.
- Jimmy Peña
P.S.
I read Barry’s story in a wonderful book called, “Disability in Mission: The Church’s Hidden Treasure” by David Deuel. It’s a powerful book published by the amazing team at Joni & Friends International Disability Center.
Show Me
Words. Words. Words. “Faith and fitness.” We can say those two words so much that we don’t do anything (for anyone) with either.
“Living by grace means daily affirming our unworthiness. ”
If there’s ever been a time to remind ourselves of grace and truth, it’s now. Amen? There’s actually a great little book on the subject called, “The Grace and Truth Paradox” by Randy Alcorn. It's a tiny book. I finished it in a few hours. I highly recommend it.
The thesis? Christlike balance.
My summary? Truth is the price tag of our redemption. Grace pays it.
To stay in my lane of course - Jesus - perfect in grace and truth - is our example as leaders, as fitness experts, as stewards and servants.
When it comes to PrayFit Ministries, I want nothing more than to follow Jesus in all we say and do. For years, we've tried to keep a balance of grace and truth in our approach to health and sickness, fitness and suffering. Never putting too much emphasis on the body while being careful not to put less emphasis on it than God would have us. If I’ve learned anything it’s that we need the direction of truth about our bodies to help us do what we need to do for His renown, and we need the constant reminder of grace that allows us to achieve any of it.
Words.
My wife is studying and preparing to lead a Bible study for hundreds of women beginning this week. They’ll be studying the Book of James. Known as the Proverbs of the New Testament, James puts faith to work. It’s the show me book. If you love me, show me.
Words, words, words!
Sing me no song.
Read me no rhyme.
Don't waste my time,
Show me.
Don't talk of June,
Don't talk of fall.
Don't talk at all.
Show me.
That’s not James, those are lyrics from My Fair Lady - if you know your musicals - but they pierce me. I can empathize with Audrey Hepburn being “up to here” with words. My own, that is. That’s why I am so excited about a few upcoming announcements at PrayFit.
PrayFit U. and The Wheelhouse
The first exciting element at PrayFit will be our PrayFit Certification for fitness experts and dietitians, families and siblings in the area of special needs and disabilities. On one hand, trainers and experts will bolster their sensitivity, knowledge and expand their resumes by including special populations via the trusted banner of PrayFit, while most importantly, gyms and fitness centers will become more and more inviting and welcoming to kids and families that desperately need their services.
Nestled inside PrayFit U. will be courses within the Schools of 1) Grace and Suffering, 2) Exercise Physiology, 3) Culinary Arts and 4) The PrayFit Certification. There will also be paid affiliate opportunities and volunteer ambassador duties. Unreal what God is allowing. Our motto at PrayFit has always been, “We Are The Body.” You can become part of the first class. The Student Body. Pretty neat?
The Wheelhouse
The other campaign which has taken me by storm lives inside “The Body.” It’s called The Wheelhouse; where we train legs for the specific purpose of purchasing wheelchairs. Spending last year working closely with Joni and Friends Disability ministry, the word wheelhouse came to me. The Wheelhouse was born in my mind because of “wheels” - representing disability and the crisis of mobility. “House” was lifted from Luke 14 where Jesus told the parable of the banquet and to make sure that they go quickly into the streets to find the lame and blind…”so that my house will be full.”
A Revolution
70 million people live without the gift of mobility, which means, they have no way of getting from one room to the next. And of those 70 million, only 10% of them have access to the most basic of resources to help them make their way to the bathroom, or from their home to school, or to a friend’s house.
All they need is a wheelchair.
The majority of those stuck in this crisis live in isolated areas and spend their lives forgotten, abandoned and in some cases shamed. But when a person gets access to a wheelchair, it changes everything.
It can improve mental and physical health, increase access to food, grow local economies, and help kids attend school or church; to say nothing about what it does to their self-esteem, confidence and their future.
The mobility crisis is huge, but it is solvable. We will work with partners like Joni and Friends who collect, refurbish and distribute wheelchairs. It’s that simple. It’s just not being done. PrayFit wants to bring the fitness industry to the doorstep of this crisis and help solve it. The most active population in the least passive fundraising endeavor ever.
FOR DISCUSSION
Words. Words. Words. “Faith and fitness.” We can say those two words so much that we don’t do anything (for anyone) with either. Which can also be said for words like, “Bodily stewardship” and “Honoring God with our bodies.” For me and mine, for this little motley crew, for this little group of 2nd mountain climbers, we want to take James at his word. We yearn to look “grace and truth” in the eyes without budging on the tightrope, taking that fair lady in our arms, pulling her close as she sings.
Enough words.
- Jimmy Peña
PRAYFIT SURVEY
Which new element are you most excited about? The PrayFit U or The Wheelhouse? Someone who helps me in this poll will get a complimentary t-shirt from your favorite. (NOTE: If you’re a monthly donor to the Body, you will get these automatically as gifts when they launch in a couple weeks.)
The Respect We Protect
They've dedicated a life of allegiance because of every soldier who's ever filled a tomb. We've committed our lives because of an empty one.
It is he who commands the respect I protect...
A few years ago in D.C., one of the most important sites I promised to show Loretta was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And while I described the scene to her prior to our arrival -- much like the case of this entry -- she'll tell you I didn't do it justice. If you're unfamiliar, the Tomb of the Unknown is a monument in dedication to the services of an unidentified soldier and to the common memories of all soldiers killed in any war. And it's guarded. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded by sentinels, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and under any weather condition. Sentinels -- all volunteers -- are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.
The amazing process is breathtaking to watch. He takes 21 steps, stops and pauses for 21 seconds, turns and marches another 21 steps. To and fro, back and forth with the utmost precision, and he doesn't stop his duty until another sentinel arrives to relieve him. The changing of the guard deserves an entry by itself. Unbelievable.
The tomb has been guarded with such reverence every second -- day and night -- since 1937. But what I find so motivating and thrilling is just exactly what they're protecting. And here begins the lesson.
Buried inside the Sentinel's Creed is a line that jumps off the page to me, and one I hope we can all apply to the body God gave us. It says, "I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect...This soldier will - in honored glory - rest under my eternal vigilance."
Maybe it's just ‘sentimental me,’ but these men march day and night in humble dedication and service, not to protect the marble tomb or the manicured lawn. No, they're protecting respect. (Read that sentence again, slowly.) What does it mean to protect respect? And can anyone reading this sentence apply that to the duty you and I have about our health, our illness, or to those with special needs?
It's something, isn't it? They've dedicated a life of allegiance because of every soldier who's ever filled a tomb. We've committed our lives because of an empty one. And in humble reverence, it is He who commands the respect we protect.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: The scene is dripping with so much symbolism, I can't quite type, but when we consider our lives -- our impact on others, our personal calling, our ability to share Christ -- it's an awesome reminder that our health and our sufferings are significant to the Kingdom. Our temporary diligence has eternal consequences. Friends, all I hope is that my effort in life and limits and frailty - and in caring for the dignity and respect for those with disabilities - is a worthy salute that brings God glory; one that humbly says this soul is guarded.
To The Moon
We don’t want success but significance. We don’t boast in what we lift. We hold up what we can’t. The gospel is our chant. We Are The Body.
You’ve likely heard the joke about the arrogant man who took God to task. He looked up into the heavens and declared, "I can do what you can do! I can create a person out of dust! I understand the systems of life and science!"
God accepted the offer.
"All right," He said. "Let's see what you can do." The man reached down and took a handful of dirt. But before the man could go further, God interrupted him. "I thought you said you could do what I did." "I can." "Then," God instructed, "Get your own dirt.”
Dirt. We are dust, and God has compassion on that.
But somewhere along the way, we tend to bring God down to our level. We want to see eye-to-eye, right? We think we know better.
Our plans are so much more important.
Our words carry so much meaning.
Our influence is critical.
Our presence is necessary.
Our skin needs loving (and others need to know how perfectly comfortable we are in it.)
At PrayFit, we try to see health and illness through the Gospel’s lens and that changes everything. Grace motivates us, humbles us, comforts us and sends us.
In our own way, unique to our vocation, we seek to fund special needs ministry. That’s it. From local respite programs, schools supplies, beach days and dances, we just want to set our eyes on that. Part of our effort will be to fund the collection, restoration and distribution of wheelchairs and we seek to serve the folks at Joni and Friends, the leader in disability ministry around the globe.
TO THE MOON
Gina Spivey of Calvary Community Church once wrote, “When we look at those around us affected by disability, we see people who experience true happiness. At our respite program we get to see our VIP kids dance and sing, while we feel the unquestionable cheer exuding from them. It is enough joy to send a rocket to the moon. The gratification is pure. The bliss is guttural. I am quite sure there is not a room in the world that holds as much happiness.”
Some of you made the sacrifice of time, talents and treasures last week by taking part or donating to The 3rd Annual PrayFit Run to help be a resource to Gina and team. Well….
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
For our part, the gym, studio, box, track, road and the pool are all merely tools we use to put our faith to work. Whether it’s for a local group of families that need to have a blast at respite or a child in need of his first wheelchair in Uganda, I hope you join us. If you’ve yet to watch our story, please do. And if you feel God is calling you to help, you can join the body or simply DONATE monthly to the cause.
But because I’m usually shy about exposing my feelings and expressing my mind, allow me to be transparent. We need generous warriors to come alongside us. We need battle-tested, frail, dependent, broken, grace addicts. We need you. We don’t want sugar. We need salt.
Rest assured, we’re not so concerned with how confident we are in our skin, our “self love,” our PR’s, or if we’re “enough.” We’re on a mission; one you won’t find in the mirror, but in the dirt. We don’t want success but significance. We want our breath to speak to more than merely good and mindful upkeep. We want our health or illness - our striving and our suffering - to last long after the care fades.
Like my sweet preacher, the late Henry Powell would say, “Jimmy boy! Let’s do what we can. Let’s do all that we can. And let’s do it now.” I agree preacher man. How far is it to the moon?
- Jimmy Peña
photo credit: @jakeschaefflerphoto
T-Minus
More and more thoughtful and godly individuals are coming alongside our effort to serve communities. Featured here in our newest RISE T is Brittnei Miller, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Vanguard University of Southern California. You will likely hear and see more of Brittnei here at PrayFit as she helps us prepare this rocket ship, but when she’s not educating students in environmental matters, she’s leading people in live workouts to help them stay healthy inside and out. You can find her on Instagram at @brittneirae.
photo credit: @jakeschaefflerphoto
Sometimes It Takes A Mountain
Sometimes it takes it mountain,
Sometimes a troubled sea,
Sometimes a desert,
to get a hold of me.
“It means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
Three more months. That’s what we’ve been told.
As I type, I can hear neighbors talking from window to window and door to door. Delivery trucks up and down the street, dogs barking. Life. Questions. Uncertainty. Strangeness. Life.
I just got back from making a trip to the market. Masks, lines, quiet.
On the way home, I was listening to my friend, Frank Sontag from the Frank Sontag Show. He had me on as a guest a few years ago as I was promoting a product. Anyway, as I drove down the street, he was playing a 50-year old recording of a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Left lane turn signal on, "If you want to be important, wonderful. If you want to be recognized, wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Intersection. Waiting for green light, “It means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
Left turn up my block, “You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.”
Pulling into my parking spot at home, “You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve.”
Car in park. Staring out my driver’s-side window, “You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”
Loretta and I have been reading through the Bible in chronological order and today I read in Psalm 33, “The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes….The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race…He made their hearts so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.”
Opens door. Brings groceries in. Sits down in writing corner…
Even in the midst of a pandemic, we all have our calling, our work, families, hobbies, passions and pursuits. We try and navigate this strange time, dodging the weirdness, accommodating the strangeness, enduring it all. But one thing remains a constant. Service. People in need still need. Those in isolation still need to be reached. Those that can’t move still need mobility. Crazy. The Church is still the church and believers in the fitness industry are still just that.
A few years ago, sickness and illness were my mountains. Sidelined by unforeseen illness and debilitating sickness, I was on my back; helpless. Today I’m plugging away, planning incredible things through PrayFit, working on projects. But I’m a different man. A weaker man. A smaller man. Just a man gaining a clearer perspective of my place and the grace that carried me here.
An old Gospel hymn,
"Sometimes it takes it mountain,
Sometimes a troubled sea,
Sometimes a desert,
to get a hold of me.
Your love is so much stronger,
than whatever troubles me,
sometimes it takes a mountain,
to trust you and believe."
Anything getting a hold of you? Something bringing you to your knees or making you want to climb? Are you learning more about who God wants you to be during this time? Are you finding fresh ways to serve? You know, troubled seas come in all forms: job loss, health woes and distance. Sometimes all it takes in order to trust and believe is a quick trip to the market. Sometimes it takes a mountain.
- Jimmy Peña
JUST LIKE US: Pictured atop the entry is Ali Keller; PrayFit’s newest team member. A sports medicine student with a heart and soul for kids impacted with disabilities, Ali is a climber of 2nd mountains.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Let’s go to the Lord together in prayer. If you have a request, please list it here. If you’d rather not be specific, simply say, “Unspoken” and we will pray for you.
RISE
Will you help us spread the message of serving others by sporting our most comfortable t-shirt ever? RISE is shipping as we speak. Three colors, one message. (And because of something we have coming soon, now is the time to get this.)
My Kingdom Go
Help us remember that while our bodies have some value, the muscle we build on earth carries no weight in Heaven.
“Before we can pray, ‘Lord, Thy Kingdom come,’we must be willing to pray, ‘My kingdom go.’”
This weekend we wondered whether or not we will be able to visit the outdoor concerts anytime soon. Our last visit to The Hollywood Bowl, we went to see Hugh Jackman. Of all the great songs he performed, one song from The Greatest Showman makes its way into today’s entry. “Towers of gold are still too little, these hands could hold the world but it’ll never be enough for me.”
In light of Heaven, this world will never be enough. Our little kingdoms won’t come. This current pandemic is a clear and present reminder of that fact. And for an old fitness guy, it’s a good reminder about our physicality, our approach to the body, our diligence and our grit.
Bless God, what a gift it is to be unnecessary. God doesn't need our muscle, our grit or our flex. He doesn't need anything. He's God. We...are the needy ones.
More than we need to crush our goals, we need to be crushed by His grace. A thousand times more than we need to beat yesterday's best, we need to remember that it is already finished. Yes, my kingdom go. Please, just go. Here’s a prayer for us as we begin the week.
God, please rearrange our workouts around You this week. Let each rep, each mile, each stretch be a note in a symphony of praise; one that's pleasing to You. Help us remember that while our bodies have some value, the muscle we build on earth carries no weight in Heaven. Please let our workouts be forgettable, and may our daily feats be nothing more than measly, measurable reminders that You gave us limits. We need You. We love You. Amen.
- Jimmy Peña
NEW SHIPMENT OF “RISE”
Help spread the message to encourage the fitness industry to come alongside the disability community. And we’ve added a new color to our RISE collection based on YOUR feedback. “Heather Red” is in stock along with our charcoal and our denim versions. All proceeds go to non-profit ministry, of course, as we seek to serve those impacted by special needs. Order yours and help us spread the word. We hope you love them.
Let's Finish It
The soul knows a glory that the body cannot rob. The more the body revolts, the more the soul shines through.
Over the years, I've tried to make it a point to encourage you to take care of the body that carries the soul. Not that I won't continue to cheer us on in the fight for bodily stewardship, but the more I study and grow and fail, the more certain I am that while the body carries the soul, it's the soul that protects the body; not the other way around.
Speaking of souls, the young man standing next to me in this image at the inaugural PrayFit Run is, of course, Jordan Hyde. If you’ve watched “The PrayFit Story” pinned to the top of our Facebook page, you know his impact on my life. It was Jordan who taught me what “faith and fitness” means and what it doesn’t. And it was Jordan who inspired tomorrow’s PrayFit Run a few years ago; a run that has people all across the country putting one foot in front of the other for those impacted by special needs.
Not only that, Jordan starts the race. That’s his job. For the last 3 years - on his command - we walk, run and roll. If you missed our latest video “Any Other Day,” you’ll see some of his finest work. He stepped on his mark, looked right at us and delivered his line. Now it’s our turn to step up to it.
FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
Tomorrow we finish the job. Tomorrow we finish the work and do what we promised. Regardless of what time you choose to walk, run or roll, I will be on FB and IG LIVE between 7:30-8:00am PST to say hello and to thank you. I may have a few friends join me as well, including our leader Gina Spivey and both our race director and master of ceremonies Troy and Stephanie Thornton. Please log in and say hi, even if just for a minute. If you didn’t get a chance to register, you can still donate to the cause and sponsor these kids.
John Ortberg once wrote, "The soul knows a glory that the body cannot rob. The more the body revolts, the more the soul shines through."
What you do you think, Jordan? Yeah. I agree. I say we finish it.
- Jimmy Peña
TAKE ANOTHER STEP
1. Register or Donate.
2. Log into FB or IG tomorrow between 7:30am and 8:00am PST to say hello before you walk or run.
3. Walk or run in the safety of your neighborhood.
4. Post your pics on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #prayfitrun2020 or send your pics to [email protected].
5. Have a blast.
Any Other Year
If you watch only one video…
In his book, The Road to Character, David Brooks writes, “Occasionally you come across certain people who seem to posses an impressive inner cohesion. They are not leading scattershot lives. They don’t crumble in adversity. They are not blown off course by storms. They are inclined to be useful but don’t need to prove anything to the world; humility, restraint, respect and a soft self-discipline. They perform acts of service with the same modest everyday spirit they would display if they were just getting the groceries. They’re not thinking about their impressive work. They’re not thinking about themselves at all. They are just delighted by the flawed people around them.”
If this describes someone you know or if it doesn’t, allow me to give you some names that come to mind for me:
Gina Spivey - the pioneer in the region and across the nation in street-level ministry of the Gospel, the Church and those impacted by special needs. She moves from the adaptive playground to the executive boardroom like you and I would walk to the kitchen. “I served as eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.” (Job 29:15) Gina, please teach us to love.
Stephanie Thornton - no nonsense. Stephanie is the backbone of The PrayFit Run and squares up the cities of Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks so that we can do what we do. And she does it all in complete obscurity. She’s a ghost. She avoids the spotlight like a cat avoids the deep end. Splash. (Thank you boss. There is no PrayFit Run without you.)
Sophie Daniels - if she’s not dancing, running or kickboxing, she’s kicking down the doors in the community to stoke enthusiasm for this race. Prior to the pandemic, she placed a countless number of flyers on cars and approached every storefront within 25 miles with a smile you can’t miss and a sincerity you can’t escape. This year’s Jordan Wesley Hyde Award - for living and loving like Jesus in our community with a heart for kids and families impacted by special needs - goes to Sophie Daniels. I want to be just like you, Sophie. Hopefully, it’s not too late.
For those that have signed up or if you plan to register before Saturday, we will be having a live FB and IG video time from 7:30-8:00am PST on May 2nd. So PLEASE log in to either Facebook or Instagram, say hello (maybe even join the discussion), and please post pics of your walk or run using the hashtag #prayfitrun2020. If you don’t have social media, you can send your pics directly to [email protected] and we will post them for you.
On behalf of everyone at PrayFit, thank you.
- Jimmy Peña
The Strenuous Minute
Gospel hope when life doesn’t make sense.
So, I started a new book. (Ok, so maybe I re-read an old one.) I realize of course that I say that to you with the kind of casualness you’d assume as if you’ve been carrying on a conversation with a good friend and a good meal. If I let it play out, we’re having a meal together you and me. You’ve just started a new bite and I’m finishing mine. A white napkin across my lips and I say, it’s called, “Suffering” by Paul Tripp. You say, “Oh yeah? How is it?”
“As advertised on its cover” I reply. “It’s gospel hope when life doesn’t make sense.”
You nod in polite agreement.
I take another bite.
Paul Tripp as some of you may know is a speaker, writer and pastor. He also got hit with something that prevented him from doing any of that. As I read his book, I often feel like he’s plagiarized not only my writing but my life.
“I was proud of my physical fitness and confident in the healthiness of my body. I was proud too that because I was physically strong, I was able to be productive. I traveled every weekend to conferences and wrote book after book in between. I look back now and see that I lived with assessments of invincibility. I was not a young man, but I felt like I was at the top of my game. Health and success are intoxicating but also vulnerable.”
In the book of Job, he writes…
““How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
— Job 14: 1-2,5
What a verse. What truth.
I'm sentimental, of course, but bodily stewardship is truly an ever-growing tension for me; as if each ticking second of the clock beside me as I type this sentence represents the irreversible loosening stitch of the fabric of my physical self, and in essence, the tearing apart of my being.
When I got sick a few years ago, my grasp of my mortality tightened and my sensitivity to the brittleness of my body heightened. I came face-to-face with a certain truth. That my physical limit wasn't my personal best; like some passing bench press (405lb.) or my squat (550lb.); imposters disguised as my potential. I list them only to help illustrate that those mountain-top moments didn't represent my personal best. No, the most strenuous minute I've ever filled came when I realized I would never attempt to best them.
Some of you have filled similar minutes.
The doctor’s prognosis;
the unexpected phone call;
the uncertain reality of loss.
Paul Tripp describes it this way: “Here’s what happens in times of suffering. When the thing you’ve been trusting is laid to waste, you don’t suffer just the loss of that thing; you also suffer the loss of the identity and security that it provided.”
(Yeah. I know, right?)
Frankly, nobody reading this sentence - or anyone who ever lived for that matter - has ever physically traveled beyond their God-given limits. Nobody. Read the verse above again if need be. And while that might be a slap in the face to the motivational speaker who claims we can push beyond them, the truth is, we never exceed our limits. We merely - if rarely - find them. And I like to think, like Job realized, that in finding our limits, we meet God.
- Jimmy Peña
(I press my plate away from me and you do the same. The waiter asks if we’d care for anything else. “Coffee?” he suggests. We both agree it’s a good idea.)
For Discussion: Are you suffering? Maybe with something visible? Invisible? Let’s share a cup of hope.
Men’s and Women’s RISE Summer T-shirts
Our softest, most powerful shirt ever. Help sport the message of hope and trust with our newest shirt, RISE. Thank you for supporting our ministry as we seek to serve those that may be suffering with both visible and invisible disabilities.
STILL TIME TO REGISTER!
Click the image and join people all over the country on May 2nd as we walk and run in our neighborhoods for those impacted by disabilities. Hurry so we can send you your goodie bag and medal.
You Have To Stoop
The opening to the tomb where Jesus was buried is low. You can’t be proud. You can’t be upright. Unlike the posture of an athlete, you can’t stay neutral.
“He was right,” I said to myself. He was right. Up until that moment, we had walked all the major tourist spots and spent time listening to very knowledgable guides. I’d seen an ancient city, dipped my feet in the Dead Sea, and stood at the Western Wall. The Holy Land was everything and more, and the Bible came to life in ways I never thought possible. But when we approached what is considered to be the tomb where Jesus was buried, I remembered something Max Lucado once wrote. “You have to stoop.”
As an old fitness expert, I can tell you that posture is everything. I probably can’t count how many times I taught about posture in the magazine. I assure you that some of the best advice I ever gave was that no matter the lift - with few exceptions - in order to perform at your best and to put yourself in the best mechanical advantage possible, never collapse your spine. Keep your chest up, abs in tight, back flat and head neutral.
Pastor Paul Tripp once asked, "What will you do with Easter?" He related it to issues of life, money, relationships, and troubles.
What a powerful question for us in the fitness industry. What will we do with Easter when the storms of life arise? What will we do when we're tempted to gloat, to boast, to pat ourselves on the back? What will we do?
What will we do when we get sick? Like, really sick. What will we do when our dreams of gains, of glorious pain, of wondrous work, when the welcome pursuit of fitness is denied us? What will we do?
What will we do when the status call on social media stokes our fear of missing out? What will we do with Easter?
What will we do when our loss of muscle, or our gain of bodyfat, our diminishing bone mass, elevated resting heart rate, our unrelenting atrophy, our irreversible disease progression, or our unmistakeable loss of strength testifies to the truth that we are made of dust, not iron. What will we do with Easter?
When we peer into the empty tomb of Easter this weekend, that's the lens through which everything else in life can be seen, even our bodies. And as fitness people, as hard-chargers, as mile runners, record-breakers, goal makers, and as broken-down, out-of-the-game lifters like me, the empty tomb is full of grace, and joy, and relief. The thought of His victory eternally exceeds our loss or gains in this vapor-quick life.
But where was I? Ah, yes. The tomb. Max assured me, you can walk up to it upright, but in order to enter, you have to stoop. And he was right. The opening to the tomb where Jesus was buried is low. You can’t be proud. You can’t be upright. Unlike the posture of an athlete, you can’t stay neutral. Feel free to do this as you read the sentence, but you have to look down, drop your head, collapse the back, bend the knee. For us to be near Him, we have to stoop. And when we do, we find Him doing the same for us.
- Jimmy Peña
“Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified.
Not knowing that it was for me He died.
At Calvary.”
Good Friday: We serve a God that stoops. Amazing, right? Well, tomorrow we will do like many of you and participate in a virtual Good Friday service. Even though we are apart, we will be able to join in the Lord’s Supper as a church family. What a day to be still. What a day to stoop, even if only in heart. And that’s our tradition at PrayFit. We don’t train. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but like the angels for six hours that Friday, we’ll be still. Like the naysayers and doubters, who waited at the foot of the cross to hear Jesus take back His promises, and with the disciples who hid their faces from the enemies who sought them, we’ll be speechless. May God bless you and your family this weekend. Love to you all.
Reminders from Team PrayFit: So many around the country will be rallying with us to help serve those impacted by disability in our VIRTUAL PrayFit Run. Be sure to click the image and register. Join a team or form your own. Gonna be a neat time together even though we’re apart. And in light of what our calling is as Christians in the fitness industry to serve the marginalized, we’re sending our PrayFit RISE shirts out at the end of the month, so be on the lookout for that.
Carry Your Purpose
He was born for one day, one obscure ride and invisible journey, and he never felt shortchanged.
There he was.
Tied up.
Who knows how long he’d been waiting?
The most insignificant of animals with an inconsequential life.
No thoroughbred blood running through his veins.
His next meal was his only solace between chores.
A helpless laborer, a meaningless creature. When, all of a sudden…
I’m reminded today of a sweet old gospel song called, “That’s Him.”
”A tender blade of grass so green
Crushed in the footprint of the Nazarene
Sprang back and waved to a bird on the wing
That's Him!
In a mighty old river in the noonday sun
An outcast kept crying, "I tell you He's the One"
A voice out of Heaven said, "I'm pleased with My Son"
That's Him.”
If you’re like me, you’ve questioned your significance. Is this really what I was meant to do? Well, the next time you ponder your purpose, think of that donkey. Jesus asked for him SPECIFICALLY. Sure, the Lord could have chosen any method of transportation, but He chose him. Uniquely qualified, his purpose was to carry Jesus to His.
Forgive my sentimental imagination, but I like to think that a donkey NOBODY had ever ridden knew exactly who he carried. He was born for one day, one ride, one obscure and invisible journey, and he never felt shortchanged. I bet he did his best to make Jesus proud. Of course we don’t know what the Lord said to him as He got off and walked away, maybe nothing. But this weak writer likes to think that as the crowd took Jesus the rest of the way, that little donkey stood taller than ever. “That’s Him,” he must have thought. Jesus wanted a ride.
- Jimmy Peña
AFTER THOUGHTS: One of the saddest verses in the Old Testament for me happens to be when God allowed the donkey to speak and the donkey asked his owner why he beat him so hard. (So, yeah, I think the donkey on Palm Sunday knew who he carried.) Blades of grass, birds in the air, rocks and donkeys. Yep.
Ever felt unnoticed? Passed over? Insignificant? Disregarded? Ever wondered what Jesus could use you for? No matter what your life’s calling or trade, there is someone you know or someone you don’t who is empty and lost. You’re hand-picked. Like the donkey in our story, you may be the carrier of their only hope. So, get up. Deliver. Carry your purpose.
P.S.
A show of hands of those who would have proudly been the donkey. I’ll start. Me.
You Believed In Me
Over the next month, you’re going to sense a theme. As Christians in the fitness industry, we’re gonna rise above stuff.
12 FROGS
Pastor Rick Warren recently told a story that he had heard as a kid. You may have heard a version or two of it from your parents, but as the story goes, a group of 12 frogs were traveling together through a forest when two of them fell into a very deep, dark pit. The other 10 frogs gathered around the pit. When they realized how deep it was, they were certain this was the end of their two friends.
The two frogs who'd fallen into the pit started jumping with all their might to get out. But from the perspective of safety, the other 10 frogs began to urge the trapped frogs to stop trying and just accept their fate. They kept yelling, "You're in too deep! There's no way you'll get out of this! It's impossible! Save your strength and die peacefully!"
But the two frogs at the bottom ignored the comments and kept trying to jump out. Still, the safe frogs kept yelling, "It's no use! It's hopeless! Save your energy!" Finally, one of the frogs in the pit got so discouraged by all the negative news, that he gave up and died.
But the other frog kept jumping harder and harder. And with every jump, he seemed to get stronger and stronger. It was an amazing effort to watch. Finally, he made it out to safety!
The other frogs looked at him in astonishment and asked, "Why did you keep trying so hard when we were all urging you to give up?”
Interpreting what they said from their gestures, the frog explained, "Well, actually I'm deaf - so I couldn't hear a word you were saying. But I could see you were all shouting vigorously at me. I assumed it meant you believed I could make it and were encouraging me to not give up. So I was determined to keep trying as long as you believed in me!"
THAT GETS ME
Powerful, huh? Not shocking, but I can’t read that without crying. As a sentimental fool, I look at this story from so many angles. I’m curious how you view it. Please let me know in the comments section below. One idea that puts a lump in my throat is to consider the frog with special needs looking up and seeing his buddies rooting for him. He wasn’t gonna let them down. Maybe he never felt like he had pals before. He never knew he was so loved. Unlike his counterpart, he would die before he quit. Yeah, that gets me. I can relate to the frog that didn’t quit.
If you’re like me, you train alone or work alone, having much of your collaborations online and through email. Yet, when we look up we feel encouraged to keep trying because of voices we don’t even hear. Maybe it’s because we can hear a still, small one. But if I listen to my own voice sometimes, it’s not always bueno. I tend to be anxious, proud, shameful, prone to self-promotion and blown expectations and full of regret. So I can also relate to the frog that gave up.
Anyway, do me a favor today and go outside and close your eyes. You’ll notice something that has been increasingly evident to me. The birds seem to be chirping and singing with a renewed volume. They’ve taken it up an octave. I don’t know why, but yesterday I mentioned to Letta that it sure is funny that we share the same Heavenly Father as the birds, but as they’re up there whistling, I’m down here worrying. They’re busy doing what they were created to do. I’m scratching my head trying to create. They’re flying. I’m pacing.
I’m reminded of the old poem:
Said the robin to the sparrow, “I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.”
Said the sparrow to the robin, “Friend I think that it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me.”
HE GETS US
Whether they’re talking about us, I’m not sure, but they are talking to us. Over the next month, you’re going to sense a theme. As Christians in the fitness industry, we’re gonna rise above stuff. I’d start by going back and reading “Patios and Pulpits” from Friday in case you missed it. But along with our final push to engage people around the country to participate in The PrayFit Run on May 2nd, we will be reminded of how much God loves us and is rooting for us. He gets us and He’s full of joy. And that joy gives us strength amid our weaknesses and circumstances. This is me jumping in silence. This is me whistling as I get to work. My name is Jimmy Peña. I’m a broken man; fully trained and highly motivated.
In a sentence, what’s your name and what’s your story?
— Jimmy Peña
VIRTUAL COAST-2-COAST!!! JOIN US.
shirts and medals and goodie bags are coming your way! All proceeds to benefit those impacted by special needs and disabilities.
Patios and Pulpits
Something tells me that once we return to the building, it may seem a little small. It may feel a little confined. Something tells me the church building was never really meant to hold us.
It had been a dozen weeks or so since my last surgery. Home for months, tethered between the bedroom and the bathtub, doctors said the surgery was a success, and I had been given permission to get out. The first thing I wanted to do was to see a movie. Batman: The Dark Knight Rises had just hit theaters, so whatever else was playing that weekend stood no chance.
Tickets in hand, we found our seats. I was immediately swept away into the world of Bruce Wayne, his inner demons, his mission, his brokenness (physically and spiritually), the prison, the cell, and the attempts of climbing and clawing his way out of it. Failure upon failure upon failure. Until he did it.
But it wasn’t his superhuman strength that got him out of that pit. After all, Batman has no super powers. It wasn’t his skill as a climber or his physical strength. After all, he had broken his back and was weakened by months of atrophy and isolation.
BY FAITH ALONE
Well, I will unashamedly ruin this movie for you, but one of his fellow inmates whispered through the bars. As Bruce sits leaning against his cell wall, the fellow lifer told Bruce that he would have to make the climb to freedom without a safety net. He would have to make his way up and out by faith alone. He was going to have to let the fear inside him to allow him to become the best version of Bruce Wayne possible. The only way to make the climb would be without the rope.
The next day he cleaned his bunk. He folded his belongings into a tight roll and packed for his journey. A few laughs and scoffs from unbelievers bounced off of Bruce Wayne like a pebble against an aircraft carrier. Giving allowance for the doubting, he just nodded behind a confident but humble grin.
Denying the tether as he approached the unscalable wall, Bruce noticed that the other inmates were slowly chanting something he didn’t understand. It was in a language he couldn’t quite make out, so with his neck craned and eyes toward the hole in the sky, he asked, “What are they saying?” To which his skeptical cell mate replied, “Rise.”
OTHERS FIRST
Some would argue that the climb was the most compelling scene in the entire trilogy, and I wouldn’t be too far away from that opinion. But it was what Bruce did when he finally reached the surface that hit me as I sat in that theatre. If you blinked you’d missed it. As he stood on solid ground above, he threw the securely anchored rope down into the prison so that others could breath again.
I was a mess. In a flood of tears, with a new neck, back and a reconstructed and functioning colon, I sat and watched the credits roll as my brain did the same. I knew that if God healed me and allowed me to be free again to write and speak and live and move and breath, I was going to help others do the same. That’s why I called our conference PrayFit RISE. True story. What got Bruce Wayne out of his pit was the only thing that got me out of mine. Grace.
SOMETHING TELLS ME
I was reminded of that scene recently as we’ve all been at home, staying safe and obedient to what is best for our fellow neighbors and loved ones. I have been increasingly encouraged by Pastor Shawn Thornton of Calvary Community Church and other pastors around the world that keep leading and guiding their flocks. Patios have become pulpits and couches have turned into pews. Louie Giglio said recently, “The church has left the building.” Indeed it has.
And one day, maybe in the coming days or weeks and even months, the Church will leave again. The Church - the Body - will hear a whisper from the Lord and news from experts. It will be time to leave. Time to trust. Time to put faith to work outside the walls and beyond the computers. The hands and feet of Jesus will again touch faces and hug the necks of friends and strangers. And something tells that the Body will do so with a renewed sense of purpose; a purpose that is higher than any process. Something tells me we will take less for granted and we will take more advantage of opportunities. Something tells me that once we return to the building, it may seem a little small. It may feel a little confined. Something tells me the church building was never really meant to hold us.
- Jimmy Peña
We Will.
We will roll up our belongings. We will pack our lunch boxes. We will put on ties. Briefcases will wait at front doors. Gym lights will flicker, schools buses will roll and storefronts will read, “OPEN.” For our little corner of the world, we will emerge as a fitness industry to serve those impacted by special needs and disabilities. We will need each other. Join me please.
Describing Everest
Stewardship of the body is holy business that requires the grace of God and helps produce our fear of God.
To say that I have been less than adequate at conveying the message of Ecclesiastes upon the subject of fitness would be like describing Everest as tall or the ocean as deep or the end of the universe as far. True, if I were aiming for true, but as adequate descriptions? Absurdly short of the mark. If this sounds like an apology, please accept it. If it sounds like some sort of qualifier that will excuse me of all inadequacy, then this is me begging you to allow it. But that said, give me a few minutes to try and put a button on this for us.
Guys, King Solomon came to this conclusion, and with his announcement we come limping to this brittle end of our series: The pleasures in life mock us. The quest to find meaning or satisfaction in life is like chasing the wind. So as fitness-minded individuals, how do we conclude our trilogy?
ALL SMOKE (and mirrors)
At the end of the Teacher's book, he concludes that the most important thing about life is to fear the Creator of life and to do what He says. "In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world...Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body...Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. "It's all smoke, nothing but smoke, says the Teacher. "Everything is smoke." Fear God. Do what He tells you." (Ecc 12:3-8 and 13).
What does that mean for us? (I type that with almost a smirk as if the fact that we train means we are somehow excluded or somewhat excused from Solomon's warning. Right? As if the gym - and what it stands for - has a force field around it and everything within it comes first.) But the fact is, and you and I can recite this as clearly during the first rep of each set as we can the last, that the sum of all life, and all effort, and all striving and all toil and all blood, sweat and tears will add up...to nothing. And because we all have an appointment to keep with the Creator, the best thing to do while we do our best to stay young, fit, strong and able is to fear God while we're young, fit, strong and able.
A BLESSED BURDEN
And that fear of God, that humble reverence, that blessed burden on our hearts that whispers to us between sets that there's more to this life than what we see in the mirror, should be heeded above all else. Fearing God is a good thing. About the fear that Solomon urges, Alistair Begg says, "To fear God, and to trust God, and to love God, and to know God are all the same thing. The fear that is referred to in Ecclesiastes 12 arises from the discovery of the immensity of God's love. It's the fear of a child of a father. That even though I've done so many bad things, still my father loves me and that fills me with awe. That's the fear. It's John Newton's fear. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace my fears relieved."
This is not your - kiddie pool, “faith & fitness,” let me pose for the camera, buy my t-shirt - kind of truth. No, my friends, Solomon was the first and we can allow him to be the last to tell us to fear God while we can, while we're young because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. His grace teaches us to fear God more than we fear losing muscle, and to fear God more than we love to gain it. And the precious irony is that even though it's all meaningless, it doesn't mean we're not called to be good stewards of the gift of life. Like our time, our resources, and our money, the stewardship of the body is holy business that requires the grace of God, and helps produce and display our fear of God.
It's the fear of God that won't let you bring yourself to train unless you've read your Bible.
It's the love of God that allows you to help those in need once you get to the gym.
It's the trust of God that compels you to be modest and humble when everything inside you wants to show off your hard work.
It's the knowledge of God that comforts you when He alone knows what you're dealing with on the inside.
And it's the fear of God that protects us from the enemy.
Fitness. It’s meaningless without God and only meaningful because of Him. Grace has taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. The world can have the gym. I want Jesus.
Did I mention Everest was tall?
- Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: What part of this 3-part series could you relate to the most?
Chasing The Wind
Since the fall, we deal with a broken world (I doubt anyone would argue with that given this current crisis) and breaking bodies, but that longing you and I have for pristine health isn't a mistake, it's in our divine DNA.
As promised earlier this week in, "The Fleeting," we're going to spend time considering - for our health - the wisdom of a few passages of Ecclesiastes. Now, having spent the last few weeks studying it and listening to it via my new favorite Bible app, I am more certain than ever that I am the least qualified to lead us through it. But with that said, if there's a life-topic capable of delivering the point of this book or a genre able to display itself as a prime example of the message of Ecclesiastes, it's "fitness."
And so, we'll peel back just a few layers to try and reveal some of the Teacher's intent and then we'll try our best to apply it to our daily lives. And because the book of Ecclesiastes is written by "the Teacher, son of David," let's pretend we're in school together as the lesson begins. So pull up a chair, or a bench. Put down the weight, rack the bar, turn off the music. Let the gym of your heart quiet and the yearning end, even if just for a minute.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. (v. 1:2)
— The Teacher
Under normal circumstances (perhaps during this social distancing period is a good time to reflect) Sunday night is often meal prep. We measure, weigh, package and display (often with a polaroid for social media) our next 5 days of culinary mastery, not for its appearance so much, but merely to boast and alert anyone that we eat with a purpose. But this isn't a jab at our reluctance and outright obliviousness to those that are hungry, but rather it's to help us realize just how hungry we are. Hungry for, well, let's follow the pattern of the chase; best if you read the next sentence with increasing speed of cadence.
We meal prep, we seek sleep, we wake early, we eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train to work, to eat, to sleep to wake. Week after week, after week, after week, the chase continues.
Eugene Peterson once wrote, "Everything we try is so promising at first! But nothing ever seems to amount to very much. We intensify our efforts, but the harder we work at it, the less we get out of it. Ecclesiastes is a famous - perhaps the most famous - witness to this experience of futility. It's a John-the-Baptist kind of book. It functions not as a meal, but as a bath. It's not nourishment, but a cleansing."
Speaking of an experience of futility, as soon as we end our training session, the molecular bodies within us begin repairing the damage we've done, right? No big surprise. Many of us - whether consciously or subconsciously - erroneously base our joy on the limits we find for ourselves and the measurements we can calculate and compare over time. But there's close to a justifiable reason for it. Our bodies - along with our very souls - know they we were once formed perfectly. And I'm not talking about before our birth, but before Adam.
Since the fall, we deal with a broken world (I doubt anyone would argue with that given this current crisis) and breaking bodies, but that longing you and I have for pristine health isn't a mistake, it's in our divine DNA. Our bodies know what they were intended for and capable of within their God-given makeup. We strive for perfection because that was the original intent. Our cells yearn and our fibers long for their original design and ideal conditions.
But the second the striving ceases, the body begins the rebuilding process of progress, which ironically is the first phase of its retreat, of its weakening, of its slowing.
And so here we are. A group of sinners saved by grace; a group with a passion for health and a fire in the belly to pick heavy things up and set them down with rhythmic regularity; a group sitting in class with our hearts at a rare steady rate, listening to the Teacher bring home the message for us loud and clear: We're chasing the wind.
-Jimmy Peña
HOMEWORK: Read Ecclesiastes. (And if you have access to it, try reading the message translation for this short series of ours. ) Any thoughts at this point? Talk to me.
The Fleeting
Considering the current atmosphere and the COVID-19 crisis, I'm not so sure that any book has had a more tangible, practical impact on my life than this one in recent memory.
“The pleasures of life mock us because they are fleeting.”
Taking the wonderful Alistair Begg's quote and applying it to our vein would mean simply and profoundly that every physical accomplishment that you and I can make in this life, whether in the gym, on the road or in sports - everything we do mocks us because it's all so temporary. So fleeting.
Considering the current atmosphere and the COVID-19 crisis, I'm not so sure that any book has had a more tangible, practical impact on my life than this one in recent memory. I'm collecting my thoughts and heart around a few of its passages, and I plan on unraveling them this over the rest of the month, but if I were to be so bold as to try and summarize the book of Ecclesiastes for us as fitness experts, disability advocates and health-minded believers, it would be this:
Fear God. Fitness is meaningless.
Now, I would pull that punch or at least provide some sort of qualifier for the other foot to drop provided my short summary, but here's the thing, it's true. Mind you, the writer of Ecclesiastes is incredibly wise (probably - with the exception of Jesus - the wisest that ever lived), so I urge you to read it this week. And for the purpose of the common denominator of physical stewardship that we share, try and strain your health through each chapter. And as we'll see together, once you and I begin to fear God, the less we fear losing muscle. And at the risk of sounding crazy to some of you (or to my younger self), equally true is this: The more we fear God, the less anxious we are about the need to gain muscle.
Truth is, and from experience, the mirror can mock us in its praise as much as it can mock us in its critique. But that mocking - whether by flattering us or offending us - will only take effect, it will only land and take root, it will only disturb us if we have yet to settle our hearts on that which isn't so fleeting.
-Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: Are you being mocked by the pleasure of health or the pain of its loss? I hope you plan on joining me as we go through this series. And please be praying for each other, for me and for Team PrayFit as we head into next week. Speaking of, let's go to the Lord together. It's been a while since we've had the chance to meet like this. We have so much on our minds.
GOING ALL VIRTUAL
As you may have seen on our social media pages, we are moving to an all-virtual format for the 3rd Annual PrayFit Run on May 2nd. Thank you for your understanding, but we will not be meeting in person here in Los Angeles, but we will join the virtual community and walk and run at home and around our neighborhoods. We press on.
Unprecedented Journeys
Storms make us take unprecedented journeys…
“Storms make us take unprecedented journeys”
She did what the suffering Job couldn't. Jacob, David -- them, too. Just run through the Bible and find as many people as possible who hurt physically, and one woman did exactly what each of them would have done in an instant.
Having suffered for years with an issue that condemned her as an unwanted and unclean outcast, doctors couldn't heal her and family disowned her. She was out of money, out of her mind, out of choices, so she got up out of despair. Head down, she mustered strength of heart and elbowed her way through the crowd as she uttered those most precious and powerful words of hope, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment."
A healthy woman never would have appreciated the power of touching the hem of his garment, Lucado says. I agree. I would say that only the deeply hurting make that kind of journey or think those words or take that kind of risk.
You know, many preachers and writers have examined the story of Peter walking on water, but I think the scene is worth examining today. As you know, the storm was more than they could handle, but when Jesus came strolling across the water, Peter got out of the boat. You remember. Fearing for his life, he called out to Jesus, and Jesus said, “Come.”
Next thing we know Peter did a Peter Pan into the storm and did the impossible. Now, I’m not the first person, nor will I be the last, to point out that Peter would likely not have gotten out of the boat without the storm. Some scholars say Peter would have marveled at what he saw. Nobody would argue that Peter would have been in absolute awe. Perhaps he and the others would have stood there with jaws wide open and their eyes more so. We don’t know. But I agree that he would not have had the urgency to leave his circumstances. Remember our quote above? Storms make us take unprecedented journeys.
Ever taken an unprecedented journey? Like me, maybe you’re on one now.
Are you hurting physically? Perhaps you've been dealing with pain unknown to most, but like the woman or Peter, something invisible and unforeseen has clouded your life or is threatening it. Or maybe you're apparently healthy and able, and yet you've willfully and knowingly neglected your body as a fearfully woven gift. The consequences have caught up to you and they’re waiting for you at the door; along with the thugs named, Fear and Regret.
Something has hit you - whether by surprise or otherwise - and you’re left with a bridge to cross. Your body has broken or is breaking and things aren’t functioning properly. Your travail is unmistakable and insurmountable and while people walk by you as they live out their lives, you summon every last drop of grace inside of you to simply stand up and take a step. You sing what Paul Tripp writes:
Weakness is my lot.
Suffering is my prison.
You have chained me to frailty.
I cannot break free.
But this prison is your workroom.
and I am your clay.
You are not a jailer.
You are a potter.
I have not been condemned.
I am being molded.
Whoever you are and whatever your needs, make no mistake...Jesus knows the hurt and your heart. There's no pain or scar He won't understand, so bring it all. Risk it. Take it. Get up. Limp through the crowd. Crawl to safety. The Bible says many people were pressing against Jesus when He asked, "Who touched me?" (Mark 5:30), which means that while many people actually touched Jesus on the road that day, only one truly reached.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: What was it that got that woman up and through the crowd? A desperate heart. Same for Peter. They both believed that Jesus was their only answer. What unprecedented journey are you on?
The PrayFit Run 2020 on May 2
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The Life of the Party
I can almost see him catching my eye and waving me over to join him. He’s telling me to not take myself so seriously. Lighten up. Find the beat. Join the fun.
I’ve never been the life of the party. You won’t find my name atop the list of “must-invites” for your next shindig. It’s true. I’ve never been accused of having too much fun. Invite me to a party and I’m likely to be found in a corner with a good glass of wine, making friends with the family dog and calculating exit strategies.
My preferred spot on Friday night was no different.
When the “needs list” was being passed around, I signed-up for fire-pit security. Not shocking. Basically, the fire pit is as far away from the crowd as possible but close enough to see all the dancing, watch all the fun and hear all the tunes. For the introvert, it’s the promised land.
Friday night was Joy Unleashed; the special needs dance at Calvary Community Church; the valley’s premiere event for kids impacted by disabilities. The pioneer of the event and the Biblical example of how a church should throw a party, Gina Spivey along with her team of misfits, did it once again. They rolled out the red carpet, matched high school sweethearts as dates and said, “Let’s dance.”
Max Lucado once wrote, “I’m not one who easily envisions a smiling God. A weeping God, yes. An angry God, okay. A mighty God, you bet. But a chuckling God? Hardly. But consider the wedding at Cana. Jesus wasn’t invited because he was a celebrity. He wasn’t one yet. He’d yet to perform any miracles. They just liked him. The Holy One wasn’t holier-than-thou. The One who knew it all wasn’t a know-it-all. People just liked him.
Sure, there were those that called him a blasphemer, but they never called him a braggart. They accused him of heresy but never arrogance. He was branded a radical but he was never called unapproachable. He never used his heavenly status for personal gain. He was simply likeable. He called people by name. He listened to their stories. He answered their questions. He visited the sick. Helped friends. He had lunch with the little guy. He was always on the guest list.”
Suffice it to say that I don’t think Jesus would have been hanging with me around the fire pit. No, I think he would have been on stage with Robbie, tearing up the dance floor with Nathan and belly-laughing with Brandon. I think he would have been doing the “YMCA” with Kevin, singing “Shake it off” with Jennifer and sitting on the floor with Gina. He would have been the life of the party, because he brings the party to life. I can almost see him catching my eye and waving me over to join him. He’s telling me to not take myself so seriously. To lighten up. He’s encouraging me to find the beat, join the fun, unleash a little joy.
I’m envisioning a smiling God, and if you think I’m grinning, you’re right.
Jimmy Peña
Unleash Joy
The Joy Unleashed dance is just one of the outlets that we at PrayFit get to pour into, and you’re a part of it too. Whether you’re an avid reader of our blog or a monthly donor to The Body, you are in this with me. Thank you for your constant encouragement and generosity. The PrayFit Run will pour into events like this, so, I hope you sign up. We’re two months away. We need as many participants as possible.
Tuesday Prayer
Lord, my arms work because of You. My legs respond to my thoughts and my mind is uncluttered. Every ounce of my body is a gift from You. Prevent me from believing that I somehow earned any of this, but for Your glory let my workout be as reckless and abandoned as those precious kids on the dance floor as they danced the night away.
BE SURE TO VISIT THE STORE
One of the ways you can continue supporting our efforts at PrayFit is by visiting our store. A couple of new arrivals have hit the pre-sale block including our new ultra thin summer hoodie and the trucker race cap. You’re gonna love these. Thank you for checking it all out.
