Hello ICC Family!
I knew a lot of missionaries overseas that ended up getting into running. Several even started to do triathlons. I knew several families where both spouses and the older children all started competing in races. One of our supervisors and his wife still race in triathlon competitions to this day - well into their 70’s! One of my good friends started an adventure sports company, leading people on treks into the Himalayan mountains. I had several friends that were so dedicated to working out and bike racing that they would train weekly even in Thailand - the deadliest country in the world for bike accidents. I played on a worship team with a couple that owned a Cross Fit gym, and consulted with several people all over the world on opening fitness-related businesses. My wife doesn’t race competitively and doesn’t do Cross Fit, but she is one of the most diligent and dedicated exercise buffs that I have ever met.
It seems like I have been surrounded by people that are exercise nuts almost all my life. However, … I am not. I have never enjoyed exercising. And I have always hated running. In high school I lettered in track every year. But I was a sprinter. I did the 100 meters, 110 high hurdles, and the 4x100 relay. If I ran longer than one lap around the track (400 meters), I would throw up. Which means I was getting sick almost every single day of practice. I was pretty fast at the sprints, though, so I guess that is why I stuck with it. In college, I had roommates that would wake up at 6 AM to go to the gym. Somehow at the beginning of every semester they would talk me into trying it out and going with them. I never made it more than a few days before telling them, “No, thank you, and going back to bed.”
It’s not that I don’t want to be in shape. It’s not that I couldn’t stand to lose a little weight. I do, and I could. And I’m getting older and need to do a little just to keep the joints from tightening up. It’s also not that I am completely undisciplined. I can cut calories or wake up earlier when I want, or do just about anything if I see the need and think it’s worth it. And maybe that is the problem. I just have never quite seen that being able to run a marathon or have a six-pack will be helpful. I do, however, absolutely see the benefit and the worth of spiritual discipline. As badly as some people want to lower their 5K time and as good as it makes some people feel to complete an hour-long hard workout… that is how much I want to study and learn and memorize and obey the word of the Lord. Perhaps that is why these verses have always resonated with me:
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Right here we are given that physical exercise is a good thing. It is definitely not a waste. There are great benefits, and I’m pretty sure every single one of our doctors would like us to keep that in mind. It’s just these verses say there is something even more valuable and worthy - training for godliness. A message similar to these verses:
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
We will have to do a sermon series on spiritual disciplines sometime, as developing in these areas is the way we train for godliness - Bible study, meditating, memorization, fasting, giving, etc. No matter how far we have come in our walk with the Lord, just as with physical exercise, there is always more work that can be done. And the great thing is that unlike with physical exercise… these efforts carry over into the next life as well! I am going to share some things I have been reading the past few weeks about building habits and growing. If you have any thoughts or tips of your own - especially if they would be helpful for everybody - please feel free to share them with
I hope to see many of you at church this evening. I still have a few RiverDogs tickets left if there is anybody that would still like to come. And I hope all of you have a great 4th of July. Praise God for our country and the freedom we have to worship and proclaim his name. We do not take that for granted!
Blessings to you all. And know that I’m praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
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