Publisher's Letter

”Do it because it's the right thing to do”, is really not a good enough reason to do something. Being legalistic with your faith and your fitness is sooooo wrong. Start here as we discuss what transforms a tired workout routine into an energizing celebration you anticipate. Discover the God that gives you passion.

Get on the floor and wallow. When was the last time you stretched your arms, your legs, your back… your point of view? If you feel stiff it's because you are. Not just physically but spiritually too. Keep reading and you’ll be movin’ and stretching further in no time at all.Read this now and keep checking back for weekly updated comments.

The Tour de France is the ultimate in bicycling endurance. When I get on my bike I can’t go as hard and as far as they do. For these competitors it’s not just about how well they train. It is about how well they recover. Find out if you are on the road to recovery AND what the prize is when you get there.

Do you have the discipline to lose weight and be active? Do you have the discipline to pursue God and show compassion? Before you answer, think about this – children learn by example. You can too. What have you learned today?

Few people can illustrate as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger the physical experience known as “The Pump”. He now also represents an example of spiritual weakness. In the midst of these competing images are some lessons we can learn about a God who fixes the broken and calls you to serve.

Churches have nice looking steeples but do they produce much energy for a community? Magazine publisher Brad Bloom discusses the extremes in confidence from arrogance to fear. How confident are you in your faith, your fitness and in the impact you have on others?

Once when I ran a cross-country race I was in extreme pain. My coach yelled, “Brad – QUIT IT! Get that look off your face.” Since then I’ve learned the importance of quitting self-defeating attitudes and be patient in life for the long run. Is your self-will keeping you from having victory in daily life? Listen to the song I"M CHANGED while you read.

One of the biggest things this year in faith and fitness didn’t come from either a gym or church. Individuals with a personal passion for God are the ones fueling innovation and advances. See the top 4 areas for growth in 2011 and take the challenge to fulfill your purpose in God.

Do you ever wake from a sound sleep in the middle of the night? It could be your ultimate performance enhancing moment – a dream come true. Before you roll over and hit the snooze button learn how you can have these five qualities of peak performance in your life. Listen to the song, Said And Done, from the New Michael Boggs album.

Sacrifice can be defined in many ways including the simple things like going to the pool to invest time with a child. Start here to begin forming a deeper understanding of sacrifice. Pursue it to shape your physical body and empower your faith. Listen to streaming audio of the new song My Everything by the band Press Play while you read.

In the challenges of life how do you make the next step less painful? How do you make the next step count? Don’t make God or exercise little more than a drug. Start here and discover keys to motivation that will unlock powerful ways to take your faith and fitness further.

Create a Top 10 for 2010 --- and make sure it is just a little dangerous! Don’t let this year slip away without really working a wide range of muscles. When you get pushed and pulled you feel the tension – now experience the strength.

When was the last time you visited your local park? You may find it hard to imagine, but strolling through the park one day may be the new way to really get active and do church.

Full of rugged adventure, I recently explored the most amazing place. Tumbling headfirst into a cave, I got some dirt under my fingernails and a bruise or two. Have you found your place to interact spiritually and live life physically?

Where is your life going? Do you want to kick it up a notch and take it to the next level? If so, then you need to live a life infused with God’s mindset of MORE. [Reading recommendation: Read once before each workout for an entire month.]

How would you answer that question? If your fitness isn’t fun it should be. If your faith isn’t fun then what do you really believe? Hey – Jesus had fun. Shouldn’t you?

Ms. California 2009 and Father Alberto Cutie with the aid of photographers help us see just how much we can do with our bodies. Scandalous? Perhaps yes. But, what would you risk to grow in your relationship with God?

It is time to celebrate the fit church. In the world of fitness the well-developed, muscular and healthy human body is celebrated. In like fashion today’s fit church offers a dramatic example of how a body of people called the church can be fully immersed in being the life that God has created.

The strength and conditioning program CrossFit and being spiritually fit by carrying YOUR own cross have some similarities. Do CrossFit for well-rounded physical strength. Lift your cross of life challenges and personal burdens for genuine spiritual maturity. Are you lifting everything you should or is your life fully loaded with junk?

In today’s current climate of global chaos, finding CHANGE we can believe in gives us some comfort for the moment. Interestingly though the other big buzz word these days is FUNDAMENTAL. In fitness and in life it is time for you to take notes and change back to the fundamentals.

Do you make wise choices when it comes to your health, fitness and life? What do you do when you don’t have a clue? Time to ditch conventional wisdom and do things differently.

When you decide to go for it you jump, fall then land. What do you do next? You expand your definition of fitness and faith. When it is time for you to overcome challenges and be an influence look to God to create your own success story.

The road to greatness can be tough. To look great, feel greater and be your greatest requires focus, motivation, commitment and vision. The pressure we put on ourselves can be tremendous. Do you have what it takes?

Think back over the past week in your life. Would you use the word “blah” or the word “zing” to describe it? Now is the time for you to nurture three forms of energy that will fuel your life.

Everyone seems to be trying to trim the fat as fast as they can. Here’s a newsflash – Don’t “just diet”. When you lose fat and sculpt muscle AT THE SAME TIME you initiate an important principle.

Had enough of the non-stop fitness gimmickry? Take time to understand how God made you unique then create an exercise and development program that is right for you.

What is your point-of-view (or POV) when you’re on your back doing a sit-up? Expanding yours is not easy by any means.

What do you want from your club? I don't know about you, but coming together with others for selfish reasons doesn't cut it for me.

Like a bruised street fighter you have to wonder why you keep battling this one. Be fit both physically and spiritually. Believe and get it down to a science.

I’m an ectomorph – I’m naturally slim. I just gained 55 this week. But, I can tell you I already feel much better.