Thank You, President Trump

Much of this is a reprint of an article written by Howie Carr and featured in the Boston Herald. I added some things of my own at the bottom of the list.

Christ said you will know a tree by its fruit. Whether it’s Trump or someone who thinks like him, I look forward to an administration that has this kind of record…

  1. Thank you for the tax cuts for the middle class.
  2. Thank you for destroying genocidal ISIS, which your predecessor called “the junior varsity.”
  3. Thanks for shutting off the endless flow of illegal immigrants at the southern border, and the unending supply of MS-13 gangbangers, among other criminals, as well as the welfare-dependent illiterate indigents who were so destabilizing American society before you became president.
  4. Thank you for calling out the endless hypocrisy of the media — what you so aptly described as “Very Fake News.”
  5. Thank you for promoting economic policies that led to the lowest unemployment rates ever for blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and women, among others.
  6. Thank you for doing more to promote peace in the Middle East than all of your predecessors combined.
  7. Thank you for calling out and exposing the feckless RINOs of your own party like Willard Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Kelly Ayotte, et al.
  8. Thanks for finally standing up to Red China and its predatory trade practices.
  9. Thanks for calling out Fox News Channel for its duplicitous descent into terminal wokeness. T
  10. hank you for Operation Warp Speed, an amazing achievement for which you will never receive the appropriate credit.
  11. Thanks for pardoning all the persecuted victims of the Russian collusion hoax, among them Gen. Michael Flynn and Roger Stone.
  12. Thank you for eliminating Obamacare’s “individual mandate,” which fined individuals for not buying health insurance they didn’t want or couldn’t afford.
  13. Thank you for taking more questions from (almost always hostile) reporters than all of the last three or four presidents combined.
  14. Thanks for getting the U.S. out of such foreign policy disasters as the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Accords and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as ending the fiasco for American workers that was NAFTA.
  15. Thanks for such a booming economy that seven million people got off the food-stamp rolls.
  16. Thanks for all those tweets that drove the Democrats and the media (but I repeat myself) crazy.
  17. Thank you for not turning the IRS into an instrument of persecution against your political foes, the way your predecessor did.
  18. Thanks for not surveilling reporters a la the Obama administration.
  19. Thanks for ending state oppression against people of faith like the Little Sisters of the Poor.
  20. Thank you for trying to defund “sanctuary cities” where illegals run amok.
  21. Thanks for the three new justices on the Supreme Court — think how much worse Hillary’s picks would have been, and maybe someday they’ll grow the spines they so obviously lacked last month in Texas v. Pennsylvania.
  22. Thank you for defanging North Korea and Little Rocket Man.
  23. Thanks for opening up more of our North Atlantic waters for New England commercial fishermen and lobstermen.
  24. Thanks for defending both the First and Second Amendments, and for railing against Section 230, which the billionaire fascists of Silicon Valley are abusing to shut down free speech.
  25. Thank you for appointing U.S. attorneys who actually wanted to put real criminals in prison, without fear or favor.
  26. Thank you for the travel ban, which has largely halted the flow of terrorists like the Tsarnaevs, who had been welcomed into the U.S. and put on welfare by previous administrations, Democrat and Republican alike.
  27. Thanks for the balance in my 401(k).
  28. Thanks for the lowest gasoline prices in decades.
  29. Thanks for the largest number of Americans with gainful employment since the government started keeping records.
  30. Thank you for ordering the elimination of two of the most bloodthirsty terrorists on earth, al-Baghdadi and Gen. Soleimani.
  31. Thank you for being bold enough to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
  32. Thank you for enacting legislation that prevented violations of religious freedom in the context of Heath Care.
  33. Thank you for eliminating support of global abortion funding (known as the Mexico City Policy).

Thank you, Mr President.

Muscular Christianity Registration Page

“Muscular Christianity” is the perfect combination of spiritual and physical fitness!  You’re looking at your diet and exercise routine as part of your pursuit of a more “muscular” Presence of Christ in every aspect of your life.

  • USMC Based Calisthenics
  • Training on How to Eat “Right” and Not Just Eat “Light”
  • Practical Devotionals That Make a Difference

You train every day and meet once a week to exercise as a Team. You hold someone accountable to their progress while someone else is making sure you’re staying on top of your training regimen.

It begins Saturday, October 19th at 7:00 am at Thompsons Station Church. You’ll need to purchase the “Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan” book that’s available on amazon.com.

 Regardless of your fitness level, this is a gamechanger and you do not want to miss it!

Fill out the form below to register and we’ll see you the 19th!

    What is Muscular Christianity?

    A Brief History

    From a historical perspective, the term, “Muscular Christianity” first came into the public spotlight when it was used as part of a book review written by T.C. Sandars of a novel entitled, “Two Years Ago” by Charles Kingsley in 1857. Sandars had seen in the book’s main character a combination of physical athleticism and Christian virtue and he called, “Muscular Christianity.” But it was Kingsley’s contemporary, Thomas Hughes in his book, “Tom Brown at Oxford” where the characteristics of the “muscular Christian” were fleshed out and described in a way that resembled a 19th century Christian knight or a “true” gentleman:

    …the least of the muscular Christians has hold of the old chivalrous and Christian belief, that a man’s body is given him to be trained and brought into subjection, and then used for the protection of the weak, the advancement of all righteous causes, and the subduing of the earth which God has given to the children of men. He does not hold that mere strength or activity are in themselves worthy of any respect or worship, or that one man is a bit better than another because he can knock him down, or carry a bigger sack of potatoes than he. For mere power, whether of body or intellect, he has (I hope and believe) no reverence whatever (The Victorian Web).

    While it was never an organization per se, it was nevertheless a mindset that was encouraged by English clergy who saw sports as way to improves one’s physical capacity to serve in the context of personal and public ministry. In addition, it proved an effective way to get men interested in church and their spiritual disciplines when in 1899 women constituted 75% of church membership and 90% of church attendance.1

    Men’s Ministry…it can be a tough thing to get moving because reading one’s Bible and spending time in prayer is often perceived as a last resort reserved for those who can’t get it done. There’s a difference between being transparent and being defeated. While conversing with one’s King should never be perceived as a sign of weakness, it can be given the way it’s portrayed in our culture and even the way it’s sometimes voiced by well meaning believers. Even some of our Praise and Worship focuses more on the weakness of the one that’s worshipping rather than the True Muscle of the One being worshipped. It is a very healthy and necessary thing to confess one’s inability, but not at the expense of celebrating God’s Perfect Ability to do all things. To get a man interested in reading the Word of God, it has to be seen as more than just a Divine Emergency Kit. Rather, it has to be engaged as part of a Holy Ghost Strategy to be better than your best and being able to, not just get things done, but being able to get things done in a way that translates to an outcome that’s better than you could have planned on your own.

    In addition, good health, while it was more of a given during the years prior to the Civil War, where a lot of the work that was being done was agricultural, now was in a state of peril due to the way in which the Industrial Revolution had transformed the country’s economy and sedentary desk jobs became commonplace (1870-1914).2 Over time, the formation of church sport leagues and the building of gymnasiums would crescendo to the point where the formation of a formal association became a logical next step and this is how the YMCA got its start.

    While the Y was formed in 1844 in London, it didn’t have it’s own sports facilities until the establishment of the New York City YMCA in in 1869. At the time Theodore Roosevelt was only eleven years old,  but he was raised in a household that subscribed to the “Muscular Christianity” perspective and would go on to become one of its more vocal supporters.

    You don’t hear the the term, “Muscular Christianity” as much today, although organizations such as the “Fellowship of Christian Athletes” do well in keeping alive the idea that athletics is an appropriate way to reinforce biblically based morals and character. From that perspective, “Muscular Christianity” is still very much a part of the contemporary Christian landscape.

    What’s Different Here

    “Muscular Christianity,” in the context that it’s used here, is different in that while fitness is still processed as an extension of discipleship, it’s taken a step further and used to describe an intentional effort to apply God’s Word to every nuance of the human experience. Fitness, Politics, Church Life, Relationships, Culture – everything! Moreover, one’s spiritual disciplines are pursued not just as way to endure the trials of life, but also as a way to excel (Col 3:17, 23)! The “Prosperity Gospel” movement positions Jesus as a Holy Appliance that one uses to secure financial and material blessings. Instead of using Christ to get what you want, “Muscular Christianity” is all about obeying Christ to order to do and become more than you could ever accomplish on your own and receive all that He would give (Josh 1:8; Dt 8:18; Ps 1:1-3; Rom 12:1-2; Phil 2:13). You’ve been put on this planet to make a difference and not just an appearance (Eph 2:10). That doesn’t happen in the absence of challenges (Jn 16:33). In order to put some points on the board, you can’t afford to be merely smart, you need to be wise (Lk 12:13-21; Jas 1:5). Nor do you want to spend more time and energy rehearsing what you can’t do than on what God can do in and through you (Is 41:10; Eph 1:19-20; Phil 4:13, 19). The goal of “Muscular Christianity” is to present Discipleship as an invitation and not just an obligation. By keeping your hand in His, He doesn’t just walk you through the fire, He leads you to the prize of time well spent, a victory well won and a life well lived (Matt 25:21). And all of this is accomplished by reeking of excellence in everything you do, think and say (Ps 19:14). That way, you’re not only getting things done, you’re doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for all the right reasons (1 Pet 1:16) and all the while inspiring others to ask you what it is that makes you tick (Matt 5:16).

    The End Result

    The result is a game winning approach to Discipleship. We’re not just launching an effective defense by standing up to temptation, we’re running down the field and putting some points on the board. We can explain not only what we believe, but why we believe it. We make a point of staying on top of our spiritual disciplines because, not only are we supposed to in order to avoid the baggage that goes along with sin, but so we can deploy God’s Purpose, Peace and Power in a way that translates to you and I reeking of excellence in everything we say, think and do! In short, we’re spiritually ripped, physically fit and fully equipped. Welcome to Muscular Christianity!

    Bruce Gust


    In addition to a number of articles on this website that cover a lot of ground, you’ve also got some specific strategies represented by a collection of resources:

    Fitness: Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan – pursuing a toned physique using the Bible as our mental starting point and then unpacking the subject of nutrition, working out everyday using a USMC approach and combining that with a daily conversation between your and your King. You can do it on your own or with a group. You’ll find a number of ideas by clicking on the “Fitness” tab on this website.

    Bible Study: If you’re going to apply God’s Word to everything that’s going on in your life, you need to know how the Bible is laid out and what it says so you know where to go when it’s time to get some Answers. The “90 Day Bible Study Guide” breaks down every book in the Bible and gives you some highlights so you can see how everything “fits” and works together. It’s a great introduction to Scripture and is a great primer for more in depth Bible study.

    Professional Development: “The Greatest Salesman in the World” is a book by Og Mandino that at one point was considered THE book that every business professional needed to read. It uses a clever story to introduce 10 Laws that, when properly applied, help you to succeed in the marketplace. “The Greatest Bible Study in the World” takes those laws and shows how they can be traced back to Scripture and from that standpoint, you’ve got more than just a book that shows you how to succeed in business, you’ve got a biblically based template on how to succeed in life.

    Politics, History, Culture and Climate Change:Perception Changes” is a book that looks at the things that dominate the headlines and asks the question, “What does this look like if Jesus really did die and come back to life?” Rather than wondering IF Christ’s death and Resurrection occurred, this book looks at the issues believing that He did rise from the grave and how that impacts our convictions and the way in which our “perception changes.” In addition, you’ve got several articles that pertain to a variety of issues on this site… Discipleship | Fitness | Self Improvement | Politics | Social Issues The common thread being a concerted effort being deployed to craft a conclusion based on the whole of God’s Word and not just a few select verses.

    1. “Muscular Christianity”, Clifford Putney, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. London, England, 2001, p41

    2. Ibid, p23-24

     

    About Bruce

    bruce_flex_gradientBruce is originally from a small town in upstate New York called Hilton. Two weeks after graduating High School, he was at Parris Island, South Carolina engaging the rigorous process one goes through in order to earn the right to wear the uniform of a United States Marine. He would serve for nine years, five of which were spent as a Drum Instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music  before being honorably discharged and moving to Nashville, Tennessee.

    The move was inspired in part by a great opportunity to be the drummer on the first, “Young Messiah Tour” in 1990 which featured a “who’s who” of Contemporary Christian Music performers. After the tour concluded, Bruce would experience first hand the term, “starving artist” as he labored to keep his dream of being a full time musician alive with various playing opportunities leading Praise and Worship for Youth Groups from behind a drumset and supplementing his “proud but incremental” income with a job at the greatest fast food restaurant on the planet: Chick Fil A.

    During this time he was rehearsing with a quality group of individuals he had met through various church affiliations that would go on to form the group, “Western Flyer.” It’s here where Bruce would be able to enjoy the rare and special experience of having a record deal and hear his band on the radio and see it listed on the Country Music charts.

    After “Western Flyer” came off the road, Bruce secured a position with a local Christian publishing company. It wasn’t long after beginning his career with LifeWay that he was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in his hips and underwent bilateral hip replacement surgery. While fitness had always been a priority, with the sense of urgency that came with the need to take care of his new prostheses, diet and exercise took on a whole new look. Thus began a passionate pursuit of dietary and training solutions that would find their ultimate expression in “Muscular Christianity.”

    Beyond fitness, the need to be spiritually ripped and being able to answer the question “Why you would want to be spiritually ripped,” is Bruce’s passion. As a father, as a Youth Pastor, as a Small Group teacher – the central theme is to present Christ as a comprehensive Game Changer and not just a Divine Emergency Kit. He makes opportunities obvisomous (Ps 139:16; Lk 2:27-32; Rom 12:1-2), victories achievable (1 Sam 17:45-47; Ps 44:3; Neh 2:8; Acts 12:6-7) , the trivial becomes significant (Zec 4:10; Matt 16:9-10; 1 Cor 1:28-30) and defeats are now mere stepping stones (Rom 8:28; Acts 16:7). “All things at all times having all that you need…(2 Cor 9:6-7)!”

    Do you smell that? That’s the aroma of excellence and THAT’s “Muscular Christianity!”

    Bruce is a certified Group Fitness Instructor, a licensed pastor and a published writer. He and his wife Michelle have three children and live in Thompsons Station, Tennessee various accolades and accomplishments

    • nine year veteran USMC
    • NCO of the Quarter, First Marine Brigade
    • Honor Graduate, Intermediate Course, Armed Forces School of Music
    • attended night school for six of the nine years he served in the Corps and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration
    • Navy Achievement Medal awarded for five year tour of duty as Drum Instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music
    • drummer on the inaugural “Young Messiah Tour” which was the most successful and well attended Contemporary Christian Music tour up to that point
    • national recording artist with the band, “Western Flyer”
    • endorsed by Taye Drums, Pintech Percussion and Peavey Sound Systems
    • ordained pastor
    • Youth Pastor and Music Minister at New Hope Baptist Church
    • Music Minister at The Bridge
    • authored the official Bible Study that was released with the movie, “Left Behind” starring Nicholas Cage
    • Certified Group Fitness Instructor
    • Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do

    Your Spiritual Sixpack

    Muscular ChristianityWhat’s true in fitness is just as true when it comes to spiritual fitness – eliminating the “excess” that would otherwise keep you from hearing and obeying your Heavenly Father.

    When you train spiritually, you’re studying the Word of God and spending time talking with your King. You’re listening to His Counsel and being aggressive when it comes to being obedient.

    Muscular ChristianityBefore you start though, you want to clarify your “Inspiration.” Why are you getting up extra early to read God’s Word? Are you just going through the motions to pacify an otherwise guilty conscience, or is it because you want to ensure you’re hearing and obeying your Heavenly Father in order to experience the benefits of Joshua 1:8?

     

    Muscular ChristianityWhen you train, are you focused? Are you getting “through it” or are you getting “to it?” Are you really listening and benefitting from what you’re hearing in the context of the time you spend with your Heavenly Father, or are you just going through the motions?

     

    Muscular Christianity2 Corinthians 3:18 says “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with every increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Is that true? Is there a stronger Presence of Christ in our lives than there was last week or even this morning?

     

    We’re not necessarily in a position to know, in that we’re not the best judge of our own heart (Jer 17:9-10). But we can look back over the ground we’ve covered and notice how God has taught us and how our perspective has changed (1 Jn 2:12-14).

    Ultimately we do all things for the same reason: To be like Him and make Him look good in the process (Col 3:17). We want His Purpose, His Peace and His Power working through us to the point where others are drawn to it and become curious (Matt 5:16).

    We do this, not just in terms of spiritual disciplines, but in all things including the gym and the dinner table. The result is a more “muscular” Presence of Christ in every area of our lives and that is “Muscular Christianity!”

    What Would Your Billboard Say (Part I)?

    Muscular Christianity BillboardIf you were tasked with creating a billboard that promoted the advantages of being a Christian, what would it say? Let’s take it a step further and say that you can design it however you want, but you have to leave out the idea of eternal life as well as the notion that says “He helps you with your problems.”

    It makes you think, doesn’t it?

    John 3:16 and verses like Isaiah 42:10 and John 16:33 demonstrate that missing hell and going to heaven along with having a Divine Source of assistance in moments of trouble are both very much a part of the Christian’s landscape. But, if your approach to Christ is limited to either a funeral home or a major crisis when you’re feeling like you’re at the end of your rope, then you’re missing out on the vast majority of what God brings to the table in the context of a relationship with Him.

    In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life as “knowing God.” That’s not something that begins when your heart stops, rather it’s something to be enjoyed, experienced and deployed right here, right now. And while it’s certainly a game changer when you’re dealing with a problem that threatens to overwhelm you, it was never intended to be something you reached for only in times of duress. That said, how does knowing God translate to an advantage when comparing the life of a believer to their unsaved counterpart?

    What would your billboard say?

    I’ve got a few ideas.

    Check it out: Read more

    What Would Your Billboard Say (Part II)?

    Muscular Christianity BillboardI) Intro

    Last time we talked about “Billboard Christianity,” we talked about one possible tag line being “It’s All Good” meaning that, as a believer, you have access to a perpetual Source of optimism because you

    •  know Who’s in charge
    • your sense of fulfillment isn’t based on goalposts that never stop moving

    This week we’re looking at another tag line. This one is “Pray Big.”

    II) Pray Big

    To the right, you see a license plate that belongs to a friend of mine. “Pray Big” is consistent with the message communicated in several Scriptures. Take a look:

    A) He Knows You (better than you know yourself)

    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer 29:11 [see also Josh 1:8])

    No one knows you like God knows you (see 1 Sam16:7;  Jer 17:10; Matt 10:30). He had a plan in mind for you before you ever entered this world (Ps 139:16). That plan is tailored expressly for you (Eph 2:10). Because He wired you in a way that results in your having both the ability and a passion for doing what He created you to do, rest assured that the greatest amount of fulfillment you’re ever going to experience in your life is doing the things you were created to do. That being the case, anytime you’re intentional about seeking God’s direction, you’re doing yourself a favor because He’s going to steer you in the direction that results in the greatest good for your life.

    B) Ask!

    If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? Do you think you would get it? Why or why not? Take a look at what God told David in the aftermath of his affair with Bathsheba. At this point, David’s busted. He’s getting chewed out by God through the prophet Nathan and he deserves it. He committed adultery and then he turned around and used his authority as king to orchestrate the death of one of his bodyguards in order to cover his tracks. He knows what he has coming and he’s not putting up any kind of argument. In the midst of God’s rebuke, the Lord says something that’s significant. Take a look:

    I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. (2 Sam 12:8)

    God’s listing every beautiful woman that David had access to along with the throne. And then He says if that hadn’t been enough, He would’ve given David even more. Think about what God is saying, here. David had noticed a woman that was not his to pursue. The fact that he had a desire for female companionship was not the deal-breaker. Rather, it was the object of his desire and the way in which he went about pursuing that which was forbidden by violating two commands that carried the death penalty. Look at what it says in Luke:

     If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

    Now consider what Jesus says in Matthew:

    Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. (Matt 7:7-8)

    …and then in James:

    You do not have, because you do not ask God. (Jas 4:2)

    God is not stingy. When you ask, He hears and He stands ready to answer your prayer. Consider this: Anything you ask for is going to pale in comparison to what He already gave in terms of the sacrifice of His Son:

    He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom 8:32)

    So, with that in mind, ask! Go for the brass ring. Pray big! Think about this:

     Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)

    You can’t out-imagine God. Pray for big things and do so confidently knowing that He hears and He’s more than willing to answer. Now, He doesn’t always answer the way we like and this is where the worship component of all this needs to kick in.

    C) Worship

    Go back to that passage in Luke:

    Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (Luke 11:11-12)

    Fact is, sometimes we ask for the equivalent to a snake or a scorpion. We don’t see it that way, but God can see things that we can’t so He says “No.” Other times we might be asking for something that is absolutely noble and God either says “No” or “Wait.” Either response can be exasperating but only if you neglect to keep the first part of the Lord’s Prayer center stage in your approach.

    Father, hallowed be your name…(Luke 11:2)

    The word “hallowed” means to “establish as holy.” In other words, before you launch into your petition, you begin by honoring God as being holy. In other words, you start by reminding yourself of Who it is you’re talking to. God is not your personal vending machine. He’s not your gofer. And should He respond to your prayer by saying either “No” or “Wait” – processing that response from a position that acknowledges God for Who He is far easier than if you try to do that while maintaining God as subordinate to your authority. That’s when you can become indignant and worse. II)

    III) Conclusion

    It is not so much true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. God has so constituted things that prayer on the basis of Redemption alters the way in which a man looks at things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonder in a man’s disposition. (“My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers, August 28th reading)

    God often works miracles through very common means. He uses people to accomplish His agenda and it’s not uncommon for an answer to your prayer to be delivered via something seemingly natural (see Luke 17:14). But because it’s God Who did it, it is therefore supernatural and you want to be able to appreciate it as such.

    When you pray and you do so reverently, you change. God sweeps up the distractive dust balls that are scattered on your spiritual floor and you’re given a chance to see things from a different perspective. That is the true miracle of prayer. Sure, the material answer to your request is important, but it’s the change that He exacts in you that is truly amazing. So pray big! Consider Who You’re talking to:

    • The Creator of the Universe (Col 1:16)
    • The One Who loves you and knows you perfectly (Ps 139:16; Matt 10:30; 1 Jn 3:1)
    • The One Who gave His Son for you (Rom 8:32)
    • The One from Whom all good things originate (Jas 1:17)

    His answer is assured and whatever that answer is, in terms of the material result you’re requesting, rest assured that His answer is exactly what it needs to be in order for your welfare to be accomplished. And in the interim, you have been changed because your perspective is being aligned with the Greatness and the Goodness of God which produces a more optimistic and a healthier disposition. Believe and trust (Jas 1:5-8). Move forward knowing that God is aware, able and active as far as your request is concerned. Don’t settle for an existence that’s limited to the physical possibilities as dictated by a cynical, human mindset. Pray big and know that God is exactly Who He claims to be, no request is too big and no appeal goes unanswered. For some final thoughts about your, “billboard,” click here

    Three Questions

    I believe the way you answer the following three questions do an excellent job of revealing the “practical reality” of your walk with Christ (Col 3:18). By “practical reality,” I mean either those times when “ministry” includes working alongside dynamics that aren’t agreeable or safe, or… you’ll see what I mean.

    Here we go:

    1) If you had to create a billboard that promoted a relationship with Jesus Christ and you couldn’t mention anything about heaven or hell or how Christ helps you with your problems, what would your billboard say?

    2) You’re the Good Samaritan. But instead of encountering the victim after they’ve been beaten and robbed, you encounter him as he’s being beaten and robbed. What does your ministry look like?

    3) Your neighbor’s house is on fire. You’re working alongside several people put out the blaze when all of a sudden you realize that among those you’re working with, there are several whose lifestyles you seriously disagree with. Do you keep working to put out the fire or do you walk away believing that it’s wrong to be a part of any effort involving people who don’t believe as you do?

    If you had to create a billboard that promoted a relationship with Jesus Christ and you couldn’t mention anything about heaven or hell or how Christ helps you with your problems, what would your billboard say?

    It’s not “positive thinking,” it’s “profound thinking.” And you’re not using Him or His Word to forward your agenda as much as you’re following His Lead in order to accomplish His Purpose, know His Peace and wield His Power in way that translates to a game winning strategy regardless of what race you’re running.

    Pray Big!

    Your “ministry” is not just what you do at church. It’s the way you excel and achieve by doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for all the right reasons regardless of where you are or what the circumstance may be. That includes the way you show up to work on time, the way you love your family, the way you vote, the way you work out and even the way you mow your lawn!

    Paul says in Colossians that you need to be doing everything in a way that merits Christ’s Signature. When you make a point of doing everything “…with all your might” and couple that with the moral excellence that characterizes the believer who’s on top of his spiritual disciplines, you’re not the kind of employee that people hire, you’re the kind of person people promote (consider the story of Joseph).

    Do it right and you are perpetually poised on the threshold of great things as a believer because you’re processing every moment as an ordained opportunity and not just another task to get done. He created you to make a difference and not just an appearance. Put that kind of approach into place and you won’t look at a Monday morning the way way ever again!

    How does Jesus help you succeed? That’s the question you need to answer in this exercise. It’s not just how you “deal” with life, it’s how you “succeed” in life. Messages like:

    • Don’t just be smart, be wise (Jas 1:5)
    • Don’t just be happy, be fulfilled (Ecc 12:13; Jn 4:32; Gal 5:22-23)
    • Don’t just be right, be effective (Lk 12:11-12)
    • Don’t just be confident, be certain (Matt 7:24; Phil 2:13; 1 Jn 5:13)
    • Don’t just prosper, succeed (Josh 1:8)

    You have the Mindset, the Manner and the emotional Muscle of God cruising through your veins. In other words, His Spirit lives in you. That’s the Divine Trademark that’s been stamped on your life (2 Cor 1:22)! You have the ball! Move it down the field and put some points on the board!

    He’s not just a Divine Emergency Kit. He’s also a Divine Tool Kit. He doesn’t say you’ll never be broke, nor does He say you’ll never lose or be sad. What He does say is that if you stick with Me, I’ll make you wise (Jas 1:5). If you make Me your priority, I’ll make your Strong (Is 41:10; Phil 4:13). And if you follow My lead, I’ll make you the kind of person who lights up the room when you walk in (Job 29:11; Matt 5:16; Jn 5:35; Phil 2:15; 4:8)!

    There are times where something tragic has happened or you’re up against the wall and, apart from God, you have absolutely no other options. In those times, should someone come alongside you and suggest that if you had more “faith,” you wouldn’t be as concerned or as sad, you’re not listening to someone who’s sensitive as much as you’re hearing someone whose approach to Scripture is based on a handful of verses as opposed to the Bible as a whole.

    We are to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Rom 12:15) Denying yourself or others what amounts to a healthy emotional response to a loss or a threat is neither holy nor compassionate. We don’t grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13), but we do grieve. Courage isn’t the absence of fear as much as it’s the strength and the confidence to do the right thing regardless of how scared you may be.

    We have access to that Strength and Confidence  in Christ (Is 41:10), but Jesus wept just before He raised Lazarus from the dead and He also sweat just before Golgotha.

    Yes, there’s rest and healing to be had and it’s important to remember who you are apart from Him and how utterly dependent you are on His grace (Jn 15:5). But He’s created you to make a difference and not just an appearance. Because of Who He is in you, you lack for nothing as far the resources needed to achieve and excel (1 Tim 4:8; 2 Pet 1:3).

    What we’re talking about here is not the minimizing of the holy compassion and the divine charity that is needed to strengthen and comfort those who are hurting. What we’re emphasizing is the fact that you are more than your wounds and better than your sin because of Who it is that lives and moves within you. That said, yes, there is a time to hurt and a time to heal, but there’s also a time to win and you don’t want to let yourself become more preoccupied with what you can’t do instead of what it is that He can do through you. That’s motivating and that’s the kind of thing you want to have on your billboard! Things like:

    Don’t Just Try. Win. Do It Right Dream Big, Pray Bigger Don’t Just Make an Appearance, Make a Difference

     

    Your situation is not something to be processed merely as a random collection of walls and warnings. Rather, it’s nothing but doors and directions when you allow His Truth to shape your perspective.

    Do it right and you are perpetually poised on the threshold of great things because you’re processing every moment as an ordained opportunity and not just another day to get through. Put that kind of approach into place and you won’t look at a Monday morning the same way ever again!

    Go God, boo devil! Make a Difference!

    For more reading on one’s “billboard,” click here.

    You’re the Good Samaritan. But instead of encountering the victim after they’ve been beaten and robbed, you encounter him as he’s being beaten and robbed. What does your ministry look like?

    Life isn’t always sectioned off in a way where the resulting shapes are characterized by straight and even lines. In order for the Truth to make an impact, you have to follow Christ’s example and communicate it in a way that addresses, not just the situation in general, but the unique “shape” of the situation to include the personalities that are involved, the topic being addressed and the setting that you’re in.

    Rarely are you going to be in a spot where only one verse applies. Instead, there will be several verses to consider which is why it’s so important to be taking your cue from God’s Spirit and His Wisdom as opposed to a collection of guidelines and techniques that you manufacture on your own based on a portion of God’s Instructions as opposed to the whole Handbook .

    Standing up for what is right is not always done in the absence of a physical / violent altercation. There is an evil out there that doesn’t respond to a gentle rebuke or even a stern warning. And to twist Christ’s admonishment to “turn the other cheek” or God’s command to not take revenge on someone for a wrong they’ve done to you in order to justify not standing up to Goliath or to insist that Jesus was talking about a pocket New Testament when He told the disciples to go purchase a sword, is an irresponsible and inaccurate application of God’s Word.

    ‘Turning the other cheek” is the biblical response to an offense, not an assault…

    As in much of Jesus’ teaching, pressing his illustration the wrong way may obscure his point. In fact, this would read Scripture the very way he was warning against: if someone hits us in the nose, or has already struck us on both cheeks, are we finally free to hit back? Jesus gives us a radical example so we will avoid retaliation, not so we will explore the limits of his example (see Tannehill 1975:73). A backhanded blow to the right cheek did not imply shattered teeth (tooth for tooth was a separate statement); it was an insult, the severest public affront to a person’s dignity (Lam 3:30; Jeremias 1963:28 and 1971:239). God’s prophets sometimes suffered such ill-treatment (1 Kings 22:24; Is 50:6). Yet though this was more an affront to honor, a challenge, than a physical injury, ancient societies typically provided legal recourse for this offense within the lex talionis regulations (Pritchard 1955:163, 175; see also Gaius Inst. 3.220). (“Avoid Retribution and Resistance”, IVP Commentary, accessed April, 2 2009)

    And to suggest that the New Testament somehow nullifies every Divinely sanctioned use of force in the Old Testament is to suggest that God changes His mind when it comes either swinging your fist or firing a weapon.

    He doesn’t change His mind.

    Ever (Num 23:19).

    Judges 3:1-2 makes it clear that God placed a premium on making sure that the Israelites knew how to fight. It makes sense, given the number of times Israel was called upon to strap on their swords and do battle with the enemies of God.

    In the New Testament, while Jesus does make it clear that to be reckless and hasty in resolving to remedy any and all disputes with a weapon is foolish (Those who live by the sword, die by the sword [Matt 26:52]), and He encourages believers to respond to insults and offenses by “turning the other cheek,” the context and verbiage of His admonishing the disciples to arm themselves taken along with God’s obvious endorsement of military force in the Old Testament compellingly demonstrates the Truth and Biblical place of “sanctified violence.”

    So, if you were to come on a scene where bandits were beating and robbing someone, you’re doing the right thing by stopping them however you need to in order to stand up for what is right and protect those who may not be able to protect themselves.

    Your neighbor’s house is on fire. You’re working alongside several people put out the blaze when all of a sudden you realize that among those you’re working with, there are several whose lifestyles you seriously disagree with. Do you keep working to put out the fire or do you walk away believing that it’s wrong to be a part of any effort involving people who don’t believe as you do?

    Solomon followed the example of his father in that he contracted King Hiram of the Phoenicians for laborers and building materials. David used the cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters provided by King Hiram to build his palace (2 Sam 5:11). Solomon used the same resource for the cedar needed to build the Temple (2 Chron 2:3).

    King Hiram resided in Tyre and ruled over a people who were descendants of Canaan. Canaan’s father was Ham  who was the son of Noah that had demonstrated an outrageous disregard for God in the aftermath of the flood. Noah saw the same belligerence in Canaan and rightfully prophesied that his descendants would go on to become perverse idolaters and wind up being the object of God’s Wrath in the context of the Israelites conquest of the Promised Land.

    Tyre, however, was a boundary and not a target (Josh 19:29). It’s not that the Phoenicians were a God fearing people (Ezekiel 26:2; Lk 10:13). They were descendants of Canaan, but those that resided in Tyre were able to somehow distinguish themselves in the sight of God as being undeserving of the punishment that was doled out to Sidon and other neighboring Canaanite cities. Perhaps that was one of the contributing factors that allowed for a friendly relationship between Hiram and David and then, later, Solomon.

    Their true, spiritual colors would be revealed later when they cheered as Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Israel and for that they themselves would be destroyed, as Ezekiel prophesied in chapter 26.

    The point being, however, that God can, and often does, use unconventional means and a variety of spiritual dispositions to do His work. In those moments, you want to support His efforts and not question them any more than you would refuse the cedar coming from Hiram simply because he was a Canaanite. Yes, he was an idolater, but he was used by God to do good nevertheless.

    At one point, the disciples were agitated by the fact that some people were casting out demons in the Name of Christ, yet they weren’t a part of Christ’s inner circle of disciples…

    38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

    39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. (Mk 9:38-40)

    However petty the disciples may have appeared to be –  as far as feeling like they were only ones capable of doing any good, being that they were a part of Christ’s inner circle – it’s not an uncommon complaint.

    Appearances can be distracting. A person’s manner, their background – if it doesn’t line up with tradition or convention – it can be mistaken for something sinister.

    Fact is, the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Ps 24:1). Everything that was created was made by Christ and for Christ (Col :16;Rev 4:11), so however dirty or different the glove may be, it’s the Hand inside the glove that’s doing the work and you don’t want to be so preoccupied with appearances or qualifications that you fail to appreciate how God uses different people to do His bidding.

    That doesn’t mean you throw caution to the wind and assume everyone is reading from the same page of music. 1 John 1:4 says to test the spirits, but that’s not always accomplished by focusing exclusively on a person’s checkered past or a vulgar outburst.

    King Cyrus is a great example of how God can use someone that doesn’t have a relationship with Christ and may even be a little offensive in their manner to do God’s bidding.

    The Jews were in exile and their city was a mess. The Temple was a heap of rubble and the walls were completely torn down (see 2 Chron 36:15-19). God had said that the Jews would be allowed to return, but if you were to look at an aerial photo of Jerusalem, you’d be pretty skeptical – especially given the very unlikely scenario of your enemy permitting the reconstruction of your city let alone financing it.

    King Cyrus of Persia would put things in motion by paying for the rebuilding of the Temple and issuing a decree that would allow any willing Hebrew to return to Jerusalem to get it done.

    Here’s the thing:

    Cyrus is addressed by name in Isaiah 45. God refers to him as someone He has anointed for the sake of his people. He also says of Cyrus:

    For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor,  though you do not acknowledge me . I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you,  though you have not acknowledged me  so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is note beside me. I am the Lord, and there is not other. (Is 45:4-5)

    Cyrus didn’t believe in God, but that didn’t change the fact that God used him to accomplish the reconstruction of Jerusalem.

    The same thing applies to us be it a politician, a doctor, a contractor or any kind of service provider. No, you don’t applaud their sin but you do support them in whatever role they’re playing in accomplishing God’s Purposes. In other words, you vote for King Cyrus, you make the appointment, you go with the best option and you don’t sneer at the cedar that’s being delivered to your doorstep for the construction of whatever God is building because its being delivered by a bunch of idolaters (see sidebar).

    Conclusion

    There’s a difference between compromise and wisdom. Basing your convictions on personal preferences seasoned with some carefully selected Scriptures that can be taken out of context and made to sound like a solid biblical reinforcement of your prejudices is not the same thing as basing your outlook on Scripture as a whole and refusing to allow your life’s experiences to replace the Word of God simply because you’re more comfortable with your opinion than you are with the Truth.

    Discipleship is not being accurately presented if it’s taught as something that only applies in the context of a crisis. Standing up for what is right is not always accomplished by a mere rebuke. David defeated Goliath with a sanctified response that included both a weapon and a word (1 Sam 17:45-47). And however rough around the edges God’s human instrument may be, Scripture proves over and over again that your focus needs to be on the Plot and not the players in order to determine who you should support and who should resist.

    There is, and always has been, an aggressive campaign in place to exchange the Truth for a lie (Jn 8:44; Rom 1:25; 1 Peter 5:8). If the author of that campaign is to be defeated, not only can we not afford to be petty, we don’t have the time to watch our countermeasures fail because they were based more on tradition than they were on the Substance of God’s Word.

    And even when your convictions are on point, your delivery has to be just as Inspired if the end result is going to be a legitimate win (Prov 15:23; 25:11; Mk 13:11; Titus 2:7-8).

    The bottom line is this: You’re here to make a difference and not just an appearance. Christ is the Filing Cabinet and not just a file folder and to restrict His Instruction and all the advantages that accompany obedience to those times that line up with your traditions is to gut His Word, kill your witness and give the opposition all the more opportunity to do some damage.

    On the other hand…

    Be the kind of workman referenced in 2 Timothy 2:15 and you’ve got a winning strategy in place that will benefit you and everyone He puts in your path because instead of you working without Him, He’s now the One working through you.

    Training Schedule

    mc_arrowCrafted by a former Marine, the “Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan” will change your approach to exercise, teach you how to eat and give you that spiritual six pack that allows you to make a difference and not just an appearance!”

    Here’s how your Training Schedule breaks down: FYI: Bear in mind, while you can do “Muscular Christianity” on your own, it’s imperative to have an accountability partner, it’s even better to be doing this as a group. The first thing you’ll be doing is running your PFT…

    Intro

    PFT

    PFT stands for “Physical Fitness Test.” This is the first thing you’re doing. You can click on some of the links below to get an idea of how things are evaluated, but the bottom line is that you’re establishing your starting point so that when you’re done, you can look back and see what you’ve accomplished. Not just in terms of your appearance, but also in your performance. Good Training!

    Assign Accountability Partners

    You can’t overstate the value and the effectiveness of accountability. Knowing that you’ve got someone looking over your shoulder who’s going to ask you what you ate and how you exercised every day – that’s some good training, right there!  If you’re doing this as part of a group, you’ll run the PFT and then establish who your accountability partner is going to be. It can be anyone. It can be someone in the group, or someone on the outside. Just be sure you’ve got that in place.

    Set Up Diet You’ll get into some more detail later, but for now, you’ll head out to pay 321 and, using that list of foods, build your diet with the kind of caloric intake in place that translates to a strategic balance of carbs and nutrients. This is what you’re eating / targeting for the next there months. This is also where you can use the Accountability Machine which is a great tool to keep you on track with your dietary goals. Click here to see a sample!

    Daily Routine Core Training

    Every morning you’re reading through a short devotional and responding to it. The three months you’re training, you’ve got three “semester” of demos.

    • Weeks One through Four: What Do You Believe and Why? – be able to explain what you believe and why you believe it without sounding hesitant
    • Weeks Five through Eight: All Things At All Times – God’s not a file folder, He’s the Filing Cabinet. Everything gets processed through lens of honoring Him and, in so doing, your passion and your commitment to excellence is dramatically increased.
    • Weeks Nine through Twelve: It’s Not About You – your reputation is secondary to His and it’s not your empire that you’re building it’s that piece of the puzzle that God has specifically designed you to build.

     

    phone_displayMorning Workout

    You’re downloading all of the Loose Cannon Fitness workout tracks and then going by the schedule in the book that details what workouts you’re doing on any given day. Buckle up! These are some deliciously miserable rounds of perspiration! Click here to see what some of those workouts look like!

    Document Diet

    Again, this is also where you can use the Accountability Machine which is a great tool to keep you on track with your dietary goals. Click here to see a sample! Bottom line: You can workout like a champ, but you’ve got to compliment that with a strategic diet if you want to see the kind of results you’re shooting for. Documenting what you eat and what you drink is key. And, of course, having that Accountability Partner looking over your shoulder helps as well! Study Time At the end of the day, you’ll want to read through a portion of the book so you’re ready to discuss what it is you’re studying with your group. Click here or on the image to the right to see how that “schedule” looks like, as far as your workouts, your Core Training (demos) and the material you’re reading through in the evenings. Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 6.17.11 PM

    Weekend Routine

    Group Exercise

    Team Training happens on the weekends. You start by running through an LCF routine of your choosing as a group and then you break down into the Bible Study section.

    Team Training

    You’ve been reading through your book a little very nite. Now, you’re breaking it down and dissecting it, making it real and allowing God’s Word to sink in a little more. Leader Guides and Student Handouts are available on the Download Page that you’re given access to once you purchase the book.

    Final PFT and Graduation

    Final PFT

    During your last Team Training session, you’re running your final PFT. If you’ve been on top of your game and exercising according to the training schedule, you’re going to be looking some vastly different numbers than what you put on the board three months ago. grad_certificate

    GRADUATION

    It’s been a challenging 90 days, but you’ve done more than just lost weight and increased your degree of physical fitness, you’ve got some spiritual biceps that have been toned up as well. If you’ve done this as a group, you’ll want to make your “Graduation” a big deal. On the Downloads page, you’ve got a Graduation Certificate available both as a pdf and as a PSD so you can attach your organization’s logo to it as well. The primary goal of the “Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan” is to get you to a place where you recognizing that being obedient to God’s Word isn’t just an obligation, it’s an invitation to participate in something that defines the difference between living and existing. And it’s not just Sunday mornings and those things that are typically categorized as “spiritual” It’s everything! All things at all times! A degree of excellence that characterizes every aspect of who you are and what you’re bringing to the table. Muscular Christianity: Spiritually Ripped. Physically Fit. Fully Equipped! Be aware of other “Muscular Christianity” resources engineered to keep you on top of your game, both spiritually and physically…

    • The Accountability Machine
    • The Muscular Christianity Blog
    • 90 Day Bible Study Guide
    • Muscular Christianity Facebook page
    • Muscular Christianity Curriculum
    • Muscular Music Resources

    Buckle up!

    signature

    Bruce Gust

    Muscular Mindset

    strenuous-life
    …I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desire mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.1 (Teddy Roosevelt)
    “Muscular Christianity” is organized according to three, broad tenets:

    • Know What You Believe and Why – be able to articulate what you believe and why you believe without sounding hesitant (1 Peter 3:15)
    • All Things at All Times – God is the Filing Cabinet and not a mere, File Folder (2 Cor 9:8)
    • It’s Not About You – His Agenda, His Timing, His Resources. You benefit by subordinating yourself to God and to others. In other words, it’s not about you and that’s a good thing (Phil 2:3-4)!

    Taken together they serve as a solid, theological foundation that is simultaneously both practical and logical. It’s unfortunate that much of what translates to something that’s legitimately motivating and beneficial gets lost in the midst of a conventional perspective that limits a relationship with Christ to either a Divine Emergency Procedure or a Sanctified Insurance Policy – supernatural options reserved for crisis situations and funeral arrangements. That’s not what Christ intended. He defined eternal life as “knowing God (Jn 17:3)” and when you make a point of positioning Him as your Motivation for everything you say, think and do, the resulting Standard of Excellence is downright inspiring. So, what does the day / mindset of a “Muscular Christian” look like? Here’s some Biblical scaffolding that answers that question, as far as how you’re “thinking” throughout the day in order to accommodate a godly perspective that is as Powerful (Phil 2:13) as it is Practical (2 Cor 9:8):

    Reveille – Morning! It’s a good day It’s not about the mistakes of the past (Lam 3:22-23), it’s not about what’s looming on the horizon (Matt 6:34), it’s about the fact that I’m upright, God’s got a Plan (Jer 29:11; Phil 2:13), I’m destined for great things (Eph 2:10) and it’s going to be a great day (Ps 118:24).

    Holy Ghost Briefing – I follow the example of my King in that I spend some time with my Heavenly Father at the top of the day (Mk1:35). I don’t just race through a couple of theological sounding thoughts, I take the time to consume some Truth and I pray in a way that combines reverence, intercession and appeals (John 1:8; Matt 6:9-13). I’m training to be godly and not just going through some spiritual looking exercises (1 Tim 4:7).

    Keeping my Body Tight – my body is God’s Temple. It doesn’t need to be the size of Atlanta nor does it need to be a feather pillow. And my age doesn’t matter. If I’ve got a metabolism like that of a racecar, I’m still watching what I eat. And if it takes a little longer to get my muscles warmed up, that doesn’t matter either. I’m a pointless, puddle of perspiration when I train and I’m not clogging my pipes with ludicrous carbohydrates either. I don’t look at it as an obligation, I see it as an invitation to be excellent and in that way I’m an effective commercial for my King on top of being able to enjoy all the benefits that go along with looking my best and being able to perform at 100% capacity. Dig that!

    Kiss on the Cheek – Depending where I’m at in my life, I’m either kissing my Mom and Dad goodbye as I’m heading out the door, or I’m kissing my bride and my kids goodbye. Regardless, I honor them and I treat them as the priority treasures that they are (Eph 5:22- 6:1-4; 1 Pet 3:7).

    Work / School – I’m knocking it out of the park! I’m bringing my “A” game to whatever it is that I’m doing (Col 3:23) and I benefit because people are drawn to excellence and / or those who pursue it.

    Going South – not everything works out the way I prefer. Sometimes my heart gets broke, sometimes I get angry. But rather than careening off into an emotional ditch, I reign my passions in and bring them under the Umbrella of my Savior’s Purpose, Peace and Power. The clouds don’t always clear, but the Son’s given a chance to break through the cloud cover and there’s enough Light to justify an even disposition and a genuinely optimistic outlook (Rom 8:28; Phil 4:6-8).

    Riding Off into the Sunset – the day is done, but actually it’s not. I’m not just collapsing in front of the TV. Maybe I’ve got homework, maybe I’ve got some other commitments but I’m still engaged right up to the point when my head hits the pillow. It’s called “diligence (Prov 12:24).” Clean up after yourself (Dt 23:12-14), take care of any chores or admin, read a book (“To lead, you must read.” [Theodore Roosevelt])2, invest some time in other people, invest some time in improving yourself (Phil 2:3-4).

    A Good Night’s Sleep – now you’re done. And you can look forward to a good night’s sleep (Ps 127:2). There’s always going to be something else to do, there’s often something on your mind, but the “Muscular Christian” is giving the keys to his Heavenly Father as part of being a “responsible driver.” It’s not that you’re incapacitated. Rather, you’re wise enough to know that it’s God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose and provided your obedience is in place, you can rest well knowing that it’s all good (Rom 8:28; Phil 2:13).

    The quote from Theodore Roosevelt that’s referenced at the beginning of this devotional refers to a life that is “strenuous.” At first brush, it may be tempting to process “strenuous” as being strained or stressed. It’s not. “The Strenuous Life” is the life of a Hardcharger. It’s the approach taken by a Muscular Christian. It means that you’re engaged, motivated and productive for all the Right Reasons (Matt 5:16) and utilizing all of the Right Resources (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:16; Col 1:27). It’s the practical manifestation of the Divine Life that proceeds from knowing God (Jn 17:3).

    Below is a spreadsheet that you peruse every morning that includes all of the verses / themes referenced above. Read through the verses everyday and start each day by getting your spiritual tires aligned in a way that positions you for some quality Gains (2 Cor 3:18) and some true Success (Josh 1:8):

     

    The Mindset of a Muscular Christian
    Theme Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
    Morning! Lam 3:22-23 Matt 6:34 Jer 29:11 Phil 2:13 Eph 2:10
    Holy Ghost Briefing Mk 1:35 Jn 1:8 Matt 6:9-13 1 Tim 4:7 2 Tim 2:15
    Keeping Your Body Tight 1 Cor 6:19-20 Rom 6:12-14 Prov 23:2 Prov 12:1 Eph 5:1
    Kiss On the Cheek Eph 5:22 Eph 6:1-4 1 Pet 3:7 Prov 29:15 Prov 6:20
    Work / School Col 3:23 Ecc 9:10 Matt 5:16 Col 3:17 1 Cor 3:12-13
    Going South Phil 4:6-8 Matt 6:34 Rom 8:28 Rom 8:32 Is 30:21
    Riding Off Into the Sunset Prov 12:24 Dt 23:12-14 Phil 2:3-4 Prov 6:6 Prov 20:4
    A Good Night’s Sleep Ps 127:2 Rom 8:28 Phil 2:13 Is 41:10 Ps 37:5-6

    You’ll see some of what’s discussed in this post expanded upon in the devotional material included with the “Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan.” Thing is, you don’t want to limit it to a three month training period. Being able to explain what you believe and why, applying all that Christ offers to every aspect of your life and establishing God as both the Target and the Source of your ambition is a lifelong dynamic. In other words, it’s not just a timeframe characterized by a spike in spiritual disciplines and physical training. It’s a mindset – the mindset of a “Muscular Christian!”