Pastor’s Corner February 2014

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

Spiritual Diet and Exercise Rhythm

Every year I get older I am trying to find new ways to stay in shape. For most of my adult life I have battled against weighing too much and having high blood pressure. Despite being active, it seems like the combination of my slowing metabolism and enjoyment of food conspire to slap the pounds on me. So, like so many others, I continue the fight to stay healthy.

In 2013 I was able to shave off 25 pounds. I would like to take off as much in 2014, but more importantly, find a base diet and exercise balance that keeps my weight and blood pressure at healthy levels. I am under no illusions about the challenge that lays before me.

I recently started an exercise program that requires 30 minutes per day, for 5-6 days each week. I have been doing it three weeks and have lost five pounds and feel more fit already. Connected to the exercise is being careful about my food intake, so I am following the basic dietary practice that worked last year. The bottom line is keeping to a regular, consistent diet/exercise rhythm. Over time, consistency is what works. When I get off track and add some pounds and blood pressure points, the answer is to get back in to the rhythm.

When it comes to our spiritual growth and health, I think there is a parallel. Each of us need a diet of the means of God’s grace to be spiritually healthy. God gives us Christ, His Word, His sacraments, and the fellowship of His people. There has to be a consistent spiritual diet/exercise rhythm in our lives. We must be fed God’s spiritual food and have outlets to exercise our spiritual gifts of service. Your Church should provide this kind of encouragement, sustenance, and outlet for you to keep a base level, regular, spiritual diet/exercise rhythm.

I encourage you to perhaps see your involvement in Church differently. I know there are many activities to involve yourself with in this life, but I have no hesitation recommending you spend as much time eating spiritual food and exercising your spiritual gifts among and with the people of God as possible. Make Sunday a day genuinely focused on worship and spiritual feeding. Make your home fellowship group (among other outlets) a place to fellowship, test the truths you are learning, and encourage others in their walk with Christ. Look for various outlets for serving others in the church and through the church to the world. For all the busyness and complexity of life today, there is a relatively simple spiritual diet/exercise rhythm we can follow.

By God’s grace, can you imagine how a Church of spiritually fit believers might be used for His glory?

In the Lamb,

Pastor Tony Felich