If you need a little LAUGHTER – watch the webcast from this past Sunday’s message on Transforming Your Physical Health.  The opener is hilarious.  I hope you’ll stay tuned and watch the message because it offers some practical helps on transforming your health that might surprise you.

At the end of the message, I told you we’d try to answer the questions you submitted over the next few weeks.  I am not a nutrition or fitness expert and the suggestions that follow are the result of things I’ve learned, and I’ve asked for input from my trainer and friend John Robinson.  Always consult with a physician before making changes to your nutritional or exercise habits.  If you have some form of an eating disorder, please find a Biblically based Christian Counselor to help before making changes in your habits.

Some of the questions you asked were very broad in nature and can’t be answered in a short blog; you need to sit down and talk with a Biblically Based Christian Counselor or a Pastoral Counselor because the depth of your question will most likely take some time to work out.  Jimmy McLeod is a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor who serves with us at Grace Fellowship and is available each Wednesday afternoon for appointments.  You can call the church office to find out more.  Rocky Johnson and Rick Cooper are our pastoral counselors who may be able to help with your questions.  We also have some Life Groups that address a few of the questions you asked; you can contact Pastor Doyle Brookshire if you’d like to know more about groups that deal with the issues you’re facing.

One of the questions we can address is as follows:   What is a way we can connect with others to bring some accountability and celebrating together in the gains of health? Walking groups? Running groups?’s healthy eating?

John Robinson’s response is:

1. Join a local fitness club with a friend/family member/ co worker and set a specific schedule to meet during the week.
2. Start or join a local walking group that meets on a scheduled basis
3. Look for a qualified personal fitness coach/ ( personal trainer) to train with for 60 days
4. Set up a group nutrition call or consultation with a certified nutritionist
5. Set 1 goal to achieve every 30 days. It must be written, small, and achievable

My response:

I think the idea is great!   The best thing for me is to have someone I work out with on a regular basis (either my wife Janet or a Personal Trainer) and to have a set time that I go.  It’s also been good for me to pay for this privilege because it motivates me not to waste money by not going.

I’ve also been in ministry for years and have people ask all the time about ideas they have for ministry.  My normal response is: “Are you willing to lead it?”   If God put it on your heart, are you willing to take the reins and run with it?  We’ll help and give you guidance or point you in the right direction, but for it to work – someone has to be passionate about it.  If you’re passionate about it, maybe you’re the one to help start it.  I’d sit down and talk to Pastor Doyle Brookshire and see if it could fit within our group structure. If not, don’t let that stop you from pursuing your dream and forming a group (or groups) that fulfill the desire expressed in your question.