KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING AND KEEP YOUR SPIRIT HIGH! Part 2

KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH

Last time I talked to you about keeping your body moving and I hope you took the opportunity to “Talk It Out” and to “Listen Up” (see previous post) while you Got up; Got out; and Got your body moving!

Keeping your body moving has some difficulties, but keeping your spirit high is even harder…but you “CAN DO” it! How does one stay “UP” in a “DOWN” world? I’m glad you asked that question! 

It all starts with the mind. I learned a saying some years ago and it goes like this: “What goes into the mind goes down into the heart and comes out in the life.” What you put in your mind is what is going to come out of your mouth and shape your lifestyle! Remember “GIGO”: Garbage In, Garbage Out? That is true for computers and it is also true for humanity. 

Those “spirit downers” in your life had to come from somewhere. I would suggest they entered your mind through your eyes and ears…what you saw or read, and what you heard. Let’s turn ourselves around (Hokey Pokey) and take charge of everything that goes into our minds. Also, let’s make great choices as to how we respond to the world, and the people, around us. 

You actually have more control of your responses than you think. Have you and your spouse ever been in a “discussion” and the phone rings? I bet you answered it like everything in your world was going great! All of us have done this. The control was there because we made a quick choice. 

Try choosing these “uppers” over the next few days to keep your spirits high:

1) Turn off the negative. The media regularly pumps “bad news” into our ears and eyes 24/7/365. Limit your exposure. 

2) Observe your friends. Which friends of yours are constantly negative? Limit your exposure. 

3) Fill your mind. If what goes into our minds comes out in our speech and lifestyle, then start inputting positive things. Maximize your exposure.

Begin with memorizing Scripture. Here is a good verse to start on: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.(Philippians 4:8) Find yourself some motivational messages, podcasts, speeches, training seminars, etc. from people like Zig Ziglar and John Maxwell. You can’t go wrong with these speakers. 

4) Express thanks. A thankful heart is a happy heart and a happy heart is a thankful heart! Develop the “attitude of gratitude” and learn to express thanksgiving. If we will pause and reflect, we find things to be grateful for. That breath you just took…these words you just read…that meal you recently ate…that ability you used this week at work or play...as you can see, there are things to be thankful for. Maximize your exposure.

CHALLENGE: Take the next 7 days and practice only ONE of the items listed above. Then, the next week, continue that choice while adding a second. Within a month, you will be a totally different person. And I can’t wait to hear the changes that have been made in you! 

I am here for you! Feel free to comment below about your progress! We are in this journey together!

Get Up! Get Out! Get Moving! Get Your Spirits High!

KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING AND KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH! Part 1

There’s a saying that’s going around today and it goes like this: “Keep your body moving and keep your spirits high!” Have you been hearing this? It is an interesting and encouraging statement that people are making to each other via Radio, TV, FB, Twitter, etc.

So, let’s talk about this for a few minutes. 

KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING 

That is a great idea, however that body of yours needs to do more moving than going from the couch to the frig or bathroom! If you are physically able, then get on that home treadmill or get out that door and at least walk. You don’t have to start out big; maybe five to ten minutes in your neighborhood, or up and down your driveway. The main idea is to get moving and keep moving! 

Being quarantined or sheltered-in-place can make us lazier than we already are. And talk about the extra pounds…no, let’s not do that! For some people, these days remind us of college again and how we gained the “Freshman 15” (or more)! 

When we keep our body moving, we experience some good changes. First, we can experience less stress! Being “sheltered” is taking its toll on many Americans. Cabin Fever is spiking! Nerves are shot! Patience is not a virtue! Those are clear signs that we need to GET UP; GET OUT; and GET MOVING! Your body and your family will thank you. 

During these difficult “new normal” days, don’t be like the lazy person referred to in the Bible as a “Sluggard.” (When I hear that term I immediately think about a “slug” (big, fat, gooey thing that leaves a trail of slime wherever it slides around!) that oozes along the carport in a very slow pace. The Bible says, “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.” (Prov. 26:15) 

Don’t let that be you! Get up! Get out! Get moving! Two things I like to do while walking. 1) Talk it out – I like to lay out before God all my questions, stresses, frustrations, praises, etc. as I put one foot in front of the other. It relieves my brain and allows me to work through issues that are bugging me. How do I spell relief? W A L K!  2) Listen up – this is a great time to put on the headset and listen to my Playlist. I have a group of songs that lasts about 40 minutes, which is how long it takes me to walk 2 miles. Now, if I don’t have anything to talk out, then I listen up. Some days the opposite happens as well. Sometimes, I do a little of both. This is refreshing to my body and my mind. I bet it will be to yours as well. What do you do to Get Up, Get Out and Get Moving?

Final Countdown

As you already know, we have been called to serve First Baptist Church, Dawson, GA.

The beginning of one ministry is the ending of another. I've spent the last 7 years serving the Lord by serving other people behind the front counter of @Chick-fil-A. It has been a great journey and certainly My Pleasure!

So this is my final week.  It all began when I was in need of a job. We were a few months away from closing the church we started and I wanted to find something "temporary" to tie me over until the Lord led us to our new ministry.

Little did I know the Lord positioned me in my "new ministry" at CFA and also gave me many opportunities to preach. Not only as a fill-in but also serving three interim pastorates: Gentian Baptist for 6 months; Wynnbrook Baptist for 9 months; and First Baptist Richland, GA for 12 months. And in each church people came to salvation in Christ and were baptized into the Church! Praise the Lord!!

Many friends have been made through these churches and also through my years at CFA. I will miss serving them all. And I'll miss my fellow team members. We have had such great times together and learned a lot from each other. And we have laughed!

Thank you, Todd Morgan, Operator CFA Phenix City, AL for giving my the blessing of working and serving with you, John Lech, Chris Magnus, and the rest of the team. You all taught me so much.

Thank you Alex Vann, Operator CFA Macon/Wynnton Rd. and Manchester Expressway. You also gave me an opportunity to serve alongside you, Brandon Alan, Stephen Vaughn, and the team members at two stores. You challenged me to step up as a leader! I came as a learner and leave as a better leader...and still learning! Most of all your love and friendship has meant so much. We may be living in different places but the friendship continues! Thanks for allowing me to be a pastor to many and the Chaplain of Chick-fil-A!!

So the countdown begins...there are 5 days left at CFA! Friday December 15 will be the final day. I will forever cherish these 7 years of my "temporary" job!

Ephesians 3:20

CHANGE IS COMING!

We have some very exciting news coming our way! On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3, Lana and I will be meeting the people of First Baptist Church of Dawson, GA and I will be preaching in view of a call to become their Senior Pastor!

I haven’t been a full-time Pastor for 6 ½ years although I have had 3 lengthy interims and have filled in for a lot of churches. Thankfully the Lord kept me busy and sharp when it comes to preaching.

He has also used these years to shape me into being a better pastor. And yes, He did it through my 7 years at Chick-fil-A! Actually…I never stopped pastoring…I just did it from a different venue. Chick-fil-A gave me so many opportunities to witness and minister to people. I have prayed for the needs of many of our customers and fellow team-members.  We saw God do some great things in their lives and He gets all the glory!

So…it’s Monday and Sunday is coming! We ask that you pray for us as we prepare for the weekend. We want what God wants for us and for First Baptist!

Eph. 3:20

Joel

MY PASSIONS

What is it is life that you are passionate about? If you knew you could never fail and you had all the resources you ever needed, what passion would you pursue?

I’ve heard those questions for many years. And I have had a lot of things that I have been passionate about. However there are a couple of areas I just can’t get past that generate great passion and excitement in my life.  Both allow me to serve others and meet their needs! Both allow me to help people experience life-change and that excites me more than anything!

First and foremost, I have discovered that we all desire life-change. The single greatest resource for a changed life is God’s Word. I love to preach/teach/speak God’s Word! It is an awesome and humbling experience to stand before people and proclaim the Word of God. People are so hungry to know what the Bible has to say about whatever it is they are dealing with. They want to know how to live out this Christian life that they have surrendered to. They don’t want to be yelled at! They want to be fed, led and cared for! That’s what we preacher types (under shepherds) do – lead the sheep (people), feed the sheep and tend the sheep! It’s humbling to hear, from those who heard you speak/preach/teach, how God used that message to help them! All thanks and praise goes to the Father who brings people and preacher together as He does His work in all of us leading us to experience life-change!

My other great passion that gives me opportunity to serve people and help generate life-change is in the area of health and nutrition. I love talking to people about products that have impacted my life physically. I get real excited hearing great results from others who have also seen great changes take place in their bodies – from Olympic athletes to ordinary folks like you and me.  I highly recommend you take a look at the wonderful products created by the Shaklee Corporation. Their purity, potency and performance cannot be beat. They are the number one natural nutrition company in the world.

I must say that these products have changed my life! For instance, I’m 60 years old working at a Chick-fil-A trying to keep up with 20 year olds. The physical demands of my job are huge. I need strength, stamina and recovery. Check! I’m exposed to numerous people each day who are sick, so I need to stay immune. Check! Shaklee gives me what I need. And it has now for 24 years and I’m so thankful to God that I found this company.

If I can serve you by recommending to you products that can possibly generate the change you have been looking for in your life and health, then I hope you will allow me to do so. We can talk by email, FB, messaging, etc. I post a lot of things on an FB page and you can click here for a link. Please “LIKE” my page for updates, news and life-changing stories. And by all means please SHARE this page with your friends.

Passions… We all have them. Maybe you will share some of yours with me! I hope so.  Thanks for taking the time to read.  More to come!

BLESSINGS

It has been an interesting two weeks for us. We had been smelling antifreeze in the duct work of the Toyota Highlander (Lana's car) and knew something was up...and you guessed it - Heater Core! And we thought that was an expensive car repair ($800 but we decided to bypass it for now) until this past week when I blew a head gasket in the Ford Taurus (my car) and now $1500 later, I have my car back from the shop! It only has 207,000 miles on it so I guess the inevitable was going to happen.  Good news is I now have new heads, new tune up, new antifreeze and a fresh oil change!

I bought that 2001 Taurus when it had only 12,000 miles on it and we have been blessed with how it has performed! And I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus for keeping it running. And the 2003 Highlander has also been a good car full of the Lord's blessings. We were also blessed by not being stranded on some dark lonely highway. And we were blessed to have good friends to help get us where we needed to be until arrangements could be made for alternate transportation while the cars were in the shop!

Besides the cars, I started Physical Therapy on my left shoulder which had been strained. I have a good Therapist and some good meds to help with the pain! I'm blessed to get the help I need for healing and strength!

Speaking of blessings, the Lord has once again opened the door for me to preach more! I am filling the pulpit for a church for the next 2 months.  It's always good to pray for the Lord to prepare my heart and the heart of the church where I have the blessing to preach. It's amazing what God does when I ask for that preparation to happen.  When I arrive at the church I know with confidence that God has been working on all our hearts and when I hear the comments after the service I am humbled that God would still use me! All the praise goes to Him for His incredible blessings!

How have you been blessed by the Lord? Pause right now and thank Him for His blessings in your life.  I bet you won't have to look far to see them.

Joel

So it's been a while since I posted anything on this blog so I decided to finally get back into it once again! 

I am still working full-time at Chick-fil-A on Wynnton Road in Columbus, GA. Just celebrated my 4th year at this location and am presently serving as Director of Hospitality. And when I get the opportunity, I still preach the Word in various churches. It is good to utilize my experience to help other congregations at their point of need. Lana is serving as a church secretary in a local church and we have 3 awesome grandkids! 

This is just a quick update and I'll share more soon!  Thanks for checking in one me! 

Joel