Chapter
Introductions
INTEREST
Before a person engages in any activity there
has to be
some degree of interest. Why do I
want to do this? What benefits do
I wish to gain? Am I ready to
commit to it? How is the best way
to get started?
Why
Priorities
Ready
Planning
After interest has been established, there needs
to be a
genuine belief that success is possible. A
high degree of commitment increases the chance of
success. Knowledge of potential
pitfalls is necessary for the journey.
An understanding of and a belief in God's view will encourage
success.
Commitment
Steadfast
Excuses
God's
View
Attempting a new goal in life requires proper
preparation. Planning and
motivation are essential. Writing
down goals and plans has proven to be a positive way to help people
stay on
task. How can one know where he or
she is going unless the plans are stated up front?
How will one know he or she has reached a goal, if it is not
stated somewhere?
Goals
Prescription
Contract
Motivation
Every new adventure will require a participant
to begin at
a lower level and work toward something greater. There
are basic concepts that are crucial to success.
Proper knowledge aids a person in
reaching desired goals.
When-Where-How
EBZ
Warming-Up
Cooling-Down
The more a person participates in an activity,
whether
physical or spiritual, there is an increase in potential success. Everyone is different in needs,
talents, and gifts. Each person
has to determine what works best for him or herself.
However, there are minimum amounts
recommended.
Ten
Minutes
Once
A Week
Flexibility
Relaxation
How hard or long should a person work to achieve
his or
her goals? Not everyone can work
at the same level and achieve his or her goals. What
is acceptable for one may not be acceptable for
another? Different goals call for
different plans of action. Knowing
one's goals and abilities will help to ensure success.
Levels
Slow
Medium
Fast
To try something new means there are risks for
injury
and/or failure. Wisdom and
planning will reduce the chances of failing. God
expects people to used wisdom. Common
sense tells people to be careful, and people must
know the dangers of the journey to be safe.
Risks
Injuries
Safety
Failure
There are specific concepts that relate to a
person's
physical health. These areas of
concern should be address, and they also are related to spiritual
health. God does not expect a separation
of
physical and spiritual components of life. Although
spiritual activities are more important for
salvation, to say the physical components have no value is dangerous
for one's
health.
Energy
Heart
Strength
Fitness
God calls for balanced lives.
There is a time to totally commit to something and there is
a time to pull back. Each person
must find that equilibrium for his or her life. Some
things can be acceptable for one person and be less acceptable
for another. An understanding of
persistence in achieving goals is very important to success.
'Use
it or lose it'
Balance
Weight-Loss
'No
Pain - No Gain'
Experts in the field of fitness have established
principles of physical fitness.
These principles also relate very well to spiritual fitness. Knowledge of these principles will help
one understand how progress occurs and what is necessary to reach set
goals.
Aerobic
vs. Anaerobic
Specificity
Progression
Overload
God made people to be social beings. He expects people to react with others
as they demonstrate a belief in Him.
How does the appearance of one's physical body relate to this
service? How can being fit and
having positive wellness help a person serve God better?
When does physical concerns hinder
one's spiritual service to God?
God expects people to have social lives that are in tune with
His
teachings in the Bible.
Relationships
Physical
Beauty
Competition
Happiness
Mental health is important to total wellness. Having a positive self-concept can help
people accomplish many things. God
expects His children to think highly of themselves.
Knowing God's love can reduce negative thoughts and
encourage a person to continue to work toward established goals.
Mental
Health
Self-concept
Stress
Behavior
When people look at the full picture what do
they
see? They should see a lifetime of
service (gifts) to God. Both men
and women have special ways to fulfill their walks with and for God. The one true goal for all children of
God is to be in Heaven when this life is over. Everyone
will not get there by the same physical path, or
by an identical spiritual path.
The commonality is that all children of God will go through the
blood of
Jesus to reach their common goal.
Gender is also a factor as men and women will take different
paths. This understanding should help all
people see how God works, and each person can see how he or she can
live a life
that becomes a gift
to God.
Longevity
Masculinity
Femininity
Serving