Smart Vs. Wise

For many years I’ve enjoyed wakeboarding and learning new tricks. However, there was this one trick I nicknamed the “Nemesis“. That trick was the heelside wake to wake 180. Time after time I’d attempt this trick and time after time I’d fail. I kept trying to learn from my mistakes. I tried various handle placements, various take off stances and various landing techniques. However, all failed and I’d repeatedly end up floating in the lake waiting for the boat to circle around and get me. Finally one day I read a tip in a wakeboarding magazine. It was simple and accurate. The tip stated that a person attempting that trick needs to look to the shore during the landing . I had always looked at the boat or down at the water. Once I looked where I was going instead looking everywhere else, I started consistently landing the trick. You see a “smart” person learns from their mistakes but, a “wise” person learns from others mistakes. Someone else figured out how to land the trick and I benefited from their experience. Being “wise” helps you avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering in life. The best place to go to increase wisdom is the Bible. We can learn from God, our Creator, when making daily life choices by obeying Him and thus avoiding self-inflicted suffering. Psalm 119:98 “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.” Proverbs 1:5 “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Let’s seek out the advice of those who are succeeding in areas where we are failing (marriage, job, finances, parenting, etc) and increase wisdom. And most importantly seek out wisdom from God.

Parallels to the Christian Experience

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which a creature physically develops after birth, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the creature's form or structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some creatures undergo metamorphosis, which is usually (but not always) accompanied by a change of habitat or behavior. To a follower of Jesus this should sound familiar. Insects which undergo this transformation pass through a larval stage, then enter an inactive state called pupa, or chrysalis, and finally emerge as adults. While inside the pupa, the insect will excrete digestive juices, to destroy much of the larva's body, leaving a few cells intact. The remaining cells will begin the growth of the adult, using the nutrients from the broken down larva. Similarly 1 Cor. 15:50-52 says “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” The journey we’re on as followers of Jesus will include suffering at times, like the cell death talked about above, but in the end the resultant glory will be worth it all. On a smaller scale we’ve all seen the typical “Before and After” pictures of remarkable changes in body and health composition of people losing large amounts of weight and getting in shape. Change can be uncomfortable and painful but at the same time change can be a necessity and beautiful. Here’s a workout that will help morph your body.

Inspiration

A 71-year-old Japanese man has become the world's oldest person to climb Mount Everest. His age made him the oldest person to have climbed the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) peak. The list of climbers who have conquered Everest include a blind person, a man with an artificial leg and the youngest, a 16-year-old boy. We all know there’s great risk and therefore great preparation involved in attempting a feat like that. Approximately 10% of the people who attempt the climb die. I’m not encouraging you to climb Mt. Everest, although that’s a great goal to work towards. However I am encouraging you to work your body at least 3 times a week. Try this workout. It requires nothing but you and floor space. Do 30 burpees demonstrated below. A burpee is basically a squat thrust with a pushup at the bottom and a jump at the top. Rest as much as needed. If you have to break it up into 30 sets of 1 burpee that’s fine. Just get 30 in. The future goal is to get in 30 consecutive burpees. The extended future goal is a ladder called Jason’s Burpees (20, 19, 18 … 1) in under 25 minutes.



Remember 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Solar Panel

In a past post l talked about being MEEK. And said, "Let's be MEEK as Believers, Husbands, Dads, Friends.." The order (Believers, Husbands, Dads, Friends) was intentional. GOD has to have first place in our lives and we have to keep focused on Him. It's like we are a Solar Panel. When our gaze is directed at God we are at full power. Look away and we quickly lose the ability to perform anything meaningful. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”. God is the source of our power and in order to have strength and wisdom to be Husbands, Dads and Friends we must give Him first place.

To demonstrate focus here’s a strict military press with more than half my body weight. With proper practice, form and focus you can accomplish great things.