The Short Hot Summer

It seems like yesterday I was saying to my wife, “where did June go?” Now I’m wondering what happened to July. Wow! Summer really does fly by. Tomorrow I get on a plane to Chicago where I’ll be sharing with Small Group Leaders at Grace Bible Baptist in Romeoville, Illinois. Pastor Jason Stover is doing a great job there and I look forward to seeing him and his family. I also am looking forward to seeing my grandson!

Also, this month I will be going back to school. Years ago I began work toward my doctorate but fell into bad graces with my alma mater and decided it was time to diversify my educational portfolio. So I was recently accepted at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and will be starting classes at the extension center here in Columbia, Maryland. The goal is to finish my doctorate in 3-4 years. At my age I need the mental stimulation to keep the old saw as sharp as possible.

I’m reading “The Life Plan” by Dr. Jeffry Life, M.D., Ph.D. as another step toward getting my body in shape and my cholesterol under control. Dr. Life is the guy you see advertised in Airline Magazines with the head of an old guy and the body of a young guy. He takes a no nonsense approach that combines diet, exercise, along with hormone therapy. And by the way, those photos are not touched up. That’s really him!

Reading “The Life Plan” reminds me how essential discipline is to the success of physical well-being.  Well, the same rigorous approach to getting in shape physically is also essential for our spiritual health. The Apostle John wrote “I pray all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 2) By God’s grace let us strive to be both physically fit and spiritually mature.