PUBLISHER’S LETTER
I about got run over yesterday — twice! I was at the store (OK, I’ll admit it, I was coming out of the seasonal candy isles). There, at the end-cap of cream filled chocolate eggs, I didn’t see her and she SURE didn’t see me. At least she didn’t even glance at me or slow one bit as she zoomed in her electric cart, nearly running over my foot, shopping for more chips and soda and other overly-packaged, highly-refined stuff they call food that will most certainly fatten her even more. Yes, (I’ll admit it – again) over-weight shopping cart drivers, like the other one that about hit me in the parking lot because he can’t even walk from his car to the store, trigger my not-so-Christian attitude. Most of the time I keep that attitude to myself and smile then nobody except me is any the wiser.
Once while attending the Arnold Sports Festival, an event that attracts bodybuilders, I was trying to navigate through the expo hall. It was crowded and I felt like a ball in a pinball machine getting knocked from one bumper to the next. These muscular guys and gals were like bulls in a china store. If you “accidentally” got hit by one of them, in this mosh pit of sorts, it hurt!
Why can’t everyone in this world be the perfect size — like me?
No, I’m not a rude and insensitive jerk. I am however describing what I suspect happens in the thoughts of many of us as we encounter people who we find are different from us. As you wonder what causes people to make certain choices remember you are likely trying to understand why you made the choices you did today. Of course we don’t admit it but we question our own wisdom. Your choices affect you and affect others. What you choose impacts today and shapes your eternity. That isn’t meant to depress or scare you. Instead be inspired by the opportunity and be encouraged to give your choices to God.
The theme for this issue is Heavy Gainers And Biggest Losers. Are you packing on muscle or dieting to lose weight? Are you filled with the Spirit or losing your life to find it? This issue bridges the gap and connects the dots between gaining and losing to help you reshape their thinking from have and have not to growing beyond little and giving a lot. Let me give you a quick tour of some of the choices you’ll discover in this issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine:
– Miya Miles, one of our cover models made the tough choice to have bariatric surgery and now chooses a daily approach to healthier living.
– Matt Evans, the editor for our new brand Shout! Outdoor Lifestyle Magazine made the bold choice to give his skills, passion, time and even some of his own personal money to invest in this newest ministry.
– Brenda Wise makes a healthy choice to eat chocolate daily. Yes, daily chocolate eating can be healthy.
– People like you throughout the country are making an inspiring choice to start our new Every Body Matters program in their local community. Join them for the newest way to get totally fit.
Finally, perhaps the biggest choice you’ll discover is the one you have made just now to read and be challenged. You might be here just casually shopping today. But fair warning, that big old God is just around the corner, headed straight for you, to hopefully run over any attitudes that keep you bound. Chance accident? Nope, it is a choice meeting.
Train strong in Christ,
-Brad Bloom, Publisher
