PUBLISHER’S LETTER
”There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” Stephen Hawking, director of research at the Center of Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge University.
Recently Stephen Hawking “confirmed” once again that there is no God. Now that he has helped the whole world understand the real truth, I think it’s high time for Hollywood to create a new epic on the scale of the 1956 movie The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston. Titled, “God Created The Heavens And The Earth”, it would be the next big block buster to star Arnold Schwarzenegger – as God! Co-staring (posthumously) Jack Lalanne as the Holy Spirit and (making his debut) Arnold’s (Twitter friendly) son Patrick as Jesus, a dramatic scene would show the three together in the heavenly realms as Arnold “God” says, “And let us make man in our own image”. This may not be exactly what Susan Brooks Thislethwaite, professor at the Chicago Theological Seminary, was thinking when she rejects ‘the god of the gaps’ thinking in her Washington Post editorial. But Arnold as God for at least bodybuilders worldwide and for the more than two-billion Christians worldwide would no doubt challenge attitudes and understanding of both fitness and faith.
Few people can illustrate as easily as Arnold the fantastic experience of blood flow known as “The Pump”. This physical phenomenon is a result of exercising a muscle – often through intense exercise. It is not only a euphoric feeling it is a scientifically real immediate result that leads to longer term muscle growth results. The Pump isn’t exclusive to hardcore bodybuilders. Everyone (including you) can and should experience it for both the physical benefits and the spiritual connections. As you read this issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine I encourage you to challenge yourself spiritually until you feel The Pump.
The Pump describes a very dynamic aspect of the Christian faith – the “spirit-filled” life. People have been so cavalier with this terminology that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are viewed with disdain and even mocked. From Comedy Central to the hallowed halls of science and academia Christianity is being questioned and outright dismissed. If Christianity is your faith then understand this would be a good time to start exercising it well in your daily lifestyle until you genuinely experience The Pump. Christians regularly talk about the concept of Christ’s blood flowing and covering their sin. But as Arnold describes, that blood flow, when it rushes into you, blows up and explodes. That transforms your faith from being a dead philosophy to being the evidence of things unseen.
Perhaps Arnold’s public display of his spiritual weakness may ultimately help all of us to grow stronger. Fathering a child outside of his marriage to his wife Maria Shriver led to their separation. From the perspective of weightlifting all activity on a muscle has some level of strain. Passive activity is ineffective, good exercise brings growth and careless practices can lead to extreme injury and pain. We all have the capacity to be passive, do good or be extremely careless. When you make wrong choices, act recklessly and cause injury how will you pursue recovery?
This is where The Pump truly takes us beyond science – beyond what Thislethwaite describes as “an impersonal and uncaring universe” to a, “God [who] is also infinite in mercy.” The image of Arnold is that of someone who is created to pursue strength but ultimately faces a weakness that only God can help him overcome. We’re all made in the image of God needing Jesus to not only be reconciled from our sin but to achieve the greatness God has created for each of us.
It is awesome to experience The Pump physically and spiritually. But, the experience is meant to be shared and benefit others. If you don’t then it is self-serving and self-glorifying. Don’t let the burning fire be shut up in your bones. Develop then maintain a strong spiritual basis for community service. It is a rush that moves through you to others.
Train strong in Christ,
-Brad Bloom, Publisher
