In the last days, they had no self-control..

“But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37-39).


Have we not gone mad?  Are we not destroying our habitat, our wildlife, our farmland, the very food we eat?  Do we not see the entropic state we live in?  Have we not allowed all of our governments to atrophy in meaning where politicians without understanding are guiding our planet into a new world order of self-proclaimed enlightment sans God?  Is our economy still really based on capitalism or is it only its appearance?
Do we treat sports heroes, pop culture stars, and music idols as gods?  Does music portray manhood and building loving characters, or does it degrade us into loose moral function by overt sexualization of women and keeping what should be men into a state of childhood?
Do we not follow a variety of self proclaimed gurus in their self oriented disciplines which are structured to breakdown all existing order into chaotic confusion; while all the while proclaiming we are an enlightened society?
Is materialism not a god?  Has it not taken away from our value and principle? Has money not replaced virtue and wisdom?
Is there not a vast sentiment of being content with remaining apathetical and complacent in attitude towards ventures of an eternal nature?

Our lives are based on entertainment; what have we let enter into and maintain our very own minds, petty irrelevant issues?  Media has made us ignorant of the entire system; if we pay attention to the left hand, will we know what the right hand is doing?  Our minds have been corrupted by the subtleties of the serpent and turned away from the simplicity which is in Jesus Christ.[i]  Have we not slowly given away our basic freedoms and rights in this subtle manner?

Are we blind and cannot see this faint ridding of:  God being taken out of schools, elimination of the traditional Christian family concept, promotion of a trans-gendered agenda, and sexual freedom?  Has the church not accepted many of these principles?  Have we accepted the absolutes stated in the Bible or have we become lukewarm in our affairs?[ii]
Everything is pushing towards:  relativity of our morals, ignorance via degradation of education and debasing art in all of its forms (i.e. music), and the self-pleasing lust of this world.  These are the undertones to silence Christianity.  Most people unknowingly give homage to satanic theology by living their lives by the rule, “Do What Thou Wilt.”  This coincides with satanism in that it is the worship of one’s self; the heart of selfishness, the lust of the things of this world.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.”[iii]

Do you know what your cause is?  What do you live for?

The whole of man is to fear God and keep his commandments.  We are told in Matthew 22:36-40, “Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”[iv]  Our foundation for each other is to thrive in an environment in which love is perpetuated.

We are all unique individuals and its amazing how glorious God, our Father is in that he made us all with our unique character and free will.  For we should do as Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Our human nature is one based on selfishness and the lust for our own wills instead of the love for God’s will.  For if it is not of God, it is of vanity.  “For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”[v]

As the world once asked before, what is truth?[vi]  For even the world knows that there is no err in truth.  Our own lives depend on our ability to perceive things deeper then what we have been taught to accept.  Never be satisfied with lukewarm Christianity.  Christianity is the only truth based on love, not philosophy, not man, not structured in a way that we place man’s teachers on top of the pyramid to keep the sheep, ourselves, at the bottom.  Jesus Christ alone is our foundation, who lifts us all up to greater heights.  Realize that there is movement towards allowing the truth of Christianity to co-exist and globalize with all other worldly religions under the false notions of peace.  This is the great deception.

Have we no backbone?  Are we really that content with our own lives that no one stands up for anything anymore?  To quote from the movie Braveheart, William Wallace sees a whole army of men who are content not knowing and not caring about the greater task at hand.  “Ay, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance…”  For it was Jesus who said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”[vii]  But how do we fight?  We fight with the book of love.  “For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”[viii]

Wake up to this sinister spiritual wickedness!  Let us open our eyes to see that everything is either getting pushed more towards the absolute of love or the absolute of selfishness in subtle ways.

For selfishness knows not love and is the antithesis of love; that is truth.  Someday the curse upon God’s creation which began in Genesis will be overruled.  Revelation tells of the great reversals which will take place and make creation anew.  “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”[ix]  And by definition, there can only be one truth, for the truth is the truth.  "Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.”[x]

God’s love is true from the beginning and will carry through for us till the end. This is how we should understand love. It is love for God that gives meaning to all. A meaning given to us at creation; a love for us carried through with our redemption.



-----------------------------------------
[i] 2 Corinthians 11:3
[ii] Revelation 3:14-17
[iii] 2 Peter 3:3-4
[v][v] 1 John 2:16-17
[vi] John 18:38
[vii] Matthew 10:34
[viii] Hebrews 4:12
[ix] Revelation 21:4-5
[x] Psalm 119:160

Training: SE Upper, Week 10

 TUES, 27 August 2012

* Accupuncture Pressure Massage


---

Strength Training (5:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation

1:  Close-Grip Swiss-Bar Overhead Press.
[Belt]
185 x 1
165 x 7 x 3

2A:  3-Board Bench Press.
300 x 3
315 x 2 x 3

2B:  Seated Cable Row.
200 x 6
220 x 4 x 6

----

Session #2 (9:00am)

1: Timed Swiss Ball DB Bench Press.
* known as Oxidative work, to improve hypertrophy of the Type 1 fibers and oxidative capacity of Type II. Using a 2-0-2 tempo here.  You enhance the body’s ability to delay fatigue, maintain power output over an extended period of time, improve anaerobic endurance, and develop static strength.
This will help increase the strength of tendons and ligaments and keep your shoulders and pecs healthier.
I will utilize this method once per week until 5 weeks out.

55 x 120 seconds
[6 minutes rest]
45 x 120 seconds

2:  Timed Belly Pulldowns.
60 x 120 seconds
[6 minutes rest]
60 x 120 seconds

3:  Alternate DB Curls
Dropset -50 x 6, 45 x 5, 40 x 4, 35 x 4, 30 x 4, 25 x 4

4:  Neck Work w/ Bands.
gB x 2 x 12

Training: Week 10 ME Lower

Sunday, 26 August 2012

* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work
---

Strength Training (3:00pm)

Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation + EQI

*  Seated Box Jumps.

1:  SSB Foam Box Squat.
[Belt]
385 + 120c. x 1
405 + 120c. x 1
365 + 120c. x 5 x 1

2:  Stiff Legged Deadlift [-1.5"].
[straps]
365 x 2
405 x 2
385 x 2
365 x 2

3:  Manual Reverse Hyper.
2 x 8

4: GHR Sit-ups.
gB x 2 x 8
gB x 7
gB x 6

Training from Week 14 and start of Deload

THURS, 3 August 2012

Readiness:  Moderate

Load: Moderate Intensity, Developmental

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work

---

Strength Training (6:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
1: Lactic Acid Tolerance Training:
GCB Foam Box Squats.
325 x 20 x 2
325 x 13 x 2
Rest ~40 sec. between sets.

-----

Week 13 - Deload

MON, 6 August 2012

Readiness:  High

Load: Moderate Intensity, Developmental

---

Strength Training (6:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
1:  Floor Press.
255 + 90c. x 1
280 + 90c. x 1
260 + 90c. x 1
235 + 90c. x 2

2:  UpperBody Sled Work.
215 x 120 reps (6 exercises)

---------

Last 2 Weeks were hectic.  Jeremy was in an accident but he's doing better :)

Training: SE Upper, Week 15

 TUES, 24 July 2012

Off

----------

WED, 25 July 2012

Readiness:  High

Load: Moderate Intensity, Developmental

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Pressure Massage


---

Strength Training (6:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation

1:  Close-Grip Swiss-Bar Pin Press.
205 + dmB x 4 x 3 + 3sec. ECC
225 + dmB x 3 + 3sec. ECC

2A:  3-Board Bench Press.
315 x 2
335 x 3
315 x 3
315 x 5

2B:  T-Bar Rows [Paused].
225 x 5
275 x 4 x 5

3:  Cable Curls
Dropset - 110 x 6, 90 x 6, 70 x 6, 50 x 6
Dropset - 90 x 6, 70 x 6, 50 x 6

4:  Neck Work w/ Sled.
175 x 2 x 12
-------

Extra Upper (12:00pm)
1: Timed Swiss Ball DB Bench Press.
* known as Oxidative work, to improve hypertrophy of the Type 1 fibers and oxidative capacity of Type II. Using a 2-0-2 tempo here.  You enhance the body’s ability to delay fatigue, maintain power output over an extended period of time, improve anaerobic endurance, and develop static strength.
This will help increase the strength of tendons and ligaments and keep your shoulders and pecs healthier.
I will utilize this method once per week until 5 weeks out.

50 x 120 seconds
[6 minutes rest]
40 x 120 seconds

2:  Timed Cable Facepulls.
50 + dmB x 120 seconds
[6 minutes rest]
40 + dmB x 120 seconds

----------

Video of Training from the STRONG AM Crew this morning, today :)

Training: ME Lower Week 15

Monday, 23 July 2012

Readiness:  High

Load: High Intensity, Developmental

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work
---

Strength Training (7:00am)

 
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation + EQI
1:  Hang Snatch.
135 x 5 x 3
2:  Reverse Band Squats [-dmB].
[Belt]
550 x 4 x 1
3:  Hip Thrust
495 x 3 x 3
495 + 30c. x 3
4:  Lying Single Leg Band Curls.
gB x 2 x 20
5:  Kneeling Cable Abs.
90 x 8 + 3sec. ISO
100 x 2 x 8 + 3sec. ISO

Training: ME Upper Week 16

SUN, 22 June 2012

Readiness:  High

Load: Moderate Intensity, Developmental

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Powerbreath Apparatus

---

Strength Training (3:00pm)
Warm-Up
Push-Up Work

Mobilizations
1:  Floor Press.

225 + 90c. x 1
250 + 90c. x 1
275 + 90c. x 1
250 + 90c. x 1
230 + 90c. x 1
230 + 90c. x 2
2:  One-Arm DB Row [Paused].
[straps]
140 x 10
155 x 2 x 8
3A:  Pin Curls.
95 x 5
105 x 5
115 x 5
3B:  Heavy Band Pressdowns [full ROM].
bB x 3 x 10
4:  Neck ISO on Sled. [Flex/Ext].
170 x 3 x 15 yd.

Training: DE Lower Week 16

THURS, 28 June 2012

Readiness:  High

Load: High Intensity, Developmental

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work

---

Strength Training (7:00am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
1: SSB Foam Box Squats.
[Belt]
295 + 60c. x 2
305 + 60c. x 2
315 + 60c. x 2
325 + 60c. x 2
335 + 60c. x 2
345 + 60c. x 2
2:  Rack Pulls [Pin #3].
[Belt]
455 + qmB x 1
475 + qmB x 1
425 + qmB x 3 x 1
3:  Reverse Hyper [ss].
20 + 2dmB x 2 x 12
4:  Pallof Press
pB x 2 x 10

The Things Which Have Not Yet Passed; History of the World

Ecclesiastes 3:15 - "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past."

I wrote this as part of several topics I love writing and studying about. If your interested in the amazing discoveries that one can find in the bible, read on, or read on if your just a cool dude or dudette ;) The focus is on biblical prophecy and things which are yet to come, I hope you enjoy :)

As we read in Ephesians 6:12 which states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].” Is there “spiritual wickedness in high places” in the times before the second coming? To find out more we must read Daniel 2 which tells of the great history of the gentile world empires.
The story behind Daniel 2 is that the King of Babylon at the time, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream that really impacted him. Daniel, who was in captivity at the time, was the one who inevitably would interpret this dream for him. In the dream we learn from Daniel 2:31-35 that there is a plan behind the great empires of the world:
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Daniel then interprets the statue for this King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, in Daniel 2:36-45. In the dream, the head of gold represents the Babylonian world empire . This is where it gets interesting. Surely one can check to see the history of world empires by various encyclopedias and history books. Or instead you can read Daniel 2 to find out about the history already given to us in the Bible! Daniel 2:38 speaks of King Nebuchadnezzar in that, “…Thou [art] this head of gold.”
   
Historically we read that the Babylonians (the head of gold) ruled from 609 BC to 539 BC. Babylon was then conquered by the Medo-Persians (represented by the breast and arms of silver) and ruled from 539 BC to 330 BC. “…Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28). The Bible then tells us that who conquered the Medes and the Persians in Daniel 8:21, “And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.” This is fascinating. Again, I will reiterate that one can easily look this up through world history or just as easily read the accounts given to us in the book of Daniel!
The king of Grecia is known as Alexander the Great, the youngest general to ever conquer the world. Greece was now the world empire which began its rule in 331 BC. They were then conquered in 168 BC by the Roman empire, represented by the legs made of iron in Daniels vision in Daniel, chapter 2. The Roman Empire eventually got divided up into two legs, known as the east and west axis. What we read in Daniel 2:41 is, “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.” As we have seen, all of these different metals represent a different empire. Now we see that a description has been given to the clay.
In the book of Jeremiah we are told what the potters’ clay represents, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay [is] in the potter's hand, so [are] ye in mine hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6). This shows that the symbol of “potters’ clay” represents the “house of Israel,” God’s chosen people. This is also a symbol showing that the “potters’ clay” represents God’s church. Acts 7:37-38 states this in saying, “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” God’s children make up the church which compares to “potters’ clay.” Also, in Isaiah 64:8 we read about another comparison in regards to this, “But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.” Remember that God wants to mold his children, his church, to his own image. Again, these different metals and clay are all representations in history.

But what do we make of this “potters’ clay?” “And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Daniel 2:42-43). What this is saying is that the church will join with the Roman Empire. Historically, we see this take place under the reign of Constantine in 321 AD when he instituted the day of worship on Sunday. Let’s see what this means.
Going back to Daniel 2:41 we see that even though the iron and the “potters’ clay” are mixed, the iron (Roman Empire) kept its own strength in comparison to God’s church because now the potters’ clay is referred to as “miry clay.” In the book of Psalms, we read Psalm 40 which is actually what is known as a messianic psalm written by David, which is telling the thoughts of our Lord Jesus Christ in his final moments on the cross. Once Jesus Christ proclaimed, “…It is finished..,” he was taken out of the darkness. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings” (Psalms 40:2). From this, we can infer that miry means horrible, defiled, or dirty. What this means is that the church was no longer “potters’ clay” but had now become dirty or corrupt which is that of “miry clay."
The church had now become corrupt when it cleaved onto the Roman Empire. “Miry clay,” being defiled and corrupt, is a representation of sin! “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). The intercession of saints is of direct violation to God’s way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
This is the union of church and state! Historically we see that the Roman Empire was never fully conquered but broke up into separate states in 476 AD. The church, the Roman Catholic Church, still remains unto this day. The ending of the Pagan Roman Empire brought about the beginning to the Christian Roman Empire. But what do we make of the “stone that smote the image” in Daniel 2? In Psalms 118:22 we read, “The stone [which] the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.” This is a messianic prophecy in regards to Jesus Christ our Lord, in that He is the chief corner stone. To reiterate this, in the book of Matthew 21:42 Jesus Christ says, “…Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” This was the “Lord’s doing.” This is symbolic of Jesus Christ second coming in that he is our great redeemer. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).
As we have read in Daniel 2:34, the stone “smote the image upon his feet.” This shows that God’s kingdom will come against this corrupt world and be established forever. God’s kingdom will overthrow a future world empire that will be made of the corrupted church; a church conformed to this world. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). This world empire will be made up from a new world order having a global religion. Reiterating, this will be a union of the church and state.
This is what is meant of “spiritual wickedness in high places.” The new world governmental structure will have its basis to holding man as supreme, not God, which is in direct relation to Genesis 11 in the times of Babel. Man went against God’s will to proclaim himself higher then God. They will go with the doctrines of beliefs that go against the one true creator God. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). This global governmental movement is creating a unity of the worldly religions which hold the origins to its beliefs in humanism and secular thought. This is known as a pantheistic worldview, which believes in a greater power not in relation to the true God. The philosophy of the movement wants religions to co-exist and conform to this world. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). The creature is man and the philosophy that man is the highest.
This is why we should not take lightly the Word of God and should have knowledge of what the Word says regarding all of these matters. Ecclesiastes 3:15 states, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” This means that we should have an accurate knowledge of historical events so that we may be able to project at the things which will take place in the future. God is our loving creator who has revealed his plan of redemption to us. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). For it is necessary that we have our foundation from the very beginning of God’s word to truly know what he has in store for us. “But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37-39). In the days of Noah, man was willfully ignorant of God and scoffed at the creator.

Man has continually become more secular and goes against God’s word. We are given another example that shows man’s wickedness like that in Sodom. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:28-30). Man is willfully ignorant of the Word of God.

This is why it is necessary to know the beginning from the end, from Genesis to Revelation, and know the truths. For as stated in 2 Peter 3:3 that in the last days there shall be “scoffers” who reject the word of God. To truly understand these things which have not yet passed is to first have faith and understanding in regards firstly to the book of Genesis. We must believe that Genesis 1-11 is that of literal history and that the Word in its entirety is true just as Jesus Christ our Lord did. “…the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
Someday the curse upon God’s creation which began in Genesis will be overruled. Revelation tells of the great reversals which will take place and make creation anew. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:4-5). For our God is a loving God who is not only our creator, but the Lord is also our great redeemer.

Why train? For me, training is a reflection of WHO lives in me..

The way I plan my training week is known as the "High/Low Model of Training Organization."

This is largely credited to the late sprint coach Charlie Francis.

High/ Low has been proven and works great for athletes in strength and power sports or anyone who trains with activities that involve high neurological stimulus.

Charlie Francis believed that one should organize their training days in relevance to high intensity (high neurological stimulating activities) and low intensity (low neurological stimulating activities).

Francis believed that moderate intensity loading should not be used because it's neither intense enough to stimulative maximal improvements in speed and power, nor light enough to allow for recovery and restoration from higher intensity loads.

I believe this is of utmost importance to being awesome at anything, it immediately reminds me of Revelation 3:15-16:

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Go big or go home!  Am I right or am I right?!

That's the problem with how I see lots of people train nowadays (in regards to athletic preparation).  They try to train to be the Jack of all trades and end of being mediocre at everything.  Or they give little attention to even how to effectively and optimally program their physical training and just hope that the "shotgun" effect will work and they'll achieve whatever it is they're trying to do eventually.

Or worse, they still think jogging is all they should do.

Successful people are consistant in what they do.  You can't be successful if you don't know what your supposed to do.

Then again, I think we all need to take a deeper look into why we "train" anyway.

If you really think about it, everyone "trains."  I'm talking about developing character;  the accumulation of your thoughts, habits, and priorities.

Every minute of everyday, we're developing character.  Always training.

Training is a discipline, and we are called to be disciples.

That (as a Christian) is what we are called to do.  1 Corinthians 9:23 tells me to "...exercise control in all things."  Discipline starts with the body.  My body must be responsive to me. 

"I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9:27

For me, training is a reflection of Who lives in me. 

I train to witness to others.  I don't ever want others to fall because of me.  My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  It must be valued.

I heard some coach sum discipline up by saying it's doing what your supposed to do, when your supposed to do it, the way it's supposed to be done.  Simple.

Know what your supposed to do and do it.  Learn God's will and do it.

Always training.  Discipline, put your body under subjection.  Make your body your slave.  Every minute of everyday, relentless.

RELENTLESS CONTROL

(I saw it on a poster :) )

As Jane Caroline (very smart gal) has wrote,

Eating healthy and giving priority to undergoing physical training shows that I value myself. It doesn’t give value; it reflects value.

My character is a reflection who I am.

My character is a reflection of Whose I am.

(stole that from a gal named Jane Caroline :) , very cool)

As a Christian, I know I'm valued, I'm beloved.  In the end, no matter what happens in my life, I know I will accomplish what He needs me to do if I follow His will. 

There are only 2 types of "religion."

One type is human attainment.

The other is divine accomplishment.

Whichever you pick, your character will reflect.

This is also why I undergo training (more specifically training for strength, I'll explain more why some other time).

We have a STRONG God. 

I'll write more about that later. 

Pretty much I just was updating my training log.  Woke up this morning and my BIOForce Readiness Measurement showed I was under-recuperated.  Shows I'm in a sympathetic dominant state.
Means I need to take it easy.
So, taking a day off from training to recover more...

Yup

--------------------

WED, 18 July 2012

Load: Low Intensity, Stimulative

Cardiac Development - 6:00pm

Swimming

90 minutes x HR Avg 120

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THURS, 19 July 2012

Readiness: Low

Load: Off

RELENTLESS CONTROL

 

TRAINING: SE Upper Week 16

TUES, 17 July 2012

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Pressure Massage
* Contrast Shower
* Powerbreath Apparatus

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Strength Training (7:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation
Tumbling
Explosive Med Ball Work
1:  Push Press.
[Belt]
225 x 2
250 x 2
225 x 2
2:  Pin Press [Concentric].
[Belt]
185 x 3
195 x 3
185 x 3
175 x 2 x 3
3:  Weighted Pull-Ups [Concentric].
80 x 5 x 3
4:  Pull-Ups [Various].
BW x 4 x 5 + 3sec. ECC
5A:  Alt. DB Curls.
Dropset - 40 x 7, 35 x 7, 30 x 7, 25 x 7, 20 x 7
Dropset - 45 x 5, 40 x 3, 35 x 4, 30 x 4, 25 x 5
5B:  Neck Work w/ Sled.
105 x 12
130 x 12
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Extra Upper (4:00pm)
1:  Sled Drag.
100 x 400yd.
2:  Incline DB Bench.
80 x 20
80 x 12
3:  Upperbody Sled Work.
200 x 100 reps

TRAINING: ME Lower Week 16

Monday, 16 July 2012

* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work
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Strength Training (7:00am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural Reinforcement
Activation + EQI
1:  Power Snatch.
Form Work w/ 135 x 3 x 5
2:  SSB Foam Box Squats.
[Belt]
385 + 120c. X 1
395 + 120c. X 1
405 + 120c. X 1
405 + 120c. X 1
365 + 120c. X 2 x 2
2:  Stiffegged Deadlift [1.5" Defecit]
[Straps]
365 x 3 x 3
3:  Lying Single Leg Band Curls.
pB x 2 x 20
4:  Kneeling Cable Abs.
90 x 8
100 x 2 x 8
90 x 8
5: Hanging Leg Raises.
15c. x 2 x 8

Training Deload, Week 17 DE Lower

THURS, 12 July 2012
* BIOFORCE Measurement

* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work

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Strength Training (7:30am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
1: SSB Foam Box Squats.
[Belt]
275 + 120c. x 2 x 2
2:  Leg Curl Slides.
BW x 12
---
Low Back Traction x 3 minutes
Elbow Compression + ROM work

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Pine Needle Oil Bath (14 drops) x 25 minutes

The Lord of Time

Before we get started, know that its tough
At times you'll get lost and rip it apart
And the wiser you get, the more you know is lost.
Time the great mystery
A perfect situation apart
The world is a stage, a masterful art
And we all play a moment,
The dangerous instant
Oh what a beautiful way with the art!
Death is merely a veil that sets the times all apart
The longer you live and the more you grow to know,
The more the lights and shadows become vivid and loft
Beautiful shadows, the eternity lights
Time heals, time bruises,
She weeps, she muses
Time flows like a river,
And thirst returns were she had
Her depth is unseeming yet her cause is at hand
I percieve this to be much,
May I die daily
Know my redeemer lives and stands in all time
His story is giving, a love is divine
Not a single one of us deserves to be rescued and our stories be shown
May time serve her purpose and cleanse our heart
Repent from our way
Thank God
Thou Art

---  William McNeely

Star Story

Star Story
By William McNeely

The Heavens Declare The Glory of God

               I shall tell you of the story written in the beginning.  History will try to speak a different tune, but it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.[i]  I believe that everything that is in the universe matches a pattern we can find clearly in the pages of the Word of God.  The Bible is a collection of 66 different books written by over 40 authors over a period of almost 2000 years.  It covers hundreds of controversial topics, is filled with amazing mathematical intricacies, and a multitude of amazing prophecies, yet, it is clearly one book, with perfect uniformity throughout with sophistication and balance incapable of explanation by chance or conspiracy.[ii]

               There has never been a singular piece of collective literature to impact and change the course of history, nations, and mankind like the Bible.  It has confounded the wisest of us yet brought insight to the simple.  It has survived over 3000 years of attempts to destroy it, discredit it, and belittle it.  Yet it survives through the times of civilizations made or destroyed, during times of war or peace; times of heaven, times of hell.  But time flows like a river, and history repeats.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever.[iii]

               When we begin to look at the big picture regarding the Bible, we can clearly see this amazing design and uniqueness.  It is the most unique book in that the message of the Christian faith can be found throughout scripture.  There is no specific book written on redemption, salvation, or prophecy.  The Bible is structured in a way that one who reads it will be able to find doctrine interconnected throughout.  The one consistent theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the redemption of man, by God himself, through Jesus Christ.

Forever be the glory to Jesus Christ, for the volume of the book is written of Him.[iv] Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, who was glorified before the world was[v] and is the treasure of God’s wisdom.  Within God holds all knowledge and all wisdom!  For the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.[vi]  But what is the fear of the LORD?  To understand the fear of the LORD is to have the realization that he is our Creator.  It is to have respect and obedience in Him as our Creator.

In Proverbs 8, we are given a beautiful story about creation.  In the beginning was wisdom, we are told.  By wisdom all things are created and are upheld.  This gives us insight, in relation to the creation story told in Genesis, that the original creation was very good; it was perfect.  But once sin entered into the world, the original creation became subject to imperfection.  We can see that even though all matter is undergoing entropy, creation was once perfect and this evidence is all around us.  In the New Testament, we are told in Colossians 1 that Jesus Christ is the beginning, the firstborn of creation.  This correlates to what is said of wisdom in Proverbs 8, in that wisdom was in the beginning, the firstborn of creation.

We can truly see that the Bible as a whole, from Genesis to Revelation, is an interconnected message system.  But what is this message that the Bible is telling us?  This message tells the story of God’s plan of redemption.  Someday the curse upon God’s creation which began in Genesis will be overruled.  Revelation tells of the great reversals which will take place and make creation anew.  “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new[vii].  And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful”[viii].  For our God is a loving God who is not only our creator, but the Lord is also our great redeemer.

For the greatest story ever told starts, “In the beginning…” And this story is about Jesus Christ.

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
                                                                        Proverbs 8:22-23

For the Word of Jesus Christ is in mine heart as a burning fire that I cannot put out for it from passion that I speak of.[ix]  And I have been commissioned to tell of this story of the good news to all who will listen.[x]  I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.[xi]  I will shew forth his salvation from day to day and declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.[xii]  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.[xiii]  To Christ Jesus that by wisdom made the heavens may the glory be![xiv]  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.[xv]  This story I speak of, searched out through scripture, tells of his glory.  For it is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.[xvi] 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
                                                                        Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens speak to us His wisdom and knowledge.  Not only does it speak to us in story, but also through the sound heard through its own radio waves as scientist have now shown![xvii]  It is the psalmist King David who was given this truth.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[xviii]”  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.[xix]  And the heavens speak of glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.[xx]   The story of the kingdom is made, which by principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known the wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.[xxi]  The story of the gospel has been known by all peoples since the beginning.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  For before the appointed time of Jesus Christ on earth, how could the gospel message be heard?  For there is salvation in none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  For Jesus Christ is our only means of salvation.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.[xxii]  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.[xxiii]

            For God has communicated his story to us through the heavens which declare his glory.  It was on the fourth day that God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.[xxiv] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.   This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.[xxv] For the stars which are signs show us the light of the message that we have had from the beginning.

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.  Great is our Lord, and of great power.  His understanding is infinite.[xxvi] God has named the stars and displays the gospel message within them, specifically in what is known as the zodiac.  The zodiac (Mazzaroth in Hebrew) is spoken of in numerous places throughout scripture.  It refers to the twelve constellations which are a tabernacle around the sun.  God even speaks to Job in that God himself is the one who bring forth the Mazzaroth in its specific season.[xxvii]  It the book of Acts, Paul also speaks of the Mazzaroth when speaking the gospel message to the gentiles, even quoting from the Greek poet Aratus from his book on the constellations, Phaenomena, in Acts 17![xxviii]

Paul quoted this secular mythology firstly because he viewed these pagan traditions simply as corruption of the true message.  The true message was hijacked at the tower of Babel led by the first world dictator named Nimrod (whose name means “we will rebel”).  It was an astrological temple which was constructed to reach the heavens.  This was pagan religion directly against God.  From the tower of Babel was carried all stories about creation, the flood, the zodiac, and other stories which seep into nearly every culture in the world in some way, shape, or form. The truth had been corrupted, in some ways more subtly then others.  While details vary between the different cultures, the same basic element, occur in all versions regarding all of these stories.  These different versions all refer to the same event - passed on from generation to generation, through various developing cultures. Through these legends remains woven into the tapestry of cultural history - sharing not just the story of survival, but the power of obedience, and the fulfillment of God's enduring promise.[xxix]  Paganism is a corruption of the true story contained in the constellations from the same God who gave us the Bible (as was claimed by the Apostle Paul).

God’s role as creator is essential to His role as our redeemer.  Most people will choose to be left in the dark and disregard investigating further into these matters.  As Herbert Spencer once said, “There is a principle that is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance.  That principle is condemnation before investigation.”  Many will continue to scoff at what the Bible says in spite of any evidence that says otherwise.  Despite the striking similarities of these accounts, many historians and mythologists have looked at the minor differences in the stories and declared: "This never happened!"  This is because their worldview will not allow them to accept what the Bible says is true due to them viewing all evidence through the lens of their held presuppositions.  A worldview which holds a conviction to understanding the first chapters of Genesis as literal history is essential to truly understanding the origins to nearly all Christian doctrine.  Any worldview different than this cannot truly account for the origins of evil and the great conflict between God and Lucifer.

The Christian worldview is very unique in the way that which God is portrayed is different than all other religions.  From the pagan religions permeating out of the ancient Egypt and Babylonian regions, according to Dr. James Moyer, we see a reversal of neighbors in regards to the viewership of God.  As stated in Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”   This shows how God created man after an image of himself.  This is different from nearly every other neighboring religion from the pagan worship of the constellations to the dominance of Buddhism in the East which man makes gods after their own image.  In all actuality, when we take a look at the origins of many religions, we even see their true origins coming from the Pagan societies in the Babylonian region.  The foundational origins of Christianity go against the grain in this regard.

The Bible is the only book that self proclaims that all it contains is true as stated in Psalm 119:160.  No other religion can truly adhere to this doctrine.  The truth is ingrained into every letter of scripture as it is stated in Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  The truth of the Bible goes deep into its core and rest on its foundation.  Reiterating, the foundation to the Word is the book of Genesis.  Study and understand the foundation to truly know what God holds for us.  And it should be no surprise to find that within it we find evidence of God’s love knowing that God had already planned our redemption from sin, which entered this world at the fall of man, in the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, which is where the first sequence to the story of redemption spoken of in the zodiac begins.

* Due to the nature of the depth and vastness of the material, I will only state introductory material about each constellation within the zodiac and its sources in the Bible.  Further research and more exhaustive studies can be found in the endnotes or further continual study into the Bible itself.

Virgo:  The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis)

The Jewish New Year begins at Rosh Hashanah at sunset when the new moon is first observed between September 5th and October 5th which is the appointed time of Virgo.  She represents fertility.  This is first spoken of in Genesis 3:15.  God speaks to the Serpent (Satan) and says, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  This promised seed is Jesus Christ and begins with Abraham.

“And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, this shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, so shall thy seed be.  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”[xxx]

It is from Abraham’s wife Sarah that the promised seed inevitably comes from.  This is spoken again numerous times throughout the Bible as well as in Revelation:

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”                     
                                                                        Revelation 12:1-5

 This dragon is the Serpent spoken of back in Genesis, whom this great controversy began with.  This serpent is mentioned numerous times throughout scripture with an important reference in Micah 2:13 where Satan is called the breaker who separates the little dipper from the big dipper![xxxi]

Libra:  The Mosaic Covenant (Exodus – Leviticus)

The appointed time of Libra is right after that of Virgo.  Libra is depicted as a picture scale balances.  Leviticus 19:35-37 states, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.  Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.  Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.”  This is about the Law of Moses.  God delivered his law to Israel knowing that it would condemn them as sinners.  Yet his promise of a Redeemer was made before the law was even given!  This law also deals with the prophetic feast of Israel which tells the same story as that of the Zodiac, but this is for a different lesson.

Scorpio:  God’s rejection of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers – Deuteronomy)

The appointed time of Scorpio is right after that of Libra.  Scorpio is depicted as a stinging scorpion.  This refers to Israel in the wilderness.

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:  lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.
                                                                        Deuteronomy 8:11-16

            The penalty for breaking the law (Libra) is the sting of the scorpion.

Sagittarius:  The inheritance of the Promised Land (Joshua – Judges)

The appointed time of Sagittarius is right after that of Scorpio.  Sagittarius is depicted as a centaur warrior with a bow and arrow.  This is from the time of Joshua and his military campaigns to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land by the strength of the LORD.

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,  Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.  There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
                                                                        Joshua 1:1-6

This goes back to Jacob’s prophecies regarding the tribe of Joseph in Genesis 49 for Joshua was of the tribe of Joseph.  Jacob states in Genesis 49:24-26 that, “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:  the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.”  Be strong and of good courage, for the LORD our God is always with us![xxxii]

Capricorn:  The Davidic Covenant (1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles)

The appointed time of Capricorn is right after that of Sagittarius.  Capricorn is depicted as a goat-fish.

And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.  And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
                                                                        1 Samuel 23:29 – 1 Samuel 24:2

            Engedi is a paradise on the western side of the Dead Sea and is also mentioned in Ezekiel 47 where it is shall be fulfilled as a kingdom and paradise with much beauty where fishermen will spread their nets.

Aquarius:  The Babylonian captivity (Isaiah – Daniel)

The appointed time of Aquarius is right after that of Capricorn.  Aquarius is depicted as a man pouring his urn of water out.  This represents King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians.  Historically we read that the Babylonians (the head of gold) ruled from 609 BC to 539 BC.

Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?  And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?  They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.  Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.  Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
                                                                        Habakkuk 1:12-17

            This speaks of Nebuchadnezzar gathering up the nations as one who gathers up fish in the water.

Pisces:  The return from captivity (Ezra – Nehemiah, Haggai – Malachi)

            The appointed time of Pisces is right after that of Aquarius.  Pisces is depicted as two fish being reeled in by their own tails.  These fish represent the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah being pulled in back towards Jerusalem.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.  Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
                                                                        Jeremiah 16:14-16

            This speaks of God drawing these two kingdoms back into his way out of love.  Hosea 11:4 states, “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.”

Aries: the Lamb of the New Covenant (Matthew – John)

The appointed time of Aries is right after that of Pisces.  Aries is depicted as a lamb.  For Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God!

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
                                                                        John 1:29-36

            Long before the Lamb of God was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, Isaiah likened the Savior of all men and women unto a lamb when he wrote, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”[xxxiii] Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.  He is a male, sinless and without blemish.  None of his bones were broken.[xxxiv]  He is the Firstborn.  He is meek, humble, and willing to submit to the will of his Father.  He is the lamb of Passover.[xxxv]

Taurus:  The Apostolic commission and ministry (Acts)

The appointed time of Taurus is right after that of Aries.  Taurus is depicted as an ox.

For it is written in the Law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
                                                                        1 Corinthians 9:9-12

            Paul speaks here of our own Apostolic ministry.  Those who have dedicated their lives to ministry must take some of the fruit of their labor for their own needs.[xxxvi]  For we are commissioned to carry the gospel to all nations.

Gemini:  Gentiles united with Israel in Christ (Romans – 3 John)

The appointed time of Gemini is right after that of Taurus.  Gemini is depicted as the twin brothers.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
                                                                        Romans 1:8, 13 - 16

            Jesus first appointed the Apostles in Acts to preach to the Jews first, then the Gentiles.    The New Covenant made possible the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant, and adopted the Gentiles into the Abrahamic Covenant as sons of Abraham.

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.  Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:  and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.  And again, Esaias saith, there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
                                                                        Romans 15:5 – 13

            One other interesting note is the name of the ship which finally got Paul to Rome.  It is the third ship Paul had taken to get to Rome and is the only ship where a name is given.  Every word in the Bible is there for a reason!  Acts 28:11 states, “And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.”  Castor and Pollux are the names of the twins of Gemini in Roman mythology and astrology.  Going to Rome would further allow the Gospel to be preached to the whole world!

Cancer:  the great tribulation and trail by fire (Jude – Revelation 1-19)

The appointed time of Cancer is right after that of Gemini.  Cancer is depicted as a crab.  Levitical law states that crabs were an unclean animal and were an abomination.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-6

            Daniel wrote of the abomination of desolation in several places. In fact, this event has happened before in history, although not to the specifications in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and 2 Thessalonians 2, and almost two centuries after Jesus Christ at what is known as Chanukah.  This is when the temple would be defiled, unclean.

            One other interesting note is the action of how a crab walks, sideways.  Jude 1:4 states, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The word for crept means to sneak by, as if creeping in sideways.

Leo:  Messiah’s Kingdom (Revelation 20-22)

The appointed time of Leo is right after that of Cancer.  Leo is depicted as a great lion.  Jesus Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
                                                                        Revelation 5:4-6

            Jesus ancestry is traced all the way back to the tribe of Judah and upholds Jacob’s prophecy back in Genesis.[xxxvii]

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days….Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:  his eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Genesis 49:1, 8 – 12

The word Shiloh is the Hebrew word for “peace maker” or “prince of peace.”[xxxviii]  This is also the same word for salvation.  Shiloh is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and is Jesus Christ himself.  It is also interesting to note the first use of the word salvation in the Bible is tied directly to Jesus Christ.  Salvation, our final state of rest and security, is the promised everlasting covenant God promised to Abraham.  And if we be Christ's then we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.[xxxix]

This is the story of our loving Redeemer (Genesis – Revelation)

This story we are told in the stars points us to Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ purchased our salvation with His blood.  Our messiah is coming back again to this earth. He will judge the wicked. Then He will be coming to gather His Elect where we will reign with him.   This is the covenant he made with His blood.  God is the source of all desire and he has revealed to us the design to the story.  We have desire for adventure and romance. Who put these holy desires and powerful emotions in the hearts of men and women?   It was our Creator; our Redeemer.  All great stories point to this, love.  Go read your favorite story or tale from old.  In any great adventure or romance do we not see that great love put to the test?[xl]

The story which God has shown us in the stars reveals our destiny.  We are called to be witnesses for the covenant.  This is true happiness, in being the bride of Christ!  Our God is also calling us to that divine romance of which the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon testified, "Set me like a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm.  For love is as strong as death, and jealousy is as cruel as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame, the very fire of the Lord.”[xli]  For the love of Jesus Christ is become as a fire in my heart.  It is my desire.  This is the story we were given in the beginning.

I have now become the author of a beautiful mystery, whose beauty cannot be hid.
Let it abide with me in spirit, it gives the reason to live.
Unfettered and untamed, this fire is what I seek with all my desire.
Oh how I love her name!
I continually pray that I will never faulter, nor divert from her way.
Oh how it awakens my soul like a Proverb, her wits I gladly receive!
I devote my every intent and action, fixed upon my soul; she’s become my every need.
A beautiful passion, untempted, never deterred.
A passion with just one spark would enflame the entire world!
The hope that it brings, the visions I can now see,
Floods my every thought such as like a powerful river,
Cleansing the very depths of my entirety!
The freedom it yields me, I am quite undeserved.
It fills my thought and desire; I will always thirst for more,
Yet it is a fire, a burning passion for evermore.
The closer I seek, the realization I’m weak!
Yet as like a mountain peak, the strength it gives me I pray my soul to keep.
A relentless control, Oh the power it holds!
It is as a rose that blossomed through a rock, it has awakened my every thought.
This I can never completely understand,
It yields me the freedom to complete, unconditional love that is at hand.

To truly know love, we must have a love for God.  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.[xlii]  God’s love is from the beginning and will carry through for us till the end.  This is how we should understand love.  It is love for God that gives meaning to all.  A meaning given to us at creation; a love for us carried through with our redemption.  Amen.


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[i] Psalm 118:8 with inspiration from Braveheart :)

[ii] Video, Carl Gallups.

[iii] Isaiah 40:8

[iv] Psalm 40:7, Hebrews 10:7

[v] Revelation 22:13, John 17:5

[vi] Proverbs 1:7

[vii] Henry Morris, Creation and The Second Coming.

[viii] Revelation 21:4-5

[ix] Jeremiah 20:9

[x] Matthew 28:18-20

[xi] Psalm 9:1

[xii] Psalm 96:2-3

[xiii] Psalm 145:4-5

[xiv] Psalm 136:5

[xv] Colossians 2:3

[xvi] Proverbs 25:2

[xvii] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DtOvMxBSxs&feature=channel_video_title

[xviii] John 1:1

[xix] Hebrews 1:10

[xx] Psalm 145:11-13

[xxi] Ephesians 3

[xxii] Romans 1:20

[xxiii] Romans 10

[xxiv] Genesis 1:14-18

[xxv] 1 John 1:1-5

[xxvi] Psalm 147:4-5

[xxvii] Job 38:31-32

[xxviii] Video, Tim Warner.

[xxix] Video, Charles Martin.

[xxx] Genesis 15:2-5

[xxxi] http://endtimepilgrim.org/starchart2.htm

[xxxii] Joshua 1:9

[xxxiii] Isaiah 53:7

[xxxiv] John 19:36

[xxxv] 1 Corinthians 5:7

[xxxvi] Tim Warner, Mystery of the Mazzaroth.

[xxxvii] Genesis 49:8-10

[xxxviii] http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Shiloh.html#.Tn4S6dRu6uI

[xxxix] Galatians 3:29

[xl] Video, Gavin Finley

[xli] Song of Songs 8:6

[xlii] 1 John 4:7

Eternity Placed On Our Hearts

Eternity Placed On Our Hearts
William M. McNeely
STRONG Gym

            My name is ­­­­­­­__________________, and I’m not complete.  For if I was complete, I would not be seeking to be whole.  But what does it mean to be whole?  It means to be filled, complete; to become one.  This means that I’ve been empty.  My whole life has been a journey to fill this emptiness.  At first, I never thought anything about filling it.  I became content with not thinking any deeper in regards to my emptiness.  The older I got, it became apparent that one truly will never be complete until this void was met.  This was a journey; this was my struggle.

            I tried filling it with happiness.  Happiness in making others laugh, making them smile.  Happiness only focusing on the things of this world.  But this still only looks at the surface, I was never searching deeper.  I looked inside myself and this emptiness was truly lonely.  How was I to fill this loneliness?  Again, I turned my hopes towards the temporal.

I once placed my will towards a meaning so cold, integrity measured by a world devout against any true hold.

Walking down this street called life; I turned against myself to find delight.

Endless nights filled with vanity, desperately seeking to fill my sanity.

Feelings of happiness, sought to end the sorrow; joy that was misguided, a feeling so hollow.

I sought out nights filled with pleasure, only finding other hearts quietly voided, and with no tether.

Loneliness kept me searching for more, for a loved one who would open the door.

I continued searching in a vain pursuit, further in my life, bearing no roots.

Striving and searching to be whole, this infinite void struck the depths of my soul.

The quest was guided in the wrong direction, seeking of temperance without real affection.

I turned my head away from the things of this world, and there I found the one who was both infinite and full.

Seeking out God our Father above, for he had placed this immeasurable void, so that we may be filled with love.

I found a new meaning to integrity; I cleaved unto God our Father, for in him I found serenity.

For we were once lost and voided with uncertainty; but in him we are found, our spirits summoned unto eternity.

            God’s places this void in our hearts so that we will seek him.[i]  We will never be fulfilled, for we are surrounded by a world of beauty that we will never fully comprehend.  Questions will arise and will be answered with other questions to a time without end.  It is because of this that one must seek a close relationship with God.  For to pursue him is a calling to our life.

We were created to pursue God’s character; for it is God’s character in us which upholds our life.  To pursue this character means that we ourselves, in our worldly ways, must die; for to become like him is to truly live.[ii]  And to live a life filled with the freedom to love without limit is the true passion and desire that our Father wants us to make every effort towards.  For if we seek God our Father with our entire desire and delight ourselves in him, we will then receive all the desires of our heart.[iii]  This is truly what it means to be alive.

            God truly see’s us living passionate lives through the eyes of delight.  We have a God who is so humble that he chooses to transform us rather than just merely impress us with his almighty power.  This is a display of meekness, truly controlled strength.  And we should desire to be the same, for the meek shall inherit the earth.[iv]   In an environment is which humility reigns is where we truly learn about life and are truly grateful for all that we have.  When we are grateful for all that we have, an environment not contingent on what we’ve received but what we can give is then promoted and love is the product.

            Love, the greatest and most powerful emotion we will ever feel.  All other emotions and feelings that we have are all connected to love.  Anger, sadness, joy, excitement, etc., will always lead us toward the desire of love, never the other way around.  Reflect on this.  Love is truly generous; it is about sacrifice.  Being generous means giving your all and not expecting anything in return; a charitable act defined by a true absence of self.  The absence of one’s self is what courage is and is a true act of selflessness.  And the greatest act of courage ever made came from one whom we all should desire and conform to his image.  It was his sacrifice.  It was his passion.  For he made us after his image; he made us after his very own character.

            Only the most courageous of us can truly love.  Courage is what builds strength and wisdom.  Love is such a strong passion that a weakened heart will not persevere.  Wisdom is forged during times of trials and tribulations that we must persevere through.  A man of strength and wisdom can truly love; a man of strength and wisdom is truly alive.  Without God we are weak, so he himself became weak and became all things to all men, so that he could save us and give us the strength to overcome our weakness.[v]  And to build strength means we must first have humbled ourselves so that we may be lifted up. To be lifted up means to truly be alive in abundant eternity with our glorious Creator, our Father in heaven.

For existing is not truly being alive.  For every man dies, but not every man really lives.[vi]



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References


[i] Ecclesiastes 3:11

[ii] Luke 15:24

[iii] Psalm 37:4

[iv] Psalm 37:11

[v] 1 Corinthians 9:22

[vi] Braveheart