Howdy! This is the blog for me, William McNeely.
I will post stuff about God, training, nutrition, and how I live what is life.
I like writing cause it helps me remember things better and talk to others better, cause I like helping people.
Yup!
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 :)
* 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
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.
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.
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.
(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).
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...
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
-------
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
* BIOFORCE Measurement
* Accupuncture Massage and Mobility Work
---
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
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
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
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.
----------
[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.
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]
Strength Training
(8:00am)
Warm-Up
Foam Roll + LAX
Thoracic Work
Postural
Reinforcement
1: Pin Press.
175 x 4 x 3
2: Swiss Bar Pin Press.
135 x 3
155 x 3
175 x 3
3: Pull-Ups (Concentric Only, Various)
50 Total
