MuscleDog.com - Connecting you to a better body!

On this site we devote much of our time to working the exterior and hoping it is helping the physical insides of us. I believe we also gain some emotional or stress relief from our daily regiemen of exercises.
I know through out my life the times I have learned to focus on the spiritiual side of my life things have always seem to calm rough waters or at least help me better understand the obstacles or gifts I have been given. I believe in God. I believe that our exisitence is to complex to be a random occurance of events.
I was looking at the bible which I don’t do nearly enough and just started reading John 12:25
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
 
trying to come to terms with true happiness and fulfillment..I am trying to learn to meditate and understand the signs of my anger that I have learned to grow so out of control..my new focus is on happiness learn how to stop the feelings that I let overwhelm me and take me over. If I can learn to be angry..I can learn to be happy…We work on the body now I will try to do more to help my heart, my life and all of those people around me.
 I hope I haven’t offended anyone here..but I like many others struggle with my purpose in life and staying on a course to improve myself and my life in all areas. Have a great day.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, “And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied, saying, “I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest.” And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (Mark 14:66-68)
This is just part of the three times which  Peter denies knowing Christ.
 
I struggle many times throughout my day with believeing and not…or should I say doubting.
Peter was next to Christ and he still had doubt. This has always been one of my favorite parts of the scriptures only because it helped me to realize that I am just a man…just like the diciples. They had doubt and were standing in his presence and reassured over and over yet still they were afraid to give in completely to believeing. I know I am a man full of doubts but I truely have tried to look deeper to the meanings of the challenges God has put before me whether good or bad. I have been very fortunate to have been able to recognize the many blessings he has given me. He has surrounded me with believers who at many times have come to my aide to remind me of his greatness. For all of us that struggle he is always present.  Have a great day!

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;”
1 Timothy 4:4 NASB
 
Being grateful for all of that God has provided for us. I know that many times throughout even just a single day simple blessing that we take for granted are overlooked. This may seem a bit goofy but it was one of those moments that I tried truely to live in the moment. I was driving back from a class and I thought here I am transporting myself from one place to another in this machine that allows me to go quickly in comfort with music and windows to see out and control with my body to take me any where. Even though it was a drive I make every day that moment was a special moment. What a blessing. Hundreds of years ago just a dream now we think nothing of it. It is a true incredible machine. Just one. Not including the ability to drive it. To breathe, to walk, to feel, see, and love. Incredible oversights. Try to focus today on one thing to be grateful for even though I know they are endless. Focus and revel in the wonder of something simple. Have a great day!

Luke 6:36-37 ESV Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (37) “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
I believe for me this is a subject that is very difficult to understand and even harder to do. I struggle with my capacity to forgive. My memory and previous thoughts often cloud my ability to be truly forgiving. I have tried to at least say the words and give my thoughts to God. Not to excuse the actions of my self or others but not to inflict more hurt, anger or vengence against others because of my lack of ability to forgive…I struggle. We will all work on this. Have a great day!

you aren’t alone in struggling with finding your purpose in life. even people who consider their faith strong struggle with questions and doubts every once in a while, and it isn’t uncommon for people to feel lost and insignificant, especially in this age of advanced technology and information. it may make the world seem smaller since there is more access, but it also shows you just how many people there are out there and all the different belief systems and cultures. sometimes it is hard to know what to believe.

i fully agree with integrating a spiritual/mental/emotional side to your exercising. it is a great way to vent and block everything else and just be in the moment. i find yoga to be particularly helpful in attaining a calm, meditative state, but it’s always nice to throw on the ipod and headphones and go for a run, or throw some weights around while ignoring everyone and everything else around you.

i’m not religious anymore but am still spiritual, and i’ll always respect other people’s faith. thanks for sharing, and i’m sure there are others on this site who share your beliefs and can contribute here.

Thanks Pete. I know that what I am writing is difficult for some and I was not raised anything, catholic,baptist,etc…I just know there is something greater than we are and I am on a journey that I hope most are on. I have definitely become more open about sharing my spirituality with others and I have been pleasantly surprised most of the time in the response. Thanks again for sharing.

I know there is something very therapeutic about lifting in general for me. I would definitely say I have become a lot more spiritual because of lifting weights. There is something about finding that inner strength and trying to make a connection with the man above. I can’t exactly put my finger on it but when I lift weights I feel a stronger connection because my mind is FREE. I can’t say I get any closer on finding my purpose in life while lifting, but, it allows me to be better able to cope with the daily struggles. Ya know? I don’t want to ask for an easy life. I just want to ask for enough strength to deal with all of the struggles.

I believe that is what you get when you pray, meditate, talk to God. I feel that through exercise times usually running or on a nice walk. By asking for strength or patience ..he will test you to help create that strength. We many times talk about our disappointments and let downs, injuries or bad times…but after they pass as they almost always do there is an opposite effect. We get stronger, breathe relief, feel alive. Weights beat us down but that beating leads to growth. The recovery is critical that period of waiting.  It comes after the recovery and the beating. God knows what we can handle and he gives it to us right at the edge of our being sometimes. That test to me is a test to see if I am ready for his next challenge. We step to the next level.
Corinthians 12:10
New Living Translation (NLT)10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Have a great day.

Working on some meditation today. Focus on the moment I am living in right now. Trying to let go of past experiences and allow less of their power over the thoughts of my today and future. Time to train the mind.
From Mattieu Ricard
We all well know, as the contemporary Tibetan master Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche reminds us, that “we don’t need to train our minds to improve our ability to get upset or jealous. We don’t need an anger accelerator or a pride amplifier.” By contrast, training the mind is crucial if we want to refine and sharpen our attention; develop emotional balance, inner peace, and wisdom; and cultivate dedication to the welfare of others. We have within ourselves the potential to develop these qualities, but they will not develop by themselves or just because we want them to. They require training. And all training requires perseverance and enthusiasm, as I have already said. We won’t learn to ski by practicing one or two minutes a month.

 
We are all a mixture of light and shadow, strengths and weaknesses. Our mind can be our best friend, and our worst enemy. But this state of affairs is neither optimal nor inevitable. Each of us has the potential to free ourself from mental states that cause suffering for ourselves and others, to find inner peace and to contribute to the well-being of others. But just wishing for this is not enough. We need to train our minds.7
Matthieu Ricard
 
This ability to control our thoughts is a process and a training that we need to indulge in. Especially the people who come to this site to share the physical and sometimes mental stress they put themselves through. How many of us make a true conscience effort to train ourselves to put out the flames of anger, pride, jealousy etc… These are things we allow to control us. Our emotions we follow instead of learning to deal with situations we may be put in constantly…maybe an aweful morning commute a co worker that grinds your every nerve. Bring it attention and focusing on the problem or situation allows us to recognize and start to address it. Train ourselves to allow those reactions to subside. Spend some time focusing on a situation a person that sets you off. Why what are the feelings the red flags that go off. What can I do to calm those emotions and view those people or situations in a different light. I will struggle with this myself. Have a great day!

Altruistic love—also called loving-kindness— is the wish that others be happy and that they find the true causes of happiness. Compassion is defined as the desire to put an end to the suffering of others and the causes of that suffering. These are not merely noble sentiments; they are feelings that are fundamentally in tune with reality. All beings want to avoid suffering just as much as we do. Moreover, since we are all interdependent, our own happiness and unhappiness are intimately bound up with the happiness and unhappiness of others. Cultivating love and compassion is a win-win situation.
 
I myself had to look up altruism. I find my self and feel a need to becomealtruistic or more  atleast than I am now. Looking to be more understanding,caring and compassionate to others. Sometimes in my own experiences and predjudice I think people should think like me…snap out of it. Move on..I think to myself about others problems. You think that is bad …well I,me blah, blah.. I know too many times I am not listening. I hear but don’t listen to others needs. I will try to focus on those thoughts today. Truly listen to someone make eye contact and not talk…listen, no answer or problem solving. Only  if they desire a response. I will listen. Have a great day!

Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
2 Corinthians 9: 6
 
This is one of the most profound things that has occured in my life and is constantly reinforced. Everytime I have given, my money time or effort, I have been rewarded well beyond what I gave. I always felt that God was helping me to understand this concept. It is all his…he has allowed me to have it, I can’t leave with it use the time, money effort, comfort to those in need. Take time to give…It can be as simple as a smile or opening a door for someone. Have a great day!!!

Proverbs 14:30 ESV / 88 helpful votes
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
 
In the sport I have chosen I think early on it was easy to envy the big guys, the guys I wanted to be like. As I have aged I think less of what others have and more about what I can do to help others be happy about where they are and how to enjoy each step of the journey. Much of our early years are spent waiting for when I can do this and that. Enjoying the time you are in right now helps a great deal with envy and jealousy. We many times wish for things others have without looking at what is on the inside of the person who has “things”. It isn’t that I don’t desire bigger, better, more but it is to be happy with who I am that what I have. It can all be taken away in a moment.

I don’t have a quote for this but it was a thought I had while driving to the gym this morning. Bryan Adams “Summer of 69” was playing and he says those were the best days of my life. I thought that is a sad thought. To think the best day of my life is already gone. I hope I don’t look back and think …that was it?? I hope that I can wake each morning with a thought of wow anything can happen TODAY! Live with the thought that the best day is right now today! Have a great day!!!
 
Found one
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
 
Not sure I like the evil part but live in the now.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 28 helpful votes
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
 
I think this an easy one to understand but difficult to do sometimes. Pondering thoughts of kindess instead of performing the actual task. Love is an easy thing to share yet we many times hold our selves back. Tell someone you love them and show them through your actions. Have a great day!

James 1:17 ESV / 197 helpful votes
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
 
God gives us constantly and we give thanks. I think this is another area where I could use improvement. Instead of asking why me or woes me, acept the gift he has betowed on me and give thanks to the many blessings that surround my every moment here. I am thankful for the health and well being of my family and me. Thankful for all the material items I have to comfort my daily wants and needs but also all of the other blessings that allow me to life in this beautiful world. Think about what you are thankful for to day and take just a few moments to ponder on or meditate on how wonderful today is. Have a great day!

I find difficulty many times ,in my life, where my expectations of others effects my moods, emotions what ever the word is that I am looking for. I coach and one of my athletes happens to be my daughter and sometimes (many times) I am upset by her performance. I expect her to attack like I do or my wife does with a competitive task, yet she seems content with just being there. It drives me insane inside and I don’t know why I let this get to me. Maybe I do. I am a coach and PE teacher and people have an image of who I am and that my kids should be like I am. I know this is wrong and the thoughts I have are negative to my daughter and to myself. I hate that I expect her to be like me. She is a wonderful dancer, fuuny, artistic and yet I still want one more, just a bit of this or that. I feel ashamed many times that I can’t jus allow her to be who she is. She is not me or my wife. She will change and evolve as my son is growing and changing. I am thankful for my daughter. The wonderful gift of love that God has given to me for her. I want to guide not push and force her to be what I want. I want to nurture her many wonderful qualities and traits.

Luke 12:15 ESV / 66 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
 
Do people in the last of their days ask to be surrounded by things, trophies, money or do they ask to be surrounded by loved ones. To share those last moments with the people they love most. I was at the bedside of my mother in law in her last hours of life. She battled cancer for 2 years before she finally surrendered to the pain. It was a sunny Sunday and all of her children and grandchildren were there , each had a chance to talk and listen to her. I know my wife is still devistated by her death but I feel fortunate that we were all there with her..we had one last day to spend.
Time and Love are so valuable yet we allow money to rule over our lives. Getting it needing it wanting more of it. Sad that it many times cripples us. Try to focus today on the non monitary riches in your life. Hve a great day!

Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. Luke 6: 38
Give because he gives to us everyday at every breathing moment. It is only given to us to give it away. Share what we have and don’t give with expectation. Have a great day!

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 NKJV)
 
Evil finds every possible way in. The devil finds any weak link in our armor and temps us tries to destroy our beliefs. Recognizing these weaknesses helps us to refocus on what God gives us. His love and his ability to forgive our mortal weaknesses. He knows we are weak at times and when evil temps us it is our test to God. OUr belief in Jesus is our greatest protection from evil. When we feel frustrated, angry, upset, these are our weak moments when the Devil finds a way in to destroy us. To give in and be angry, greedy, envious…what ever. If you can recognize that state you are in and think in a positive manner. God is tesating me. How can I make the best of this time that seems to be causing me such grief. Challenge yourself with simple task. The light changed andf you are already running late. Your child just dumped over a bowl of cereal on the floor you just got done cleaning. Yeah stupid stuff that sometimes is the last straw. Challenge and over come. Have a great day!!!

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 264 helpful votes
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
 
I think this is a tough one. Many times we look at many people that just seem to get by. We think as I have many times…man, hard work just gets me more hard work. Guys who slack off get less…they get shuffled around and excuses made for. My message today is stop working for man and make sure you are working for God. He knows your effort, your caring, your passion(which I read somewhere is also known as suffering….suffering for what you love) you need to know that he is wht you work and care about what you do. It is all for him…not for man. Don’t just show up…do something great. Do the best that God has asked you for. Give him your best, not your average or your good enough…Give Him your best! Have a great Day!

 
 
[color=#ff0000]Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 1,301 helpful votes [/color]
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
 
This is a tough one for most of us. I am constantly judging others what they are doing, why they are doing, what ever. It is very easy to look at others ,the hard part is to look in the mirror. I know I am whacky, I have my quirks and things about me that people  say..”what the heck is he doing, why, whatever.” I always liked a line by Jerry Sienfeld it was about looking at people and appreciating their uniqueness or their differences. If I see someone who drives me nuts I try to look deeper and try to appreciate why they are the way they are. The challenge today is to look inside those people. Try to appreciate their quirks…look a bit deeper appreciate what makes them unique and ourselves. Have a great day!

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2: 5
 
Too many times I think we think we need to see to believe…or to have faith in. We can not see oxygen yet we believe it is around us and we take it in. We believe the sun will rise and fall, that tomorrow will come. God shows us his wonders constantly…the least we can do is to have faith in him and know he is the ruler..the King of our universes. To be filled with our doubt and questions ?? He expects that from us . He created us. It makes watching us so much more interesting.
This is a great quote:Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.
Blaise Pascal
 
If you have doubt in the day and age we live in I have attached a great TED talk if you have never seen Billy Graham which I knew of him but never had listened to him before..take a few moments to watch, listen and take heart of what he is saying.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/billy_graham_on_technology_faith_and_suffering.html
Have a Great Day!

 
That is some of the most true, inspirational stuff I have ever stumbled upon. For some reason it just really hits home and I really am glad I read your log all the time. Truly good stuff and I always feel uplifted after reading. Please continue to post - I am thoroughly enjoying feeling refreshed and uplifted. Thank you.

Thank you. i know my thoughts get a bit scattered at times. I am just trying to write down some of the things that I know I and others struggle through each day. Thanks for reading and your input! Have a great day!

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. Matthew 25: 29
I will share another story of giving and receiveing. This is one that occurs all of the time and sure enough it happened this past saturday. Ijust got done teaching an adult fit class and pull into DD to get a coffee. The line is ridiculously long and another line is forming from a side road. I am in no hurry so I let some one go ahead in front of me and I am contemplating letting the next person in but they kind of jerk forward as if they don’t care whether I am there or not….I get a little irritated. I pull up to the window and give an order(no I didn’t get a donut.) I pull up to pay and the lady proceeds to tell me the lady infront of me was in a great hurry and appreciated that I let her in so she paid for my order. I then thought of the bad thoughts I had about the person behind me and I then paid for their order. Good people do exist all around us. Sometimes we just have to give them a chance to release that goodness. I know I have written several times about giving but man it is a great thing. Fullfilment is not reach with things, objects or money. It is a richness felt inside the heart. Today give, whatever it is you have to give, time ,help, what ever. Have a great day!

But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8: 15
Patience is a tough lesson for anyone. I think especially with the passion I share for fitness and muscular strength and size. When a young lifter comes in to the gym they want it all in two weeks. Our society has become that way with everything. Don’t wait to earn the money ..take this card and wallah you can get it now…with 24% interest. Take this and you will look like this in 6 weeks. Biggest loser …I only lost 12 pounds this WEEK! Yeah, we have gotten out of hand. We need to nurture our passions and loves. Grow them with care and love. Building a strong foundation is not done in a day or in 12 weeks. You set out on a journey of life to embrace each moment and know that the rewards come to those you commit and sacrifice and suffer a bit for what they want. It makes reaching the top more rewarding. Time heals, time builds…you may go off course now and again but it always feels good to know when you are back on the path. The goals we have made for ourselves are they for the beach vacation for two weeks or is it for life. Living strong and feeling good well into old age. Living not existing. Being patient isn’t being lazy…it is knowing what you want and persuing it with passion. Work hard and love what you do, be patient in knowing that God will give to you when He knows you are ready. My kids are always Gods way of testing my patience. Try today to recognize those moments when you are rewarded for your patience. Have a great day!

verbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
 In anger it is very difficult to see clearly. I know that when I am engaged in an arguement I struggle. Why? Because my thoughts are scattered and misguided. I begin to think of other offenses committed against me and the clarity of the situation becomes blurry. Almost always afterward ,when I have cooled I will think of things I should or shouldn’t have said. I think …”why was I arguing to begin with?” Anger is something that when you begin to recognize its ugliness is there an association I can make to diminish the feelings to stay focused on what is being discussed and not allow anger to overcome my clarity of thoughts. To stay focused on the subject and not allow this emotion to over ride my entire system. I need a great deal of work in this area. I allow many times my emotions to control my actions or words.
 
I think I have a good analogy if you have seen the movie Warrior. If not watch it. I will try not to give too much of the story away but watch what anger does to one brother and the others desire to help his family.
 I have also learned that anger takes a great deal of energy to maintain. Release yourself from that anger and allow your energy to be utilized in love and kindness…it is much more energy efficient and it is a resource that is replenished when it is returned to you from others. Anger creates more anger. Find a way to recognize and distract yourself from its power. Have a great day!

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Isaiah 40: 29
Strength is something we all strive for but we are easily broken. When you let God be your strength  all things are possible. Strength is believeing. I don’t think you have to prayer for things you want or need…God knows that already. Pray with graditude and thank him for the strength he provides for every moment of or lives. When others around us are crumbling or feeling down or negative…be their strength. That can be as easy as listening. This is an area I could use a bit of work on as well. Be someones strength as God is our strength. Have a great day!

7. (Psalms 107:20 NKJV) He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
I think this covers many bases. Not just of the body and mind but of our spirit or faith. Constantly taxed in the day to day scramble with barely a moment to breathe. I ask God for many things on a day to day talk with him. I over look many times the healing we all need in the many parts of our being. My wife lost her mother last year to cancer and was suffering even before her death. Just in the thought of losing her it was difficult for her and inturn on our family as a whole. After there was a crack in the foundation. repair was needed and still continues in the wake of her loss. Healing is something maybe we all need a little extra dose of. Daily life is full of stressors that break us down and we need a little bit of spiritual protein and rest to recover. Ask today for a bit of healing for yourself and your family so you may stengthen your faith, and love. Have a great day!