This Might Be A Little Personal

I have had a weight problem all of my life. I remember in the 6th grade having to buy pants that were a size 36 in the waist. (I have had some people say, “But you were tall, weren’t you?” Yes—but keep in mind I was 11!!! That is HUGE for a 6th grader!!!)

This problem persisted until I was well into my Sophomore year in high school…I weighed close to 300 pounds and had to buy a pair of pants that were a size 50! Yes, again, I was tall—but I was HUGE—my underwear could have been used to show a movie on! (Sorry about that image!)

So I lost weight—really, I went from a size 50 to a size 36, from 300 to 215. I was serious, I ran, lifted weights—the whole nine yards…and I was in great shape and kept it…until I went to college.

College was great for me—well, all except for my health. I made several late night trips to Applebee’s for cheese sticks and onion rings, called Domino’s a lot—and also frequented a local restaurant called Stewarts that is NOT known for its healthy menu. (It’s the kind of restaurant where you are going to smoke two packs—regardless if you smoke or not!) You have heard of the freshmen 15—I think I put on the freshmen 50.

So I graduated college—I was pushing 265, I was in a size 40 pants and desperately needed to go to a 42…but I am a man…and men have a problem with this—so we push our pants lower and wear them until they just about dissolve!

But I thought, “No problem—I am going into the ministry.” Why did I think that—well, to be bluntly honest…I had seen a lot of preachers and it seemed that being overweight and out of shape was pretty much par for the course.

Then my world got ROCKED! I was sitting in a room one night that was full of preachers…and they were all ranting and raving about the social evils of the world and talking badly about the people in their church who abused alcohol, smoked, gossiped, cussed—you know, the really “bad” sins that get called out from the pulpit.

All of a sudden this dude named Derek stood up in the back of the room and said, “Guys, I know I am not going to be well liked because of this comment—but I feel as if that many here tonight are being hypocritical. You are talking about the people in your church as if you are so much better than them because they sin and you do not…but the reality is that most of you in this room have a belly that is hanging over your pants…and the Bible says that is wrong—it is abusing food—it is gluttony…and I think this bashing needs to stop right now.”

You could have heard a cricket in that room. Many of the men I knew got angry—but I was convicted. Derek was right…I was NOT worshipping God with my body. I made a decision that night to commit to honoring God with the body He has given me.

Since that time I have gone from a 40 to a 36 in the waist…and I have dropped 40 pounds. Please do not e-mail me asking my secret—there is no secret—the only thing I have found that works (and I have tried everything) is diet AND exercise.

American’s always want the easy way out…and some of you out there will swallow anything that people will say will remove fat from your system. (Keep in mind that most of that junk is just a laxative—so unless you want to poo-poo a lot you had better come up with another plan!)

And I didn’t lose the weight overnight…it was a process…it took me making myself go to the gym…and on a number of occasions I had to say no to second helpings and desert.

To those who say, “But I just can’t diet.” Please think about your future. I believe that unhealthy eating is a stronghold of the enemy and that many people are going to die early deaths because of abusing food.

There are those who say, “But I just can’t exercise.” I say bull—your problem is NOT an inability to exercise—it is laziness. I know, I know, you are busy right—or you just can’t find the time. The fact is this—we find time for what we want to do…and this happens to be important.

You know, I haven’t heard anyone have the guts, except for Ed Young at Fellowship Church, to speak on this subject. Pastors—if we are going to speak on the social evils of our day—then why not hit on the abuse of food, gluttony if you will. After all, it is mentioned in Scripture AND I do believe a stronger case can be made against gluttony than some of the other things we harp on.

(For those wondering—yes, I have done a message on the subject…yes, it was tense, I honestly believe people would have rather had me preach on hell or giving that particular Sunday!)

Here’s the bottom line…if you are overweight and/or out of shape—you CAN do something about it. Trust me, if I can do it then you can as well. Join a gym, find a workout partner—anything—but keep in mind that as followers of Christ that we are keepers of the temple (our bodies) and that He takes it seriously when His temple gets trashed.

Stop making excuses and go for it—you will feel better for it—I promise. And please do not go overboard…I am not saying that we all need to work out twice a day and commit to a steady diet of tree bark and granola. But some of the changes you need to make may need to be sort of extreme at the beginning—mine were—until you can get your eating and laziness under control.