The past few weeks I’ve been in something of a funk about my workouts. I’ve been working out but mostly skipping the gym.  I just haven’t had the motivation to get up early to get to it.  I think it’s a spiritual crisis.

Seeking something uplifting, I turned to the Bible. I started with the joy of creation in Genesis. But that didn’t do the trick. The struggle of Exodus is inspiring but didn’t give me the push I needed.  Even the simple but uplifting message of Baywatch couldn’t help. So, I turned to the most trenchant part of the Good Book.

Below are some of the verses that got through to me.

Life is one big tug of war between mediocrity and trying to find your best self.” 1 Goggins 13:4.doG’s messenger hit me between the eyes with this one.

I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.” 1 Goggins 2:7.  That’s point, isn’t it?

A lot of us don’t know about another world that exists for us because it’s on the other side of suffering. That’s the real growth in life. 1 Goggins 134:1.  

“The things that we decide to run from are the truth. When you make excuses, you’re running from the truth. 2 Goggins 3:4.  The Lord put the smackdown on me with that one.

From this point forward, accept the following as Goggins’ laws of nature:

You will be made fun of.
You will feel insecure.
You may not be the best all the time.
You may be the only black, white, Asian, Latino, female, male, gay, lesbian or [fill in your identity here] in a given situation.
There will be times you feel alone.

Get over it!” 1 Goggins 219: 7-17.

If you can get through doing things that you hate to do, on the other side is greatness.  1 Goggins 16:9. I suppose that’s why my forebearers trudged through the desert for 40 years.

If you’re not physically and mentally prepared for what life is going to throw at you, then you’re just going to crumble, And then, you’re no good to nobody.” 3 Goggins 16:4.

“Everything in life is a mind game! Whenever we get sucked under by life’s dramas, large and small, we are forgetting that no matter how bad the pain gets, no matter how harrowing the torture, all bad things end.  That forgetting happens the second we give control over our emotions and actions to other people, which can easily happen when the pain is peaking.”  1 Goggins 114: 1-6.

This week’s sermon.

This week’s music choice.