Maybe. But if Samson was jacked like 1970’s Arnold, why did people wonder about the source of his power and strength? Would you ask Lebron how he is able to dunk a basketball? Some things seem kind of obvious.
What if Samson looked more like Woody Allen than Jared Allen? Maybe Samson was just a normal looking, average, unremarkable, or even puny guy. Wouldn’t that 180 the minds of his enemies? Wouldn’t that be just God’s way?
God loves displaying His power in people others consider weak, insignificant or even foolish:
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27
Samson’s strength came from his relationship with the Lord. He didn’t have to be the biggest, fastest or strongest. He just needed to walk in faith. The same things holds true for us. If we stay close to God, we’ll be filled with amazing power and strength.
So I ask you?
What is the secret of your great strength?
]]>They said to the King, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ —Jesus (Matthew 25)
Covid-19 has left countless Americans needing help with groceries. On the news, we are seeing the mile long car lines for people needing help from food banks and other church kitchens and pantries. Many of these outreaches are being stretched thin.
Now is the time to help. Today is the day to answer Jesus "Hear am I, send me."
Join us in supporting Fountain of Hope, a ministry that distributes food to numerous food banks, churches and homeless kitchens. Your small donation will help distribute food to thousand in need.
Click on this link to give any amount. http://fohfoodbank.org
Thank you,
Rick, Theresa and Philip
Fountain of Hope Food Ministry
photo by Gift Habeshaw
]]>We need Happy Warriors more than ever. We need those who have learned life is difficult, but refuse to surrender their wonder and joy and hope to the dark forces of fear and despair and cynicism.
Wordsworth wrote long ago of the Character of the Happy Warrior, who answers Heaven’s call with courage and grace and an inner light. The Happy Warrior, who seeks Heaven’s approval above any earthly praise. Today we need women and men built of the same strong stuff to rise up.
Your neighbors and your world need your strength today!
Happy Warriors believe the impossible, and see it come to pass.
Happy Warriors are not naïve, yet are innocent in the face of evil.
Happy Warriors love peace, and fight through the noise to find it.
Happy Warriors embrace the struggle, knowing it is the path to perfection.
Happy Warriors are confident, with the courage they receive in Christ.
Happy Warriors never shrink back, always closing on the enemy.
Happy Warriors fight for others, as love never fails.
Happy Warriors lean on Grace, and extend Mercy and Love.
Happy Warriors press forward, forgetting the past.
Happy Warriors are joyous, the secret of their strength.
Happy Warriors rest, knowing the victory belongs to Him.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1Timothy 6:12
Photo by Matheus Ferrero
]]>Understanding our fearful state, Jesus came saying “fear not, I’ve overcome the world.” He calls on us to turn our back on fear and move forward in trust. If ever there was a challenge for us, this is it.
Do not be afraid—I am with you!
I am your God—let nothing terrify you!
I will make you strong and help you;
I will protect you and save you. Isaiah 41:10
Fear not. This is a great starting point. God tells us not to be afraid. He wouldn’t have told us this if it wasn’t possible, nor if it wasn’t in our best interest. We need to obey the command. But fear can seem so powerful and crippling. How do we “fear not?”
The answer is complex. It includes understanding what fear is, where fear comes from, and how we can respond to it. The first thing to understand is fear is a product of our belief. Fear exists because we give it power to exist.
Fear is faith. Fear isn’t the actual danger. Fear is the faith we give the danger to do us harm. Dangers can be real or imagined. How we perceive danger is on us. Fear is built on what we believe.
Often we create fear where there is little or no danger (thank you, news media). We can make a danger to be bigger and more powerful than it is. Instead of feeding and building up our fear, we need to starve it of our imagination and belief.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterward do anything worse.” Luke 12:4
Fear needs context. Jesus had the audacity to tell us not to fear death (and all of the little things, too). If ever there was a real danger to our lives, it is death. Death looms over all of us. Yet Jesus said that we should think about it in the context of eternity and our Creator. To a God that raised Christ from the dead, death loses its sting. Place your fear in the context of God and what He has done in your life and you’ll see it shrink down to nothing.
Courage is a choice. Fear usually sneaks up on us. We don’t wake up thinking “I’m going to freak out today.” No, fear comes at us like a roaring lion, seeking to intimidate us. The choice isn’t to never fear, it’s to face the fear with courage.
Courage is a response to danger based on experience, hope and belief. When fear wants us to avoid a challenge, courage tells us to go forward ignoring the fear. Courage is required if you’re ever going to do something difficult or selfless. Be brave today.
“There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear.” 1 John 4:18
Love resists fear. This one is a mystery. How can love push away fear? I’m not sure. But when I think that the Eternal God sees me and loves me, everything else sort of loses its importance. Fear fades away.
The same was true when my mom gave me a hug or my dad told me things would be ok. The same is true when a friend reaches out or when I consider the faithful love of my wife. Love is a powerful tool against fear. Let’s use it extravagantly to encourage one another along life’s way.
photo by James Coleman
]]>So many of us hunger for motivation, for purpose, for inspiration. We need a boost to lift our souls and give us the strength to tackle challenges and persevere through difficulty.
All of these can be important sources of motivation. They give us a momentary high that lifts us toward our goals. They work, but only for a little while. Finding inspiration is a temporary fix, one that leaves us thirsting and hungering again as we face the next challenge. Finding motivation can be exhausting in itself.
We need a lasting inspiration, one that never fades. One outside of ourselves, from a source that never stops, never fails and always lifts us.
“If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart. That is what the Scriptures say.” Jesus was talking about the Spirit. The Spirit had not yet been given to people, because Jesus had not yet been raised to glory. But later, those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit. John 7:38-39
The Holy Spirit is our permanent source of inspiration. It flows up and out of our hearts like an endless bubbling spring. His inspiration is bigger than us. We don’t need to pump up our minds to energize our souls. We only need to follow Him.
When we conceived of Hodijo as an “inspirational brand,” we recognized the Holy Spirit is the source for Hope, Discipline and Joy. That is why our logo references the moment when the Holy Spirit breathed into believers for the first time (Acts 2).
The Holy Spirit is our most important life partner, source of strength and endurance, and our permanent inspiration.
]]>The Bible isn’t primarily a book about physical fitness, or even this physical world. It’s a spiritual book that reveals God to us. Yet the Bible has a lot to say about healthy habits, healthy mindsets and healthy relationships. We’re encouraged to care for our bodies both physically and morally because God lives within us.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
More of life opens up to you when you’re healthy and fit. You have more energy for your family, job and ministry. You reduce the risk of crippling illness and increase your mental and physical resilience. Plus there is a specific joy that comes with being a good steward of the life and body you were given.
It’s a simple idea—live abundantly in a healthy body. Hodijo hopes to encourage everyone in that pursuit #forthejoyoffit.
photo by Seth Doyle
]]>As I looked further into the link between being fit and being happy, I found interesting ways exercise promotes happiness.
Elevates mood. As we age, our dopamine levels naturally decrease. Physical exercise releases dopamine into our brains, which makes us happier. Being fit also makes us feel more confident and engaged with life—ways of thinking that keep us in a consistently better mood.
Raises energy levels.This is really counterintuitive. How can working hard in the gym for an hour create more energy for the rest of the day? Like an energy drink, exercise works as a spark that gets everything going in the morning. It also works psychologically and physiologically to make better functioning minds and bodies around the clock.
Decreases Stress.Modern lives have plenty of mental stress and little of the physical exertion necessary to dissipate the built up hormones and other chemicals associated with stress. We have a natural awareness, often called “fight or flight,” that keeps us on edge. We need exercise to help us burn off the excess chemicals, to make us tired, and to keep us connected—mind and body.
Builds mental toughness. Every time you force yourself to go to the gym, lift that last painful set, or say no to bad food, you are building up your mental toughness. Resilience, the ability to face and overcome life’s challenges, means using your spirit to command your mind and body. Exercise not only builds up your body, it builds up your perseverance and character.
Boosts immune system.Some doctors advise exercise to combat everything from an oncoming cold to heart disease and cancer. When we exercise, our body works to prevent illness in complicated ways that include flushing out impurities, creating less hospitable environments for bacteria, and limiting the production corrosive stress chemicals. The body is an intricate system, with exercise being an essential engine to health.
Improves sleep.When we exercise, we sleep better. Part of the reason is because we’re tired. Other reasons include resetting our sleep cycle, flushing stress-related hormones, and internal temperature regulation. How much, when and what type of exercise affects sleep varies between people.
photo by Gemma Chua-Tran
]]>Hope gets us to the starting line. Hope gives us a glimpse of a better tomorrow, for something new and improved for ourselves and for those we love. Hope is more than a wish. It’s a want that we’re willing to work for.
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18
There are obstacles that must be overcome. Quick starts can fizzle and desire can turn to disappointment. When we hit a wall, Discipline pushes and pulls us through. Life reserves the best things—relationships, health, wealth, legacy, etc.—for those willing to give a lifetime of effort and diligent stewardship.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4
We don’t have to wait to feel great. Joy is pre-race jitters, a second wind and runner’s high all rolled into one. More than a nice feeling, Joy is an essential empowering ingredient to change. Without infusions of sustaining Joy, Hope can wither and Discipline can become a burden.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
This is how you run your race, with hope discipline and joy (hodijo). This is how you keep your resolution. This is how you change your life.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
Go the distance. We’re cheering you on.
Photo by Martins Zemlickis
]]>We all hate to fail. I get that. The problem is that most positive change requires actions and attitudes that are both new and difficult. Positive change reveals where we aren’t yet competent and where we’re likely to fail. Most people would rather successfully stay the same than risk failing to achieve improvement.
Failure is not only inevitable it’s a necessary ingredient for success. Here are a few reasons why:
This is not hyped motivational speak. These ideas come from an appreciation of failure as an integral part of the process of change. Don’t give in to the temptation to reset to your old ways. Punch back and push through momentary failures. Momentary failure is only one step on a winding staircase to success.
Don’t let failure derail your commitment to change in 2020. Don’t give in to the resistance created by old habits and destructive mindsets. You made a resolution because you wanted to be better. So be better.
“One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul (Philippians 3: 13-14)
]]>“So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.” Galatians 6:9
Too many resolutions emphasize results, over the process that create them:
Goal-based Resolution
|
Process-based Resolution
|
Lose 20 lbs. |
Eat smaller meals. |
Save $1,000 |
Save 3% of my paycheck. |
Get my degree |
Enroll in a class |
The difference between focusing on process instead of goals is that process is something you do today. Process is NOW!
Today’s small step is a micro-goal that serves the bigger goal. A win within a micro-goal is part of an overall victory. This makes every day as important as the day you achieve your resolution. Why wait? Win today and you win the future.
Eating less on Monday might not show up on your scale Tuesday morning. Eating smaller meals all week will move the needle. Eating smaller portions of healthy food every day will transform your life.
A process resolution is simply a series of complimentary micro-goals that build on one another to accomplish your main goal. Designing a process that ends in a permanent improvement lets the resolution come to you.
Success raises the bar. What works at the start of a resolution doesn’t always continue to work. When you exercise, your body becomes stronger and is less challenged. You’ll need to adjust your program.
Adjusting your process keeps you engaged and moving forward. It also integrates your resolution into your lifestyle, which leads to permanent change.
Making process your resolution is making change your resolution.
Arrow Image by Hello I'm Nik
]]>"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19
I’m going to ... You’re all excited about getting into shape, losing weight, saving money or whatever goal you set for yourself in the new year. You tell your family and friends how your life is going to change. All that public commitment and accountability will help you nail your goals this year. Right?
Wrong! When you announce a goal, your mind triggers the same chemical and emotional signals as if you’ve accomplished your goal. In your imagination, you’re already slimmer and richer, though nothing has changed. Unfortunately, that tends to satisfy the “hungry and motivated” part of you—the part required to push through to the end. (Read the study.)
Part of the problem is how you think and the other part is in the way others perceive you after you announce a commitment. When those around you notice and comment on your planned changes, you get a premature feeling of completeness and success. This usually comes way too soon in your process, before actual change has taken root.
Basically, announcing your intentions is like getting paid before you work—not the best motivator for most people.
So. Keep it to yourself and do it! Get down to the business of change, which requires day-to-day discipline. Keep your goals to yourself. Treasure them in your heart and remind yourself of them daily for motivation or encouragement. You’re going to need that motivation to stay strong all the way to the finish line.
]]>Don’t complain that there isn’t enough “Christ” in Christmas. Of course there isn’t.
This world doesn’t follow Jesus—never has and never will. Jesus understood this and it didn’t make Him mad:
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47
Instead, let’s focus on the good things that come with Christmas:
Best of all, people think about Jesus this time of year—maybe not deeply, and sometimes irreverently. But more than any other time of year, the world lifts high the name of Christ.
The least we can do is join in and be the happiest, most Christmas-y people around. We actually know how great the Gift is. We live Love, Joy and Peace. Christmas is our jam!
Don’t tell people they’re doing Christmas wrong. Show them how to keep it going all year long.
Merry Christmas!
]]>People get holiday blues for familiar reasons that are amped up during the holidays:
Normally happy people can easily become exhausted and stressed. Those who struggle emotionally can become overwhelmed, isolated and depressed. If this sounds familiar, there are things you can do to fight back against the holiday blues.
If you or someone you love is overwhelmed, there is a lot of good advice and professional help available. Seek it out. To maintain your wellbeing during this stressful time, we suggest the following practical tips:
15% blame watching Netflix.
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While over 60% of Americans say they want to get in shape, recent survey revealed some of the many reasons they are missing workouts:
A couple of these are pretty funny. The one I most relate to is “too old.” When I turned 43 my body really started changing. I gained weight easier, needed reading glasses and started having joint pain after workouts. Aging created a real obstacle to working out.
Fortunately, I’ve been physically active since I was a little kid. It’s in my DNA. I won’t be happy if I can’t run around. Not working out would mean I’d be less fit to do other things I love, like basketball, board sports and golf. The gym is how I maintain balance, flexibility and strength—essentials for an active lifestyle.
Also there are psychological blessings that come from working out. I lose tension. I gain energy. I tackle challenges. I just have a better mindset when I work out.
God made us to move, even when it’s challenging. Let’s get to it.
No excuses.
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This is hodijo’s first year in business, our first Black Friday. From the start, we’ve decided to define our Christmas season a bit differently. For us, success is not measured only by the number of items we sell this Christmas, but also by the number of items we can give to those in need.
“I was a stranger and you did not invite me in; I needed clothes and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” —Jesus (Mathew 25:43)
We want to make a small dent in a big need. Make things just a little bit better. That’s the hodijo way—hopeful, disciplined, incremental effort that produces joy.
We’re partnering with our customers to help those in our communities who can’t afford Black Friday or any other sales.
With each purchase of $50 or more, our customers get 10% off—and hodijo will donate a Hope and Joy t-shirt and a pair of warm socks to help clothe homeless people.
This is our first Christmas sale. With God’s blessing and your patronage this sale will grow to become a hodijo Christmas tradition.
Please enter GIVE at checkout.
]]>At times we need to reach out and up to others who can help us overcome our obstacles. When we do, we’ll find amazing resources and dedicated individuals who are equipped and ready to help us achieve our health goals.
Christianity and fitness have a long history in our country. The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) has been building gyms in the U.S. since 1869. The term “body building” was coined in 1881, by a Y-staffer in Boston. Over twenty years ago our family began our fitness journey together at the Carl Sanders Family Y in Atlanta. I’m still a member, but I've moved to the Winston Family Y in Jacksonville.
Today, amazing communities of healthy Christians are involved in all sorts of health, sports, fitness and other mind/body pursuits. I’ve found inspiration, knowledge and support from these folks both in person and online. And I’ve made great friends along the way.
Join the Y, go to a cross fit gym emphasizing the Cross; find a yoga instructor whose meditations involve scripture; compete in a league; or help out with FCA.
Get connected and you’ll also get that extra boost needed to scale any challenge. Then you’ll be ready to reach out with a helping hand of your own.
]]>Getting and staying in shape is a serious challenge. We are fighting against ourselves—our habits, distractions, etc. The warrior helps us engage in that fight.
In business and other areas, the warrior model is less useful. Success in business is achieved more through cooperation and collaboration than it is through conflict. In business, the builder is a more useful model.
Both the warrior and the builder are excellent motivational mindsets. They help us face challenges and stay focused and complete tasks. Yet neither metaphor is complete. We can’t achieve every goal through fighting and we can’t build if we are under attack. We need both.
There’s a story about people who needed to be both builders and warriors at the same time. The people of Israel had returned to Jerusalem after being held captive in Babylon for 70 years. When they returned, they found the essential defensive walls of their city had been destroyed. These needed to be rebuilt for them to return to their normal lives.
Unfortunately, the people who lived around Jerusalem kept attacking the Israelites as they tried to rebuild. So their leader, Nehemiah, strategized a plan.
“From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.”— Nehemiah 4:16-18
This builder/warrior is the model I find most useful. As I try to build a better life, I often feel under attack from within and without. At those times, I need to push pause on the building and fight.
I need my builder to organize my life in ways that minimize stress, build relationships and move me toward God’s plan. He needs to stay on purpose.
I also need my inner warriorto fight any internal resistance to slacking off or going off plan. He needs to stand vigilant.
Like those on Jerusalem’s wall, we face this life with tools in one hand and a sword in the other. Ready for any challenge.
]]>Athletes describe being in a “flow state" as the sensation of seamless ability. Where all of your training and repetitive practice becomes as automatic as walking or breathing.
Your body and mind work as one. The game slows down and comes to you. The basket gets bigger and your ball glides upon nature’s perfect arc. You can’t miss.
You are one with your board and it is one with the wave. It’s like you think with your body. But there is no think—only motion.
You’re on flow. The only thing is the moment. You’ve worked and worked and now everything feels slowed down and effortless.
Another flow state is found in positive psychology. More about the mind than the body, it’s best described as having hyper-focus, or being completely present in the moment. But you don’t need to be moving or playing a game.
This flow state is often brought about using mindfulness techniques practiced in Buddhism, Hinduism and traditional yoga. The idea is that a flow state can help you transcend the psychic and physical hassles of this life, like anxiety, boredom and apathy.
Through intense inward focus, the outer world with all of its concerns disappears, or becomes very small to you. Transcendence is the goal, not transformation.
Then there is what I call 3rd Wave Flow State. This is where God’s love flows through you to those in your life. Where your life becomes a vessel by which the Holy Spirit is poured out to whatever part of the world you occupy.
This flow state is lasting and transformative. Rather than looking inward to quiet the noise, God’s flow is outward, ministering to a hurting world. Wonderfully, it transforms all involved. God’s flow touches both giver and receiver. And, unlike athletic and psychological flow states, this 3rd Wave Flow can be maintained for all eternity.
]]>What’s not to love? Recreation is positive, active, outdoorsy and fun. Recreation brings to mind friends and family, laughter and memories. Vacations, picnics, ball games, parks, beaches, dancing, climbing, skating, hiking, surfing—Woo-Hoo!
There’s also a deeply spiritual history and meaning to the word recreation.It literally means “to make new again.” In Latin, the word meant healing, recovery and spiritual renewal. Later, the French used to word to express an idea that leisure activities and amusement will restore a person’s soul, mind and body to a healthy and relaxed state. Remembering that life was much harder than it is today, these were not idle notions. Recreation was a key to survival.
Christians can easily recognize the concepts of rest and recovery and recreation. They begin in Genesis, when God Himself set apart one day a week to rest. They continue in Old Testament concepts like Jubilee and Sabbath. Christians are to “strive to enter [God’s] rest.” And the big one, we are “re-created” when we are born again in Christ.
The renewal I get through recreation reminds me of God’s spiritual truths. It is a picture of the ultimate refreshing awaiting us in eternity.
While there are so many valid reasons to stay fit (mental, physical, medical, etc.), my personal approach to exercise hinges on recreation. Both the exercise itself is recreative and the resulting physical fitness allows me to enjoy my body with other activities.
I feel alive when I push my body. I feel young when I play games with my friends. I feel rejuvenated when I engage with nature.
I feel new again.
]]>Desiring change thrusts us into a dilemma, even if we don’t immediately recognize it. All desire is born of dissatisfaction. Often, without your permission, desire creates visions of a new reality. Once you’ve seen this new reality, you are forced into the dilemma. Do I pursue or ignore this desire?
First, test the desire. It may be unhealthy, unprofitable, unrealistic or ungodly. Those need to get tossed. If the desire comes from a positive place, like the desire to be healthier, you then have another choice—to wish for change or to hope for change. They are very different.
Wishing doesn’t ask anything from you. A wish is a fantasy and a vapor. It’s like cotton candy for the soul. It tastes sweet, but gives you nothing of value. Just like sugar, too much wishing can lead to cycles of dissatisfaction.
Hoping asks you to change. It demands action, because hope is anchored in possibility. Even a distant, vague or seemingly impossible hope can become your new reality. You only have to pursue it by faith.
]]>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Roman 15:13
Hodijo is built around an approach to life—Christian mindfulness. Our name comes from hope, discipline and joy, all gifts and fruits of a Christ-centered life.
Like other approaches to well-being, we emphasize positivity, attentiveness and alignment between beliefs and actions. Those things are built into human nature and will make any life better. Yet there is a higher level of alignment for we who are Christians.
We are connected to the power of the Creator. We are more than just connected. Through our relationship with Christ we are filled with God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit works continually, leading us, encouraging us and giving us transformative power.
Hodijo’s logo references the moment the very first Christians were filled by the Holy Spirit. The story is found in the <second chapter of the book of Acts.> When the Holy Spirit came, they all heard a rushing wind and were engulfed in what looked like flames.
Hodijo’s logo imagines those same Holy Spirit flames engulfing today’s believers. We are wrapped in the flames of His inspiration, direction and power. Through Him, we have the hope, discipline and joy we need to live well.
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Hodijo is an idea and a process—Christ gives us a mind and spirit that encourages and supports a healthy life. Hodijo is part of a community— people striving to be their best selves in Christ and reaching out to support one another.
Our blog is a window into lives, ideas and activities filled with Hope, Discipline and Joy. If you would like to be a content contributor to the Hodijo blog, please contact us at friends@hodijo.com.
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