Fit For The Kingdom

About Michael When people describe Michael Smith, you will hear words like; motivator, entrepreneur, fitness guru, bodybuilding, counselor, visionary, warrior, hero, comedian, trusted confidante, and faithful friend. But most of all, Michael Smith is an anointed man of God, with a heart for those who need healing, improved health or desire to live victorious lives according to scripture. Michael began his coaching and training career in 1974, coaching a swimming team to its first state championships. Just a few years later, Michael coached a Golden Gloves boxing team with three state champions, including his own state title. In a few personal tragedies that netted him several hundred stitches and scores of broken bones, most wrote Michael off as a 'has been, ' never to be again. It was at this point that the Lord 'called' Michael to "get my people fit!" In 1988 Michael shocked them all when the readers of Rocky Mountain Sport Fitness Magazine voted him the Male Aerobics Instructor of 1988! The following year topped himself when he won the Masters Division in the USA Natural Bodybuilding Championships. To prove that is wasn't a fluke victory, three months later Michael won the Natural America Masters Bodybuilding overall title! Diversifying his experience, Michael then moved to the physical therapy community, helping others rehabilitate injuries to the knees, shoulders, and back. It was at this point that Michael dropped everything to attend the Heritage Christian Center, School of Ministry in Denver, Colorado under the direction of Bishop Dennis Leonard, where he graduated in 1996. Michael is currently a personal trainer at the University of Denver where he has trained 2008 Mr. Olympia third place finisher Phillip Heath, multiple national titlist, and two-time Olympic medal winner in figure skating, Michelle Kwan, and 2008 Beijing Olympic all-round gymnast, Jessica Lopez.

Ready or not here it comes! The battle for your life!!! You thought it was just all about counting calories and working out. This is a war that goes way beyond that; it’s a spiritual one. Satan’s weapon of choice? Food and habitual inactivity. If you have been wondering why you just can’t seem to get it right, be consistent, stay motivated, eat healthy and get fit, you just found the answer.

The course of life we're all on is like a treadmill, possessing not only the ability to increase in speed, but in incline, as well. All signs indicate that both these variables will continue to intensify. Consequently, for years Church leaders have been urging us to increase our spiritual strength, both as individuals and families, so that we can remain both safely and securely on it. How can we stay on our feet during these "perilous battles" and not get thrown off course? How can we keep our guard up and avoid the pitfalls along the way? The answer is clear: Gain the spiritual strength the Savior emphasized by following the training program He utilized!That's the purpose of this book - to help individuals and families strategize by learning to identify, follow, and adapt His program in powerful and practical ways. By so doing, they will increase their spiritual strength and as the title of this book and the hymn More Holiness Give Me declares, become "More Fit for the Kingdom!

The beloved and timeless King James Version is made available in an affordable quality edition for Sunday schools, Bible clubs, church presentations, and giveaways. This handsome award Bible will withstand heavy use thanks to better quality paper and supple but sturdy cover material. Includes full-color maps. A great way to honor special achievements--at a budget-conscious price!

After proclaiming that God's Kingdom had come near, Jesus died on the cross. This is hard to reconcile with what Jesus announced at the start of his ministry. It can only be understood when we realize the relationship between the Kingdom of God and his death. Jesus said flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God, but only those who are born of the Sprit, and for this reason Jesus had to die on the cross. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus that only those who are born of the Holy Spirit can enter into the Kingdom of God. He came into the world to make it happen, because without the cross of Jesus there is no fulfillment of the Kingdom. The proclamation of Jesus, his works and his life have strong bearing on his mission. Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God had come near. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and gave hope to the poor. He lived a very basic life with his disciples and had no earthly possessions. This was the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. It gave the power back to the people, it gave them dignity and a life of joy and contentment. It was about the wellbeing of the whole community and where the leaders served others. Jesus explained the mysteries of his Kingdom through many parables, which turned the whole concept of the kingdom on its head and only a few were able to understand it then, as it is now. It was a new and unique concept for the disciples to grasp, but after his resurrection when he was with them for forty days, Jesus explained everything to them as recorded in the book of Acts. He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem till they were baptized by the Holy Spirit. Their empowerment which is usually understood in terms of Peter's bold preaching of the gospel was in fact more than that. It was to give them the courage to leave their earthly possessions and relationships and accept the other believers as their new family, where God lived with them and looked after their daily needs, spiritual as well as material. This was a very bold step for them to take. It was more daring than standing up to preach before a large crowd on the day of the Pentecost. The first church in Jerusalem became a place where God's Kingdom had come. They rejoiced together as they shared everything and God did mighty works among them. This would not have been possible, if they hadn’t left their own families and possession to join the new community of God’s people. The church lost the initial impetus that the early Christians had, in the way they lived and preached the good news of the Kingdom, especially during the post-Constantine period when the church leaders were seduced by the wealth that came from the state treasury. The way Jesus, the apostles and the early Christians had lived was completely forgotten or overlooked. The sixteenth century reformation tried to recover some of the important aspect the Christianity but it did not go far enough. At present the church has become its own worst enemy. Some churches are trying to destroy the very foundation of our salvation by denying the existence of historical Jesus. In others the faith in Jesus has failed to translate into a living reality. It judges the world harshly and does not reflect the values of God's Kingdom in its daily life. We need to reaffirm the apostolic faith and the community life of the early church. And become a community of God’s redeemed people who follow the principles of his Kingdom. This is the true life and witness of the church.

Matthew records no fewer than 13 parables of Jesus about the kingdom of heaven. No doubt, the Son of God placed great emphasis on the kingdom, declaring it to be “at hand” and yet coming. Jesus used parables to reveal previously hidden truths about the kingdom, but for many it remains a mystery. When we turn to the Scriptures, we find perplexing and seemingly contradictory teachings about the kingdom, yet it was the primary focus of Christ’s teaching. What is the kingdom of heaven? Is the kingdom here already, or are we to wait for it? Why did Jesus use parables to describe it? Who’s in the kingdom and who’s not? Why are some cast out of the kingdom? And what can we learn from Jesus’ stories of mustard seeds, pearls and bridesmaids? The Kingdom According to Jesus explores these questions in a simple and compelling way that encourages readers to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33).