Beyond the Workout: Wellness and the Word

Copyright © 2014 by Les Daley.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Rev. date: 02/09/2015

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgment

The Purpose Of The Book

Introduction

Why?

Statistics

Love

Stewardship

On Health

Fitness

Wellness

The Temple

Our Body

Body/Temple Correlation

The Outer Court

The Dimensions of Wellness in relations to the temple

The Outer Court

Health Habits

Tools and workers for building your temple

Components of a Fitness Program

Time

Prioritize

Seasons

Social Wellness

The Social Media

Occupational

Environmental

The Inner Court

Intellectual

Workout for Intellectual Wellness

Golden Lampstand

Emotional

Tools for Healing Self-Acceptance

The Holy Of Holies

Spiritual Wellness

God has not given us the spirit of fear

The Ark of the Covenant

References

Dedication

First and foremost, this book is dedicated to God, my Heavenly Father, who has endowed me with the gift and passion for fitness and wellness. Without Him, this book would not have been written.

I thank God for sending His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. I thank God for His love, goodness, understanding, and compassion toward me. When I think about the goodness of the Lord and all He has done for me, all I can say is, Thank you, Jesus!

To God be the glory, even now, and forever more. Amen!

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

F irst, I must give thanks to my wife, Venice, the one and only love of my life. You saw the gift God placed in me and pulled it out of me. You identified it and helped me to recognize it and develop it. God used you to guide me through the writing process. It was through your inspiration, persistence, and confidence in me that gave me the confidence to write this book. Thank you for editing, developing, and guiding the process to publishing this book. Love you so much, V!

To Ronald, Joel, and Sarah: the three lovely and amazing gifts God has given me for which I sometimes feel as if I am not worthy. I thank God for the day that you were born in this world. I’ve enjoyed watching the three of you grow up to become what God has purposed and destined you to be.

Thanks to Dr. Romaine Martin, my personal leadership professor. Thank you for your teachings on leadership and developing a personal mission statement for my fitness ministry, ONEderfully Made. My motto, Fitness To Witness is befitting for the task and mission I am about to accomplished.

Thanks to my pastors, Bishop Henry and Pastor Carol Fernandez, for being obedient to God in pastoring the Faith Center Ministries and the University of Fort Lauderdale. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to teach at The University of Fort Lauderdale and The Henry B. Fernandez Institute, to share my knowledge of fitness and wellness.

Thanks to my clients who have allowed me to fulfill my mission and purpose as a trainer, coach, and motivator. You’ve all inspired me to excel in the field of fitness and wellness as a professional fitness trainer/coach.

Thanks to my sisters: Joan, Sandra, and Sharon. Thank you for your love and support. I also, thank God for our sister Pauline, our parents who have taught us how to love, respect, and protect each other. Rest in peace, Pauline, Mom and Dad!

Thanks to my aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandson, in-laws, relatives, and friends. Your positive words and encouragements were instrumental in my dream coming to life.

Most of all, I give God thanks for sending His Son, Christ Jesus, to redeem and save my soul. Thank you Lord for your purpose and will for my life. I thank you for dying on the cross.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

I am truly excited to share my experience and knowledge on fitness and wellness based on biblical principles. This book is not a chapter book but it is loaded with empowering scriptures and edifying thoughts and information from a compilation of useful resources: scriptures, books, internet references, personal experiences, and divine revelations on fitness, wellness, and health which are all based on biblical principles.

Beyond the Workout: Wellness and the Word has information other than fitness and wellness, health and nutrition, and workout and exercise. My aim is to edify the body of Christ as well as all people about fitness and wellness beyond the workout based on biblical principles.

This book is designed to transform lives, renew minds, giving a better understanding of wellness and fitness as it relates to the body, the temple of God. Upon reading this book, my hope is that you will come to the full understanding of the importance of fitness and wellness, health and nutrition, and exercise and workout, as God intended. God desires for us to live and enjoy a healthy life, and have an overall well-balanced lifestyle.

This book will educate, motivate, and empower individuals to be their best physically, spiritually, and mentally through fitness and wellness. It is important that everyone realizes that achieving optimum physical, mental, and spiritual health, fitness and wellness are all mandated by God. We must live the life that God created us to live—a balanced lifestyle. By living a balanced lifestyle, we will be better able and well-equipped to fulfill our purpose, thus handling the task at hand, and the stresses and turmoil of life.

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. (3 John 1:2 New Living Translation)

If you have doubts about ever feeling your best again, or be able to defeat whatever health issues you might have, I have news for you. You can! You can be well again! You can do it! You can improve your health at your own individual level of wellness.

Health is not just physical. Health covers all areas of life. Health is spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. There are other areas in your life that may need healing. You can be healed or reach your full potential if you are persistent, consistent, committed, and have a mind to work.

Don’t let illness or ill-health prevent you from fulfilling your goals and dreams. You can find a way to do what you need to do even if it takes the help of someone to help you go beyond just feeling OK. This book is designed to help you do just that—Go beyond the workout!

The symbolisms used throughout this book will show the correlation between the human body, and how, just like in the temple of old, the human body is liken unto God’s temple. The seven dimensions of wellness fit perfectly into each of the three areas of the temple: the outer court (body), the inner court (mind), and the Holy of Holies (spirit). This book discusses and shows the correlation of the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational, social, and environmental wellness. These dimensions can bring balance to your life. Also provided are many definitions on fitness, wellness, and balance. First from the dictionary and then the definitions designed for the believer, as it was inspired and revealed to me during my Bible studies, devotions, meditations, research, and educational and fitness training experiences.

I am excited about showing you how the furnishings of the temple symbolize certain sections of the dimensions of wellness and where they can be identified in the human body. I believe sharing this knowledge and showing correlation of the dimensions of wellness to the word of God is important and will benefit the body of Christ. The wealth of knowledge I have acquired over the years has helped me to realize that my mission and purpose in life is established on a faith-based experience of health, fitness, and wellness.

It was in the beginning that man was commissioned to eat healthy to keep the spiritual and mental state free of corruption and excess burdens. Yes, it all started in the beginning—in the Garden of Eden. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1)

MY PRAYER

Les Daley

Psalms 139:14

"I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are thy works and that my soul knows right well."

Lord, I thank You for Your grace and mercy toward me.

I thank You for the many gifts You have given me. I know there were many times when I didn’t deserve them. There were also times when I abused the privileges You gave me. Although I failed, You always see past my faults, and see my needs. You are truly a great and merciful God.

Please help me to understand what you want me to do,

or better still, help me to better understand what You are saying to me, and why You have chosen me for this task. Without You, the words I put on paper will be worthless and misleading.

Lord, please give me the patience to wait, hear, and receive from You. Give me the words that You would

have me to say in a timely way. Lord, I need Your strength, power, and direction. I believe what You have given me must be said.

Please help me to always be at a place of availability so that You can deposit Your Word in me.

Here I am, Lord. Use me!

This is my prayer. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

O ne day, after teaching a health and wellness class at the University of Fort Lauderdale, one of my students approached me, took me to the side, and told me how delighted he was to be in the class. He told me how grateful he was for the information he had been receiving. I was very happy to hear those encouraging words, but I was also a little surprised at his next comment. He said that in all the years that he had been going to church, he was never taught about health, or even knew that health and wellness was in the Bible. He thanked God for giving me the insight and knowledge to teach on the importance of health and wellness. He also expressed his joy and appreciation for the way in which I had taught and applied the word of God to wellness, fitness, health, nutrition, and exercise. His last words were, Your teachings are life-changing, Professor Daley. You changed my life. Please don’t stop teaching and spreading the word on fitness. Those words still resonate with me.

As Christians, we must be a witness on the job, in our home, on the street, and wherever we are. We must believe in God’s words, the Bible. We must constantly read and study the word of God and apply it to our daily lives. As we read and study the Bible, we should ask the Lord to make His words clear. We should always ask the Lord to reveal what He would have us to do and allow His purpose to be demonstrated in our lives. By reading, studying, meditating, and applying the word of God daily—the road map of our lives—things will become clearer and our light will shine, and others will be blessed just by our presence.

Acts 17:28, says, For in Him we live and move and have our being. That is to say, the solution to our personal life’s problems, career confusion, job situation, or ministry direction can be found in Christ. We are God’s creation. We are created by His word. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He cares for us.

I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:1)

Psalms 139:1 is my life’s theme. I live by this scripture daily. It gives me great joy to know how beautifully and wonderfully made we are. Our body is uniquely designed. We are God’s unique creation. That is why I believe fitness and wellness can be achieved beyond the workout. As children of God, we must begin to understand and take responsibility and accountability for God’s temple (our body). We must live a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle by maintaining our physical, spiritual, and mental state. As he speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, we must obey and do his will. I can see how truly amazed the Psalmist, David, was of God’s creation and His unconditional love for His creation. David was truly an amazing and talented writer. He was loved by God. No matter where David went, God was there. God knew David even before he was in his mother’s womb. How amazing is that! God knew every part and every member before they were formed. David indicated that God had a purpose for his life. As it was for David and the other Psalmists, so it is for you and me. God has a purpose for each of us, but in order for us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives; we must be well physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The more I study and understand God’s creation—the human body—the more I begin to realize that creation is more than just the body. Creation includes the mind and spirit. I also came to the realization that at no time in the Bible did God have idle conversations with anyone. So, therefore, for Him to say that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit is truly beyond spectacular.

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the

Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye

are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Knowing our calling, understanding the reason for our creation, and seeking to be well to fulfill our purpose should influence us to obey God. Do you know what your calling is? For many, understanding life’s purpose can be quite unclear. Finding your purpose is possible. I can’t teach and guide you to finding your purpose. I am limited in qualification, but my wife surely can help and guide you to discover your purpose and write your mission statement, so I will leave that area of teaching to her. I know my place and my calling. My place is in the fitness and wellness arena. I thank God for the day I understood my purpose. I understand why I was created and what my purpose is. I know and am very clear that I was called to teach and spread the word on fitness and wellness. God has commissioned me to teach the gospel by spreading the word of fitness and wellness based on biblical principles. I am committed to spreading the word on fitness, wellness, and health in the same way many bishops and pastors preach the gospel—with passion and divine inspiration.

There are pastors, religious leaders, and leaders of notoriety in the wellness community who have been telling their followers to get well and find their purpose but never give the instructions or directions to finding purpose. Some have even tried to teach how to be healthy and fit while they themselves have fallen short of this goal. They often tell what needs to be done, but hardly ever teach or show the how, why, or give the tools to get the job done. The more I delve into studying the word of God, as well as my research studies on fitness and wellness, the more I realize the degree to which God’s people lack the basic knowledge on wellness, health, fitness, overall balance—even as it relates to their purpose—and long-life.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)

Let’s proceed as I share my knowledge on fitness and wellness, the dimensions of wellness, and the temple correlation of the body and wellness.

WHY?

No one will be able to live a healthy lifestyle if they don’t first understand why

Les Daley

A t first I was hesitant to write this book. I knew it was a mission, but I was not sure of the purpose for this mission. I asked myself why. Why am I writing this book? What is the motive? Was I being selfish for wanting everyone to adapt and live a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle just because I do?

Why? Was I making the word of God convenient for a selfish desire?

Why? Was I twisting it for my own gain like so many have in the past, and still are? Why me? Why? Why? Why? The more I asked these questions and the more I tried to run away from this mission, the more it pressed me and was impressed upon me why I need to spread the word on fitness and wellness.

I envisioned lives being saved, healed, and transformed through fitness and wellness. The thought just wouldn’t leave me. And so, this is why we’re here right now—me completing this mission, and you reading the purpose for this book. I no longer ask, Why me, Lord? The only time why is asked is for the sake of giving helpful answers.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2)

I believe this book will answer many questions of who, what, where, when, and why. Hope this will be of great inspiration to you and those connected to you. Many of the teachings and inspirational quotes I give refer mostly to the physical. My approach will begin with the physical, then the mental, and most importantly, the spiritual. I chose to use that approach because the physical is the way in which man approaches God. Although man approaches God from the physical, it is a naturally accepted approach. I believe God understands, and that is why God approaches man from the spiritual. In the days of Moses, the time of the tabernacle, man approached God from the outer court, then to the inner court, and finally to the Holy of Holies. Why is that? I always say that if someone asks themselves why enough, they will end up answering their own question. Oftentimes, clients will ask why with the expectation of getting the answer they want to hear. They ask with the intention of getting their wish or a way out of whatever they are asking why about— sometimes as an excuse to do the wrong thing. Children, on the other hand, will ask why over and over again because they genuinely want to know the why which, by the way, might drive you crazy.

In order to understand why it is important that I stress the importance of wellness in our lives and lifestyles as believers, we must first understand that wellness cannot be measured by the physical or outward expression of how much weight we can lift, how far, or how fast we can