Table of Contents

Introduction

Habit 1 - Commit to Yourself

Habit 2 - Embrace the New You

Introduction

In 2013, I walked off a baseball field for the last time and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. My entire identity was wrapped in baseball. I had no direction of where I wanted to go. I knew of Jesus but didn’t know Him. A buddy of mine invited me to a Bible study and it was in his home, with 7 other people I got saved. My life immediately began to look different. The way I talked, the way I looked at others, the way I looked at myself began to transform. I went from a partying college baseball player to a caring, loving early twenty year old looking to save the world.

I finished college at the University of Las Vegas and got my Kinesiology degree. Upon graduating I went to be a pursue a passion of mine as a personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness.

Two years later a buddy of mine introduced me to Jake Bodine the founder of God Behind Bars. He got to know me and eventually offered me a job. I loved Jesus, but never thought I could make a career out of ministry. I decided to jump on board with Jake, and begin my career in ministry. I learned what it was to be in ministry, and to work for the Lord. The long hours, the travel, the time away from family, and the dedication that it takes to be in ministry.

In 2018, I married the love of my life Jackie and we began building our lives together, started a family, and that lead to the desire to make more income to support my growing family. In 2020, during the pandemic I started True North Fitness out of my garage. I was one of the first to order gym equipment and gratefully got it with the very high demand during that time.

At the writing of this I have two kids with one on the way. My daughter is 4, my son is 2 and a half, and we have a baby girl coming in just a few short weeks. Why am I telling you all this? I want you to know that I know what it’s like to be a busy father, business leader, ministry leader, and still persevere with my health. I know what it’s like to workout when you don’t feel like it. Get no sleep because of crying babies and still persevere with a workout.

It wasn’t until recently, within the year of 2023 did I realize that what God brought me through as a health professional was what He was going to use to help build the Kingdom stronger. I realized that what came easy to me, was what everyone else was struggling with the most. I found an extreme passion for helping others conquer the mindset that it takes to be a healthy individual in a demanding world.

It’s now at the point that everyone around me is becoming fit, strong men and women of God because I stand so boldly in my fitness. That is where this idea of helping the Kingdom get fit was born. I want to help every Pastor and ministry leader be the healthiest they have ever been.

Over the span of my ten years of personal training I have helped hundreds hit their goals in fitness. And I feel like God is just getting started with me. If you wish to be the healthiest, strongest, clear headed, kingdom focused, and grace-filled warrior you have ever been in your life then keep reading. This is the True North Mindset. Welcome to becoming Kingdom Fit.

Over the next few pages you are going to learn the True North Mindset. These principles and practical ideas I have developed over the last ten years of being a fitness professional and ministry leader. They can be applied to your health, but also to any area of your life. This mindset will help you be a better spouse, parent, and leader. I am fully devoted to helping you achieve your goals, this is where it begins. Let’s get you fit.

Habit 1 - Commit To yourself

Jesus says “Go. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” Matthew 8:13 ESV

The first part of that is “Go.” You have to be willing to take action. Taking action is the hardest part everyday. What you have to remember is that emotions always follow action. When you are committed to yourself you take action first regardless of how you feel in that moment. This is about you conquering your emotions.

It may not be in the first few days you feel this, but right about day 10-14 is when doubt creeps in. The negative thoughts begin. “Is this really going to work? Am I really going to lose weight or get stronger? Is this really me? Why am I doing this?” I personally believe these thoughts are from the enemy. The enemy doesn’t want you to conquer your goals, he wants to kill your journey. You can either let him win, or choose to conquer him that day. The choice is yours.

Here are some practical ways to defeat him. If you just get yourself dressed and on your way, you will figure out all the details of what you are going to do when you get there. When you arrive at the gym just jump on a piece of cardio for your warmup, 5 minutes into it you will be so grateful you showed up that day. And you will have begun to build belief in yourself. The second part of that verse is “let it be done for you as you have believed.” Belief in yourself is huge.

Because here is what happens, momentum can swing both ways. When you choose to show up for yourself you prove to yourself that you can trust you. That you believe in you. Same is true for the opposite. That is why it is so easy to continue to give up on yourself when all you have been doing is giving up on yourself. That’s your normal. You don’t trust you.

But it’s just as easy to shift that to the other side, and become somebody that shows up for you everyday. Let it be done for you as you have believed. And take MASSIVE action to show up when you tell yourself you we’re going to show up.

Habit 2 - Embrace the New you

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

When you choose to follow God you are convicted by the Holy Spirit to change. You talk different, you look at sin differently, you love more, etc. The same is true when you make a decision to be somebody who is healthy. You have to change how you look at food, your sleeping habits, working out, stress, etc.

This is the most challenging part, but also the most rewarding part of becoming a fit person. You have to let the old you go, and embrace the new you. This is not a workout plan that you can just lose 10-20lbs and put on some muscle and go back to what you were doing before. If you do that you will go back to where you started faster than it took you to get the weight off or muscle built.

You have to look at this as a complete life transformation. You are changing your eating habits, your working out habits, your mindset, all of it has to shift into a better you. It isn’t easy, but I promise it is extremely rewarding.

Habit 3 - Fall down 7, get up 8.

For the righteous falls seven times, and rises again. Proverbs 24:16 ESV.

Look you aren’t going to be perfect. Shocker. You are going to mess things up, you will get pulled into a last minute meeting, or something will happen with the spouse and kids where they will need you last minute. You are going to have some cake and ice cream on your birthday, that’s ok. You may feel an ache or pain here or there too. Trust me I get it all of it.

But those things are inevitable. They are going to happen. It’s how you respond afterwards. This is about you transforming into a healthy individual. So as long as you continue to get up every time you fall you have succeeded.

It’s about having the perspective that no matter what you are going to keep going.

Habit 4 - Learn how to prioritize

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 ESV

This will be the thing that takes the longest to grow through. As you are beginning to get yourself acquainted to working out everyday, remember that so are those around you. If you are married and have kids this will warrant a conversation to prepare them for the changes that are going to be made around the home.

Before you go to bed pull up your calendar and look at the best possible window for you to workout the next day. Pick your time and commit to it. Notify anyone that needs to be notified of your workout window if that is necessary. You can significantly increase your odds of working out by having a plan for the next day. 

Lastly, set out your gym clothes/shoes, or put them in a bag when you go to work so when the time comes you are already prepared.

When it comes to quitting any excuse will do, and you want to try and eliminate as many excuses as you can so when the decision to workout comes you already have the best chance possible at keeping on the course and prioritizing your workout.

Habit 5 - Find Freedom in Discipline

For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Being disciplined is a great thing. In fact, I have found it to be one of my favorite parts about myself. What is awesome is when others notice your discipline, and begin to expect it. It’s hard at first because everyone begins to notice you making better decisions for yourself and then it makes them feel insecure about themselves so they will usually make fun of it, or make comments. Just ignore it and move on through. They’ll get past it and so will you.

When you know what to expect of yourself the expectation becomes predictable. And there is freedom in knowing what you are going to do, say, act, or be in any situation because you already know where you are headed. You don’t have to second guess which choice you are going to make because your mind is already made up.

Freedom comes from knowing who you are and who’s you are. When you are disciplined in all areas of your life you get freedom as a result.

Closing

In closing is this. You have everything you need to create the future you want for yourself, your marriage, your family, and your mission in life. You have all that you need within you. It was put there by the greatest being in the entire world and that’s Jesus.

It’s up to you to maximize your potential. You were given an allotted amount of greatness in Christ. It’s up to you to push the limits everyday chasing after who that person could become.e

How do I know I am getting closer? You are becoming more like Him. You are developing sound fruits of the spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

In my opinion the greatest achievement is when somebody looks at you and says to themself “I got to get to know this Jesus dude, because I saw you back then and there is no way you are this different.”

God loves you so much, grow and pass that love on.