IDENTITY

Ep. 9 | Dave Hippensteel and Being a Warrior for the Kingdom

Hosted by Neil Eukel

IN THIS EPISODE

• A journey to Christ through athletics and an Anatomy Class | 1:23
• Motivational factors and verses for for training (of any kind) in life | 6:09
• What the training regiment of a Cross Fit Games Champion looks like | Recovery is key | 9:19
• What is your feedback device for balance in your life | 14:23
• Still making sure to connect, one on one, with God in your every day life | 20:11
• Being able to compete and enjoy fitness withy our family | 27:01
• Not only focusing on our physical connection to God, but also connecting intellectually with our Creator | 29:07

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | YOU CAN’T EARN YOUR WAY TO GOD

Most of the teaching and religions in the world teach that being a good person is first and foremost at the top of the list to get you into heaven, or into the afterlife. But that’s not what Jesus teaches us. Salvation isn’t based on if we’re good or not but on Jesus’s goodness. If we confess that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. This salvation in Christ is a precious gift, and, like all true gifts, it is unearned. The message of the gospel is that we can never be good enough to get to heaven. We must recognize that we are sinners who fall short of God’s glory, and we must obey the command to repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Christ alone was a “good person”—good enough to earn heaven—and He gives His righteousness to those who believe in His name.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. | Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)

2 | Recovery with Training

Dave talks about how he was overtraining going into the first few years of his Cross Fit Games competition. He didn’t have balance in his life and he wasn’t allowing time for recovery in his training schedule, and for that, he suffered defeat. For which there is incredible parallel in ministry where we can see with burnout in pastors and missionaries. God encourages us to step back, reset, take in rest, and get ready for what He’s calling us to next. The recovery and rest are equally as important to your training, job, calling, walk with Christ, as it to push forward for him. Make sure that you are taking in seasons of rest, and that your prayer life is rich and deep, as this helps us reset for where/what He is setting us up for next in the advancement of His Kingdom. 

3 | God Created and Designed Our Bodies

God designed us. We were made in His image. That means we were designed to worship and connect with Him, but it also means that there is intentionality in how our cardiovascular system is set up. It means there is meaning and purpose behind our HTP cycles. So, when we don’t exercise, and when we take our creation for granted we’re ignoring a huge part of what God has given us. Why would God create and design muscles to grow if that wasn’t their intention? We are designed to benefit from resistance training, and God designed us that way! This design process, and the intentionality behind our physiology, direct correlates to us appreciating this amazing gift that He gas given us. This doesn’t mean, to be in the gym taking selfies, that’s self-focused. But it’s a lifestyle appreciation of this incredible gift that God has given us, to honor him. 

SHOW NOTES

We’re glad to have you back for another episode in our Identity series here on Uncharted. Today, we have a really amazing guest. This man embodies what it looks like to be a warrior in his sport as well as someone who puts on the Battle Armor of God every day. Dave Hippensteel is a Cross Fit Games Champion (60+ ’16, ’17, ’18) as well as a loving husband and father.

Listen in today as Neil and Dave talk about what it looks like to train and be prepared for where the Lord calls you, keeping your mind and body ready as well as just a really cool look into the life of a true Man of God. You don’t want to miss this one. And if you’re looking for another fun episode, his daughter (Heather Hippensteel) is on our Women’s Podcast, Anchor + Waves this week for their Identity series.

*And if you’re looking for another fun episode, his daughter (Heather Hippensteel) is on our Women’s Podcast, Anchor + Waves, this week.

You can also listen in on our Women’s Podcast Channel: Anchor + Waves, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for female athletes also called Identity.