Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie reflects on Exodus 4 (especially verses 12–13) and 1 John 1:8–9, urging believers to move from avoiding responsibility to being available—to help one person move closer to Jesus today than they were yesterday. He shares how God equips the willing, the power of confession, and three simple “spiritual reps” you can do this weeke...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today. In this episode Arnie uses Psalm 139:23–24 to expose how we compartmentalize our souls—keeping a “locked room” from God—and invites listeners to hand God the keys, name the hidden door aloud, and stop pretending the room doesn’t exist. https://bttb.org/fooling-myself 4 R action plan - Read: Read Psalm 139:23–24 aloud. - Reflect: Ask which “room” or door in your so...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie shares a personal about a friend who revealed he had stage four cancer — and how Arnie hesitated to share the gospel. Using Ezekiel 33:31-32, he confronts the danger of consuming Christian content without practicing it and offers practical habits for turning faith into action. The 4 R action steps: Read — Read Ezekiel 33:31-32...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie shares a personal story about the three reasons he used for 20 years to convince himself God shouldn’t — or couldn’t — use him. Grounded in Proverbs 21:2, he explains how good-sounding reasons can actually be excuses. He also walks through a practical test he used to break rationalizations and grow in obedience. https://bttb.o...

How do you know if you’re fooling yourself spiritually? In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole shares from his own story—serious illness, recovery, and the temptation to assume God was finished with him—to unpack five common ways committed Christians fool themselves spiritually. Using James 1:22–24, he explains how listening without doing becomes self-deception. https://bttb.org/fool...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili — an Ironman, coach, and business professional. In this episode we use the Ironman finish-line to explore 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 and what it means to run the spiritual race well: disciplined training, suffering redeemed, the power of community, and the crown that lasts forever. Mike shares how crossing the line becomes an exclama...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode we use 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 to compare racing and faith: pacing matters, enthusiasm can lead to burnout, and wise rest keeps you in the race. Mike — an Ironman coach who trains others to go the distance — explains common beginner mistakes, how to channel passion instead of squandering it, and how to tell the di...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. Coach Mike Heili joins to unpack “the wall” — the mile in racing and moments in life when body, mind, or spirit want to quit. Using 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, we explore endurance as a race, practical coaching lessons for crisis, the role of community and discipline, and the single next baby step to take when you’re ready to quit. 4 R Action Steps Read...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode Mike uses Ironman training as a picture for spiritual formation: the race is often won in the dark when nobody’s watching, and consistent, unseen reps (prayer, Scripture, small daily habits, accountability) shape endurance for the day when everything is tested. Scripture to absorb: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. 4 R ACT...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode we explore faith as an endurance sport through 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 and Mike’s experience as an Ironman athlete and coach—how strict training, discipline, humility, and grace reshape the way we run the race of faith. Take action with the 4 R’s Read: Read 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 slowly and aloud today. Reflect: As...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode Mike shares his powerful life-transformation story — from addiction to scholarship, a painful relapse, and God’s redeeming restoration. Using Peter’s failure-and-restoration as a model, Mike shows how grace is bigger than our patterns and how God still has work for us. He also reflects on restored relationships,...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode Mike shares how a chaplain’s brutal question and a 90-day prayer discipline led to a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit and the promise of Joel 2:25 — “I will restore to you the years the locust hath eaten.” Listen for honest testimony, practical spiritual rhythms, and an invitation to start counting r...

Welcome to the podcast Spiritually Fit Today. Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili share Mike’s raw journey from drug use beginning in fifth grade through homelessness and rock bottom — and the pivotal moment when faith and the promise of Joel 2:25 brought hope, healing, and restoration. Want to engage this truth? Try the 4 R’s: Read — Read Joel 2:25 and the surrounding chapter slowly; note words about...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode we unpack Mike’s story of running—from pain, low self‑worth, and a broken past—and how Joel 2:25 (“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten”) became his life verse and the promise that changed everything. We trace the chapters of his past to see how faith, discipline, fear, and honest namin...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Mike Heili. In this episode Arnie interviews Mike about his journey from a traumatic childhood to a life restored by faith. Mike is a husband, father of four, an optician, Ironman triathlete and certified Ironman coach; his story shows how God meets us even when we’ve decided no one cares. Take the 4 R actions: - Read: Read Joel 2:25. Let...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Wayne Pederson. In this episode they explore finishing well, the legacy we leave, and why what people remember at the end of life is a life of faith and love for God—not possessions. Wayne shares practical examples from his life and urges that it’s never too late to invest in people and to make faith the central legacy. Memory verse: 2 Tim...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Wayne Pederson. Wayne digs into a common pattern in leaders who fall: isolation, secrecy, and lack of real accountability. He highlights two big protectors of a strong finish, shares real-life examples, and offers practical steps for building an inner circle, practicing spiritual disciplines, and staying centered on Jesus. Memory verse: 2...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Wayne Pederson. Arnie and Wayne explore what it means to finish well—moving from “what I have to do” to “what I’m called to do” and embracing a “Retired = Rewired” mindset. Wayne shares his rare cancer journey, recovery, and how that renewed sense of purpose drives him to keep growing, mentoring, and serving in his 70s. 4R Action Steps - R...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Wayne Pederson. In this episode they confront the hard truth about finishing well: failure usually comes quietly over time. Wayne and Arnie unpack three heart-issues, share practical habits that guard the heart, and point us back to the source of strength in Christ. 4 R Action Steps Read — Read 2 Timothy 4:7 and Proverbs 4:23. Make daily t...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie welcomes longtime ministry leader Wayne Pederson to discuss how to "finish well" using 2 Timothy 4:7 ("I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"). Drawing on Robert Clinton’s sobering study of ministry leadership and Wayne’s experience leading at Moody Radio, NRB and Reach Beyond, they expl...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Cara Whitney. In this episode Arnie and Cara reflect on 2 Timothy 2:13 — "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself" — and offer a practical, pastoral response for anyone burned by the church: become the living proof that God is faithful by overcoming evil with good. Act on the 4 R’s Read: Read 2 Timothy 2:13 and let...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Cara Whitney. In this episode they wrestle honestly with forgiveness—what it is and isn’t—how to set healthy boundaries without bitterness, and how God’s faithfulness (2 Timothy 2:13) steadies us when we’re faithless. Practical examples and pastoral wisdom guide listeners through forgiving without becoming a doormat, protecting your heart, and b...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Cara Whitney. In this episode Arnie and Cara talk honestly about being hurt by other Christians, the temptation to withdraw from the body of believers, and how to stay rooted in Jesus instead of settling into victimhood. They unpack the truth of the scripture “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” and give pract...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and his guest Cara Whitney. In this episode Arnie and Cara explore a common spiritual trap: confusing the messenger with the message. Using 2 Timothy 2:13 ("If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself") they unpack how the enemy uses hurting or hypocritical Christians to push others away from Christ, how to protect your fa...

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and his guest Cara Whitney. In this episode Arnie and Cara talk honestly about Christians behaving poorly, the real pain of church hurt, and how losing faith because of other people doesn’t have to be the end of your story. They center on 2 Timothy 2:13 — “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” — and explore how God’...