LaLANNE

I always thought Jack LaLanne was cool. He was this short, thick, muscly guy on TV when I was a kid telling people how to exercise by doing pushups on chairs long before it was popular to have muscles. It's too popular now.

He was called the 'Godfather of Fitness.' He opened the first modern health spa in America in 1936. It was in 1951 that he started up on TV and began a one-man campaign around fitness.

When he turned 70, he celebrated his birthday by towing 70 boats containing 70 people for a mile across Long Beach Harbor. He didn't want anyone to think he was taking it overly easy, so he added a twist -- he towed the boats by holding the rope in his teeth while handcuffed and wearing leg shackles. I'm planning something similar when I turn 70, unless I have dentures by then.

But do you know what that says to me? The guy never retired. Oh sure, at some point he kicked the bucket - actually it was just this past January when he was 96 years old. But he never gave up. The fire in his belly never subsided.

Study the life and times of any of the men and women who had profound impact for God and you will see they were as active as ever right up to the last day God gave them breath.

Billy Graham was once heard to say that God doesn't give retirement parties or gold watches.

Let the passion burn till the end.

And be blessed.