Transformetrics Forum Goes The Extra Mile

[Max McKinley]

Hello Fellow Fitness Sojourners,

I have been apart of this forum for quite some time. Due to some personal matters (read upheaval / turmoil) I stopped frequenting this web site. During that absence, I was contacted via PM by a couple of forum members periodically just "checking on me". This meant a lot. In my prior incarnation here I had also developed a relationship with John as so many of y'all have. He is a unique businessman in that he has time to email and, even more astonishingly, speak to you on the phone. As many of you know, he is a man of faith, character, and integrity. Upon my return to this site, I found the landscape to be markedly different. There were some old mainstays that were no longer here as members. There had been quite a turnover and paring down. Since I have been back I have noticed a change in the tone of this forum - FOR THE BETTER. Which finally brings me to why I am writing this post.

Earlier today I sent John a private message which he encouraged me to express publicly here. One of our brethren exhibited remarkable courage and vulnerability by posting a very personal matter that one would not expect to see on a forum of this type and asking for help. The outpouring of empathy, encouragement, and compassion as expressed in the responses that contained very practical and helpful advice was overwhelming to me. Following is a slightly edited version of what I sent to John:

"I wanted to PM you with this observation. Did you ever imagine that the forum would turn as it has with such an outpouring of support for a man in such pain as Benny is right now? But this online community has taken on a dimension that I did not expect to see. Yes, it a very supportive and encouraging group, but this thread is unique to others. I am very impressed with the empathy and compassion and sound counsel that has been expressed."

Gentlemen (and ladies), I can't express enough the gratifying feeling I have at the community that has developed and is continuing to mature on this forum. You may say that this has always existed. And I would agree to a point. I believe I witnessed another level of this community. This is a very unique place in that it is more than it's stated mission and vision ... Well, no. It's the logical progression of the mission and vision of Bronze Bow Publishing and Transformetrics.com.

John is to be commended, and rightly so, for setting this in place and nurturing this business and setting the tone of the Transformetrics forum. And this forum is an extension and reflection of John. However, there are many of you that have stepped up and helped in fulfilling the purpose of what complete health and fitness truly mean. This about the whole man: body, mind, and spirit.

Blessings to all.

[April]

Hi Max,
I am new here and must confess that I feel kind of strange in basically a male website. I don't know what the forum used to be like, but the reason I keep reading the letters and sometimes posting is not only because of my interest in fitness, but also because of all the things that you were talking about. I've been in enough forums to know that this one is different. From the top down, it is exemplary.

Yesterday I called my best friend, another middle aged female fitness buff, and told her about the website. (She bought M7 for each of her family members at my recommendation but is probably too busy to join the forum. I have the time now only because I lost my job in Dec. - a direct consequence of the sagging US economy.) I told my friend that I couldn't believe there was a website about natural bodybuilding where there is no "hype," nothing unclean, and where the people are respectful, courteous, helpful, kind, down-to-eath, sensible, decent, and pleasant. My friend, just about speechless, was amazed to hear of such a website and internet community.

Life here in Israel is, let's just say, rugged. It is refreshing to find a place where people are genuinely respectful. (There wasn't room under "hobbies" to specify one of my favorite interests: reading books on manners. This is because I often deal with people who don't have any. Israelis are resourceful, creative people, but are not known for being polite.)

It is good to get our bodies in shape and maintain our health, but when all is said and done, what really counts is our character.

Isaiah 32:2 (King James Version)
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

[Nathan]

I am going to repeat what Tom said. I truly love this place. I don't think you can find a place more dedicated and willing to helping each other out when ever possible. So thank you John for doing this for us my brother. God bless.

---Nathan

[John Peterson]

Thank You Max. And thanks to each of you. I appreciate where we are and where we are going and it's thanks to all of our great forum members.

---John Peterson

[gruntbrain]

JP's forums have always provided useful, thought provoking info in spite of some distractions.

[Greg Newton]

As many of you know, he is a man of faith, character, and integrity.

I couldn't agree more. All my dealings with John Peterson have found him to be extremely generous, patient, encouraging and motivating. He had been a good friend to my wife and I time and time again. Plus I like his books and DVD.:act-up: There IS an agenda here. It is called JESUS CHRIST and it reflects everything that John does.

There are some people who don't understand this, or who have criticized me for this, but one of the reasons I get along with John so well is that not only do we share a similar faith, but we share a love for true physical culture, which is the high development of not only the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well. The goal here is empowerment not slavery. John is not the sage on the stage telling us what to do, he is a facilitator, a guide on the side if you will, who leads by example, encouragement and coaching.

Thanks Max for saying something that needed to be said.

[Andy62]

This forum is outstanding. It is hard to believe that in a field such as physical culture where there are so many cookie cutter approaches to exercise that John has been able put together a forum based on each individual creating their own unique exercise system. While such an approach requires a lot of thought and effort on the part of the individual in reality it is the only system that can work and adapt over time in a diverse world that is in a constant state of change. The result is a forum with an outstanding group of people that don't always agree,but can disagree with respect. It has only been made possible because John has displayed not only the vision,but also the strength necessary to make such an approach work and overcome the naysayers.

[Aaron Hoot]

I would have to agree with Greg and many of the other members. This is a great place. They don't interest in just the exercises but the people themselves. I can give you quite a few stories just in my life how the forum has helped me and those around me. I will have to say that it is a direct reflection of John.

Your friend,

Aaron