This, my friends, will be my last post. Due to several upcoming personal obligations, I simply will not have the time to blog as I would like.
You may have noticed that some of these obligations have already been ongoing due to the random times I have posted on this blog. I have enjoyed it, but it's time to move on and give up on this silly thing.
God bless you and see you later.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Free Topic Tuesday 3
So since Thursday ins Thanksgiving, I thought I'd make a list of some things I'm thankful for.
1. God's grace and love. And mercy. And the fact that I could go on and on about the creator of the universe because I have a relationship with him.
2. Brandy and Dudeicus. God gave me such a great family to care for, and even though I'm not very good at it, they're sticking around anyway just because they love me.
3. Family. You know, the other relatives, some of whom you actually like...
4. Music. I love music. How cool is it that God gave people enough intelligence to realize if you play a C, E, G and another C together, it will sound great? Or that we could figure out that C, Eb, G and another C on't sound as good but still work in the right context? That's a C Major chord and a C minor chord, for those of you who don't know...
5. Rain. Just... rain. It's annoying sometimes, but when you think about what it does, and what it can symbolize, it blows the mind.
1. God's grace and love. And mercy. And the fact that I could go on and on about the creator of the universe because I have a relationship with him.
2. Brandy and Dudeicus. God gave me such a great family to care for, and even though I'm not very good at it, they're sticking around anyway just because they love me.
3. Family. You know, the other relatives, some of whom you actually like...
4. Music. I love music. How cool is it that God gave people enough intelligence to realize if you play a C, E, G and another C together, it will sound great? Or that we could figure out that C, Eb, G and another C on't sound as good but still work in the right context? That's a C Major chord and a C minor chord, for those of you who don't know...
5. Rain. Just... rain. It's annoying sometimes, but when you think about what it does, and what it can symbolize, it blows the mind.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Ketchup, or catch up?
So as you can see, my schedule of blogging was blown out of the water last week. Work was crazy and I just didn't have the time or energy to invest in it. I'm quite sorry to anyone who actually reads this silly thing.
I considered writing make-up posts, but really I just can't. I'll write the Melioration part of this post and then just get back on schedule.
Today I weighed in and I lost. I started MFP at 335 lbs. several weeks ago. I had some spikes due to.. well, just being lazy about it. But for the last few weigh-ins I've consistently lost weight. I'm down to 328.
I'm looking forward to being 299. It will be the first time I've been under 300 since my senior year of high school, 1999.
We now return to our regulary scheduled programming.
I considered writing make-up posts, but really I just can't. I'll write the Melioration part of this post and then just get back on schedule.
Today I weighed in and I lost. I started MFP at 335 lbs. several weeks ago. I had some spikes due to.. well, just being lazy about it. But for the last few weigh-ins I've consistently lost weight. I'm down to 328.
I'm looking forward to being 299. It will be the first time I've been under 300 since my senior year of high school, 1999.
We now return to our regulary scheduled programming.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Are broccoli rubber bands different from regular rubber bands?
So this is Free Topic Tuesday!
The last two week's were polar opposites - one complaining about Facebook, the other a brief discussion about Jesus' divinity versus his humanity.
Today's free topic will be about something that most of you that know me will know is dear to my heart. Music! I have been all over some new tunes recently and thought I would share my favorite records right now. In no order they are:
Elephants - Aaron Strumpel
Aaron got his start with Enter the Worship Circle, a collective of musicians that wrote honest, rootsy worship music. Aaron's speciality is taking a Psalm and putting it to music. He also has two albums that came out about the same time - Birds and Vespers - that I want to get my paws on. This album is... weird. But it's good. It's got an acoustic base, but there's drum machines, trumpets, weird sound effects, a rap with tons of echo and a couple songs where Aaron screams. But it's moving and it's really, really good. Recommended if you like the louder times of Sufjan Stevens and the Psalms.
Economy - John Mark McMillan
Most of you know that I love John Mark's music. I have pretty much everything he put out, and I got this as a pre-release. It's brilliant. Everything you may have loved about his older records comes through here, only better. It's rootsy, rock and roll with lyrics that speak volumes about John Mark's God and their relationship. Which is beautiful, because I have a relationship with the same God.
Brokenness Aside EP - All Sons and Daughters
This little EP was a great find on Noisetrade.com. Don't look for it now, they hit the limit. ASAD is a duo of Leslie Jordan and David Leonard. They write music that was originally just to be used for worship at their church, but sixstepsrecords got wind of it and we got this little EP. David used to be in a band called Jackson Waters (I have one of their albums and an EP) that was more of a rock outfit. This group is slowly becoming a favorite.
Live at Eddie's Attic - Civil Wars
I got the Civil Wars album Barton Hollow several months ago and stumbled onto this at noisetrade.com. It's still there. Putting out a live album as a debut is gutsy, but it works. It's just John and Joy and the music. Joy got her start in the Christian industry and John has been playing in bands for a long time but never really got to be well known. It's worth stating that although Joy is a Christian, there are a few instances of cursing on the album and the topics are never explicitly Christian. It's still good music and it looks at life through her lense of faith. Maybe not for everyone.
Cautioners and Walk Like Giants EP - Cautioners
I got the EP from noisetrade.com and followed the link to their website where they are giving the album away for free. This is a little band from Florida that plays simple pop/rock about God, but they're really enjoyable. I'm still digging into them so I can't say much but my initial impression is good.
Gather and Build: a Collection - Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is one of my top five favorite artists so when I saw this on noisetrade.com (I go there a lot) I passed it up. I figured a collection wouldn't have anything new for me since I have everything they've put out except for that song from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack (which I don''t care for anyway) and some instrumental song from the Songs of Wood and Steel series. But this collection had 3 songs I didn't have yet: This Land Is Your Land, Stay (Forgive Me reimagined by Stephen Mason) and Body & Wine. This Land is a cover of that old folk song with some unique drum programming underneath. I like it even though it sounds like it's in a key that Dan has to work to sing in. Stay is pretty much unrecognizable from the original (found on 2009's The Long Fall Back to Earth) but is still good and Body and Wine is an acoustic number about communion.
Well, there's 7 things you can go listen to at Amazon or NoiseTrade or wherever and see if you like. Talk to you tomorrow.
The last two week's were polar opposites - one complaining about Facebook, the other a brief discussion about Jesus' divinity versus his humanity.
Today's free topic will be about something that most of you that know me will know is dear to my heart. Music! I have been all over some new tunes recently and thought I would share my favorite records right now. In no order they are:
Elephants - Aaron Strumpel
Aaron got his start with Enter the Worship Circle, a collective of musicians that wrote honest, rootsy worship music. Aaron's speciality is taking a Psalm and putting it to music. He also has two albums that came out about the same time - Birds and Vespers - that I want to get my paws on. This album is... weird. But it's good. It's got an acoustic base, but there's drum machines, trumpets, weird sound effects, a rap with tons of echo and a couple songs where Aaron screams. But it's moving and it's really, really good. Recommended if you like the louder times of Sufjan Stevens and the Psalms.
Economy - John Mark McMillan
Most of you know that I love John Mark's music. I have pretty much everything he put out, and I got this as a pre-release. It's brilliant. Everything you may have loved about his older records comes through here, only better. It's rootsy, rock and roll with lyrics that speak volumes about John Mark's God and their relationship. Which is beautiful, because I have a relationship with the same God.
Brokenness Aside EP - All Sons and Daughters
This little EP was a great find on Noisetrade.com. Don't look for it now, they hit the limit. ASAD is a duo of Leslie Jordan and David Leonard. They write music that was originally just to be used for worship at their church, but sixstepsrecords got wind of it and we got this little EP. David used to be in a band called Jackson Waters (I have one of their albums and an EP) that was more of a rock outfit. This group is slowly becoming a favorite.
Live at Eddie's Attic - Civil Wars
I got the Civil Wars album Barton Hollow several months ago and stumbled onto this at noisetrade.com. It's still there. Putting out a live album as a debut is gutsy, but it works. It's just John and Joy and the music. Joy got her start in the Christian industry and John has been playing in bands for a long time but never really got to be well known. It's worth stating that although Joy is a Christian, there are a few instances of cursing on the album and the topics are never explicitly Christian. It's still good music and it looks at life through her lense of faith. Maybe not for everyone.
Cautioners and Walk Like Giants EP - Cautioners
I got the EP from noisetrade.com and followed the link to their website where they are giving the album away for free. This is a little band from Florida that plays simple pop/rock about God, but they're really enjoyable. I'm still digging into them so I can't say much but my initial impression is good.
Gather and Build: a Collection - Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is one of my top five favorite artists so when I saw this on noisetrade.com (I go there a lot) I passed it up. I figured a collection wouldn't have anything new for me since I have everything they've put out except for that song from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack (which I don''t care for anyway) and some instrumental song from the Songs of Wood and Steel series. But this collection had 3 songs I didn't have yet: This Land Is Your Land, Stay (Forgive Me reimagined by Stephen Mason) and Body & Wine. This Land is a cover of that old folk song with some unique drum programming underneath. I like it even though it sounds like it's in a key that Dan has to work to sing in. Stay is pretty much unrecognizable from the original (found on 2009's The Long Fall Back to Earth) but is still good and Body and Wine is an acoustic number about communion.
Well, there's 7 things you can go listen to at Amazon or NoiseTrade or wherever and see if you like. Talk to you tomorrow.
Melioration Monday...
Today's Melioration Monday is going to be short. Why? Because I forgot to post it last night.
Last night I went to Powerfit Bootcamp for the first time in 2 weeks. My work schedule changed and I thought it would be easier to go but it's actually been harder.
It was nice to work out, but it reminded me that regardless of how much weight I've lost (about 25 pounds since June 1), I still have a long, long way to go.
I was still the last person back from running a lap. In fact, the only other man in the class lapped me during the obstacle-course-like workout we started with.
But I should keep on with it, because a year from now, it will have paid off.
Last night I went to Powerfit Bootcamp for the first time in 2 weeks. My work schedule changed and I thought it would be easier to go but it's actually been harder.
It was nice to work out, but it reminded me that regardless of how much weight I've lost (about 25 pounds since June 1), I still have a long, long way to go.
I was still the last person back from running a lap. In fact, the only other man in the class lapped me during the obstacle-course-like workout we started with.
But I should keep on with it, because a year from now, it will have paid off.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Top Five Friday 2
So I know I missed Theology Thursday last night. I apologize and will make sure next week's is great.
Here's this week's Top 5. My Top 5 favorite movies:
5. Hang 'Em High
4. Facing the Giants
3. The Princess Bride
2. Fireproof
1. Back to the Future Part 1
Here's this week's Top 5. My Top 5 favorite movies:
5. Hang 'Em High
4. Facing the Giants
3. The Princess Bride
2. Fireproof
1. Back to the Future Part 1
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Weight Loss Wednesday 2
So I just realized I forgot my Weight Loss Wednesday blog. It will be short but I have two things to cover.
The first is this list compiled from some articles I've read - Top Five Reasons to Drink Water:
1. Hydration - your body can't properly function without water
2. It minimizes the chances of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 75%, and bladder cancer by 50%.
3. It helps you lose weight by burning more calories during regular routine activities and exercises. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before each meal will make you feel full, as a result you will eat less, hence enabling you to lose weight more efficiently.
4. Drinking water helps maintain digestive health, ease or prevent stomach distress, and constipation. In other words, it helps you poop.
5. It makes you (or at least me) feel better generally. I've found that when I drink enough water, I feel better than on days when I don't get enough.
The second thing is a link. This is a map of every McDonalds in the US. Scary!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/map-every-mcdonalds-us_n_1084045.html
Enjoy!
The first is this list compiled from some articles I've read - Top Five Reasons to Drink Water:
1. Hydration - your body can't properly function without water
2. It minimizes the chances of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 75%, and bladder cancer by 50%.
3. It helps you lose weight by burning more calories during regular routine activities and exercises. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before each meal will make you feel full, as a result you will eat less, hence enabling you to lose weight more efficiently.
4. Drinking water helps maintain digestive health, ease or prevent stomach distress, and constipation. In other words, it helps you poop.
5. It makes you (or at least me) feel better generally. I've found that when I drink enough water, I feel better than on days when I don't get enough.
The second thing is a link. This is a map of every McDonalds in the US. Scary!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/map-every-mcdonalds-us_n_1084045.html
Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Free topic Tuesday 2
So for my free topic today, I'm going to talk about something that really should be on Theology Thursday, but I don't want to wait.
Today I was listening to NT Wright. For those of you who aren't familiar, Wright is an Anglican bishop who is considered one of the leaders on New Testament theology, and has spearheaded a great movement to rediscover the historical Jesus. He has also written more books than I'll probably get a chance to read.
Anyway, in his lecture, he pointed something out. Jesus is often talked about (and sometimes celebrated) in regards to miracles. Wright points out that CS Lewis is un-Biblical about some issues but is really on point about Jesus' miracles. We often talk about his miracles and relate it to his divinity, his being "part God" or "part divine".
But what Lewis said, and Wright builds on is that Jesus' miracles are only miracles because he's human. What usually follows from Jesus performing miracles because of his divinity is that his crucifixion is related to his humanity.
So we have it backwards! Jesus performed miracles as a human who was perfectly in line with the will of the Father.
If what Wright put forth is true, that means that he wasn't tortured because he was human. Jesus was tortured and killed because he was the Most High God, the Holy King of Kings, in human form.
Just something to think about.
Today I was listening to NT Wright. For those of you who aren't familiar, Wright is an Anglican bishop who is considered one of the leaders on New Testament theology, and has spearheaded a great movement to rediscover the historical Jesus. He has also written more books than I'll probably get a chance to read.
Anyway, in his lecture, he pointed something out. Jesus is often talked about (and sometimes celebrated) in regards to miracles. Wright points out that CS Lewis is un-Biblical about some issues but is really on point about Jesus' miracles. We often talk about his miracles and relate it to his divinity, his being "part God" or "part divine".
But what Lewis said, and Wright builds on is that Jesus' miracles are only miracles because he's human. What usually follows from Jesus performing miracles because of his divinity is that his crucifixion is related to his humanity.
So we have it backwards! Jesus performed miracles as a human who was perfectly in line with the will of the Father.
If what Wright put forth is true, that means that he wasn't tortured because he was human. Jesus was tortured and killed because he was the Most High God, the Holy King of Kings, in human form.
Just something to think about.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Melioration Monday 1
Today is my first Melioration Monday. I forgot to weigh in but I do have a brief non-scale victory, or NSV, to share.
Saturday I decided to go for a walk since I hadn't worked out all week. I crossed the big road to the neighborhood across the way. I don't walk in ours because we live on a dead end.
Anyway, I went around the loop I normally go on 3 times, about a mile and a half. Part of the loop is a big hill I walk up. As short ago as July, when I got to the to top I would have to slow down so I could catch my breath.
Saturday, when I got to the top, I was barely winded! Whoo hoo!
It might seem minimal to some but it was a victory fro me.
Saturday I decided to go for a walk since I hadn't worked out all week. I crossed the big road to the neighborhood across the way. I don't walk in ours because we live on a dead end.
Anyway, I went around the loop I normally go on 3 times, about a mile and a half. Part of the loop is a big hill I walk up. As short ago as July, when I got to the to top I would have to slow down so I could catch my breath.
Saturday, when I got to the top, I was barely winded! Whoo hoo!
It might seem minimal to some but it was a victory fro me.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Free topic on Saturday!
So I was going to wait until Tuesday for my free topic but I decided to do it now.
Brandy and I celebrated our tenth anniversary Thursday. Despite some ups and downs during our marriage, there have been more ups!
I am so thankful to have a wife like her. I often wonder why God blessed me with a wife like her. She is Godly, loving, kind, honest, fiercely loyal and brave. She faces adversity head on, with a determination that would have made her a great soldier in anyone's army. But, she a soldier for the LORD.
She is a wonderful mother to our son, and the best wife anyone could ask for. She keeps our lives in order, from scheduling dinner with friends to making sure the bills are paid. She makes sure Levi and I have something to eat before she eats anything herself (kind of like the mom in Christmas Story :)
She prays and worships and loves God more than I thought someone could. She may get frustrated or anxious, but her trust in him never wavers. She is strong in her faith and is already an example to women around her for how to be a Godly woman.
She isn't afraid to be herself. She does what she wants, what God wants her to do and doesn't worry if people don't think it's "cool". She sings her heart out, even when singing Bette Midler tunes to be silly.
She is a blessing and I don't know how I would live life without her. I don't tell her I love her enough, and I probably take her for granted, but she loves me anyway.
I thank God for her everyday. And now you know how I feel about her!
Brandy and I celebrated our tenth anniversary Thursday. Despite some ups and downs during our marriage, there have been more ups!
I am so thankful to have a wife like her. I often wonder why God blessed me with a wife like her. She is Godly, loving, kind, honest, fiercely loyal and brave. She faces adversity head on, with a determination that would have made her a great soldier in anyone's army. But, she a soldier for the LORD.
She is a wonderful mother to our son, and the best wife anyone could ask for. She keeps our lives in order, from scheduling dinner with friends to making sure the bills are paid. She makes sure Levi and I have something to eat before she eats anything herself (kind of like the mom in Christmas Story :)
She prays and worships and loves God more than I thought someone could. She may get frustrated or anxious, but her trust in him never wavers. She is strong in her faith and is already an example to women around her for how to be a Godly woman.
She isn't afraid to be herself. She does what she wants, what God wants her to do and doesn't worry if people don't think it's "cool". She sings her heart out, even when singing Bette Midler tunes to be silly.
She is a blessing and I don't know how I would live life without her. I don't tell her I love her enough, and I probably take her for granted, but she loves me anyway.
I thank God for her everyday. And now you know how I feel about her!
Two posts in one
So we had some PC issues the last two days and I missed Theology Thursday and Top 5 Friday. So, here they are in one long post.
For the theology portion:
I've been studying in Exodus recently. One verse a few nights stuck out to me. Exodus 19:8 says "All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD."
Now the reason this stuck out to me was the second sentence in the verse. Why did Moses need to go tell God what the people had said? For context, in this passage, God has descended on the mountain. But still, couldn't God hear the people? In fact, as God, wouldn't he have known what the Israelites were going to say?
My point is this. Sometimes, even when God knows how we feel or what we need, we should tell him. Not for his need, because he doesn't need anything. But we should tell him because it reinforces our need for him so we don't rely on ourselves too much.
For the top 5 portion:
I think I'm going to go simple. My top 5 favorite songs right now.
5. Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
4. Investigate (Live on the Farewell Show CD) by Deliriou5?
3. All the Poor and Powerless by All Sons and Daughters
2. All I Want is You (U2 cover) by Jars of Clay
1. Sheet of Night by John Mark McMillan
Now these could change tomorrow. Or they could change in a few hours. Either way maybe it will inspire someone to go check out one of these great artists if they haven't already.
For the theology portion:
I've been studying in Exodus recently. One verse a few nights stuck out to me. Exodus 19:8 says "All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD."
Now the reason this stuck out to me was the second sentence in the verse. Why did Moses need to go tell God what the people had said? For context, in this passage, God has descended on the mountain. But still, couldn't God hear the people? In fact, as God, wouldn't he have known what the Israelites were going to say?
My point is this. Sometimes, even when God knows how we feel or what we need, we should tell him. Not for his need, because he doesn't need anything. But we should tell him because it reinforces our need for him so we don't rely on ourselves too much.
For the top 5 portion:
I think I'm going to go simple. My top 5 favorite songs right now.
5. Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
4. Investigate (Live on the Farewell Show CD) by Deliriou5?
3. All the Poor and Powerless by All Sons and Daughters
2. All I Want is You (U2 cover) by Jars of Clay
1. Sheet of Night by John Mark McMillan
Now these could change tomorrow. Or they could change in a few hours. Either way maybe it will inspire someone to go check out one of these great artists if they haven't already.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Weight loss Wednesday, vol 1
Today's weight loss Wednesday is a recipe that my wife came up with (http://www.thesingingloser.blogspot.com/).
It's a simple salad recipe that is filling and delicious.
1 cup mixed greens (for me, the dark green and reddish purple ones. The more bitter the better.)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 almods (she likes the sliced ones, I prefer slivered or halves)
1 whole apple, cut into bite-size cubes (I prefer Granny Smith or some other green, moderately tart apple)
2 tbsp Paula Deen's Peach Dressin' (okay, it's dressing, but when Paula talks about it, you call it dressin')
Mix all ingredients into a salad.
Calories = 357
Carbs = 20g
Fat = 1g
Protein = 12g
For some extra oomph, I'll grill 4 oz of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut it up and throw it in there once it cools.
Enjoy!
It's a simple salad recipe that is filling and delicious.
1 cup mixed greens (for me, the dark green and reddish purple ones. The more bitter the better.)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 almods (she likes the sliced ones, I prefer slivered or halves)
1 whole apple, cut into bite-size cubes (I prefer Granny Smith or some other green, moderately tart apple)
2 tbsp Paula Deen's Peach Dressin' (okay, it's dressing, but when Paula talks about it, you call it dressin')
Mix all ingredients into a salad.
Calories = 357
Carbs = 20g
Fat = 1g
Protein = 12g
For some extra oomph, I'll grill 4 oz of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut it up and throw it in there once it cools.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
First free topic!
So today, as per my schedule in yesterday's post, I get a free topic.
I'm going to talk about something that really irritates me. File under Facebook issues.
Why do people "friend" me and then ignore me when they see me out in public? Don't get me wrong - I'm not so insecure as to worry about this. And I'm not so naive to think that people who are FB "friends" are true friends. Sometimes they are acquaintances. And that's okay. Not everyone on my friends list is someone I'm going to call at 3 in the morning with a prayer request.
But when someone friends me, and then ignores me, it irritates me. You're using me to up your friend count, not because you give a crap about me.
And the worst?
People at my church do this! That's the last place you should be fake. In fact, you're the last group of people who should be fake. Yes, I'm calling those of you who do this fake. Get over it. Better yet - don't be fake!
Now if you're busy and can't stop to talk, I get it. But if I see you and say "Hello." or "Good morning." to you at church and you're a FB friend, at least respond. Don't just ignore me.
It reminds me of that old hymn - "They'll Know We're Christians by Our Love". Yeah, right.
From now on, if you friend me on FB, at least speak to me in public, or you're gone.
There, I feel better.
I'm going to talk about something that really irritates me. File under Facebook issues.
Why do people "friend" me and then ignore me when they see me out in public? Don't get me wrong - I'm not so insecure as to worry about this. And I'm not so naive to think that people who are FB "friends" are true friends. Sometimes they are acquaintances. And that's okay. Not everyone on my friends list is someone I'm going to call at 3 in the morning with a prayer request.
But when someone friends me, and then ignores me, it irritates me. You're using me to up your friend count, not because you give a crap about me.
And the worst?
People at my church do this! That's the last place you should be fake. In fact, you're the last group of people who should be fake. Yes, I'm calling those of you who do this fake. Get over it. Better yet - don't be fake!
Now if you're busy and can't stop to talk, I get it. But if I see you and say "Hello." or "Good morning." to you at church and you're a FB friend, at least respond. Don't just ignore me.
It reminds me of that old hymn - "They'll Know We're Christians by Our Love". Yeah, right.
From now on, if you friend me on FB, at least speak to me in public, or you're gone.
There, I feel better.
Monday, October 31, 2011
I have been so busy!
So life has been busy around our household and I haven't been able to blog as much as I would like.
But, after reading a very interesting article by Jon Acuff about blogging, I'm going to try a schedule. Here are the following days and topics I'm going to do my very best to blog about.
Monday - Since I weigh in on this day, I'll blog about weight loss - "Melioration Monday"
Tuesday - Free topic
Wednesday - "Weight Loss Wednesday" - a blog about my weight loss stuff, recipes and so forth
Thursday - "Theology Thursday" - I can almost hear someone rolling their eyes...
Friday - "5 for Friday" - top five lists I find about topics or that I make up on the spot
So since today is Melioration Monday I'll talk about my weigh in. Last week I weighed in at 331 lbs. Today, I was up to 338. My wife is convinced something is wrong with the scale... Time will tell.
But, after reading a very interesting article by Jon Acuff about blogging, I'm going to try a schedule. Here are the following days and topics I'm going to do my very best to blog about.
Monday - Since I weigh in on this day, I'll blog about weight loss - "Melioration Monday"
Tuesday - Free topic
Wednesday - "Weight Loss Wednesday" - a blog about my weight loss stuff, recipes and so forth
Thursday - "Theology Thursday" - I can almost hear someone rolling their eyes...
Friday - "5 for Friday" - top five lists I find about topics or that I make up on the spot
So since today is Melioration Monday I'll talk about my weigh in. Last week I weighed in at 331 lbs. Today, I was up to 338. My wife is convinced something is wrong with the scale... Time will tell.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Time flies, even when you aren't having fun
Last night, I posted a Bible verse on Facebook. I don't normally do that, because I'm one of those people. You know, those people. I like to talk about the verse and pick it apart and ask questions about it. Here it is:
Proverbs 23:17
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
What really stuck me wasn't the second part. We can read about fearing the LORD all over the Bible. What really caught me, and got me thinking was the first part. Do I envy sinners? I realized that I have in the past. Not recently. But I have. And if you're honest, so have you.
"I wish I wasn't a Christian, just for one night, so I could go get drunk right now and forget about this mess."
"I wish I could just tell ____ off, let him/her know what I really think about them."
"I wish I could..."
Proverbs 23:17
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
What really stuck me wasn't the second part. We can read about fearing the LORD all over the Bible. What really caught me, and got me thinking was the first part. Do I envy sinners? I realized that I have in the past. Not recently. But I have. And if you're honest, so have you.
"I wish I wasn't a Christian, just for one night, so I could go get drunk right now and forget about this mess."
"I wish I could just tell ____ off, let him/her know what I really think about them."
"I wish I could..."
Be honest. You've said that stuff. Maybe not what I wrote, or maybe not even out loud. But we've all envied sinners. That's why God's word says not to do it. What should we do instead? “Continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.” What does that mean? Let's see:
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His
praise endures forever!
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Luke 12:5
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Just some food for thought...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Think
Since I recommended some new music last time, I thought I would recommend a book.
If you go to Christianaudio.com now you can get a ton of free stuff. I recommend John Piper's audiobook, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God.
I know, I know. Most people wouldn't want to read this book, especially evangelical Christians. We want everything spelled out, with clever rhyming schemes and pretty pictures. But, still, Piper presents an excellent case for using your melon for more than holding your glasses or a place to store your finger when you think no one is looking.
We should do more than read the Bible - we should study it! I know that's scary; it was for me for a long time. But think about it this way. If you knew the amount of information related to your job that you know about the Bible, would you still have your job? I probably wouldn't. But isn't our relationship to God more important than our job? YES! So why aren't we studying our Bibles more often?
This might seem like an attack on the current state of the church - and in some ways, I guess it is. We have been taught to retain information, not think about it. I'm retraining my brain right now and it's hard work. But when I sit and ponder where my faith may be in a year, 5 years, 10 years... I can only thank God that He saw fit to provide me the grace to work on it.
If you go to Christianaudio.com now you can get a ton of free stuff. I recommend John Piper's audiobook, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God.
I know, I know. Most people wouldn't want to read this book, especially evangelical Christians. We want everything spelled out, with clever rhyming schemes and pretty pictures. But, still, Piper presents an excellent case for using your melon for more than holding your glasses or a place to store your finger when you think no one is looking.
We should do more than read the Bible - we should study it! I know that's scary; it was for me for a long time. But think about it this way. If you knew the amount of information related to your job that you know about the Bible, would you still have your job? I probably wouldn't. But isn't our relationship to God more important than our job? YES! So why aren't we studying our Bibles more often?
This might seem like an attack on the current state of the church - and in some ways, I guess it is. We have been taught to retain information, not think about it. I'm retraining my brain right now and it's hard work. But when I sit and ponder where my faith may be in a year, 5 years, 10 years... I can only thank God that He saw fit to provide me the grace to work on it.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
An unusual post
Hello readers. I haven't forgotten you. Things are just busy right now.
Two things I just want to throw out there.
Check out The Hawk in Paris. No, not the jazz album by Coleman Hawkins. (I had to edit this because I mistakenly was thinking this album was a free jazz album by Ornette Coleman. My apologies for the confusion. Moving on.)
The Hawk in Paris is a new band that just put out an EP. They consist of Dan Haseltine, Matt Bronleewe and Jeremy Bose.
Dan Haseltine is the longtime vocalist and accordion player for a little group of artistic geniuses called Jars of Clay.
Matt Bronleewe was the first guitarist for Jars of Clay. He left to complete his studies at college, then went on to write and produce after the band released their first album (you remember Flood, right?). He has since co-written and produced with Plumb, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Leeland, and Natalie Imbruglia, among others.
Jeremy Bose lived down the hall and knew the Jars guys in college. He went on to produce and write as well. He has worked with acts like Plumb, Joy Williams (before her interesting work with The Civil Wars), David Archuleta, St. Lola in the Fields and Uncle Kracker, among others.
You can preview the whole EP, called His + Hers, on Relevant Magazine's website via The Drop. Or you can visit noisetrade.com/thehawkinparis and dowload a free sample.
The music is lush synth/piano driven pop with amazing lyrics. You shouldn't be surprised. If Dan Haseltine is involved, you're going to hear a high quality, artistic product.
The second music recommendation I want to make is Over the Ocean. Their debut album, Paper House, took a few months and several listens to really grow on me. But once it grew on me, it really grew.
I don't know much about the band (yet) but it's obvious they are influenced by John Mark McMillan and Bob Dylan, which is fine by me. But they also show influence from Sigur Ros, Radiohead and... well, I can't place my finger on it.
Lyrically, I either prefer an artist that takes some thinking and listening to figure out what they're saying (Jars of Clay, Josh Garrels, Future of Forestry), or a band that isn't so poetic but says what they say with some originality (John Mark McMillan, Aaron Krause, David Crowder Band). Over the Ocean falls into that second camp.
Some of their best lines:
"Come with me and meet the one who makes the night like day, Bow before Him and adore this King who bears our shame." Everything Will Change
"I know you are looking for things that are pure. I know I'm filthy, You're making me clean." The Rich, The Poor
"Build Your Kingdom as mine crumbles, Mercy will cover up my shame." Build Your Kingdom
"You raise me, while you're raising the dead. Yeah, You raise me, while you're healing my pride. Can you heal my pride?" While You're Raising the Dead.
They aren't afraid to let a song strectch out and be what it needs to be. Some songs are 3 to 4 minutes, the title track is almost 7, Raising the Dead is 6... but none of them get boring.
Well, anyway... I don't normally recommend music, but this is too good to pass up. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Two things I just want to throw out there.
Check out The Hawk in Paris. No, not the jazz album by Coleman Hawkins. (I had to edit this because I mistakenly was thinking this album was a free jazz album by Ornette Coleman. My apologies for the confusion. Moving on.)
The Hawk in Paris is a new band that just put out an EP. They consist of Dan Haseltine, Matt Bronleewe and Jeremy Bose.
Dan Haseltine is the longtime vocalist and accordion player for a little group of artistic geniuses called Jars of Clay.
Matt Bronleewe was the first guitarist for Jars of Clay. He left to complete his studies at college, then went on to write and produce after the band released their first album (you remember Flood, right?). He has since co-written and produced with Plumb, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Leeland, and Natalie Imbruglia, among others.
Jeremy Bose lived down the hall and knew the Jars guys in college. He went on to produce and write as well. He has worked with acts like Plumb, Joy Williams (before her interesting work with The Civil Wars), David Archuleta, St. Lola in the Fields and Uncle Kracker, among others.
You can preview the whole EP, called His + Hers, on Relevant Magazine's website via The Drop. Or you can visit noisetrade.com/thehawkinparis and dowload a free sample.
The music is lush synth/piano driven pop with amazing lyrics. You shouldn't be surprised. If Dan Haseltine is involved, you're going to hear a high quality, artistic product.
The second music recommendation I want to make is Over the Ocean. Their debut album, Paper House, took a few months and several listens to really grow on me. But once it grew on me, it really grew.
I don't know much about the band (yet) but it's obvious they are influenced by John Mark McMillan and Bob Dylan, which is fine by me. But they also show influence from Sigur Ros, Radiohead and... well, I can't place my finger on it.
Lyrically, I either prefer an artist that takes some thinking and listening to figure out what they're saying (Jars of Clay, Josh Garrels, Future of Forestry), or a band that isn't so poetic but says what they say with some originality (John Mark McMillan, Aaron Krause, David Crowder Band). Over the Ocean falls into that second camp.
Some of their best lines:
"Come with me and meet the one who makes the night like day, Bow before Him and adore this King who bears our shame." Everything Will Change
"I know you are looking for things that are pure. I know I'm filthy, You're making me clean." The Rich, The Poor
"Build Your Kingdom as mine crumbles, Mercy will cover up my shame." Build Your Kingdom
"You raise me, while you're raising the dead. Yeah, You raise me, while you're healing my pride. Can you heal my pride?" While You're Raising the Dead.
They aren't afraid to let a song strectch out and be what it needs to be. Some songs are 3 to 4 minutes, the title track is almost 7, Raising the Dead is 6... but none of them get boring.
Well, anyway... I don't normally recommend music, but this is too good to pass up. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sheesh...
So I reread my post from a few days ago. Sheesh, what a baby.
Those of you who go to my church and happened to be there last night, the Pastor’s message really hit home with me.
Those of you who missed it, or don’t go to my church, he preached from Exodus 3. God is telling Moses to tell the Israelites His message and Moses replies “Who am I…” You should go read it for yourself.
Pastor Shawn talked about how we place our identity in our popularity, position (whether at work, family or whatever) and our performance when really, we should look for our identity in God. God will never fail, and those things will. Popularity fades, we could get fired from our job, we fail to peform. God’s response to Moses in the passage above says it best: “I will be with you.”
So, yes I get it God. I shouldn’t whine when I’m feeling down about myself. I am very blessed to have my family, my job and everything else you have seen fit to give me. Instead, I will look to you.
Isn’t it great how God uses something you don’t see coming to teach you something?
Monday, September 19, 2011
How quickly time passes...
Wow. I had intentions to blog again right after the last one and it took me ten days! Yikes!
Anyway, I blogged about getting some lab work done in the last blog. I got them done and surprise! There is something wrong with me: me. My kidney, liver and thyroid levels were normal. My HDL (good) cholesterol was low and my triglycerides (bad cholesterol) was high.
At least I don't need medication.
But this is still disappointing. I mean, really? Can't I do anything right? Grr...
It's been a tough ten days. I feel like I'm just a total failure. I'm no good as a husband, I'm no good as a dad, my health is in shambles because I don't know how to take care of myself, I suck at my job... ugh.
Sorry to be a Donnie Downer, but really? Blah. What a crappy post, right? Sorry.
Anyway, I blogged about getting some lab work done in the last blog. I got them done and surprise! There is something wrong with me: me. My kidney, liver and thyroid levels were normal. My HDL (good) cholesterol was low and my triglycerides (bad cholesterol) was high.
At least I don't need medication.
But this is still disappointing. I mean, really? Can't I do anything right? Grr...
It's been a tough ten days. I feel like I'm just a total failure. I'm no good as a husband, I'm no good as a dad, my health is in shambles because I don't know how to take care of myself, I suck at my job... ugh.
Sorry to be a Donnie Downer, but really? Blah. What a crappy post, right? Sorry.
Friday, September 9, 2011
I'm back!!!
So I haven't blogged in a long time and I have so much to say. But I'll try to control myself.
Since I blogged last, I got gout, we went to Michigan for a week (which I may blog about in a few days) and the accreditation survey showed up at work, which means I worked almost 40 hours in 3 days. I took today off to meet with my new doc for a gout follow up and to get some advice about not being able to lose weight.
Which brings us back to this blog. She recommends Weight Watchers... but before I begin she wants to do some blood work next Tuesday to make sure "everything is putting out or taking in what it should be." So we'll see what happens and maybe I can get back on track blogging several times a week.
As far as the gout, she was surprised that Urgent Care only gave me 3 days worth of meds. It should be 10 days worth, which is what she prescribed. My new doc is pretty cool too. It was casual Friday in the office and she wore a MIZZOU shirt. Gotta love a doctor who's a real person.
But anyway, another thing happened recently. Brandy and I were watching Soul Surfer, which is really good, in case you're interested.
But in one of the parts, they quote Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
They really focused on the first part - "I can do all things..." But it struck me, as never before, that the focus of that verse is the second part - "through Him who strengthens me."
God is the focus of that verse, not Paul, or me, or even you (sorry!). God is. I have resolved that my focus will not be on what I can do anymore, but on what He wants to do through me. It may be a struggle because I am very self centered and prideful, but I am also a work in progress.
Written while listening to:
There is a Fountain by Enfield
Our Great God by Enfield
Rolling in the Deep by Adele
Set Your Sails by Future of Forestry
The Valley Song by Jars of Clay
Since I blogged last, I got gout, we went to Michigan for a week (which I may blog about in a few days) and the accreditation survey showed up at work, which means I worked almost 40 hours in 3 days. I took today off to meet with my new doc for a gout follow up and to get some advice about not being able to lose weight.
Which brings us back to this blog. She recommends Weight Watchers... but before I begin she wants to do some blood work next Tuesday to make sure "everything is putting out or taking in what it should be." So we'll see what happens and maybe I can get back on track blogging several times a week.
As far as the gout, she was surprised that Urgent Care only gave me 3 days worth of meds. It should be 10 days worth, which is what she prescribed. My new doc is pretty cool too. It was casual Friday in the office and she wore a MIZZOU shirt. Gotta love a doctor who's a real person.
But anyway, another thing happened recently. Brandy and I were watching Soul Surfer, which is really good, in case you're interested.
But in one of the parts, they quote Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
They really focused on the first part - "I can do all things..." But it struck me, as never before, that the focus of that verse is the second part - "through Him who strengthens me."
God is the focus of that verse, not Paul, or me, or even you (sorry!). God is. I have resolved that my focus will not be on what I can do anymore, but on what He wants to do through me. It may be a struggle because I am very self centered and prideful, but I am also a work in progress.
Written while listening to:
There is a Fountain by Enfield
Our Great God by Enfield
Rolling in the Deep by Adele
Set Your Sails by Future of Forestry
The Valley Song by Jars of Clay
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Inspiration in mowing the lawn
So I was mowing the lawn Monday and God showed me some things.
There's an area that got really thick and I knew there were some creepy-crawly's in there. The only thing is I couldn't see any of them. I was worried there was a snake in there, and I know there were spiders and bugs and all sorts of... other things.
That's when God said "I'm that way too."
I was floored. I had to stop the mower for a few minutes and gather my senses back.
Some of you know, Brandy and I have taken a big step of faith recently. And I've worried, because sometimes it feels like God isn't there, or isn't doing anything. Then I read these verses.
Jeremiah 29:13-14You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
So even though it feels like we are in exile right now, we will find God! He will bring us back! He will restore our fortunes!
Praise be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Praise Him forever!
Written while listening to:
Set Your Sails by Future of Forestry
Waves by Resurrection Band
There's an area that got really thick and I knew there were some creepy-crawly's in there. The only thing is I couldn't see any of them. I was worried there was a snake in there, and I know there were spiders and bugs and all sorts of... other things.
That's when God said "I'm that way too."
I was floored. I had to stop the mower for a few minutes and gather my senses back.
Some of you know, Brandy and I have taken a big step of faith recently. And I've worried, because sometimes it feels like God isn't there, or isn't doing anything. Then I read these verses.
Jeremiah 29:13-14You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
So even though it feels like we are in exile right now, we will find God! He will bring us back! He will restore our fortunes!
Praise be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Praise Him forever!
Written while listening to:
Set Your Sails by Future of Forestry
Waves by Resurrection Band
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Work
John Piper posted a blog today and I'm going to quote part of it and then add my own comments.
"Then the real power of the encouragement came. Bridges quoted Isaiah 49:4, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity, yet surely my right is with the Lord and my recompense with my God.”
What powerful words! Not what Piper or Bridges said. No, no, the words of Isaiah.
As long as we labor, it doesn't matter if we fail, as long as we keep laboring! I don't know about you, but this is not something my boss agrees with. If I fail at work, I have to fix it. Trust me, it happens a lot.
And therein lies an interesting correlation. I have been struggling with my job because I feel like I'm not very good at it. I've felt like it's time to move on because I'm not bringing God glory in a job that I stink in.
But it would seem that if I keep toiling, He will still reward my work and my recompense will be with Him. I had to look up recompense. Dictonary.com defines it thus:
"Then the real power of the encouragement came. Bridges quoted Isaiah 49:4, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity, yet surely my right is with the Lord and my recompense with my God.”
What powerful words! Not what Piper or Bridges said. No, no, the words of Isaiah.
As long as we labor, it doesn't matter if we fail, as long as we keep laboring! I don't know about you, but this is not something my boss agrees with. If I fail at work, I have to fix it. Trust me, it happens a lot.
And therein lies an interesting correlation. I have been struggling with my job because I feel like I'm not very good at it. I've felt like it's time to move on because I'm not bringing God glory in a job that I stink in.
But it would seem that if I keep toiling, He will still reward my work and my recompense will be with Him. I had to look up recompense. Dictonary.com defines it thus:
1.to repay; remunerate; reward, as for service, aid, etc.
2.to pay or give compensation for; make restitution or requital for (damage, injury, or the like).
So I'm going to keep on keepin' on and when it is time to move on, God will move me. Because the way I see it, God's not going to reward me for success, He's going to reward me for work.
Friday, August 12, 2011
How awesome is...?
So I read through my posts of the last week or so after reflecting on my attitude this week. I have been in a sour mood. My last post addressed some of it (not losing weight, feeling lost in my "career", etc.). So this post is called "How Awesome is...?" and it's going to list 10 things that I think are awesome.
How awesome is...
1. The sun rising every morning, even when we can't see it, only to realize we are the ones in motion?
2. The Back to the Future trilogy?
3. God's grace?
4. The fact that God not only doesn't give us what we deserve, but does give to us what we will never deserve?
5. Future of Forestry's song Bold and Underlined?
6. A child, being born knowing every sound possible to speak every language God created, only to refine it in the first few years of his or her life to speak not only one, but possibly several languages?
7. Cheese? I mean come on, it starts in a cow as milk and ends up one of the most delicious things you can put in your gullet...
8. The fact that God revealed Himself to us to fallible men who were merely obedient to what He told them to do?9. Snuggling with your kiddo when they're little and not old enough to think it's not cool?
10. Waking up every day to serve and give and sacrifice, knowing that with a word, God will restore everything you did to serve, everything you gave and everything you sacrificed so you can do it again tomorrow?
Written while listening to:
Bold and Underlined by Future of Forestry
Did You Lose Yourself? by Future of Forestry
How awesome is...
1. The sun rising every morning, even when we can't see it, only to realize we are the ones in motion?
2. The Back to the Future trilogy?
3. God's grace?
4. The fact that God not only doesn't give us what we deserve, but does give to us what we will never deserve?
5. Future of Forestry's song Bold and Underlined?
6. A child, being born knowing every sound possible to speak every language God created, only to refine it in the first few years of his or her life to speak not only one, but possibly several languages?
7. Cheese? I mean come on, it starts in a cow as milk and ends up one of the most delicious things you can put in your gullet...
8. The fact that God revealed Himself to us to fallible men who were merely obedient to what He told them to do?9. Snuggling with your kiddo when they're little and not old enough to think it's not cool?
10. Waking up every day to serve and give and sacrifice, knowing that with a word, God will restore everything you did to serve, everything you gave and everything you sacrificed so you can do it again tomorrow?
Written while listening to:
Bold and Underlined by Future of Forestry
Did You Lose Yourself? by Future of Forestry
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
When all doors seem closed.
I don't know why but I feel like I'm stuck in a room with all the doors closed and I can't open them.
I can't seem to lose weight.
I can't seem to be sure of what career path to take.
I can't seem to get certain things organized no matter how hard I try.
I can't seem to control my tongue, or bad attitude recently.
I could go on, but I'll spare you the rest. Why are the doors closed?
Revelation 3:7 says: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens."
Only God can open the doors in the room I'm in. And as stuffy as the room may get, as uncomfortable as I my get standing because there's no chair, only God can open a door to a new path.
And so, I wait. And praise Him.
This blog written while listening to:
Be Lifted (or Hope Rising) by David Crowder*Band
At the Cross by Glenn Kaiser
I can't seem to lose weight.
I can't seem to be sure of what career path to take.
I can't seem to get certain things organized no matter how hard I try.
I can't seem to control my tongue, or bad attitude recently.
I could go on, but I'll spare you the rest. Why are the doors closed?
Revelation 3:7 says: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens."
Only God can open the doors in the room I'm in. And as stuffy as the room may get, as uncomfortable as I my get standing because there's no chair, only God can open a door to a new path.
And so, I wait. And praise Him.
This blog written while listening to:
Be Lifted (or Hope Rising) by David Crowder*Band
At the Cross by Glenn Kaiser
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Maybe I'm overthinking it..
Just a quick blog to get something off my chest. As some of you know, the Back to the Future movies are my favorites.
In the second one, Doc makes a big deal about Marty and Jennifer seeing their future counterparts. But at the second they traveled through time, that would have become Future Marty and Future Jennifer's past. So they would have known that Past Marty and Past Jennifer were there, because they were them.
So why, when the Jennifer's see each other is it a surprise? I would think the Future Jennifer would give the Past Jennifer some advice, you know? "Don't buy such-and-such car, it's a lemon." Or "Don't buy the kit to sell that makeup, it's a scam."
Like I said, maybe I'm over-thinking it.
In the second one, Doc makes a big deal about Marty and Jennifer seeing their future counterparts. But at the second they traveled through time, that would have become Future Marty and Future Jennifer's past. So they would have known that Past Marty and Past Jennifer were there, because they were them.
So why, when the Jennifer's see each other is it a surprise? I would think the Future Jennifer would give the Past Jennifer some advice, you know? "Don't buy such-and-such car, it's a lemon." Or "Don't buy the kit to sell that makeup, it's a scam."
Like I said, maybe I'm over-thinking it.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
God is hilarious aka When Life Gives you Lemons
So I haven't posted for a few days because I've been sitting on some things.
Most of my friends don't know this but I had a doctor's appointment Monday and was planning on talking about why I can't seem to lose any weight. Well, I was nervous, but I was finally ready to go when Monday rolled around. But Brandy's dad went into the hospital and I had to cancel! I still haven't rescheduled, but I will.
I also think God is hilarious, because in my last blog post, I announced that I had decided on a career. That was Thursday. On Monday, when all the stuff was going on with my father in law, God started talking to me and now... well, I'm not sure.
I have a different path in mind, but I've only talked to my wife and a close friend and advisor via email about it. I will postpone an annnouncement until I am sure. I will say that it's a career I considered in high school that has never really gone away.
Be praying for me. Also be praying for us because we are trying to sell the Highlander. We love that car, it's super nice, but when we looked at the budget, that was a place we could cut some money. Please agree with us that it will sell soon and with some money to spare to buy a cheap car until we can save some money and buy something nicer.
Most of my friends don't know this but I had a doctor's appointment Monday and was planning on talking about why I can't seem to lose any weight. Well, I was nervous, but I was finally ready to go when Monday rolled around. But Brandy's dad went into the hospital and I had to cancel! I still haven't rescheduled, but I will.
I also think God is hilarious, because in my last blog post, I announced that I had decided on a career. That was Thursday. On Monday, when all the stuff was going on with my father in law, God started talking to me and now... well, I'm not sure.
I have a different path in mind, but I've only talked to my wife and a close friend and advisor via email about it. I will postpone an annnouncement until I am sure. I will say that it's a career I considered in high school that has never really gone away.
Be praying for me. Also be praying for us because we are trying to sell the Highlander. We love that car, it's super nice, but when we looked at the budget, that was a place we could cut some money. Please agree with us that it will sell soon and with some money to spare to buy a cheap car until we can save some money and buy something nicer.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sorry for the delay, back to our regular programming
I can't believe I haven't blogged for 4 days. I'm sorry, I've just had a lot going on.
Brandy's dad found out he had a blood clot in his leg. Yesterday morning, two pieces broke off and one piece went into each lung. I left work early and we spent the whole day at the hospital waiting to see what would happen. He had a surgery, came out fine and is meeting with the doctors today to do some follow-up.
My dad also has some stuff going on that some of you know about that he has requested I not talk about with anyone. Those of you that I've asked for prayer, please keep this in mind.
So I started the new diet stuff one week ago today. I only eat lean meat, veggies and fruit. No bread, pasta, potatoes or rice. I cheated twice - Thursday, I had some homemade peach cobbler my grandmother made and Friday I had some tortillas because we had Mexican and I got Carnitas. When I weighed in yesterday, I had lost exactly 0 pounds.
That's right, 0 pounds. I maintained. I've tried counting calories and didn't lose. I tried the diet my trainer recommends and didn't lose. Something must be wrong with me. I want to give up but I don't want to set that example for my family, to just give up when something is really hard.
But aside from giving up, what can I do? When you try different things and nothing works, what's left?
I'm also considering a major decision right now so some prayer would be great. It's a recent development and I haven't even gotten to really talk with Brandy about it so I won't go into any detail.
Thanks for reading.
Brandy's dad found out he had a blood clot in his leg. Yesterday morning, two pieces broke off and one piece went into each lung. I left work early and we spent the whole day at the hospital waiting to see what would happen. He had a surgery, came out fine and is meeting with the doctors today to do some follow-up.
My dad also has some stuff going on that some of you know about that he has requested I not talk about with anyone. Those of you that I've asked for prayer, please keep this in mind.
So I started the new diet stuff one week ago today. I only eat lean meat, veggies and fruit. No bread, pasta, potatoes or rice. I cheated twice - Thursday, I had some homemade peach cobbler my grandmother made and Friday I had some tortillas because we had Mexican and I got Carnitas. When I weighed in yesterday, I had lost exactly 0 pounds.
That's right, 0 pounds. I maintained. I've tried counting calories and didn't lose. I tried the diet my trainer recommends and didn't lose. Something must be wrong with me. I want to give up but I don't want to set that example for my family, to just give up when something is really hard.
But aside from giving up, what can I do? When you try different things and nothing works, what's left?
I'm also considering a major decision right now so some prayer would be great. It's a recent development and I haven't even gotten to really talk with Brandy about it so I won't go into any detail.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
First day of the Days of Our Lives... wait, no...
Today is the first day of my new diet. I'm using this word, not as a short term way to lose weight, but instead for what it really means: the way I eat regularly.
I talked with JR, my trainer, and he made some recommendations. I started last night and we're gonna see how it goes.
He recommends two weeks with no "bad carbs". "Bad carbs" are the delicious ones. You know, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. Then slowly introduce one carb a day, per week. For instance, after the first couple weeks, if I want a sandwich, I can only have one piece of bread.
He also recommends not counting calories unless I'm already eating healthily. Since I have not been, he thinks this has been an issue. If I only limit my intake via calories, I can still eat junk, just a limited amount of it. Unfortunately, junk is still that - junk.
So, we have come to a crossroads, it seems. I started this blog to track my calories daily, or as near to daily as possible. Now that I'm doing things differently, should I still blog everyday?
I want some feedback from those of you that read this blog regularly. I joke about it only being 7, but seriously, if you read this, do you want me to continue blogging about general things regarding my weight loss? I will also continue with faith and general life issues, if people are genuinely interested in what I have to say (and I would contend that many are not).
So please let me know via comment here or on Facebook if you'd like to keep reading my thoughts.
I talked with JR, my trainer, and he made some recommendations. I started last night and we're gonna see how it goes.
He recommends two weeks with no "bad carbs". "Bad carbs" are the delicious ones. You know, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. Then slowly introduce one carb a day, per week. For instance, after the first couple weeks, if I want a sandwich, I can only have one piece of bread.
He also recommends not counting calories unless I'm already eating healthily. Since I have not been, he thinks this has been an issue. If I only limit my intake via calories, I can still eat junk, just a limited amount of it. Unfortunately, junk is still that - junk.
So, we have come to a crossroads, it seems. I started this blog to track my calories daily, or as near to daily as possible. Now that I'm doing things differently, should I still blog everyday?
I want some feedback from those of you that read this blog regularly. I joke about it only being 7, but seriously, if you read this, do you want me to continue blogging about general things regarding my weight loss? I will also continue with faith and general life issues, if people are genuinely interested in what I have to say (and I would contend that many are not).
So please let me know via comment here or on Facebook if you'd like to keep reading my thoughts.
Monday, July 25, 2011
I am too lazy...
Sorry I've been lazy about posting since I started back. I missed this weekend because... well, I just didn't feel like blogging.
Anyway, I didn't track my calories this weekend, because I'm considering changing the diet up a little bit. I read lots of material that said if calories in is less than calories needed, I would lose weight. But now, I'm reading that it depends on the type of calorie. Is there an easy answer? No, of course not. If there was, everyone would be fit and healthy.
So, I'm checking out some options, based on my body type, blood type and family history. What I came up with is lots of protein, veggies, fruit and very little bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Which is great, because my favorite types of food is Italian (bread and pasta), Mexican (rice and tortillas, which is like bread only flat), and diner food (you know, sandwiches on bread, fries which are a delicious variety of potato, fried chicken that is breaded...). So obviously, I'm in trouble.
This is also the type of diet that my trainer, JR recommends. What to do?
Today I wanted to track calories, but we went to the Cardinal ball game. Seriously, once you eat a burrito at Busch Stadium, counting calories is like using a ping-pong paddle to face Roger Clements post-HGH injections.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'll leave you with this:
"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night."
— John Piper (A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer)
Anyway, I didn't track my calories this weekend, because I'm considering changing the diet up a little bit. I read lots of material that said if calories in is less than calories needed, I would lose weight. But now, I'm reading that it depends on the type of calorie. Is there an easy answer? No, of course not. If there was, everyone would be fit and healthy.
So, I'm checking out some options, based on my body type, blood type and family history. What I came up with is lots of protein, veggies, fruit and very little bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Which is great, because my favorite types of food is Italian (bread and pasta), Mexican (rice and tortillas, which is like bread only flat), and diner food (you know, sandwiches on bread, fries which are a delicious variety of potato, fried chicken that is breaded...). So obviously, I'm in trouble.
This is also the type of diet that my trainer, JR recommends. What to do?
Today I wanted to track calories, but we went to the Cardinal ball game. Seriously, once you eat a burrito at Busch Stadium, counting calories is like using a ping-pong paddle to face Roger Clements post-HGH injections.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'll leave you with this:
"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night."
— John Piper (A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My last post was almost a month ago.
Well, my faithful 7 readers, I'm back! (don't worry - no pea soup or spinning head).
I took the month (roughly) away from blogging because I was generally frustrated. I felt like I was making zero progress in several areas of my life, the weight loss one being the area this blog is most concerned with.
During that time, my wife and I have talked and she has been an amazing support to me. We have made valiant strides in several areas of our lives that needed work (including general organization of our house, finances, intense Bible study) and I feel like I can blog again without getting so down.
Today I consumed 1613 of 2488 calories and worked out (actually got my hindquarters kicked by JR). The calorie count is low because I fasted until after lunch.
Which brings me to the next thing that inquiring minds want to know... I am currently pursuing a position at a different employer. Not just any position either. It's a specific position at a specific university that will help me get a foot in the door to what I really want to do. I know what I want to do for my career. I'm tired of jobs, I want a career.
When I looked at all my options, everything that interested me, or seemed like a career I could pursue and not only enjoy, but bring God glory with, I always came back to teaching. Now, I know what you're thinking. Teaching college really is the most glamorous job available. I mean, grumpy frat boys who partied the night before, girls who think they know everything because they have daddy's credit card... seriously, I remember these kids in college. But I also remember people like me. And Chad. And Jonathon. And Trina. We were people who worked full time during the day and went to school at night because we had something pushing us to do it. A dream. Thoughts of something better than the craphole we worked in currently.
And so, come January, I'm starting work on a Master's. I'm going to apply in August or September and even though Dave Ramsey would yell at me, if I have to use loans, I will. Then, I will teach part time since very few colleges or universities will hire you full time straight out, then full time college instructor. Who knows, I may end up a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Dr. Francis has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Only I'm way too awesome to be that stuffy. Dr. Josh sounds way better. Or maybe just Doc. Great Scott!
Finally, I have also decided, much to my wife's chagrin, that I want to learn Biblical Hebrew and Greek so I can read the Bible in it's original language. The way I look at it, if I learn it in 10 years, I'll only be 40 and if I live to be 85, that's 45 years of better study of the Word of God. She's convinced I'm going to get the Master's of Christian Ministry at MoBap after I teach a few years and become a preacher of some variety. If that's where God leads, I can't really say no, can I?
In closing, if you go to my church you may have noticed that I'm now a Prayer Partner. My first week was last week and I can tell already that God needs to pour out grace and mercy on me everyday for me to be effective. But really who doesn't need that?
God bless.
I took the month (roughly) away from blogging because I was generally frustrated. I felt like I was making zero progress in several areas of my life, the weight loss one being the area this blog is most concerned with.
During that time, my wife and I have talked and she has been an amazing support to me. We have made valiant strides in several areas of our lives that needed work (including general organization of our house, finances, intense Bible study) and I feel like I can blog again without getting so down.
Today I consumed 1613 of 2488 calories and worked out (actually got my hindquarters kicked by JR). The calorie count is low because I fasted until after lunch.
Which brings me to the next thing that inquiring minds want to know... I am currently pursuing a position at a different employer. Not just any position either. It's a specific position at a specific university that will help me get a foot in the door to what I really want to do. I know what I want to do for my career. I'm tired of jobs, I want a career.
When I looked at all my options, everything that interested me, or seemed like a career I could pursue and not only enjoy, but bring God glory with, I always came back to teaching. Now, I know what you're thinking. Teaching college really is the most glamorous job available. I mean, grumpy frat boys who partied the night before, girls who think they know everything because they have daddy's credit card... seriously, I remember these kids in college. But I also remember people like me. And Chad. And Jonathon. And Trina. We were people who worked full time during the day and went to school at night because we had something pushing us to do it. A dream. Thoughts of something better than the craphole we worked in currently.
And so, come January, I'm starting work on a Master's. I'm going to apply in August or September and even though Dave Ramsey would yell at me, if I have to use loans, I will. Then, I will teach part time since very few colleges or universities will hire you full time straight out, then full time college instructor. Who knows, I may end up a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Dr. Francis has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Only I'm way too awesome to be that stuffy. Dr. Josh sounds way better. Or maybe just Doc. Great Scott!
Finally, I have also decided, much to my wife's chagrin, that I want to learn Biblical Hebrew and Greek so I can read the Bible in it's original language. The way I look at it, if I learn it in 10 years, I'll only be 40 and if I live to be 85, that's 45 years of better study of the Word of God. She's convinced I'm going to get the Master's of Christian Ministry at MoBap after I teach a few years and become a preacher of some variety. If that's where God leads, I can't really say no, can I?
In closing, if you go to my church you may have noticed that I'm now a Prayer Partner. My first week was last week and I can tell already that God needs to pour out grace and mercy on me everyday for me to be effective. But really who doesn't need that?
God bless.
Monday, June 27, 2011
I feel like blogging tonight
Only... not really.
I wanted this blog to be a record of my weight loss success. To date, I have been tracking calories for 2 months, working out (in some fashion) for 3, posted 23 times on here and have lost a grand total of about 3 pounds. So at this rate (roughly a pound a month, for 140 pounds), I'll lose my goal in about 11 years, or when Levi is a teenager.
I'm not going to post my calories from today. Sorry, I know you're waiting anxiously.
I just feel... done. This will probably be my last post for a while, maybe for good. Like I said, I wanted this to be a record of success. I wanted this to be an encouragement so I could look back and say "Look, just a month ago I weighed this. And now, I've lost such-and-such pounds." Instead, I look back and realize how much time I've wasted for anyone who read this miserable thing. Thus far, it is a Chronicle of Huge Embarrassing Failure.
If I ever post again, I'll mention it on Facebook so you can check it out. Bye.
I wanted this blog to be a record of my weight loss success. To date, I have been tracking calories for 2 months, working out (in some fashion) for 3, posted 23 times on here and have lost a grand total of about 3 pounds. So at this rate (roughly a pound a month, for 140 pounds), I'll lose my goal in about 11 years, or when Levi is a teenager.
I'm not going to post my calories from today. Sorry, I know you're waiting anxiously.
I just feel... done. This will probably be my last post for a while, maybe for good. Like I said, I wanted this to be a record of success. I wanted this to be an encouragement so I could look back and say "Look, just a month ago I weighed this. And now, I've lost such-and-such pounds." Instead, I look back and realize how much time I've wasted for anyone who read this miserable thing. Thus far, it is a Chronicle of Huge Embarrassing Failure.
If I ever post again, I'll mention it on Facebook so you can check it out. Bye.
Friday, June 24, 2011
2nd post today.
Wow, this is the first time I've posted twice in one day, I think.
Here it is: today I ate 2556 calories, 29 over goal.
Okay, that's all. Now I have to go haul some stuff for Brandy's yard sale. No complaining though - I'll get some of the money!
Night.
Here it is: today I ate 2556 calories, 29 over goal.
Okay, that's all. Now I have to go haul some stuff for Brandy's yard sale. No complaining though - I'll get some of the money!
Night.
Too much sleep is a bad thing?
I went to bed last night at 9:40 and slept until 5:00 AM (which is the absolute latest I can sleep and not be late for work). I'm still tired. Some would say it's because I got too much sleep.
Anyway, yesterday was weigh in day. Not only did I gain back the 4 pounds I lost at last week's weigh in, I gained an additional 3! That's right, since Sunday morning I've gained 7 pounds. Sheesh...
My wife is concerned that my thyroid isn't functioning properly. We have someone on both sides of the family with that issue (that we know of) and she thinks that may be my problem.
I don't know what to think. I walk and work out, though this week I've missed a few. Also, for 3 days last weekend I ate with abandon. Frankly, all day yesterday I didn't eat tll that great because of the weigh in. I went over goal by about 800 calories (my goal went back up with the weight gain to 2527, and we wen to Chili's for dinner... tortilla chips, guacamole and fajitas are not exactly low cal).
So what do I do? Anyone have any suggestions? I know I didn't do that well last weekend but frankly if 3 days worth of mistakes is going to make me gain that much, I can never make a mistake. That is too much pressure. Maybe.
Anyway, yesterday was weigh in day. Not only did I gain back the 4 pounds I lost at last week's weigh in, I gained an additional 3! That's right, since Sunday morning I've gained 7 pounds. Sheesh...
My wife is concerned that my thyroid isn't functioning properly. We have someone on both sides of the family with that issue (that we know of) and she thinks that may be my problem.
I don't know what to think. I walk and work out, though this week I've missed a few. Also, for 3 days last weekend I ate with abandon. Frankly, all day yesterday I didn't eat tll that great because of the weigh in. I went over goal by about 800 calories (my goal went back up with the weight gain to 2527, and we wen to Chili's for dinner... tortilla chips, guacamole and fajitas are not exactly low cal).
So what do I do? Anyone have any suggestions? I know I didn't do that well last weekend but frankly if 3 days worth of mistakes is going to make me gain that much, I can never make a mistake. That is too much pressure. Maybe.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
My belt feels funny...
Today, I had to tighten my belt to the next hole. It was a little snug, but I had to tighten it to keep my britches up. Seems I am no longer too big for them. Take that Grandma.
Today I consumed 2578 calories, over goal by 97 calories. I also walked briskly for 50 minutes, burning approximately 373 calories. Woot woot!
Today was long. I don't know why, can't put my finger on it. It wasn't because the accreditation survey team showed up and I stayed 2 hours late.The day seemed long prior to that. I just feel like I'm headed in the wrong direction.
I've been reading Nehemiah systematically the last few weeks. By systematically, I mean... slowly. I read a little everyday, and I usually re-read it for a night or two. I've been reading for almost 2 weeks in Nehemiah and I haven't even gotten to Chapter 5.
Anyway, one thing I've noticed in Nehemiah is that when he calls the Jews to work on the wall, no one complains. None of the Jews are recorded as saying "Nehemiah, dude, the ball game is about to start. Could we maybe do this whole wall thing tomorrow?" No. The only people being negative are God's enemies (see chapter 3 and 4; the Arabs, et al.).
I guess what I'm getting at is that the Jews didn't complain because they wanted to restore the wall. They enjoyed the work. They knew it was bringing God glory. I don't enjoy my work. I used to feel like I was making a difference. Now I feel like a paper-pusher (because that's mainly what my job is). I certainly don't feel I'm bringing God much glory.
Now, I know that as a believer God doesn't promise that everything will be fuzzy and happy and we'll just wet our little Christian pants with joy everyday (if you do that, let me know. I want to pray for you.) But, at the same time, if my purpose is to glorify Him, it helps if it's tolerable.
Is this just me complaining? I don't know. I'm a little dehydrated from the walk and tired because it's late. I just want to enjoy my job. I've been working in mental health for almost 7 years in various capacities and it is time to move on. I have business degree for Pete's sake - nothing in mental health!
God lead me like you did Nehemiah and his team that rebuilt that wall. They did it in 52 days. But only because you were there and gave them grace, protection and determination to do it. Give me the same, O Lord. More importantly, don't let my occupation define me. Let who I am in You define me, and let whatever I do bring you glory. Amen.
This post written while listening to:
Death Machine by Resurrection Band
Intoxicating (Pneumatic Mix) by David Crowder*Band
The Race Is On by George Jones
People of God by Gungor
16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Today I consumed 2578 calories, over goal by 97 calories. I also walked briskly for 50 minutes, burning approximately 373 calories. Woot woot!
Today was long. I don't know why, can't put my finger on it. It wasn't because the accreditation survey team showed up and I stayed 2 hours late.The day seemed long prior to that. I just feel like I'm headed in the wrong direction.
I've been reading Nehemiah systematically the last few weeks. By systematically, I mean... slowly. I read a little everyday, and I usually re-read it for a night or two. I've been reading for almost 2 weeks in Nehemiah and I haven't even gotten to Chapter 5.
Anyway, one thing I've noticed in Nehemiah is that when he calls the Jews to work on the wall, no one complains. None of the Jews are recorded as saying "Nehemiah, dude, the ball game is about to start. Could we maybe do this whole wall thing tomorrow?" No. The only people being negative are God's enemies (see chapter 3 and 4; the Arabs, et al.).
I guess what I'm getting at is that the Jews didn't complain because they wanted to restore the wall. They enjoyed the work. They knew it was bringing God glory. I don't enjoy my work. I used to feel like I was making a difference. Now I feel like a paper-pusher (because that's mainly what my job is). I certainly don't feel I'm bringing God much glory.
Now, I know that as a believer God doesn't promise that everything will be fuzzy and happy and we'll just wet our little Christian pants with joy everyday (if you do that, let me know. I want to pray for you.) But, at the same time, if my purpose is to glorify Him, it helps if it's tolerable.
Is this just me complaining? I don't know. I'm a little dehydrated from the walk and tired because it's late. I just want to enjoy my job. I've been working in mental health for almost 7 years in various capacities and it is time to move on. I have business degree for Pete's sake - nothing in mental health!
God lead me like you did Nehemiah and his team that rebuilt that wall. They did it in 52 days. But only because you were there and gave them grace, protection and determination to do it. Give me the same, O Lord. More importantly, don't let my occupation define me. Let who I am in You define me, and let whatever I do bring you glory. Amen.
This post written while listening to:
Death Machine by Resurrection Band
Intoxicating (Pneumatic Mix) by David Crowder*Band
The Race Is On by George Jones
People of God by Gungor
16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
20 posts with numbers is too many
Okay, I'm bored with numbering my posts. I wanted to do it until I hit 30, but it just ain't happenin'.
Today was just another day at work. But tonight, Brandy and I had dinner with some good friends, Josiah and Catherine. It was nice. The kids went downstairs after we ate and played and we just visited for awhile. Adult conversation never gets old, especially if it isn't at work.
Today I consumed 3635 calories which is 1154 over goal. Now, I know what you may be thinking. Isn't his goal just over 2500? No. Since I logged a 4 pound weight loss, my calorie goal went down almost 100 calories to 2481 a day. Not a major change, but enough to keep the loss coming. Or going. Whichever...
In actuality, I consumed 3635 and burned 533 walking, putting me at 621 over. Whichever, I went over my goal. THIS CANNOT BE A HABIT.
So, in other news, I've decided to put myself out there more. What does that mean? Well, I always say to myself "I would like to be better friends with (fill in the blank)." Then I never do anything about it.
Well, that's stupid. Not to be harsh to myself, but it is stupid. If I want to be friends with someone, I need to invest in the relationship and not expect them to do all the work. Where we used to live, it was easier to do this. Most of the churches were small and you just fell in with a group at church, kind of by default. Unfortunately, before we moved to the STL area 2 years ago, I didn't have many friends because of this behavior. I told Brandy tonight "The worst thing that could happen is I burn some cell phone minutes reaching out to a possible friend."
I don't say this to be callous. There are some guys I know that I would like to be closer friends with. If they would like that, then why not try? Why just sit at home, wishing I had friends to hang with, or talk about my problems with when I could just call one of them? Or (God forbid) ask them to coffee to get their advice and see if they would be willing to be a closer friend. Frankly, I realize that some guys would rather be hit in the crotch with a stick than be friends with me, but that's fine. There's what? Five million people in the STL area? Surely I can make some close friends.
Not to air out too much dirty laundry, but starting my senior year until just a couple years ago (about 9 or 10 total), I had several friends stab me in the back and just generally not be very good friends. Shoot, the guy who was my best man (as I was his) I don't even talk to anymore. As a result, I trusted no one except Brandy. While I think you should wholly trust your spouse, you need other accountability partners and people you can lean on when things are tough. No one can be a cowboy and last that long, despite how cool Clint Eastwood makes it look.
Also, I'm not trying to discount or minimize the friends I do have. Josiah is a close one. There are one or two others that I could reach out to, but I don't feel that we are close enough to do that sometimes. This could be fear of being rejected.
Anyway, there it is. I put it out there, to you, my readers (how weird is that?). Let's see what happens.
This post written while listening to:
The House is on Fire Acoustic by Resurrection Band
Cry Mercy by David Crowder*Band
More by Trip Lee
Carolina Tide by John Mark McMillan
Today was just another day at work. But tonight, Brandy and I had dinner with some good friends, Josiah and Catherine. It was nice. The kids went downstairs after we ate and played and we just visited for awhile. Adult conversation never gets old, especially if it isn't at work.
Today I consumed 3635 calories which is 1154 over goal. Now, I know what you may be thinking. Isn't his goal just over 2500? No. Since I logged a 4 pound weight loss, my calorie goal went down almost 100 calories to 2481 a day. Not a major change, but enough to keep the loss coming. Or going. Whichever...
In actuality, I consumed 3635 and burned 533 walking, putting me at 621 over. Whichever, I went over my goal. THIS CANNOT BE A HABIT.
So, in other news, I've decided to put myself out there more. What does that mean? Well, I always say to myself "I would like to be better friends with (fill in the blank)." Then I never do anything about it.
Well, that's stupid. Not to be harsh to myself, but it is stupid. If I want to be friends with someone, I need to invest in the relationship and not expect them to do all the work. Where we used to live, it was easier to do this. Most of the churches were small and you just fell in with a group at church, kind of by default. Unfortunately, before we moved to the STL area 2 years ago, I didn't have many friends because of this behavior. I told Brandy tonight "The worst thing that could happen is I burn some cell phone minutes reaching out to a possible friend."
I don't say this to be callous. There are some guys I know that I would like to be closer friends with. If they would like that, then why not try? Why just sit at home, wishing I had friends to hang with, or talk about my problems with when I could just call one of them? Or (God forbid) ask them to coffee to get their advice and see if they would be willing to be a closer friend. Frankly, I realize that some guys would rather be hit in the crotch with a stick than be friends with me, but that's fine. There's what? Five million people in the STL area? Surely I can make some close friends.
Not to air out too much dirty laundry, but starting my senior year until just a couple years ago (about 9 or 10 total), I had several friends stab me in the back and just generally not be very good friends. Shoot, the guy who was my best man (as I was his) I don't even talk to anymore. As a result, I trusted no one except Brandy. While I think you should wholly trust your spouse, you need other accountability partners and people you can lean on when things are tough. No one can be a cowboy and last that long, despite how cool Clint Eastwood makes it look.
Also, I'm not trying to discount or minimize the friends I do have. Josiah is a close one. There are one or two others that I could reach out to, but I don't feel that we are close enough to do that sometimes. This could be fear of being rejected.
Anyway, there it is. I put it out there, to you, my readers (how weird is that?). Let's see what happens.
This post written while listening to:
The House is on Fire Acoustic by Resurrection Band
Cry Mercy by David Crowder*Band
More by Trip Lee
Carolina Tide by John Mark McMillan
Sunday, June 19, 2011
19 reasons to call out of work tomorrow.
I won't actually bore you with the list, but I bet I could come up with 19, no problem.
So today, I considered not logging calories but I thought that may be a mistake and figured I should, just to see how bad I did. I did not hold back much today; I ate much like I used to on a regular basis.
So, I consumed (according to my calculations) 5394 calories, 2913 over goal. Actually, more than twice my daily goal. And you know what? The food may have tasted good as I shoved it indiscriminately down my gullet, but afterwards, I felt terrible. Truth is, I still don't feel all that great.
That, my friends is why my long term goal is to lose 140 pounds.
But I weighed in today, randomly and I lost 4 pounds since Thursday. Woo hoo!
I didn't mention it yesterday, but if you're curious, I went to the doctor about my extreme case of poison ivy. Turns out, I also have a skin infection. Don't worry - it isn't staph or MRSA or anything that serious. Just a little grime and dirt in burst pustules of poison ivy, causing a dermatological infection.
How unpleasant is the word pustules? Almost as bad as seepage...
Anyway, I went on a little bit of a rant yesterday and it superseded some other things I wanted to say, like the above philosophical discussion on pustules and skin infections. Yuck.
The other thing I wanted to say was to give a shout out to any dad's who read my blog. You know who you are and today was your day. I lived it with abandon regarding food, I hope you enjoyed your day somehow.
Well, I go back to work tomorrow, even though I could call out. But it will be my third day in a row and I'll have to fill out that FMLA paperwork that says I don't want/need FMLA coverage and that's a bigger pain in my bu... neck than just going to work and suffering through the day. Uhh.
Peace and blessings to you, my readers. I was informed that there are more than 3 of you, like I previously believed. Apparently, there are at least 7. Woo.
Night all.
This post was writtne while listening to:
Love Comes Down by Resurrection Band
Deliver Me by David Crowder*Band
If I Leave This World Tomorrow - Live by Glenn Kaiser Band
So today, I considered not logging calories but I thought that may be a mistake and figured I should, just to see how bad I did. I did not hold back much today; I ate much like I used to on a regular basis.
So, I consumed (according to my calculations) 5394 calories, 2913 over goal. Actually, more than twice my daily goal. And you know what? The food may have tasted good as I shoved it indiscriminately down my gullet, but afterwards, I felt terrible. Truth is, I still don't feel all that great.
That, my friends is why my long term goal is to lose 140 pounds.
But I weighed in today, randomly and I lost 4 pounds since Thursday. Woo hoo!
I didn't mention it yesterday, but if you're curious, I went to the doctor about my extreme case of poison ivy. Turns out, I also have a skin infection. Don't worry - it isn't staph or MRSA or anything that serious. Just a little grime and dirt in burst pustules of poison ivy, causing a dermatological infection.
How unpleasant is the word pustules? Almost as bad as seepage...
Anyway, I went on a little bit of a rant yesterday and it superseded some other things I wanted to say, like the above philosophical discussion on pustules and skin infections. Yuck.
The other thing I wanted to say was to give a shout out to any dad's who read my blog. You know who you are and today was your day. I lived it with abandon regarding food, I hope you enjoyed your day somehow.
Well, I go back to work tomorrow, even though I could call out. But it will be my third day in a row and I'll have to fill out that FMLA paperwork that says I don't want/need FMLA coverage and that's a bigger pain in my bu... neck than just going to work and suffering through the day. Uhh.
Peace and blessings to you, my readers. I was informed that there are more than 3 of you, like I previously believed. Apparently, there are at least 7. Woo.
Night all.
This post was writtne while listening to:
Love Comes Down by Resurrection Band
Deliver Me by David Crowder*Band
If I Leave This World Tomorrow - Live by Glenn Kaiser Band
Saturday, June 18, 2011
18 minutes past my latest bedtime...
So here it is, almost 1 AM and I'm not tired. I'm usually in bed by 11:00!
Anyway, since I can't sleep, I thought I'd blog about the last two nights. Friday night I went on a date with my special lady. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse, drove around a bit, then had dessert at Cheesecake Factory. She kept joking that all we do on date night is drive around and have dinner.
In a way she's right. We end up doing that quite a bit on date night. It seems conducive to communication for us. If we're home, we want to watch TV or do housework or be on the computer. If we're at a restaurant, we're always concerned about other people hearing what we're talking about. Not that it's bad stuff, it's just our stuff. Then today, we went to a couple parks, played with Levi, then had dinner at the Plush Pig BBQ on Manchester. Brandy's verdict: "Ehh..." I concur.
Anyway, last night I consumed 4184 calories, over goal by 1672. Yikes! The Mac and Cheese at Longhorn has way more calories than I realized!
Tonight I consumed 3540 calories, 1032 over goal. Yikes! That BBQ place gave me a ton of rib tips! And ice cream has how many calories!?!?!
Anyway, there's my accountability stuff for the weight loss. Tonight I want to get something off my chest and into the nether-regions of cyber space.
What is it with people who gossip? I don't get it. Brandy and I both in the last few weeks have had people try to gossip to us. We try very hard not to gossip.
Pretend with me for a second that I have two friends who are also friends with each other. We'll call them... Uncle Jesse and Bo. Pretend that Uncle Jesse comes up to me and says: "Hey, Josh. Bo was in a car wreck and we should pray for him."
I reply "Oh my gosh! Is he okay?"
Uncle Jesse says "He will be. Now let's pray." We pray for recovery and whatever Bo needs that we don't know about. No gossip.
Pretend the scenario changes a bit.
Uncle Jesse comes up to me and says: "Hey, Josh. Bo was in a car wreck and we should pray for him."
I reply "Oh my gosh! Is he okay?"
Uncle Jesse shakes his head with a sigh. "Well, we're hopin' but you know how he likes to nip at the distillery in the back 40." Gossip.
What makes Uncle Jesse think I'm so stupid that I don't realize if he's gossiping to me about Bo, that he gossips to Daisy about me?!?
So, I'll leave you with this. Are you the first Uncle Jesse, or the second? Would you rather be the first Uncle Jesse or the second? Me, I'll be the first.
Anyway, since I can't sleep, I thought I'd blog about the last two nights. Friday night I went on a date with my special lady. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse, drove around a bit, then had dessert at Cheesecake Factory. She kept joking that all we do on date night is drive around and have dinner.
In a way she's right. We end up doing that quite a bit on date night. It seems conducive to communication for us. If we're home, we want to watch TV or do housework or be on the computer. If we're at a restaurant, we're always concerned about other people hearing what we're talking about. Not that it's bad stuff, it's just our stuff. Then today, we went to a couple parks, played with Levi, then had dinner at the Plush Pig BBQ on Manchester. Brandy's verdict: "Ehh..." I concur.
Anyway, last night I consumed 4184 calories, over goal by 1672. Yikes! The Mac and Cheese at Longhorn has way more calories than I realized!
Tonight I consumed 3540 calories, 1032 over goal. Yikes! That BBQ place gave me a ton of rib tips! And ice cream has how many calories!?!?!
Anyway, there's my accountability stuff for the weight loss. Tonight I want to get something off my chest and into the nether-regions of cyber space.
What is it with people who gossip? I don't get it. Brandy and I both in the last few weeks have had people try to gossip to us. We try very hard not to gossip.
Pretend with me for a second that I have two friends who are also friends with each other. We'll call them... Uncle Jesse and Bo. Pretend that Uncle Jesse comes up to me and says: "Hey, Josh. Bo was in a car wreck and we should pray for him."
I reply "Oh my gosh! Is he okay?"
Uncle Jesse says "He will be. Now let's pray." We pray for recovery and whatever Bo needs that we don't know about. No gossip.
Pretend the scenario changes a bit.
Uncle Jesse comes up to me and says: "Hey, Josh. Bo was in a car wreck and we should pray for him."
I reply "Oh my gosh! Is he okay?"
Uncle Jesse shakes his head with a sigh. "Well, we're hopin' but you know how he likes to nip at the distillery in the back 40." Gossip.
What makes Uncle Jesse think I'm so stupid that I don't realize if he's gossiping to me about Bo, that he gossips to Daisy about me?!?
So, I'll leave you with this. Are you the first Uncle Jesse, or the second? Would you rather be the first Uncle Jesse or the second? Me, I'll be the first.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
17 itchy places
The poison ivy saga continues. I actually took off work today and tomorrow because we have some clients with skin issues and I don't want to be responsible for a home of 6 or 8 people (not to mention staff) getting poison ivy.
On the positive, Brandy found a medication that seems to be drying it out pretty good. It's called Ivarest. It's expensive but it works. She got it on sale at Walgreens. It's usually $10.99, on sale for $5.99 with a $1 coupon: grand total = $4.99. She went back and got a couple more bottles because if it's summer in Missouri, chances are I'll get poison ivy again.
Anyway, today I weighed in and lost 0.4 pounds. Not the 2 or 3 I hoped for, but still a loss. I'm trying not to get discouraged. It's not a gain! My calories for today: I consumed 2404 for 104 under goal. So I was under, but barely! My wife was very encouraging today.
Speaking of my wife, I have 2 things to say about her. She has a blog too. She's a great writer though she's more about quality, whereas I'm about quantity. I want more posts but she wants higher quality posts. One read and you'll see her posts are far less numerous than mine, but of a far superior quality. Her blog is at thesingingloser.blogspot.com
The other thing is kind of about her. I had to stop blogging to go get eggs off the stove from being hard boiled because that's about the only way she'll eat eggs. That, and they are quick in the morning. I love eggs and eat at least 1 every morning.
But what I was really thinking about (and I think about this with a lot of food), was this: who looked at an egg plopping out of a chicken's underside and thought "Hey, that might taste good. I think I'll eat it." I mean, really? Who looked at coffee beans and said "Hmm... I bet if I grind those things up and pour really hot water over them the resulting brew will be a delicious beverage."
I'm not complaining mind you. I love coffee too. But some food boggles my mind as to how anyone would come to eat it the first time. Come on, you know what I'm talking about.
Well, now that I've made you laugh, think and probably cry, I'll sign off.
This post written while listening to:
Rooster Crow, Altar of Pain and The House is On Fire by Resurrection Band (first 3 tracks on their 1989 album, Innocent Blood. Rez Band rocks!)
People of God by Gungor
Doxology by David Crowder*Band
On the positive, Brandy found a medication that seems to be drying it out pretty good. It's called Ivarest. It's expensive but it works. She got it on sale at Walgreens. It's usually $10.99, on sale for $5.99 with a $1 coupon: grand total = $4.99. She went back and got a couple more bottles because if it's summer in Missouri, chances are I'll get poison ivy again.
Anyway, today I weighed in and lost 0.4 pounds. Not the 2 or 3 I hoped for, but still a loss. I'm trying not to get discouraged. It's not a gain! My calories for today: I consumed 2404 for 104 under goal. So I was under, but barely! My wife was very encouraging today.
Speaking of my wife, I have 2 things to say about her. She has a blog too. She's a great writer though she's more about quality, whereas I'm about quantity. I want more posts but she wants higher quality posts. One read and you'll see her posts are far less numerous than mine, but of a far superior quality. Her blog is at thesingingloser.blogspot.com
The other thing is kind of about her. I had to stop blogging to go get eggs off the stove from being hard boiled because that's about the only way she'll eat eggs. That, and they are quick in the morning. I love eggs and eat at least 1 every morning.
But what I was really thinking about (and I think about this with a lot of food), was this: who looked at an egg plopping out of a chicken's underside and thought "Hey, that might taste good. I think I'll eat it." I mean, really? Who looked at coffee beans and said "Hmm... I bet if I grind those things up and pour really hot water over them the resulting brew will be a delicious beverage."
I'm not complaining mind you. I love coffee too. But some food boggles my mind as to how anyone would come to eat it the first time. Come on, you know what I'm talking about.
Well, now that I've made you laugh, think and probably cry, I'll sign off.
This post written while listening to:
Rooster Crow, Altar of Pain and The House is On Fire by Resurrection Band (first 3 tracks on their 1989 album, Innocent Blood. Rez Band rocks!)
People of God by Gungor
Doxology by David Crowder*Band
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Poison ivy in 16 places.
So that may be an exaggeration, but it feels like 16 places. Poison ivy is about the most uncomfortable thing I can think of. Ugh.
So today I ate 2260 calories, 248 under. That includes waffle fries from Chic-Fil-A. I know, I know...
I also weighed in. After losing 6 pounds last week, I was excited to see what happened. Big mistake. I won't even post what it was, because it has to be wrong. I'll post tomorrow on my official weigh in day.
The last few days have been tough. I've been popping Benadryl for the poison ivy and it makes me feel crappy. I can't wait for the poison ivy to go away so I can feel better.
I feel like I'm in a funk. I go to a job I don't really like, I come home, I put Levi in the tub and to bed, I work out, I count calories, I blog, 3 people read it. I feel better eating healthy but it seems like now that I'm getting that particular area of my life in order (albeit slowly), the other things in my life that need work stand out to me that much more. I feel like I should be doing something else career-wise, but no doors seem to be opening right now. Maybe I'm mistaken.
Well, I'm tired and cranky and don't want to ruin any good days that people had with an overly depressing post. Night night.
Tonight's post was written while listening to:
Beautiful Things by Gungor
Shadows by David Crowder*Band feat. LeCrae
Broken Promises by Resurrection Band
So today I ate 2260 calories, 248 under. That includes waffle fries from Chic-Fil-A. I know, I know...
I also weighed in. After losing 6 pounds last week, I was excited to see what happened. Big mistake. I won't even post what it was, because it has to be wrong. I'll post tomorrow on my official weigh in day.
The last few days have been tough. I've been popping Benadryl for the poison ivy and it makes me feel crappy. I can't wait for the poison ivy to go away so I can feel better.
I feel like I'm in a funk. I go to a job I don't really like, I come home, I put Levi in the tub and to bed, I work out, I count calories, I blog, 3 people read it. I feel better eating healthy but it seems like now that I'm getting that particular area of my life in order (albeit slowly), the other things in my life that need work stand out to me that much more. I feel like I should be doing something else career-wise, but no doors seem to be opening right now. Maybe I'm mistaken.
Well, I'm tired and cranky and don't want to ruin any good days that people had with an overly depressing post. Night night.
Tonight's post was written while listening to:
Beautiful Things by Gungor
Shadows by David Crowder*Band feat. LeCrae
Broken Promises by Resurrection Band
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Post 15. sorry I've been away.
I haven't blogged since Thursday when I got home from Joplin. I feel like I have so much to say!
So, on Saturday I changed my calorie tracking tool from everydayhealth.com to loseit.com. EDH was just very cumbersome and hard to use. LoseIt! is really easy. Plus my wife uses it so we're on the same page (get it? WEBpage? No one is laughing... ). I like it because you can "friend" people on there and send messages, much like FaceBook. I had to change my calorie goal though, from 2500 to 2508. No biggie...
Friday 6-10-11 I consumed 2275 calories, under goal by 225.
Saturday 6-11-11 I consumed 2520 calories, over goal by 20.
Sunday 6-12-11 I consumed *ahem* 4146 calories, over goal by 1638.
Monday 6-13-11 I consumed 2519 calories, over goal 11.
Tuesday 6-14-11 I consumed 2531 calories, over goal 23.
So other than Sunday (when I ate CiCi's Pizza Buffet, aka "The Devil"), I didn't do too awful. Back on track tomorrow.
I'm finding that on the days I don't eat a snack between meals, I consume way more during the meals. I'm also finding that exercise isn't making me more tired; it's giving me more energy overall. Don't get me wrong. When I'm done at Bootcamp, I'm beat. Last Friday I felt like I had been run over by a tractor. But the next day I felt great.
It's funny to think that all those pieces of advice that I got that I thought were nonsense are proving to be true already in this journey. Oh that reminds me. The one thing I don't like about LoseIt.com is that it predicts when I'll reach my target weight. It said October 2012. However, that's if I lose 2 pounds a week. Last week I lost 6. I want to reach goal before the date they gave me.
Now, today all day I felt terrible. I think it's because I have poison ivy and have been poppin' Benadryl every 4 hours. It clears my poison ivy up quick, but it makes me sleepy and feel generally crappy.
Anyway, that's all for now. Bedtime for Bonzo. Wait, no bedtime for me.
This post written while listening to:
(Repeat/Return) or When the Seventh Angel Sounded His Trumpet, and There Were Loud Voices in Heaven, Which Said: 'The Kingdom of the World Has Become the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ, and He Will Reign Foreverandever, Etc… by David Crowder*Band (longest song title I own. the track is 11 seconds of guitar feedback. Brilliant.)
We Win! by David Crowder*Band
Autumn in New York by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald
Lay It Down by Jars of Clay (Feat. David Crowder of DC*B and Dawn Richardson of Fireflight)
Lovespeak by Resurrection Band
So, on Saturday I changed my calorie tracking tool from everydayhealth.com to loseit.com. EDH was just very cumbersome and hard to use. LoseIt! is really easy. Plus my wife uses it so we're on the same page (get it? WEBpage? No one is laughing... ). I like it because you can "friend" people on there and send messages, much like FaceBook. I had to change my calorie goal though, from 2500 to 2508. No biggie...
Friday 6-10-11 I consumed 2275 calories, under goal by 225.
Saturday 6-11-11 I consumed 2520 calories, over goal by 20.
Sunday 6-12-11 I consumed *ahem* 4146 calories, over goal by 1638.
Monday 6-13-11 I consumed 2519 calories, over goal 11.
Tuesday 6-14-11 I consumed 2531 calories, over goal 23.
So other than Sunday (when I ate CiCi's Pizza Buffet, aka "The Devil"), I didn't do too awful. Back on track tomorrow.
I'm finding that on the days I don't eat a snack between meals, I consume way more during the meals. I'm also finding that exercise isn't making me more tired; it's giving me more energy overall. Don't get me wrong. When I'm done at Bootcamp, I'm beat. Last Friday I felt like I had been run over by a tractor. But the next day I felt great.
It's funny to think that all those pieces of advice that I got that I thought were nonsense are proving to be true already in this journey. Oh that reminds me. The one thing I don't like about LoseIt.com is that it predicts when I'll reach my target weight. It said October 2012. However, that's if I lose 2 pounds a week. Last week I lost 6. I want to reach goal before the date they gave me.
Now, today all day I felt terrible. I think it's because I have poison ivy and have been poppin' Benadryl every 4 hours. It clears my poison ivy up quick, but it makes me sleepy and feel generally crappy.
Anyway, that's all for now. Bedtime for Bonzo. Wait, no bedtime for me.
This post written while listening to:
(Repeat/Return) or When the Seventh Angel Sounded His Trumpet, and There Were Loud Voices in Heaven, Which Said: 'The Kingdom of the World Has Become the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ, and He Will Reign Foreverandever, Etc… by David Crowder*Band (longest song title I own. the track is 11 seconds of guitar feedback. Brilliant.)
We Win! by David Crowder*Band
Autumn in New York by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald
Lay It Down by Jars of Clay (Feat. David Crowder of DC*B and Dawn Richardson of Fireflight)
Lovespeak by Resurrection Band
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Post 14 will be different.
So, just to get it over with:
Today I ate 2,958 calories, 458 over goal. I weighed in as well and lost 6 pounds.
However, after my day, this all seems so secondary.
Today, I went to Joplin with 27 other people. We left at about 7:15 am and once we got where we were supposed to be (Samaritan's Purse), it was 1:30 pm.
We were given a brief orientation and given the address of our working location. We met our SP team leader.
Then we packed back in our cars. We drove just a few miles through a "normal" street. You know the kind, car dealers, restaurants, stores, hair salons. Houses just off the main road. Very quaint.
Then, as we topped the hill on Ridge Line Road, going south, it hits me. Like a 2 by 4 in the forehead. As far as I can see to the left and right - destruction, chaos, trees with metal and clothes in them instead of leaves. Car's flipped over, the windows busted out. Then I fully realize what I'm seeing. Until now I never had a mental image for the word desolation.
We get to our first house. It's owned by an older lady but she's injured and her sister and son are there to give direction. He looks at us and says "If it isn't jewelry or a keepsake, it's probably garbage." We start hauling broken wood, twisted metal, broken glass to the curb.
Another volunteer and I head upstairs after an hour. We see wood, piled randomly. Books and shampoo bottles poking out here and there. No outer walls and no roof at all. I ask what we are looking at. He says "Three ustairs bedrooms and a bathroom." We start looking for items, anything we can salvage to keep. We find very little.
After a few hours at the first home, we head to the second. The longer we work, the more I realize we're calling "it" names: "rubble", "debris", "trash", "stuff". It dawns on me that "it" is none of those things. These items, this wood, that glass... that is this persons home. I stifle tears as I work.
I didn't use work gloves. I played it off like I didn't need them, but really I didn't want them. I didn't want anything to stop me from touching anything that this chaos had destroyed. I wanted my skin to touch the destruction, my sweat to move the heartache out of these people's broken homes. I wanted cuts on my hand (and I got a very small one) to prove that this event was more than a news story to talk about at work, that these were living, working, breathing human beings whose lives had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes.
Then, as suddenly as we began, we quit. We went to a car and signed a Bible for each family for Samaritan's Purse to present. Then, I was blessed beyond words.
These people, these poor broken people, who God loves more than I understand... had HOPE. They had JOY. I didn't understand. This should beat these people down, make them want to give up. That's what I would probably be tempted to do. But they didn't! God be praised, they plan to rise from the destruction, shake their fist at the enemy and come through this with a better home than before, with a better grasp on the really important things in life. As the man from the second house said "This isn't my property anyway, it's HIS!"
Tears streaming yet again, please understand that no matter what your relationship with God, to see this utter and complete chaos and have people smile and thank us for working on their things, literally looking for any scrap that they can take with them to their new home, proves (again) to me that God exists, that He loves us beyond measure and that He always has been and always will be in control.
Today I ate 2,958 calories, 458 over goal. I weighed in as well and lost 6 pounds.
However, after my day, this all seems so secondary.
Today, I went to Joplin with 27 other people. We left at about 7:15 am and once we got where we were supposed to be (Samaritan's Purse), it was 1:30 pm.
We were given a brief orientation and given the address of our working location. We met our SP team leader.
Then we packed back in our cars. We drove just a few miles through a "normal" street. You know the kind, car dealers, restaurants, stores, hair salons. Houses just off the main road. Very quaint.
Then, as we topped the hill on Ridge Line Road, going south, it hits me. Like a 2 by 4 in the forehead. As far as I can see to the left and right - destruction, chaos, trees with metal and clothes in them instead of leaves. Car's flipped over, the windows busted out. Then I fully realize what I'm seeing. Until now I never had a mental image for the word desolation.
We get to our first house. It's owned by an older lady but she's injured and her sister and son are there to give direction. He looks at us and says "If it isn't jewelry or a keepsake, it's probably garbage." We start hauling broken wood, twisted metal, broken glass to the curb.
Another volunteer and I head upstairs after an hour. We see wood, piled randomly. Books and shampoo bottles poking out here and there. No outer walls and no roof at all. I ask what we are looking at. He says "Three ustairs bedrooms and a bathroom." We start looking for items, anything we can salvage to keep. We find very little.
After a few hours at the first home, we head to the second. The longer we work, the more I realize we're calling "it" names: "rubble", "debris", "trash", "stuff". It dawns on me that "it" is none of those things. These items, this wood, that glass... that is this persons home. I stifle tears as I work.
I didn't use work gloves. I played it off like I didn't need them, but really I didn't want them. I didn't want anything to stop me from touching anything that this chaos had destroyed. I wanted my skin to touch the destruction, my sweat to move the heartache out of these people's broken homes. I wanted cuts on my hand (and I got a very small one) to prove that this event was more than a news story to talk about at work, that these were living, working, breathing human beings whose lives had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes.
Then, as suddenly as we began, we quit. We went to a car and signed a Bible for each family for Samaritan's Purse to present. Then, I was blessed beyond words.
These people, these poor broken people, who God loves more than I understand... had HOPE. They had JOY. I didn't understand. This should beat these people down, make them want to give up. That's what I would probably be tempted to do. But they didn't! God be praised, they plan to rise from the destruction, shake their fist at the enemy and come through this with a better home than before, with a better grasp on the really important things in life. As the man from the second house said "This isn't my property anyway, it's HIS!"
Tears streaming yet again, please understand that no matter what your relationship with God, to see this utter and complete chaos and have people smile and thank us for working on their things, literally looking for any scrap that they can take with them to their new home, proves (again) to me that God exists, that He loves us beyond measure and that He always has been and always will be in control.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Is 13 a lucky number or not? If yes, why is Friday the 13th bad?
I'm confused by my post title. Sorry, just looking for something with 13 in it.
Today I consumed 1,625 calories for a balance of 875. However, after I get off here, I'm probably going to have an apple, which is like 150 calories or so.
I've enjoyed the last few days of eating below calorie goal. It makes me realize I can do it consistently when I think about what I am shoving down my gullet. Also, remarkably, eating healthy food instead of fried or fatty stuff is very satisfying, both physically and mentally. Physically because I am starting to just... feel better. Mentally because I know I'm eating fruit, veggies and lean meats and not Doritos or McNuggets (what part of the chicken does that garbage come from anyway?)
Don't get me wrong. I will still enjoy the occasional "bad food". My favorite food in the whole world is BBQ for Pete's sake. I simply can't have brisket, pulled pork or ribs without some potato salad, cole slaw and bread of some variety (preferably not focaccia or a crescent roll).
But I can't indulge that mess all the time. I think I will end up enjoying BBQ (and other less healthy foods) more because they will only be every once in a while. They'll be a treat. I remember when I was a kid, my dad would go buy a couple random candy bars from the store about once a month. It was like a mini-Christmas because that was about the only time I could get my grubby mitts on a candy bar. Then, I started getting an allowance for chores and bought them whenever I wanted. Fast forward about 20 years and here we are. Miraculously I don't even care for candy bars that much anymore. But I certainly didn't pick up any good habits there either.
Tomorrow I'm going to Joplin. My heart is already heavy with what I think we will see there. Prayer is a strong tool; Ecclesiastes says a "three stranded cord will not break." Hopefully at least two of you readers are praying for me for some emotional support. I'm really concerned I will get there and just fall apart and that won't help anyone, least of all those who need it.
Thanks for reading.
This post written while listening to:
Shadows (Live) by David Crowder*Band feat. LeCrae
Twisted by Trip Lee feat. LeCrae, This'l and PRO
Make War by Tedashii feat. Flame
Clear the Air by PRO feat. LeCrae
You Are The Light by Gungor
(Minus the Gungor tune, tonight was rap heavy... it was fly :))
Today I consumed 1,625 calories for a balance of 875. However, after I get off here, I'm probably going to have an apple, which is like 150 calories or so.
I've enjoyed the last few days of eating below calorie goal. It makes me realize I can do it consistently when I think about what I am shoving down my gullet. Also, remarkably, eating healthy food instead of fried or fatty stuff is very satisfying, both physically and mentally. Physically because I am starting to just... feel better. Mentally because I know I'm eating fruit, veggies and lean meats and not Doritos or McNuggets (what part of the chicken does that garbage come from anyway?)
Don't get me wrong. I will still enjoy the occasional "bad food". My favorite food in the whole world is BBQ for Pete's sake. I simply can't have brisket, pulled pork or ribs without some potato salad, cole slaw and bread of some variety (preferably not focaccia or a crescent roll).
But I can't indulge that mess all the time. I think I will end up enjoying BBQ (and other less healthy foods) more because they will only be every once in a while. They'll be a treat. I remember when I was a kid, my dad would go buy a couple random candy bars from the store about once a month. It was like a mini-Christmas because that was about the only time I could get my grubby mitts on a candy bar. Then, I started getting an allowance for chores and bought them whenever I wanted. Fast forward about 20 years and here we are. Miraculously I don't even care for candy bars that much anymore. But I certainly didn't pick up any good habits there either.
Tomorrow I'm going to Joplin. My heart is already heavy with what I think we will see there. Prayer is a strong tool; Ecclesiastes says a "three stranded cord will not break." Hopefully at least two of you readers are praying for me for some emotional support. I'm really concerned I will get there and just fall apart and that won't help anyone, least of all those who need it.
Thanks for reading.
This post written while listening to:
Shadows (Live) by David Crowder*Band feat. LeCrae
Twisted by Trip Lee feat. LeCrae, This'l and PRO
Make War by Tedashii feat. Flame
Clear the Air by PRO feat. LeCrae
You Are The Light by Gungor
(Minus the Gungor tune, tonight was rap heavy... it was fly :))
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