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!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
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.
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