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!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
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.
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