This time of year continues to underscore the fact that people are looking for leaders. Political commercials tell us who will be a good leader and who won't. But I don't think people are looking so much for the perfect leader, but one who will at least be honest and genuine. Look at NFL quarterback Brett Favre for a case in point.
The Associated Press recently reported that future hall-of-fame, NFL quarterback Brett Favre was cheered in practice last week. That's not surprising. Unless you consider that he was cheered for fumbling the football.
Well, it wasn't exactly for fumbling the ball, but for what occurred after the mistake. Brett Favre - who holds NFL records for touchdown passes (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758), yards (61,655), and most wins as a starting quarterback (160) – ran a lap. He took a penalty lap around the field, just like everyone else does, for fumbling the football. The cheers showed that his willingness to admit his mistake and pay the consequences like everyone else – regardless of his past immortal achievements on the football field - immediately earned him the respect of his new teammates and the fans of the New York Jets.
The drop was understandable and could have been overlooked. Favre was only in his second practice with his new team. The miscue came on a snap from the center. It takes a while for players to adjust to one another. But there were no excuses. The NFL's only 3-time Associated Press MVP took his lap.
Leaders that aren't perfect, but that are genuine, can admit their mistakes, and lead even through consequences, are I'm looking for. I also think that's what people should look for and expect from their church leaders. No one and no church is perfect. There was only one man who ever was perfect – and they crucified Him! But leaders that are genuine are always appreciated.
Let people who are genuine leaders in your life know you appreciate them today.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Drench Me God
Maybe while you’ve been enjoying your summer you have happened down to one of our many area lakes. Maybe you’ve even traveled back and forth across one of the many reservoir dams. Have you ever thought about what those dams are holding back?
Bagnell Dam, for instance, sitting astride the Osage River and creating Lake of the Ozarks, holds back 650 billion gallons of water. That’s enough to supply every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth drinking water for over six months! When just one of the twelve floodgates are opened, it has the capacity to let out 101,000 gallons per second! Little wonder that there are warning signs posted on the floodgates to stay back at an appropriate distance. You begin to understand why sirens sound and give warning to those downstream. Were the floodgates to be opened, there would be a surge of water that we could not imagine.
I have to confess that when I’ve read Malachi 3:10 before, I’ve kind of skipped over a rather important word – “floodgates”. God’s promise?
“Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates
of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have
room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10, NIV)
God has incredible, innumerable, and unfathomable blessings that are creating huge reservoirs of blessing in heaven. He stands ready to open His floodgates and completely soak us with so many blessings we can’t possibly hold them all. Imagine standing before that dam of blessing when God opens the doors. What is it God is waiting for?
All God asks for is our trust. In this specific case, God was asking that people trust Him by sacrificing a portion of their money in His honor. While I believe God still desires for us to trust Him in our finances, certainly there are many other areas of life in which God calls us to trust Him. When you do – get ready for the flood of blessings!
Bagnell Dam, for instance, sitting astride the Osage River and creating Lake of the Ozarks, holds back 650 billion gallons of water. That’s enough to supply every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth drinking water for over six months! When just one of the twelve floodgates are opened, it has the capacity to let out 101,000 gallons per second! Little wonder that there are warning signs posted on the floodgates to stay back at an appropriate distance. You begin to understand why sirens sound and give warning to those downstream. Were the floodgates to be opened, there would be a surge of water that we could not imagine.
I have to confess that when I’ve read Malachi 3:10 before, I’ve kind of skipped over a rather important word – “floodgates”. God’s promise?
“Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates
of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have
room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10, NIV)
God has incredible, innumerable, and unfathomable blessings that are creating huge reservoirs of blessing in heaven. He stands ready to open His floodgates and completely soak us with so many blessings we can’t possibly hold them all. Imagine standing before that dam of blessing when God opens the doors. What is it God is waiting for?
All God asks for is our trust. In this specific case, God was asking that people trust Him by sacrificing a portion of their money in His honor. While I believe God still desires for us to trust Him in our finances, certainly there are many other areas of life in which God calls us to trust Him. When you do – get ready for the flood of blessings!
Monday, June 22, 2009
What's Missing Here?
Have you ever been somewhere that you’ve been before and noticed there was something missing? You might not even be able to put your finger on what it is, but something is amiss.
On a recent trip to Memphis, Tennessee, I was enjoying some down-time visiting some of my favorite tourist spots downtown. As I walked from one shop or restaurant to another, something seemed out-of-place or missing. Soon, I realized that though I’d been there for nearly an hour, I had not seen one homeless person or been approached by one pan-handler.
“How strange,” I thought.
The tourist trap is usually a-buzz with men who will help you find a parking spot – for a small donation. Gone was the guy who will tell you a joke and then ask for money. There were a few of the “acceptable” type of “street workers” in Memphis – people playing some blues on the street corner with an open instrument case collecting change from music enthusiasts. But there were no homeless – no street people.
As I rounded the corner, I was again reminded of why the crowds were there that weekend. It was the weekend that a portion of the men’s college basketball tournament was being hosted in Memphis. The city was extra spiffy, extra friendly – and no one that anyone might consider a “bum” was in sight. Jokingly, I asked a local friend of mine if they’d rounded up all the pan-handlers and homeless people during the tournament time.
His answer? “That’s exactly what they did!”
Homeless people that couldn’t find places in local shelters were given a few nights stay in the county lock-up. Other folks that might be considered free-loaders were moved out of the downtown radius so that the city would look nice for its thousands of visitors.
I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know if that’s good, bad, or indifferent. But I will say this: most of us spend a lot of time, effort – and even money – trying to cover up or look away from problems. Most of the time, we look away from, or are blind to, the problems of our community and the plight of our neighbors. We feel better and life seems more enjoyable to us if we are not “bothered” with other folks problems and needs.
I was challenged this past week by a pastor friend of mine to fast and pray for a new awakening and revival in the community of Marshfield. He challenged me and some other pastors to fast and pray on Tuesdays for the people of our community. I think it is something that all of us in God’s church here in Marshfield need to do.
Pray every Tuesday with me that God will open our eyes to the spiritual & physical needs of our community, and then that God will begin to awaken and revive us, His people, to minister to those needs. God notices and loves all of us. Let’s get that same perspective.
On a recent trip to Memphis, Tennessee, I was enjoying some down-time visiting some of my favorite tourist spots downtown. As I walked from one shop or restaurant to another, something seemed out-of-place or missing. Soon, I realized that though I’d been there for nearly an hour, I had not seen one homeless person or been approached by one pan-handler.
“How strange,” I thought.
The tourist trap is usually a-buzz with men who will help you find a parking spot – for a small donation. Gone was the guy who will tell you a joke and then ask for money. There were a few of the “acceptable” type of “street workers” in Memphis – people playing some blues on the street corner with an open instrument case collecting change from music enthusiasts. But there were no homeless – no street people.
As I rounded the corner, I was again reminded of why the crowds were there that weekend. It was the weekend that a portion of the men’s college basketball tournament was being hosted in Memphis. The city was extra spiffy, extra friendly – and no one that anyone might consider a “bum” was in sight. Jokingly, I asked a local friend of mine if they’d rounded up all the pan-handlers and homeless people during the tournament time.
His answer? “That’s exactly what they did!”
Homeless people that couldn’t find places in local shelters were given a few nights stay in the county lock-up. Other folks that might be considered free-loaders were moved out of the downtown radius so that the city would look nice for its thousands of visitors.
I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know if that’s good, bad, or indifferent. But I will say this: most of us spend a lot of time, effort – and even money – trying to cover up or look away from problems. Most of the time, we look away from, or are blind to, the problems of our community and the plight of our neighbors. We feel better and life seems more enjoyable to us if we are not “bothered” with other folks problems and needs.
I was challenged this past week by a pastor friend of mine to fast and pray for a new awakening and revival in the community of Marshfield. He challenged me and some other pastors to fast and pray on Tuesdays for the people of our community. I think it is something that all of us in God’s church here in Marshfield need to do.
Pray every Tuesday with me that God will open our eyes to the spiritual & physical needs of our community, and then that God will begin to awaken and revive us, His people, to minister to those needs. God notices and loves all of us. Let’s get that same perspective.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
40'51"
Well, that's my time. About a 4/mph pace overall. If any of you "fit" peeps have better times, I challenge you to run it with a hundred pound pack on your back! :)
I didn't die - I'll probably do it again. I already have a request from a friend to run with him in August (holy cow it'll be hot!).
I'm sure there are lots of good interesting thoughts to say about the experience.... but I'm too tired to think of them right now.
I found this lady and her daughter (girl looked to be about 12 or 13) to kinda pace with. I just tried to keep up with them. Both my calves locked up pretty good on the last 200 m - especially going up-hill! - so I couldn't get by them, but I did ok.
From now on - everywhere "I was run-ing"! (Forrest Gump)
I didn't die - I'll probably do it again. I already have a request from a friend to run with him in August (holy cow it'll be hot!).
I'm sure there are lots of good interesting thoughts to say about the experience.... but I'm too tired to think of them right now.
I found this lady and her daughter (girl looked to be about 12 or 13) to kinda pace with. I just tried to keep up with them. Both my calves locked up pretty good on the last 200 m - especially going up-hill! - so I couldn't get by them, but I did ok.
From now on - everywhere "I was run-ing"! (Forrest Gump)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
3 Days to Race Day!
WOW! It's been too long since I've updated you on my progress. I have been really discouraged about getting ready for this thing.
As you know, I had a bout with tendonitis - got over that. Then last week, while finally attempting to up my speed again, I pulled my lower right calf. Ugh! And yes, Dr. - I had S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D before-hand! So, I was back to slowing down.
Did lost of continual stretching, dancing a couple of nights last week actually helped losen it up. Then today - "twang". Ouch. I got further, but still... Ugh!
Well, on the upside... I have lost more weight. Down to 309. Want desparately to get under that 300 mark now. But - well, not desparate enough to try REAL hard! :) Actually though, I'm getting motivated again. I've been comfortable with my "new" body long enough and now the "new" one doesn't look good anymore. So it's time to change some more.
Also, being as my 40th birthday is Saturday, I splurged and got a pretty nice gift. I got an itouch and I totally love it. But the thing that pushed me over on it was the Nike+ app. I was wondering how I could pace myself in the race Saturday. The Nike sensor - which straps to your shoe (unless you buy the fancy Nikes that you put the sensor IN) - wirelessly transmits your running data to the itouch. A voice comes on - while the music is going - to tell you how far, fast, etc, etc, you've run. That's what I need to help me pace Saturday. You can then download the workout info to your Nike+ profile page and keep track of your progress. I think it will be fun enough to motivate me to more road work in the future. There are challenges you can be a part of in the Nike+ online community too.
So, tomorrow? More workout. Friday - excercise walking around Silver Dollar City all day and dancing that night. Then the big day!
Pray for me now, hear?
As you know, I had a bout with tendonitis - got over that. Then last week, while finally attempting to up my speed again, I pulled my lower right calf. Ugh! And yes, Dr. - I had S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D before-hand! So, I was back to slowing down.
Did lost of continual stretching, dancing a couple of nights last week actually helped losen it up. Then today - "twang". Ouch. I got further, but still... Ugh!
Well, on the upside... I have lost more weight. Down to 309. Want desparately to get under that 300 mark now. But - well, not desparate enough to try REAL hard! :) Actually though, I'm getting motivated again. I've been comfortable with my "new" body long enough and now the "new" one doesn't look good anymore. So it's time to change some more.
Also, being as my 40th birthday is Saturday, I splurged and got a pretty nice gift. I got an itouch and I totally love it. But the thing that pushed me over on it was the Nike+ app. I was wondering how I could pace myself in the race Saturday. The Nike sensor - which straps to your shoe (unless you buy the fancy Nikes that you put the sensor IN) - wirelessly transmits your running data to the itouch. A voice comes on - while the music is going - to tell you how far, fast, etc, etc, you've run. That's what I need to help me pace Saturday. You can then download the workout info to your Nike+ profile page and keep track of your progress. I think it will be fun enough to motivate me to more road work in the future. There are challenges you can be a part of in the Nike+ online community too.
So, tomorrow? More workout. Friday - excercise walking around Silver Dollar City all day and dancing that night. Then the big day!
Pray for me now, hear?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
24 days to race day
Last week was horrible: out of town to hospitals about 3 days (very early in the a.m.) - long hours at work - out of town to St. Louis a couple of days - family reunion - holiday celebrations/cookouts.
BUT -
I've not given up. Back in the gym today
(I should explain here that I DID in fact have some tendinitis and was in some major - ok, maybe an overstatment - but some pain and did have to break from the treadmill for a while)
and lessons learned. I did get back on the treadmill for about 10-15 min. Just walking - but high incline to get the heart rate up for fat burning. Then on to the upper body weights. But I felt terrible. A week of no gym, bad eating, and going back made me realize how far I'd come. It made me realize that it is just not worth it anymore to treat myself badly. No matter how fun it is - at the time - to sleep in, miss working out, and eat the wrong kinds/amounts of food.
So, with new determination, I am back "on the wagon" and working toward that 5k race just 24 days from now. I WILL enter I WILL finish - just no guarantees on the time! :)
BUT -
I've not given up. Back in the gym today
(I should explain here that I DID in fact have some tendinitis and was in some major - ok, maybe an overstatment - but some pain and did have to break from the treadmill for a while)
and lessons learned. I did get back on the treadmill for about 10-15 min. Just walking - but high incline to get the heart rate up for fat burning. Then on to the upper body weights. But I felt terrible. A week of no gym, bad eating, and going back made me realize how far I'd come. It made me realize that it is just not worth it anymore to treat myself badly. No matter how fun it is - at the time - to sleep in, miss working out, and eat the wrong kinds/amounts of food.
So, with new determination, I am back "on the wagon" and working toward that 5k race just 24 days from now. I WILL enter I WILL finish - just no guarantees on the time! :)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
31 Days Left
Back in the gym today. Knee feels pretty darn good. Very little pain. Icing and Nsaids worked wonders - mainly ice!
Today just did upper body. Increased weight and increased reps on the crunch and oblique machines (combating anniversary celebratory eating!). Also added the machine to work on my quads today. Need to build up muscle around the knee to help stabilize the joint and help the tendon below with it's strain.
I'm going to continue the regimine through the week, be more careful on the food intake, and get back to doing some running next week.
Today just did upper body. Increased weight and increased reps on the crunch and oblique machines (combating anniversary celebratory eating!). Also added the machine to work on my quads today. Need to build up muscle around the knee to help stabilize the joint and help the tendon below with it's strain.
I'm going to continue the regimine through the week, be more careful on the food intake, and get back to doing some running next week.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Anniversaries and gym breaks
This week marks two milestones for me. One is my wedding anniversary. The other is one year of serving with Son-Rise here in Marshfield. Both events have their highlights, both have had their rough spots, but both are reason to celebrate.
Besides the commitment and dedication it takes to get to each anniversary milestone, they are also important because within those years are what I’d call “defining moments”. There are decisions that are made and occasions in those twelve months that take you down particular and specific roads. Roads you may never retrace again. They become part of your make-up. They make you who you are. They are “defining moments”.
I remember visiting with a young man several years ago who had experienced a terrible tragedy in his life. He was driving his car home, following his brother who was on a motorcycle, when his brother lost control of the bike and wrecked in front of him. He was unable to avoid his brother and ran him over, killing him.
When I visited with this man, several years removed from this tragedy, he himself was the wreck. His life was shattered. He still lived at home with his parents – unable to hold a job. He was addicted to alcohol. A misplaced feeling of guilt was holding him hostage. For him, that one awful experience had become his defining moment.
As I talked with him, I was able to share that God wanted to offer him a new defining moment. God wanted to offer him a moment in time that he could point to where everything about him changed. God wanted to meet him at a place of belief and surrender – in the waters of baptism – and redefine who he was and why he was living. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to see that, and our paths in life eventually separated. I still think of him occasionally and wonder if he is the same man.
While not all of us have experienced the heartache and personal trials of this man, we can all point to places in our lives that have scarred us. Sometimes, as if we need help, others point to those places for us and remind us. Still, God offers all of us a new defining moment.
If that idea appeals to you, I’d love to hear from you and help you define yourself by a moment you spend with God. It will be a moment that will keep you celebrating a lifetime of anniversaries in your friendship with Him.
I'm taking a bit of a break from the treadmill/5k prep this week. Last week, trying to decrease time and increase speed and distance - I think I gave myself a nice bit of patellar tendenitus. PAIN! So, I'm taking it easy on the leg this week. Icing, NSAIDing, resting, etc. Already feels much better, but just going to watch the food extra close and keep up the upper-body work.
I'm not giving up!
Besides the commitment and dedication it takes to get to each anniversary milestone, they are also important because within those years are what I’d call “defining moments”. There are decisions that are made and occasions in those twelve months that take you down particular and specific roads. Roads you may never retrace again. They become part of your make-up. They make you who you are. They are “defining moments”.
I remember visiting with a young man several years ago who had experienced a terrible tragedy in his life. He was driving his car home, following his brother who was on a motorcycle, when his brother lost control of the bike and wrecked in front of him. He was unable to avoid his brother and ran him over, killing him.
When I visited with this man, several years removed from this tragedy, he himself was the wreck. His life was shattered. He still lived at home with his parents – unable to hold a job. He was addicted to alcohol. A misplaced feeling of guilt was holding him hostage. For him, that one awful experience had become his defining moment.
As I talked with him, I was able to share that God wanted to offer him a new defining moment. God wanted to offer him a moment in time that he could point to where everything about him changed. God wanted to meet him at a place of belief and surrender – in the waters of baptism – and redefine who he was and why he was living. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to see that, and our paths in life eventually separated. I still think of him occasionally and wonder if he is the same man.
While not all of us have experienced the heartache and personal trials of this man, we can all point to places in our lives that have scarred us. Sometimes, as if we need help, others point to those places for us and remind us. Still, God offers all of us a new defining moment.
If that idea appeals to you, I’d love to hear from you and help you define yourself by a moment you spend with God. It will be a moment that will keep you celebrating a lifetime of anniversaries in your friendship with Him.
I'm taking a bit of a break from the treadmill/5k prep this week. Last week, trying to decrease time and increase speed and distance - I think I gave myself a nice bit of patellar tendenitus. PAIN! So, I'm taking it easy on the leg this week. Icing, NSAIDing, resting, etc. Already feels much better, but just going to watch the food extra close and keep up the upper-body work.
I'm not giving up!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
One More Encouraging Thing...
According to fitday.com... I'm no longer "extremely obese"! I'm only "obese"! Woohoo! LOL
37 days to the real thing!
I ran my first 5k today. OK, well, that's a BIT of a stretch. I didn't actually RUN it all - and I did it on the treadmill - but I went the distance. Still a lot of work to do, but I'm encouraged to have gone the distance.
It took me 44 min, 20 sec. However, I think I'd gone faster by going slower/steady. I started out trying to reach my goal of 4mph for 1 min/6mph for 2 min cycles. I could only do that for the first 12 minutes. My knee began hurting some and I didn't want to push, so I went quite a bit slower for the rest of the first 30 min and actually had a slower time that I've had for 2.5 mi. SO, all that to say, I'm going back to a little slower and steady pace for a week or two and see where I'm at.
Also, I didn't use any incline in the first 30 min. However, I used 4% in the last 14 1/2 min. Never went below 3mph. I feel good. Upper body workout. And cook for 30 min at 140 degrees.
Down one pound to 310.75 today. I'm satisfied with that. I can still feel my body changing shape for the better - so that's good.
Today, I'm going with my wife to KC to enjoy some time celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary. I probably won't eat very well - celebrating and two MLB games.... but hopefully, at least, I'll make use of the hotel gym and pool.
It took me 44 min, 20 sec. However, I think I'd gone faster by going slower/steady. I started out trying to reach my goal of 4mph for 1 min/6mph for 2 min cycles. I could only do that for the first 12 minutes. My knee began hurting some and I didn't want to push, so I went quite a bit slower for the rest of the first 30 min and actually had a slower time that I've had for 2.5 mi. SO, all that to say, I'm going back to a little slower and steady pace for a week or two and see where I'm at.
Also, I didn't use any incline in the first 30 min. However, I used 4% in the last 14 1/2 min. Never went below 3mph. I feel good. Upper body workout. And cook for 30 min at 140 degrees.
Down one pound to 310.75 today. I'm satisfied with that. I can still feel my body changing shape for the better - so that's good.
Today, I'm going with my wife to KC to enjoy some time celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary. I probably won't eat very well - celebrating and two MLB games.... but hopefully, at least, I'll make use of the hotel gym and pool.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
38 to go...
My knee was stiff when I got up today and was hurting me last night, so I decided to eliptical today and give it a little rest. I did over 2 1/4 mi on the eliptical in 30 min. - between 4-5 mph the whole time. Felt good. Easy. HR was at a good fat-burning level. 450 calories burned. 30 min. at 140 degrees infrared heat... ahhhhh!
On the spiritual side, here is a thought from my devotion from "Streams in the Desert" this a.m.:
I have oft quoted, relied upon, and taken great encouragement from Ephesians 3:20 which states that God is able to do "...immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,". Awesome.
But somehow, I've always imagined (and keep in mind that this does say that God goes BEYOND our imagination - so I guess it should be no surprise!) that meant God going to do more wonderfully ENJOYABLE things for me and my family and my church, etc, etc - than I could ever ask or imagine. The idea of my devotion today that - well, maybe the ways that God does "immeasurably more" are things we don't necessarily like.
Ie. - I pray for people to be won to Christ. OK, He'll do more than that... He'll go beyond my greatest plans and imaginative ability... but He may bring them to Himself through great tragedy in MY life. Get the picture? Sometimes God's best for us looks a whole lot different that our best for us.
In the last stanza of today's accompanying poem, it says:
"I thank You, Lord, You were too wise to heed,
My feeble prayers and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts Your bounty has bestowed,
Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;
Giver of Good, so answer each request,
With Your OWN giving - better than my best."
- Annie Johnson Flint
On the spiritual side, here is a thought from my devotion from "Streams in the Desert" this a.m.:
I have oft quoted, relied upon, and taken great encouragement from Ephesians 3:20 which states that God is able to do "...immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,". Awesome.
But somehow, I've always imagined (and keep in mind that this does say that God goes BEYOND our imagination - so I guess it should be no surprise!) that meant God going to do more wonderfully ENJOYABLE things for me and my family and my church, etc, etc - than I could ever ask or imagine. The idea of my devotion today that - well, maybe the ways that God does "immeasurably more" are things we don't necessarily like.
Ie. - I pray for people to be won to Christ. OK, He'll do more than that... He'll go beyond my greatest plans and imaginative ability... but He may bring them to Himself through great tragedy in MY life. Get the picture? Sometimes God's best for us looks a whole lot different that our best for us.
In the last stanza of today's accompanying poem, it says:
"I thank You, Lord, You were too wise to heed,
My feeble prayers and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts Your bounty has bestowed,
Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;
Giver of Good, so answer each request,
With Your OWN giving - better than my best."
- Annie Johnson Flint
Monday, May 11, 2009
40 & counting...
(Today is one of 3 days off from the gym - Sunday, Monday, & Wednesday. But my goal this week is to achieve - by Saturday - the ability to run 6 mph for 2 min/then 4 mph for 1 - that cycle over 30 min.)
Here were my thoughts for the paper this week... the workout regemine makes me even MORE ready for heaven!
...............
It is the season for graduations. People across the nation are completing one stage of life and entering a whole new world. Here at Son-Rise, people are graduating from all different levels of schooling. We will even have a round of graduates from our first Dynamic Marriage Seminar.
The funny thing about graduation is how monumental it seems, and in some ways it is. There was surely a lot of work in twelve years of public schooling, four years of college, or even eight weeks of marriage therapy. We are so happy to have it all behind us and “get on with real life”. However, those of us who’ve donned the cap and gown, walked the line, and been handed the paper know that it’s just the beginning.
Awaiting us is, in fact, the real world. And most of our “education” has really only prepared us to be tutored by life. The most complicated math and science problems have only been the building blocks of further discovery and innovation. There is much more to come in the much longer segment of our lives in “the real world”.
Have you ever thought that our whole life is really much the same way? Life seems so long. By the end of it we think we’ve learned so much. But we don’t realize that our death is only a “graduation” of sorts into the real “real world”. In eternity, what we’ve come to learn about life in a short eighty or ninety years will be so elementary. What we often trudged through with varied success will only be the preparation for what God has in store for us in a never ending life of new discovery, fulfillment, and joy.
Are you prepared to graduate?
Some people do manage to leave school with diploma in hand – yet unprepared for the real world. Many more people leave life itself – unprepared to meet God in eternity. And, perhaps, the daunting thought is: we never know when our name will be called to “walk the stage” and enter eternity.
Here were my thoughts for the paper this week... the workout regemine makes me even MORE ready for heaven!
...............
It is the season for graduations. People across the nation are completing one stage of life and entering a whole new world. Here at Son-Rise, people are graduating from all different levels of schooling. We will even have a round of graduates from our first Dynamic Marriage Seminar.
The funny thing about graduation is how monumental it seems, and in some ways it is. There was surely a lot of work in twelve years of public schooling, four years of college, or even eight weeks of marriage therapy. We are so happy to have it all behind us and “get on with real life”. However, those of us who’ve donned the cap and gown, walked the line, and been handed the paper know that it’s just the beginning.
Awaiting us is, in fact, the real world. And most of our “education” has really only prepared us to be tutored by life. The most complicated math and science problems have only been the building blocks of further discovery and innovation. There is much more to come in the much longer segment of our lives in “the real world”.
Have you ever thought that our whole life is really much the same way? Life seems so long. By the end of it we think we’ve learned so much. But we don’t realize that our death is only a “graduation” of sorts into the real “real world”. In eternity, what we’ve come to learn about life in a short eighty or ninety years will be so elementary. What we often trudged through with varied success will only be the preparation for what God has in store for us in a never ending life of new discovery, fulfillment, and joy.
Are you prepared to graduate?
Some people do manage to leave school with diploma in hand – yet unprepared for the real world. Many more people leave life itself – unprepared to meet God in eternity. And, perhaps, the daunting thought is: we never know when our name will be called to “walk the stage” and enter eternity.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
42 to go
Today I hit the gym early before going to Lori's folks to celebrate Mother's Day.
I ran 21 of 30 minutes with a 5 min. cool-down. One less minute than yesterday, BUT I increased the incline to 2% - so it was harder. Half upper body workout, sauna. Protein shake & granola bar.
Bad Mother's Day lunch - ate a little too much. But it'll be ok.
Still at 311.75 today.
I ran 21 of 30 minutes with a 5 min. cool-down. One less minute than yesterday, BUT I increased the incline to 2% - so it was harder. Half upper body workout, sauna. Protein shake & granola bar.
Bad Mother's Day lunch - ate a little too much. But it'll be ok.
Still at 311.75 today.
Friday, May 8, 2009
A Journey....
Here it is. I've decided to chronicle my journey into fitness... or at least my ATTEMPT into fitness.
I'm scared to be too commital. Somewhere along the way, I've always given up. I've done better for up to 3-6ish months - and then gone back to old ways and habits. I'm wondering if I can really ever defeat myself. My thought the other night was that if ever I could defeat SELF I could conquer anything. It is ME who is my biggest foe. And that goes for many areas of my life. But that is the subject of many, many blogs! :)
Where to start...
At the beginning of the year I determined that I had to lose weight. I weighed more than I'd ever weighed in my life. OK - right here on the internet... I started the year at 358.75. Yeah, closer to 400 lbs than to 300. Depressing.
Having had the 2008 that I'd had, I was experiencing, from time to time, what I believed to be panic attacks. If I was self-diagnosing, I'd have to say it was probably a bit of post-traumatic stress syndrome. But enough of my "Jr Psychologist" - suffice it to say that I felt like crap a lot of the time. Acid reflux was my dearest friend. I was in the chiropractor's office every three weeks with back spasms, muscle adhesions, and in need of spinal adjustments and alignments. My blood pressure was a bit high. I was experiencing a lot of carpal tunnel symtoms - hands falling asleep at night - both fingers that were in the carpal tunnel and fingers that were on the nerve that goes outside your elbow (can't remember what that one's called).
So I began slowly, at my mom and dad's doing 15 or 20 minutes of tread mill a few days a week. Nothing stellar to be sure. 2.5 - 3 mph. And a little bit of nutritional change. Then the new season of Biggest Loser came on.
I've always been a fan, but did more eating ice cream while I watched than losing weight. It was always a strange combination of inspiration and depression. It was incredible to see guys - more overweight and out of shape than me transforming physically from week to week. Yet, I was always depressed that I had not been able to defeat my old foe - self.
But along came Ron. A lot of people don't like Ron. But the reason that Ron is disliked is that he has played the game PERFECTLY from beginning to his end - which will probably be this next week. His love for his son and desire to see his son, Mike, in the final has propelled him to ALMOST certain victory (watch out for Tara!). But Ron inspired me.
Bigger and older than me, Ron went to the Dr at the beginning of the show. When they did an MRI - he could hardly fit in the tube. But the results were frightening. The image showed that many of his internal organs were twice their normal size or greater. Once your skin becomes so saturated with fat - it begins to attach to your organs. Eventually, fat will shut your body down. Ron was over 400 lbs and on more than a dozen drugs - including ones for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Not only was that gross - but it was scary. Though a little smaller and 10 years younger than Ron - what did my insides look like? How close was I to killing myself.
So I joined a gym that a lot of my friends go to and began to get serious about losing weight and getting into shape. I soon began losing weight quickly.
Along the way, one of the talk radio guys I listen to decided to have his own Biggest Loser contest - complete with prizes! You make something a competition and I'm all over it! I was accepted and began going to weigh in at the radio station weekly. However, it was pretty depressing. The scale they had there was not for folks of my girth! It was a digital scale that would not even register my weight. Way to encourage fat people, Vince! So, they found another scale, but it too was inaccurate. My parents have a medical scale in their home so that I knew very accurately what I weighed. Their scale, like mine at home, didn't show anything over two weeks while I KNEW I WAS loosing weight (by the medical scale at my folk's and the gym). I figured that having them haul in a different scale every week that didn't even help me win was not very motivating - so I quit showing up for that after 2 or 3 times.
But the good news is that I did not quit on myself. Before the end of March I had lost 40 lbs. My goal was another 40 in the next 3 months.
However, lots of stuff has slowed me down a bit. Life happens. A mission trip that took me out of the gym one week and had me eating a little more than usual. A conference to Florida, etc, etc. Also, I tend to come to a place where I have quickly seen great change - and feel so much better that I become satisfied. I quit being so picky about my eating habits. I'll have a sunday at the DQ, a good bit of pizza on a night out. But you know - that's life - I'm just doing better not to eat like that all the time.
However, I've only kept going down and now - as of today - I'm at 311.75. 47 lbs down. I wish I'd done better, but in some ways I have.
I now can run 23 of 30 min at 5 mph. I'm going to the gym and burning about 600 cals on the treadmill 3-4 times a week, doing upper-body weights 2-3 times a week, and hitting a 140 degree sauna for 30 min 4 times a week.
I've changed my shape in the last month, even without losing a lot of weight. I'm down a shirt size (at least in t-shirts - probably more in dress shirts). I am probably down two pants sizes (though I haven't bought any - I just keep putting more holes in my belt). My blood pressure is normal. My resting heart rate is 62. I have much less carpal tunnel sypmtoms. My chiropractor hasn't seen me in about two months (sorry, Doc!). No more panic attacks. Better attitude. More energy. No acid reflux.
So - here it is. My whole story. Now I'm accountable. You know. Everyone knows. I'll will be a huge success - or a huge failure. It's risky.
My next goal? I am continuing toward my ultimate weight goal which is 190 lbs - however, I'd settle for 220 lbs. But in the immediate future it is a 5k run. I'm pretty close to being able to do it now in around 40-45 min - but I can do better. My plan is to run my first ever 5k on my 40th birthday, June 20. I've got 43 days to train.
The rest of my blogs will not be so long. Promise. But I will try to daily keep you up on my progress toward being able to run 5 kilometers.
Thanks for joining the journey.
I'm scared to be too commital. Somewhere along the way, I've always given up. I've done better for up to 3-6ish months - and then gone back to old ways and habits. I'm wondering if I can really ever defeat myself. My thought the other night was that if ever I could defeat SELF I could conquer anything. It is ME who is my biggest foe. And that goes for many areas of my life. But that is the subject of many, many blogs! :)
Where to start...
At the beginning of the year I determined that I had to lose weight. I weighed more than I'd ever weighed in my life. OK - right here on the internet... I started the year at 358.75. Yeah, closer to 400 lbs than to 300. Depressing.
Having had the 2008 that I'd had, I was experiencing, from time to time, what I believed to be panic attacks. If I was self-diagnosing, I'd have to say it was probably a bit of post-traumatic stress syndrome. But enough of my "Jr Psychologist" - suffice it to say that I felt like crap a lot of the time. Acid reflux was my dearest friend. I was in the chiropractor's office every three weeks with back spasms, muscle adhesions, and in need of spinal adjustments and alignments. My blood pressure was a bit high. I was experiencing a lot of carpal tunnel symtoms - hands falling asleep at night - both fingers that were in the carpal tunnel and fingers that were on the nerve that goes outside your elbow (can't remember what that one's called).
So I began slowly, at my mom and dad's doing 15 or 20 minutes of tread mill a few days a week. Nothing stellar to be sure. 2.5 - 3 mph. And a little bit of nutritional change. Then the new season of Biggest Loser came on.
I've always been a fan, but did more eating ice cream while I watched than losing weight. It was always a strange combination of inspiration and depression. It was incredible to see guys - more overweight and out of shape than me transforming physically from week to week. Yet, I was always depressed that I had not been able to defeat my old foe - self.
But along came Ron. A lot of people don't like Ron. But the reason that Ron is disliked is that he has played the game PERFECTLY from beginning to his end - which will probably be this next week. His love for his son and desire to see his son, Mike, in the final has propelled him to ALMOST certain victory (watch out for Tara!). But Ron inspired me.
Bigger and older than me, Ron went to the Dr at the beginning of the show. When they did an MRI - he could hardly fit in the tube. But the results were frightening. The image showed that many of his internal organs were twice their normal size or greater. Once your skin becomes so saturated with fat - it begins to attach to your organs. Eventually, fat will shut your body down. Ron was over 400 lbs and on more than a dozen drugs - including ones for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Not only was that gross - but it was scary. Though a little smaller and 10 years younger than Ron - what did my insides look like? How close was I to killing myself.
So I joined a gym that a lot of my friends go to and began to get serious about losing weight and getting into shape. I soon began losing weight quickly.
Along the way, one of the talk radio guys I listen to decided to have his own Biggest Loser contest - complete with prizes! You make something a competition and I'm all over it! I was accepted and began going to weigh in at the radio station weekly. However, it was pretty depressing. The scale they had there was not for folks of my girth! It was a digital scale that would not even register my weight. Way to encourage fat people, Vince! So, they found another scale, but it too was inaccurate. My parents have a medical scale in their home so that I knew very accurately what I weighed. Their scale, like mine at home, didn't show anything over two weeks while I KNEW I WAS loosing weight (by the medical scale at my folk's and the gym). I figured that having them haul in a different scale every week that didn't even help me win was not very motivating - so I quit showing up for that after 2 or 3 times.
But the good news is that I did not quit on myself. Before the end of March I had lost 40 lbs. My goal was another 40 in the next 3 months.
However, lots of stuff has slowed me down a bit. Life happens. A mission trip that took me out of the gym one week and had me eating a little more than usual. A conference to Florida, etc, etc. Also, I tend to come to a place where I have quickly seen great change - and feel so much better that I become satisfied. I quit being so picky about my eating habits. I'll have a sunday at the DQ, a good bit of pizza on a night out. But you know - that's life - I'm just doing better not to eat like that all the time.
However, I've only kept going down and now - as of today - I'm at 311.75. 47 lbs down. I wish I'd done better, but in some ways I have.
I now can run 23 of 30 min at 5 mph. I'm going to the gym and burning about 600 cals on the treadmill 3-4 times a week, doing upper-body weights 2-3 times a week, and hitting a 140 degree sauna for 30 min 4 times a week.
I've changed my shape in the last month, even without losing a lot of weight. I'm down a shirt size (at least in t-shirts - probably more in dress shirts). I am probably down two pants sizes (though I haven't bought any - I just keep putting more holes in my belt). My blood pressure is normal. My resting heart rate is 62. I have much less carpal tunnel sypmtoms. My chiropractor hasn't seen me in about two months (sorry, Doc!). No more panic attacks. Better attitude. More energy. No acid reflux.
So - here it is. My whole story. Now I'm accountable. You know. Everyone knows. I'll will be a huge success - or a huge failure. It's risky.
My next goal? I am continuing toward my ultimate weight goal which is 190 lbs - however, I'd settle for 220 lbs. But in the immediate future it is a 5k run. I'm pretty close to being able to do it now in around 40-45 min - but I can do better. My plan is to run my first ever 5k on my 40th birthday, June 20. I've got 43 days to train.
The rest of my blogs will not be so long. Promise. But I will try to daily keep you up on my progress toward being able to run 5 kilometers.
Thanks for joining the journey.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Hurray for Easter! (I think...)
Ok. This is not intended to be a long blog (of course none of them are, right?)... but I have to semi-rant a minute.
Mostly I'm just complaining because of all the extra stuff I gotta do this week for "Easter Sunday" services. At least that's what got me thinking about this... but it really goes much deeper.
And I'm gonna ask a question that will make many of you think this preacher has lost his mind...
Why on earth do we celebrate Easter as some extra-special day? Don't get me wrong. I'm a PREACHER - I've read the Bible - I KNOW what HAPPENED on the 1st Easter (I prefer Resurrection Day) is of ultra-importance. But here is my gripe. We are not - and we need to be - celebrating the resurrection of Jesus EVERY day.
Oh, we claim to celebrate it at least every Sunday. Sunday is "the Lord's Day".
Guess what? It wasn't "the Lord's Day" (at least no more than every day is already the Lord's...) until Jesus arose from the grave on it. THAT is precisely the reason we - the church - gather on Sunday.
Sunday is not the "sabbath"
It wasn't chosen cause most folks are off work that day (at least they used to be).
But the church began meeting on the first day of the week (not the weekEND) because EVERY Sunday - all 52 of them (and sometimes 53) are to be celebrations of Jesus' resurrection.
My beef - really - is not with the excitement and preparations of Resurrection Day. It is that we are not as excited and prepared to serve a risen Savior - not just every Sunday - but every day f our lives.
Let's think about that this week.
Mostly I'm just complaining because of all the extra stuff I gotta do this week for "Easter Sunday" services. At least that's what got me thinking about this... but it really goes much deeper.
And I'm gonna ask a question that will make many of you think this preacher has lost his mind...
Why on earth do we celebrate Easter as some extra-special day? Don't get me wrong. I'm a PREACHER - I've read the Bible - I KNOW what HAPPENED on the 1st Easter (I prefer Resurrection Day) is of ultra-importance. But here is my gripe. We are not - and we need to be - celebrating the resurrection of Jesus EVERY day.
Oh, we claim to celebrate it at least every Sunday. Sunday is "the Lord's Day".
Guess what? It wasn't "the Lord's Day" (at least no more than every day is already the Lord's...) until Jesus arose from the grave on it. THAT is precisely the reason we - the church - gather on Sunday.
Sunday is not the "sabbath"
It wasn't chosen cause most folks are off work that day (at least they used to be).
But the church began meeting on the first day of the week (not the weekEND) because EVERY Sunday - all 52 of them (and sometimes 53) are to be celebrations of Jesus' resurrection.
My beef - really - is not with the excitement and preparations of Resurrection Day. It is that we are not as excited and prepared to serve a risen Savior - not just every Sunday - but every day f our lives.
Let's think about that this week.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Who Ya Rootin' For?
The battle lines have been drawn. Sunday afternoon my friend from across the street texted me. He was already beginning the trash-talk about the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament. We’re both Tiger fans. The problem is that he is routing for the Missouri Tigers and I for the Memphis Tigers. Being in the same regional bracket, the two teams may very well face one another sooner than later. I only hope that we don’t have a full-scale war in our neighborhood.
Actually, routing for your basketball team is good-natured fun compared to some of the other fracases we experience being partisans of our particular teams. We’ve seen the irate parents at little league ballparks. The mob-mentality fights at soccer and rugby games in Europe are legendary. Professional hockey is known for its brawling. Who among us Missourians will ever forget the “pine tar incident” with Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett in 1983.
But while Jesus wants us to have a team mentality – to work together to accomplish his goals, sometimes we don’t see the whole picture. We forget that God’s team is bigger than the group that meets with us in our building in our little corner of Marshfield, Missouri. We forget that, on Sunday morning, members of God’s team are meeting all over Marshfield – and yes, all over the world!
I’m glad to be a part of a group of preachers in our town who are trying to remember to see the big picture and are encouraging our churches to see it too. Our community New Year’s service was wonderful. People from different congregations came together as God’s church – God’s team – to worship and celebrate His work in their lives together.
It was such a blessing that we are going to do it again. Good Friday evening, April 10, at 7 p.m., at the Marshfield Church of the Nazarene, God’s team here in Marshfield will meet for worship and prayer – remembering the sacrifice of our team leader, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I’m glad to be a part of the Son-Rise congregation, but I’m even more happy to be a part of God’s team in Marshfield and around the world. Let’s work together to accomplish Jesus’ mission.
Actually, routing for your basketball team is good-natured fun compared to some of the other fracases we experience being partisans of our particular teams. We’ve seen the irate parents at little league ballparks. The mob-mentality fights at soccer and rugby games in Europe are legendary. Professional hockey is known for its brawling. Who among us Missourians will ever forget the “pine tar incident” with Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett in 1983.
But while Jesus wants us to have a team mentality – to work together to accomplish his goals, sometimes we don’t see the whole picture. We forget that God’s team is bigger than the group that meets with us in our building in our little corner of Marshfield, Missouri. We forget that, on Sunday morning, members of God’s team are meeting all over Marshfield – and yes, all over the world!
I’m glad to be a part of a group of preachers in our town who are trying to remember to see the big picture and are encouraging our churches to see it too. Our community New Year’s service was wonderful. People from different congregations came together as God’s church – God’s team – to worship and celebrate His work in their lives together.
It was such a blessing that we are going to do it again. Good Friday evening, April 10, at 7 p.m., at the Marshfield Church of the Nazarene, God’s team here in Marshfield will meet for worship and prayer – remembering the sacrifice of our team leader, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I’m glad to be a part of the Son-Rise congregation, but I’m even more happy to be a part of God’s team in Marshfield and around the world. Let’s work together to accomplish Jesus’ mission.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Best Valentine's Ever
This is a week the world actually focuses on love – or at least that’s the general idea. It seems that St. Valentine’s Day has also met its doom in the commercial marketplace. It has become yet another day to spend, spend, and spend on anything from flowers, to candy, to romantic dinners. But couldn’t we really use a holiday to stop and think about real love?
One tradition says that Saint Valentine was a priest who helped to secretly marry Christians during the reign of Claudius, Emperor of Rome. At the time, it is said, it was forbidden to help Christians. And so, these benevolent acts of love became the reason for his arrest and subsequent martyrdom.
Many people point to fourteenth century author Geoffrey Chaucer, and a circle of his associates, for bringing us many of the traditions surrounding Valentine’s Day. It is said that Chaucer wrote a “fictional history” of acts of love throughout the ages to be celebrated and reenacted on February fourteenth. He evidently saw what I do. We need to have something to memorialize love. According to ancestry.com, I am a direct descendant of Chaucer. Maybe that accounts for my romantic streak.
But unfortunately, though Valentine’s Day is big business, like many holidays, it may be missing its intended mark. I asked my friends last week for some great Valentine’s Day memories in preparation for this article. No one really remembered a great Valentine’s Day – or any particular Valentine’s Day – except me. That particular Valentine’s Day I remember was only last year, but I know I’ll not forget it.
After enormous amounts of stressful things going on in my workplace, on February 13th of 2008, I was asked to leave. I met with the powers-that-be and tried to work out a way to keep my job. The next twenty-four hours were a blur of phone calls, meetings, and wrangling designed to keep my job. However, in the end, on February 14th, my wife and I decided to quit trying to fix something that would probably never be right again, walk away, and resign from the job.
What a Valentine’s Day that was. I can’t say that it was a happy day, but it was the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. Even without a job and with no prospect of having a job – with all the uncertainty I’d ever faced in my life – at a time when I felt terrible about myself and my abilities – my wife stood beside me and continues to do so to this day. No amount of candy, cards, words, food, or gifts could have said “I love you” so much or demonstrated it so greatly.
A friend of mine did write and remind me of something that was said at his wedding – and mine. It was a quote attributed to Bible scholar Matthew Henry, who said,
“Woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved."
This is what real love is all about. This is what is missing from most of the hubbub and mushy cards and sentiments that we rush out the day of the holiday to find in a piece of heavy, folded paper printed in Kansas City by someone neither we nor our loved one knows. It is a partnership created by God to help us through the uncertain world. This Saturday, take the time to truly appreciate someone who is or who has been a person like that to you.
One tradition says that Saint Valentine was a priest who helped to secretly marry Christians during the reign of Claudius, Emperor of Rome. At the time, it is said, it was forbidden to help Christians. And so, these benevolent acts of love became the reason for his arrest and subsequent martyrdom.
Many people point to fourteenth century author Geoffrey Chaucer, and a circle of his associates, for bringing us many of the traditions surrounding Valentine’s Day. It is said that Chaucer wrote a “fictional history” of acts of love throughout the ages to be celebrated and reenacted on February fourteenth. He evidently saw what I do. We need to have something to memorialize love. According to ancestry.com, I am a direct descendant of Chaucer. Maybe that accounts for my romantic streak.
But unfortunately, though Valentine’s Day is big business, like many holidays, it may be missing its intended mark. I asked my friends last week for some great Valentine’s Day memories in preparation for this article. No one really remembered a great Valentine’s Day – or any particular Valentine’s Day – except me. That particular Valentine’s Day I remember was only last year, but I know I’ll not forget it.
After enormous amounts of stressful things going on in my workplace, on February 13th of 2008, I was asked to leave. I met with the powers-that-be and tried to work out a way to keep my job. The next twenty-four hours were a blur of phone calls, meetings, and wrangling designed to keep my job. However, in the end, on February 14th, my wife and I decided to quit trying to fix something that would probably never be right again, walk away, and resign from the job.
What a Valentine’s Day that was. I can’t say that it was a happy day, but it was the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. Even without a job and with no prospect of having a job – with all the uncertainty I’d ever faced in my life – at a time when I felt terrible about myself and my abilities – my wife stood beside me and continues to do so to this day. No amount of candy, cards, words, food, or gifts could have said “I love you” so much or demonstrated it so greatly.
A friend of mine did write and remind me of something that was said at his wedding – and mine. It was a quote attributed to Bible scholar Matthew Henry, who said,
“Woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved."
This is what real love is all about. This is what is missing from most of the hubbub and mushy cards and sentiments that we rush out the day of the holiday to find in a piece of heavy, folded paper printed in Kansas City by someone neither we nor our loved one knows. It is a partnership created by God to help us through the uncertain world. This Saturday, take the time to truly appreciate someone who is or who has been a person like that to you.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Well, guess what friends? We’re going to have six more weeks of winter. It’s a guarantee! Punxsutawney Phil, that “Seer of Seers” - “Prognosticator of Prognosticators”, came out of his hole this week and saw his shadow. When you have a fuzzy rodent calling the weather, you can’t go wrong. Wouldn’t it be great if there were other rodents that could tell the future?
What if a big rat that could tell me who is going to win the World Series, or at least tell me when the Royals will next have a winning year? It would be great to have a squirrel to forecast the stock market. I’d like to have a chinchilla that could tell me how much longer record companies will let Bob Dylan attempt to sing. That’d be great. I’m just wondering if we are really utilizing the rodent population the way we should.
All kidding aside, the only accurate predictor of the future, at least for our own lives, are the choices we make today. As someone once said, “The height of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results.” We make the New Year’s resolution to lose weight, eat like crazy (again – like last year) at the Super Bowl Party and wonder why we don’t lose weight. We keep spending like there is no tomorrow and wonder why we continue to have financial trouble. We treat people the same way we always have and wonder why they treat us the same.
If we change our present habits, we can almost guarantee a change in our future circumstances. We only need direction on which things to change and how to make those changes.
Right now, at Son-Rise, we are considering our personal finances, our spending habits, and what God says in the scripture about money. Judging by comments folks have left me, I think there are some people that have great financial futures ahead of them based on choices they are making today.
What are some of the things you need to change today for a different tomorrow. I know I have stuff to do differently!
What if a big rat that could tell me who is going to win the World Series, or at least tell me when the Royals will next have a winning year? It would be great to have a squirrel to forecast the stock market. I’d like to have a chinchilla that could tell me how much longer record companies will let Bob Dylan attempt to sing. That’d be great. I’m just wondering if we are really utilizing the rodent population the way we should.
All kidding aside, the only accurate predictor of the future, at least for our own lives, are the choices we make today. As someone once said, “The height of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results.” We make the New Year’s resolution to lose weight, eat like crazy (again – like last year) at the Super Bowl Party and wonder why we don’t lose weight. We keep spending like there is no tomorrow and wonder why we continue to have financial trouble. We treat people the same way we always have and wonder why they treat us the same.
If we change our present habits, we can almost guarantee a change in our future circumstances. We only need direction on which things to change and how to make those changes.
Right now, at Son-Rise, we are considering our personal finances, our spending habits, and what God says in the scripture about money. Judging by comments folks have left me, I think there are some people that have great financial futures ahead of them based on choices they are making today.
What are some of the things you need to change today for a different tomorrow. I know I have stuff to do differently!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Not By Might...
So my brother and I were talking about our prayers the other day. He gets bogged down in "lists"; I'm not a "prayer lister" at all. Here are some of our thoughts on how prayer plays a part in following God.
Greg: I was wondering after I talked to you if I really pray enough about my church, ministry, people, etc, etc. I'm sure really I don't pray enough at all. But that doesn't have to do with the question...I don't think...
You know Paul talks about working with "all His power" (that is GOD's & not his own - and that is paraphrased). And I sure don't want to be just "doing ministry" by MY power and getting results that I can get on my own. We preach that God should be involved in ministry. There's the old "joke" - "If the Holy Spirit left your congregation would anyone even notice.
My question is HOW do we make sure we are "ministering" "working" "striving" - however you want to say it - with HIS power.
I think that I always assumed - for some reason - that means that you have to "pray God's power into stituations/guidance, etc.". And that may well be true - or at LEAST a part of it....However... is there more to it?
Is prayer a part of it at all? If so, how much? Like 75% of it - 25% of it?
Could it be that just HAVING the Spirit "makes" us operate in it?
If not, what do we "feed" that direction if the Spirit does not operate in us "by default"?
Could it be that, as you said, just KNOWING God by relationship - spending time with him as our father - sharing concerns and ideas and thoughts with Him (and He with us thru the Word) - rather than praying down a "list" of "needs" is what is necessary to walk in the Spririt and operate by His power. Which then, of course, IS prayer... yet not what we usually believe "moves" God to "work for us" (like we are going to goad God into moving).
Chris: You bring up a good point.
If the Holy Spirit is with in us, which I believe He is, then I think we would work with him or he work in us by just some sort of default. But obviously we can work against the Holy Spirit. If we couldn't, then we would never sin or see people walk away from God. So I think that is part of it.
I think it is a "all of the above" answer. It is the Holy Spirit, it is praying, it is building the relationship with God. When we pray out of relationship instead of laundry list of things I want/need, then I begin to do things with Him in mind.
My laundry list prayer, while prayer, is all about me.
Its been said that prayer has more to do with changing me than it does God. It reminds me that I am not the most important person in the universe. It reminds me that The Church is His not mine. I can plan and try to grow it and maybe it will because, with good intentions, we are still preaching the gospel, still praising the Lord, still helping people. But when we come to it with a mindset of working with the Spirit and seeing what he is already doing in the lives of people, I think it makes our plans more effective because it builds off God's plan.
For instance, looking around, I see a lot of people in our church that have lost their job. So I might think about preaching on faith, eternal security, instead of preaching a sermon about holiness. Not that the holiness series would be bad or ineffective but maybe looking up for minute I can see needs that my church has. That is probably an over simplistic illustration.
Greg: I think...you're right!
Chris: That may be a first!
What do you think? (I mean about the subject - not Chris finally being right!)
Greg: I was wondering after I talked to you if I really pray enough about my church, ministry, people, etc, etc. I'm sure really I don't pray enough at all. But that doesn't have to do with the question...I don't think...
You know Paul talks about working with "all His power" (that is GOD's & not his own - and that is paraphrased). And I sure don't want to be just "doing ministry" by MY power and getting results that I can get on my own. We preach that God should be involved in ministry. There's the old "joke" - "If the Holy Spirit left your congregation would anyone even notice.
My question is HOW do we make sure we are "ministering" "working" "striving" - however you want to say it - with HIS power.
I think that I always assumed - for some reason - that means that you have to "pray God's power into stituations/guidance, etc.". And that may well be true - or at LEAST a part of it....However... is there more to it?
Is prayer a part of it at all? If so, how much? Like 75% of it - 25% of it?
Could it be that just HAVING the Spirit "makes" us operate in it?
If not, what do we "feed" that direction if the Spirit does not operate in us "by default"?
Could it be that, as you said, just KNOWING God by relationship - spending time with him as our father - sharing concerns and ideas and thoughts with Him (and He with us thru the Word) - rather than praying down a "list" of "needs" is what is necessary to walk in the Spririt and operate by His power. Which then, of course, IS prayer... yet not what we usually believe "moves" God to "work for us" (like we are going to goad God into moving).
Chris: You bring up a good point.
If the Holy Spirit is with in us, which I believe He is, then I think we would work with him or he work in us by just some sort of default. But obviously we can work against the Holy Spirit. If we couldn't, then we would never sin or see people walk away from God. So I think that is part of it.
I think it is a "all of the above" answer. It is the Holy Spirit, it is praying, it is building the relationship with God. When we pray out of relationship instead of laundry list of things I want/need, then I begin to do things with Him in mind.
My laundry list prayer, while prayer, is all about me.
Its been said that prayer has more to do with changing me than it does God. It reminds me that I am not the most important person in the universe. It reminds me that The Church is His not mine. I can plan and try to grow it and maybe it will because, with good intentions, we are still preaching the gospel, still praising the Lord, still helping people. But when we come to it with a mindset of working with the Spirit and seeing what he is already doing in the lives of people, I think it makes our plans more effective because it builds off God's plan.
For instance, looking around, I see a lot of people in our church that have lost their job. So I might think about preaching on faith, eternal security, instead of preaching a sermon about holiness. Not that the holiness series would be bad or ineffective but maybe looking up for minute I can see needs that my church has. That is probably an over simplistic illustration.
Greg: I think...you're right!
Chris: That may be a first!
What do you think? (I mean about the subject - not Chris finally being right!)
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Heart of a Champion
For the sports fan, at least the one who enjoys football, this is the ultimate week. It’s the week of the big game – the Super Bowl. The name says it all. Originally a game between two rival league champions, the Super Bowl crowns the best of the best in what Americans call football. Even more than that, this week’s game is not just about a game. It’s about having the heart of a champion.
Kurt Warner, this week’s starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, was a third-string, bench-warming quarterback at the University of Northern Iowa for most of his college career. Finally, in his senior year at UNI, his coaches believed he could lead them team. Lead them he did. He was the Gateway Conference offensive player of the year.
However, that performance wasn’t enough to impress the pros. After attending pre-season camp with the Green Bay Packers, the Packers released him. Kurt went back to Iowa and worked stocking shelves for minimum wage at a Hy-Vee grocery store.
But you can’t keep a good man like Kurt Warner down. Kurt got a second chance at the pros when he started racking up the stats as a quarterback in the Arena League and NFL Europe. His performance caught the attention of the St. Louis Rams. After the Rams quarterback went down with an injury in the 1999 season, Kurt led them to the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory. He was the league MVP twice while playing for the Rams. But it still wasn’t enough.
After an injury, some less-than-impressive games, and a few trades, Kurt Warner again found himself on the bench. He was now in Phoenix, Arizona – where the win column is usually as dry as the climate. Yet, once again, after a few years of on-and-off play for the Arizona Cardinals, Warner is now performing and leading his team, and they will appear in next week’s NFL Super Bowl. Between his NFL play, his personal life, and the many charitable actions with which we as Missourians are well-acquainted, it is obvious that Kurt Warner has the heart of a champion. Whether the Cardinals win Sunday or not, Kurt Warner has already won.
When you think about Warner’s story, it is obvious that he has been the recipient of a 2nd chance (and a third, and a fourth, etc.). There are many times when we wish we were so blessed. We struggle to overcome past mistakes. People don’t let us forget the past. And if it weren’t enough, we come to believe that even God “has it in for us”. After all, we know. We know we’ve failed so many times.
Yet, God actually calls us to get up off the bench and come back into the game. Far from “writing us off”, God offers as many chances as we will take to be winners in life. The question is whether or not we have that same heart of a champion - the one that never quits - the one that has faith.
What do you think?
Kurt Warner, this week’s starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, was a third-string, bench-warming quarterback at the University of Northern Iowa for most of his college career. Finally, in his senior year at UNI, his coaches believed he could lead them team. Lead them he did. He was the Gateway Conference offensive player of the year.
However, that performance wasn’t enough to impress the pros. After attending pre-season camp with the Green Bay Packers, the Packers released him. Kurt went back to Iowa and worked stocking shelves for minimum wage at a Hy-Vee grocery store.
But you can’t keep a good man like Kurt Warner down. Kurt got a second chance at the pros when he started racking up the stats as a quarterback in the Arena League and NFL Europe. His performance caught the attention of the St. Louis Rams. After the Rams quarterback went down with an injury in the 1999 season, Kurt led them to the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory. He was the league MVP twice while playing for the Rams. But it still wasn’t enough.
After an injury, some less-than-impressive games, and a few trades, Kurt Warner again found himself on the bench. He was now in Phoenix, Arizona – where the win column is usually as dry as the climate. Yet, once again, after a few years of on-and-off play for the Arizona Cardinals, Warner is now performing and leading his team, and they will appear in next week’s NFL Super Bowl. Between his NFL play, his personal life, and the many charitable actions with which we as Missourians are well-acquainted, it is obvious that Kurt Warner has the heart of a champion. Whether the Cardinals win Sunday or not, Kurt Warner has already won.
When you think about Warner’s story, it is obvious that he has been the recipient of a 2nd chance (and a third, and a fourth, etc.). There are many times when we wish we were so blessed. We struggle to overcome past mistakes. People don’t let us forget the past. And if it weren’t enough, we come to believe that even God “has it in for us”. After all, we know. We know we’ve failed so many times.
Yet, God actually calls us to get up off the bench and come back into the game. Far from “writing us off”, God offers as many chances as we will take to be winners in life. The question is whether or not we have that same heart of a champion - the one that never quits - the one that has faith.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
