Just Kurios...

Ready to Start

2009-09-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

You're now well on your way to that fabulous body you've always wanted! You now have your reasons for wanting to change:
Reason(s):
1. I'm unhappy with my current weight
2. My unhealthy lifestyle is impacting my health and happiness
3. I'm afraid if I don't make a change I'll miss out on some blessings, such as seeing my kids grow up and one day seeing my grandkids.

you have your short-term and long-term goals in place:
Goals:
1. I want to lose 30 pounds of fat
2. I want to add 10 pounds of muscle
3. I want my wife to look and me and say "Wow!"
4. I want to see my grandkids grow up

you've noted your starting point:
Current:
1. weight: 230 lbs
2. waist: 44 inches
3. pant size: 40
4. chest: 45 inches
5. shirt size: 2XL
6. biceps: 14 1/4inches
7. thighs: 24 inches
8. calves: 15 inches
9. bodyfat: 28%

and you have charted your daily caloric intake for a week or two:
3500 calories per day

So, the next step is to put a plan in place to help you reach both your short-term and long-term goals.

Phillipians 3:12-13
"¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,"

Happy Anniversary

2009-08-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Today is my 19th Wedding Anniversary!

God has truly blessed me with a Proverbs 31 wife. She has been loving, supportive, forgiving, kind, and caring. I do not deserve such a wife and could not have asked for a better one. Thank you sweetheart for all you've done for me and our family. May God richly bless you now and forever. I love you!

Proverbs 31:30
"³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. "

Know your enemy

2009-08-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

Now that you have your reason(s) and your goal(s) for wanting to make a change, what's the next step? You will want to gather some intel! Body fat is your enemy and you need to gather some quality intelligence on this enemy to help you determine how best to attack and defeat it before it destroys you.

Where to start?

First, let's get a better understanding of the problem. You're fat and you want to lose as much excess fat as possible. Chances are you did not get fat overnight, it was a gradual process. Guess what, losing fat is also a gradual process.

But what is fat you might ask? Fat is stored energy. The food you consume is fuel, in the form of calories, for your body to accomplish it's daily activities. Your car is fueled by gasoline but if you try to overfill the tank the excess gasoline spills out onto the ground, sadly your body stores any excess calories as fat.

Everyone has a Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR), it's basically the number of calories you would burn in a day without ever getting out of bed. Based on your lean muscle mass, your metabolism(which in great measure is determined by your lean muscle mass), and your daily activities you burn a specific amount of calories on a given day.

Going forward you will need to know how many calories you are consuming on a daily basis so you can determine your exercise needs as well as adjust your daily caloric intake to help in losing fat or building muscle. The best way to accomplish this is by keeping a food journal, you will need to write down everything you eat or drink with the date and time. There are several good websites that provide free online services that allow you to track your diet, exercise goals and achievements as well as various other stats and information: http://fittracker.shapefit.com, http://www.fitday.com, http://www.myfitnesspal.com, and http://www.mynetdiary.com to name just a few.

It's also a good idea to record your current weight, body measurements, and body fat percentage prior to starting as well as taking a before picture. These will all serve as motivation when you get discouraged(and you will) and also allow you to track your progress. Go gather your intel and write it in your journal.

Happy hunting!

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 ^"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: ”

Before and After

2009-08-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Thought I would post some before and after pictures:

2007
2009

Getting better but still a work in progress. I guess that applies to all areas of my life.

Hebrews 12:1
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

The Goal

2009-08-07T08:24:00.001-07:00

OK, now you have your reason(s) for wanting to make a change, in this case to lose weight, now what? If you are about to begin a journey, it's a good idea to know where you want to end up so you can map out the best course to get to your destination.

Is this going to be simply a weekend trip or will this become a life long journey? Huh? Have you decided to change your life forever or is this just a temporary fix? You see, to permanently lose fat you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. That's not to say you cannot treat yourself from time to time with things that are not "healthy" but you have to be disciplined and cannot cheat all the time, after all, that's why you're in the shape you are in now.

This is not about some fad diet, there are no shortcuts, tricks, or secrets. To lose fat you must either eat less calories than your body uses on a day to day basis or increase your activity to burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis.

So what is your goal? To lose 20, 30, 50, 100 pounds? To gain 10 or 20 pounds of muscle? To live a healthy life and be in a condition to enjoy the plans God has for you? Take some time to write your goals in your journal.

Have a blessed day!

Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

The Reason

2009-08-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've been absent from the blogging realm for quite some time. I joined the YMCA a year and a half ago and started working out during my lunch break in an attempt to lose weight and start living a healthier life. I've lost 40 pounds or so during that time. Yesterday a friend asked me to give him some advice on losing weight. I've thought about my reasons and what tips I could offer to someone else and have come up with - Why?

In order to make a lasting change in your life, I think you first have to answer the question, Why is it you want to make the change? In this instance, you want to lose some weight.

Why do you want to lose weight?

Because I'm fat you might say.

OK.

Why don't you want to be fat?

Hmmm...... Now we are getting somewhere. Is it because of some social reasons - an upcoming marriage, reunion, or vacation? Or is your weight hindering your advancement at work or within some organization? Do you want to be thinner to be more appealing to the opposite sex? Do you have health issues or concerns?

There is no right or wrong answer but you need to know why YOU want to lose weight. If you are simply doing it because someone else wants you to lose weight, chances are good you will give up in a short amount of time and fall back into your comfort zone that has made you fat to begin with.

Personally, I have a family history of heart disease and diabetes, I have a desk job and was getting very little exercise. I woke up to the fact that if I didn't make a change now, I may never have the opportunity to see my children become adults and one day see my grandkids.

So take some time to come up with your reason(s) for wanting to lose weight and write them down in a journal so you can refer back to them later as you start on your weight loss journey.

Godspeed!

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

Amazing Grace...and mercy

2007-06-26T11:47:00.001-07:00

Wow! Time flies by. It has been almost a year since my last post. I didn't think I would be a daily blogger like some but thought I would post a little more frequently than a few times a year. Just been reviewing some of my previous posts, in some regards it seems like a lot has changed or passed by but I find myself having some of the same struggles and defeats as in years past.

Just to catch up: my oldest two are playing baseball again, my oldest son's season is almost over, my 8 year old is playing travel ball and has four tournaments left, my 7 year old is a pirate right now, my wife and I decided to send our children to a small private Christian school this past year, we had been homeschooling up to this point. The kids seemed to enjoy it and did well. My wife has started a cleaning service and the Lord seems to be blessing it. My job is going well. My friend is still cancer free, and my other friend came back safely from Iraq after a year, he and is wife have since adopted a little girl from South America.

I am truly one of the most blessed people I know and yet I have constant internal battles and struggles, oh to be holy, pure, and righteous. How great is the Lord's mercy, grace, and patience!
The Lord's grace is truly amazing but so is His mercy!

Psalm 145:8-9
8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Path of Righteousness?

2006-08-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

It's way to easy to get off the Lord's path, to take a detour, shortcut, or go sightseeing. Prone to wander, prone to wander....... Hey, what's that over there......

Psalm 119:1-2
1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Walk a little slower

2006-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

"Walk a little slower, Daddy," said a
Child so small. "I'm following in your
Footsteps and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast.
Sometimes they're hard to see.
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I'll have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

The author of the poem is unknown

See previous post:
http://justkurios.blogspot.com/2005/09/righteous-man-walks-in-his-integrity.html

Power of Prayer?

2006-03-31T12:32:00.000-08:00

Did you see this?

Largest Study of Prayer to Date Finds It Has No Power to Heal
Los Angeles Times, CA

"The largest study yet on the therapeutic power of prayer by strangers has found that it provided no benefit to the recovery of patients who had undergone cardiac bypass surgery."
------
"I am always a little leery about intercessory prayer," said Marek, director of chaplain services at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Maybe the problem is that they are trying to put God in a box and He didn't want to participate in their study. A couple different verses come to mind:

Matthew 4:7
"7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test."(NIV)

James 5:13-15
"13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."(KJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:17
"17Pray without ceasing."

Who are you going to listen to?

Joshua 24:15
" 15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Are we there yet?

2006-03-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks, the headlines in the news has been very troubling. Crime seems rampant. It's not just in the big cities anymore, it's every where. I live in the Middle TN area and over the past 6 months to a year things seem to be getting out of control. Maybe it's been that way for a while and I'm just now noticing it but with 2 Timothy 3:1 in mind, it has me asking the question, "Are we there yet?".

2Timothy 3:1-7
"1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Recent News Headlines:
Man Opens Fire in Downtown of S.C. City AP - Wed Mar 29, 10:54 PM ET

Ill. Man Testifies in Children's Drownings AP - Wed Mar 29, 2:18 PM ET

Three Students Indicted for Church Fires AP - Wed Mar 29, 11:11 PM ET

Police disclose no motive for wife accused of killing pastor USA Today - Mar 27, 2006

Gunman kills six, self in Seattle home USA Today - Mar 26, 2006

Obviously, there are thousands more examples of news headlines similar to these but you get the point. "In the last days perilous times shall come.....", surely we are living in the last days.

Matthew 24:12
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

*sigh*

I wish I were filled to overflowing by God's Holy Spirit that I might make a difference in the world around me. Please dear Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might be holy, that I might love You with my whole heart, that I might be led in Your ways, that I might resist temptation, that I might submit all my ways to You, that I might love those around me the way You love them. Please forgive me of my sins, please cleanse my heart, plase wash me thoroughly that I might be clean. Please use me...........for Your glory.

News Quotes

2006-03-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Do you find that quotes in news articles (at times) overstate the obvious?

Examples:

SEATTLE, March 27, 2006
"It's never been like him to snap," a friend is quoted as saying of Kyle Huff who apparently returned to a party he had attended, armed with a shotgun and killed 6 people, injured 2 others, before turning the gun on himself.

If the definition of snapping is going on a killing spree, I would think and hope not.

SELMER, Tenn. Mar 24, 2006 (AP)
"We've known from the beginning that she was either a suspect or a victim," said Jennifer Johnson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Would seem she would have to be either a suspect or victim until she was found and the truth determined.

Have you seen this Whippet?

2006-02-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

Dog Goes Missing After Westminster Show

NEW YORK - A dog that won an award this week in the Westminster Kennel Club show escaped from its cage at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday and was believed to be on the loose in the surrounding area.

The dog, a whippet, broke free at about noon, said Tiffany Townsend, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs area airports.

Port Authority police were working with its owners to search the area where planes arrive and depart, she said.

"They're looking every possible place they can to see if they can locate the dog," Townsend said.

---------------------------------------------------------

Attention everyone in the NewYork City area, please be on the lookout for a whippet, a short-haired athletic dog similar to a greyhound.

Sorry but I found this article fairly amusing.

Massachusetts

2006-02-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Things That Make Me Want To Scream - Massachusetts

Wal-Mart Ordered to Stock Emergency Contraception

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

BOSTON — The state pharmacy board ordered Wal-Mart on Tuesday to stock emergency contraception pills at its stores in Massachusetts.

...

The unanimous decision by the pharmacy board comes two weeks after three women, backed by abortion rights groups, sued Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart for failing to carry the drug in its 44 Wal-Marts and four Sam's Club stores in Massachusetts.

Seems the ACLU and the abortionists can just sue anyone and everyone that does not bow to their every whim and WIN! Are there no other pharmacies in Massachusetts that carry the 'day after death pill' for the abortionists? Apparently not. I appluad WalMart for their stance on some of these issues, not carrying certain magazines, movies, books, etc. trying to be family friendly and was glad they were not carrying the 'day after death pill' until being forced to do so in Illinois and now Massachusetts. I wish WalMart would have come back and said "No, we're not going to carry those pills, so go ahead and pull our pharamacy license and we'll just close the pharamcy department in all of our stores in Massachusetts.

What about the mom and pop corner drug store? Does the owner of a business not have the right to choose what products they do or do not stock? What if Playboy decides to sue WalMart? My local WalMart does not carry my favorite brand of coffee, perhaps I should sue?

2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Time stands still for no one......

2006-02-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

It's been over two months since my last post. (sounds a bit like the start of a confession but I'm not Catholic) Thanksgiving has come and gone, so has two of my kids birthdays, Christmas, New Years, my wife's birthday, and now Valentine's Day is just around the corner. We also now have a dog, a yellow lab - handsome dog, pretty smart as well.

Time stands still for no one.... Seems like my kids were born just a short time ago, yet they are now 9, 7, and 5. It also doesn't seem like I've been married for 15 years or that I graduated from high school 16 years ago but the years continue to pass on by. My friend has now been back from Iraq for 3 months, he was gone for 18 - didn't seem like it.

Time stands still for no one....

Psalm 39: 4 - 7
4 “LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Intelligent Design vs darwinism

2005-11-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Things That Make Me Want To Scream - Intelligent Design vs darwinism

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article326042.ece

"The contentious debate over the teaching of Creationism in US schools has received fresh fuel following a decision by officials in Kansas that strongly encourages teachers to teach an alternative to Darwinism in the state's schools."

"Contentious debate over the teaching of Creationism in US schools"...... Are you kidding me?

"Students will be expected to know about alternative theories to evolution." Alternative? Oh, you mean darwinism is not a proven fact? Really, there are alternative theories?

Seems the monkeys(my derogatory term of the moment, for those believing they evolved) are angered by the challenge to their religious belief system(aka darwinism). If they truly believed they evolved and that there is no God to answer to, then why waste your scant little time arguing with those you believe are idiots. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you may die.

Conversely, why are the Christians not as passionate, knowing one day we all must give an account to our Creator?

Camping?

2005-10-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Been pretty busy over the past week or so, fall ball is now over for all three of my kids and only one team party which is tonight. Looking forward to a little slower pace, although I'm going to try and get some overtime at work so we can get some bills paid off.

I would also like to take the kids fishing and try to take them camping a few times before it gets too cold. I've only been camping a few times, so I've got some things to learn but I think the boys would enjoy it. Any camping advice you have would be appreciated.

Aleph

2005-10-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Do you make it a habit to memorize scripture? Sadly, I haven't. As a child and young adult I did but that may be attributed to me being in a class or study that required it.

Psalm 119:11 says "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Had that one memorized :-)

I haven't given the study of God's word the preeminence it deserves, to my shame. It's time to start. I've toyed with the idea of memorizing the entire 119th Psalm (the longest chapter in the Bible, 176 verses, but nicely broken into manageable chunks). Psalm 119 is one of the acrostic psalms, written with 8 verses for each of the Hebrew consonants in order, so verses 1-8 each have a first word beginning with 'aleph and verses 9-16 each have a first word beginning with beth, and so on. Commentary on Psalm 119.

Psalm 119:1-8

א ALEPH

¹ Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the LORD. ² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart.
³ They also do no iniquity:
they walk in his ways. ⁴ Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. ⁵ O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! ⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed,
when I have respect unto all thy commandments. ⁷ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,
when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. ⁸ I will keep thy statutes:
O forsake me not utterly.

Time to stop playing and get serious about the things of God, conversely it's time to stop being so serious with my kids and start playing more.

Soul Journey

2005-10-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Blog Recommendation:

I stumbled across this blog today and I think Barry Clarke has some very insideful, encouraging, as well as personally challenging posts, check him out.

What are you doing here?

2005-10-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well, fall ball is winding down, thankfully. All 3 of my boys are playing and it gets kind of busy around our household. My oldest son's team won both their games over the weekend, he pitched the entire game Friday night and only gave up one run to the best team(previously undefeated) in the league, they won 8-1. Yea!!

My youngest is playing tball and ended up in a 3 inning marathon last night. They won 19-15 in a 3 inning game that lasted close to 2 hours. I had to leave in the bottom of the third to go help coach my middle sons team, they jumped out to a 9-0 lead and hung on to win 11-7.

Seems like we are too busy, but the kids enjoy playing sports. What do you think? We have been trying to take a break following each season, except for this year with our oldest moving to kid pitch baseball, we felt it would be beneficial for him to play fall ball to prepare for the spring. But how do you work in fishing or camping or vacation or picnic or [insert another activity] ?

1 Kings 19:11-13
¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

I might have my family too busy, need to ask myself "What are you doing here, Jason". Are you investing your time wisely? Is the Lord pleased? Are my children being benefited? Hmm....

I need you righteous - Update

2005-10-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

My friend, Chris, found out that the cancer he has is the more "treatable" of the two types of cancer, Esthesioneuroblastoma. The method of treatment for this disease is no walk in the park, please continue to pray for his healing and for the peace of God to be upon him and his family.

Thanks much.

Pslam 103:1-5 ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Look up

2005-10-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Life has a way of entangling you, sometimes ever so slowly, like a vine wrapping it's way around a tree until it has totally engulfed the tree. It's good to take a step back and refocus on the Lord.

Habakkuk 3:18 ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Let's think about all the Lord has blessed us with and thank Him for His goodness. Lord truly I thank You for Your mercy, kindness, and love. Thank You, I praise You for You are worthy!

What is faith?

2005-10-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1
¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 4:3, 19-24 ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
....
¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

Acts 8:35-37 ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Romans 10:8-13 ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

It seems to me (based on the above scripture), faith is believing God. I agree with Peter, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God yet doubt of my salvation creeps into my heart. Did I do everything the right way, I don't feel like I'm living a Spirit filled, Spirit controlled life. God seems distant, I seem to struggle with the same problems with little victory. I know I would be a better husband and especially father to my children if I only loved God more but how, how do I increase my faith in and love for God?

Mark 9:22-24 ²² ... But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Dear Lord, I believe, please help my unbelief!

Are you the father you wish you had?

2005-09-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Are you the father you wish you had?

How would you describe the ideal father?
1. kind
2. compassionate
3. strong
4. loving
5. encouraging
6. fair
7. righteous
8. protecting
9. honest
10. merciful
11. fun

Followup question: How would you describe God?
1. Holy
2. merciful
3. loving
4. just
5. fair
6. provider
7. sustainer
8. kind
9. gracious
10. perfect

I look at how I would have described my ideal father and I'm not making the grade, I'm failing. Dear God, I so need your help to be a good and Godly father to those boys you've entrusted me with. Please change my heart and fill me to overflowing with your love and your Spirit. Please.....
I ask in the name of the Lord Jesus, amen.

If you had a good father, praise the Lord for him but if you did not, how do you keep from repeating the same mistakes that were modeled in your life?

^{Colossians 3:21 (Amplified Bible)
21}Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]

Pray for me that I would be the man, husband, father that I need to be and that God would have for me to be. Thank you.

Death in the family

2005-09-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not posted anything for a few days, my wife's great grandmother passed away this weekend in Indiana. My wife and her mom drove up Saturday after receiving the phone call her grandmother had had a heart attack, she died later that night, she was 92 years old and had just celebrated her 75th wedding anniversary within the last couple of months.

Sadly, no matter how long you live at some point you will die. In some ways 92 years seems like a long time, in another it does not seem very long at all.

Hebrews 9:27-28
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

SIDU #2 - Motherhood Bad?

2005-09-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Something I don't understand #2 - Why motherhood is not an acceptable choice for women

New York Times:Many Women at Elite Colleges Set Career Path to Motherhood

"Many women at the nation's most elite colleges say they have already decided that they will put aside their careers in favor of raising children."

.........

"What does concern me," said Peter Salovey, the dean of Yale College, "is that so few students seem to be able to think outside the box; so few students seem to be able to imagine a life for themselves that isn't constructed along traditional gender roles."

Proverbs 31:
¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
....
³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Is the problem with the highly intelligent women making a personal choice to stay home and raise their children or with the sociopolitical elitist assuming they know how everyone should live their lives? I say the problem is with those who believe they know best how you should live your life. Have they prayed and sought God's will for you, probably not since most of the time they are the same one's denying His very existence.

I believe it is the height of hypocricy for these educators et al to feel these women, who are capable of attending the most elite colleges in the country, are not able to think outside the box. Hypocrites! You are the one's unable to think outside the box of your own prejudices.

^{Matthew 23:27-28
27} “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

2 Timothy 3:7
⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The righteous man walks in his integrity

2005-09-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 20:7
⁷ The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

Main Entry: in·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation: in-'te-gr&-tE
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French &amp;amp;amp;amp; Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire
1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY
2 : an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS

synonyms:candor, forthrightness, goodness, honestness, honesty, honorableness, incorruptibility, incorruption, principle, probity, purity, rectitude, righteousness, sincerity, straightforwardness, uprightness, virtue

Proverbs 20:7
⁷ The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

Men and fathers, is the path you are traveling worthy of being followed? Do you really want your children following in your footsteps? If so, then well done, keep it up. Sadly, alot of the time I wouldn't want my children behaving as I do or following the paths I've traveled.

What this verse says to me is that our children will likely follow in our footsteps. The things they see us do, the places we go, the things we say, all have an impact. If we are righteous and walk with integrity our children are so much more likely to do so as well but if we flirt with sin and don't seek after righteousness then sadly our children are more likely to follow our same path of destruction.

Oh Holy Father, please help me and all the other Christian men out there be men of integrity, righteous men who love you with our whole hears and who seek to follow Jesus, that our children might do the same. I ask in the name of our Lord, Jesus, amen!

Brain Spark

2005-09-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

My 5 year old is at it again, he comes up with some pretty funny sayings. Here lately whenever he has an idea, he says "brain spark", then he will proceed to tell you what his idea is. Also, last night he used one of his sayings that I've really come to appreciate, "have a good sleep daddy", that's what he says instead of good night, I like his better.

In other news, my 6 year old got the game ball after his coach-pitch baseball game last night. I think it was probably the best game I've ever seen him play. He played 1st base in tball in the spring but has been moved to short stop in coach-pitch this fall, so he is having to learn to play the new position. Last night he caught a pop fly and turned a double play, tagged two runners out at second, threw two or three runners out at first and stopped a couple of others balls from getting through the infield, he also had a homerun.

Psalm 127:3
"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,The fruit of the womb is a reward."

A worried dad

2005-09-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

My oldest son had a nosebleed last night just as he was getting ready for bed. He hadn't been picking it, nor had one of his brothers hit him. Considering one of my best friends has just been diagnosed with sinus cancer....... I worry...... and I pray.

Life is so precious and we take so much for granted, praise God everyday for His blessings of health and protection.

"¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

Live life to the fullest each day. Don't leave words of love or encouragement unspoken. Have your hugs be a little longer and a little tighter, you never know what a day may bring. Cherish each moment you have with your loved ones, especially your children, regardless of health they remain children for only a short time.

Have a good weekend.

I need you righteous!

2005-09-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

A very good friend of mine found out this week he has sinus cancer. He is 35 years old, married, with 2 children, his name is Chris. Please pray for his healing.

" ¹⁵And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. ¹⁶Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. " James 5:15-16

Chris and I are accountability partners, there are 4 of us that meet on Wednesday nights following church. Although there are only 3 of us meeting together at this time because Brian is serving in Iraq, pray for his safety as well.

I was standing around talking with Chris last night after our meeting, we talked about a lot but one thing he said really hit me, "I need you righteous and I need your prayers". I need you righteous. I know righteousness is already God's desire for each of us, but it has now taken on new meaning in my life.

Thank you for your prayers.

What's buddha's last name?

2005-09-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

Kids say some pretty funny things. My mom called me at work this morning to recount a conversation her and my youngest had yesterday.

~Interruption. I've been debating whether to use actual names but for anonymity purposes it may be best to not, but referring to family by relationship title seems very impersonal, methinks I will use middle names.~

My mom picked up Matthew from Nathanael's baseball practice to watch him for me, while driving home they passed by the buddhist temple, yes there is a local buddhist temple. Matthew asks my mom,
"What's that?"
"It's a buddhist temple, it's like a church except people worship buddha"
"Who's buddha?"
While my mom starts to think how best to answer my 5 year old, he asks
"What's his last name?"
"He doesn't have a last name."
"What's his middle name?"
"He doesn't have a middle name either."

When they arrive at my mom's house,
"I want to play batman on the computer"
"Ok, but I have to fix grandpa some chili for supper, first."
"My dad fixes some good chili."
"I know, your dad is a good cook."
"My mom only knows how to cook peanut butter sandwiches..."
My mom laughs at this
" and cakes"

Kids are funny.

Allergies

2005-09-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

I missed two days of work this week because my sinus allergies turned into a cold. Sometimes you just need some good rest to heal up, which can sometimes be hard to find with 3 boys running around everywhere.

I think Saturday did me in. My 5 year old had tball practice from 12 - 2pm and then my 8 year old had kid pitch practice from 3 - 6:30pm. I'm helping coach all 3 of my sons ball teams and just being out in the sun all day Saturday just seemed to zap me.

Tuesday was the first games of the season, our tball game ended in a 17-17 tie after 3 innings, not much defense there. My 8 yr old was the starting pitcher in their first game. He did well considering they were only able to have 3 practices before the season started. He struck out 4 to 6 batters, hit 3 but 2 were only glances and walked 1 and only gave up 1 run in 3 innings. They ended up winning 15-3 in 5 innings. Our 6 year old's first game is not until Friday.

SIDU #1 Hurricane Katrina reactions

2005-09-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

Something I don't understand #1 Hurricane Katrina reactions

"Guardsmen greeted with applause, anger" the news article reads.

"H*** no, I'm not glad to see them. They should have been here days ago. I ain't glad to see 'em. I'll be glad when 100 buses show up,'' said 46-year-old Michael Levy, whose words were echoed by those around him yelling"

This same scenario is repeated over and over again on the various news sources, what I have yet to hear is someone say "I should not have been here, I should have heeded the mandatory evacuation the city officials called for, I have no one to blame but myself". Don't get me wrong there are people who were not able to get out in time or not capable of getting themselves out without help but those that are yelling the loudest all appear perfectly capable of having gotten out if they had wanted to.

Now the rescue process is being slowed because of all the violence making a terrible situation even worse. How sad.

It's Soup Time

2005-09-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not feeling well today, my sinuses are really bothering me. I think I'm going to fix some vegetable beef soup(that's not a picture of my soup, though it looks similar) and lay around as much as possible this weekend, though that will probably be difficult given my kids have 2 scrimmages and one practice this weekend.

My kids are great, I love them alot, I wish I showed it more.

Hurricane Katrina

2005-08-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

The above picture is of New Orleans the day following Hurricane Katrina.

I tend to be a "control freak", I like to feel as if I have some power or control over the situations or circumstances I find myself but in times like this I'm reminded I'm not in control. I must trust in and rely on the Creator of the universe for provision and protection, my life is always in His hands and He can do with it as He pleases.

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Better than I deserve

2005-08-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

God has truly blessed me with a great family, far better than I deserve. Loving wife, obedient and loving children. I guess that is the way God is, always blessing us despite ourselves.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Do you ever feel that way?

2005-08-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Ever stop and think, why am I here? Am I making a difference? Am I even close to fulfilling God's purpose for my life? If you're like me, you don't stop and think about it enough. You are too caught up in the rat race of life, you're running on the little wheel or wandering through the maze but you can't seem to catch up. You wake up late, rush to work, put your day in, commute home, take the kids to practice or a game, squeeze in some chores, eat dinner way too late, then go to bed. And tomorrow, you do it again.

Ever think back to when you were a kid? Things seemed less rushed. Growing up, my grandmother would watch me and my sister during the summer while both my parents worked. My grandfather worked at the local paper plant and he would come home for lunch. He never seemed rushed or hurried, he would eat lunch with us and take a nap before heading back to work, all within his lunch hour. He would usually be home from work and be out in his garden before my mom came and picked us up. Now, I commute 36 miles one way every day to work, which normally takes an hour. Sometimes you just have to shake your head and wonder how life got so complicated.

Really need to wake up out of this daze and start doing things that will a difference in the lives of my children and those around me. Do you ever feel that way?