Diet again

So, I started back on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet on Thursday. Over the course of the last year I have gradually recessed in my eating habits. I began treating myself more and more rather than the occasional time. At my lowest known weight I was down to 208lbs. I was happy there. However, once we moved to Winchester, I started eating all of the tasty, "not so healthy" foods available here. So, I'm back on the Beach. Since Thursday it appears that I've lost 8lbs. Hopefully this pace will continue and I'll be down below 200 lbs by Cornerstone Festival. That's my goal. That's 40 lbs in two months. I'm not sure my body will do it that fast but we'll see. I'm doing it healthy and not starving myself or anything stupid like that.

My problem was that I didn't do the maintanence stage of Phase 3 very well. Instead of splurging once in awhile, I did it all the time. Eventually, (and a couple of weeks in Slovakia didn't help) I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted...even late at night.

Another benefit is that I think I'm more active now. I coach my son's soccer team and play basketball with my students at church. Hopefully this increased activity will add to the pounds lost. I'm hoping to be doing some walking/jogging also.

In all of this I have been praying that God would help me and be my strength. It might sound trivial to some (to spiritualize a diet) but I have learned that I need to trust God even in seemingly small things because I know that I can't do it on my own... but I can rely on God as my strength. It is only by Him that I was able to loose the first 81lbs a couple of years ago... see www.xanga.com/butterneverbleeds (my old blog) for details on that.

I weighed in a few days ago on Thursday at 238 lbs. I am currently at 230. Only 22 lbs to go till I equal my lowest weight. Exciting!

Anyway, have a great week!

Club Beyond Service Project 2008 - Post #1

Below is a video explaining the ministry of MCYM/Younglife/Youth For Christ. This is the organization that I was working with while in Slovakia over Spring Break. Hopefully, this video will give you a little knowledge about the students that I was directly working with while in Europe. I am hoping that my next few posts can describe some of the awesome things that happened on Service Project 2008 - Presov, Slovakia.

When I watch this my heart breaks for these students who go through everything our students over here go through with the added stress of being in a foreign country, having your parents go down range, and moving around all the time.

Today's Thought

To be considered a sport, the activity must use a ball AND have a defense.

Anything else is merely an athletic competition and not a sport.

Discuss.

Daddy, I just had supper...

Warning: Strong stomaches only.

Tonight after dinner, I got Kenan ready for bed. He wanted to sit on the potty so I, of course, obliged and let him try being a big boy. He didn't do anything so I changed his diaper and put his jammies on. I carried him in and we sat down in my big recliner. He was kind of laying sideways in my arms (baby like) and gave me a very strange look. Then he started vomiting. He threw up what appeared to be green slime from "Double Dare". For supper we had chicken fajitas and then he had a piece of Laffy Taffy for dessert. The LT was green. The next yak came right after the first and this one landed right in my lap. So for the record, my two year old son threw up Christmas colors in my lap. It was green and red and had bits of tortilla in it. My lap immediately became warm. It was DISGUSTING! The poor little guy felt fine after that. Bethany changed him and I hit the showers. I even had to clean puke from down in the crevice of my recliner. NASTY!

This story brought to you by fatherhood.

A Picture

This is a picture taken shortly before I left for my trip to Slovakia. (I think it was the night before)

An Explanation and a Request

I know some of you are waiting for pictures and a write up of my mission trip. I will work toward this end in the near future. Right now, we are focused on our oldest son, Javan who has been hospitalized with pnemonia. Please pray for his quick healing and rest for our family. Thanks. I'll write more soon.

Twas the night before "30"...

I sit here on the eve of my 30th birthday, not quite sure what it is that is making this birthday loom larger than any in recent memory. It's caused me to look back over the past decade and wonder what happened in (or to) my 20's. Below is a not so brief list of some of the big events that defined my life in the last ten years. These are in no particular order:

I got married.

I had kids. (see previous point)

I became a youth pastor.

I got liscensed to the ministry.

I performed at Youthlink 2000.

I graduated college.

I had a distended colon.

I saw U2.

I lost 81 lbs.

I gained 20 lbs.

I went to Europe. (1998)

Bethany was put on bed rest with a tough pregnancy. (for more on this see www.xanga.com/butterneverbleeds historic posts)

I experienced some of the best of Christian behavior and service.

I experienced some of the worst church experiences.

I got paid to do what I love.

I moved 6 times. (since being married)

I read all of the Bible and kept track of my progress. (finally)

I attended the funerals of my final two living grandparents.

I spoke at my uncle's funeral and read scripture at my aunt's.

I performed my first weddings.

My parents got divorced.

I decided I'm neither cool nor punk rock after all.

I realized kind of who I am.

After realizing this, I decide I don't like myself very much and begin to change and let God change things about me.

I realize that I still need help with all of this.

I got my first acoustic guitar.

I directed 4 youth camps.

The last ten years have been very busy. They've often times been uneasy and difficult because things seemed so uncertain. The more I think about it, the more I can see the one constant through all of those years. God was fathering me. He was letting me spread my wings and He was also clipping them where they needed it. In all of my life I have never been more amazed by God than right at this moment in life. I have agreed with my friend John that once you become a father, you understand God's love for us much better. It's like I can feel what it's like to watch that child take a first step and then start to run. I can also feel what it's like when that child looks up at you and raises their arms for a hug. Sometimes I think we forget that we just need times of saying "here I am Daddy", and letting God love us. It is my hope for you that you would experience God's love today and everyday. I'm so grateful for the last ten years and look forward to what God teaches me in the next ten.