Aloha 'Oe

Aloha kākou ("Greetings between us"). As you know, I've been training for months for this surfing trip to Oahu. I think I'm as fit as I'm ever going to be for my latest Hawaiian adventure. I can't believe how quickly summer got here. Mahalo nui for all the support you've shown me on my weight loss journey. While in Hawaii I'll try to bring peaceful, enjoyable, beautiful pictures and videos back home for you. We're expecting a nice swell to hit the South Shore this week. I'll be thinking about y'all on July 4. Remember, freedom is not free. Despite the attacks on the holiday as a symbol of colonization of native and indigenous lands, remember that Independence Day is about how the American colonists won their independence from British tyranny. As Christians, it's also a reminder how our Lord offers an Emancipation Proclamation to every slave of sin signed with his own blood. We are free from the daily power of our old nature as we live in constant dependence upon him for our every need. As we look to him to meet those needs, we enjoy a freedom from fear and worry that would enslave us. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). What a wonderful Savior!

I leave you with this beautiful rendition of "For all the saints who from their labours rest." I dedicate it to the memory of my wife Becky. We spent our honeymoon on Oahu in 1976. In 2013, after 37 wonderful years of marriage, the Lord took her by the hand and led her from earth to heaven to be with him face to face and to enjoy his presence forever. "Until we meet again, sweetheart." 

A New Low Weight! (Haven't Seen This Number in Decades)

Every Christian on a weight loss journey has a favorite Bible verse. It's Heb. 12:1:

"Let us lay aside every weight!"

So there you have it. Weight Watchers is scriptural!

All humor aside, can I ask you a personal question? What's the "weight" that's holding you back from embarking on your own weight loss program? What's the "baggage" or the 'bulk" (so the Greek term) you need to lay aside if you're ever going to get a handle on your health?

Most of us struggle with this. Three causes come to mind:

1. Laziness (sloth). Some of us struggle with this more than others. I am the laziest person I know. After all, I grew up in a hang loose, mañana culture. I was also the youngest of four. You get the picture. But God can make even the laziest person unlazy. We're told as much in 2 Tim. 1:7:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

All shrinking from doing one's duty proceeds not from the Spirit of God! There's only one thing that can give you complete self-control, and that is to ask Christ to help you control yourself. Self-control is a gift of the Spirit.

2. Indifference (apathy). Our efforts are affected by altered levels of motivation and apathy. Apathy is lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Success in weight loss requires motivation to give up immediate gratification in favor of delayed gratification along with an honest confrontation of realities that are difficult to think about. The problem is that we lose the sense of WHY. We lose sight of how important these things actually are. Once our sense of commitment is gone, so are we!

3. Impatience. In 1360, poet William Langland wrote a poem called "Patience Is a Virtue." It's also a necessary component of successful weight loss. Your goal is to see the numbers go down on the scale, but this is a process that takes bucket loads of patience. Abandoning your diet should not be the response. You can't learn to play the piano with just a few lessons. Patience will be needed, along with a diligent adherence to your weight loss plan. 

My own experience bears this out. When I began my serious weight loss journey back in November, I weighed about 240 pounds. Almost immediately the pounds started melting off like a popsicle in August. Then everything began to slow to a crawl. For several weeks I plateaued at 225 pounds, then at 215 pounds, and then at 210 pounds. Mentally, I knew this would happen as my metabolism slowed down and my body needed fewer calories each day. However, I also knew that eventually, slowly, I would reach my goal of 205 pounds, but sometimes it was very hard to believe. I often asked myself, "Do I have the patience to stick to it long enough to get to my goal?" But I'm glad I did. In fact, this is what the scale said today:

Praise God!

All around me at the gym are people who are struggling. We're all involved in the same battle against sloth, apathy, and impatience. And yet, unconcerned with what others are doing, and driven by our need to do our best, we make the effort, and we make it more often.  "I am writing the best I can," said the author of a best-selling popular novel. "If I could write better, I would. This is the peak of my powers." Friend, it matters little that you cannot write any better. What matters is that you are doing it with all of your might. 

I LOVE the Land -- and Hebrew!

As I was reading 2 Chronicles 26 this morning in my devotions, I ran across these fascinating words in verse 10. Note the four Hebrew words marked in yellow. 

Here's what they sound like:

The words are describing Uzziah, king of Judah. A literal rendering might read: "For a lover of the land he was." That's good Hebrew but lousy English. Here are some attempts to put the Hebrew into English, Spanish, German, and French:

GNT: "he loved farming "

CSB: "he was a lover of the soil"

NIV: "he loved the soil"

LBLA: "amaba la tierra"

RVA: "era amigo de la agricultura"

LUTH: "er hatte Lust zum Ackerwerk"

HOF: "er liebte die Landwirtschaft"

BDS: "it aimait beaucoup la terre

LSG: "it aimait l'agriculture"

I might suggest the following translation: "He was a man who loved the soil."

I didn't always have an interest in dirt and soil. Sand, maybe, but not the earth. But God changed all that. Today we are a third-generation farm. 

Like Uzziah of old, I truly love the land and our farm. 

The smell of it. 

The wonder of feeling the dirt as it crumbles between my fingers. 

The soft earth beneath my knees. 

A carrot pulled fresh from the soil and brushed off.

It's been said that despite all of mankind's achievements, we owe our very existence to a thin 6-inch layer of soil and the fact that it rains. God created man from the dust of the ground. Soil is where we come from and where we are laid to rest. Soils are home to 60 percent of species on earth. A handful of soil contains literally billions of microbes. 

Yes, I love God's good earth. And Hebrew! 

Meade Takes Command

162 years ago today, George Gordon Meade was placed in command of the Army of the Potomac by Abraham Lincoln. Meade protested. He thought that role should have gone to John Reynolds. He also expressed his concern about being placed in charge of the army when he knew nothing about its positions or dispositions. 

Meade requested to be relieved of the order. Lincoln refused. "Well," said Meade to a friend, "I've been tried and condemned without a hearing, and I suppose I shall have to go to my execution." He wrote the president:

The order placing me in command of the army is received. As a soldier, I obey it, and to the utmost of my ability will execute it.

The transfer of command was achieved.

After this, Meade turned his attention to the scattered whereabouts of his troops, most of them on the march toward Frederick, Maryland. One Federal officer declared, "General Meade evidently felt very heavily the responsibility thus thrown on his shoulders." 

Meade was not as timid as his predecessors. He was determined to move the army as fast as possible against the enemy. The next day he wrote his wife Margaret, "I am moving at once against Lee. Pray fervently for the success of my country. Love to all." 

In those early hours of his command, Meade must have thought of the lessons he learned as a cadet at West Point. Could he force the enemy to concentrate somewhere in his front? Would the army be up to the task? 

In the North, it seemed as though few people had any confidence at all that Meade's army would, or even could, defeat Lee. But it did. And thus Meade became perhaps the greatest general of the American Civil War. 

The Time Is Now

Hey folks. Just got my steps in for the day. Before that I got in my second to the last workout before I leave for Oahu on Tuesday. 

Yes, I'm nervous. I surf Waikiki every year. But it's been decades since I've surfed Diamond Head. Will my arms be strong enough for all the paddling I have to do? Will I have the endurance required? I won't know until I get there. For now, all I can do is train. Mostly my arms and back. (Videos are from today's workout.)

I'll need these muscles for the Alps as well. 

I've been discovering a consistent theme with the elderly I've spoken to recently. If there is a goal I want to achieve, I want to start working toward it now. If there is race I want to run or a mountain I want to climb, I'm going to do it now. I want to avoid the possibility of one day looking back on my life and seeing missed opportunities. I want to grow as a person and challenge myself. And I want to do that now. I want to nurture the relationships in my life that are important to me. I want to encourage and support my kids and grandkids. And I want to do it now. It's time to jump off the proverbial cliff and soar. The time is now to live life to the fullest, and in so doing perhaps inspire others to be brave and jump. 

We are all capable of so much more than we know. Surfing Diamond Head is an opportunity to share the ocean with people who are willing to push past their limits and do something amazing. There are no cheering crowds, no external rewards, just the internal satisfaction of knowing you persevered in the midst of challenges and didn't give up.

Today's progress pic. 

Saying Goodbye to My Cardiologist

This afternoon I met with my cardiologist for my semi-annual checkup. I've really enjoyed working with him. He is an excellent doctor. By "excellent" I mean someone who doesn't try and see his patients as fast as possible, but someone who tries to treat his patients as unique individuals. An excellent cardiologist explains things in layman's terms and takes the time to try and educate his patients. Every patient is different. Some patients have significant medical problems. In such cases, a good cardiologist will provide more than medical care. He or she will provide encouragement and (in some cases) even spiritual care. With every patient interaction they have an opportunity to be compassionate, relieve anxiety, remove burdens, or simply let their patients know you hear them and they are not alone.

Today I also said goodbye to my cardiologist. He's retiring after 35 years serving our community so well and so caringly. I congratulated him and thanked him for the positive role model he's been for the younger physicians who are coming after him. He made every one of his patients feel like a VIP. By the way, he was very happy with my fitness journey, my blood pressure, my diet, and my cholesterol levels. He gave me the green light to surf and climb this summer as long as I am careful to stay hydrated and avoid heat stroke. 

As a teacher, I am glad I knew him. What makes an excellent cardiologist also makes an excellent educator. Knowing your stuff and actually caring puts you pretty high up in my estimation. 

Fat Loss Is a TOTAL Body Process

Guess what? Fat loss is not site specific. It's actually impossible to target fat loss in a certain part of your body no matter how many crunches you do. Fat loss is a total body process.

Your body pulls fat from random areas of your body. You have virtually no control over where it will occur. It's mostly a matter of your genetics. 

It's kind of like trying to drain a swimming pool. If you try to drain just one corner of the pool with a bucket, what happens? Does one section of the pool go down while everything else remains high? Nope. The overall water level goes down a tiny fraction. That's what it's like to lose body fat. You can't specifically spot reduce a certain body of your body. And that's really annoying.

But there's good news. Let's expand our analogy. Imagine a swimming pool that has a shallow end and a deep end. On my body, and due to my genes, the "shallow end" is made up of my arms, legs, face, and back. 

They get lean relatively quickly, whereas the opposite is true for my belly, which is the "deep end" of the pool. I'm going to have to lose a certain amount of fat from the rest of my body before my abs will finally stand out. 

Guys, this is true of many of us. If you don't like it, take it up with your parents, who gave you your genetics. 

The Unexamined Life

One thing I often do when I'm in Hawaii is what I call a personal reassessment. Truly, the unexamined life is not worth living. God put me here for a purpose. Have I fulfilled it? I was put here to deliver a message. Have I given it? I was to bear fruit for the kingdom. Has the harvest occurred?

The Stoics said that each day we live is a separate life. If so, the Bible emphasizes not only what was done but why. Was I a success or a failure? What were my achievements, if any? Who have I lived for -- myself or my God? In reality, no one can answer these questions except for me and my Creator. 

What matters most is not the surface of life but the inner reality. Life is the greatest sport. And as in every sport, what matters is not the statistics. What counts is how we play the game. 

Taking a Break from College?

Did any of you take a break when you were going to college? I did. It was after my third year at Biola. I was mentally exhausted. The transition from public high school to private college took a lot out of me. I think it was a combination of burnout and lack of maturity. I knew I needed to do something about it. 

Taking time off is scary. At the same time, it can really help if you do things to help yourself get out of the rut you're in. So I took a semester and a summer off. I flew home and got a job at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel -- one of Waikiki's premier resorts. Here's the view from one of its rooms. 

Six nights a week I bussed tables at this restaurant. 

It was the ideal situation. I made good money, plus I could surf every day. This pic was taking during this time. 

I returned to Biola when I felt ready and could really commit. That hiatus in Hawaii was just what the doctor ordered. Fully refreshed, I was able to complete my bachelor's, then my master's, and finally my doctorate without taking any more breaks. 

The lesson here: Taking time off from college doesn't mean you're a failure. College is extremely demanding, and not every person flies right through it. I certainly didn't. Take your time and be gentle on yourself. Everything will eventually figure itself out. Go ahead, take that break, experience life, experiment, do some fun activities, spend time with people you love and care about, find a good paying job, and save. 

For me, it was so worth it. 

The Art of Public Speaking

Every time I speak in public, I schedule two "speeches." First, there's my "left brain" speech, which is mainly factual. Secondly, there's my "right brain" speech, which is primarily inspirational. I thought about that when I was reading the book of Ecclesiastes in my morning Bible study. In Eccl. 12:10, we read: "For the Preacher was not only a wise man, but a good teacher; he not only taught what he knew but taught them in an interesting manner" (TLB). 

There is no substitute for the meeting of the two brains, and the basics of public speaking are the same today as they were in Solomon's time. A great speech not only has great content. But the speaker also captures the audience's heart. Every eye is on him or her. 

When I'm talking to a particular group of people, I change my approach to adapt to different personalities. If you don't make that adaptation, you're likely to fail. The distinction between a left brain talk and a right brain talk might be overly simplistic, but it proves to be very practical. People even write this way. Think of "N. T. Wright" (the name he uses in his academic works) and "Tom Wright" (the name he uses in his more devotional works). Or think of the difference between my purely informational beginning Greek grammar (Learn to Read New Testament Greek) and my more motivational intermediate grammar (It's Still Greek to Me). My favorite authors, while going into the ABCs, always insert just enough humor to make the facts palatable to right brainers.

Cicero (a great orator of long ago) once described the aims of public speaking as:

Ut doceat

Ut moveat

Ut delectet

In other words: 

To teach

To motivate

To entertain

Telling stories helps. This is how Jesus often taught. Anecdotes and parables are windows into the speaker's soul. Speaking without notes is also a good idea. All too often a sermon is stale because the speaker is too busy scrolling on his iPad to connect with his audience. Interestingly, your audience will know whether you've put in the work or not. They hear the pain and sacrifice in your voice. That being the case, the more motivational the talk, the more likely the outcome will be memorable.

To summarize what Eccl. 12:9-10 is saying:

1. The Preacher was a wise man.

2. The Preacher taught the people all he knew.

3. The Preacher taught them in an interesting manner.

That's great advice for those of us who profess to be public speakers. 

Don't Mellow Until You Spoil!

Too many elderly people avoid the battle for truth under the guise of a more tolerant spirit in old age. True, we need to outgrow the rashness and errors of youth. But it's just as bad to mistake mellowing with tolerance for untruths about God's word. 

Today's Waikiki Surf Report

Here are today's conditions at Waikiki. 

Canoes is breaking 4-6 feet. Publics has 4-5 foot waves. The Wall is 3-4 feet. Hope these sizes can last another week till I'm there! 

Beginning Our Day with God

Here's a page in your Bible I bet you've never read. 

It's the Table of Contents. It's a list of all the books in the Bible, 66 of them, there to direct our lives from early on until our dying breath. 

Paul wrote, "Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort from the Scriptures, might have hope." And there they are -- 66 books to give us hope. Paul also wrote that the word of God is alive and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. It is a discerner of what is in our heart. No other book can do that. No other book can show us the true condition of our souls. Furthermore, all 66 books of Scripture are inspired by God. They are God's words to us, written by people who sat and listened to his voice and then faithfully wrote his words, in order that those words might guide us in our lives as we live out the truth of God's word. 

I couldn't make it through a single day without this book. 

A man or woman is prepared in advance, sanctified not only against tomorrow but fortified for today, if first he or she has a season with the word and prayer. Friend, begin your day with God. Bring your day under the scrutiny of his all-seeing eye. Many blunders that we commit in life would never have been made had we prayed as much in advance as we pined after the damage was done. 

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice" (John 10:27). Are we listening? 

Why I Can't Stop Talking about the Benefits of Walking

Let's say you're doing everything right. You're prioritizing your protein. You're getting in your daily steps. You're lifting weights. So why have you still got lower belly fat and love handles, like I do? 

Why aren't you losing fat from the areas you want? 

Well, I've got good news and I've got bad news for you. The good news is that you're doing everything exactly right. The bad news is that you just have to be a little more patient. Fat loss never happens in a straight line. Generally speaking, your arms, legs, and face will always lean out first. At this point, the challenge becomes a mental one. You have to do those physical habits long enough and be consistent enough with them to see the results. And that's what holds most of us back. It's not that we don't know what to do. It's that we're not doing it for long enough. The truth is that fat loss is a slow process. The leaner you get, the harder your body will fight back. But I promise you, you just have to keep on going to see results. Just stay consistent and be patient. 

Now when it comes to burning body fat and calories, the number one exercise you can do is walking. When was the last time you actually checked your daily step count? Walking might not feel like a fat burning session, but it's one of the best tools you've got. If you don't know where to start, let me suggest you walk for one hour every day. That's about 3 miles. Most people can get 2,000 steps in a mile, so that's 6,000 steps right there. Today I walked for 7 miles on the treadmill. 

After each mile I did a set of pull ups before getting back to my steps. 

When you add the steps I get just from my normal activities, my total daily steps will top out at around 16,000!

Walking is the number one exercise to help you burn body fat because it's the easiest one for you to stay consistent with. One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to losing body fat is that they think the best or even the only way for them to lose weight is to eat less but that couldn't be further from the truth. One of the biggest factors that influences your maintenance calorie numbers is how active your lifestyle is. If you can walk 10,000 steps a day (= about 1.5 hours of walking), you're going to burn approximately 500 calories a day, which is 3,500 calories a week. Coincidentally, one pound of fat is 3,500 calories. That's how powerful walking is. Walking is not only sustainable, it's easy, it's free, and it's accessible -- anyone can do it. You're not going to get injured and can multitask while doing it. 

This Friday I have my annual checkup with my cardiologist. I think he'll be pleasantly surprised at my weight and physique. The last time I saw him, I was over 30 percent body fat (i.e., officially "obese"). Today I hover around 15 percent, with the goal of reaching 12 percent before the end of summer. He will see that I've gone from 240 pounds down to 205. And walking has been the game-changer. Walking should be your main form of exercise, if we can even call it "exercise." If you combine it with a healthy diet and resistance training 2 or 3 days a week, you've got a winning formula. 

Fitness is more than looking into a mirror and liking what you see. It's more than a number on the scales. It's about taking back control of your health. 

Care to join me? If so, welcome! 

Your Prayers, Please

The State of Virginia just posted this heat advisory warning. 

Our farm is in the middle of the blue circle on the bottom. We're expecting sweltering heat (in the 100s) for the foreseeable future, and all the while we're getting up hay. For a variety of reasons, but mostly because of my age, I am hyper-vigilant when I'm out there. If my gut tells me something is wrong -- i.e., I'm working too hard or too fast out in the heat -- I listen. You can never be too careful. Also, I'm not too proud to ask for prayers on behalf of my family. We need to be wise, stay hydrated, and so forth. 

Thank you. 

Well, Finally

Hey guys. I've signed up for this 10K race. 

It's a week from Friday in my hometown of Kailua. Not sure if I'm more excited about finally doing a race in the islands or getting back to my old high school (where the race starts and ends). 

I have to admit, every time I think of myself as a runner I have to laugh. Not one of my friends ran in high school. We were too busy going to the beach. 

So folks, watch out. I'm already thinking about all the race pictures I can bore you with when I get back. 

The Zermatt Klettersteig

For old time's sake, I think I might do this climb again in August. You climb up and across a 3,000 foot vertical cliff. 

It was  hard and yet so much fun! 

Choosing a University

Oh, how I miss the taste of a Swiss Gipfeli and a hot cup of coffee overlooking the Rhine while waiting to sit at the feet of my fabulous teachers at the University of Basel! 

Basel was the only university I applied to for my doctoral studies because it was the only university I wanted to attend. I can say for certain that my Basel education was the key inspiration for everything I write today. It taught me some really vital skills that I don't think I'll ever forget. 

Young person, when it comes to higher education, choose your university well. It will shape you, for better or worse, for your entire life. 

Why Do We Study Greek?

I just posted the course syllabus for my Greek 1 class in the fall. Just in case anyone is interested, here are my stated course objectives. 

1. Understand the role of the biblical languages in New Testament studies.

2. Recognize a working vocabulary of the most frequently occurring words in the Greek New Testament.

3. Demonstrate a basic working knowledge of Greek grammar and syntax enabling you to translate and interpret passages from the Greek New Testament.

4. Identify the various exegetical and reference tools to further your ability to interpret the Greek New Testament.

5. Utilize Greek in biblical interpretation for life and ministry.

6. Appreciate the cross-shaped discipleship to which Jesus calls his followers and begin to appropriate to one's own life the model of servanthood and radical Calvary-love that the New Testament presents.

7. Enjoy a greater love for Jesus and a greater commitment to obeying his Great Commission.

8. Apply basic principles of textual criticism in places of textual variation in the Greek New Testament.

9. Understand and apply the  basic principles of New Testament exegesis, including our tenstep approach of moving from text to sermon.

I think my favorite is #7!

Have fantastic week! 

4 Weeks of Steps (263 Miles)

Here are the stats: 

They include the 7-mile run I completed early this morning before things heated up. 

I forgot to mention that I'm not merely a mediocre runner. I am awful. I am as slow as a glacier. I'm a slow runner, a slow cyclist, and a ridiculously slow swimmer. But I'm having more fun than I've ever had 😊

Hope your Lord's Day is going well! 

The Boys Are Berry Happy!

They picked blueberries this afternoon. 

Including the youngest.

Gotta love grandkids! 

Today's Run

Distance: 10 miles.

Steps: 21,924.

Calories burned: 1,964. 

Thanks for reading, friends! 

Since We're Talking about Weight Loss ...

Hello everyone. Just a brief PSA today in the form of a couple of disclaimers. (Should have done this years ago. But better late than never!)

1. First of all, I want to say that I'm obviously not a medical professional, so nothing in my blog posts should be taken as medical advice. This blog is just me sharing my own personal experience and some of the things I've gone through and some of the changes I wanted to make in my life. 

2. I also want to make it clear that I am not trying to body shame anyone or tell anyone what they should do. Everyone reading my blog has the right to eat whatever they want and make any health decision they want to make for themselves. Your life is your life -- personal to you. I want to share my personal story because there's an off chance that it could help someone else who's having a similar struggle with their weight. 

3. Weight loss is a consistent, never-ending refinement of yourself. The only question you need to ask yourself is, "How can I be just a little bit better today than I was yesterday?" It's really all about creating a healthy lifestyle. Real progress comes with consistency -- making the next best decision for yourself and not aiming for perfection. You can aim for perfection, but be okay with knowing that you're never going to achieve it. And that is fine. You need to be okay with that because it's just a part of life. You're always going to want more and you're always going to want to try and be perfect. Just don't get upset at yourself for not being able to achieve your "perfect" physique. Instead, focus on the progress the Lord is allowing you to make. For example, this was me yesterday.

It's not exactly where I would like to be but I'm so grateful for the 35 pounds I've been able to lose so far. There will be bad patches and good patches, but neither lasts forever. And all it takes to begin is a single step. 

I hope you have a fantastic weekend! 

Thank God I'm a Country Boy!

This morning I was reading 1 Samuel while studying the life of Saul. In chapter 10, Saul is acclaimed as king (see v. 24). And in the very next chapter, he's out in the field with his oxen (11:5). I love that! Once a farm boy, always a farm boy I guess. 

It gets into your blood. Farming is a simple, enjoyable, and fulfilling life. No city chaos. Just peace and quiet. And lots of hard work. There are always yards to mow (as I did today). . 

Or fields to bush hog. 

The world feels light, and happiness comes from the littlest of things. You work regardless of whether it's 100 degrees outside or 30 degrees. You go with the rhythm of the day and of the year. Someone once wrote a book called Flat Broke with Two Goats. I get it! For me, living on a farm is healthier both physically and mentally. It's not always easy, but nothing of true value comes without effort. 

I imagine King Saul missed the quiet days of his upbringing on the farm. It's like going to your own private National Park. If I would ever have to leave the farm, I would miss it something awful. 

Thank God I'm a country boy yeah! 

Today's 9-Mile Run on the Trail

11 days until Hawaii.

43 days until the Alps. 

So my daily steps are not an option. Here are today's stats. 

6 months ago I was complaining about the cold. Today I'm complaining about the heat. Stop your whining, Dave. You get to do this. 

This picture says it all. 

Like you, I've been suffering through some sweltering days. I have tried to be really careful about hydration, but the heat still sucks the life out of you. I try to be finished by 12:00 noon at the latest, thus avoiding the heat of the day. (Duh.) Humidity makes it even worse. But just think: In 2 weeks I'll be enjoying a place where the average daytime temperature is 75 degrees, matching the average daily water temperature of 75 degrees. 

I wish you could read the dialogue that goes through my brain sometimes. It fluctuates between "This ain't so bad" to "I'll never do this again." I don't know what else to say. I wanted so much to be DONE. Hot dog I am proud of finishing!

With that said, it's time to have a huge lunch and get some rest for awhile -- right? 

A Prayer for Israel and Iran

I wrote this in my prayer journal today:

Dear heavenly Father, 

Ours is a world in chaos. That's not news to you. So step in, Lord, and bring hope, bring relief, to the land of Israel. Bring relief also to the hostages in Gaza who are trapped, unable to escape. Give hope to those who await their return. Please grant a new wave of freedom and prosperity to the people of Iran. Allow me, dear Lord, if possible, to return to Iran someday and share your love with the magnificent people of ancient Persia. 

In Jesus' name.

Amen.  

Feasting on the Word of God

Yesterday one of our seminary grads sent me this picture of him prepping for his Sunday message. 

I love it. His text message dripped with enthusiasm and passion for the word of God.

Jeremiah wrote, "Thy words were found and I did eat them. And thy words were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."

His words were found. 

And we ate them.

Oh, that we might absorb the word of God!

That we might feast on it, digest it, study it, live it!

Thank You, Lord

Wow, what a day!

Thank you, Lord, for giving me 9.5 hours of wonderful sleep last night.

Thank you for allowing me to get out of bed this morning.

Thank you that I could get in an outdoor workout.

Thank you for a 9-mile run afterwards.

Thank you for the steps you enabled me to chock up today. 

Friend, God gives strength for today. He'll give what you need for tomorrow, tomorrow. You don't have tomorrow's strength yet. So thank him for what he's given you today.

Have a wonderful day! 

Just "Hanging" Around

Here I am, doing my best impression of a bat. 

Why in the world do we do this? Three main reasons:

1. Strengthens the upper body. This includes your back, arms, hands, and upper body in general. The older I get, the more this becomes necessary.

2. Develops grip strength. Think: Carrying suitcases -- or bales of hay. Or opening a jar of pickles. 

3. Promotes bigger and stronger forearms. The latter are vital when climbing the Alps.

WARNING: If you are a beginner, DO NOT jump up and grab the bar! Instead, use a platform to reach it. 

Today's Stats

17,512 steps.

1,699 calories burned. 

When you do steps, you realize just how long an hour can really be! 

Have a fantastic day!