Kailua Beach: Medicine for the Soul

I admit: I have a Type A personality. I suffer from the "hurry up syndrome." Every trip to the islands shows me the error of my way. Here time doesn't exist. Traffic is, yes, a bit of a hassle, but no one honks their horn. People are much more likely to let you into their lane than cut you off. A simple "shaka" in return is all that's expected.

As you know, I just spent 8 days surfing on Oahu. I basically lived in the ocean the entire time. Surfing is a great exercise for the body. But even more it's an exercise for the soul, a time for unparalleled mental restoration. Poet William Wordsworth, who was a prodigious walker, once said that poetry was "emotion recollected in tranquility." Take, if you will, my experience at Kailua Beach, the two and a half mile stretch of pristine white sand I once called home. 

I have discovered that my tranquility develops about one second after my toes touch the sand. It takes that much time to detach myself from all my worries and my cares. I have a new awareness of myself, my world, and my God.

Carrying a surfboard into the ocean is not the only place this occurs, just the best. Monks take to their cells. Hermits to their shells. Writers withdraw to secluded spots. Grownups from Hawaii go to the beach, where motion makes time stand still. At "my" beach, I am totally and completely in the present. It's like that strange experience when you get so absorbed in reading a good book you are unaware you are reading. There are no discussions, no arguments, not even any emails to answer. You've stepped out of time into a new, reposeful now.

The union of body and mind reaches its highest height in sports such as surfing. Here there are no sophisticated debates, no squabbles about text types or "best" translations of the Bible. While surfing, the common man reaches excellence by making demands on himself. We are about the business of creating a unique self as we discover the stony strength that is there in all of us. For me, surfing has narrowed the distance between the person I am and the person I can be. When I head back to the shore after my final wave, I am twice young. True, I have little in common with the young Dave. 

He thought school was a bore. I love studying. He had no career aspirations. I have been blessed with a career that can only be described as unbelievably satisfying. He was content to be island-bound. I suffer from an incurable Wanderlust. And so it goes. Yet there remains one thing that young Dave and the not-so-young Dave have in common. Both responded to a primal call to be one with nature by getting on top of a piece of fiberglass-covered foam. Only when I look in the mirror am I aware of any change. Today I am in my body as it was and is and shall be forevermore. 

And now, in my 70s, I am convinced more than ever of the untapped potential resident in my body. Some may think that I operate at a level physically that others may consider unusual. I don't. All I know is this: If we are to outwit old age, we have to remain active, whatever it takes. For me, surfing is the secret of youth. The waves awaken the same feeling they did when I was a kid. Their grandeur and beauty have never changed. When I come out of the water, I feel larger than life. And for just a little while, I return to the glory days of my youth.

The message: Go to the beach. It's medicine for the soul. 

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! 

The Most Prescribed Medication?

"If exercise were a controlled medication, it would be the most heavily prescribed on record." -- Jeff Galloway, author of Running Until You're 100. 

Attending a Jeff Galloway seminar before running the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, NC. 

We Can Do Hard Things

Yesterday I was fellowshipping with one of my colleagues at the seminary who had recently run his first marathon. We both agreed that the marathon is perhaps the ultimate metaphor for any major undertaking in life. Does it hurt? Yep. Does it require time, effort, and commitment? In spades. But the payoff is out of this world. 

Friend, it doesn't matter what your goal is. Marathoner. Healthier eater. Patient mom. Writer. More diligent student. Divorce survivor. Whatever. You've got to push out of your self-imposed boundaries and never look back. You take a deep breath and go one step at a time. 

When you and I have to, we can do hard things in the power of His might. 

Today's Steps

A lovely 8-mile run 😋

My Dream: Surfing Diamond Head Again

As I lifted this morning, I thought back to my lifting journey to this point. I think the biggest gains I made this year are in my back. I owe a lot of that to pull ups. These light up your entire back. Your lats handle the shoulder extension. Your mid traps and rhomboids are activated during scapular retraction. Your lower back will be engaged for stabilization. And your biceps will take care of elbow flexion. There's also going to be some core activation since you aren't seated like in a lat pull down. 

Here's a simple technique suggestion. Think about getting your chest to the bar rather than just getting your chin over the bar. This will help you in getting control of the movement better. Also, think about pulling with your back rather than with your arms. This will activate your lats and prevent your biceps from taking over.

I'm working pretty hard on my arms and back because, Lord willing (it's always up to him!), in exactly two weeks from today I fly to Dallas and from there to Honolulu for 9 days of surfing. One spot I hope to surf again is Diamond Head. Though technically a part of Waikiki, Diamond Head is really a break of its own. Rather than being protected in the relatively calm waters of Waikiki (Mamala Bay), Diamond Head is located in more open (and deeper) waters. To surf this spot you first have to climb down cliffs to get to the shore, then paddle out until you hit the reef. This spot gets blown out from the tradewinds too. It always looks like a windy, soupy mess. 

But should the winds die down, you're looking at the some of the best waves on the South Shore. It'll be super fun and really hard to get waves because most spots on the South Shore are crowded all the time. Don't mind that at all. Might even get some epic barrels!

Take Responsibility

I believe that the next breakthrough in medicine won't be due to a surgeon devising a new method of surgery. It will be the individual patient -- you and I -- taking responsibility for our own health. That goes for the spiritual too. Not just what you hear from the pulpit on Sunday morning, but what you read each and every day from God's word, can produce astonishing new levels of spiritual health and fitness. 

A Simple Hack for Greek Students

Getting an A in Greek is a performance goal. But being able to use Greek once you've graduated is a learning goal. Both goals can fuel achievement, but only one leads to mastery. 

"Nothing in Excess"

When I taught Classical Greek at Biola, one of the first Greek maxims my students learned was this one:

I might translate it as "Nothing in excess." Although it was used to curb physical appetites, its more common usage was as a reminder to avoid excessive emotion, especially grief. It's a call to avoid extremes and practice balance in all things. 

Like many of you, I've always been a pretty ambitious goal-setter. I thrive on accomplishing difficult tasks. But the ideal is moderation in all things. "Northing in excess" means adhering to a workout and exercise program that's the best possible one for you. And the appropriate regimen is something only you can figure out for yourself. As with Aesop's famous story about the tortoise and the hare, it's all about being "slow and steady." We ask ourselves, "Have I fallen prey to the overuse syndrome? Are there any structural weaknesses in my body that I've overlooked? How frequently should I exercise?" 

Exercise can guarantee fitness but it can't guarantee good health. We can stay healthy only if we take care of our body as we would the cars we drive.

Through the years I've discovered that I'm a risk taker, perhaps too much so. Yes, I need to be challenged, as you do. But I need to find out how much effort I can put out, what I can endure, and if I measure up. 

It's easier to grow older if we are neither bored nor boring. Exercise is vital to our mental, physical, and (I would argue) even our spiritual health. Life is, or should be, a struggle against complacency and apathy. Neither, however, should it be imbalanced. 

I hope to become better at this as the years go by. 

A Father's Day Devotional from 1 Thessalonians 4

Happy Father's Day everyone.

As we think of our fathers, including those who've gone on to heaven, I think especially of our heavenly Father. He is so, so good to us. I was impressed with that fact this morning while reading 1 Thessalonians 4. 

In this chapter Paul moves from doctrine to ethics, from knowledge to obedience. Please don't miss what he says in the first two verses (4:1-2). 

Paul tells us that we are not to think of Christian ethics primarily as law but as love. We are not to think of our duties as sons and daughters of God primarily as a lot of dreary rules and regulations. Instead, we are to think of obedience primarily as a relationship with God, whom we love and whom we want to please.

The point is that I am not to think of the Christian life as primarily obeying instructions. It's about pleasing a Person, the God who made me, loves me, redeemed me, adopted me into his family, put his Holy Spirit in me, and who is my loving Father. As believers, we want to please him. And the more we come to know him, the easier it is to know what pleases him.

If children love their parents, they will want to please them. So with God. As we come to know him as our loving heavenly Father, we develop a certain moral sensibility. When faced with a moral choice we ask, "Will it please him? Or will it displease him?" And note: We are to please him more and more. Can you love the Father better? Can I? I think so. There is to be continued growth in our love for the Father.

On this Father's Day, let our heart cry be, "Father, I want to please you more and more." Let's ask ourselves often this week, "Will it please God?" 

Today's Steps

Day 6:

20,153 steps. 

I took it easy today and only walked 9 miles 😌

Hope you all are having an amazing day today! 

Who Is Building into Your Life?

There are many people in my life who believed in me long before I did. I am grateful to them more than they will ever know. They include:

Pastor Rudy Ulrich of First Baptist Church Windward who led me to Christ in Hawaii at the age of 8.

Pastor Jim Cook of the International Baptist Church of Honolulu who took me (and other young men) under his wings as his "preacher boys."

Pastor Robert Hakes and his wife Doris of the College Church of La Mirada who mentored Becky and me.

Peggy Russell, dean of financial aid at Biola who took me under her wings and acquired for me a full tuition academic scholarship.

Biola teachers Harry Sturz, Nick Kurtanek, Curtis Mitchell, and Bill Bynum who taught me as a young theology student.

Bo Reicke and Markus of Basel University who modeled for me what a New Testament scholar looks like.

And so many more.

These are people for whom I am eternally grateful, and I stand on their shoulders. Joshua had his Moses. Timothy had his Paul. Elisha had his Elijah. I have these people, all of whom have passed on. But I have magnificent memories of them and pages and pages of notes. You have never heard of them but they are individuals who taught me how to love the Lord our God. I give him praise for the memory of every one of them. They loved Jesus like you can't believe. They poured themselves into my life.

Who is building into your life? Who is teaching you how to love the Lord? 

Give thanks for these people. 

You are their legacy. 

Carry it on. 

Model it. 

Speak of them to your children and grandchildren. 

They were precious gifts of God to you. 

Think It's Too Late?

Think it's too late to get into shape? Think again.

You can be fitter this year than you were 10 years ago.

Take it from someone who's faced 73 candles on his birthday cake.

By the time we're in our 50s, 60s, and 70s, most of us have lost a few steps, gained a few inches around our midsection, and found that we have to work hard to keep up with our kids and grandkids.

The proof of the passing of time comes in the form of jiggling bellies and double chins.

But the problem typically attributed to aging has less to do with age than the sedentary way we live.

Thanks to breakthroughs in health science and nutrition, evcen we 70-somethings have a chance to live stronger, longer, and leaner lives. We can become a sleeker and fitter version of our younger self.

All you need is a simple strategy to get you back into shape.

Whether you spend the next 20-30 years looking and feeling your best, or take a downhill slide, is now your choice.

Once you experience the satisfaction that exercise and eating right can bring to your body and mind, you will find plenty of reasons to keep at it for the rest of your life. 

We're all going to die with a long to-do list. "Start exercising" shouldn't be on that list.

Developing an Every-Member Focus in Ministry

In any give race, be it a 5K or a marathon, about 5 percent of the runners are "elite" runners. The other 95 percent are not. Ironically, the people who get the most attention are the few favored runners who are doing only 5 percent of the work.

Likewise, in our churches it's easy to develop a leader-centric paradigm in which discipleship is staff-driven. 

The result all too often is a consumer culture where people think that their growth is ultimately dependent on Sunday morning sermons. 

How can pastors help? By enabling and equipping. Be celebrating "ordinary" Christians from their pulpits. By beating the drum for simple virtues like humility, prayer, faithfulness, and sacrifice. In the early church, everyone pulled their weight. (Just read 1 Corinthians 14.) Each person was on mission for Jesus. Of course, things will look less "professional" than if the pastors did all the work. But if everyone in the congregation would realize that they are necessary parts of the body, with their own special gifting, I think the whole church would begin to function in ways we can't even imagine. 

Yes, YOU Can Do It

When I started my weight loss journey 6 months ago I never imagined that I could actually have the success that I was able to have. I began taking progress pictures and these kept me so motivated when maybe I wasn't feeling it or the scale didn't reflect it. Just having progress pictures with me throughout my journey really did help me stick with it. 

For so long I just remember sitting there and thinking there's nothing I can do and I felt so hopeless. I felt there was no way out of this situation I was stuck in. I wanted to change. I wanted to feel good. I wanted to be the best version of myself that I could be before the Lord took me home. It took prioritizing my health, and not just my physical health but also my emotional and mental health. The latter are just as important as physical health. I've wanted to share my story and I've wanted to share what's worked for me. It always sounded so cliche and tacky but the fact is that if I can do it so can you. I really want to provide just anything I can to help other people in their journey. Just know that you can do it. It does take time and it does take consistency, but even I was able to lose 35 pounds in 6 months. You can do it quickly and healthily as well. It's hard work and it's not easy but you can do it. You just have to be realistic with your lifestyle and your work schedule. 

Thanks so much for reading, and I'll see you guys the next time. 

Day 5 of My Mini-Cut

12 miles. 

27,410 steps. 

I am running for my life. I am running because, for me, not running is unthinkable. I am running because I am a runner. It's just that simple. 

He Can Be Trusted!

Today's miles were done on the treadmill. It's day 4 of my 1-week aggressive minicut. 

Today I managed 27,170 steps. 

As we chase goals it's a reminder of the God we serve. We can do nothing in life without him. I'm far from perfect, but I fully understand where my strength comes from. If you're going through challenging times, just remember where your power comes from. Put your trust in him. We don't always understand his plan, but he can be trusted! 

Today's 12-Mile Run

Today's run was a 12-mile jog at the Tobacco Heritage Trail. It netted 27, 627 steps. I face the challenges of life -- growing older, ever-changing relationships, the good and bad of being alive -- in the same way that I face the challenge of running. You know there will good patches and bad ones, and that neither lasts forever. I am gradually learning, with my own two feet, the meaning of triumph and failure, and the fleeting nature of both.

Have a wonderful day! 

What Baslers Think of Their French Neighbors

Yesterday the Easy German Youtube channel posted an interview that was absolutely fascinating. It compared High German ("German German") with the dialect of Swiss German spoken by people living in Basel. 

When asked what stereotype existed among the Baslers about their French-speaking neighbors, the answer was: "They always insist on speaking French." I cannot tell tell you how often I experienced this attitude! Living in Basel, you live on both the French and German borders. On our frequent jaunts into France, Becky and I would rarely be able to speak English with the natives. Nor did they want us to speak German. It was French or nothing -- despite the fact that my spoken French was a disaster. The French, you see, are justifiable proud of their mother tongue, just as we Americans are of our dialect of English. Just goes to show that God messed things up really good at Babel, though I'm not complaining because I would have been without a job for the past 5 decades if students didn't have to learn Greek as a foreign language!

Today's 10-Mile Run ...

... on the lovely High Bridge Trail. 

It netted 22,633 steps and a weight I hadn't seen in decades. 

If I can do it, you can too. You will learn, as I have, that there are no secrets to weight loss. It's just you and the road you're on.

A Day in the Life

I haven't done one of these in a while. Or maybe never before. I don't really know. I've been blogging for so long now that I sometimes forget what I've blogged about. Anyway, I love it when other people do it, so here goes:

A day in the life of me -- Dave.

Got up at 6:00 and went to Bo's for a sausage biscuit and coffee while having my Bible and prayer time. It's always my favorite part of my day. 

Then, since I cannot get enough of the gym, I made my way to the Y to get in a workout. Since I've only got 3 weeks to get into my very best shape before surfing and climbing, today I decided to begin a 7-day aggressive mini-cut. It started with a workout that included my FAVORITE exercise. Any guesses as to what it is? 

Then it was off to a local park to do, not more pull ups, but chin ups (with a supinated grip). I've never seen anyone at this park save yours truly. It's like that everywhere in South Boston. Must be my lack of deodorant. Anyways, I got in a few wonderful sets of chin ups there.

Next, I wanted to get in my steps. For the next 7 days I plan on getting a minimum of 18,000 steps every single day. 

And ... wow. Today's 9-mile run netted me that and more.  

Finally, after I got back to the farm, I cooked my lunch/dinner. (I eat only two meals a day.) It tasted wonderful  -- jasmine rice, corn, tikka masala, and a fresh garden salad. 

I'll fast between 1:00 pm this afternoon and 7:00 am tomorrow morning. Not for everyone, but it works for me. 

I am sitting here all choked up by the nice texts and emails I've gotten for my B-Day.  I read each one. One of the most important things to note is that life is never stagnant. It's always changing and evolving. We can't control a lot of things, including the reality of aging. You'll get a year older every year on your birthday. Period. But we also don't have to be victims of our circumstances. God has given us free will, and it is within our abilities to make decisions and choose how to face loss, aging, retirement, etc. I'm a believer in the work hard, play hard mentality. I am not obsessive about it, but I am disciplined. 

Awareness is key. There's nothing I eat in a day that I'm not completely conscious about how it is or is not contributing to my physical and emotional well-being. It's been a lifestyle shift and a commitment. I've never felt better in my own skin and I plan to never go back to what I was before. I haven't always been a healthy eater or a healthy person for that matter, that's for sure. But if I have learned one thing in the past few years it's this: Treat your body with the respect it deserves and fuel it accordingly. 

For me, I am happy with my weight. Yes, you read that right. Sure, I want to be in the best shape I can be in, and that would mean losing maybe another 5-10 pounds. But practicing gratitude for the things we already have is more important. Paul wrote, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God." It's much easier to do this, of course, when everything is going swimmingly. It's much tougher when things aren't. But I think we can all agree that focusing on what we have rather than on what we don't have is one of the most profound ways to live life. My life is not perfect, but there are a gazillion things to be thankful for. On this, my birthday, I think of Becky and my kids and my grandkids and my career and a body that allows me to be active and most of all some pretty amazing friends. Find gratitude in every single moment, Dave, no matter how challenging. 

Sheesh! That was a rabbit trail!

To round out my day today, I'll be working outdoors and enjoying this exceptionally beautiful day the Lord has made. I have never before in my life had so much to cherish. 

People value what they notice. Lord, help me to notice things every day of my life and not just on my birthday. 

What I Won't Be Doing on My Birthday

Today I turn 73. I'm very, very grateful for every year God has given me. 

Don't everyone say "Aww" at the same time. 

Some bloggers run the number of miles that they turn on their birthday. No thank you. I'd like to be around for another 365 days. Instead I will drink a 73 ounce Pepsi, eat 73 KitKats, and burp 73 times. I also won't be feeling bad about turning 73. I love my age even though I'm getting older. Every new year is the dawn of new possibilities, as this dear lady reminds us. 

Make it a great day, my friend!