I thought I’d share it with my readers. Be sure to scroll down to the before/after pics

Enjoy

My Dad!

today is his birthday.  my dad is 52.  he always has been, and still is, one of my very best friends.  pretty much as long as i can remember, my dad has been overweight.  it was never a big deal to me because i was overweight too.  but as i started learning about health and losing weight, my parent’s health started to concern me.  i wanted them to experience the health and happiness that i was experiencing.  i knew as they were getting older, the diseases and issues normally associated with getting older would begin to shave quality and years off of their lives.  and that was simply unbearable to me.  they tried a few times to lose the weight, but as anyone who has traveled a weight loss journey knows, it’s hard.  when i went through my vegan period, my youngest sister who still lives at home, started learning more about health too.  she was requesting healthier foods at home.  my parents started watching some of the documentaries i was recommending.  i had just finished my first half marathon.  dad decided to start running too.  i encouraged him to try the jeff galloway method which has totally worked for him.  my sister kayla (the crazy fit one) challenged him to try the half marathon in march.  and he accepted.  it was a family onslaught of health.  (i’ll be posting about my mom who just finished her first 5k later!)

That said – let’s get to the one word everyone is waiting for, “submit.”
Come on – you know your waiting for it.

Men are hoping that I not only say it but bring new light to it.

Woman, you’re almost daring me to use the “S” word so you can reply, “I KNEW IT! He’s just another control freak.”

What to expect:
1) I am a bit of a control freak – most men are
2) Ladies you are correct – I am going to say SUBMIT
3) Men – you may not love me at all when I get to that word

Ultimately, it is the role of the wife to demonstrate,in a visible form,
the submissive relationship that Christ’s Bride is to have toward Him.
It is a choice of her will.

Ladies, how bad can this really be? After all, your husband is loving you as Christ loved His Church…right? He is the picture of love and the essence of Godliness. If Mary Poppins had a male counterpart , you husband would be that man. Your guy is always looking for ways to improve his relationship with The Lord. He’s great with the children and takes much pleasure in doing his share of the house work. Flowers and Hallmark cards are a norm for you. (The cards always include a personal note and the key points underlined – some double underscored.)

He’s a hard working man your husband is – even catching a little OT when he can so that you can have that vacation of your dreams. To much overtime? Oh No… that would keep him from your presence – so he keeps a good work-life balance. NEVER does he lose his temper…always the gentleman. Shivery is alive and well in your relationship! I bet you can’t remember the last time you had to open your car door for yourself. Speaking of which…certainly you have the nicer car in the family. Oh – and he prefers snuggling over sex…but he’s an artist at the latter

HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE FOR A WOMAN TO SUBMIT TO THAT GUY?

Sadly, most of us are not “that” guy. Non-the-less it is the role of the wife to submit to the husband.
He is the head. It’s God’s order so therefore it is good for all concerned.

No one, including the Apostle Paul who penned the words in Ephesians 5:22, is suggesting that the woman is the lesser partner of the relationship. That would be the equivalent to reckoning Jesus as a lesser God. The word “submit” carries the idea of, “placing one self under another.” It’s a choice. But not only is submitting to the husband the will of God – it has purpose.

Above all things we men need to be respected. That’s one reason why we are so easily insulted when our wives ask us to, “stop and get directions.” WHAT? Are you implying we can’t find it the interstate? I can’t be trusted to complete the task? You need another man in your life to take care of you?

Now the women are thinking that we are being ridiculous when actually we are being “men.”
And may i add being a man in this society has uniques challenges.

Most woman are waiting for the husband to be the man that God expects of him – i will have to submit that this is true. But how does this relieve the woman of her responsibility? Ladies, it doesn’t. Just as the role of the husband is not conditional upon what the wife does or is doing, the wife too is answerable to God for her role in the relationship. No one is suggesting that she allows the husband to drag her off into sin. Nor are you to stand idle if there is a form of abuse in the home. For these things I suggest you get GODLY counsel and get it fast.

However, HE is the one that God is looking to for leadership in the home. How would you like to carry that responsibility? He is going to give an account for what he did or did not do. Also you wives need only to concern yourself with your relationship with Christ and not the husbands relationship with The Lord. The rules do not change for you no matter where the husband is as far as his relationship with Christ is concerned. If anything you will repel him all the more.

Finally, it os NOT the role of the wife to judge, slander, gossip, disrespect, or dishonor her husband anymore than she would Christ…or The Spirit would to the others in the Godhead.

Jesus’ statement was one of comparison. We see this not only in the context of
the scripture from Matthew 11 but in other sayings of Jesus that these teachers
placed many undue burdens on the people of God, (Matthew 23:2-4). By offering His
yoke, Jesus was inviting them, and us, to allow Him to be a mentor and to learn of His
ways. Under His loving care, we would find that His yoke was easy and light. When
Jesus used the term “easy to bear,” He means that the life He gives “fits properly” or is
“good, mild, and pleasant”. Rest in a restless world comes from learning His ways and
doing them.

In 2012 – do something different. Set some realistic goals for yourself and write them down. Repeat them everyday – out loud. Nothing will happen until you learn to speak it. Don’t reach for the moon – just reach a little higher this year than you did the last.

What is really the difference is between a $1,000,000,000 race horse and a $100,000 race horse? Is the million dollar horse actually 10X faster than the $100,000.00 horse? Of course not! All a horse and rider have to do to be 10X as valuable is to “win by a nose” What I’m saying is this – just be a “nose better” in 2012. That small amount has the potential to move you 10 times further what you would think.

So this year – don’t set yourself up for a world of disappointments. Just move the bar by an inch. In the world of sports, champions are separated by a split second, a hundredth of a second, a margin of less than an inch, or just one punch. And like all athletes in a race – don’t forget to have the people around you to help you succeeded like coaches that have done it or have coached others to do what you want to accomplish. Make 2012 YOUR year!

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Leviticus 17:11
“For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” (See also Leviticus 17:14)

“The blood of Jesus” has been a message echoed from the pulpits of the world for centuries – and rightly so. As is everything in the Old Testament, the emphasis on the blood sacrifice was an image of the better plan that was to come. (Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:4, Romans 3:25-26). The blood sacrifice of Jesus was prophesied and pictured as far back as Genesis 3:15.  It is clearly demonstrated in the account of Abraham and Isaac – specifically the time God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son.  If you recall, God ultimately provided the sacrifice (Genesis 22:6-8, Genesis 22:13-14)

If you have ever been to a doctor, you noted that one of the first things they did was to take your blood pressure. If something more significant is occurring, the doctor with order a blood “sample.” The laboratory, in turn, can then tell your caregiver virtually “everything” about your physical health. Science knows that the blood supplies nutrients to empower the body, oxygen to make those nutrients work, and other mechanisms to remove impurities. The blood is also the pathway for pathogens which make a person sick.

Hebrews 9:22 reads, “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Jesus had to die – but not it couldn’t be just any death.  Jesus had to bleed….and he did bleed…so you and I might go free. The verse in Leviticus also uses the phrase, “in exchange for life.” That’s what happened on the cross. God accepted this one sacrifice, once-and-for-all. (1 Timothy 2:5-6, Matthew 20:28, Romans 6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:14).

We will see much more on that little phrase “Making you right with God” when we get to the New Testament. For now, here are some teaser scriptures: Romans 3:26, Romans 5:9, Hebrews 10:14

Inspired by Hebrews 9:22 Robert Lowry composed this famous hymn in 1876

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

here’s a site with the rest of the song.  Hope its OK to link to it

In Colossians 3:8 Paul warns about the use of filthy language coming from the mouth of those claiming to be risen with Christ, (see also Eph 4:29). Although I would concede that the writer is not dealing specifically with the use of our 21st century swear words, I would submit that the verse teaches that there are words that are considered improper, abusive, or even vile. So my point is this: I think it is simply unbecoming of a Christian to swear. My feeling is that this particular use of words does not make us cool nor does it make us relevant.  They certainly do not project The Kingdom as I have come to know it.  I just can’t see Jesus dropping the “F-bomb.”

Being reared in the Northeast United States, in an Italian home, I can assure you that I have been exposed to my share of swear words.  Even still there was a certain degree of etiquette in their usage.  For example, we could never use them in front of women. Also, their usage was prohibited in the presence of young children.  Most importantly, we would most certainly be damned to hell should they be used inside church. The rule at my house was if we siblings were heard using these words our mouths were washed with soap. Be real – Everyone knows that there is something different about swear words.   Just the fact that there even is a set of rules should tell us something.

One could make the argument that you have the freedom to use them long as you don’t offend or cause a brother to stumble.  You may want to check out my post titled, “Progressive Christianity.”  When then Vice President Dick Cheney was recorded using a swear word, many in the media called on him to resign or at least apologize.  Why the outrage?  It was considered unbecoming of a representative of the United States to use such language. How much more so should we as ambassadors of Christ bridle our tongue (James 1:26)? Let’s just assume for a moment that Jesus was Lord over your mouth and that everything you said was submitted to Him.  Would you still use these words?

Ask yourself and The Lord if the using these words promote things that are good and wholesome.  Be willing to question if swear words somehow bring God’s presence into the conversation. Perhaps one of 100,000 words in our English language that can be used as adjectives is better suited for the Christian.

I will write a follow-up post on Ephesians 4:29 next time and will touch on the term “Swear Words”

It’s official: I am accepting Kayla’s challenge.  How hard can the training be for a ½ marathon anyway? It’s not a WHOLE marathon – that would be crazy. Plus, I plan to utilize the walk/run method to conquer the beastly 13.1 miles.  Today, armed with the RunKeeper app, I set off to start my formal training with a 5K run.  The 5K is only a bit over 3 miles so I figured that this much shorter distance would be a great place to start.  If all else fails, I could walk it.

All in all I did pretty well…that was until the last 0.6 miles.  Having had little to no consistent physical activities over the years, my 52 year old and formally athletic legs met their match.  Did I finish?  Oh yes – I finished but not without my new companion ENDURANCE.

Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus, “for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.”  Like all those listed in the proceeding chapter, Jesus too had a course set before him.  How did He endure?  The joy of what He knew finishing the race would bring.  The verse will go on to say that He sat down at the right hand of The Father.  That, plus saving the world its sin, would certainly be the Stanly Cup of all things heavenly.  It appears to me that our scripture is indicating that there is direct link between joy and endurance.

This takes us back to where I started.  The joy set before me is running with my daughter next March and watching the family’s faces while I cross the finish line.  I could have easily quit today after 2 miles.  And it would have justified by the fact that 2 miles is further than I ran the day before. But I kept my eyes on the prize – seeing my family cheering for me at the finish line.  Was there any “joy” in the pain I felt in my lungs, feet, and legs?  Not hardly.  But I was able to endure knowing that there was something waiting for me on the other end.

In the scripture I referred too, the word endure means to “hold up under the pressure.” As the writer suggests, a marathon takes endurance of this nature.  There will most certainly be set-backs, injuries, and disappointments.  But if we ever keep before us the joy and satisfaction associated with reaching our goal, the endurance will become more tolerable.

Whether you are in ministry, business, or just trying to be a good parent or spouse, you MUST find the joy in what you doing.  Look ahead at the goal line and endure the hardships.  There will come a day when you too will be able to sit, look back, and be glad you stuck it out through the difficulties.

In the first 2 verses (Hebrews 12:1-2), the writer compares the life of the a Christian believer to that of a marathon runner. Mentioned in these verses are words commonly used in the arena of running such as “course, run, race, and endurance.” Importantly, the chapter is preceded by a list of people who have persevered and trusted God in spite of the level of suffering, persecution, or even death. We then, are challenged to run our race in that same manner. To run our race, the writer continues his athletic metaphor with some specific instructions.

We are first encouraged lay aside all encumbrances (as the NASB translates it). Although Kayla’s race started out with less the favorable temperatures, eventually the Sun came up and the day warmed. The gloves that earlier were a welcomed friend were eventually set aside for the sake of the race. I trust that you are seeing tune correlation. According to Thayer, the word means is used to describe a tumor or we can say that which is protruding. There are of things (and even people) that are perfectly fine to be a party too. However, If these begin to “protrude” onto our Christian course, they must be put aside. Kayla dropped her gloves at our feet at mile 14.

The next thing the writer indicates is that our sin needs to go. Sin is best defined by a single verse of scripture found in James 4:17, “to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” The word sin, in essence, means to miss the intended mark. It was a term used in the field of archery to describe the arrow not hitting the very center of the target. Kayla trained when she could have slept. She read material that helped her accomplish her goal. She spent time with people who have already finished a marathon and that would train her to do the same. Kayla stayed focused and hit the mark dead center – she finished. And just as the athlete avoids doing things to their mind and body that may cost them victory, we as Christians must train our mind, will, and emotions to “hit the mark” when it involves running the course that has been set before us. That’s Kayla’s race… what’s yours?

Using E-Sword (a free download at e-sword.net) I searched that phrase and this table appeared:

122 verses found, 122 matches

Here’s what I gained from it:  “When something becomes important enough to God for action, God makes it important to someone to act.”  Isn’t this essentially how this whole God/Moses thing came about? In Exodus 3:7 we see The Lord expressing a concern for His people.  Mind you, these people have been in Egypt for 400 years by this time.  I guess in “God years” that’s only about a ½ day.  But He’s God and it’s all cool with me.  The bigger picture is that God made the plight of the people important to Moses and Moses responded in obedience.  About a decade ago I heard The Lord say to me, “Show Southwest Georgia I am NOT what religion has made me out to be.”  Living here since the turn of the century, I can tell you that He has made the same thing known to many others.  For these “others” it may not have the same specifics accompanying their call as I have had.  For you it might be as simple as a nudge that says “pray for him” or “check on her.”  Don’t be too quick to write off a great idea in business or in ministry as just a dream.  That idea may be God directing you to do something that is important to Him.  When a permanent home for His people became important to God, He made it important to Abraham. When it was the Gentile nation, Paul’s heart was there.  And when it was you and I who were important to God – Jesus.

Maybe you are feeling the urge to have a sudden urge to have your heartburn checked out by a doctor.  Is “something” telling you to loose weight, or to check on a neighbor?  That just may be God letting you know that a particular concern has become important.

“Important” may not always mean urgent.  Something being important to God certainly doesn’t require that I act independently of Him.  It does however indicate that He is inviting me to be a part of something He is doing.  I’m down with that.