In my new healthy eating lifestyle, it’s not so much a numbers game as it objective based eating. Read on and see what I mean.

Dos:

1. Drink 2 liters of water a day (3 liters in hotter weather). This helps with the digestion process so food doesn’t sit and accumulate. It also flushes out toxins and is good for your heart and vascular system.
2. Eat more greens. The more raw the better. If you want an easy way to get your veggies, you can either drink a cup of Green Machine a day or look into Juice Pluse.
3. Eat slower. Eating fast has proven to cause weight gain and it’s harder on your digestive system when you don’t allow the enzymes in your saliva to do their part in digesting the food. Try chewing your food until it’s a pulp. Eating slower also will help you eat less. Your brain doesn’t recognize how full your stomach is until about 20min after you start eating. Try taking a smaller portion than normal, eating slower, and you may find that smaller portion quite satisfying.
4. Supplement with vitamins. The 3 big ones are fish oil, multi-vitamin, and B vitamins.

Don’ts:

1. Stop drinking soda (pop, coke, whatever you call it). When I stopped drinking carbonated drink years ago, it was amazing how the difference one choice like that made.
2. Cut out red meat. Not saying you can’t have it occasionally, but if you’re really analytical and need me to break it down for you, I’d say only allow one serving of red meat a week. Alternatively you should be eating white meats like chicken, turkey, and fish.
3. Don’t bring junk food into your home. It should be an automatic given that when you do your grocery shopping, ice cream, chips, and candy (or any other food in those aisles) don’t go in your shopping cart (the exception would be for a party or holidays).
4. Stop eating fast food! There’s nothing more to be said about that.
5. Watch out for cheese. If it’s an option to put on your sandwich…opt out. If there’s a meal with substantial amounts of cheese in it, definitely stay away. There’s a lot of fat in that stuff.

The last rule is that if you’re going to choose to eat healthy, you need to choose to live healthy all around. The reality is, eating is only part of it. You need to commit to making healthy choices throughout the day. Cut down on tv watching, exercise daily, have hobbies, get out and socialize.

Don’t follow this list to loose weight, do it to prevent or help your already existing high blood pressure, diabetes, congestive heart failure, etc.

However, I’m going to argue against that premise and lay out 5 reasons why having commitment and responsibility are more freeing and enjoyable.

1. In order to build a life of substance, there needs to be a solid foundation. You can’t build a skyscraper on sand, neither can you move up in life if you never settle down and take on responsibility. I’m not speaking of only moving up financially. In all areas of life, there’s room to grow, and growth requires a firm foundation (physically and emotionally).

2. Permanence allows for you to invest. Whether it’s investing in relationships, the community, your church, etc. Not that you can’t make a difference in a person’s life in a short time period, but some of the most rewarding moments in life are seeing your hard work and investments grow and mature over time.

3. Routine takes away the stress of the unknown. Some could argue that having bills, a family, and a full time job can be stressful. On the other hand, it can be just as stressful when you’re always wondering if you’ll get enough hours this week or if the you’ll have enough freelance projects, your retirement, when that special someone is going to come into your life, and living pay check to pay check can be rough when your car unexpectedly dies.

4. Stability and regularity build credibility. As you invest in those relationships, your network grows, and assuming you’re a person of character, so does your reputation. This is another aspect of moving up (from point 1). A good name is to be more desired than precious metals (that’s what the Bible says). And as a Christian, a good name is what you want because it implies an ability to more effectively minister to other people and have influence in their lives.

5. Permanence in the beginning allows for more independence in the long run. As you work that full time job, as you put in the years in one place, and as you build your savings account, the opportunities abound. Perhaps you can’t take weekend road trips all the time in the beginning, and maybe you can’t spend the summer backpacking through Europe, but a well planned and invested life will give you more opportunities in the long run to do just as many, if not more, amazing things that your friends did in the first few years of their young adulthood. Because when you reach your 30s and you find yourself well established, your friends who didn’t want to settle will find themselves facing a harsh reality that they’re 10yr behind the eight ball having to start a career, and their days of independence will for the most part have ended, while yours are just beginning.

*Side note: If God’s called you to live a life as a missionary, evangelist, or military personnel, that’s a different story. I’m talking about the people who aren’t necessarily looking to God’s leading.

Along with a relationship, 2011 started a 12-month program in Paramedic school. This proved to be the greatest challenge I’d ever encountered in my life. Over the course of the year, I encountered doctors, nurses, and military special forces who had at one point been through Paramedic school. They all agreed that it was the hardest thing they’d ever done as well. Because of juggling work, school, and clinicals, I lived out of my car a week at a time. Sleep was minimal and so was my social life. Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of stories to tell about my life in 2011 other than the countless emergency scenes I went on at work and clinicals.

Come the Fall, my school load had slightly lightened (that or I was use to the abuse by then), and I decided to go through firefighter school on top of Paramedic school which I regretted every minute of; but I made it through and have that under my belt. God was also teaching me lessons about what it means to live sold out for him. I’ve always had the mentality that my responsibility is no different than that of a pastor’s, but I reached a point of enlightenment in the Fall that I am a grown man and I can no longer fear confronting those older than me and challenging others to pursue Christ more.

An image came to mind that encouraged me. It’s that of a 16yr-old boy who falsified his age and now is on a shuttle boat about to land at Normandy on D-day. As the door drops, bullets are whizzing by, and friends are dropping dead all around him. He now realizes that he’s no longer a boy, but a man, and though there’s an overwhelming sense of fear in his innermost being, it’s time for him to man up and charge forward onto the beach. I feel that represents so well the feelings and thinking process that I went through this past year.

Since then, I’ve spent a great majority of my time during the week at a local coffee shop downtown called Remedy. Over time I’ve come to know all the workers and most of the customers. It’s proven to be a fantastic location for ministry. Multiple times a week I have opportunities for discipleship. Part of manning up is just cutting to the chase with people and asking them where they’re at spiritually. The conversations that have ensued have been incredible! On a number of occasions I’ll have other people who are listening jump into the conversation and in no time there’s an impromptu Bible study of 4–6 people.

Another blessing that Remedy has brought are the number of close relationships I’ve built with solid believers who are actively serving in their churches throughout Knoxville. Speaking of serving, I was convicted about the lack of service I had in my church. I felt that despite my insane schedule, there was no excuse or exemption for people not to serve in some way. So, I talked to my worship leader who’d been wanting me to play bass guitar and he lent me his to learn and start playing in worship. From there, I’ve now taken it upon myself to serve the church by encouraging other members to find areas to serve in by analyzing their gifts and if need be, creating ministry opportunities if something doesn’t exist already.

One other thing that God has challenged me to do this year is find someone that I can regularly disciple. It didn’t take long for me to find that person. I’ve been meeting with him weekly and doing an overview of the Bible as well as teaching systematic theology. I also work with him relationally by hanging out for recreational purposes at various times during the week.

The last thing that I can say is that in October I lost my job, and was without work for 2 weeks. God was good and provided me a position with the largest ambulance service in the world, but they were just starting up an operation in Knoxville. I was 1 of 8 people that was hired to be on the ground floor of this operation. It’s been the best job in EMS I’ve ever had or seen. My work partner has proved to be a very good friend that has gone outside of work and great mentor as I enter into the role as a Paramedic.

And that’s it in a nut shell. Now I’m a Paramedic. I’m very excited about the prospects for this coming year. I have a list of New Year Resolutions you can check out. Also, there’s some pictures of events from this past year.

God bless!

practicing on a dummy

my paramedic class

getting ready to do a clinical in surgery

after a day of fire school

UT football game

one of my many crazy scenes

playing pool with friends

first concert — Lady Antebellum

siblings

church leadership team playing ball before church

impromptu Bible study

• Take 2 mission trips
• Lead a small group
• Disciple 2 guys
• Make a weekly habit of rock climbing and dancing
• Eat better and exercise regularly
• Start nursing school
• Write 1 song per month
• Take time to reflect each day (going for a walk, before bed, etc)
• Spend 1hr in prayer and reading the Word each morning
• Read the Bible chronologically in 1 year

Occasionally I like to read through the whole book of Ecclesiastes in one sitting. At first it’s pretty depressing as you read about how everything we do is all in vain, but at the very end of the book, the author brings it all around and leaves the reader with a very simple and somewhat inspiring (depending how you look at it) message. In Ecclesiastes I believe I have found an answer to the age old question of finding God’s will for our lives.

Life is pointless.

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
(Ecclesiastes 1:2–11 ESV)

Your life situation is not unique.

Did you see that part in the previous passage where it says “there’s nothing new under the sun?” So often we like to think we’ve got a problem that no one else can relate to. The truth is, all problems can be categorized and boil down to a few things. Stop thinking your problem is this huge thing that can’t be solved. When you think your problem is unique, we tend to downplay the advice we receive, even of those who are much older and wiser.

The first step in finding God’s will is recognizing that His will is simple and so is your problem (in one sense). Don’t over think.

Do whatever you love.

So everything is pointless and nothing we do is new. We just keep reinventing the wheel and think we’re doing something novel when in reality we’re not. So, the author boils his conclusion of life down to this.

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecc 3:12–13)

The author continues to say this:

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. (Ecc 8:14)

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. (Ecc 11:9)

Basically it’s knocking the idea of karma. Good people sometimes suffer what we think bad people deserve and sometimes bad people enjoy the benefits that we think are befitting of good people. Therefore, the second quotes concludes that the whole matter is vanity and therefore we should just do whatever we enjoy doing. Whether it’s morally good or bad, it doesn’t humanly matter.

You will be held accountable.

Christians might freak a little bit at the thought the Bible would tell us we can do whatever we want. Don’t get too hung up on that. The point is that it’s all vanity. In reality, the author says in the very last sentence of the book, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Here on earth, what you do doesn’t hold much weight, but that’s not to say it doesn’t count for something in eternity.

The bottom line is to fear God and keep His commandments.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” That’s it, that’s all there is to say. You can share your story with me and make out your life situation to be as complex as you think it is, but my response will always conclude the same way. Are you fearing God and keeping his commandments?

What are the commandments?

Let me generally list off the commandments for our life.

1. Live/pursue a life that mirrors God’s holiness (Look at Exodus 20 and Galatians 5)
2. Be involved and actively serving in a local body of believers. (Hebrews 10:25)
3. Evangelize and disciple people around you. (Matt 28:19)

Bringing it all together.

As an example, you may question if cosmetology is something you can justify doing as a Christian for a living and how that fits into God’s plan. Well, my first question is if you ‘re actively being faithful in keeping the 3 commandments above? If you are and your desire to do whatever it may be isn’t sinful, then that’s all I want to know. In fact, I encourage people to be interior designers or cosmetologist (often thought of as vain occupations when in reality everything is vain) because you have an opportunity to relate and therefore minister to other people in those occupations whereas it may not be as easy for me.

Fear God, keep his commandments, and do whatever you desire. This is the chief end of man. You don’t need a writing on the wall. God has given us the liberty to do what we love and it doesn’t have to be directly spiritual, we just have to be intentionally spiritual wherever we are, doing whatever we’re doing.

by Robert Gebel

[Sung to the tune of “Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious”]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter’s profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints’ Bull’tin board:
“You cannot purchase merits, for we’re justified by grace!
Here’s 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!” Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
“Are these your books? Do you recant?” King Charles did demand,
“I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!” Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting “George” as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin’s model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let’s raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that ‘catholic’ is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Like I said, that was unique. There were different variables on that trip that made that type of living conducive. Here in the States it can’t work exactly that way. However, that same concept of one purse is healthy. I love being generous. I’m always buying people coffee or helping out where I can. I never look at the total or take a receipt. I don’t expect people to pay me back or return the favor. I just want other believers to have the same willingness to give from their pocket.

It’s such a touchy subject. I know budgets are a good thing, and you can’t spend without keeping track of your expenses to some extent. I generally know my limits, and I know I’m not going to go broke by doing simple things like buying people coffee or a meal. Christians need to realize that what we have is ultimately God’s, and therefore if we see a need, we need to be more liberal than we probably are with our money. It’s kingdom currency and I choose to live it out.

If therefore in doubtful cases you would discover God’s will, govern yourselves in your search after it by the following rules:

1. Get the true fear of God upon your hearts. Be really afraid of offending him. God will not hide his mind from such a soul. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).
2. Study the Word more, and the concerns and interests of the world less. The Word is light to your feet (Psalm 119:105), that is, it has a discovering and directing usefulness as to all duties to be done and dangers to be avoided…
3. Reduce what you know into practice, and you shall know what is your duty to practice. “If any man do his will he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17). “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments” (Psalm 111:10).
4. Pray for illumination and direction in the way that you should go.Beg the Lord to guide you in straits and that he would not permit you to fall into sin…
5. And this being done, follow Providence so far as it agrees with the Word and no further. There is no use to be made of Providence against the Word, but in subservience to it.

The Mystery of Providence, 1678, (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2006), 188–9, emphasis mine.

HT: Jonathan Parnell

Remember, everything on this site is to help you live more fulfilling lives that are extraordinary, breaking the status quo. Do I have life figured out? No, but do what you read, and it is guaranteed to work.

Meet strangers

I hear it all the time from friends that they struggle with making friends, finding people to do things with. Plain and simple, they’re lonely. These are cool people, they’re not socially inept, but socializing just isn’t working for them. It’s almost as if they expect relationships to just happen. Here’s the truth, 9 out of 10 times it’s up to you to make relationships happen.

The majority of our relationships are formed through common activities such as church, school and sports teams. The problem with those relationships is they’re usually formed around one particular interest, and those people you meet in those venues don’t usually have much more in common than that one interest.

So, get out there and start meeting people outside your normal venues. Wherever you go (ie gas stations, coffee houses, restaurants, etc) seek to engage people on a deeper level than the typical transaction.

People are wired to be self-centered (if you don’t believe me, than you’ve obviously never spent much time around a 2yr old). To make friends you need to view others as more important than yourself and look at others interests as more important than your own. I know you want a friend but you first need to be a friend before you can have a friend. When I meet someone and engage with them, I treat them like we’ve been best friends. It’s not the cultural norm how fast and aggressively I pursue relationships, but it works.

Take risks with strangers

When I meet someone that I think has potential, I make sure to get a number, send them a quick text so I’m in their phone, and within a couple days try to set up a lunch date or activity. I love being generous, so I always pay at our first meet up. It may or may not go anywhere from there, but that’s ok. Some friendships last a week and others for years. It’s important to take life one day at a time and squeeze the most out of it. Don’t try to live a fulfilling life for 10yr, strive just for today.

Remember, treat strangers like they’re your best friend. To me that seems like how Jesus would’ve treated people. So share what you have freely with everyone, it’s not yours anyway. God gave it to you and he can take it away just as fast.

Don’t be afraid to invite strangers over to your house. Listen, if you really want to be used by God and you say that you’re willing to be sent anywhere, then this shouldn’t be an issue. How do you expect to be willing to be sent to the Middle East with your family to preach the Gospel if you’re afraid of having strangers around your home and family here in the US?

Be consistent

Meeting strangers is a good practice, but sometimes having familiarity is good also. After all, one way to meet strangers is for friends to introduce you to their friends. So, become a regular. Even if it’s 2mi out of the way, go to the same gas station. Even if you don’t feel like coffee one week, hit up a local coffee shop regularly.

Be consistent with initiating activities. Don’t invite someone you just met out to lunch once and then expect them to initiate the next activity. With social media on the rise, it’s an undisputed fact that people are getting worse at knowing how to socialize. Sometimes we need to give people a little help.

Here’s the formula for making a best friend. Treat the person like they are your best friend, interact regularly and serve them.

Don’t be picky

I’m the worst at this. I want friends but I’m super picky about who I want to be friends with. You have to have the right looks, be on my “level”, be well connected, etc. I know, sounds pretty superficial, right? I’m just being honest and working on it.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons from my brother, Jonathan. He is the man. People flock around my brother, and it’s almost like he doesn’t even try. Here’s my theory about him. He shows no partiality to people. He’s kind to everyone (which I am too) but he goes beyond that and includes/hangs out with the “unpopular” kids even though my bro ranks high on the cool kids meter. That says a lot about his character and I think other people notice and it makes him a very attractive person.

This is an off the cuff blog post. It’s not meant to rank high on Google, but I hope it at least gives you some things to chew on. Set goals. Meet 1 new person a week, figure out where you’re going to hang, etc. Now get out there and make some friends.