Mental More Difficult Than Physical

I believe that most people can lose weight on a program like Weight Watchers, if they follow the plan, discipline themselves, and work toward the goal. Physically, the weight will drop at a rate of 1-2 pounds a week and that is a healthy expectation. Once I got into the process I felt that it was rather simple, but effective.

If you want to lose weight and tone up, you have entered a whole new level. It is not nearly as easy physically and is much harder mentally. I did not say that it could not be done, but it is taxing mentally. Allow me to show you what i mean.

I increased my caloric count this week up to an average of 1,911 per day. I burned an average of 1,245 calories a day. That put my net intake at 666 calories a day. I had plenty to eat. I consumed 114 grams of protein each day. Still trying to increase that figure, but gaining ground. I had 4 workouts in the past five days and did cardio on the treadmill twice a day.

Now, what does that previous paragraph mean to me? I lost 1.7 pounds, but am also strengthening my body. It is hard work. It is much harder than losing 1.7 pounds on Weight Watchers. It is not so hard physically--in fact I enjoy it, but it is mentally taxing. You have to take one day at a time!

What change have I noticed the most? My waist is getting smaller and I have biceps now that literally make me laugh. I've never had muscle like that. If I can make that kind of progress and lose, say a pound a week, next summer I'll be where I've been wanting to go. It will just have to be accomplished one day at a time.

Change does not take place overnight. We don't go to bed being overweight, wake up at the most healthy weight, and be more fit than any time in our lives. It takes time and patience. It is the same with our spiritual lives. When we come to Christ there is a change from "spiritual death to spiritual life". We then need to start growing spiritually. It would be awful to remain as a spiritual babe the rest of our lives!

In order to grow spiritually, we must begin the journey and it is a day by day pilgrimage. It is like losing weight, working out, and becoming physically fit. It becomes a way of life and we can experience the changes our lives are taking. More than that, others can see the changes taking place. They will encourage you. More next time...

Adjustments: A Necessary Part of Life

It has been a busy week. I have learned something over the years. You can have a plan for the week, but depending on what happens, a wise person adjusts to the circumstances. A sense of fulfillment will usually be the by-product of "going with the flow".

I finished a study on Hebrews at Trinity Oaks Retirement Community on Thursday and will start a new one on Judges next Monday. We have done a verse by verse study of 21 books of the Bible since I started at Trinity Oaks and that is very satisfying.

I must be one of the most fortunate pastors in Texas. I had the opportunity to teach the Bible for three years at Eagle Heights Christian Academy and now I continue to have the opportunity to teach five times a week at Trinity Oaks. I don't know another minister who has had that kind of opportunity. I am humbled and thankful.

This week I have spent time in hospitals from the Medical Center to Clear Lake and in between. I have had the opportunity to visit folks in Nursing Homes, as well as apartment visits. I love visiting with people who need pastoral care, even if they don't realize it.  I feel at home in the medical environment.

Also created a worship guide for our Sunday service at Trinity Oaks and a table top promo for each person in the dining rooms highlighting our Sunday worship experience. I wrote a sermon on the subject of Fear for this coming Sunday morning.

What have I done on my own time? I have worked out twice a day---usually at 5:30 each morning and then sometime 5:00-9:00 at night. My trainer suggested this week that I increase my calorie intake to 2,000 calories a day. It doesn't sound like much of a change, but when you are used to about 1,600, it seems like a lot more.

Tony, my trainer, suggested two breakfasts per day---one before my workout and a lighter one after the workout. He said he wanted me eating a minimum of three eggs a day. I love eggs, but that is a tall order. He said to eat my primary meal at lunch and taper off for dinner. Lots of calories at the beginning of the day and dropping off as the day goes on. I have accomplished it at a cost of gaining one pound this week. That goes against my grain, but I know that Tony knows what he is doing.

I had a good workout with my trainer this morning and then followed it up with my usual upper body workout and cardio on the treadmill. Tonight I did another 45 minutes on the treadmill. I spent 90 minutes on the workout this morning. Wish i had the time to do that every day. Just don't want to get up earlier than 5:00!

I hope you have a great weekend. I am planning a trip to Lake Jackson for my grandchildren's soccer game and then watch some great college football on Saturday. Remember, be ready to adjust at a moment's notice. It will pay great dividends.

Nutrition Basics That Nobody Told Me

Don't try to change your eating habits overnight.  It will lead to "cheating" and maybe even giving up your new plan. Take it in small steps over at least a three month period. I started off, as you know by now with Weight Watchers. When I mastered that plan I cut out sweets, cut way back on starches, added additional vegetables and fruits, and then went to mostly chicken and fish, with an occasional beef entree. If you can make these small changes, you will find yourself adding other changes as you move forward.

The Ideal goal of healthy eating is to develop a way of eating that you can do for the rest of your life. This took me way to many months to discover, but it is right on. I am not on a diet, I'm changing my lifestyle to something I can keep for the rest of this earthly existence.

We all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. It would be great if you could track that statistic and I would highly recommend My Fitness Pal. I plot my weight, food intake, exercise, and review the carbs, protein, and fat, not to mention sugar and sodium. It is a great little app.

Don't eliminate the foods you really like. If you like bacon, eat it once a week. If you eat something that you like that cost you an additional number of calories, cut that number on what you eat the rest of the day. You won't miss what you cut back on and the total calorie count will be where you want it to be.

Smaller portions are probably a must for most of us. The world "super-sizes" everything. We have to change that kind of thinking for ourselves. I weigh my entree when I am home and shoot for 1/2 cup of any vegetable that I eat. My trainer says, "Pile on the vegetables, They are complex carbs and will digest slowly and make you feel full." I don't know about that, but sometimes I add an additional vegetable in place of cornbread and obviously, I come out ahead as you can imagine.

I believe in eating breakfast. I usually eat oatmeal one day, cereal the next day, and an egg the third day. I started out with an English Muffin, but cut it back to 1/2 muffin after a short period of time. I have tried turkey bacon and turkey sausage with an egg and it does make you feel like it is special.

I am learning to eat a mid-morning snack (like a banana), lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, and dinner. It is like eating five small meals a day. Why do this? It keeps your energy and metabolism up.

I believe that green vegetables are a must for someone trying to change their eating habits. I like green beans, spinach, broccoli, but my favorite is lettuce, which is probably why I eat a lot of salad. I have been eating black-eyed peas and have recently added Great Northern Beans, pinto beans and just any other kind of bean that I can find.

Lastly, but not the least, reduce the amount of sugar you are consuming. I know you like sweet tea, you're from Texas, but try making the change. Sweeten it yourself. It will mean less sugar. Stop salting your food. That was difficult for me to do, but don't miss it anymore.

Good luck with your new way of eating. It will pay dividends over the next year and lifetime!

Eating Healthy Can Be Done

I didn't know what it meant to "eat healthy" for most of my life. My wife would say that in the past I lived to eat and she would eat to live. I guess she was more right than she was wrong. But, today I eat to live. Let me tell you how I did it with some tips to get you there if needed.

I always thought a person needed dessert as part of the primary meal of the day. I thought potatoes or rice was a staple with vegetables and bread----bread was the greatest from garlic toast to biscuits to cornbread. I didn't know what smaller quantities meant. I must have consumed 3,000 calories a day on my best days.

Then I got a handle on it in September of 2011. I went on Weight Watchers Online for Men and that helped shape what I would eat. I began dropping 1-1.5 pounds per week and had plenty to eat. After about six months I stopped and began gaining weight again. This went on for about a year. Then I got back on it seriously.

I cut out dessert almost completely and it doesn't bother me to see anyone else down a hot doughnut,  fancy piece of pie, or one of those homemade desserts that everybody's mouth waters over. I do eat a No Added Sugar Klondike Bar as a treat.

Then I drastically cut back on starches. I might have potatoes once a week. White rice has gone by the wayside. Mac & Cheese is a thing of the past. Casseroles have disappeared from my menu.  I have also cut out bread products after noon.

This morning I had cereal/milk, 1/2 an English muffin, 1/2 teaspoon of butter, and coffee. At lunch I had a salad with grilled chicken and a diet Pepsi. Tonight I plan on having a small salad, fish, and a vegetable. My protein comes from mostly fish and chicken, but occasionally I will have beef or pork. I usually weigh it when I am eating at home. The Klondike Bar usually comes into play after dinner (a throwback to my old days) and coffee. I know that I get plenty to eat and am satisfied.

What I have described has taken a while to put into place, but it is one of the best disciplines I have ever enacted. The other would be the exercise that I do. Together, they are making a stronger and leaner Mike.

This morning I did the treadmill for 40 minutes at 15 degrees at 3.0-3.7 mph. I also did an upper body workout for 45 minutes. I plan to go back to the gym tonight and do another 48 minutes on the treadmill. Sixty minutes on the treadmill and the body workout is a minimum for me. You have to custom design a regiment for yourself that will take you where you want to go. Don't be afraid to experiment.

I will wait until the next installment to talk about 'Tips on Healthy Eating" I rambled on too much as I got into this one. Start doing something for yourself this weekend. There has to be s starting point!

How Important Is A Number?

Many people today know their Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, Triglycerides and many other bodily functions that notify us when something is irregular, or is within acceptable levels. Those trying to lose weight may need another reading in their inventory that they may not be aware of right now.

One's Basal Metabolic Rate, or BMR is important. Why? Your BMR measures the energy used no matter what you are doing, even if you are in a coma and lying in bed. Your body needs a minimum number of calories to sustain itself. 

Every year it becomes harder to eat what you want because this BMR indicator decreases with age. This is one of the reasons that some people put on weight as they get older. They believe that they can continue to consume the same calories that they have always taken into their bodies. Some dieters deprive themselves in hope of losing weight. This lowers your BMR and what you thought was the right thing to do actually works in reverse. You either plateau or gain weight.

If you are interested in finding out your BMR, google BMR and it will give you multiple sites to look at. The formula is simple -- all you need is your height, weight,sex,and age. My BMR is 1,788 calories. That figure will sustain my weight if I don't do anything else. You can also determine what your body needs based on your level of activity. Just follow the information that will take you to another link. When I am not working out, I have a sedentary lifestyle, so I would multiply the 1,788 (BMR) times 1.2 and this gives me what my body usually needs, which in my case is 2,146 calories. If you want to lose weight, you can make it really simple by subtracting 15-20% from that larger figure. It brings me down to 1,717 and I should be able to lose some weight by following that intake.

NOTE: 3,500 calories is 1 pound of fat. Reduce intake and increase "burn off" and you will lose over a period of time. Try out what I've posted here today. I am experimenting with it myself. Last week I increased my calorie consumption to 2000-2100 and I showed an incremental weight gain each day. I cut it back since Tuesday to an average of 1,850 and I've lost incrementally each day. I suspect that it will come out to 1.0-1.5 pounds by next Tuesday.

Yesterday's Results: Consumed 1,732 calories; burned off 954 calories with 60 minutes on the treadmill and a 45 minute lower body workout; leaving a net caloric intake of 778 calories. It showed up as a loss on the scales this morning, but I had to have gained muscle as well. Good luck to you through this weekend!

Next Blog Subject: Food (The idea is in my head, but don't know yet where I am going to go with it)

We All Make Spiritual Choices

Tuesday, October 1

Today's Results:  Consumed 1,885 calories, burned 1,460 calories = a net caloric intake of 425

Getting fit and losing weight is a lot like the Christian life.  People make a decision to lose weight, or do strenuous workouts to tone their bodies. They make this a priority in their lives. Likewise, people choose to grow spiritually and they go about doing it. It is all about choices!

First, if a person takes in more nourishment than their body needs, they will gain weight. Their body will store what they don't need as fat until they do need it. Second, if one exercises their body, it will add muscle, burn further calories and make them lean and strong.

Far too many Christians try to live like the world and fail to take in the spiritual nutrients they need because they are busy living a worldly life. They are good people, just living like their friends during the week and trying to catch up one day of the week. They do not make time to read their Bible, so they lack the spiritual nutrition that can give them. They fail to pray because they do not think about it. This is another failure to pick up what their lives need.

My trainer told me about the first cavemen. They hunted for their food and eating took place whenever they were successful on their hunt. They might go days or even a week before they would find food. Their bodies stored fat because it did not know when the body would be fed again. Some Christians are the same way--they store the "fat" of the world because they are so into it and don't know when the next course will be available. Therefore, they become "spiritually flabby" over a short period of time.

Far too many believers do not work out, so they do not add muscle, the body eats on the muscle and then the stored fat and they fail to gain spiritual strength. They remain at a "spiritual stand-still" for extended periods of time an are surprised when they look around and see others pass them by spiritually speaking.

The next time you are out walking or working out with weights, stop and think about what you are doing for the benefit of your body. The body is the physical "tent" that you are living in for an average of 78-83 years. What are you doing for your spiritual life? Are you feeding it properly? Are you exercising it so you can get the most out of it?

Protein: Vital to Losing Weight

I keep hearing that protein is vital in losing weight, but I didn't really understand it until today. A person who is trying to lose weight and get fit should take in protein after a workout because protein helps repair and build new muscle. Now get this--the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns at rest. 

Now, here is the key to increasing protein---when you take in more protein, you need to watch your intake of carbs and fat carefully, or, yes, you will gain weight. I think that has been my problem since I began trying to increase protein since around August 6. Now, I think I get it. People who double the amount of protein consumed lose more fat and maintain more muscle than people who only eat the recommended daily amount.

Let's apply this to daily living. How much protein should one eat in order to lose weight? Multiply your weight by 0.36. Then double that number. A 200 pound man would need to consume 72 grams X 2 = 144 grams of protein. Let me put that in perspective for you. I only consumed 105 grams of protein today. My top three "protein busters" were salmon, chicken, and a protein shake. As you can see, I have a ways to go to hit that "144". No wonder I felt stuck at my current weight!

What do I do for exercise? I burned 977 calories today via 63 minutes on the treadmill at 15 degrees from 2.7 to 3.7 mph. Also had an Upper Body workout with 11 pieces of equipment that lasted about 45 minutes. I don't convert the workout into calories burned. I guess it could be done, but I don't have the time to do it. It is best for me to do two sessions a day---I just don't have the time to do it all at once.

So, today I consumed 1,827 calories, burned 977 calories and that equals a net calorie intake of 850. My former trainer said he consumed 3,000 calories a day and burned 3,000 calories a day! I can't relate to that, but he is 20 and I am 68. I am pleased with what I'm doing.

I want to end this by talking about balance in nutrition. Today I was 8 grams over in carbs and 11 grams over in fat. I could easily cut out 110 calories in carbs and cut 180 calories of fat for a total cut of 290 calories. Then I need to add those 39 grams of protein or about 340 calories. I would end up gaining 50 calories onto my 1,827, but my intake would be balanced. It can be done...now all I have to do is do it!  My sodium was under by 333 mg. and my sugar was right on the button. Maybe if I can pull that off, I'll be right where I want to be.

You can do it too. I didn't know squat 90 days ago, but I am learning and I see myself as the so-called "work in progress".  Looking to get even healthier and maybe lose another 35 pounds, inches, and generally tone-up. Join me---you can do it!

Amazed By What I Don't Understand

Just when I think I am comprehending how the human body works, I realize that I am still in the starting blocks. Let me share with you the latest that I've discovered.

I increased my calorie consumption by about 300 calories. It was difficult to consume those extra calories, but I have followed that change since this past Tuesday. I gained 1.5 pounds. That did not exactly get me excited! Yet, I was told that it will take a few days for my body to "catch up" to the change. I decided to give it a chance, but did not want to gain more than 5# in order for it to adjust.

This morning I worked out for about 55 minutes. It felt really good. I ate some breakfast (would recommend that to anybody starting out) and then got cleaned up to go to work. I decided that I would put on some new jeans I bought in Mobile during our vacation in early August. They were snug when I bought them (new size), but I knew I would grow into them.

Get this--since I bought the jeans, my weight has fluctuated 2-3 pounds and I have really not lost any weight. I put on the jeans and they fit! I think it would be safe to say that I am even closer to the next lower size than I am to a perfect fit. I don't really understand that fully, but I'll give it a try. If I am wrong about my understanding, just correct me.

Muscle weighs more than fat. I think I have lost some additional fat and replaced it with muscle,, yet I am not losing 2# a week like I did before I started getting serious about this working out. I would not trade what I've accomplished at Dynamic Fitness for the weekly two pound loss! I am interested to see what will happen over the next 90 days.

If you need some extra motivation, come and join me at Dynamic Fitness. I begin every Monday-Friday at 5:25 A.M and I'm through no later than 6:30. I'll even teach you what I've learned about food. If this kind of regiment is not for you, just get out and start walking. You will be surprised and maybe even AMAZED at your results, even if you don't understand everything! Later...

Consistency and Dedication

The two words that stick out in my mind on this Wednesday afternoon are "consistency" and "dedication". As for me, that is what it takes to be on the road to healthy living.

My alarm goes off six days a week at 5:00 A.M. I am not an early morning person. Five o'clock has always been out of the question. It has never been in my realm of possibilities. But, when I took a hard right turn and joined Dynamic Fitness, I knew that for me to be successful, my journey would have to begin early in the morning. So, I am up by 5:00 and out the door by 5:15. I turn the radio on to Bill King, my favorite national sports talk show host and I am on my way to the gym.

This morning I started my warm-up at 5:25 with ten minutes on the treadmill and then proceeded to work out on 11 pieces of equipment all working my upper body. I was finished by 6:30 and headed home. I really enjoy the workout, just wish that I had started years ago. Then it is back to Bill King and home for breakfast, before I get cleaned up to go to work. Tonight, after I get through here at the church (7:45 ish) I will head home, change clothes, and head to the gym for 45 minutes on the treadmill.

I usually do an upper body workout/cardio on M-W-F, cardio on T, lower body/cardio on Th, cardio on Saturday, and rest my body on Sunday. That is where consistency and dedication come into play for me. If I take care of today, tomorrow I can do the same thing.

My physical trainer has moved to a new Dynamic Fitness gym that is opening on Post Oak, so I got a new trainer this week. He is giving me agility training that is much more difficult than doing a workout with weights or cardio on a treadmill, but I know it will pay off in the long run...if I survive. I am just kidding, but my anxiety was up going into our first meeting on Tuesday.

There is one thing that I am having to learn that seems to be a paradox. To lose I am going to have to increase my calorie count. Eat more to lose weight??? Well, I am going to try it. I started the increase yesterday from about 1,700 calories to 2,000. The additional calories seem like poison to me at this stage,but everything has been right for me so far. Besides, I believe in my new trainer.

What has happened to me over the past 90 days? I have lost 19# of fat and 5% body fat, while gaining so much muscle (can't remember that figure). My resting heart rate has dropped, my blood pressure has dropped, I look better, my pants size continues to decrease, and I continue to get healthier. I have lost about 60 pounds since I started this journey and plan to lose another 35 pounds over the next 6-12 months.

I have come to the conclusion that almost anybody can become healthy and as a result, become fit, lose weight, and take on a new lifestyle. It is making the decision to do it, taking one day at a time, and desiring to be healthy, as opposed to just losing weight.

The Journey To Get Healthy

A friend at work suggested that I start blogging about my journey of getting physically fit, so here is the first of several installments that I'll be writing over the next few weeks.

Two years ago I decided to lose some weight and get healthy. At the time, I had no idea how far it would take me. I began by signing up with Weight Watchers. I was familiar with the program having used it about 30 years earlier. I signed up for the online program and got it going as part of my new life.

I immediately began to lose a few pounds.

As soon as I began eating right, I added exercise. I started out with 30 minutes a day and slowly increased it in 15 minutes increments. When I got to 90 minutes a day, I added stairs gradually until I reached 16 flights of stairs within the 90 minutes brisk walk. I dropped about 45 pounds. I was pleased with my progress.

In March of 2012, about seven months after I started this successful regiment, I went on a trip to Israel. I didn't do to badly during the twelve days I was there, but did not watch what I was eating and had to exercise when I could. Upon returning home, I lost the momentum that I had and fell off the wagon. By the end of the year, I had regained almost 30 of those pounds I had lost.

In February of 2013 I vowed to get back on my "healthy routine", so at the end of the month I began my journey back. I entered every crumb that went into my body, got my cardio back to where it has been and dropped 18 pounds in March, April, and May.

It was in May that I made the most profound discovery that I could make. I always thought my main goal was to lose weight. Then i discovered that it was really a change in my lifestyle that would remain with me throughout this life. I now wanted to not only be healthy, but fit as well. This discovery changed everything I thought was real.

It was the last week in May and I knew that my next step was to ascend to a whole new level.  I joined Dynamic Fitness, a relatively new gym about 5 minutes from our house. I checked them out closely and then visited the facility to see it. I had always felt like I didn't belong in a gym. Within the first 30 days, I knew I needed a Physical Trainer to help me know what to do and how to use the equipment. So, at the end of June I added a trainer to my life.

During the first 90 days I lost 19 pounds, 5% body fat, and gained lean muscle (can't remember how much). Needless to say, I got rid of my "big boy" clothes and continue to move into smaller sizes. I will tell you what I am doing in the next installment,

I want to end this segment by sharing what has helped me the most. First, joining Dynamic Fitness was the best thing I could have done at the time. All that I had done previously prepared me for this step. I now feel at home and love my workouts. Second, I got the My Fitness Pall app and it is great to enter what you have eaten, the exercise you've done, and the progress you're making with you weight. It is easy to use and I think has been significant to my progress. Third, the commitment to taking one day at a time. I discovered that I can't do anything about yesterday and tomorrow is not even here yet, but I can do something about today. I'll tell you what that is in the next installment.

Have a great day and if you know someone who is trying to make a change in their life, invite them to join me for Journey of A Lifetime!

Change and Charles

Scripture: "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:6 ESV

Weight Watchers reported in December that Charles Barkley will be their "Ambassador" to attract men to their Weight Watcher's Online program in 2012. It is reported that Mr. Barkley lost 27 pounds following WW's format. He should attract a large number who have followed him during his Hall of Fame career in the NBA.

Every January people all over America desire to lose weight, but many are not willing to pay the price by February. It is not just extra pounds that people want to lose. Some would like to discard some bad habits, take on perhaps a service to others, or do something personal for themselves. It is all about change.

Every Christmas for the last 35 years I have spent the last week of the year in Mobile, Alabama. It has been a great time for us to spend with family and friends. I usually spent most of those weeks at a desk in my mother-in-law's dining room. I would plan for the coming year, complete writing projects, send notes to particular individuals, and read. It was my time to do what I wanted to do while Patti shopped. All that changed this year, by design.

This year I spent very little time at that desk. I did not read one page of a novel. I did a little planning, but did not send any notes. I probably did not spend two hours doing what I've done for 35 years. This year my top priorities were to walk an hour each day and shop for what I wanted. I walked every morning in the Bel Air Mall and shopped every afternoon. It was out of my realm, but I enjoyed it immensely.

It is all about change. You have to want to do it, whether it is losing weight, exercising, writing, or planning. You have to want it badly enough to be willing to give up something else. If you want to have a daily Quiet Time in 2012, you have to be willing to give up the time to do it and it has to be worth more to you than what you seem to be missing. Our spiritual lives can be improved and changed just like our physical and emotional lives. We too often let our spiritual lives slide and they end up taking a back seat to everything else in life.

Application: What would you like to change in your life?

What would it take to start this change?

Would you be willing to give it a 30-day trial?

Prayer: Lord, it is a new year and I am sick and tired of the old me. I am frustrated concerning my constant procrastination. I can't stand the old habit of ______________ that I've held onto for so long. I fail to do some of the things _____________that I know would bring about change in my life. I want to begin this year with you and take my eyes off of myself. Guide me through the days ahead that I might implement what would change me in this new year. I trust in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Gold Is A Precious Commodity

It has been awhile since I last wrote a post. I am coming to the end of my third year of teaching and it has been more than fulfilling. I love my 90 kids and really enjoy teaching, but I want to have a little more family time. Every week night is filled and about 15 hours on the weekend. I will be replacing my teaching duties with chaplain responsibilities at one of our retirement centers here in Pearland. I hope to have more time to write and even read.

I spent 16 Saturday mornings this school year watching my grandson play soccer. His parents, Jared and Tiffany, took on the responsibility of coaching Reid's soccer team. They began last fall and just completed another season this past Saturday. They were very successful.

Jared and Tiffany took a team of 4-6 year olds who had no previous experience. They had no skills and were typical of what you would expect at their first game last September. They lost. Jared and Tiffany began teaching them skills---you know, how to dribble, how to pass, how to shoot, how to play defense, how to use strategy, and the list can go on and on.

They won the rest of their games during the fall season. This Spring they were undefeated and pretty much outclassed everybody they played. Some of the players will be moving up to the 8 year old level this fall, so the team will not be together again. Too bad we can't see more of them.

This is just in from Sports Radio...Gold outscored their opponents 61-30 in the Fall and 80-13 in the Spring! Reid was the second youngest on the team and led the team with 21 goals this Spring. The next leading scorer was only one goal behind Reid. Well, maybe it wasn't on Sports Radio, but it was their loss!

I am proud of Reid. His dad, Jared, was a really good soccer player in his day, but Reid is better at 5 years old than Jared was at the same age. It will be interesting to see how he progresses. He favors Jared in a lot of his moves.

Yet, Reid, does not receive my most praise tonight. I am most proud of Jared and Tiffany, who took a group of kids who had no obvious experience and turned them into a tremendous 4-6 year old team. I can't believe how far they have come this year. They can coach better than I ever could. They also had the full cooperation of the parents and that is special in today's world.

Some of our journeys in this life are similar to what I have just detailed. Don't miss any of the "journeys" or you will be missing some of life's beautiful moments.

Changing and Not Changing

It has been hovering around 100 degrees for at least a week now. It is the hottest part of the summer. It is suppose to be hot, no different than any other year.

Precious babies are born. One of our couples in our church had a baby on Sunday. She was born around the 28th week and weighed 2 lbs. 8 oz. She was taken off the ventilator the next day and is doing just great. There are a lot of sick people around us and some of them will die within the week. Others, in great health, will experience a sudden accident and leave this earthly existence. This is all about the human experience.

We are going through the toughest economic time since the Great Depression. I heard this morning that unemployment figures have increased again. One group says that the economy is improving, while others say that we are still in the thick of it and there is no improvement. I believe I just heard that foreclosures are back up. Maybe they really never improved. The Dow Jones is slowly moving upward, but economists say, "Beware"!! Why do they say that? In 1930 the stock market gained back 50-70% before the bottom fell through and we were into a massive depression. They say that those indicators are showing their ugly heads. We've never been here in our lifetime, so it is hard to say that it is a regular part of the life cycle. Time will tell us.

There is one thing that remains constant, or the same. Our Lord is the same as He has been in the past and will be in the future. He does not change. He is the constant in our life when everything else is failing. Jesus will never let us down. He will be our constant companion. We can always count on Him, even when the weather is uncomfortable, when death and illness are knocking at our door, or even when the economy is falling apart and everything seems so hopeless. Think about that and then give thanks that you belong to Him and He belongs to you.

The Hottest Day of the Year

My day started yesterday in a hospital room visiting one of our members. Then it was north on 59 to the Humble area. On 1960 East I turned into an entrance called Tour 18. It is a unique venue of 18 of the great holes in golf. Every hole is difficult. I played there for the first time in 1997 and I don't think my score has improved on that course in all of these years.

Yesterday was not about a great score for me. I was going to be playing with Jason Crandall and it is always fun to be on a golf course with Jason. Hit hits the ball as hard as anyone I've ever seen and keeps the ball in play. Jason was only +1 for Amen Corner and that is a pretty good feat. I think he scored a 90 with a 44/46.

Like I said, yesterday was not about scoring for me. I knew I was in trouble on the first hole when I had difficulty getting out of a bunker. There were some bright moments, but most of it was not worth writing about. I had a good time with Jason and that made it all worth it.

Talk about HOT yesterday. I thought maybe it was the hottest day that I ever played. It was around 100 with a heat index around 108. It just zapped you of your energy. We used ice water on our faces from time to time and drank lots of fluids, but it didn't seem to hold for the whole 18 holes. On the par 3 17th hole I landed in a green-side bunker AGAIN. I didn't play the last hole.

Am I going out today to a local course? Heavens no. It is suppose to be hotter than yesterday. I love golf, but not on days like this weekend. When I got into my car yesterday and started heading home, my temperature gauge showed 100-101 degrees. It is usually within a degree of the real temperature.

What does this have to do with our spiritual lives? There will be days when we are zapped and our lives feel like we have no strength. Ice water will do no good. Standing in the shade will not help. It feels like you life is falling apart. There is only one anecdote: Dependence on the Lord.

This year's Fourth of July weekend has been great. The whole "family" came over on Saturday for brisket and everything you could put with it. The grand kids played inside and outside to their hearts content and the adults had a wonderful time together.

Yesterday our church had it's annual Freedom Jam. The place was packed with people, lots of tailgating, great music, and great activities for the kids. It has become a huge summer activity for our church and community. A little before nine, we went across the street to the LA Fitness parking lot, which is a little higher in elevation than our church property, to watch the fireworks. It was amazing watching the "dancing eyes" of our grandchildren as they watched the fireworks explode. It was a magical moment to see that surprise in their eyes. It was like seeing a first-time experience through their eyes.

Today is becoming a day of rest. Patti and I are both on our laptops in front of the TV, but tomorrow will bring us back to reality when the normal week returns. I work at the church and Patti has a few things to do as well.

Patti has a big birthday coming up on Friday. It is the big "Six O". She seems much younger than her chronological age. We are going out to dinner on Thursday night with our dear friends of 32 years--Leroy and Sharon Krolczyk. Gosh, Patti would have been 28 then, that's younger than our own children!

I have learned something on our recent journey to Hawaii. Steve Corn, our son-in-law, has me thinking about "risk-taking" this morning. When we did the Zip Line I realized that it was not so hard to jump off of a box 85 feet in the air. If you can't jump, you never zip line. What is important is the journey on the zip line and the landing. The landing is what concerned me the most. Could I land in that small area and stop enough so the "catcher" could do his job? The answer was "Yes", but I was not sure. That was the risk for me.

More than a decade ago, Steve was the Youth Pastor where I served as Senior Pastor. Steve wanted to start a new ministry to the street kids of that city. Many were skateboarders, but most had never been inside a church or influenced by its ministry. Steve has a dream and it was risky. Imagine 200 unchurched teenagers in your church building. Not a big deal?? You've not been where I've been! This was an atmosphere where even picture hanging was controlled by a committee. Two hundred unchurched kids and this kind of control probably did not go together.

A significant number of those teenagers came to Christ. It all started with Steve's dream, but the journey was what was important. The ministry could have come to a sudden halt at several different times during those formative years, but Steve held true in the midst of pressure and assault. Today, many of those young adults are professional church workers like pastors, worship leaders, graphic artists, teachers, missionaries and the like. I know Steve is proud of them. Some adults did not understand, but Steve did. It was all about the journey and "landing on the other side".

Thank you Steve for allowing me to watch and work with a true risk-taker!

Fantasy Islands--The Epilogue

The Journey to Hawaii began the first week of August last year. I was sitting at the computer in Orange Beach, Alabama and the thought came to be about taking Patti to Hawaii for our 35th wedding anniversary. Then the thought entered my mind to take the family. I suggested it to Patti and she said, "How?" That became my adventure for the next eleven months.

I made airline reservations for us while we were still on vacation at the beach. We were then committed to at least going to Hawaii. Then came the reservations for an NCL cruise of the islands. That just seemed like the wise thing to do and now we know it was definitely the right decision for us.

Once we had a flight and knew where we were staying(Pride of America), the rest was just research concerning what we were going to do while we were there. That was fun and we all got in on the act. I planned almost every detail, but my family knows that I'm like that. They may laugh at me, but also sort of expect it.

Why did I feel that this was so important? First of all, we wanted the kids with us when we celebrated #35. Second, we thought it would be great for all of us to be together for an extended period of time. As it turned out, it was even without children. Third, we wanted them to experience some time with just their spouses, just relaxing. I think it accomplished those things. I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially if you really enjoy being together as a family.

What could be an encore? I'll keep it to myself for now...

Fantasy Islands--Day #9-10

Saturday/Sunday--June 26-27

On Saturday morning we had breakfast about 7:00 a.m. in a really crowded breakfast area. Everyone was getting ready to leave the ship as soon as they could. It was kind of sad to see this great time come to an end, but it was also reality.

We disembarked about 8:30. It was so easy. It was simple compared to our first cruises in 1986 and 2000. I guess the cruise lines have learned a lot and come a long way since then.

We were met by our excursion company at the exit to the terminal and we boarded a bus for a City Tour and Pearl Harbor. It rained during most of the City Tour, but that was okay. We ended up at Pearl Harbor about 10:30 and remained there until about 3:00. Did we need that much time at Pearl Harbor? No, but that was the way to get a guaranteed ticket to the USS Arizona. The boat ride to the Arizona and viewing it only lasted about 45 minutes, but it was a special place to be. Oil still leaks to the surface every few minutes. It is really an underwater cemetery...a place where over a thousand men gave their lives for their country.

There is also a baby girl buried with all of those sailors. You say, "How?" A sailor and his wife had twin girls. One of them died at birth. The sailor was being transferred to Pearl Harbor. He made arrangements with a chaplain to lay her to rest in the Pacific on the morning of December 7, 1941. The sailor and chaplain boarded the Arizona with the cremated remains of his daughter, but never had the time to do what they intended to do. Months later divers attempted to remove the urn, but it was too dangerous to retrieve it and the urn remains there to this day with her daddy and the chaplain.

We headed to the airport about 3:30. Our flight was scheduled for 9:15 P.M., so we knew we had a long wait. When we checked in, we found that the flight was delayed and was not scheduled to depart until 10:55. We think it finally got away around midnight, but we were offered an earlier flight around 7:20. That was magnificent.

We arrived in Houston the next morning. It had been a long ride. We were lucky to get a couple hours of sleep, maybe in smaller increments. The journey was over, but it was wonderful for our family. We will not soon forget this special time together.

Fantasy Islands--Day #8

Friday--June 25

This was our last full day on the ship. Patti and I walked our two miles like we had been trying to do each day and had breakfast. Then I think I did some more reading, before we met the rest of the family by the pool. I then read some more.

At 2:00 the cruise ship departed the island. The next time it docked would be in Honolulu and the trip would be over. We spent some time packing and then went out on the deck to see the area where Jurassic Park was filmed. It was beautiful.

That evening we had our last meal with Christian, our waiter, who had made some really wise choices for us during the week. He became a special element of our evening meals. After dinner I wanted to do something that I knew would be soothing based on my experience from the last cruise we were on ten years ago. I went to listen to a guy play the piano and sing in the piano bar. It was quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. Patti met me there and we went to a show.

We put our luggage outside our cabin door, where it would be picked up after midnight and went to bed.

Fantasy Islands--Day #7

Thursday--June 24

What could top snorkeling in a cove off the coast of Kona? I am not sure much could top it, but let's look at Thursday. It may not top the snorkeling experience, but it is up there in that area.

We had a really leisure morning on the ship following breakfast. I love to read novels. So I was working on novel by Vince Flynn entitled Act of Treason. My favorite place to read was out on the deck in a deck chair, but I also used the library and our cabin. I did some reading on this particular morning outside. It was refreshing and restful. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Around noon we got a taxi cab and drove to the Zip Line facility. We were all excited, with some of us probably a little anxious. They met us at the front gate and then we walked to a staging area, or a waiting area. It wasn't long until they were setting us up with the gear and giving us an education about zip lining. Then the fun began.

The first thing we did was climb a rope ladder that was probably 60 feet in the air. I did wonder how that would work when we got to the steepest part of the ladder, but it was doable. I didn't have any problem in stepping off into space, but worried about the landing area. There was someone on the other side ready to catch us, but that landing area was pretty small! It went well. Patti "unfroze" and she did very well too.

This was the only Zip Line in Hawaii that once you went up into the trees, you didn't come down for 2.5 hours. You would zip line from tree to tree, usually about 85 feet in the air. You would go use more rope bridges along the way. Most people think that is the scarest part of the experience. I guess it was from my perspective as well, but you are strapped in.

We covered seven zip lines over the next couple of hours, the longest was about 800 feet. I never did have a problem stepping off, but it took me three our four lines to overcome the fear of not hitting that small platform. It was fun. They had snacks waiting for us at the end. We could not have asked for better people helping us enjoy this experience.

Imagine the opportunity to overcome fear two days in a row. Imagine conquering this fear with your family. These were the same people who stood by me through thick and thin. You know what? They did the same thing in the water and up in the trees! It was a great experience for our entire family.

Fantasy Islands--Day #6

Wednesday--June 23

We woke up on "hump day" on the island of Kona. We had a similar breakfast to what we had been having and then it was off to our next excursion.

This was the one island that we had to take a tender to shore, so we left early in order to make sure that we arrived by 9:00. We got there at 8:30, so we had to wait, but it was worth every moment.

We finally boarded the boat about 9:20 feeling like we may have missed 20 minutes of our trip. This would turn out to not be true. It was one of those boats where you sit around the perimeter of the boat. We went out about 16-17 miles down the coast. We saw many dolphins on the way right next to our boat. When we got to the spot our guides were looking for, it was time to snorkel. There were about 20 of us and Patti and I were the only ones who did not snorkel at that point. The others were in the water a good 45 minutes.

Then to make up for our late departure, they took us down the coast a little further to a beautiful cove where we anchored. They put small air vests on Patti and I and over the side I went. I felt a state of panic at the outset, but as soon as I began to float, the panic left me. Then I put my face into the water and the whole world opened up to me. The fish were beautiful and the coral was magnificent. I guess we were there about 45 minutes also, but I lost all track of time. I really did not want to leave when it was over. Patti experienced it as well.

We conquered our fear. It was almost a spiritual experience. I can't quite put it into words. Our two guides showed us so much kindness, patience, and caring concern. I thought that this must have been what it was like to be on an adventure with Jesus. We got back about an hour later than it was scheduled for, so we really got our money's worth and we all knew it.

That evening we ate in the more formal dining room. That really meant long pants and a polo shirt or Hawaiian shirt, as opposed to shorts. I had swordfish and lobster on this night. We just had a great two-hour, multi-course dinner together and the food was secondary to the great family fellowship.

Then it was another show or maybe shows and off to bed.