Is Grace Sufficient for You?

In 2 Corinthians 12 God tells Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".

Paul's response: "for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul was speaking about the "thorn in his flesh"; while Paul never comes out and says what his "thorn" is, many believe Paul to be losing his vision. Paul cries out to the Lord, three times, and asks Him to remove it, the Lord does not remove the thorn in his side.

How many times we find our own thorn, and we cry out, we pray harder than ever before, and yet the thorn stays where it is. We may become upset with God, or we may try to find a way out on our own, or we may even turn away from God.

We all have our own weaknesses, we take our fair amount of insults, hardships are always around the corner, and persecutions are inevitably on their way in the last days. The Lord God could remove them, but even Christ had to endure all these things. Christ prayed to God, asking Him to remove the torture, and death on a cross, but God didn't.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul says that he will "boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me". Paul understood something many of us do not. While we are weak, while we endure hardships and persecution, God is with us. God is encouraging us to continue running the good race. When we feel broken, and admit we cannot go any further, God gives us the strength we do not have. God is made stronger, in our weakness, when we allow God to work through our lives and during those hard and difficult times.

I remember my mother lying on her deathbed, praising God. She struggled with a brain tumor for many years. When doctors said no more, God gave more. When doctors gave her months, God gave her years.

I could not drive a car, when my mothers brain tumor was first discovered. The type of brain tumor she had, could kill a person in less than a year if left untreated. It may sound like a television pastor quote, but my mother relied on God's treatment, and she lived to see what she had requested.

God gives us strength we do not have, He renews us daily, He provides joy that nothing else can give us, He can heal that which we thought could not be healed.

Is your thorn too big for God?

Moving Towards God

Hebrews likens the Christian life to that of a race, where we are the runner. The goal, of our race is to finish in heaven, but thats the finish, not what gets us there.

Its stated like this: "since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles". There are two different things in this passage that distracts us. The easiest to point out is sin; simply put, dont do it.

The next is a little hazy: anything that hinders us. That doesn't mean sin, buts thats not to say that the things that hinder us could cause sin. Anything that takes your eyes off the goal, is going to hinder you. You can run a race in a suit and tie, or your Easter dress and heels, but its going to impact your performance.

In America, we have many, MANY distractions; we must learn to set them aside, and run our race with focus. Often times we can give in to sin because something has hindered our relationship with Christ. It is when we place our hope and joy in the Lord, that we are truly happy, and can survive our trials.

"A great cloud of witnesses" is speaking about those who have gone before us, those who have already reached their goal, that is, their finish line. We are surrounded by the saints, angels, and all of the heavenly creatures; they are encouraging us to continue to run.

If you have ever ran a race, there are those who start out too strong, and use up their energy too soon. Those who are used to running know to conserve the energy. We must run at a pace where we will not get burned out, but at a pace that isn't too slow either, lest we get distracted.

The crowd is full of our witnesses, motivating us, encouraging us, they want to see us win, but we cannot move towards God through sin. We must repent, that is, change our course to run towards God. When we sin, we are actually running backwards, we are justifying our own goals, our own pleasures. We are seeking what pleases us, not God.

A couple weeks ago, a pastor at my church discussed this same topic. Isaiah 10 says that through growth (with God) our yoke is broken. How does a traditional yoke break? It breaks because the bull or ox has grown too large for the yoke to hold on. The ox is fed, it matures, it builds muscle, and the yoke becomes too small.

That ox will carry onto the burden, until it matures, likewise, we will continue to sin, and be distracted from our race, until we grow, and mature in our faith.

The Bible can also serve as our witness, it can and will encourage us. 2 Corinthians 4:16 encourages us by saying: "do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." We can survive our struggles, no matter how heavy the yoke is, by keeping Christ as our goal. He will renew our strength, daily.

Lastly, the goal. The goal is achieved by committing yourself the the Lord. Psalms 37 tells us that by this commitment, God will give us "the desires of your heart". Understand that what your desires are now, may not be the same as your desires now. When we are running the race, our desire is to finish strong, to assist others in their race, to recruit bystanders to run their own race.

As I am currently training myself to run in a physical race, I am often taunted to stop, or feel a moment of weakness. I know that its a moment however, because I continue to run. In those moments though, I seek for a reason to continue running. Its when I am unable to find one, that God shows me yet another one, but I had to look for it to find it.

Look at the faces of runners, and not just at the finish line, you can see their struggle. Some run as if they are able to see the finish line, some are looking for reasons to continue, and some are looking for reasons to quit.

Whats the expression on your face?

Showing Love

Romans 16:16 says: "Greet one another with a holy kiss"

John states in chapter 13: ""A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.""

Loving one another does not just mean between saved and unsaved, but also in relationships between the saved.

I remember back when D.C. Talk was putting out radio hits, the lyrics to one of their songs said "Love is a verb"; meaning love requires action.

I, for one, grew up in a loving home. I kissed my mom, my dad, as well as other family members. I was always shown love, and remember my parents telling me that they loved me every night before bed.

Even after getting married, if my wife and I would stay at my parents home, my mother would kiss me goodnight.

Five different locations in the New Testament, the text commands that we greet each other with a holy kiss. As I think about this, the only people I kiss every time I see them, is my wife, and my late mother. Often times if I or my wife forget a kiss before one of us goes to work, or when we come home, one will remind the other.

At work, however, many of us do not do it; and at church, our greeters welcome people with a handshake. Some churches I have been to do hug, but still no kiss.

Actually, the last time I was in church, when you "greet those around you", I dont know why, but I hugged the lady sitting next to me. It was an accident, and definitely caught her by surprise, as she was expecting a typical handshake. I dont know why I need to give her a hug, but she got it.

Growing up, I remember a sermon by my pastor telling husbands to touch their wives eleven times throughout the day. He specified that they must be loving touches, and not all at one time. This is something that I practice today with my wife, and while I might not get in all eleven everyday (because I no longer keep count, but I did at one time) she fully understands that I love her. Love in marriages should be the most obvisious, and blatant actions, some reserved for privacy, and some shown in public.

Amoungst friends, love needs to be shown through actions as well. Be willing to go the distance for your friends, and they will do the same. Forgive when you have been wronged, and they friendship will grow stronger. Seek forgiveness when you need to; be open and willing to share life experiences. Friends are who you can turn to, when you seek comfort, companionship, trust, just about anything really. I suppose a holy kiss could depend on how well you know each other, and comfort levels. I personally do not kiss, but I am okay with hugs. I guess maybe I dont even do that, very often.

Showing love to strangers is a bit different, and I wouldnt suggest going right in for a holy kiss, your likely to get slapped or punched, I would suggest random acts of kindness. Offering to assist the elderly, or giving praise to one another. When you see a man hold the door for a woman, tell him that you enjoy knowing chivilary is still around. Compliments are awkward to receive at the moment, however they reside and build confidence over time.

Has our society convinced us to stop greeting with a holy kiss? Should we settle with a handshake? Is a hug the new kiss?

Lebanon Elections June 7th

Lebanese vote on June 7 in a poll that pits an alliance including Hezbullah – an Iranian- and Syrian-backed Shiite group that Washington classifies as terrorist – against an anti-Syrian coalition now holding a majority in parliament.

Vice President Joe Biden, the most senior US official to visit Lebanon in 26 years, took a swipe at Hezbullah on Friday, by saying: "I urge those who would think about standing with the spoilers of peace not to miss this opportunity to walk away from the spoilers,".

Hezbullah criticized Biden's visit, which followed one by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April, as meddling in Lebanon, and denounced US support for Israel.

"The high American interest in Lebanon raises strong suspicion as to the real reason behind it, especially since it has become a clear and detailed intervention in Lebanese affairs," Hezbullah said in a statement.

Many analysts predict gains for Hezbullah and its allies, who include Christian leader Michel Aoun, in a tight vote which may lead to the formation of another national unity government.


Resources:
Biden in Lebanon - Article

How I lose Fat

First and foremost, it’s important to note that this is not a diet, this is a lifestyle change. I say that because diets are meant to make you lose weight, but it inevitably always comes back when you stop dieting, however by changing your lifestyle (from here on out, when I say diet, it will refer to what I eat, as a part of the lifestyle change), you won’t see the weight return unless you revert back to the old lifestyle.

This change in lifestyle isn’t as difficult as it may seem, really. If you include all the steps I have taken so far, its been about a month. I have lost an inch off my waist, and about 13lbs.

So here it is: The first thing I realized I needed to do: control my portion size. We eat way too much. Did you know that eleven French fries is one serving? Did you know a Big Mac has 930 calories? That’s almost half a woman’s daily calorie intake, in one sandwich.

I spent a week just learning to eat less. I took an extreme approach, which I am sure isn’t the healthiest way to do it, but when I swim, I jump in. If you don’t know what portions are, you need to learn them. At this point, I am not counting calories; I wasn’t ready to do that.

Second, get a notebook. Create daily logs of all your eating habits, exercise habits, and weigh-ins. This is another must do, it’s hard work, at first, but has huge payoffs. First, it will become a track record of your progress. Second, it shows how much you eat, and third, how much exercise you do. So when you have a week where you don’t lose weight, you can go back and figure out why. Or when you get depressed and want to quit, you can go back and see where you have made improvements.

Okay, so now you’re eating small portions, time to figure out what your body needs. This is a little different for every person, based on your body style, there are three main kinds. Most likely, you will fall into a mixture of two; however you want to focus on your primary body type.

The three body types are: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, and Endomorph. In short, Ectomorphs are the “super skinny” types; they can eat just about anything, and never gain weight. Endomorphs are the polar opposite of Ectomorphs. Endomorphs have to carefully watch what they eat because it always seems to turn into fat. Lastly, a Mesomorph is the “ideal body”. They appear fit, are never too skinny, but don’t put on a lot of weight either. Chances are you are a mix of Ecto-Meso, Meso-Ecto, Endo-Meso, or Meso Endo.

Personally, I am an Endo-Meso. It is really hard for me to lose weight, it is very difficult for me to lose weight, and I have generally been overweight my entire life.

Figuring out your body type is very important. Of note: Mesomorphs can be overweight, and Endomorphs can be fit, look at your overall fitness, even from early ages. If you are unsure, you can find quizzes online to help you.

After reading up on my body type, I have also learned better ways to improve exercise, and what to and not to eat (just as important is when to eat).

While I initially hated my body type, because it requires so much work to get fit, I have also learned that it does something super cool. Endomorphs can generally heal faster after a workout, which means we can work harder (yay…). Sounds like of supernatural, like Wolverine or something, but it is true. I can run a few miles, break for 30 minutes, and could go run again. I have learned to love it.

Now I know my body type, I am learning other things about the body. For example, we all know calcium is important, it gives us strong bones, but did you know it fights fat? Specifically fat around the abdominal area, so make sure you get your daily calcium intake. Now as far as that goes, your body can only consume 50% of your daily calcium at a time, so if you get a supplement, you don’t need 120% or 230%, because its just going to get wasted. I went to Meijer and found a calcium supplement that gives 50% of your daily need, in one tablet (Made by “True basics”, 250 tablets was $6.00; I take two a day).

Another important note about calcium, caffeine prevents your body from absorbing it. So if you take a vitamin in the morning, say, with a cup of coffee, it will be wasted.

Speaking of drinks, I drink 8 glasses of water a day. Its not hard. In fact, most often when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually thirsty, so drink your water. I could give you dozens of reasons to drink water, but more than likely, you already know them.

I eat more now, than I ate before. I eat 5 or 6 meals every day, but they are portion and calorie controlled. In the book “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” Tom Venuto talks about calories, and what you should know. First off, how many calories should you eat in a day? A male trying to lose weight (me) should have between 2200-2700 a day (2700-2900 a day to maintain my weight). Women’s numbers are 2000-2100 to maintain your weight and 1400-1800 to lose weight.

It is also good to know what your body burns up on its own (called the BMR or Basal Metabolic rate).

Here is the formula for that:

Men:
BMR= 66+ (13.7 x your weight in kg.) + (5 x your height in cm) – (6.8 x age in years)

Women:
BMR= 655+ (9.6 x your weight in kg.) + (1.8 x your height in cm) – (4.7 x age)

Again, your BMR is what you burn without exercising, walking, or doing your day to day tasks. My BMR is about 2100 calories/day.

This is a good number to know, when you are trying to lose weight. The other important number to know, is what you intake; which brings us back to that daily log. I started my log on May 1st, and haven’t missed a day yet. While I am currently not recording my caloric intake, I have a pretty good idea of my per meal intake. I do record how many calories I burn while exercising.

The next thing I can think of is meal timing. As I stated, I eat 5-6 meals a day. It was actually difficult at first to do, because that’s a lot of eating. Here is the reason why its important to eat so many times. The simple answer is it keeps your metabolism up. The reason it does that is what’s actually important.

It takes your body 3 hours to digest protein, which I haven’t talked about, but it’s what you be the majority of your diet. By maintaining a high metabolism, your body is constantly burning calories. This is important for an Endomorph, because we generally have a low metabolism rate, which is why it doesn’t take much to get fat.

Eating every 3 hours kick starts your metabolism, forcing your body to burn calories. Now that being said, protein is important. ANY time you eat a carb (including vegetables), you should eat some sort of protein, and it helps your metabolism do its thing.

Lastly, I practice the Zig-Zag method of eating. This truly impressed me; God has really designed our bodies to be smart. When you are on the losing weight calorie schedule, it takes 3 days for your body to realize what you’re doing before it goes into “starvation” mode. That is, when your body starts fighting back.

When you change your diet and start eating fewer calories, you will succeed until your body figures out what you’re doing and starts to correct itself. Using a “zig-zag diet will prevent this. How it works is like this: for three days you limit your calorie intake to the “weight loss” amount. On the fourth day, you increase your calories to the normal amount. This will psyche out your body, and prevent it from harming itself, while maximizing weight loss.

All in all, this has worked for me; you will surely want to personalize your eating habits based on your body type. When you start eating 5+ meals a day, you will see an almost immediate gain in energy.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, I will try and help however I can.
Most of the information I have learned from reading online or in books.

Hope.

Hope is a word we hear a lot today. Hope is a word that Pres. Obama used during his campaign. The fact that we hear this word so much points to our significantly lacking culture and society.

We fear that we are heading in the wrong direction, we are looking for someone to point us back in the right direction, we want change.

This is not a post about Pres. Obama, this is about hope, and what that is, and where we get it.

Hope is our expectations. Over the last month, hope has been clarified with two separate definitions. There is hope from God, and then theres hope that the world gives us.

"Hope that the world has, is what we would call, "wishful thinking." It is hope without a foundation. It likes hoping you win the lottery.

Then there is hope from God, as Romans 15 verse 13 says: "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."(NLT)

It is easy to lose hope in worldly things, your job, your retirement, your marriage, the economy.. the list goes on, but if you get your hope from God, and put faith in Him, you will not be disappointed.

Earlier in Romans (verse 4) we read "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

We receive Godly hope through endurance and encouragement, which means its built into our character. God builds hope into us, as we successfully endure through trials. We already know that no temptation is to great for us (1 Corinthians 10:13), but sometimes we feel it is. Sometimes we lose hope, we want to quit, we are ready to waive the white flag. It is at this point when God steps in, not to carry us, remember, we can do it, He steps in to encourage us.

This is an important note. If God were to carry us, then it would be God who endured the trial, and He has already done that. This is our turn, He is going to encourage us to keep fighting, keep persevering, and its what we do with that encouragement that matters.

My last post is on mastering our conscious. If we cannot control our thoughts, we will give up hope, and give up on God when we face these difficult trails. When God encourages us to continue with the fight, our conscious is normally the first to speak, coaxing us to fail. Too often we listen to ourselves over God.

Have you ever seen or met a professional athlete, or an Olympic athlete? If you were to ask them about quitting, they would probably admit that in the beginning of their training, it weighed on their mind. However to succeed, they had to overcome that thought, again and again and again and again.

When watching the Olympics, during interviews, theres a unique atmosphere. The athletes are without doubt, they are confident in their expectations. They are going to win, and they are going to win the gold... and even if they dont, they will be back, and they will win it next time.

They are confident in their hope, and often, it lets them down. Only one can win the gold medal. They are the best athletes in the world, but only one can win what they are all trying to achieve.

When you put your hope in God, you will not lose. God encourages you, He motivates you, He gives you the tools to fight. Through the Bible, He has shown you how to fight. You have everything you need, the only thing left is you and your mind.

Master the Conscious

Very few people ever consider mastering your consciousness a possibility, I have always disagreed. Its not the idea of being unachievable, its always been the path to doing so that has been difficult.

Even before my time in the US Navy, I have been attentive to detail, and not just in the tangible world. Often times, I enjoy sitting in silence contemplating.... whatever comes to mind. I dont consider myself alone here, I am sure many others do the same thing.

I am currently reading a book for weight loss, called "Burn the fat, feed the muscle" by Tom Venuto. Thats right, its spring time, and like many, I plan on losing weight. So whats the difference between "the many" and myself? I will succeed.

Probably the number one New Year's resolution is to lose weight, and within reason, obesity is an epidemic in America.

I haven't finished the book, in fact I have thumbed through some of the later chapters simply to judge its worth. However its after I started on the first chapter, that I really am intrigued.

Most any writing that talks about the mind and the wonders of how it works grabs my attention, this one just happened to be about weight loss. Even more than that though, is that it takes you to the path you need to walk down.

Everyone knows that little thing called "self-fulfilling prophecy", and we have all been haunted by it in some fashion, this book, this chapter, will help you get past it.

The first step, recognize, become aware of your thoughts. Tom compares our thoughts to advertising, and quotes psychologists who say we produce 60,000 thoughts a day. He later quotes Bob Proctor, who suggests altering a method for altering your negative thoughts, and making the positive.

I was once forced into training while working at a internet service provider. They had all their people working in call centers go to training, so we would learn what to say, and not to say. Word swapping, for example: instead of saying problem, call it an "issue".

While this training was years ago, I still remember the majority of it. Its exciting, in a weird, almost manipulative way. Your tricking the mind to think something, and in reference to "Burn the fat, feed the muscle" it is getting you to believe you can lose weight.

So once you can recognize these derogatory thoughts, you consciously stop them with another word or phrase, one that is positive. Simple really. "I am craving chocolate... STOP. I want some fruit." That kind of thing. Sounds silly huh?

All day long we hold a conversation with our selves, through our thoughts. The crazy things is that, you cant, not, think of something.

The book gives the following example: If I tell you to close your eyes, and not think about monkeys, you will have monkeys flying all over the place in your mind. Your mind cant help but think about monkeys, I mean, why not? Jungle Book anyone?

....I digress....

Use a keyword like "Next" or "Switch" during these situations, and instantly follow with a positive statement. Monkeys... Switch, Pandas! Pandas at the Zoo.

After practice, you will have less and less of the bad thoughts, as far as weight loss goes, you will be able to focus on achieving your goals. After all the only difference between a dream and a goal, is a plan.