Free Holland Thoughts

Running to Win

2010-09-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve always enjoyed sprinting; I’ve always hated long-distance running. There has always been something about the momentary chase that thrilled me; whether it was sacking a Quarterback, catching a running back from behind, or snagging a ball or Frisbee thought to be uncatchable out of the air. Or even just beating someone to the corner and turning on the jets toward the end-zone. I always believed that people ran distance races because they weren’t fast enough to play “real” sports. (Of course, I don’t feel that way today.) Why would a person want to take that much time to do something that boring? Or maybe it was because I have memories of my dad taking me out and throwing the ball to me, and making me run drills in order to get faster; “get your knees higher” was always in the background. These days, I’m not nearly as fast, but I’m still fast enough to catch people off guard. I take joy in beating guys who are 10 years younger than me. Over the last couple of years, a bunch of us guys typically play flag football in the fall, and one of the reasons I love it is because we get to sprint. I might be pushing about 2(many) pounds these days and may not look like much of a threat on the outside, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be all over you like a big-cat-on-meat once that ball is hiked. I’ve always found mass-times-velocity to be a winning combination.

But this week it didn’t work out, because there were other factors I wasn’t considering: time and pain.

So, I ran a 5K race this weekend. I did nothing to prepare for it, and now I’m paying the consequences. It was funny because someone asked if I was going for a “PR.” The answer was a laughable, but adamant: NO. Back in the day, weapons-grade-JPH could run 3 miles in sub-20. That is no longer the case. Long gone are the clean-shaven days when I arose 5 days a week at 6 AM to run. Those days have been replaced with a beard, a snooze button, and a 60-pound restrictor plate.

Nevertheless, this 5K did have one positive note despite all the agony and pain: it gave me a long time to think because of its incredibly slow stop-and-go pace.

And, the thing I was thinking about the most was what Paul said when he talked about running the race, (1 Cor 9:24, Gal 5:7, 2 Tim 4:7), as well as the words of the writer of Hebrews 12:1. I don’t believe these writers were talking about a sprint, because they talk about finishing the race, and having the perseverance to do so. Most sprinters can see the whole course when they start the race, but “seeing the whole course” is hardly ever true when it comes to a distance course.

There is also a different mindset between those running a sprint as opposed to those running a long-distance race. I don’t ever remember anyone ever being happy to just finish a sprint, but just finishing a distance race often brings happiness to those running it. The finishers often proudly display the 13.1 or 26.2 in the back widow of their cars, even though they probably didn’t finish in 1^st place. Distance races are much more painful for a longer duration of time, and overcoming that discomfort and not stopping or quitting is where the reward is found.

Looking back over my life I think I have enjoyed sprinting in many aspects of my life, and not just when it comes to running. Often I can approach my finances, health, work, and even my relationship with God as a sprint instead of a steady long distance race. I want to buy something now on credit, instead of saving up for it; I try to lose all my excess weight this week instead of maintaining a proper diet throughout the year; I wait until the last minute to get a project done; or I stop reading the Word and stop praying every day, and then try to catch up when I feel like life is getting tough.

I heard someone say one time that everything worth having will cost some pain. I don’t think I really ever thought about it in that way, but the more I think about it, the more I agree with it. Finances, Education, Occupation, Children, and Relationships all have value because of what you’ve invested in them and, if any of them fail or are taken away, you experience pain. When it comes to running the race of faith in Christ, I think the same is true. At times, it is going to be painful. But the reward is worth it.

I always admired the story of David when Araunah tried to give him everything he had for a sacrifice to the Lord, but David turned him down saying, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." King David understood that, without pain and sacrifice, the reward had no worth.

My approach to the recent 5K also brought to mind another scripture and lesson: Matt 25:1-13, the parable of the Ten Virgins. It’s kind of funny to me because, for years, I would read this parable and would basically just skip over it because I believed it was clearly directed toward women and weddings. Surely the creator of the universe would know that, once a “wedding” is mentioned, all the ladies would immediately perk up and all the men would immediately lose interest. So obviously, I told myself, I wasn’t the target audience for this scripture. Then one day, I was preparing to lead a small group in a discussion of this parable, and decided that I should at least try to figure it out, so I could explain to others what Jesus was trying to tell “the ladies.”

On the day of the 5K, I showed up having not prepared for the race (except for waking up and getting dressed for it), but in my mind I was thinking I’ve ran 5k before … simple, I’m just not going to stop. However, in truth, I did not prepare for the race, and I definitely didn’t go all out to get ready for it. I think that is what happened with the 5 virgins who didn’t make it to the banquet. They didn’t fully commit, but instead attempted to do the minimum necessary requirements to succeed, or what they imagined success to look like.

Whether it’s a race, your work, a relationship, or your walk with Christ, you are treading on dangerous ground if you try to get through by doing the least amount necessary. Just because you’re going to Church every Sunday -- tithing, partaking of the sacraments (the list can go on forever) – this does not necessarily mean anything. Living “righteously” on Sunday -- but doing whatever you want the rest of the week -- isn’t what we are called to be in Christ.

All of this was reiterated to me on Sunday by two things that were mentioned in the sermon. One is that it is better to be, than to do; and the other is if you make something optional it usually ends up not happening at all. You can do things that a good spouse, employee, or friend would do and that would be nice in the moment, but it would be better if you were a good spouse … because you’re going to tend to do those things because you are good. It’s the difference between being a good spouse all the time as opposed to doing the things of a good spouse part of the time. That’s why I think Christ referred to Simon as Peter “the Rock” long before Peter displayed any characteristics that would traditionally be associated with that name. Peter eventually developed into the person he was supposed to be.

For instance, let’s assume you are an employee whose boss isn’t always around, and you are able to show up to work whenever you. Do you show up to work on time because that is who you are as an employee? Or do you show up on time because you were caught being late, or because you were afraid of being caught being late? I remember working as a store manager and having a particular employee who was never late and never missed a meeting. I was genuinely concerned about him when he didn’t show up to a meeting one day. Thankfully, nothing was wrong, but I knew it was outside his character, and I wasn’t upset with him because he missed a meeting. Then I had employees who were late all the time and no matter their excuse, the reason for their absence was inexcusable because I knew they were not making it a priority, and just didn’t care. I imagine “being” as taking the initiative. Does it mean the same to your spouse that you take out the trash every time they ask you to do it, (during the next commercial), or would it mean more if you were paying attention and you knew it was something that was important to them so you did it without having to be told? As a last note, I think it is pretty cool that, when Christ is questioned about who He says He is, He answers with the phrase: “I AM.” In other words, His state of being.

Then there is the importance of making something a priority over making it an option. I never thought about it before, but making something an option does open the door for it to go away. When I was in the Marines we had platoon PT (Physical Training) every morning at 6 AM, and it was not optional, but because it wasn’t optional I did it every day. When I got out, it was no longer mandatory, and hitting the snooze button didn’t have immediate consequences or repercussions. Eventually running in the morning just didn’t become all that important to me. I think there are a lot of things in life we approach as being optional that we shouldn’t. If you believe going to Church is optional and not necessary you will probably stop or just not go. If you believe dieting, working out, daily Bible reading, and prayer are optional, chances are, you probably aren’t doing them. I think what is scarier for me are the things people would say are not optional, but they treat them as if they are. I don’t think many people would say fidelity in marriage is something they would be willing to compromise on, but then they put themselves in situations where they are tempted by someone who isn’t their spouse. I don’t think people go out for a job with the intention of taking advantage of the employer’s time and assets, but people do it all the time. I think it’s important to work on the things we aren’t willing to corrupt our integrity over, and put safeguards in place before we make those things optional.

These are just some things I’ve been thinking about lately because I need to make some changes in my life. Some things I’m doing well and some things I need to do better on, but I’m thankful I have a God who loves me. Even though, at times, my pace towards Him looks like more like a walk than a race, as long as I’m running toward Him, I know He is running towards me. Let’s make the priorities the priorities.

Bonus Entry:

A while back in a small group discussion we were talking about Daniel, and the topic of discussion for whatever reason was on whether or not Daniel was a eunuch. I had always held to the assumption he was because he was under the authority of the master of the eunuchs (some translations), and because whenever they tried to find a fault w/ him they never sent a women, like w/ Samson. Then I ran across the scriptures of 2 Kings 20:18 and Isaiah 39:7 that specifically say some of the descendants of Israel would be taken into the palace in Babylon to serve as eunuchs. I was telling a friend about my logic on why I thought he was a eunuch before I noticed those scriptures. They never sent a woman to find a fault in him or tempt him, and he replied, “That makes perfect sense, because a woman can always find a fault in a man.” It was a good laugh for 630 AM.

JPH

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2009-09-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

5You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

19If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

21Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,

and abhor those who rise up against you?

22I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Seaweed Was Wrapped Around My Head

2009-03-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

Jonah's Prayer

¹ From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.

² He said:

"In my distress I called to the LORD,

       and he answered me.
       From the depths of the grave I called for help,
       and you listened to my cry.

³ You hurled me into the deep,
       into the very heart of the seas,
       and the currents swirled about me;
       all your waves and breakers
       swept over me.

⁴ I said, 'I have been banished
       from your sight;
       yet I will look again
       toward your holy temple.'

⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.

⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
       the earth beneath barred me in forever.
       But you brought my life up from the pit,
       O LORD my God.

⁷ "When my life was ebbing away,
       I remembered you, LORD,
       and my prayer rose to you,
       to your holy temple.

⁸ "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
       will sacrifice to you.
       What I have vowed I will make good.
       Salvation comes from the LORD."

¹⁰ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Smoking 100 Cigarettes at a Time is Not Recommended

2009-02-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

The Surgeon General has determined that smoking approximately 100 cigarettes at a time might have deleterious effects on your health. The Surgeon General could not make any specific comments on smoking lower numbers - such as 50 or 60. But, the Surgeon General was certain, absolutely certain, that smoking 100 at a time would be a bad idea, in general.

Cigarette manufacturers lauded the decision. "We fully support the Surgeon General's conclusions about smoking 100 cigarettes at a time. While the scientific studies are not necessarily conclusive that users will necessarily have any negative side effects, we nevertheless agree that it might be prudent to avoid the possibility. At this time, we have no opinion on lower numbers, and decline to make any comments in that regard."

Tar E. Lungs, a frequent smoker, was surprised, and a bit concerned, by the decision. He reported that he chooses to smoke 100 cigarettes frequently, finding that the massive injection of nicotine into his blood stream gives him a good, rewarding feeling. "It really kick starts my day," said Tar, in a gravelly, raspy voice. "I really don't know what to make of the Surgeon General's comments," he muttered to himself, while casually flipping a penny around with his yellow fingernails. "I really get sick of all this government regulation, and wish they would just get off my back. If I want to smoke 100 cigarettes at a time, I should be free to do so. The Surgeon General is not a Surgeon anyway. And he's certainly not a General. So where does he get off?"

Other addicted smokers made similar comments. "Where will this lead us? Someday, the Surgeon General will find that smoking 50 cigarettes at one time is bad for your health. I need my smokes, man! They can't take that away from me. I gots rights!" said Flem A. Lot, as he pulled out his oxygen inhaler for a quick pull.

Certain pro-smoking legal scholars were befuddled by Flem's comments, as they had not previously found support in the Constitution, or other laws, for his claim to have a "right" to smoke 100, or even 50, cigarettes at a time. Yet they were highly persuaded by his comment about the fact that he "gots rights." It was hard to dispute such commentary. These scholars committed themselves to fully researching the issue, with the hope of finding such rights in the emanations and penumbras of various Amendments contained in the Constitution.

Radiant, Unveiled Faces

2009-01-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

Moses spoke with God. The scriptures say that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai -- after spending forty days and forty nights there -- he "was not aware that his face was radiant." People were even afraid to come near him, because of his radiant appearance. The radiance was reflective of God's glory. (Moses had just asked God, "teach me your ways" and "show me your glory." [Ex. 33:18])

Ironically, Moses would later put a veil over his face because of its appearance, but would remove the veil when he entered the Lord's presence.

Our faces, too, should shine when we encounter our Living God. We should be changed. And it should be noticeable. Others should see it.

Paul would later talk about Moses's radiance in 2 Corinthians, contrasting the old covenant with the new covenant. If the ministry that brought about death (the law) could give Moses a noticeable radiance, "will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?"

"If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face. The law does not separate believers from God. Access to God is not obscured. Rather, when anyone turns to God, the veil is taken away. "And we, who with UNVEILED faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corin. 2:18.

The Law of Milk

2008-11-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted to document a recent legal discovery, as it relates to my previous post on Milk ("Lactose Tolerant"). Much to my surprise, Oklahoma has enacted legislation making MILK the official drink of the State of Oklahoma. Who knew!? According to 25 O.S. § 98.7:

"Milk is hereby designated and adopted as the official drink of the State of Oklahoma."

So, when you drink milk, you abide by the law. You're a law abider.

Chasing Contentment?

2008-09-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

I heard recently that contentment is not found ... it is learned.

I think that is probably true. Contentment is not one of those things that comes upon us naturally. Our human natures seem to trick us into believing that our current circumstances should be different, because, if things were different, we would surely be happier, and hence more content.

But, what is new under the sun? What new and shiny "thing" is going to sweep us off our feet, when our feet aren't where they're supposed to be in the first place? Paul told the Phillipians that he had "learned to be content whatever the circumstances." He told them that he knew what it was like to be in need, and he knew what it was like to have plenty, and, regardless, had concluded that he could do everything "through him who gives me strength."

We have been given this moment, this very moment, and we should cherish it, and enjoy it for what it is. "[F]or it is now that God favors what you do." Ecclesiastes 9:7.

Oh, Sweet Curd Cheese ...

2008-09-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

Cottage Cheese. What more can one say? When you put those two words together, you have summed up the entirety of the discussion.

True, it's neither made in a "cottage," nor is it "cheese," at least in the traditional sense. Yet, our brains are able to fully comprehend the phraseology when we hear those sacred words. We may even have certain physical sensations when we hear those words, not all of which are desirable.

Regardless, I'm not sure wikipedia defines "cottage cheese" with sufficient clarity or forcefulness. "Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor. It is drained, but not pressed so some whey remains. The curd is usually washed to remove acidity giving sweet curd cheese. It is not aged or colored."

Mmm ... sweet curd cheese. Who could resist this? Particularly with its interesting texture swashalling against your tongue and mouth.

Curd size

I actually prefer small curd, over large curd. You? I'm not sure the reason for the preference. Perhaps it's because the smaller curds are easily swallowed, whereas large curds are bulky and have more paste-like potential if chewn-up by the molars. I have learned that curd size is dependent on the enzyme "rennet." Rennet is an enzyme that speeds curdling and keeps the curd that forms from breaking up. Adding rennet shortens the cheesemaking process, resulting in lower acid and larger curds. Small curd, then, is made without rennet.

Mmm. In the near future, try to use the term "curd" in a sentence -- you're guaranteed to win friends.

Nutrition

When you were but a wee lad or lass, your mom may have encouraged you to eat boatloads of cottage cheese. She was a smart mom. Cottage cheese is low in fat and carbohydrates, and yet high in protein. Four ounces of the substance has approximately 116 calories and 5 grames of fat (3 saturated). Yet, it is high in sodium - 458 mg per 4 oz. serving. As you can see from the picture, the amounts vary between brands.

Giving it a Certain Something

By itself, cottage cheese is admittedly a bit bland. As mentioned above, it can be paste-like at times. So, the addition of fruit can give it a certain something -- a tasty quality, if you will. I have tried bananas, oranges, pineapples, and peaches. I suppose you could add any fruit. The fruit successfully masks the blandness. If you must eat it alone, you might sprinkle some salt and/or pepper on it -- to prevent gagging, if nothing else.

It is my understanding, from talking amongst friends, that some families view cottage cheese as part and parcel of any successful dessert offering. I have never viewed Cottage Cheese in such a light, and will probably not adopt that philosophy at this point. (Of course, I wouldn't disparage those who view cottage cheese in such a way, since dessert recipes -- such as Cottage Cheese Jello Dessert -- do exist.)

Make it at Home!

I'm not sure why anyone would be inclined to make Cottage Cheese at home, but it is a possiblity. There are several websites dedicated to informing the public about the benefits of homemade cottage cheese, learning their readers up on "how to make cottage cheese taste good," since it is "tasty, nutritious" and "easily-digested."

The Whang Factor

I buy cottage cheese on a regular basis, and often throw away most of it because of the "Whang Factor." The Whang Factor is a well-known, yet not well-researched, principle associated with the expiration date. It has unique applicability to cottage cheese. It can be stated thusly: "If one opens a container of cottage cheese and, upon smelling same, notices a strong whang emanating from the container, one must immediately dispose of the entire cottage cheese container."

There are no known exceptions to this principle.

On several occasions, I have plunged forward, and have consumed cottage cheese even in the presence of a slight whang. It did not result in a desirable outcome.

Good luck with your cottage cheese. Let me know if you have any good cottage cheese stories. Surely there are some out there.

I Might Need Some Keflex Soon.

2008-09-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this scary scene in my parking garage today.

As I was preparing to enter my vehicle, I looked down and saw this medicine box and this white, styrofoam cup. I initially ignored both ... but curiosity caused me to do a double take.

I looked down to examine more closely. For obvious reasons, I did not pick up the box to see if it was empty. But, I did look in the styrofoam cup. It was pretty disgusting. It had a wadded-up piece of paper or kleenex in it, along with several dark, seed-like structures. Did the two go together? Was Keflex in some manner responsible for this cup, laden with seeds and moist paper? Does Keflex cause a person to cough up dark seeds?

The whole scene sorta made me gag. Literally and figuratively. I got a bit queasy, as I realized I might have encountered a scene worthy of investigation by the Center for Disease Control. My only hope was that it was a non-communicable situation.

But, how was I to know?

So, I decided the obvious response was to take a picture of the situation. I did this for at least two reasons: (1) to inform the general public about the situation and (2) to research Keflex.

My research revealed that Kelfex is a drug used to fight infection:

Keflex is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics. Keflex fights bacteria in the body. Keflex is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.

Great! So putting 2 and 2 together, I deduced that some unknown person had an ear infection and/or urinary infection, and used the cup as a device to hold the offending substances. The origin of the seeds are unknown.

And perhaps it's better that way.

So, if I become violently ill, you will at least have a trail to follow. I will be the guy with the stuff leaking out of his ear. There might be some seeds laying next to my body. I'll have a styrofoam cup in my hand.

Just get me some Keflex. I'll be okay.

Quotes Worth Quoting

2008-09-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

"It is the modest, not the presumptuous, inquirer who makes a real and safe progress in the discovery of divine truths."

--Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

--Aristotle.

"To a monster the norm must seem monstrous, since everyone is normal to himself."

-- East of Eden, John Steinbeck.

"There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. "

-- The Matrix (Morpheus)

"One of the principal functions of a friend is to suffer (in a milder and more symbolic form) the punishments that we should like, but are unable, to inflict upon our enemies."

-- Brave New World, Aldous Huxley.

"The Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or — if they think there is not — at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it. "

-- C.S. Lewis.

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. "

-- Hamlet, Shakespeare.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." -- Proverbs 1:7.

"It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong. "

-- Voltaire.

"Sarcasm and compassion are two of the qualities that make life on earth tolerable."

-- Nicholas Hornby.

"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them."

-- William Shakespeare.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three."

-- Catch-22, Joseph Heller.

Burnout

2008-09-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Overcoming Christian Burnout!

Isaiah 49:3-4
3 He said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."
4a But I said, "I have labored to no purpose;
I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.”

How often have I have found myself, while not necessarily uttering these words, finding this sentiment upon my heart? I realize that I am a servant of God and, even though I don’t feel comfortable with sitting back and doing nothing, a part of me always seeks a sense of fairness with those that I perceive are not carrying their own weight in the body. Often I feel like I have made a commitment to do God’s work and yet, even though I’ve put in several hours and have high expectations of others, I feel that the work I have put forth was in vain.

Unfortunately, we can’t always see the effects that we have upon someone else’s heart, and sometimes we are just planting seeds for someone else to harvest. The truth is that the only heart we are responsible for mobilizing into action is our own, and we know (and can be comforted by the fact) that God helps us with that task!
I really believe something I recently read and take comfort in it: “Just as a parent is pleased with the efforts of his little child to please him, though it be only by picking a daisy or walking across a room, so is our Father in heaven pleased with the poor performances of His believing children. He looks at the motive, principle, and intention of their actions, and not merely at their quantity and quality. He regards them as members of His own dear Son, and for His sake, wherever there is a single eye, He is well-pleased.” (J. C. Ryle). Maybe my actions don’t produce the results I wished for, or those that I anticipated, but as long as I’m producing good fruit, I believe God is pleased.

It struck me deep how the Lord responded to Isaiah:

Isaiah 49:6
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." (Emphasis mine)

Whenever I get to a point where I feel that my labor is in vain, I need to realize that my reaction is the direct result of taking my focus off the goal (God and his Glory). I believe He would tell me I’m thinking too small, and not taking on enough. This isn’t something that is easy to come to grips with, and it really seems nonsensical -- but does it make any less sense than knowing that one must die before one can truly live? God often has us do things that are completely opposite of what our understanding would be on the same issue. (“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9). The next time I feel I have spent all my strength in vain, I need to look to Him who is able to give me His strength.

I’m not saying we don’t all need a rest, and rest is biblical (“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27). Taking breaks is good thing, but just like anything else in excess it can become an unhealthy habit if taken too far. Don’t let your break get to the point of being perpetual and you never do anything for God.

The question remains: what are you doing for God? Would God tell you the task you have taken on is too small?

God Bless,
JPH

Leadership at a Higher Level

2008-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

The concept of servant leadership is written in scripture. In Mark 10:42-45, Jesus said:

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Servant leadership is persuasive for many reasons, but foremost (in my mind) because it shows (1) the leader has a personal stake and belief in the mission and (2) the mission itself is worth the sacrifice. It shows that the leader aspires to his role not simply to aggrandize his power, fame, wealth or fortune, but because the substantive work of the mission is worth it in the first place!

"Gates of Fire" is a book about servant leadership, in some ways. The book tracks the Battle of Thermopalye from the perspective of a lowly squire. He was drawn to follow his leaders, even though he was from a different background, because of the merits of Spartan leadership. In one part of the book, the squire says:

I will tell his Majesty what a king is. A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men's loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him. . .
That is a king, Your Majesty. A king does not expend his substance to enslave men, but by his conduct and example makes them free. His Majesty may ask, as Rooster did, and the lady Arete, why one such as I whose station could most grandly be called service and most meanly slavery, why one of such condition would die for those not of his kin and country. The answer is, they were my kin and country. I set down my life with gladness, and would do it again a hundred times, for Leonidas, for Dienekes and Alexandros and Polynikes, for Rooster and Suicide, for Arete and Diomache, Bruxieus and my own mother and father, my wife and children. I and every man there were never more free than when we gave freely obedience to those harsh laws which take life and give it back again.

Persuasive stuff. Any ethical leader will see himself or herself as a servant.

Servant leadership is leadership at a much higher level.

Lactose Tolerant

2008-09-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

Have you forgotten of your love for milk? I have. I consumed a glass of raw, untainted milk the other day and was, at once, jettisoned back to my childhood -- a time when milk was consumed in gallons and bones were thereby made solid and sturdy. It's difficult to forget the tasty combination of milk + PBJ sandwich.

I poured myself another glass. I raised it, and drank again of this savory nectar, my throat becoming glossy with protein and vitamin D. Who could've created such a delightful substance?

Yet, turmoil bubbled under the surface of my delight. I must confess that there have always been lingering doubts in my head about the origins of milk's central place in our dietary culture. Who was the first person to grab ahold of a female cow's teats, extract the milky substance, and thereafter conclude: "This white substance that I have squeezed would be good for me and my health. I should drink of this substance."

Does it not give rise to at lease an inkling of doubt in your head?

[Aside: The question is not unlike one associated with the egg. Who first saw an egg fall from a chicken? And who first said to themselves, "These white, orb-like structures, with this white and yellow gooey substance inside ... this thing that just popped out of that chicken ... will be good for me and my family to eat. Grab one."]

Oh well. Let's push those thoughts aside, far aside, and learn a little about milk. The formal definition of milk would include the fact that it is "an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals." It provides nutrition for newborn mammals before they are able to digest other foods.

Milk contains signficant amounts of satured fat, protein, calcium and vitamin C. Another website indicates that it also contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Potassium, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Phosphorus. Cow milk is one of the most popular animal milks, but people from around the world drink the milk of camels, goats, llamas, reindeer, sheep, and water buffalo. (Got llama milk?). Cats are not recommended. Whole milk apparently contains about 3.5% milk fat, but low fat milk is available also (2% and 1%). Nonfat or skim milk must contain less than .5% milk fat. Please drink pastuerized milk.

How long should keep milk past the expiration date? I know certain people that throw it away, strictly, on the date listed on the side of the milk container. But, that date has significant psychological effects on certain consumers. Science shows that milk does not necessarily transmogrify into cottage cheese or sour cream on the "sell-by" date. Rather, the "pour-down-the-sink" date depends on how adventurous you are. One website indicates you can keep it 3-5 days after the "sell-by" date.

Finally, how do we actually extract this milk for purposes of our consumption? Well, there are two ways: (1) by machine and (2) by hand. Milking a cow by machine is more straight-forward and takes less skill and tenderness than milking by hand. You simply secure the cow in position, clean the cow's teats, turn on the milking machine, hand-milk each teat a few times to let down the milk, and then place the suction device on each teat. You just have to wait until all the milk is out of the udder.

Milking by hand is much more complicated, and requires much more skill and attention. It is (at least) an eleven step process. Wikihow teaches us the following:

Secure the cow in position.
Clean the teats with soapy water or iodine. Warm, soapy water can help "bring down" the milk. Dry them, but don't rub or irritate the teats.
Place a bucket underneath the udder.
Sit or squat in a position that will allow you to move away quickly if the cow becomes uncooperative. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, for example, is not safe.
Apply a lubricant such as vaseline to your hands to keep friction to a minimum.
Wrap your hands around two of the four teats.
Squeeze the base of the teat.
Squeeze down to push out the milk, maintaining your grip on the base of the teat so that the milk doesn't flow back up into the udder. Do not jerk or yank the teats. Be gentle but firm. Keep your eyes peeled for mastitis.
Repeat with your other hand. Most people prefer to alternate (right hand, left hand, right hand, etc.)
Continue until the udder on the side that you're milking looks deflated. Experienced farmers can feel the udder to know exactly when all the milk has come down.
Move on to milk the other two teats.

I think I've probably milked this for all it's worth. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

I am a CHAMPION!

2008-09-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stpQpmwJz8E

Every once in a while those of us who are competitive can get down on ourselves when miss a catch, tackle, swing, hit or putt...but, it's how you handle the next moment that is important. We all need a little motivational pick me up every now and then, and this video got me more excited than a firecracker in a hornet's nest. Upon hearing it, I want to engage in high-speed-low-drag-mass-times-velocity collisions! The next time I need to swing for fences, putt for a birdie, turn on the jets, or attempt to lift an unmoveable object over my head...you can be assured there will be bagpipes playing in my head!

JPH

The Not So Freindly Skies!

2008-08-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Flying the Not so Friendly Skies…

Preface: You will have to forgive me for any forgotten facts or slight exaggerations because it has been about a month since this event occurred, and I’m trying to re-experience some suppressed memories. Some weights, descriptions, and measurements might be slightly off.

In my recent trip to Washington and back, I had some unexpected flight arrangements that made the trip that much more interesting. My flight out of Tulsa to Washington was supposed to fly out about 4:50 pm, on Friday the 25th of July. At about 2:45 p.m on the 25th, I received an automated phone message telling me my flight was cancelled. I was re-booked for the following morning at 6 AM … this meant I had to cash in a friend favor and ask someone to get up around 3 AM on a Saturday to take me to the airport! (Thanks Friend)

I always pick aisle seats and, when I have the option, Emergency Exits, but when your flight gets cancelled, they just seat you where ever. In this case, I was in a non-emergency window seat on the flight to Chicago, and then I changed planes and caught the flight to Seattle. Again, a non-emergency window seat!

I got settled in. There was a lady in the aisle seat, and the middle seat was still open a few minutes before take off … (Not a good sign). Then I looked up and time stood still. See, I’m a bigger fellow myself; probably one of the 3 biggest guys on the plane, but walking down the aisle was numero uno! He was walking down the aisle in the standard 45 degree side straddle slide, hunching below exit signs every few paces, (A technique mastered by all men over 6’2” tall). Then our eyes met and I, at once, realized he was the one I’d been waiting for …The man that would share my personal space for the next few hours. We both shook our heads and murmurred inaudible sounds to show our gratitude for being put in such amazing circumstances, no doubt prayers for patience and thanksgiving.

In order to properly appreciate the situation, one has to know what airplanes seats look and feel (fit) like from the perspective of someone that is 6’4”. When your seat is in the upright and ready for take off position, the distance between it and the seat in front of it is about 3” shorter than your femur. If the person leans their chair back (as they always do), your clearance becomes even less, and you get to look forward to reading the printed instructions off the barf bag etched into your kneecaps and written backwards during the layover and the next airport. There is an adjustable arm that comes down about the size of a 2 x 4 that is built in for multiple purposes. It controls the tilting of the seat, the volume of the radio -- it’s a protector of man space -- and, because there is so little room, it most effectively keeps you from spreading your legs in an attempt to allow blood to again flow to your lower extremities. In the window seat, the curvature of the plane is designed to ergonomically violate shoulder and headroom, so that by the time the flight is over and for the rest of your vacation, you will be able to look over your left shoulder, but your neck won’t turn to the right. Mr. Gibraltar takes his place in the seat next to me and thus begins the search for my happy place. 75% of my personal space is now being defiled. The 2 x 4 armrest is all that is separating me from spooning with this stranger. My restricted air space above and below the armrest has been breached and there are no fallback positions to regroup. The next 4 hours are spent in a somber state listening to the melody of heart murmurs and discovering the sounds made by a digesting quarter pounder with cheese. Oh the memories … how bad of a boy I must have been for this state of penitence.

There are some benefits of being bonded to a complete stranger for that amount of time. Even though half your body’s blood flow has been cut off, you don’t get cold. (Thank you reciprocating body heat!) Long trips in dry stagnate air can often lead to chapped lips, but you need not worry when in a symbiotic relationship such as this, because, from personal experience, deodorant will prevent this from happening. Finally, there is comfort in knowing that, if the plane does happen to crash, your time in this condition is that much shorter.

What have I learned from my stints across the country on airlines? Three things: prop-jets aren’t that bad, anorexia can be my friend, and there are justifiable cases where euthanasia is an act of mercy. While prop-jets have less room than typical jets, most of them are relics of the First World War, and every time you hit a bump you expect a flight attendant to bust out some duct tape to resolve an in flight issue…they however will say those magic little words that make my heart flutter. “Gentlemen we need to separate you to redistribute the weight.” (Which translates to: I don’t have to sit next to a Big Guy)!

And can you think of anything sexier than a knee-knocking, walking skeleton ... someone who is a tic-tac away from a full stomach ... taking the seat next to you on a flight? I Can’t! Who knows, they may even offer you their peanuts.

And the next time you fly, and get up to go to the restroom, and you see two big guys barely breathing and their eyes glazed over … if they happen to look at you and smile … it is probably because they are delusional and think you are a terrorist bringing a timely stop to this injustice.

And so went the first part of my trip…

JPH

Obesity Redux

2008-08-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Harkening back to a previous post regarding fatty foods, I thought I should provide you an update regarding obesity in Oklahoma.

According to an article in today's Tulsa World, Oklahoma ranks 8th out of 50 states on an obesity thermometer. Unbelievably, Oklahoma has a 28.1% obesity rate.

The article indicated that Oklahoma was ranked 6th for type 2 diabetes -- a disease typically associated with obesity -- and eighth for hypertension. Not surprisingly, it ranked No. 5 for the highest rates of physical inactivity.

According to the study, individuals are considered obese if their body mass index (B.M.I.) — calculated by weight and height ratios — is 30 or higher. Here is the chart included in the Tulsa World article:

Asparagus and Mercaptan

2008-08-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

"What is that smell???" That's the question you ask yourself sometimes after relieving yourself following ingestion of a large meal involving asparagus.

It is a real issue. And a real problem for our time.

It's not a real problem necessarily and I am not quite sure that it's a real issue. And, strangely, I'm not sure of the origin of my fascination with this vegetable's effect on my circulatory and excretory system.

According to wikipedia, the all-knowing source, asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 100-150 cm tall, which grows stout, much-branched feathery foliage. Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in 24 hours. If allowed to grow, the plant apparently produces a "fruit" in the form of a small red berry. Asparagus is apparently eaten with eggs in China and with beef in the UK. In the U.S., it's often happily eaten with ribs and twice-baked potatoes.

Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, and dietary fiber. "White" asparagus is grown by denying the plants light and increasing the amount of ultraviolet light the plants are exposed to. "Purple" asparagus has high sugar and low fiber content. (As far as I know, I have never had white or purple asparagus. Perhaps someday. Hope springs eternal.)

But, perhaps the most interesting phenomenon is the effect of aspargus on certain peep's urine. Asparagus apparently contains a sulfur compound called "mercaptan." This chemical is also contained in rotten eggs, onions, garlic and in skunk secretions. When your digestive track breaks down the mercaptan, it gives rise to this funny scented substance. The process can occur within 15-30 mintues of eating asparagus!

Such odors are not the fate of all. Your genetic makeup may determine whether you are able to break down the chemical. Some people have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan into its more pungent parts, and others do not.

So, I consider myself lucky. I have the gene. And it's a strong gene.

The Chicken: Carrying You Down the Darkest Alleys of the World to Safety

2008-08-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

While we're on the topic of eggs, we might as well discuss the Chicken -- that most populous of birds in the United States. Ever since they were created, and ever since God looked at them and found them to be "good," chickens have been reproducing like ... ... like chickens. In 2003, there were 24 billion chickens in the world! That's a lot of chickens.

Male chickens are are known as roosters (U.S.) or cocks (U.K). Males under a year old are known as cockerels. Castrated (ouch) roosters are known as capons. Females are known as hens or pullets.

In nature, chickens may live for five to seven years. However, in commercial farming operations, a chicken usually only lasts six weeks before they're slaughtered and sent to our kitchens for consumption.

Mm. Tastes like chicken.

Matilda

The oldest chicken was affectionately named "Matilda." She died of heart failure at the age of 16. Determined to avoid being the "cluck" in the "cluck-n-oink," Matilda diligently worked as a magician's assistant in the 1990s. She was known for being even-tempered, attention-seeking, and egg-less.

Apparently, the laying of eggs makes most chickens "moody."

It is reported that, in the magician's show, Matilda appeared in a pan which seconds earlier appeared to contain little more than runny egg yolk. Such an early death for such a great chicken!

Interwoven

Is there any debate that chickens are woven into the very fabric of our lives? We voraciously eat chicken eggs -- fried, boiled, poached, scrambled, raw. We eat chicken meat. Other meats of unknown-origin "taste like chicken." We watch movies with chickens as the main character. We affectionately refer to people who are not "up to the task" as "chickens."

I could go on and on.

Is it any wonder, then, that some people believe that the chicken simply must be followed. Perhaps the eagle will get you killed, but the chicken will carry you down the darkest alleys of the world safely. The chicken will take you there and sleep you in the hotels of kings and the palaces of kings and queens. For more information on these and other facts about the Chicken, please review this deposition transcript that has made its way around the internet.

We can learn a lot from the chicken.

Eggstatic over the Egg. Eggcited too.

2008-08-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

When God created the Egg, He created a masterpiece. Those oval, orb-like structures are amazing things and, when cooked just right, are highly tasty. The shell of the Egg hermetically seals a sea of gooey goodness, chock full of vitamins and minerals (maybe not minerals).

The Egg has tons of redeeming value. Here are a few highlights regarding the Egg, including a few entries to dispel certain myths that exist regarding the Egg.

Basic Facts

The basic egg consists of the eggshell, the egg white (albumen), the yolk (vitellus), and various thin membranes. Myth: the eggshell is not edible. Fact: the egg shell is edible, but is usually discarded. Seems like it would be really crunchy, and would scar up your mouth and stomach lining. The large end of the egg contains the air cell that forms when the contents of the egg cool down after the egg is laid. Chicken eggs are graded according to the size of this air cell.

Brown v. White

In general, chicken breeds with white ear lobes lay white eggs. Chicken breeds with red ear lobes lay brown eggs. There is no significant link between shell color and nutritional value. In the U.S., most eggs are white. In the U.K., most eggs are light brown.

Double Yolks

I received a double yoked egg on the day of the election between Gore and Bush. I'm not sure what that means. But, it appears that a double yolk results from unsynchronized production cycles in hens. Double yolked eggs are normally longer and thinner than ordinary eggs.

Cholesterol and fat

A 100 gram egg contains approximately 10 grams of fat. The majority of the fat comes from the egg yolk. The egg white, on the other hand, consists primarily of water and protein. The egg white contains no cholesterol. Wikipedia says that the protein in raw eggs is only 51% "bio-available," whereas that of a cooked egg is nearer 91% "bio-available." From my lay understanding, this means that cooked eggs are better than raw eggs from an "absorption" standpoint. (Why does the stereotypical athlete swallow raw eggs?)

Spinning the Egg

According to wikipedia, you can distinguish between a raw egg and a boiled egg by spinning it. The contents of a hard-boiled egg are solid, allowing it to spin freely, whereas the liquid contents of a raw egg cause it to stop spinning within approximately three rotations. Try it! I dare you. (These various attributes are caused by denaturation of the protein and viscous dissipation, but I won't bore you with the details.)

The Equinox: Standing an Egg on its End

There is a long-running myth that you can stand an egg on its end on the equinox. Apparently, you can stand an egg on its end anytime of the year. It just takes lots of tender loving care.

The Cybertecture Egg

I ran across this proposed architectural structure for Mumbai, India. It is the Cybertecture Egg. It's supposed to be the central piece of a developing business district. The website indicates that the design "is one that symbolizes with optimism about the future and of the 21st Century." It will apparently house several floors of premium office space.

They're just not quite sure where to put the yolk.

Cloud Gate a/k/a "The Bean"

2008-08-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

So, I traveled north to the city of Chicago this year. I had some free time so I decided to walk around the downtown area. Without warning, I landed in Millenium Park -- an urban park, plopped right down in the middle of downtown Chicago. It was a pretty cool place, actually, with a full open air theater, a garden area, and several interesting things to look at. Including one large, shiny bean.

It actually wasn't a bean. It's called "Cloud Gate," and it was designed by a British artist named Anish Kappor. This large, shiny bean is 33 feet by 66 feet by 42 feet tall, and weighs 110 "short" tons. Research reveals that it was "inspired" by liquid mercury and is "one of the most popular sculptures in the United States." If you stand on one side, it simply looks like a shiny orb. But, if you move around to the middle, you can see that it has a concave ascending chamber (techincally called an "omphalos"). You can walk under the omphalos and the images seen in the reflection are warped and warbled. (You can sorta see that in the picture on the left).

The sculpture was completed in 2005. The cost for constructing the bean was first estimated to be $6 million. That balloned to $11.5 million in 2005. And the final figure was $23 million. Apparently, no public funds were used.

Like any good, shiny bean, Cloud Gate is wiped down twice a day by hand and is cleaned twice a year with 40 gallons of liquid detergent. The seamlessness of the bean has an apparent artistic purpose, of which I'm not sufficiently scholarly to identify. But, some say that it helps "dematerialize this very large object, making it seem light and almost weightless." Also, the bean might be an attempt to evoke "immateriality and the 'spiritual.'"

I just thought it was purdy to look at.

Bed Bugs Do Bite

2008-08-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Don't let the bed bugs bite? It might be hard to prevent that -- assuming they inhabit your cozy lair in the first place.

I have always believed that bed bugs were not visible to the naked eye. In fact, that's a myth. In truth, the small creatures are reddish brown, flattened, oval and wingless. They are approximately 4 to 5 mm in length. One article compares them to the size of apple seeds. They're gross little creatures, really. They are most active near dawn, with a peak feeding period about an hour before sunrise. What do they feed upon? You. And your blood. They are attracted by the presence of carbon dioxide and pierce the skin of their host with two hollow tubes. After feeding for about five minutes, they return to their hiding place.

In a strange turn of events, bedbugs mate via a process termed "traumatic insemination." Ouch. More details on that process can be found here. It's too traumatic to type out here.

Bed bugs can provide you with a nice raised, red bump on your skin, and those bites can be accompanied by severe itching. Some people even experience insomnia, anxiety or stress at the prospect of bed bugs -- some develop skin infections and scarring from scratching.

Yet, on the bright side, most studies have concluded that bed bugs are unlikely to pass diseases from one person to another. Apparently, the bed bug is making a come back in urban housing across the nation.

Who can stop this blood sucking menace? (Other than DDT.)

This video might give you the heebie jeebies:

Peanut Butter Au Natural

2008-07-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

A friend once questioned me on my peanut butter preferences. Being a peanut butter afficionado for numerous years, I informed him about my fondness for natural peanut butter -- with the oily, visually-unappealing substance at the top prior to mixing. He believed this "natural" peanut butter contained artificial flavorings and sugars of various sorts. I showed him the error of his ways.

BEHOLD, Smucker's Organic Creamy Peanut Butter, which contains "Organic Roasted Peanuts" with "1% or less of salt." And zero grams of Trans fat! Yummy in the tummy, fer sure.

And indeed, this peanut butter is somewhat healthy, even though it does have quite a bit of fat. I've heard it's the "good fat," though I haven't really researched that issue.

The only problem is that, once it's refrigerated, and once the oily substance has permeated the whole mixture, it becomes as hard as a rock. You have to basically chisel it off in layers, whereupon you place it (with care) on your peanut butter and jelly sandwich (being careful to avoid ripping and tearing your fresh wheat bread).

The peanut butter, in such a state, has a tendency to stick to the roof of your mouth as you voraciously chew your sandwich. But, if you intermix it with just the right amount of jelly, everything goes down just fine.

And that's one mighty-fine sandwich. A recipe for happiness and delight.

Chronic Dehydration

2008-07-30T20:28:00.001-07:00

Avoiding dehydration

According to wikipedia, dehydration is best avoided by drinking plenty of water. "The greater the amount of water lost through perspiration, the more water must be consumed to replace it and avoid dehydration. Since the body cannot tolerate large deficits or excesses in total body water, consumption of water must be roughly concurrent with the loss (in other words, if one is perspiring, one should also be drinking water frequently). Drinking water beyond the needs of the body entails little risk, since the kidneys will efficiently remove any excess water through the urine with a large margin of safety.

A person's body, during an average day in a normal temperate climate loses approximately 2.5 litres of water. This can be through the lungs as water vapor, through the skin as sweat, or through the kidneys as urine. Some water (a less significant amount, in the absence of diarrhea) is also lost through the bowels. In warm or humid weather or during heavy exertion, however, the water loss can increase by an order of magnitude or more through perspiration; all of which must be promptly replaced. In extreme cases, the losses may be great enough to exceed the body's ability to absorb water from the gastrointestinal tract; in these cases, it is not possible to drink enough water to stay hydrated, and the only way to avoid dehydration is to reduce perspiration (through rest, a move to a cooler environment, etc.).

A useful rule of thumb for avoiding dehydration in hot or humid environments or during strenuous activity involves monitoring the frequency and character of urination. If one develops a full bladder at least every 3-5 hours and the urine is only lightly colored or colorless, chances are that dehydration is not occurring; if urine is deeply colored, or urination occurs only after many hours or not at all, water intake may not be adequate to maintain proper hydration."

Stay hydrated people, lest you turn dry and dusty.

The Sun is Hot

2008-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

After years of research, scientists have discovered that the sun is hot. And it will burn you.

Years and years of exposure to the sun can give one an unattractive, if leathery and worn, appearance. Basic research shows that the surface of the Sun consists of hydrogen (about 74% of its mass, or 92% of its volume), helium (about 24-25% of mass,[10] 7% of volume), and trace quantities of other elements, including iron, nickel, oxygen, silicon, sulfur, magnesium, carbon, neon, calcium, and chromium. The Sun has a spectral class of G2V. G2 means that it has a surface temperature of approximately 5,780 K, giving it a white color that often, because of atmospheric scattering, appears yellow when seen from the surface of the Earth. That "K" stands for Kelvin. Not the person, but the temperature scale. I dare not look at how that translates into Farehnheit, since it would boggle the mind.

You should be aware that ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible form of radiation. They can penetrate your skin and damage your skin cells. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage. Suntans aren't healthy, either. They appear after the sun's rays have already killed some cells and damaged others. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or at any temperature. They can also cause eye problems, wrinkles, skin spots, and skin cancer.

To protect yourself:

Stay out of the sun when it is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)

Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher

Wear protective clothing

Wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection

Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds

Avoid beaches when your skin is already leathery and worn.

You will do good to abide by these simple, commonsensical guidelines. Plus, onlookers will appreciate your consideration.

America's Top 20 Worst Foods!

2008-07-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

20: Worst Fast-Food Chicken Meal - Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with cream ranch sauce. 830 Calories, 55 grams fat (4.5 trans fat), 48 carbs. Add a large fries and regular soda and this seemingly innocuous chicken meal tops out at 1,710 calories.

19: Worst drink - Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Power Smoothie (30 fl oz). 900 calories, 10 g fat, 183 carbs, 166 g sugar. Jamba Juice calls it a smoothie, MSNBC calls it a milk shake. The beverage contains as much sugar as 8 pints of Ben & Jerry's butter pecan ice cream.

18: Worst supermarket meal - Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (whole pie). 1,020 calories, 64 g fat, 86 g carbs. Label may say this pie serves two, but, whoever divided a small potpie in half? Once you crack the crust, there will be no stopping.

17: Worst 'healthy' burger - Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger. 1,145 calories, 71 g fat, 56 g carbs.

16: Worst Mexican entree - Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito. 1,179 calories, 47 g fat, 125 g carbs, 2,656 mg sodium.

15: Worst kids' meal - Macaroni Grill Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese. 1,210 calories, 62 g fat, 3,450 mg sodium. It's like feeding your kid 1-1/2 boxes of Kraft mac'n'cheese.

14: Worst sandwich - Quiznos Classic Italian (large). 1,528 calories, 92 g fat, 4,604 mg sodium, 110 g carbs. A large homemade sandwich would more likely provided about 500 calories.

13: Worst salad - On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef. 1,450 calories, 102 g fat, 78 g carbs, 2,410 mg sodium. This isn't an anomaly: Five different On the Border salads on the menu contain more than 1, 100 calories each.

12: Worst burger - Carl's Jr. (Hardee's on East Coast) Double Six Dollar Burger. 1,520 calories! , 111g fat. Carl's Jr. brags it's home to this enormous sandwich, but the restaurant chain also provides convenient nutrition info on its Web site -- so ignorance is no excuse for eating it.

11: Worst steak - Lonestar 20 oz T-bone. 1,540 calories, 124g fat. Add a baked potato and Lonestar's Signature Lettuce Wedge, and this is a 2,700 calorie blowout.

10: Worst breakfast - Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed hotcakes. 1,540 calories, 77 g fat (9 g trans fat), 198 g carbs, 109 g sugar. Five Egg McMuffins yield the same caloric cost as this stack of sugar-stuffed flapjacks, which is truly a heavy breakfast, weighing in at a hefty pound and a half.

9: Worst dessert - Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream. 1,600 calories, 78 g fat, 215 g carbs. Would you eat a Big Mac for dessert? How about three? That's the calorie equivalent of this decadent dish. Clearly, Chili's customers get their money's worth.

8: Worst Chinese entree - P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein. 1,820 calories, 127 g fat,! 95 g carbs. The fat content in this dish alone provides more than 1,100 calories. And you'd have to eat almost five servings of pasta to match the number of carbs it contains. Now, do you really need five servings of pasta?

7: Worst chicken entree - Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce. 2,040 calories, 99 g fat, 240 g carbs. 'Crispers' refers to an extra thick layer of break crumbs that soak up oil and adds unnecessary calories and carbs to these glorified chicken strips.

6: Worst fish entree - On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans. 2,100 calories, 130 g fat, 169 g carbs, 4,700 mg sodium. Perhaps the most misleadingly named dish in America : A dozen crunchy tacos from Taco Bell will saddle you with fewer calories.

5: Worst pizza - Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza. 2,310 calories, 162 g fat, 123 g carbs, 4,470 mg sodium. Downing this 'personal' pizza is equivalent to eating 18 slices of Domino's Crunchy Thin Crust cheese pizza.

4: Worst pasta - Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce. 2,430 calories, 128 g fat, 207 g carbs, 5,290 mg sodium. This meal satisfied your calorie requirements for an entire day.

3: Worst nachos - On the Border Stacked Border Nachos. 2,740 calories, 166 g fat, 191 g carbs, 5,280 sodium.

2: Worst starter - Chili's Awesome Blossom. 2,710 calories, 203 g fat, 194 g carbs, 6,360 mg sodium.

1: The worst food in America - Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing. 2,900 calories, 182g fat, 240g carbs. Even if you split these 'starters' with three friends, you'll have downed a dinner's worth of calories before you entree arrives.

You can't watch just once!

2008-07-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zBWfOn0Kbd4&feature=related

Discovering God's Will "Kingdom Decisions"

2008-07-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

Understanding God’s Will
“Kingdom Decisions”
7-6-08

Self Assessment and Discussion Questions:

Who do you love to work w/ the most?

What are some Church interests or concerns that excite or concern you?

Current Vocation?

Other jobs or skills you have experience in?

I have taught a class or seminar on?

My most valued personal asset is?

My story of how I came to know Christ and what that means to me?

Times you felt close to God?

Painful experiences you’ve been through and can share with others?

Educational experience to include favorite subjects and where you went to school?

Seminars or meaningful trainings you’ve attended?

Why’s you’ve served in Churches?

At the Gathering do you feel under utilized, over utilized, or just right? Why?

What else can we do to bring honor to God and his Kingdom?

(Questions were asked as an icebreaker and lead in to the discussion of the Kingdom topic)

In the past we have talked about God as a Teacher, Parent, Father, and now we will look at him as our King.

In today’s world, and I believe, especially in America it can be hard to come to terms w/ what defines a King or Kingdom. Usually when we think of Kings today we only think of tyrants of the past or impotent figure heads honored for the sake of tradition. Kings of the past had full authority and the Kingdom was in fact identified w/ the King. Today we believe or would argue we have certain unalienable rights, but in the time of Kingdoms you didn’t have rights, except for those allowed to you by the will of the King, and they were subject to change in accordance w/ the King’s motives and decisions. In a Kingdom all service in the kingdom is in fact done for the King and you are only entrusted w/ being a steward of all you possessed. Everything you did was for the advancement of the Kingdom or done on the King’s behalf and your life would revolve around the king. A King is the highest authority of the land, basically a summation of our three branches of government rolled up into one individual who may or may not care what the people thought of his politics.

Our God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and at the end of times every knee will bow before him. (Rev 19:16). There are other references to God as a King and His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God/Heaven is at Hand, Repent…was said by Christ on many occasions. The Lord’s prayer in (Matt 6:9-13) Jesus says…”your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...” and later in the chapter (v.33) he says what is important is to “seek first his kingdom and righteousness.” Like the kings mentioned above our King has full authority over us whether we wish it were so or not. What we take comfort in is that he is the perfect King. His will and promises are never changing, and he truly cares about his people. But we are even more than just his people when we accept his Son, we become co-heirs of Christ and members of the royal family.

As our King God has granted us lots of freedom and some boundaries we need to honor, but he expects a lot in return. We have the freedom to make mistakes and choose to follow other kings in our lives if we want (during our time here on earth), but if we choose to follow the Lord we submit our allegiance to him and to him alone, and we must honor the boundaries he sets up. Even though God gives us boundaries he offers us lots of freedom within those boundaries. For instance, Adam in the Garden of Eden…out of the whole garden there was just one tree he was forbidden to partake of. I think this applies to jobs, relationships, and some lifestyle situations in our life as well. God doesn’t always tell us to take a particular job, date and marry a particular person, join this particular church, organization, gym, political party, but he does set some guide lines on issues.

When God says do something he means for you to do it, (Jonah tried to run from what God had him to do and it didn’t go so well). God isn’t in the advice business! When God speaks we are expected to listen and obey, (Noah lived in a land before the world knew rain and worked on building an Ark others mocked him about). There is a huge importance for us to pray and search the scriptures for what those boundaries are in our lives, but we can take comfort in the fact our King knows what is coming. The quote from Chasing Daylight: “Where there is freedom, we must initiate, and where there are boundaries we must honor them.”

What else makes our king different from the Kings of this earth? A friend said: “We serve Christ because He served us! We do so gladly because we know (partially) of His suffering, and we know of His willing decision to obey God's will. We are not enslaved by the law, but, by His sacrifice, have been made truly "free." We are never more free than when we willingly choose to obey God's commands and teachings. That is true freedom.”

What does honoring boundaries look like? If you are asking God to bless you in your job to be the best bartender in the world, to make a difference in people’s lives by stripping, or in selling junk bonds you know have no value or return on investment; how is He suppose to bless those things that are opposite of His nature? If you ask God to bless a relationship that lacks purity, or is with someone that isn’t a believer; how is He suppose to bless that relationship when it goes against his will? If you pray to God to make you a vessel to bring others to Christ but you are living in a homosexual relationship, sleeping with someone out of wedlock, or you’re pursuing a lust for money at all cost; by not turning over your life to God you limit his effectiveness in your life. In James we discussed the “double-minded” man. Meaning the man that knows what God expects of him, and yet questions it, and basically asks God, “Are you sure?”
There is a difference between being obedient and honorable. You can be obedient and physically pure in a relationship, but the whole time have thoughts that are not honorable to the person you are dating. You can be working well enough to get the job done, but not bring honor to your employer by doing the bare minimum and by allowing others to see you shabby work. You can be obedient to the command of not forsaking the assembly, but never make the effort to become involved in the Body.

Some Definitions of Honor:
honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.
a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family.
high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.
such respect manifested: a memorial in honor of the dead.
to worship (the Supreme Being).

What does Honor mean to me in practical terms? When I was in the Marines the importance of how we carried ourselves in our uniforms was a huge deal. In bootcamp you spend hours upon hours training us on the history of the Corps and were constantly being tested on our “knowledge,” so we would have an appreciation for the men that gave their lives in the uniform we hoped to one day wear, (you don’t get to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, or have the U.S. Marine patch, or even the title of Marine until the day of graduation…until that point you are a recruit only). When I donned on the uniform I made sure every crease was sharp, pin was in place, and all ranks and insignias were in the correct position. Not just because I took pride in my appearance, but because I was representing something much bigger than myself, and that is one of the reasons there are constant inspections. Are you paying the proper respect and giving honor to the uniform and what it represents? I think there are people that have forgotten their Christian heritage. The sacrifices that have been made so that you can have the relationship with the King you have today. If you are a Christian there should be a sense of honor about you that others see, and possibly want to learn more about. Often we go about our lives wearing the same grimy selves we had before we knew Christ and the people around us don’t recognize there is something different about us. We are representing the King! Something much bigger than we ourselves and it should be noticed. We are princes and co-heirs with Christ, and when you are royalty there are matters of etiquette and principle you do and don’t do because of you position, (boundaries). We have the opportunity to advance the Kingdom for the King!

When you report to a King his will is the mission, and sometimes his will is in conflict with our will, or with our “safety.” King’s were originally set up in power to protect the people and property under their rule. Sometimes they would send people to fight battles the people may or may not have had an interest in fighting. The King is very similar to Marine Corps leadership. In the Corps there are two purposes behind leadership, Mission Accomplishment and Troop Welfare. Which do you think is more important? The answer is by far mission accomplishment! Say you are tasked with taking a hill where the enemy is dug in, and you are ordered to charge the hill. You’re charging up the hill into the on-coming fire of the enemy and your best friend in the world goes down at your side…what do you do? You keep charging! Your primary goal is to take the hill, and after that is completed you can go back and check on your wounded and dead, but not before. If you stop before the objective is accomplished you risk sacrificing others as well, so in essence the mission is still about troop welfare, and your actions may prevent the fall of others. You don’t always know the strategic value of the hill or why you had to charge it, but you trust the command has its reasons. Often I believe we are told by God to charge a “hill” in our lives, and sometimes we stop to say, “God, what about me and my interest, my welfare?” I don’t believe God has us charge hills in vain, but that he tells us to do it for the advancement of the Kingdom. I think we often say to God, “I want to do this mission, but I need the comfort and security first,” when God says, “do this and I’ll take care of you.” (Seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness, and these things will be added to you). We need to get into a mission accomplishment mindset. Troop Welfare is important, and I think it is very important to God, so much so that he sent his only begotten son to die for us. The comfort we have is God always takes the hills when he sends us on a mission. It might not look like what we expected, but we have the assurance he’ll win despite what happens to us.

In the Marines when you are given an order you are expected to reply with “instant and willing obedience to orders” (with the exception of unlawful orders or personal servitude). We discussed earlier the King is the law, so the unlawful order doesn’t apply in service to the King, and neither does the argument of personal servitude. Here is where our faith comes into play. If we truly believe God is good, and we understand he is God and we are not, that he is our Father and loves us, then in moments when God says to do something we can respond immediately. Discipline in the military or Faith in Christianity comes into play when there seems to be an absence of orders. “Discipline is the instant and willing obedience to all orders and in the absence of orders, to do what you believe the order would have been.” It all comes down to doing what we know we should do, and abstaining from what we know we shouldn’t do, (Boundaries).

Sometimes I believe Christians are looking around for the leader they want to follow when God has put them in the position to lead. No one is born a General…You don’t start off commanding an army, but as your aptitude for leadership grows God will use you for larger and larger roles. My challenge to you would be let’s be the body of believers that don’t have the issue with taking the initiative.

Some kings may have sent their armies into battle without training or armament, but they probably wouldn’t have been kings for long. Our King doesn’t do this, in fact, he knows us better than we know ourselves. I liked the statement from the service “that our strengths, weakness, skills, and talents are God’s gift to us. What we do with them is our gift back to God.” He has given us these gifts so that we may glorify Him, and He doesn’t set us up for failure. He didn’t send a shepherd boy to take on Goliath in the hopes that he would win, or send Moses in the attempt to free his people. He knows the outcomes already and sends the people to places where they can use their talents to bring him glory. The battle is already won!

In “Gates of Fire” (the most Awesome book I’ve ever read…outside the Bilbe)…there is a description of a King given from the point of view of a slave to the King Xerces. A friend of mine pointed out how this description of a king is basically a representation of the example Christ set for us, and I thought it was awesome how it relates to the King discussion: (disregard the names and try to follow the point being made)

“I will tell his Majesty what a king is. A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men's loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him. ... That is a king, Your Majesty. A king does not expend his substance to enslave men, but by his conduct and example makes them free. His Majesty may ask, as Rooster did, and the lady Arete, why one such as I whose station could most grandly be called service and most meanly slavery, why one of such condition would die for those not of his kin and country. The answer is, they were my kin and country. I set down my life with gladness, and would do it again a hundred times, for Leonidas, for Dienekes and Alexandros and Polynikes, for Rooster and Suicide, for Arete and Diomache, Bruxieus and my own mother and father, my wife and children. I and every man there were never more free than when we gave freely obedience to those harsh laws which take life and give it back again.”

If those words don’t send chills up and down your spine you may have something wrong with you. I would like to leave on this note…Our station could most grandly be called service and most meanly slavery to our King, but he has made preparations to make us royalty. You are my kin and my country and I hope you feel the same about me, and we are never more free than when we make sacrifices for one another. Our goal is to advance the Kingdom, and our King is leading from the front. All we have to do is follow him and the Kingdom will advance.

Any Questions or Comments you have on the Study are appreciated.
Thanks,
JPH

Destination Distraction

2008-07-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Discovering God’s Will
Destination Distraction
6-22-08

The basis of the sermon is that we often become so distracted by the next destination in our lives that we often fail to notice the opportunities happening right in front of us. (Examples: The next great car, job, house, or relationship). “If only I had this, or I can’t wait until that, or I’ll be happy when” … such destination distractions tend to draw our focus until they become the very point of our existence. In fact, it has been the “mantra for our generation: ‘are we there yet?”

Finding Joy in Present Circumstances

Often, we become so preoccupied with the future that we have a hard time finding joy in our present circumstances. The thing is, if you can’t live and find happiness where you are NOW, then chances are you won’t be able to live and find happiness where you’re going. Happiness and contentment are not situation or circumstance dependent. Our happiness comes from the Lord! Don’t forget that Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and is often more of a state of mind, than a question of circumstance. God is our glory and joy! (1 Thes 2:20). Paul also states in 1 Cor 7:4 “I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds” (Emphasis mine).

We have something to be excited about, so don’t look for the gratifications of the “next great thing” in your life, because once you achieve it, what’s next? The next great adventure (no relief or contentment)? You never take the time to enjoy the journey God put before you. We often imagine the future as better than now; in fact, the saying goes, “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” In truth, the grass is sometimes greener because it’s right above a septic tank!

The other thing that can happen when we live in a destination distraction is we start living life in a pause mode. Sometimes we ask God: “Is this it?” We become so distracted by life’s “what ifs” that we lose the very moments God has placed in our grasps! The moment you are in is a good moment. Let’s enjoy the season of life where we are and not be in a hurry to change things for the sake of change.

The message also focused on the story in Jeremiah (Jer 29:4-14), when the people were sent into exile to Babylon, and they were being told by prophets what they wanted to hear: that they would be set free shortly and would be returning to their home land any day now. And so, they were living as such. Any day, they will be heading out; don’t get too settled in. Jeremiah comes along and tells the people God is the one that turned them over into the situation and He will restore them, but not for 70 years, so settle down and make a life out of where you are now. What a lesson for us.

I think a lot of people view their attendance and participation in church in this manner. “I’m not sure this is the Church for me, so I’m just going to come, but I don’t want to get too involved, because that would mean I would be here to stay, but surely God has bigger plans than me serving here in this Church,” or “I can’t see myself going here very long.” I think God would tell some people it wasn’t coincidence they walked into this Church, and He’s been waiting for them to make a move. Do something!

The Journey is the Destination

It was said in the lesson that God’s chief will for our lives is the journey in which we are transformed so that we are made ready for the next season in our life. The process is the purpose itself! So, the Journey is the Destination, and if we live in the present the future will never be lacking. Don’t rush the process! Too often we are so focused on the end goal that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are, or we make short cuts in our lives. I really appreciated Brad sharing the story of his engagement to Christina, and how they wanted an additional year before getting married. They understood they would never be in that moment again, and instead of focusing on the “next great thing,” they were content to enjoy the now. Waiting is not easy … especially for something you really long for, but often the wait is well worth it.

Krista's qoute read during small group from "The Vision and the Vow:

"I was giving a friend a lift in my car, and we got to talking about life. “I don’t know what God’s calling me to do,” he confessed, and asked me to pray about what it might be. “Why?” I asked. “I already know what Jesus wants you to do!” “You do?” he gasped with excitement. “So, what is it? What’s my call?”I paused, enjoying the suspense. Drums rolled. String quartets tuned up. My friend held his breath…“Your call,” I said slowly, “is to be a worship leader…” He looked pleased, really pleased, so I continued: “… but not necessarily w/ a guitar in your and.”“Okayyy,” he murmured.“Your call is to befriend that funny little lady at the end of your street…”He seemed less pleased w/ this prospect.“Your call is to feed the hungry and to spend yourself on behalf of the poor…”By now he was looking distinctly troubled. “…and to offer hospitality to strangers who just turn up in town needing a place to crash.”Consternation.“And it’s to fast.” He was starting to look furious.“And it’s to pray so long and hard that you run out of words and tears.” There was no going back.“Your call,” I continued, “is to preach the good news of Jesus to every person who will listen and a few who won’t. Your call is to go somewhere, anywhere, wherever, whenever, for Jesus, and never stop. Your call is to love people no one else loves and to forgive them when they treat you like dirt-or worse. Do your job to the very best of your ability without grumbling about your boss or whining about your colleagues. Your call is to pray for the sick, and when they are healed to dance all night. And when they aren’t, to weep with them and love them even more.” I glanced across at him and was relieved to see that his expression was beginning to mellow.“Your call is to honor your parents, pray for your leaders, study the Scriptures, and attend plenty of parties. Be a peacemaker in every situation: when the fight breaks out on the bus home late at night and when the gossip starts to circulate at church. Your call is to pick up litter in the street when no one else is looking, to wipe the toilet seat, to pull the gum off from under the desk. It’s to get to meetings early to put out the chairs.”By now he was smiling.“Your call is to make disciples and to teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded. And don’t forget to minister grace to them when they sin. Which they will. Your mission is to baptize and to cast out evil spirits. Your call is to bind up broken hearts whenever you find them, and you will find them wherever you look. It’s to visit prisons. And hospitals. And to…”“Yeah, yeah,” he interrupted good naturedly, trying to shut me up, but I was on a roll-and I knew he couldn’t leave, because I was driving the car.“Your call,” I continued resolutely, “is to listen more that you talk and to listen with your eyes as well as your ears.”He was shaking his head in mock despair. I carried on: “It’s to do the chores again and again without grumbling. It’s to buy ethical coffee and to recycle your bottles. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to leave anonymous gifts on people’s doorsteps.”By now we were both laughing, and I was finally running out of steam: “And when you’ve done all that,” I grinned, jabbing him in the ribs at each syllable, “come back and see me, and we can spend a little time praying about Phase Two!” The problem for most of us is not that we don’t know what God wants of us. It’s that we know exactly what He wants of us, and it’s not what we want to do!”

Isn’t a gift a little more special when it is received in the proper time? Imagine someone saying, “I know your birthday isn’t for 2 months but I thought I would give you your gift today.” Timing can make a huge difference. For instance, I believe God’s timing for sex in a relationship is somewhat like a 401k. You can cash out your plan early; having that extra cash would be good, but cashing out early will have consequences and it certainly won’t be as great as if you had just waited a bit longer. There are other examples as well … (What is the difference between a good meal and a great meal? About an Hour!)

I also have an example of when I didn’t wait for something in my life that I thought would bring me happiness: In May 1996 I had just gotten back to the mainland after spending a year in Japan. I wanted a car desperately and I decided a 96 Eclipse would do the trick … would make me happy, that is. I, of course, hadn’t saved up any money, and couldn’t afford both the car AND insurance. So, a month or two in, I dropped the insurance and continued driving the car. In Feb 97, I was driving from UCLA after visiting a friend and going back to 29 palms, CA (about 3 ½ hour drive time ea way). I was going way too fast for conditions and, on the 12 lane hwy in the middle of a rain storm, a truck threw up a wall of water and completely blinded me. I pushed the brakes and slid into the truck, bounced off into a car, bounced back into the semi, and then hit a barrier, and finally came to rest in the middle of the street. The car was in really bad shape and had a flat front tire. I changed the tire and got back on the road when the hood flew up and smashed the windshield. I sank into the seat and managed to drive a hundred yards or so with my only vision coming out of a 2 inch gap between the hood and dashboard. After securing the hood and changing the tire 4 more times in the pouring rain I continued back towards base … only this time the trip took 5 ½ hours! I had to park the car off base because of its condition and continued paying out the lease. I then had to rent a u-haul and trailer to haul the car back to Washington when I got out of the military. I had a 27 ft truck to tow the trailer w/ a chest and seabag in the back of it. I finished paying out the term of the lease and then paid an additional 6 month extension before Mitsubishi demanded I either pay the car off in the amount of $6900, or turn it back in. Well, I didn’t have the money, so I turned the car back in and expected to have to pay what the car was worth … $6900 right? They came back and hit me up for damages on the car in the amount of $21,900 … ouch! I ended up paying on it until it was finally taken care of in 2004. The instant gratification of owning a car cost me roughly $41K after it was all said and done. There went the money I would have used for college, and my short term happiness turned into long term despair. I now always have insurance!

Why is it we become so preoccupied with the future? I think it basically comes down to either our want of control, or we are filled with worry. I have wondered what it would be like if we were able to know the future. We would probably try to change things about our future before it happened. The thing is, how do we know the very thing we are trying to stop or change isn’t the means by which our future will be accomplished?

I like the story line in the movie “Kung Fu Panda.” There is a vision that a bad guy is going to escape from prison; so, to make sure that doesn’t happen, the master sends a delegate to make sure everything is in place, only the actions of the delegate on the visit put into motion the means by which the convict escapes. The story of Jesus is the same way. The plans of men tried to kill him to protect their way of life, and yet their very actions led to Him being the Way!

We often think we know what would be best for our lives. I like the analogy Adam gave during the small group. People often will to listen to their ipod or a cd because they know what they like, and what they would want to hear, but sometimes, if you were to just turn the radio on, a song might come on that you don’t have in your collection -- a song that you normally wouldn’t have heard, but a song that is perfect for your particular situation, because it reminds you of a special time, or because it just perfectly fits the moment you are in. The point is to relinquish control of the remote in your life and let God dial in your radio. He knows what you need to listen to, do, and where you need to be.

The opposite of course is worry. Sometimes we suck the joy out of our lives by worrying about things we have no control over, and sometimes over things we do have a sense of control over. We are given instructions on why not to worry (Matt 6:25-34). We know that God is over all things and that should provide us with great comfort.

So, why doesn’t God let us know all things about the future? I like what the book has to say on pg 105. “The Apostle Paul alluded to this fact when saying, ‘For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known’ (1 Cor 13:12, NRSV, emphasis the authors). In fact, what if certainty has never been part of God’s desire for our lives? Because 100 percent certainty with anything in life -- finances, job, security, illness, the future -- would create the illusion that we don’t really need God after all.” If we knew everything we wouldn’t need faith, and faith in God is something he asks of us.

The Moment You Are In Is A Good Moment.

Therefore, let us take comfort in the fact God is in control, let us find joy in the moment we are in, leave the worrying to God, and make the best of the situations we are in. The only thing we can control is our worrying. Let’s not live life in a pause mode or be in a hurry, but let God use us in whatever place we find ourselves.

JPH