Abby wrote the following for school:
I wish I had 100 bees.
I wish I had 100 boys
I wish I had 100 tires
But I’d never want 100 spiders.
I’m so in trouble.
Last week took everything out of me. This week, is almost surely going to take everything out of me. Next week? Its looking the same. March, however, will probably have less going on. Your prayers will be much appreciated. The wife and girls are great, but work has Maxed me out 🙂
Evie said to me, “Daddy, I’m getting another sick.”
Sadly it is true. She’s got another runny nose.
Today I worked out in the morning, but had to set the elliptical machine to a lighter work out. I was physically tired when I started things, but it was an issue of mind over matter. I won’t make that cute, but let me say that I need more sleep if I’m going to put out this many calories. I burned 275, which is a lot less than yesterday, but I need to probably start spreading my efforts out to other areas of exercise.
Food was not so nutritional today – tomorrow must bring more salad.
Its been a few days since I posted, but today I worked out for 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. I upped the difficulty to level four and burned 375 calories. I’m sweating a disgusting amount so it must be time to go work out. I’ve lost approximately 2 pounds since starting. Not as fast as I wanted, but OK, I’m still following through. More later.
I remember in high school there were always people I would overhear saying things like, “Kevin S. Is a good kisser,” or, “Brad is a bad kisser.” Do you recall such discussions? I was just thinking how absolutely lame those discussions were. Can you imagine actually thinking that those people were going to be stuck with the kissing prowess of a sixteen year old?
Do you think the people in the school hallways that said those things will go back to the spouses of the horrific or awesome kissers and engage in an analytical discussion of developmental make-out existentialism? Yeah, you’re right, they probably will.
Today I worked out for 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. I set it on the third, harder level. I was pretty stinky and sweaty when I finished. I have also reached my goal of 10,000 steps as well. I’m confident that keeping this pace up is not only possible, but also going to help keep me on my target of a healthier, fittier Randy.
Breaky: one egg
Snacks: more nuts, carrots and apples.
Lunch was a salad and some fajita fillings with one tortilla and cheese. Some fat, but not horrible.
Dinner was a hamburger, fennel slaw, salad, green beans and some sweet potato fries. All in small quantities so as to not max out calories.
At lunch I worked out for 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. Still sorely disappointed in its actual shape not being an ellipse. Burned over 300 calories.
Breakfast: 1 egg (and some coffee)
Lunch: Apple (braeburn, organic), 6oz yogurt with 1tbsp of peanut butter
Snacks: 2/3 cup of nuts
Today I weighed myself after lunch. I am aware that is not the ‘optimal’ time to weigh yourself, but lets me honest: weighing yourself first thing in the morning is not really weighing what you normally weigh. My weight may fluctuate by as much as 2 pounds in a 24 hour time period, so I just weigh myself within a 24 hour time period and go with the flow. I ate crumby food today due to lunch out with friends. Let me clarify: the food was super tasty, but it was probably not very healthy. To offset the poor food I worked out and did some Wii boxing, some wii exercises on the Wii fit, and walked approximately 1.5 miles to a super bowl party.
For the record I think I look like I’m having a spasm as I spin my waist on the Wii fit board doing the ‘hula hoop’ game. I am convinced that many of the exercises in Wii Fit are not overly exercising, and they’re not focusing on what I’d like to focus on. Tomorrow I’m going to make time to work out on our elliptical machine. Sadly it is not actually shaped like an ellipse, but they tell me that exercising on it moves the bars that I stand on in an elliptical pattern. The programmer in me sort of wants to write a Flash animation to find the ellipse and help inform you about it… but the tired man in me is ready for bed.
See you tomorrow!
Data:
Weight: 179
Exercise: Wii fit junk, walk to super bowl party, shouting and cheering for the Cardinals, stood up in front of Sunday School class and in a somewhat animated fashion stood still with brief bouts of pacing back and forth.
I need to get a pedometer to measure my steps.
Penn Jillette wants me to share the gospel with you. He is an atheist, but he reminded me that you, even if you are not a Christian, still have a soul, and that should matter to me. It does. I know that you’re probably tired of hearing religious people cram religion down your throat. I’m sorry that other Christians, or myself, may have gotten it wrong and tried to present anything but what matters most toward you. So, in an attempt to clear things up here’s the gospel in simple terms and with some simple definitions to help clarify things.
The Gospel
The gospel is simple. So simple a child could understand and believe it: Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, rose the third day (read it in the Bible – I Corinthians 15:3-4). In doing so He satisfied God’s requirement of justice for sin. Sin that you and I have committed and that separates us from God (read it in the Bible – Romans 3:23-24). In doing so God extended His love and grace to the whole world!
What is Grace?
Grace is the unlimited, unmerited blessing of God due to the totally adequate work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Lets break that down because that sentence is like a t-bone steak, and it needs some dissecting to get to the good stuff. Grace is unlimited: that means that even Adolph Hitler, had he believed the gospel before death could be saved. It means I don’t have to worry about out-sinning God. It means that I don’t have to worry about losing my salvation. It means I can rest in God’s grace. It means having knowledge of eternal peace with God. Grace is unmerited: it means that I can’t earn it, I can only believe the gospel and receive it. It is like a birthday present from a total stranger that is a check for a million dollars. I didn’t earn it, it is a gift! Since I didn’t earn it, I don’t have to work to keep it – its a gift. Blessings of God is a bit tougher to describe because it has to do with relationship with God. Blessings is not just stuff, it is the reception of God Himself into our lives (God isn’t against stuff, its just that He doesn’t only operate on the earth – Ephesians 1:3 tells us we’ve been blessed with every heavenly or spiritual blessing – read it in the Bible). The totally adequate work of Christ on the Cross: this means that Christ’s death on our behalf was satisfactory to God so that when God looked at Christ and those who believe the gospel and are therefore identified with Christ he was satisfied and could have awesomely intimate relationship with them. This is why Ephesians 1:4 can tell us that we’re holy & blameless (read it in the Bible). Christians are not perfect on the earth, but before God they have been declared holy and blameless as He is holy and blameless.
God wants a relationship with you. Belief is a simple act, but you know it comes with consequences. Once you have responded to the gospel – in either belief or unbelief – you know that that decision will come with ramifications. I encourage you to ponder the gospel message. Eternity is a long time to be wrong. I have personally spent hours and hours of my life studying to make sure I’m not putting my trust in absolutely insane, highly improbable truths. Instead I have found the Bible, God’s book of love, to be True and the source of truth. Hell is not described as a great place to be, it is described as a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is described as a lake of fire. I don’t want to pass up this opportunity to ask you to read the verses quoted and ask yourself where you will spend eternity.
Think About It
I don’t agree with Penn’s reflection on God, that He doesn’t exist. But I ask you to consider this: I’m not trying to con you, I don’t want a notch in my Bible cover, I don’t expect to get “Jesus Points” [instead of brownie points or merit badges], but I really care about you. If you’re reading this it means something to me, you mean something to me. Ask questions in the comments, email me (randy@randypeterman.com), or IM me (if you need that information I’ll email it to you) and we’ll discuss this. I’m not looking for fights, so if you think you’re going to find that here, you’re at the wrong URL, but I am being genuine because I want you to be there with me in heaven in awe as God reveals more of Himself to us for eternity (read it in the Bible).
Consider putting your trust in Christ to make you right with God rather than trying on your own. To do so just pray and be really honest with God about your failure to meet His standards of perfection, trust Him for His work through Christ on the cross, and rest in the assurance that you’re adopted into His family. Then consider finding other Christians who can help you learn about the Bible – I’ll be the first volunteer.