UPDATE: Biggest Loser!

I lost the weight I gained so that I could lose so that I could win. Now I just have to lose some weight that I hadn't gained in order to win so that I can win and be the biggest loser!

I Have a Secret...

...and it is hidden in an old clock! Just kidding! My real secret is that I have been reading Nancy Drew stories lately (and am just starting into the Hardy Boys)! Why, you ask, would a grown man (insert nasty comments now!) read Nancy Drew? Well, when we were on our retreat, Carla and I rediscovered the art of reading for FUN! I read the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and then remembered reading these mystery stories as a kid. So, I have been securing these fun novels from my local library and losing myself in a world of innocence and goodness. What a blast.

It is helping me to, as the Lord said through Paul, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

It is

cold.

Elijah Room

When I was on my retreat, the Lord put upon me to develop a "retreat room" in our house. So we did. I am calling it my "Elijah Room." In 1 Kings 17, we read about how Elijah sought the Lord and the Lord cared for him. Later, when the widow with whom he was staying had a son who stopped breathing, Elijah took the boy upstairs to his room and prayed. God restored the boy's health. I believe the reason Elijah did this was because it was in this upstairs room where he met regularly with the Lord. So when he had a problem, he simply went to meet with the Lord.

Do you have an Elijah space somewhere?

Here are some pix:

The Biggest Loser!

Today was the big weigh-in at my gym. A number of us are embarking on our own "Biggest Loser" contest over the next three months. The cost to enter is $50. The 2nd place contestant gets his money back...1st place takes the rest.

I have never been overweight so I had a problem on my hands. In order to have a chance to win, I spent the last 6 weeks eating anything and everything I wanted. The strategy was to be unhealthy and gain weight so that I could lose weight and be healthy. I gained 9 pounds and now am heavier than I've ever been in my life! Awesome!!! I have a real chance to be the biggest loser because I was striving to be the biggest gainer!!!

And don't we sometimes act like that in life?

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Please Pray

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, serving our country in Iraq with the US Army Special Forces, died on Wednesday, January 2. Please be praying for his family. He has a twin brother Brandon who is also serving in Iraq right now and is hopefully on his way home. He has a younger brother Adam who is in the Army but is currently stateside, stationed at Fort Campbell GA.

Pray for Scott and Cheryl to have the strength to deal with this tragic loss and to be a witness to their family and friends about eternity and the realities made possible through Jesus Christ their Lord.

Feeling ReFRESHed

Well, I am back to the daily routine. It has been an awesome Christmas season...perhaps the best ever. Carla and I had a lot of time to spend together as well as some great times with family and friends.

The greatest part of Christmas this year was the retreat we went on. If you are a pastor, you MUST click on this link and consider applying for a week like this. It was an physical, emotional, and spiritual blessing in ways that are hard to verbalize. We felt like we sat at the feet of the Lord for a whole week. Dan and Nancy, who host the retreats, are just awesome people. They are being SO used by God in this ministry. I cannot overstress how important it is for we, as Christians, to take time to fellowship with our Lord in extended times of communion. I am blessed!!! And I am now, truthfully, ready to start a new year. I hope you are too!