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Daily Archives: October 26, 2011

Losing again

I wanted to update anyone who is still tracking with me on my weight loss. My weigh-in at class showed I had lost another 3.6 lbs for the week. That puts me at a total of 15.8 lbs in 4 weeks. Woo Hoo!!

In class we discussed what Phase 2 will look like once we get there (Phase 1 is 13 weeks). We also discussed what would be expected of us at the end of Phase 1 before we can move into Phase 2. We had a member from another class with us last night and they commented that the biggest difference between the two phases, for them personally, is that Phase 1 is safer. This makes sense because Phase 1 is very regimented and structured. Phase 2 is created to help wean us off of the structured diet into a world where we have to plan our own meal contents.

I’ll mention just a few things I have noticed in the past 4 weeks.

I am feeling so much better. I am not as out of breath doing normal daily lifting, stair climbing, and brisk walking. I have begun to work out with free weights and getting that good muscle soreness that tells me the muscles are getting stronger. I have worked up to an hour long workout. I am learning to enjoy exercise more because of the benefits it provides. I am eating right which includes a least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. My energy levels are ever increasing. My blood pressure is consistently in the good range. It averages around 115/70 each day. I am fitting into pants I haven’t been able to wear in a year or so. My overall attitude has improved, and I sleep much better at night.

Soli Deo Gloria!

 
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Posted by on October 26, 2011 in exercise, HMR, weight loss

 

Occupy Entitlement and the Pursuit of Holiness

This morning as I was clearing out my overnight emails, and preparing to attend my regular Wednesday morning bible study on the pursuit of holiness, I encountered an email which had been passed along to me from a dear brother in Christ. The email only contained a five minute video called “Three and a Half Days“. The video is about how someone would deal with what is going on with the protesters who are protesting under the now popular heading of “Occupy Wall Street”. After taking the time to view it, I was prompted to think about how Christ would have us think about entitlements. This subject will be raised again in my mind during our morning bible study.

In our morning bible study we are reading and discussing through the book “The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges. This week the discussion was over chapter 13, “Holiness and Our Wills”. One of the points from the chapter we discussed is that as believers in Christ we are to submit to the will of God. In order to do this it is important to understand how our will functions. There are two factors that carry huge weight in our will. These are our mind, and our emotions. The mind reasons, discerns, and makes a judgement. Our emotions bubble up with our personal likes and dislikes. These two factors help to determine our will. To choose or refuse to act in line with God’s will.

These faculties were implanted in man’s soul by God, but were corrupted through man’s fall and sin. Our reason (or understanding) was darkened (Ephesians 4:17-18); our desires were corrupted (Ephesians 2:1-3); and our wills diverted (John 5:39-40).  Therefore, it is incumbent upon the believer to renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2), set our affections (desires) on things above (Colossians 3:1-2) and to submit our wills to God (James 4:7). (* citation below)

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