I heard a while back that I need to think as food as fuel and not anything else. I have been chubby since high school and probably before. I have battled my weight since then. I have tried many different diets even the low carb thing twice. I did okay on it but I gained a portion of it back. I began my journey this year at 261. Now I am 5 foot 7 and at 261 I said that is enough. My doctor said one of the best ways to control your weight is to limit your calories and cut back on the unnecessary carbs. I have been doing that and exercising about 3 days a week. I have been doing light exercises on the Wii Fit and that has helped but since the weather has been nice recently I have walked the park near my house and just this past Sunday I actually ran a bit at the East Central University track. I have not ran in I don't know when, probably jr. high basketball.
I also have been doing a thing I thought I would never do and that is what I used to term as fad diet aids. A friend of mine Loretta contacted me early in January and saw that I was trying to lose weight and said she had something that could help me. I being the person I am was cordial and listened to what she had to say and I even purchased the shapeway shake and metabolic enhancers just really as a courtesy. She was my friend and I did not want to offend her. I have to tell you though in what I went into as skeptical, has really turned out to be a great thing for me. I have done the shapeway challenge and am now in my second month and with the exercise, proper diet and the shake once a day I am feeling better and losing weight. As of today's writing I have lost 28 pounds and am having to go buy new clothes because my pants are too big and the 2X shirts I wear swallow me up. I hate shopping but I am having to do it.
I had to pass this along just to say we only have one shot at this life on this earth and I am 47 years old and I want to be around a lot longer. I set a goal of 225 but I am going to shoot for 200 now and I think by the grace of God and determination I am going to make it!!!!!
If you are struggling with your weight make the choice to stop moving in the wrong direction and move towards better health. If I can help in anyway let me know. I am including a link for further information on what I am doing to lose the weight!!!!
Blessings to you!!!
Pastor Steve
http://shapewaybodychallenge.com/stevetaylor
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
What is Lent all about?
There are a lot of people who do not really understand what the church season of "Lent" really is. Basically it is a period of 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 22nd) and lasting until Holy Saturday ( April 7th) and does not include Sundays. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "lencten" which means "spring". Lent began as a a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by early converts and then became a time of penance which is seeking forgiveness and restoration.
In modern times many people practice the gift of self denial in giving something they cherish up for lent. Some examples are like chocolate, pop, and other loves. some people practice the gift of doing something more for Christ during this time...including increased study, random acts of kindness, and other noble acts. I tried giving up brussell sprouts but you cant give up anything you don't like already. HAHA.
I love this time of year because it challenges me to pause and reflect on the past year, my faults, my victories, my dreams and my desires and much more. I use this time as a time of self reflection. Spending more time in prayer and asking Christ what more does he desire from me? How can I serve Him better? and what do I need to rid myself of that keeps me from a closer relationship with Him. I have learned a lot over the years and I pray that this Lent he will give me more direction as far as my future is concerned. I know though the more time I spend reflecting back and looking forward I, along with Christ, can do amazing things when I set my heart on it.
Lent for me culminates with Holy Thursday, Good Friday (which is spent asking for a lot of forgiveness for putting Christ on the cross, and then the time of rejoicing when Christ defeats death and the stone is rolled away and he is no longer in the tomb but instead resurrected so that I may live which of course is Easter. Christ has blessed me with a life worth living. I have had my moments when I felt like life wasn't worth it but when I look at that empty tomb and a risen Savior I thank him for letting me live.
Many of you who are reading this might not be religious or have a personal relationship with Christ but I am here to testify without Christ in my life, I would not be the man I am today.
I would ask anyone who has taken the time to read this posting to stop and ask for Christ to come into your heart and begin the life he seeks from you. Ask for the Holy Spirit to come and enlighten you as to the gift of salvation from Christ.
I add if you ever need anybody to talk to about this ask a spiritual friend, pastor or contact me. Your life is priceless to Christ!!!!
Pastor Steve
In modern times many people practice the gift of self denial in giving something they cherish up for lent. Some examples are like chocolate, pop, and other loves. some people practice the gift of doing something more for Christ during this time...including increased study, random acts of kindness, and other noble acts. I tried giving up brussell sprouts but you cant give up anything you don't like already. HAHA.
I love this time of year because it challenges me to pause and reflect on the past year, my faults, my victories, my dreams and my desires and much more. I use this time as a time of self reflection. Spending more time in prayer and asking Christ what more does he desire from me? How can I serve Him better? and what do I need to rid myself of that keeps me from a closer relationship with Him. I have learned a lot over the years and I pray that this Lent he will give me more direction as far as my future is concerned. I know though the more time I spend reflecting back and looking forward I, along with Christ, can do amazing things when I set my heart on it.
Lent for me culminates with Holy Thursday, Good Friday (which is spent asking for a lot of forgiveness for putting Christ on the cross, and then the time of rejoicing when Christ defeats death and the stone is rolled away and he is no longer in the tomb but instead resurrected so that I may live which of course is Easter. Christ has blessed me with a life worth living. I have had my moments when I felt like life wasn't worth it but when I look at that empty tomb and a risen Savior I thank him for letting me live.
Many of you who are reading this might not be religious or have a personal relationship with Christ but I am here to testify without Christ in my life, I would not be the man I am today.
I would ask anyone who has taken the time to read this posting to stop and ask for Christ to come into your heart and begin the life he seeks from you. Ask for the Holy Spirit to come and enlighten you as to the gift of salvation from Christ.
I add if you ever need anybody to talk to about this ask a spiritual friend, pastor or contact me. Your life is priceless to Christ!!!!
Pastor Steve
Monday, February 13, 2012
My Affirmation of Faith
Every Sunday morning like clockwork, I recite an affirmation of faith that is in our United Methodist Hymnal. Some time ago I rewrote the affirmation of faith and really made it personal to me this is what I wrote.....
I believe in you my God above all things in my life and the life of this world and of heaven. You are my master and master over all things that I can see and all the things I cannot see because I am human. I believe that you sent your son Jesus to this earth to love us, to teach us and ultimately die for us and especially for me because I am a sinner. I am not worthy of His love but he gives it to me anyway freely because he loves me. He is truly your Son, for that I cannot deny for he is the true light of the world and is my Savior. He is one with you Father and because I have accepted Jesus as my savior I am one with Him and since he is one with you that makes me one with you as well. Something I forget from time to time and I ask that you forgive me of this indescretion. I know that you sent Jesus down from Heaven for us and Mary gave birth to Him as a virgin soimething that I am not able to comprehend in my mind but comprehend by faith. He received Your Holy Spirit after John baptized him in the Jordan and took his place among us on Earth to teach us your ways and we shamefully had Him crucified because we refused at the time to believe that He was your son. Only a few beleivers really understood He was your Son and had the faith to carry on after we did crucify Him on the cross. Jesus you suffered terribly at my hands and I ask your forgiveness in this. Despite the fact I did crucify you you conquored death and was resurrected from the grave and you now are with our Father caring for us day in and day out as you did when you were alive on this earth with us. I also believe that you will come back to judge the quick and the dead and I had better straighten up my act and live as you want me to live or I might not get to spend my eternity with you and that scares me. I believe that God you have sent your Spirit to guide us in our lives and that the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing that is available to me when I ask the problem is I don't deserve it nor do I ask for it enough in my life and the lives of my friends. You are the giver of my life, my family's life and my friend's life to do with as you please. I am a sinner that seeks forgiveness in my life. For the things I do and the things I do not do. I know when I stuggle I should come to you first but so often I do not. I seek to solve my struggles on my own and for that I am sorry. I was baptised for the forgiveness of my sin and that I should be thankful for and share that redeeming grace you offer me to all who will hear but for some reason Lord I fail at that too. I know that the end times will come when you are ready. I seek to know you more each day and when that time comes, you will know me as I strive to know you. I seek your blessings this day and the days to come.....Amen
I believe in you my God above all things in my life and the life of this world and of heaven. You are my master and master over all things that I can see and all the things I cannot see because I am human. I believe that you sent your son Jesus to this earth to love us, to teach us and ultimately die for us and especially for me because I am a sinner. I am not worthy of His love but he gives it to me anyway freely because he loves me. He is truly your Son, for that I cannot deny for he is the true light of the world and is my Savior. He is one with you Father and because I have accepted Jesus as my savior I am one with Him and since he is one with you that makes me one with you as well. Something I forget from time to time and I ask that you forgive me of this indescretion. I know that you sent Jesus down from Heaven for us and Mary gave birth to Him as a virgin soimething that I am not able to comprehend in my mind but comprehend by faith. He received Your Holy Spirit after John baptized him in the Jordan and took his place among us on Earth to teach us your ways and we shamefully had Him crucified because we refused at the time to believe that He was your son. Only a few beleivers really understood He was your Son and had the faith to carry on after we did crucify Him on the cross. Jesus you suffered terribly at my hands and I ask your forgiveness in this. Despite the fact I did crucify you you conquored death and was resurrected from the grave and you now are with our Father caring for us day in and day out as you did when you were alive on this earth with us. I also believe that you will come back to judge the quick and the dead and I had better straighten up my act and live as you want me to live or I might not get to spend my eternity with you and that scares me. I believe that God you have sent your Spirit to guide us in our lives and that the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing that is available to me when I ask the problem is I don't deserve it nor do I ask for it enough in my life and the lives of my friends. You are the giver of my life, my family's life and my friend's life to do with as you please. I am a sinner that seeks forgiveness in my life. For the things I do and the things I do not do. I know when I stuggle I should come to you first but so often I do not. I seek to solve my struggles on my own and for that I am sorry. I was baptised for the forgiveness of my sin and that I should be thankful for and share that redeeming grace you offer me to all who will hear but for some reason Lord I fail at that too. I know that the end times will come when you are ready. I seek to know you more each day and when that time comes, you will know me as I strive to know you. I seek your blessings this day and the days to come.....Amen
I would like to encourage you to write your own affirmation of faith and read it daily!!!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Understanding College Kids...I just can't do it.
Do you remember when you went to school? I remember when I was in my first go around in school back in 1983-84. I lived on campus at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. I was a fair student and was wrapped up in all my different activities. I was in charge of the campus radio station and I had friends but very rarely did I stay up real late. I mean real late for many of us is midnight. But nowadays I guess many of the kids stay up well into the 2-3am range. I just don't understand it. What good is going on during those hours and what ever happened to a good night's sleep. My son is one of those "late night" people and I just don't get it. It really makes you worthless the first part of the day. I can understand if you were doing shift work or something like that I was that way once. But just to stay up until?????? I just don't see there is any good in this behavior. Does anyone else feel this way. I feel like a person has a better chance at success in life by getting good amounts of rest and being productive. What productivity comes this early in the morning hours. Any thoughts?
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