tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290227254182619512024-03-05T01:37:00.192-05:00The Wonderful World of Rev. HaggisMacJediThere are only two things a person can do in church: participate or evaluate. If you're not doing one, you're probably doing the other. Which one are you doing?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-15829379434493078612010-11-25T15:00:00.003-05:002010-11-25T15:08:50.947-05:00Weight Loss Update: Over 50 Pounds Gone!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Okay, after s</span>ome prodding (I'm looking at you Andrew Gibbons) I have decided to post to my blog today. The staff at the Great</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> Body Company Wellness Center have asked me to do an article to go on their website (it's already their featured</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> "success story" on their bulletin board at the gym), so I have reposted it here:</span></div><div>===============================================</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div>In every person's life there are life changing moments. These are events, perhaps imperceivable to those around them that completely alter a person's life course for the better, or for ruin. These are moments that must be met head on, with no choice of sitting still and remaining indecisive because that fork in the road is staring you in the face, refusing to go unnoticed. In April of 2010 I had one of those moments. At 5 foot 7 inches tall, my weight had skyrocketed to 230 pounds, my waist had ballooned up to close to 40 inches, and I woke up one morning almost unable to walk because of a sudden attack of gout in my big toe. Not good. Flashing through my mind were memories of my father at 40 years old having 2 heart attacks and triple bypass open heart surgery, and the thought that I was in worse shape at 36 years old than he was at 40 years old. Not good indeed.<div><br /></div><div>So there it was, my fork in the road; my choice to dramatically improve my life so that I can give my wife and daughter a husband and father they deserve, or to remain on the path I was on and die early. It didn't take me long to choose my new course. Being a born-again Believer, I prayed that God would help me and give me guidance on how to overcome the mess I'd gotten myself into, and that very day I came across the Great Body Company Wellness Center. So on April 12th, 2010, I walked in there, signed up, and watched my life dramatically turn around. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing I noticed was not the facilities, though I'm absolutely thrilled with them, but the caring, friendly staff, that really DO care about the members and their overall wellness. Every single staff member I've had contact with has gone out of their way to not only answer my questions and give me guidance, but to actually care about me and where my health was heading. In short, they cared about Brian the person, not Brian the source of income. That meant A LOT to me, and helps me to stay motivated even today. The GBC Wellness Center has become my refuge in the middle of the day. I had to go to a conference out of town and got a week-long membership to one of the more upscale gyms in that town so I could continue my program while away, and I have to say I was very disappointed. It wasn't because they didn't have fancy facilities and gear, but because it wasn't home, and they didn't have the GBC Family there. In short, it wasn't home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, now to the nitty gritty. For my diet, I take a multivitamin every day, and I am following the Atkins' Diet (for details on great Low Carb plans go to <a href="http://www.livinlowcarbdiscussion.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.livinlowcarbdiscussion.com</a><wbr>). For my workouts I am using High Intensity Interval Training on Mondays and Wednesdays and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I do 20 minutes of cardio (usually on the Arc Trainers) and an abs workout. I am really looking forward to training in the new workout room with the suspension system! The bottom line is that I do whatever it takes to get in the gym Monday-Thursday (yes, I only workout 4 days a week). If I don't feel like working out, then I go anyway and take it easy. Instead of trying to get my hear rate up to 160, I might cruise in the 120's. Instead of sprinting my laps in between a set of weights, I might lightly jog the lap. If I feel like really getting after it, then I do that too. Under no circumstances do I just try to kill myself in the gym. Instead I listen to my body and if it says "go hard", then I do...if it says "whoa, take it easy today", then I do. What I don't do is not go to GBC. It's better to take it easy than to do nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>My results so far? Well, it's nothing short of life changing, and I'll let the numbers speak for themselves in a moment, but please know I couldn't have done any of it without the support of the GBC Family, and I'm looking forward to the rest of this new life and the second chance I've been given to live a vibrant, healthy, active life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Start Date: April 12th, 2010 Date of this Article: November 24th, 2010 (7 months)</div><div>Starting Weight: 230 Pounds Current Weight: 180 Pounds (50 Pounds lost so far!)</div><div>Starting Waist Size: 40! Current Waist Size: 33 (7 inches gone off the belly!)</div><div>Starting Shirt Size: XL! Current Shirt Size: M</div><div>Starting Blood Pressure: 130/90 Current Blood Pressure: 106/60</div><div>Starting Triglycerides: 276 Current Triglycerides: 63!</div><div><br /></div><div>BEFORE PICTURE (230 Pounds):</div><div><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs046.snc4/34681_10150213566760360_824180359_13477737_7744417_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="cursor: pointer; width: 720px; height: 540px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>AFTER PICTURE (180 Pounds):</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs142.ash2/40415_10150231412315360_824180359_14023733_6385012_n.jpg"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs142.ash2/40415_10150231412315360_824180359_14023733_6385012_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 648px; " /></a></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-48046527143889129822010-07-05T12:35:00.001-04:002010-07-05T12:38:03.693-04:00Weekly Update: After Week 11<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Weigh-In Date/Weight/Total Pounds Lost:</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />4-19-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">226</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/0<br />4-26-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">223</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/3<br />5-3-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">214</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/12<br />5-10-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">212</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/14<br />5-17-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">209</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/17<br />5-24-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">210</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/16<br />5-31-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">208</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/18<br />6-7-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">205</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/21</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6-14-2010/</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">202</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/24</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6-21-2010/</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">198</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/28</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6-28-2010/</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">196</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/30</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7-5-2010/</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">194</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/32</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">WEEKLY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, JULY 5TH, 2010:<br />===================================<br />Well my weight loss continues at a steady 2 pounds per week, and this week most of my actual "weight" loss came in the weekend, so I suspect that my losses will start slowing down now. I am mentally preparing myself for this, but it shouldn't be that hard because I can finally tell by looking in the mirror now. When I get closer to goal I will post before and after pics.<br /><br />This past week was difficult because we were preparing for our Patriotic service on Sunday, which meant busy, busy, busy, plus I'm going on vacation this week and next, so I needed to get ahead in my work in order to relax. I can't relax on vacation if I think I'm coming back to a mountain of work when it's over.<br /><br />The town of Jonesborough, TN (Tennessee's oldest town) has a celebration each year around the 4th of July called "Jonesborough Days" and at the last minute they hired me to bagpipe for them all day. It was a blast, though I worked like a dog and bagpiped intermittently for a full 10 hours! The cool thing is the last time I put on my full kilt outfit I had to lay on the bed, suck in my gut, and have my wife help me to get it all on because it was so tight. BUT THIS TIME, we had to take the belt in FIVE NOTCHES! At the end of the day I went to take my kilt off (keeping in mind the last time I wore it, it took two of us to get it on), and when I took the belt off, the kilt just fell off me!!!<br /><br />While at the festival, I had several people who hadn't seen me in over a year, and they didn't recognize me until they heard my playing, and figuring there aren't many bagpipers in our area, they came to see if it was me after all. It was great having them all ask me for weight loss advice instead of patting my belly (yes this really used to happen to me a lot).<br /><br />To top it all off, the local news was there filming the event and the crew followed me around for one of my sessions and I ended up on the 6pm and 11pm news slots, both playing in the background, and as a featured part of the segment. I had some people immediately text me and ask me what I did to lose the weight.<br /><br />Bottom line: I am SOOOOO glad to not be the fat guy in the corner anymore, and though I've still got 30 some pounds to lose, I'm over halfway there, and while I would call myself seriously overweight still, I would NOT call myself an obese slob anymore!<br /><br />Now the next two weeks will REALLY be a challenge:<br /><br />We have our annual FunFest block party Wednesday night, which I am in charge of.<br /><br />I will be at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games this weekend, and there aren't many readily available Low Carb options (I'm going prepared).<br /><br />The week after that we're headed to Pigeon Forge (just down the road really) to go to a water park resort, Dollywood (we have season passes and they sell turkey legs), a Tennessee Smokies game, and then to Atlanta to see the first place Braves wreak havoc on the Brewers, and to visit the World of Coke Museum.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-18713731276815562942010-06-28T07:28:00.003-04:002010-06-28T07:34:17.418-04:00MILESTONE DAY!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hit an official milestone in my weight loss today! I weighed in today at 196 lbs, which is 30 pounds lost! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been dieting for exactly 10 weeks, so my weekly average weight loss during this first phase has been exactly 3 pounds per week. Some have been more, some less, but it's no big deal. My goal is to be on target for 2 pounds per week.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I set my new mid-term goal for Labor Day (Sept 6th) at 174pounds, which is keeping with my 2 pounds per week loss, and my long term goal of being at my goal weight of 160 is still December 6th.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some interesting numbers:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If I slow to an expected 2 pound per week weight loss, I will reach my final goal of 160 lbs on October 25th.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If by some miracle of God I continue the 3 pound per week average (I really don't expect that to happen), I will reach my final goal of 160 lbs on September 20th.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-51304881173632188822010-06-22T15:36:00.001-04:002010-06-22T15:37:36.544-04:009 Weeks Down<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); line-height: 20px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;">Well, it seems I had a bit of a **whoosh** this past week, with a 4 pound weight loss. I hope that doesn't mean this week will be a stinker.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">Weigh-In Date/Weight/Total Pounds Lost:</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br />4-19-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">226</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/0<br />4-26-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">223</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/3<br />5-3-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">214</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/12<br />5-10-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">212</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/14<br />5-17-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">209</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/17<br />5-24-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">210</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/16<br />5-31-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">208</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/18<br />6-7-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">205</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">/21</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">6-14-2010/<b>202</b>/24</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">6-21-2010/<b>198</b>/28</span></span></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-26089817307707266992010-06-14T15:00:00.002-04:002010-06-14T15:07:10.107-04:00Wellness Journey Update: Week 9 Starts Today<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, I'm fairly certain no one is reading this blog anymore because a) not many people read it anyway and b) I hardly ever update it. Well if I can remember to, I am going to update it every Monday with my weight loss results. Today starts week 9, and in 8 weeks I've lost 24 pounds and SEVERAL inches off my gut. Most of my meals are eaten at Pals, KFC, Applebees, Chilis, Perkins, Cracker Barrel, Phil's Dream Pit, and every now and then, home. I am proof you can eat fast food and drop weight like crazy. Here are the hard numbers:</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Weigh-In Date/Weight/Total Pounds Lost:</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />4-19-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">226</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/0<br />4-26-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">223</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/3<br />5-3-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">214</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/12<br />5-10-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">212</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/14<br />5-17-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">209</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/17<br />5-24-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">210</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/16<br />5-31-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">208</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/18<br />6-7-2010/</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">205</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">/21</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6-14-2010/<b>202</b>/24</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;">Goal for June 21st: 200lbs (26 total lbs lost)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;">Mid Term Goal for July 5th was 202 lbs, which I busted today, so I'll let that one ride and set my next Mid Term Goal for Labor Day once I get to July 5th and can properly evaluate my situation.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;">Long Term Permanent Goal for Monday, December 6th is 160 lbs (66 Total lbs lost)</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-11797334921989090352010-06-07T11:24:00.001-04:002010-06-07T11:24:44.440-04:00Current Low Carb Weight Loss Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">Eating a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet in addition to exercising 4 days a week is integral to my wellness recovery plan. I have labeled it that instead of "weight loss plan" or "diet" because this is a permanent lifestyle change for me that will result in far more than simply changing the number that represents the earth's gravitational pull on my mass. Today begins week 8 of my new life and I thought I would share with you my current results just to encourage anyone who may be considering or participating in a similar journey.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="text-decoration: underline; ">Weigh-In Date/Weight/Total Pounds Lost:</span></span><br />4-19-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">226</span>/0<br />4-26-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">223</span>/3<br />5-3-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">214</span>/12<br />5-10-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">212</span>/14<br />5-17-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">209</span>/17<br />5-24-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">210</span>/16 (I increased my weights this week, thus the mild "gain" from muscle growth)<br />5-31-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">208</span>/18<br />6-7-2010/<span style="font-weight: bold; ">205</span>/21<br /><br />In addition to the pounds lost, I have increased muscle mass as well. My distance has improved on all my cardio workouts, and I have to REALLY work to keep my heart rate in the 150's. I ran out of blood pressure medicine about 4 weeks ago, and WITHOUT THE MEDICINE, my blood pressure has been stable at 120/80 (my wife is a nursing student, so she checks it daily). I went from wearing a size 38 expandable elastic waist pants to now wearing size 36 waist jeans, and will soon be in 34's! On the leg press machine I started out lifting 140 pounds and now I'm up to 240 pounds, and most likely will be raising that this week as well!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-44962649048539218202010-05-18T23:21:00.001-04:002010-05-18T23:22:14.207-04:0017 Pounds Gone<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quick Update:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After 3 weeks on High Fat/Moderate Protein/Low Carb I've lost 17 pounds.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-52311144358457133972010-05-06T19:48:00.002-04:002010-05-06T19:50:56.104-04:00Low Carb Again<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, I am now Low Carbing again, and yes, I am blogging again.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I started Induction on Monday of LAST week and at my first weigh in Monday of this week I'd lost 9 pounds. Can't wait to see what next Monday brings.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On another note, the Keurig mini brewer is the bomb. I picked mine up on Craigslist for $40 and it's the best appliance I've ever owned.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-17853299355645179712009-12-17T15:23:00.001-05:002009-12-17T15:23:43.855-05:00Update!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There Tanja...I updated my blog.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-30406145145567377802009-10-19T12:52:00.003-04:002009-10-19T12:59:54.840-04:00How Big A Boy Are Ya?<a href="http://bit.ly/T0EC0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Click Here If You Want To Change Your Life in 90 Days Guaranteed.</span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Them's big words right there! Click a link to change your life in 90 days...hmm... Sounds like a hoax, or a bad infomercial. Well, it's neither. If you click that link you will be taken to a Bible reading plan that is so ambitious it will take you through the entire Bible, cover to cover, in a mere 90 days. It's rough, it's tough, and it's not for the lazy. It's called B90X (yes, it's a play on the P90X workout program) and it's not for the faint of heart.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />I'm so tired of who I am that I want to kickstart my change as radically as possible. I'm willing to make the sacrifices needed to be a man after God's own heart. I figure the best way to do that is simply spend more time with God's Word. I am excited to see how the next 90 days will refocus me into a sharper, more Biblically educated man of God. I'm especially excited because the next 90 days are what are considered by most Americans to be the "holiday shopping season" where people frantically stimulate the economy by buying up a bunch of stuff people don't really want, for people they don't want to buy for, using money they don't have.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What are YOU going to do with the next 90 days of your life? Lay on the couch? Watch some TV? Root for a football team? Yeah? Well me too, but I'm going to do it while reading the Bible. The ENTIRE Bible. All of it. Every last word of it. And I will love it more than I did before.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />If you want to join me on this intense Bible journey, just go back up to the top of this post and click that link. You'll be able to print out your own B90X plan. Then come back here periodically to see where I will blog about how it's changing my life. Leave comments about how it's changing your life too!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-49672591896089496382009-09-28T17:53:00.011-04:002010-06-22T15:38:33.903-04:00My New Car-In-Waiting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tricitywheels.com/ktnimg/Z422424.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 183px;" src="http://www.tricitywheels.com/ktnimg/Z422424.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Well, it's official: my beloved 1999 Dodge Dakota is dead and buried. I don't even know where it's being stored right now. At this point I'm just waiting on the "defendant's" insurance company to tell me how much money they're going to give me for my truck since they declared it "totaled". In the meantime, I think I found my next vehicle, who's picture you can see above. For some reason, this stupid blog won't let me show the full picture, but if you click on the car, it will take you to a full size picture of it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For those of you that don't know me well, when I purchase a vehicle, my plan is to run it into the ground until it completely dies (or is destroyed by an inattentive, inconsiderate driver like my Dakota was). Therefore, when looking for a vehicle, I try to find one that fits my personality because I consider it a VERY permanent purchase. After much prayer I just didn't know what I would find, but God really came through this time and I think that 2004 Pontiac Vibe GT is going to be my new 2nd home for a LONG time!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've even named it and when I get it I'm going to apply for a personalized tag for it: "MACVIBE". I think that says it all! Well, that and a Scotland flag ought to do it! :)</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-7452027306280757542009-09-23T12:35:00.005-04:002009-09-23T12:48:03.961-04:00Today is my 2 Year Anniversary of Being Called To Sunnyside, 2 Weeks Into Low Carb Update, and Massive Truck Wreck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs221.snc1/6831_266967905359_824180359_8852685_1363181_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs221.snc1/6831_266967905359_824180359_8852685_1363181_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs221.snc1/6831_266967900359_824180359_8852684_7087982_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs221.snc1/6831_266967900359_824180359_8852684_7087982_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, you're probably wondering about those pictures up there, but I'll get to that in a minute...first things first.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><b><i>First of all: Today is my 2 year anniversary of being called to Sunnyside! Thank you Jesus!</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I began this phase of Low Carb 2 weeks ago today at 215 pounds. Today I am 204 pounds! 11 pounds gone in 2 weeks! That's pretty exciting for me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br />As for the pictures, Emmi and I were absolutely CREAMED by a driver that wasn't paying attention yesterday around 5:30pm. We were on 36 going from Kingsport to Gray and we were completely stopped behind 2 other cars while waiting on the car in front to turn left. THANKFULLY I left about 11 feet between me and the vehicle in front of us. I had been stopped about 15 seconds and I looked up and here came a 2001 Nissan Frontier barreling down on us at full speed (around 40-50 miles an hour), and she didn't even slow down a bit and just RAMMED us HARD! Emmi of course was scared out of her mind and crying, but we are both fine.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">You can see some of what it did to my truck, but the woman that hit us broke her hand, was cut up, and burned a little bit. Her truck was totaled. I didn't have my camera at the accident site, so I didn't get a picture, but trust me, that truck is gone to pickup heaven, a sacrificial lamb for a driver who was in too big of a hurry to pay attention to her surroundings.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Why did God do this? Well, I'm not totally sure, but I got to witness to the lady and everyone around her! It was great, and I'm grateful God offered me the opportunity to share my faith when otherwise I'd have just kept driving down the road to get home.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Well, time to go. Wednesdays are busy, busy, busy. For more pictures you can see my Facebook page (for those of you that are on my friends list).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">=======================</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Weekly Weight Loss Update:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">9-9-09: 215</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">9-16-09: 208</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">9-23-09: 204</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-85228689216021019732009-09-21T11:19:00.003-04:002009-09-21T11:21:28.814-04:002 Week Low Carb Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss187/livinlowcarbman/21LifeLessonsBookCover-1.jpg?t=1252008631"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 171px; height: 220px;" src="http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss187/livinlowcarbman/21LifeLessonsBookCover-1.jpg?t=1252008631" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>2 Week Low Carb Update coming Wednesday.<div>Stay tuned.</div><div>In the meantime, check out my boy Jimmy Moore's blog, and be sure to check out his new book too:</div><div><a href="http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/">http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-60138101443147922292009-09-15T12:55:00.000-04:002009-09-15T12:56:48.115-04:00Diet Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Okay, so I've been doing Low Carb again for 7 days. My weight last Wednesday morning was 215. My weight this morning was 208, so 7 pounds gone this week. I know, it's water weight. What else is new? At least it's gone. The real test/results will be a month from now.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-57737190916467220332009-09-08T15:23:00.002-04:002009-09-08T15:29:36.376-04:00My Oh My, How I Hate Dieting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sobejogger.com/images/StrengthTraining/Fat_Beats_Anorexia.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 257px;" src="http://www.sobejogger.com/images/StrengthTraining/Fat_Beats_Anorexia.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Man do I hate dieting, but I just have no choice. If I don't watch every calorie, every carb, every everything, I end up gaining weight. With me there is no such thing as weight maintenance; I'm either gaining or losing. It is tough, irritating, and a daily battle.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">See the thing is that an alcoholic can quit cold turkey and avoid alcohol 100%. A food addict can't do that. Imagine HAVING to ingest the very thing you are addicted to multiple times a day. It's tough. Just look around and you'll see how tough it is.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well anyway, tomorrow I begin another round of Low Carb to see if I can get this under control before I have to order the t-shirt you see above. Pray for me that God will give me strength and persistence with my diet.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-7855196633918287552009-08-24T08:47:00.001-04:002009-08-24T08:48:21.454-04:00Back From Vacation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I'm back from vacation, and I'll post a blog update as soon as I can. Stay tuned...</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-68501899657280654262009-08-11T11:16:00.007-04:002009-08-11T11:29:14.916-04:00First House Showing...and Chainsaws<img src="http://www.fleetfarm.com/images/products/large/0000000004444.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 305px;" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">ep. I am now the proud owner of a Poulan PRO 18 inch, gas powered tree-eatin' machine, and boy howdy did it get some use this past weekend! Tommy, my bestest bud here in the TRI sacrificed a LOT of time helping me purge my back yard of a lot of overgrowth. In fact, our back "yard" looked more like Endor than Gray until we whipped out the chainsaws. (That's a "Return of the Jedi" reference for you non-Star Wars types).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Who knew that 4 limbs would yield a whopping 7 truckloads of brush? Needless to say, it REALLY opened up the back yard, and it must have worked because here we are two days later with our first showing of the house.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Everyone be praying because we REALLY need this thing to sell so we can move forward with the purchase of our new home in Kingsport. We are a Kingsport family now, but don't live in Kingsport, so it's like we're in a foreign land. Now don't get me wrong, I really REALLY like Gray A LOT, but our lives are really centered around the KPT now, not Gray.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Here's the old house in Gray:</span></div><div><img src="http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/l186c3f42-m0x.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 218px;" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And here's the new house in Kingsport:</span></div><div><img src="http://p.rdcpix.com/v02/l4fdb0242-m0x.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 218px;" border="0" alt="" /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-81542724969775487692009-08-04T09:31:00.008-04:002009-08-04T10:03:32.982-04:00But I'm Strong.......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"The road is long<br />With many a winding turn<br />That leads us to who knows where<br />Who knows when<br />But I'm strong<br />Strong enough to carry him<br />He ain't heavy, he's my brother.<br /><br />So on we go<br />His welfare is of my concern<br />No burden is he to bear<br />We'll get there<br />For I know<br />He would not encumber me<br /><br />If I'm laden at all<br />I'm laden with sadness<br />That everyone's heart<br />Isn't filled with the gladness<br />Of love for one another.<br /><br />It's a long, long road<br />From which there is no return<br />While we're on the way to there<br />Why not share<br />And the load<br />Doesn't weigh me down at all<br />He ain't heavy, he's my brother.<br /><br />He's my brother<br />He ain't heavy, he's my brother."</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">=========================</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Mmm, mmm. Just reading those lyrics again makes me choke up and get blurry eyed. Those are the lyrics to one of my all time favorite songs, and definitely my favorite secular song that I've ever sung. In college I was in a little do-wap a capella pop group called 7BucsWorth (later ammened to 10BucsWorth) over at ETSU. My freshman year I was called in a month before school started to go to "camp" where we would learn an entire concert in 3 days and then perform it for our peers at an event called "Preview". That "camp" I later found out was basically a performing boot camp. We got up at 6am and rehearsed all the way until nearly midnight, stopping only an hour for lunch around noon and an hour for dinner around 6pm.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'll never forget the first three songs we learned in that very first session: "I Love a Rainy Night", "Here's That Rainy Day", and "So Hard To Say Goodbye to Yesterday". I can remember the arrangements in my head as we speak. But it wasn't until the afternoon session that a lightning bolt struck my heart in the form of a song called "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", the lyrics of which are at the beginning of today's blog entry. We got about halfway through the song and our director (Dr. Jenrette for those of you keeping score) decided to let a tiny, squeeky voiced, really high tenor sing the solo. (Consequently, the guys later nicknamed me Keebler that weekend because I was so tiny compared with all the other guys. The group was called 7BucsWorth, but I was the 8th member, so when people used to ask why there were 8 of us instead of 7, the other guys would say "Oh Keebler there is just the pocket change".) Anyway, that was my very first college solo.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Every time, EVERY time we sang that song, I was moved to tears. EVERY time I hear it now I'm moved to tears. I saw the Osmonds sing it once at an anniversary concert, and they brought out the two oldest brothers (who most people aren't familiar with) who are deaf, and they signed the song while the brothers sang it. It tore me up.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I can hear you now: "What in the world is a Worship Pastor doing getting so torn up over a clearly secular song?" Well first of all, God can use anything He chooses to point us to Jesus, secular or not. If it glorifies God, it glorifies God. Period. If it defames God, it defames God. Period. Think about that, Christian, the next time you use dirty words or treat someone like a doormat. Anyway, I know that I was once lost as can be, a sinner condemned to hell, and the worst part about that is that while I was in that state, my parents were going through a NASTY divorce, and I was leaving my beloved hometown to start a new life in the Tri Cities. Life was rough.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Then someone gave me a Bible and I read the following words from Hebrews 2:10-13:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">He says,<br />"I will declare your name to my brothers;<br /> in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">And again,<br />"I will put my trust in him."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">And again he says,<br />"Here am I, and the children God has given me."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Gulp. Jesus calls me brother? I am a child of God? Jesus suffered for me?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Yep, it finally sank in. I realized that when I repented of my sins and turned to Christ for salvation, I became an adopted member of another eternal family. No matter how bad life was with my broken, earthly family, all was well with my heavenly family. My forever family.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I was NOT alone. Jesus was with me.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And I came to know that singing that "secular" song during all those hard, difficult, painful moments where I THOUGHT I was alone, Jesus was there the whole time, covering me, carrying me, because I am not heavy for Him...my brother.</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-2865183311966114472009-07-18T03:41:00.004-04:002009-07-18T04:09:02.745-04:00Middle of the Night Reflections<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'm not sure how wise it is to blog at 3:41am Eastern Time in a hotel room in Nashville, TN when you're 4 hours from home, worn out as can be, and blurry eyed from a lack of sleep over the past 8 weeks...but I'm gonna do it anyway.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The past couple of days have been phenomenal for me, and really in unexpected ways. I have heard from God from guys in worship leadership positions that really spoke to my heart.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Regi Stone said "It's gonna rain" and introduced me to my new life verse, Zephaniah 3:17: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> <b><i> </i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b><i> "The LORD your God is with you, </i></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b><i> he is mighty to save.<br /> He will take great delight in you,<br /> he will quiet you with his love,<br /> he will rejoice over you with singing."</i></b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The "It's gonna rain" thing I'll have to blog about later, but let's just say it's about God raining down his goodness on you when you've been in a real scary dry spot.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">Travis Cottrell said "How big do you need God to be? Well, that's how big He is!" That is really simply profound.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">Tommy Walker said "The devil will try to steal your calling. Your friends, family, choir, and even YOU may have given up on you, but God hasn't."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">Wow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">I mean WOW.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">I'm going to be vulnerable here for just a moment and admit that the devil HAS been trying to steal my calling from me. He has been trying everything to derail me from what God has asked me to do. My self esteem has been attacked, my purpose has been attacked, my usefulness and effectiveness has been attacked, and my joy has been attacked. I have been especially discouraged at what's been happening in my ministry over the past few months.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">It seemed like at Easter things were going really well and then **poof** it all seemed in my eyes to unravel. My choir of 75 began impersonating a choir of 35. Not cool devil, not cool. My weight has skyrocketed, even after losing 40 pounds last year. Yet again, not cool devil, not cool. My asthma got worse and I developed a painful umbilical hernia...hello...I'm a singer and a bagpiper...REALLY not cool.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">I look over the empty choir seats and question why I haven't been able to express how beautifully awesome God is to those choir members enough to inspire them to show up and do what God called THEM to do. It is ESPECIALLY discouraging when I walk onto the platform and see 11 choir members sitting in the congregation, staring me in the face (which happened Sunday, by the way). That is a HUGE tool satan uses against me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">I had come to about an inch away from giving up on me as a full time "professional" or "paid" minister, before God spoke to me through these 3 men of God. Now I've got a lot to think about on my 4 hour ride home in my little pickup truck. I know it's not about me, it's about what God can do through me, but lately I have felt as useless as the filthy rags I know I'm made up of.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">But I am reminded that God is big, HUGE, omnipotent...and He loves ME. Little ole, dirty, sin stained, useless-on-my-own-me. He wants to use me. What a thought. I don't want satan to steal my call like He's stolen my joy. I want to reclaim that in the name of Jesus. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;">God hear my prayer tonight in this empty, lonely hotel room in Nashville. Forgive me for allowing myself to become beaten down by my own sinful nature. It is MY fault for taking my eyes off of you and believing the lies satan has been telling me. You are the great One, the Rock, the Love, and I know You love me, and tonight I claim that love again for my own. Heal my broken heart and restore me to usefulness for You again. Please use me to touch the lives of others and to help point them to Jesus. All I want to be is a giant roadsign pointing to Jesus. Help me in my failures Lord to be more like You. I love You, I adore You, and I am sorry for sinning against You. I claim the blood of Jesus again today as I have every day since You first saved me. Cleanse me, renew me, and use me. I am and forever will be Your child.</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-13182511602930830222009-07-17T17:31:00.002-04:002009-07-17T17:34:41.876-04:00Regi Stone<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Just another quick update on the conference.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I've known about Regi Stone for a few years now. He's the worship leader at Christ Church Nashville, but more than that, he's a gifted songwriter, and a fantastic Christian. I've sat in on two of his classes this week, and right now I'm burning the battery up on my iPod with his newest project "Everything". For those of you in my choir, Regi can be heard singing the solo on our demo of "End of the Beginning", so yeah, he can also wail.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This guy is humble and is really being used of God in many ways big and small. Check him out at www.registone.com</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I'll write more later. Right now I have to get cleaned up because I'm singing with the Christ Church Choir in a concert in just a couple of hours! Man I love it when I can be a singer instead of a director. **sigh**</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-76596531169390125662009-07-17T00:16:00.002-04:002009-07-17T00:21:00.572-04:00Travis Cottrell is the BOMB!Okay, now I'm impressed. Here at the Christ Church Music and Worship Conference there are hundreds of worship leaders from all sorts of denominations (mostly all evangelical and some pentecostal), and artists from all walks here, not to mention the "Voices of Lee" (incredible a capella group from Lee University) and the Christ Church Choir itself. But who brought the house down AND led everyone to the throne of God?? The Southern Baptist's very own Travis Cottrell.<div><br /></div><div>If you don't know who he is, he is the former Worship Pastor at 2 Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville and is currently the Worship Pastor for the Beth Moore conferences. Check out his website at <a href="http://www.traviscottrell.com/">http://www.traviscottrell.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Consequently, he also gave the best seminar today. Tomorrow I get to hear from Tommy Walker, who wrote one of my all time favorite songs "He Knows My Name". This should be great.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-61919404322411419462009-07-16T17:31:00.004-04:002009-07-16T18:00:42.871-04:00Christ Church Music & Worship Conference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.christchurchnashville.org/2009conference.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 440px; height: 440px;" src="http://www.christchurchnashville.org/2009conference.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">As those of you in my choir now know, I am in Nashville at the Christ Church Music & Worship Conference. I tried to keep that under wraps because the last several times the mice knew the cat was away, they indeed did play, averaging only 15 in attendane out of 75. I think my little experiment worked though, because the initial report from last night is that we actually had better attendance last night than we normally do. Well done choir!! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">So far I've attended sessions with Travis Cottrell (the worship leader for the Beth Moore conferences), Regi Stone (Christ Church's worship leader, and the composer of many songs we sing, including "Power in the Name of Jesus" that I sang with our choir a few weeks ago, "Let Your Holy Rain Fall Down", and "O Magnify The Lord in Me" just to name a few), and Landy and Joy Gardner. Landy directs the Christ Church Choir and his wife Joy has appeared on many Gaither videos, and was female vocalist of the year (I think in 1977).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Q&A with Landy and Joy was especially interesting. It seems that even the mighty Christ Church Choir has problems with faithfulness. It makes me sad that the choir that inspired me to start directing choirs is starting to dwindle, but in a way it's a relief because I really thought I was the only choir director having MAJOR issues with choir members being TRULY committed. Let me tell you, it really depresses even the most veteran and successful choir directors when only half your choir shows up week after week. It only depresses them more when the common response to that is "Oh, that's just the way it's always been around here." It was also interesting to note some of the problems they have that we don't, and vice versa.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">When God saves a soul, He immediately calls that person to serve. Every last one. No exceptions. Period. Not later, not after training, NOW. The mode of service may change over time, but we are all called to serve in some capacity NOW.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Serving in a choir situation is hard. I won't lie to you and pretend it's all fun and games to try and fluff up the membership numbers. No, it's HARD...DARN HARD, and it takes commitment. It takes ZERO commitment to just show up when you want to, when it's convenient, when you feel like it. There have been many days in my past when I just didn't "feel like it", but went anyway. That is called OBEDIENCE, and that is what God calls us to. In the Bible He doesn't encourage us to do the best we can, He INSISTS that we OBEY Him, regardless of the circumstances.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br />What has God called you to do? Has He called you to be in your church choir? If He has, then please be faithful to that calling. If you are in town, and can walk, you should be in church. If you (faithful choir member) can show up to church, and can talk, you can most likely sing, and you SHOULD. I know there are days when you don't feel like it...hey, I get it, I REALLY do. But God didn't say to serve Him when we feel like it. He said SERVE and OBEY...and be blessed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And see, that's the key. We forget that the blessing comes through obedience. The annointing comes from faithfulness.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God is not going to bless disobedience.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God is not going to bless unfaithfulness.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God is not going to bless mediocrity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God is not going to bless luke-warm worship.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God will bless obedience!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God will bless faithfulness!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God will bless our best efforts!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God will bless passionate worship!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">If you are spiritually dry right now, and I mean dead dry like a crunchy dead leaf in your backyard in the middle of December, then the solution for you is simple:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">1) Ask God what He wants you to do.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">2) Shut up and do it, and do it obediently, consistently, faithfully, and passionately with love, then repeat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">3) See the first part of number 2.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I know this was a hard blog posting to read, but I wrote it for me, not you. If something struck a chord with you, then hey, I wrote it as an open posting for me, perhaps God is trying to tell you something.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In closing, here's one of my favorite quotes:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary."<br /></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-45116425979467549262009-07-14T09:37:00.004-04:002009-07-14T10:01:12.976-04:00Hyde and Heddle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://web.comporium.net/~tamsin/HAH/Images/titles/HAHLogoSunburst.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 733px; height: 107px;" src="http://web.comporium.net/~tamsin/HAH/Images/titles/HAHLogoSunburst.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Every year I attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, NC. It is one of the largest gathering of Scots in the United States (and probably the world for that matter), so needless to say I really try to never miss it. If you've never been to a Highland Games, you really should do yourself a favor and check one out. I recommend three that are within driving distance of East Tennessee (click on the name for their websites:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1) </span><a href="http://www.gmhg.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2) </span><a href="http://www.gsfg.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3) </span><a href="http://www.smhg.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Stone Mountain Highland Games</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know there are more than those three, but those are the ones that seem to get the best reviews. The one at Gatlinburg is far smaller than the other two, but has a nice, homey feel to it. I've never been to the Stone Mountain Games, but EVERYONE says it is the nicest one. They have a seperate grove in the woods for the Clan Tents, and usually they have some sort of military tattoo, which is cool.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But the Granddaddy of them all is Grandfather Mountain, "America's Braemar". I'm not going to post about all I saw and did there, but I will tell you that it's big fun when the Meadows-side campground gathers all the pipers and drummers and "invades" the Across-the-street-side campground. What insues is the world's largest marshmallow fight, and then an impromptu concert by the pipers and drummers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">David Ross, my favorite historian and author was brilliant as usual, and my only regret is not getting to see more of him. I did manage to video about 80% of one of his presentations though, which is great. Albannach, an intense Scottish Tribal music group of a piper and several drummers was also great, but I only got to hear them do a couple of numbers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The highlight of this year's games, as usual, came almost as a fluke. Every year I like to visit the tent of </span><a href="http://www.hydeandheddle.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hyde and Heddle Leatherworks</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. Ron Gray is their master artist, and I wear one of his leather bracelets EVERY day if you'd like to see some of his handywork. Just as every year I went by his tent Saturday night before the concerts and saw his wife working on some leather goods with a needle and thread, and asked if they could repair a sporran I had recently purchased. Not only did Ron repair it, but he actually improved the sporran's design on the back so that it would last longer. He did it in a very timely fashion, and charged VERY LITTLE for the work he did.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As I was in the tent I noticed a neat mug holder that matches my bracelet that attaches to your kilt belt, so I picked that up. I also found a really cool little wooden whistle that plays a full octave to add to my collection. I learned the full scale in about 10 minutes, as it's very similar to an ocarina. I also picked up a NICE black belt that Ron's associate made (I'll update this blog with his name after I can find his business card. He was a great guy too, and also a Southern Baptist to boot).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But off to the side on Ron's workbench was the most beautiful piece of leatherwork I've ever seen. It was a "Rob Roy" style sporran (more of a pouch than a useless decoration). The shape, design, and coloring were absolutely stunning, and I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it, but I also knew that would be MY sporran for the rest of my life. It was unfinished, but still more beautiful than any sporran I had ever seen. After a short phone call (as they have to be on top of the mountain because of sporadic cell phone signals...hello Verizon...Can YOU hear ME now???), I convinced Traci that I had just found my lifetime sporran. She agreed I could get it, so I immediately ran back to the H&H tent and told them I wanted it. It was a STEAL at only $55!!! Most CHEAP sporrans are around that price. To get a hand made sporran like that could easily run upwards of $200 or more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, I had the honor of watching Ron finish the sporran's back part, which was really cool because now I can tell my kids I actually watched the maker make my sporran. If you are into leather stuff or if you need a new bracelet, belt, or sporran, do yourself a favor and drop a line to </span><a href="http://www.hydeandheddle.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hyde and Heddle Leatherworks</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. You won't be disappointed! I'll add pictures in a later post.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-82755278809820399112009-07-01T12:28:00.003-04:002009-07-01T12:32:33.602-04:00Office Disaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cameraobscura.busdraghi.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/lisa_kereszi-junkyard_office_w_tv.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 580px;" src="http://cameraobscura.busdraghi.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/lisa_kereszi-junkyard_office_w_tv.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Uhm...yeah. My office. My sanctuary. My...junkyard.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">For those of you that don't know, my office was used as the church office's closet for almost a year before I took it over in October 2007. Since that time I haven't had any down time where I could reorganize and clean up the mess. Well, today it stops and I am the trash terminator. I am throwing out junk with vengence, and relocating worthwhile materials where they belong.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The thing about it is that I am still in full-on busy mode with other things to take care of, plus the new guy just moved in next door and he's cleaning his junk up too (though we made sure to keep his place as empty as possible during the last move). Therefore, my office is in the "it has to get worse before it gets better stage".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So if you come to my office and can't find me, just dig...I'm sure I'm in here somewhere.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529022725418261951.post-19162134831616404382009-06-25T13:33:00.004-04:002009-06-25T15:52:57.115-04:00New Logo For Sunnyside's Band "The Shout!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQSFJUP96dpZsnxJv4EnX8fSu3UnJXAjyGhH2_AcA7cGlDplc8BQ2X3rIwSbeovNGCg0us7k8BYHrjgL9vye35-AiqFTKPF7MUaBw1ApEGSHLDZ1lh8g9rir_46kcPqExJ2JaTK0QNE8/s1600-h/The+Shout+Logo+1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQSFJUP96dpZsnxJv4EnX8fSu3UnJXAjyGhH2_AcA7cGlDplc8BQ2X3rIwSbeovNGCg0us7k8BYHrjgL9vye35-AiqFTKPF7MUaBw1ApEGSHLDZ1lh8g9rir_46kcPqExJ2JaTK0QNE8/s400/The+Shout+Logo+1.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351355370409976530" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.businesslogos.com/"><img src="http://www.logomaker.com/images/logos.gif" alt="logo design" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0