Tried another variation of my current exercise plan/program this morning and it worked well. Each exercise is performed for 18 seconds followed by 27 seconds of rest before moving on to the next exercise. After the warm-up it went like this:
--Neutral-Grip pull-ups with knee-ups
--Front Barbell Squats
--Spider-man push-ups
--1-leg Stability Ball Curls
Repeat set 1X and then move on to one round of the following:
--Split-lung Jumps
--Outside-elbow Mountain-Climbers
--Bent-over Dumbbell Rows
--Ab-Wheel Roll-outs
Bonus Finishing Exercise: 10 Turkish Get-ups (5/side) with 20# Dumbbell.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Because Sometimes it Does Matter What the Neighbors Think
Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
Observation: Reminds me of a line in the Lord’s Prayer (“Hallowed be thy name”) and Martin Luther’s explanation of that phrase.
Application: To explain the phrase “Hallowed be Thy Name,” Martin Luther said that “God’s name certainly is holy in and of itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.”
Back in Ezekiel’s day God’s name was holy too. Unfortunately, the people weren’t doing their part to keep it holy, to honor God in relation to the honor that God was due. So God didn’t perform mighty acts in response to the people’s change of heart. Rather, even before their hearts could change, God acted in order that God’s own name might be understood in a positive light. So even though it is not wise to base our actions solely on what other people might think, it is worth at least considering what other people might think, at least in relation to how it might portray the God we claim to worship. God cares about such things and, in that respect and many others, we are not an island unto ourselves. Never have been. Never will be.
Prayer: Lord, help us to live in ways that demonstrate our dependence on you and our thanksgiving to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ezekiel 36-37, Psalm 110, and Revelation 19)
Observation: Reminds me of a line in the Lord’s Prayer (“Hallowed be thy name”) and Martin Luther’s explanation of that phrase.
Application: To explain the phrase “Hallowed be Thy Name,” Martin Luther said that “God’s name certainly is holy in and of itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.”
Back in Ezekiel’s day God’s name was holy too. Unfortunately, the people weren’t doing their part to keep it holy, to honor God in relation to the honor that God was due. So God didn’t perform mighty acts in response to the people’s change of heart. Rather, even before their hearts could change, God acted in order that God’s own name might be understood in a positive light. So even though it is not wise to base our actions solely on what other people might think, it is worth at least considering what other people might think, at least in relation to how it might portray the God we claim to worship. God cares about such things and, in that respect and many others, we are not an island unto ourselves. Never have been. Never will be.
Prayer: Lord, help us to live in ways that demonstrate our dependence on you and our thanksgiving to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ezekiel 36-37, Psalm 110, and Revelation 19)
Thursday, September 13, 2012
There's an App for That
Scripture Verses that Caught my attention today: Ezekiel 34:11-13 For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12 As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Observation: God will find a way to do what we have been unable and/or unwilling to do.
Application: Shepherd imagery comes up periodically in the Scriptures. Ultimately we find that ‘the Lord is our Shepherd’ when we read the Psalms. Jesus calls himself the shepherd. Why? Perhaps because, when it comes to shepherding, human shepherds haven’t done such a great job.
Thankfully, as they say, “there’s an app for that!” Yes, the grace of God through Christ, when applied to our lives, cures a multitude of ailments including what might be one of the worst of them all, apathy for God’s other children—God’s other sheep that are still part of God’s fold.
Prayer: Lord, help us to love and care for each other as you care for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Ezekiel 33-35 and Revelation 18)
Observation: God will find a way to do what we have been unable and/or unwilling to do.
Application: Shepherd imagery comes up periodically in the Scriptures. Ultimately we find that ‘the Lord is our Shepherd’ when we read the Psalms. Jesus calls himself the shepherd. Why? Perhaps because, when it comes to shepherding, human shepherds haven’t done such a great job.
Thankfully, as they say, “there’s an app for that!” Yes, the grace of God through Christ, when applied to our lives, cures a multitude of ailments including what might be one of the worst of them all, apathy for God’s other children—God’s other sheep that are still part of God’s fold.
Prayer: Lord, help us to love and care for each other as you care for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Ezekiel 33-35 and Revelation 18)
"Mixin' It Up" Workout
Went to the track this morning after dropping off our son for Show Choir practice at 7:00 a.m. Overcast morning around 65 degrees, no wind. Pretty much perfect.
Decided to do a variety of things this morning within a 9-minute time-frame following my regular warm-up. The rest of the workout included 18-second bursts of the following exercises with 27 seconds of rest between each exercise.
--Sprint
--Sprint
--Sprint
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Side-ways running cross-overs
--Side-ways running cross-overs
--Ladder climbs (there was a set of scaffolding at the track)
--Ladder climbs
--Sprint
--Sprint
That was it. Walked around the track once as a cool-down and headed for home to get on with the rest of the day.
Decided to do a variety of things this morning within a 9-minute time-frame following my regular warm-up. The rest of the workout included 18-second bursts of the following exercises with 27 seconds of rest between each exercise.
--Sprint
--Sprint
--Sprint
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Walking Lunge Jumps
--Side-ways running cross-overs
--Side-ways running cross-overs
--Ladder climbs (there was a set of scaffolding at the track)
--Ladder climbs
--Sprint
--Sprint
That was it. Walked around the track once as a cool-down and headed for home to get on with the rest of the day.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Because Today We are Burying another Pastor
Today is the funeral for a beloved elderly Lutheran pastor in our area. I didn't really know him very well, per se, but I definitely knew of him and had met him many times over the last several years. He was the epitome of graciousness.
I do not really know what he "accomplished" during his ministry. Perhaps some of those stories will come out today. I don't know what churches he served, how well those churches 'prospered,'whether those churches are doing well now, or anything else, really, about his 'ministry.'
I really only know two things about his personal life. Make that 3. First, he was very hard of hearing. Telephone conversations were tough. Second, he was incredibly dedicated to taking care of his wife up to her dying day. Third, as I already mentioned, he was incredibly gracious in the way he spoke to/with you. He didn't even really know me, but whenever we would chat for just a few minutes (which was probably about all we ever talked) he seemed to care about me as if we'd been companions forever.
Our synod and bishop have suggested that what really matters in life is that people see in us something about us being signs of and participants in the in-breaking of God in the world.
These signs are sometimes subtle. Sometimes they are linked to what people perceive to be great earthly accomplishments and sometimes not. What is apparent through these kinds of people is a sense that God's grace is both sufficient and at hand. Through such people we can feel this truth, even in the shaking of their hand and the exchanging of but a few pleasantries.
I guess I would hope, by the end of my own life, that I will have figured out how to so naturally convey such things as well.
I do not really know what he "accomplished" during his ministry. Perhaps some of those stories will come out today. I don't know what churches he served, how well those churches 'prospered,'whether those churches are doing well now, or anything else, really, about his 'ministry.'
I really only know two things about his personal life. Make that 3. First, he was very hard of hearing. Telephone conversations were tough. Second, he was incredibly dedicated to taking care of his wife up to her dying day. Third, as I already mentioned, he was incredibly gracious in the way he spoke to/with you. He didn't even really know me, but whenever we would chat for just a few minutes (which was probably about all we ever talked) he seemed to care about me as if we'd been companions forever.
Our synod and bishop have suggested that what really matters in life is that people see in us something about us being signs of and participants in the in-breaking of God in the world.
These signs are sometimes subtle. Sometimes they are linked to what people perceive to be great earthly accomplishments and sometimes not. What is apparent through these kinds of people is a sense that God's grace is both sufficient and at hand. Through such people we can feel this truth, even in the shaking of their hand and the exchanging of but a few pleasantries.
I guess I would hope, by the end of my own life, that I will have figured out how to so naturally convey such things as well.
Gotta Love the Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: Daniel Chapter 3: King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were standing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, 4 the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan. 3:8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O King. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Dan. 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
Dan. 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. 17 If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Dan. 3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, 20 and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.
Dan. 3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25 He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Observation: Nebuchadnezzar was quite a guy and Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego were really quite inspiring. Nebuchadnezzar changed his mind like the wind. He set up his statue for worship and he got so enraged with those who wouldn’t worship it that his face got distorted! Then, when the three who wouldn’t worship his statue were saved, he suddenly switched his allegiances and declared our God as the one true God.
For their part, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were impressive in the way that the didn’t get defensive but simply proclaimed how things would be…they placed their complete trust in God to do whatever God wanted to do.
Application: People are funny. We all are. Just watching how we react to situations, change our minds over time, and the like has got to be humorous footage for the Almighty. We get so upset about some things but then do an about face, sometimes without even realizing it. We let our own faces get distorted in fits of pontification only to later realize (if we’re lucky!) the extent to which we have become fools.
What I appreciate most about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the fact that they had no axes to grind and no real points to prove. Instead they were simply rooted in solid principles of faith which continued to guide them in difficult times. From the story one would be hard-pressed to even imagine a fight on their part. They entrusted themselves to the will of God, whether that meant rescue and deliverance in the present or in some future realm. In their eyes no mere earthly king could successfully vie for the only kingdom that really matters. We too would do well to keep such things in mind.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for your kingdom that, in the Lord’s prayer, we pray will come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Daniel 3-4, Psalm 81, and Revelation 17)
Dan. 3:8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O King. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Dan. 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
Dan. 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. 17 If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Dan. 3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, 20 and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.
Dan. 3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25 He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Observation: Nebuchadnezzar was quite a guy and Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego were really quite inspiring. Nebuchadnezzar changed his mind like the wind. He set up his statue for worship and he got so enraged with those who wouldn’t worship it that his face got distorted! Then, when the three who wouldn’t worship his statue were saved, he suddenly switched his allegiances and declared our God as the one true God.
For their part, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were impressive in the way that the didn’t get defensive but simply proclaimed how things would be…they placed their complete trust in God to do whatever God wanted to do.
Application: People are funny. We all are. Just watching how we react to situations, change our minds over time, and the like has got to be humorous footage for the Almighty. We get so upset about some things but then do an about face, sometimes without even realizing it. We let our own faces get distorted in fits of pontification only to later realize (if we’re lucky!) the extent to which we have become fools.
What I appreciate most about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the fact that they had no axes to grind and no real points to prove. Instead they were simply rooted in solid principles of faith which continued to guide them in difficult times. From the story one would be hard-pressed to even imagine a fight on their part. They entrusted themselves to the will of God, whether that meant rescue and deliverance in the present or in some future realm. In their eyes no mere earthly king could successfully vie for the only kingdom that really matters. We too would do well to keep such things in mind.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for your kingdom that, in the Lord’s prayer, we pray will come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Daniel 3-4, Psalm 81, and Revelation 17)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Reflections on Foolish Leadership Through the Ages
Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention Today: Daniel 2:5-6 The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
Observation: Just because people are in power doesn’t necessarily mean they are wise. The king was making an impossible request that, aside from divine intervention through Daniel, would have assured widespread destruction.
Application: I shudder to think of all the destruction that has been done in the world through the ages at the whims of people in power making foolish decrees. Sometimes this foolishness is well-intentioned. Other times it’s just plain childish or even hateful. Either way, real lives are at stake.
On this day those of us who live in the United States are especially mindful of what seemed to many of us to be a childish and/or hateful act in the form of hijacking airliners and crashing them into strategic points of interest at the cost of many lives. There are also those who feel that the way in which our government responded to those acts of terrorism were horrific in their own way and also came at the cost of many lives.
Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that we live in a broken world filled with broken people. All of us share in that dilemma because, however wise or foolish we may be, each of us is still broken at some level. In light of that fact, my prayer is simply that God might somehow minimize the damage we do in our foolishness (however well-intended) and eventually bring about the total healing and restoration so desperately needed by all.
Prayer: Lord, you’ve heard my prayer. Now help me to hear yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Daniel 1-2, Revelation 16)
Observation: Just because people are in power doesn’t necessarily mean they are wise. The king was making an impossible request that, aside from divine intervention through Daniel, would have assured widespread destruction.
Application: I shudder to think of all the destruction that has been done in the world through the ages at the whims of people in power making foolish decrees. Sometimes this foolishness is well-intentioned. Other times it’s just plain childish or even hateful. Either way, real lives are at stake.
On this day those of us who live in the United States are especially mindful of what seemed to many of us to be a childish and/or hateful act in the form of hijacking airliners and crashing them into strategic points of interest at the cost of many lives. There are also those who feel that the way in which our government responded to those acts of terrorism were horrific in their own way and also came at the cost of many lives.
Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that we live in a broken world filled with broken people. All of us share in that dilemma because, however wise or foolish we may be, each of us is still broken at some level. In light of that fact, my prayer is simply that God might somehow minimize the damage we do in our foolishness (however well-intended) and eventually bring about the total healing and restoration so desperately needed by all.
Prayer: Lord, you’ve heard my prayer. Now help me to hear yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Daniel 1-2, Revelation 16)
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