Slimming down and shaping up

Yesterday afternoon I was approached by a coworker. He wanted to know if I wanted to join in on an office "Biggest Loser" contest. Starting next Tuesday those who want to participate will get weighed and measured, and give $50 up front. There after it will cost $25 per month to stay in the competition. That is pretty steep for me, but I told him I might be interested in playing along, just without money or a chance to win the prizes which will be based off of the most weight lost and most body fat percentage lost. I think it would still serve as a good means to motivate me and drive forward with my exercise regimen. (Hopefully) more to follow. In other areas... I have gone through and sold off a couple of books and DVD's that I don't watch or read. Not a lot, probably not as many as I should get rid of. Yesterday a good internet friend posted a blog that was based around "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. The video (below) is actually scary in the sense that it shows just how easily we can slip. In another blog I followed a link concerning how easy it is to become entangled. It was based off of Psalm 1...

Blessed is the man [1] who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law [2] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The image shared is of a (wo)man who is walking in and among such people. Which then leads into actually stopping to listen in, and then sitting down and participating. It is the "slow fade". "I will just meet with this person (who is not my spouse) for lunch." Which then becomes drinks, then dinner... you get the idea. But the "slow fade" does not just have to be in the area of adultery. What about idolatry? Slowly you spend more and more time 'meditating' on things other than God. Eventually it starts to creep into other areas, and then you are doing whatever it is instead of quiet times, or even going to Sunday services. This latter thing is something that I struggle with. They are not always 'bad' things either - but if it starts to vie for my time in worship or meditation on the things of God it has become an idol. What about covetousness, or bearing a false witness. It is no wonder we (mankind) are in such a need of a Savior. No wonder we need to "talk/preach to ourselves" more than we need to listen to ourselves. The enemy of our souls is crafty and knows where we are vulnerable. We must ever be on our guard, and in constant prayer asking for God to watch over and protect us. God has really been working on me in this area. Opening my eyes to ways I have been allowing little things to creep in. I think we all need that reminder from time to time. Verse for today: Ezekiel 37 : 21-23, ESV then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings [6] in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.