Rest interrupted

Well, my 'mini vacation' was interrupted by the telephone at 06:50 this morning. It was the midnight shift guys letting me know that the 'bossman' was very ill, and I would be needed to come in and attend all of the daily/weekly meetings for him. Such is life, but I've since talked with 'bossman' and he's agreed to let me take a replacement day saometime in the "near future". Who knows... I might be able to start my Thanksgiving break a little early? :)

Today has been a whirlwind, but here are some random thoughts...

For some reason the song "Juke Box Hero" (by Foreigner) has been playing in mind over, and over, and over again... I really have no idea why. So, I've played it a few times from a You Tube video. I don't get it... but it's like being unable to scratch an itch or something!



For the past week or so, I have really been turning over the subject of knowing, and being known by, God. The verses "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV), has been something I dwell on from time to time. Not just for my own edification, but so that I can (hopefully) explain it others if asked. One particular sub-theme of this as been (for me) the act of repentence. Over at Steve Camp's blog (yes the contemporary Christian musician) there is an excellent post regarding this very subject. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to ponder such things.

I enjoy writing the occasional short story, but I have been 'dry' for about 3 months now. I have ideas and concepts... continuations of several story lines I've started, but it's just not coming out. At least not in a cohesive form. I'm itching to write... I've just not had the time to sit and plug (i.e. bang) away at it until I clear that hurdle. I've been trying to carry a notebook around to jot notes in... but I've not been disciplined enough to follow through on that. gotta get off my duff!

Speaking of discipline... I need to get out and start running again. I know this is not the normal time a year to start such things, but my back has sidelined me from doing any serious exercise since late April. I've already missed two APFT test times, and I don't want to go out (retire) on a profile - unable to complete my expected check marks. My back still has some aches, and I am still seeing a chyropractor once aq month, but he feels it should be ok to start light running, and even some sit-ups (the later filling me with dread even thinking about it).

Coming back to music before I close things out for today, if you are one who enjoys praise and worship music I can cannot recommend the blog Worship Matters enough. It is written by a man who leads worship in church every Sunday. For me it has been very insightful.

Well, that's all I have for today... God bless...



Verse for today:
Phillipians 4:8-9, ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Misc. thoughts...

No man is worthy to succeed until he is willing to fail. No man is morally worthy of success in religious activities until he is willing that the honor of succeeding should go to another if God so wills.

I have subscribed to the "Tozer Daily Devotional" by Literature Ministries International, and it has been useful in pointing out things to think about. The quote above has been useful in my life of late. Especially in regards to my walk with the Lord. Although it is probably not directly recognized as such, it has really helped me re-evaluate my walk with the Lord - and my motivations. That and a few other things. :) Last night was pretty fun. "Transformers" was a fun popcorn munching, sci-fi, special affects, movie. It was pretty cheesy in place (ever hear a robot space alien 'preach' about the nobility of man...?), but over all it was fun to watch. Big Mama - to answer your question... I've only seen the 'Heroes' season premier, it was a lot like last years start. It was setting up the 'players' in their plot lines. Not much else going on. I have this weeks episode DVR'd and hope to get to that later this week. Between that show, 'The Unit', and any and all football I can watch, my TV time is pretty much taken. lol Verse for today: Psalm 94:10-15, ESV He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. [1] Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Why do I do this?

It is getting close to my unit's APFT once again. For some reason I do not mainain my fitness level throughout the year, instead I wait until the last minute (i.e. - two to three months out) before I begin to work out again. As a result I end up torturing myself. I have been doing some light workouts for the past month or so. Last night I decided to "kick it up a notch". While I was at DS1's soccer practice I decided to utilize the track. What I decided on was the following:

• Stretch lightly to give the muscle groups a 'heads up'
• Wlk 1 lap in a brisk pace to warm up (this track is a little unusual in that it is 1/3 mile long)
• Onlaps 2-10 (3 miles) I would walk 'briskly' around the corners and jog the straight-aways
• The front stretch has two white lines painted across the track, approximately fifty meters apart... sprint (or jog as fast as I can) between these lines
• After each lap perform one set of push up, and one set of sit ups - beginning with nine, and counting down after each lap (i.e. 9 first set, 8 the second, 7 the third, etc.)
• Cool down by walking laps 11 and 12. After each of these another set of push ups and sit ups (10 then 5).
• Stretch to ease the workout

I am still about two months out from the expected test date (maybe nine weeks). I am hopeful to keep this work out up by alternating between the one above and a more gentle one where I do one set of 30 push ups and 30 sit ups, and then jog out 3 miles - to start. Between each workout I will have at least one day of rest, and I know there will be some two day stretches. I will also slowly increase the "load" by adding laps to the distances, and about 10% to the push up and sit up reps. This all sounds very formal, but what I really need to do is make this a daily/weekly routine so that I am not in so much pain when I need to get ready for the APFT. :) Verse for today: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, [2] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Discipline - or the lack there of

Being a military man of over 21 years, and a samurai 'enthusiast', you would think discipline would be a defining charecteristic of me and my life. I am here to tell you that it is not. Well, at least not to the extent I believe it should be. By God's grace I was saved into a church that preached about, and lived, and discipled the importance of the Spiritual disciplines. Reading, memorization, quiet times, fasting, praying... but to my dismay and discredit - it is an area that I have never excelled in. I have never even been mediocre. *sigh* I consistantly struggle with sins in my life. The same ones, over and over again. Now I know that, short of heaven, I will never be free of this struggle. But to fall to the same ones repeatedly is discouraging. Why is it that I cannot get myself up consistantly just fifteen minutes early to read, or pray. When I am entrusted to teach or lead some form of small group I am rarely prepared like I should be. I am just really mad at myself for not being more disciplined right now... I should not struggle with this... but I do... every day. Verse for today: Titus 1:7-9, ESV For an overseer, [4] as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound [5] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.