Back on track. I think.

Two full weeks have gone by since I decided I was going to lose 25 lbs by the 30th of July. In that two weeks I took out the foods from my diet that are absolutely horrible for human consumption - the chief thing being high fructose corn syrup and anything with added sugar.

That doesn't leave a whole lot of processed food at all so I've been forced to cook. From scratch.

We eat a lot of chicken these days because it's easy to cook.

At the end of the first week I added walking to my daily list of chores to be accomplished. One mile is two laps around the circle so I've been doing the one mile before the kids wake up. When the hero is home I've been walking the 2 1/2 mile trail around housing.

For the record I would rather drink Pepsi and eat brownies or cake or even a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don't. I eat grilled chicken and baked fish and lots of vegetables. Almost no fruit and usually a serving or two of milk each day. I don't love this new lifestyle yet but I will. To date I've lost 9 lbs and my clothes fit well. As soon as I go into a size smaller I'll like this more.

I hope my doctor appreciates all the effort.

Writing letters

Last month I decided to send out half a dozen letters to friends of mine. If I talk to you nearly everyday you didn't get one but for those friends I made years ago and don't telephone often I sent letters.

So far I've only gotten one back and absolutely no acknowledgement that the others were even received. Okay, I don't actually need a pat on the back for taking the time to write the letter, personalize each letter, find the envelopes - this was no small feat let me tell you - address the envelopes, get a stamp for each one and actually get them across the street and into the post box.

I'm rethinking letter writing even though I am quite good at writing letters. First of all, it's never a good idea to put anything in writing that may be able to be used against you at a later date. On the other hand, I want stuff put into writing so that I can, ahem, refer to it if I think I'm being lied to. Nothing I put into those letters I sent last month would be damaging to myself or my family and everything I wrote was true but, still, taking the time to write a letter takes valuable time I could've used updating this blog. Or playing on FaceBook.

I still have to write letters to the kids we sponsor. They write back and ooh and aah over whatever little trinket I might have enclosed. They have to write to me at least three times a year but I truly enjoy sending them mail because they write back.

If you want a letter you'll have to promise to send me one back. And I want that in writing - you can use my email - before I go looking for those envelopes again.

Not so responsible

The debit card wouldn't work at the gas pump yesterday. It was my fault. I was certain I had enough $$ available to cover all the gas this month but I forgot to subtract an automatic payment from the account.

Oh well, the overdraft can stay there for the next week until payday arrives again. And the hero can buy gas with the cash I have put away for vacation.

We'll be fine. Everything will be back in the black before the end of the month. It's probably time for me to go back to the envelope system so I don't lose track again.

Talk about being responsible....

I have my South Dakota grandchildren this week. They've been here since Thursday afternoon and we're not quite sure when they are going home but we love having them here. They're 3 and 4 years old.Eli isn't thrilled about them playing with his Legos and Emily doesn't adapt well to change so it's kind of set her off.

Well, Papa and Nana love having them here.

I've been under a bit of pressure this past week and came down with a cold or, more likely bronchitis. The hero had to go back to work this morning so that leaves me as the responsible adult in charge. Not a problem even with the feeling bad as long as they sleep until about 9.

Well, they didn't. Up before 7:30. Talking. Laughing. Wrestling with each other. Before 7:30. I responsibly turned on SpongeBob Squarepants, sat them in a chair close to the TV and told them I'd get them breakfast in an hour or two.

What? It seems to have worked. No one is crying and as long as I keep these earplugs in I don't have to hear whining or SpongeBob. At least I haven't fed them a bowl of dry Lucky Charms. Yet.

About that path.

The Bible says "enter through the narrow gate for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction...but the gate is narrow and the way is straightened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it." Matt 7:13 & 14.

Over the past couple of weeks (Really? Only a couple of weeks? It feels like months!) I've seen that the path to heaven is narrow. It starts out wide enough for a new salvation to get his or her footing but as we grow up in Christ, the Anointing, the path gets rocky and difficult to maneuver. As we gain more knowledge and seek Wisdom and begin to trust fully in God, the path gets narrower still and often has a drop off on one side and a high rock wall on the other. We begin to question just how we'll keep from slipping over the edge and it's often at this place in our walk with Jesus we fall. Because He could see that coming he made the drop off just deep enough to get our attention and shallow enough so that we can climb back up.

There comes a time in our Christian walk, however, when the path becomes the width of a balance beam and even reduces to nothing more than a tightwire. At this point in the path we must keep our eyes on Jesus and the prize of our high calling to get through that gate. There may be a few skillful in the Word who might be able to stay on the rope for quite awhile without truly following Jesus anymore but they will fall if they don't look up to heaven. Just think back to all the mighty men of God who have fallen hard: Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Ted Haggard just to name a few.

The thing is, though, that even if you manage to get almost all the way across that swinging, narrow, rope and then slip off God still wants you back. God Himself will set you back on that path at exactly the place you fell if only you ask.

Few people will ask.

God said more than once that He's set Life and Death before us and then he told us which to choose! Choose Life! Choose LIFE!

Sunday morning and here I am

Got up, watched a little television, tossed a load of whites into the washer, made an eggs and bacon kind of breakfast, watched the rest of Sunday Morning on channel 4 and now I'm here in front of the computer.

Life will go on and it will be a much less stressful kind of life. That's a good thing because I need the time to regroup. I'm going to take the battle to the devil, not wait for that sorry scum to bring it to me.

I got a call last night from some people I completely and totally respect. They confirmed what I already knew to be true concerning yesterdays "discernment" of the letter I emailed Friday night. It was because of that letter that anyone bothered to come up to the local witchhunt.

Well, I can tell you if that was the devil's big guns it was sorely lacking. And I can also say I'm pleased he knows my name! If the devil is aware of who I am then I know I'm on the right path.

It's a good day in the neighborhood. I am going to enjoy this day and every other day.

Disappointment has become profound sadness

I was lied to this morning.

I suppose that might be better than being completely ignored but the lie came from someone I would have never expected.The lie came from an overseer of the church we used to attend (we quit attending as of yesterday for anyone who hasn't already heard). More than that, the liar is trying to make ME the bad guy. He said if I sent the letter I wrote to the leadership it would destroy the church!

Seriously? What church? And how did I get that kind of power without knowing it?

I think I know what's going on here and it's that very thing that has caused me to be saddened to the depths of my soul. Peoples very lives are on the line and they don't even know it.

For the record, I already sent that church-destroying letter to the senior pastor. I'm sure he shared it with the man who doesn't know me but knew I had a 2-page letter. I'm certain it was a threat straight from the pit of hell.

I do not ever want to be so important that I forget where I came from. I do not ever want to be so sure of myself that I'm easy prey for a prideful spirit. Pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction. I've heard this scripture (Proverbs 16:18) in my spirit for days so I knew this meeting would turn out this way.

Sadness. For everyone involved in this mess.

Disappointed

I expect the people who are supposed to be good to be good. This would include police officers, judges, friends, church leadership.

I've never been part of a church going through a split. I've never seen the ugliness that ensues when jealousy and lies enter into the lives of the very ones who shouldn't allow it. That's what's going on now in the church that God led us to more than 2 years ago.

I've been through changes in leadership in the church setting. Even this church went through it a little over a year ago. There have been big changes here and, for the most part, they've been good changes. The hero and I met good friends through this church. I've learned more than I ever thought possible here and my personal spiritual life is at its highest because of teaching I received here.

It's that very teaching that has been used against the church. It's the following that the teacher gained that allowed the spirit of jealousy to enter into the appointed leadership. And, sadly, they refuse to recognize it for what it is which is going to tear the place apart.

I'll be part of the split to come. I'll be following the teachers who are such a threat to the pastors. I'm disappointed in the response to what is such a good thing. I'm sad that the couple who offered their time and abilities at no cost are being treated as troublemakers.

I thought this body wanted warriors who could do war in the heavenlies. We're the good guys in the white hats. So who painted them black....