Filed under: Uncategorized
I was really excited when the auditions came around for the Biggest Loser and they never called back but I’m gonna send my video, pics, and application in anyway. I think it was because I didn’t have a partner but I am gonna take a shot at.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: audition, Biggest Loser, call back, Dan, Fat, health, Stokes, wedding ring, weight
Wednesday I went to the doctor for a long needed check-up. Beside my weight he said I am in great physical health and that I really needed to start making way toward losing this weight. He broke the math down on me like this:
I weighed 180 pounds last in 2000.
I have gained 18 lbs. per year since then.
That equals 1.5 lbs. per month.
There are 3500 calories per lb. of human fat.
That means I am using 5250 extra calories a month or 170 extra calories a day.
All I have to do is trim 170 calories a day and I stop gaining weight. No big deal right?
THAT”S NOT THE GOAL HERE PEOPLE! Get with it, huh?
We started talking about my diet and he said it needed to change. I asked him for some good resources and he mentioned the Biggest Loser TV Show website. He stopped. He kind of looked at me sideways and said, “You know… sitting here talking to you … you have the personality for it, you have an athletic background, you want to be in shape, and you’re perfectly healthy beside your weight, you should apply to be on the show. You’re exactly what they are looking for.”
Ok…
Anyway, I was driving home with Stokes and I told her all of this not at all thinking of trying out for the fat folks TV show.
Flash ahead, I am at a bible study with some guys from church and I am telling them how much I liked this doctor and how he wants me to show up once a week for a weigh-in to keep me accountable and I tell them about what he said regarding the TV show. Kyle says, “Aren’t they coming to town next week? Within two minutes my phone beeps … its Stokes – “Kid, June 28th at Louisville Athletic Club is casting call for Biggest Loser … but they are looking for teams of two.”
I told her to sign me up. Within two days I filled out the ten page application, and filmed, edited, and produced a ten minute audition video and I was ready to go.
6:45 am Saturday I show up at the site and there are already lots of folks in line.
By 11:30 I am walking to the table for the interview. They interviewed us ten at a time … Name, where are you from, what do you do, how old are you. Are you discriminated at work because of your size? What is your motivation for being here?
Dan. Louisville, Orlando, Jersey Shore. Sales Rep. 34. Sometimes by customers. I want to wear my wedding ring again.
Interview’s over as fast as it began. He tells us they will be doing callbacks over the next couple of days for second interviews in front of the camera. He thanks us and sends us on our way. As I am walking away the producer cuts me off. He says, “You can’t find a partner? No one? A friend, co-worker, family member?”
I told him Stokes and I wanted to but we’re not leaving our kids with anyone for five months. He understood.
Again, “No one?
I have a guy in mind. He is a former co-worker but he just took a job in Illinois and I don’t know what he would think.
At this point he starts walking back to the table as we are talking. He starts shuffling the applications and pictures together and stops, takes mine from the middle and places it on top. I see this and my mind starts racing.
Should I give you a call if he’s interested?
“No, look into it and we’ll figure it out if we give you a call back.”
And that was it. I don’t know how to take him grilling me over a partner or moving my picture but there has been no call yesterday and none so far today. I’m giving it until tomorrow then I am sending my info in with a note to the guy I spoke with hoping he’ll remember me.
This all seems crazy to me because I was thrust into all of this opportunity with no desire of my own for it. Now, I am really excited. It would be really hard to be away from my family for five months but the opportunity to focus and really apply this type of change to my life would be invaluable.
I pray that God would hear my prayers regarding this incredible privilege and opportunity. More important if I am not meant to go I pray that he will overwhelm me with His Spirit so that next year when they come back for auditions, I won’t need to apply again.
Thanks for your support, I love you guys!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bible, christian, discipline, Lord, maturity, memorize, proverb, psalm, scripture, verses
“There is discipline involved in Christian growth. The rapidity with which a man grows spiritually and the extent to which he grows, depends upon his discipline. It is the discipline of the means.”
- Richard Halverson
The second chapter discussing Bible Intake discusses memorization, meditation, and application. Today we will spend some time discussing memorization.
Whitney makes note that many people find memorization a daunting and mind numbing task. I agree. However, that is because I am thinking of memorization without direction. His description of the benefits of this discipline quickly helps to establish direction and implement the discipline.
Memorizing the Word of God:
Memorization allows for spiritual power in the life of the believer. It strengthens the faith of the believer. It allows for witnessing and counseling as well as guidance in daily life.
Psalm 119:11 says, ” I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
To hide the Word of God in one’s heart allows for a man to flee temptation as Christ did in the desert, it is the strength of a man to rebuke, encourage, teach in righteousness, it allows for bold preaching like Peter at Pentacost, and it serves as counselor in daily decision making.
Steps to memorize with success:
The question is simple: Are you willing to discipline yourself to do it?
If you are here are some tips to make it go smoothly.
Have a plan.
Memorize the Scriptures by sections. Try a psalm or a proverb. You can also focus on specific topics and memorize verses that go along with it. Picking a topic that you are growing in at the time will allow for more success because it will mature you on a couple of levels.
Write out the verses.
Draw pictures in your bible as reminders. (meh…)
Memorize them word-perfectly.
Do be close, or get the idea. Do it perfectly, it conditions you in the discipline.
If you need it, work it into your personal accountability on a weekly basis. Those relationships are there for helping you along in your growth, maximize the good you derive from them.
Finally, review daily. It will start to take longer and longer allowing for greater and greater time with the Lord allowing for distactions to fall away as you grow in your relationship with Him.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Met the fella at a bachelor party like 4 and a half years ago. Starting hanging out with him six months ago. Love him.
He’s heading off to Illinois to work at a ranch for troubled teens.
We enjoyed:
J. Gumbo’s, Rocky Patels, Macs, Movies, “In my mouth,” Boyce College, “Take ‘em to church,” Working Holiday Movie Screenings, Kimbo Slice in HD, Shane’s Rib Shack, and the list goes on…
Love you brother, I am grateful for the time we’ve had and the days ahead. I wish we had started hanging out sooner.
D
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: God, hear, here, jewels, of, recorded, this, word
Further discussion on the subject of Hearing the Word of God:
Sound preaching is one source of day-to-day faith for living out the Christian life. Whitney sites practical matters like financial struggles, spiritual matters like assurance of salvation and perseverance through trials as areas of growth through the preaching of the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, ” All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
How should we approach the hearing of the Word of God?
- With reverence – a prepared heart of prayer and solemn longing to meet with the God of the universe.
- further reverence – the preaching of the Scriptures (if done according to the counsel of God) is not the words of men but the Word of God. 1Thessalonians 2:13
“…hearing the Word of God is not merely passive listening, it is a discipline to be cultivated.”
Another source of Hearing the Word of God is recorded ministry. Dr. Whitney offers several options, one is the ministry of pastors around the world. The internet allows for us to have access to millions of sermons at any time.
Hear the Word of God here:
If you are looking for some good Word of God to hear… go here, here, or here. Then there is here, here, and here. Also you may hear something good here, or here.
If you want some serious jewels… download this, this, this, this, this, and this.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: movie theater, no outside food, popcorn, price gouge, reese's
Iron Man was a lot of fun. Tony Stark … the anti-hero, nice. Not my point though.
We went to lunch the day after seeing Iron Man and my brother posed an interesting question. I’m sure it’s been argued time and time again but here it is.
Is it wrong to stop by the gas station or Target or wherever to load up on goodies before you go to the Movie Theater where they post a sign that says “No Outside Food or Drink” and then price gouge you for your first born child for a box of Reese’s Pieces?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AA, BA, Boyce College, BS, Graduation, Louisville, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
My wife and I got married December 7, 2002. January 1, 2003 we moved a thousand miles away from everyone we knew to pursue a degree at Boyce College.
In my ignorance to college life and how it works, I applied to school for an AA degree. I thought you finished the AA and then went for the BA or BS after you finished the first. Last Friday, I graduated with an AA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Boyce College the undergraduate school at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Did I? Is an AA legitimate? Is it something to be proud of? I have thought a lot about that. As I sat in the chapel last week during rehearsal I realized I had to be crazy to think otherwise. Yeah, it took five and a half years. Yeah, I am thirty three (almost thirty four) and only have an AA degree. You know what? We did it. Five and a half years, two kids, and a couple of wild jobs later, we did it.
It’s a first step. It’s a milestone. More than the schooling it is a milestone for us as a family. It’s been a lot of hard work, hours, and sacrifice. But we did it. I have plenty of life ahead of me and I really look forward to getting back to school and working further. In the meantime, we are grateful to God for his grace and mercy. I am going to focus on serving the church for a while. I miss just praying with folks.
Without further delay…the “piece of paper.”
It’s been five and a half years since we moved from Orlando to Louisville. School – wow! Two kids, seven or eight churches, two apartments, five cars, six jobs, and one shower curtain later and one thing hasn’t changed, old friends.
We’ve made some really good friends here in Louisville. When I think about moving away from here eventually I have to think about the friends we left behind to come here. When we are visiting Orlando I know the night we arrive Royal Thai will have a table or two full of friends waiting to greet us. I know I have a place to rest me head whether at Bill’s or the Parkers’. I know Ms. Karen will have popcorn and my favorite beverage in abundance waiting for a fellowship visit.
Will it be the same when we visit Chicago or Gaithersburg or return to Louisville? I sure hope so. We have seen our friends get married, have kids, and graduate. We’ve shared jobs, birthdays, textbooks, etc. and I hope though time and space seperate us it will be the same as when I see my old friend “so and so.” I hope we just fall back into our rhythm.
One of the brothers here, in Louisville, Tom, is getting ready to head out of town here in a couple of weeks and there isn’t going to be many more opportunities to see him before he goes. I pray God will make our fellowship between now and then sweet. I pray that God will do amazing things in his life. I pray that some day I can call dear old “so and so” and have him come and preach at my church because the relationships we’ve made here will allow us to fellowship until the Kingdom comes.
I really look forward to sitting down with JD and Nart some day and settling Caton. I look forward to arguing french fries, movies, and video games with the brothers. Most of all I look forward to the continued work of Christ in the lives of those dear to my family.
I am grateful for all of the dear old “so and sos” in my life. I pray the Lord will keep us all close.
