A Muncie Boyhood-The Introduction



Me and my sister on my mom & dad's porch on south Hackley Street in Muncie


Being born and raised in the medium-sized Indiana city of Muncie provided me with a number of unique experiences. Some are funny. Some are serious. All of them have influenced me in some distinct way. That being the case, and since I tend to be a bit of a sentimental, nostalgic sort of fellow, I’ve decided to start a new series to share what it was like to grow up in Model-town, America.

Model-town? You might wonder where I got that. It was on a sign that I used to pass quite often at the intersection of south Walnut Street and south Madison Street on Muncie’s south end. I think it referred to Muncie’s status for a number of researchers as the model city to observe typical middle-American life. That status flowed from a research study done by a pair of married sociologists, Robert and Helen Lynd in the 1920s and 1930s. I’ve never read their study, but it got Muncie some extra press at the time, and there are still researchers that come to town once in a while to follow up. This tidbit really isn’t pertinent to my series, I just thought I’d throw it out there for free.

The Muncie of my youth really had two quite different personalities. On the one hand, there was the educational influence of Ball State University with its influx of young students and intellectual professors, and on the other hand, you had the blue collar workforce that spent their laboring hours at places like Warner Gear, Chevrolet, Delco Remy, or Indiana Steel & Wire and their recreational hours having a brew at The Island or swimming at Prairie Creek Reservoir. It really was two very different cultures.

Being a hometown boy, I grew up under the blue collar influence.

Besides the two cultures I’ve mentioned already, there were other cultural divides. One was centered around the high schools. You had the long-term favorite of the city, the Muncie Central Bearcats, you had the upstarts from the south side, the Muncie Southside Rebels, and finally, there were those schools that many of us on the southern end considered a little snooty, the Muncie Northside Titans and the Burris Owls. Outside of volleyball, Burris was rarely a sports threat, but the other three were constant rivals in all things athletic. It rarely turned violent, but I did witness a full blown brawl at a South/Central football game once.

Another cultural divide of my youth in Muncie was based on race. This point would be embarrassing for me to discuss if it were not such a prevalent problem in so many other places during the same time period. I remember hearing about riots in the high schools while I was still a student at Roosevelt Elementary. I remember our car being stoned as we passed through an intersection one night. I even remember a black family being firebombed out of their home in the snow-white “Shedtown” neighborhood when I was in high school. It all seems so crazy to me. It did then, and it does now.

Really, when I talk about Muncie with friends and other family members from Muncie, “crazy” is a good, descriptive word. From time to time, I will post a new story in the series in order to paint the picture in words of what that time was like. Hopefully, you’ll find the writings interesting reading.

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Twelve













I have good news to report this week.  It wasn't in my eating habits.  Those are still pretty hit-n-miss (Burger King on Tuesday was probably the low), but I had good stuff happen anyway. 

1.  I got my first miles on the bike!  I rode 5.6 miles on Tuesday.  The weather was warm, and it was nice despite a few sprinkles of rain about halfway through the ride.  To me, this was a big milestone because I haven't really put any significant miles on the bike since my leg surgery in October 2009.  I went out for a very short ride last summer, but I cut it way short because my Achilles Tendon was really hurting by a mile and half into the ride.  However, this ride was great because my legs, while somewhat weak, did not hurt at all.  There was a tiny little burn in the repaired tendon, but otherwise, I felt great.  I now have the confidence that after the weather has really turned warm, I'll be able to put down some serious miles and get back into good riding form! (Trevor, we need to find a place to ride together!)  Oh yeah!!!!  I wanted to ride some more, but unfortunately, the weather turned cold again by Wednesday evening, and I am NOT a cold weather rider.

2.  Despite my less than stellar eating habits, I managed to lose a pound this week!  I've hit a new weight low for this fitness challenge effort at 254.0 pounds.  I needed that boost in morale because I was starting to feel my enthusiasm for the eating portion of this thing start to wane.  Now, just imagine if I had been watching my food better!  I might have lost another couple.  I've got to get my eating back on track.

Here are the numbers:

Starting Weight:  270.0 lbs
Current Weight:  254.0 lbs
Weight Loss:  16 lbs

Mileage Goal:  2011 miles in the year 2011 by walking, running, or cycling
Mileage Completed:  120.1 miles
Percentage of Goal Completed:  5.97%
Miles to Go:  1890.9

Time to go.  I'm watching the Kentucky/North Carolina game.  It's going to be an exciting Final Four this year!

See you on the road...
Mike

Why Do I Believe in God?

When you walk as much as I’ve been walking over the last couple of months, you get a good amount of time to think. That said, most of my “thinking” while walking in January and February was spent considering how stinking cold I was and whether or not I’d be able to feel my nose after I got warmed up. Other times, my mind just wandered around from subject to subject and nothing of real significance came of it. Once in a while though, I get onto a track that takes me someplace mentally while my feet are taking me someplace physically.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about why I believe in God.

A few days ago, I had an interaction on Facebook that started this process in earnest. I saw a status update where a young woman that I know said: “tell me all your thoughts on god”

Now, I think she was simply quoting a lyric from a pop song from a few years ago, but you know people…you and I…we just can’t help but respond to that. In one of the responses, a fellow said (and I paraphrase): The probability of there being a god is so slim that no reasonable person would believe in one, and any reasonable person would reject the idea. He went on to say: Most people aren’t reasonable though. They are idiotic and believe in things for which there is no evidence.

Could I just let that sit? Should I have just let that sit? Either way, I didn’t let it sit. I responded: The probability of life in the universe is much too low for any reasonable person to accept that it exists...except that it does. The chances of the exact right conditions to exist to bring about life and be able to sustain it are much too low...but it is here. People who bet on probabilities are akin to people who buy lottery tickets. Chances are you'll lose. Not interested in a debate, but I wanted to share another view. I believe in God, and I believe in science. The two are not in conflict in my view.

Still, the guy’s statement got me to wondering about just why I do believe. If you are a believer, have you ever wondered why? If you aren’t a believer, have you wondered why not? I suspect that there are more unbelievers that know why they don’t believe than there are believers who know why they do.

So, I got to thinking about it.

The first answer is that I’ve done a great deal of studying of the Bible, and have been a practicing Christian for many years, so obviously, I’ve been struck by the message of the Scripture and seen its effect in people’s lives, including my own. Some could say that I’ve been so indoctrinated by the years of study that I couldn’t see things any other way. I have to believe because of what I have stuffed into my own mind. Perhaps I’ve brainwashed myself.

But, I think my reasons go back further…before all my personal study.

Well, the next potential reason that I believe would possibly be because of going to church. Since I was young, I’ve gone to church, listened to teachers and preachers whom I respected talking with conviction about Jesus and God, and my young, impressionable mind latched onto that and the seed of belief sprouted. I was indoctrinated to believe by what I heard taught.

But, I still think it goes back further…before I was a church-goer. After all, I didn’t really start going to church until seventh grade, and I remember believing in God long before that.

Could it have been my dad that planted the seed of faith in my mind? Well, maybe. From an early age, he did tell me that there was a God, and that I should love Him. Could that have been the start of it all. Possibly. But, he also told me other things that didn’t stick. He was of one political party, and I’ve pretty much gone over to the other one. He and my mom preferred country music…I grew up with Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, and Conway Twitty…but, that’s definitely not my style. He told me how wonderful eating the fat off the side of my pork chop was, but you’d see me gag if it even got near my fork. He and mom smoked like wood stoves, but you won’t see me lighting up. And on I could go.

So, what got it all going?

Frankly, I don’t truly know completely. However, I really think that within each of us the seed is there. I think the seed of faith is placed there by God himself, and how well it grows depends on how we water it and how we keep the soil. I think to get rid of that seed of belief, you have to intentionally yank it out by the roots, and even then…like grass…it very well may grow right back in. Spiritual droughts in our lives can kill off the greenery, but just water it again, and there it is all fresh and new.

I think that my dad put water on the seed that God had put inside me, and the church fertilized it. Once the plant had sprouted, I began to work the soil around it, and it kept growing. Sometimes, little weeds of doubt grow up around it, but I have to clean those up as they come, and keep pruning, fertilizing, and watering that plant because it never outgrows the pot of my heart.

I can’t speculate about any individual’s personal faith or lack thereof, but I really do think that the seed is there in us all…in our DNA. How about you? Do you have the seed?

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Eleven

As I write this, spring is just a few hours away.  Finally.

I truly dislike winter.  I suppose I should appreciate it.  After all, it is part of God's creation.  But, I can't help but think that I was built to live somewhere warmer.  I really think South Carolina is in my future.  I have a friend (Scott) who just moved back to Indiana from Arizona.  He was excited to experience some winter.  My thought:  What is wrong with him? 

I think the reason I hate it so much is a combination of three things:
1.  Very short days...darkness, gloominess
2.  Cold
3.  Barren landscape

Maybe I could handle one of the three, but the combination just sits on me.  It weighs me down more and more every year.  I recover as the days get longer and the air feels warmer, but the longer I live, the more I dread winter's return.

It wasn't so bad when I was a kid.  Snowballs.  Sledding.  Snow Angels.  I looked forward to the first real snow of the year.  I remember going out and walking and playing in the snow at night while the wet flakes fell and gathered on the leafless trees and cold pavement.  We'd throw snow at one another for hours and then, I'd come strolling in with numb fingers and toes with a nose that resembled Rudolf's; looking for some hot chocolate. 

Maybe, if all I had to worry about was whether I could pack the snow into a fort, it wouldn't be as bad.  But now, I have to be concerned about driving on slick roads, avoiding potholes, and cleaning off my sidewalks and what seems like a very long driveway.  The fun is gone. 

Enough negativity.  Spring is here!  Time for stuff to come alive!  Flowers blooming.  Leaves budding out.  The lawn turning green.  Butler kickin' butt in the NCAA tournament!  Oh, yeah.  I can almost feel the wind blowing through my bike helmet.  I love warm weather!

Here's my fitness update:

GOAL:  2011 miles in the year 2011 by walking, running, or cycling

TOTAL MILES COMPLETED:  104.2
PERCENTAGE COMPLETED:  5.18
MILE TO GO:  1906.8

CURRENT WEIGHT:  255.0

I've had the same weight now for three weeks.  I blame that fact on my sloppy eating habits.  At least the stuff I ate tasted really good.  Had a great fish sandwich in Carrollton, Kentucky at a place called "Down on Main."  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-On-Main-Street/265066259042  Then, on Friday, a friend introduced me to a Cajun restaurant here in Indy; "Papa Roux" at 10th & Post.  (Thanks JR)  Check it out:  http://www.paparouxindy.com/  Finally, Nancy fixed some pulled pork in the crock pot for dinner last night.  Mmmmm mmmmm.

Anyway, I need to put together a week where my eating habits match my exercise...and both are according to my plan.  I'll give it a go again this week....as I walk in the spring air. 

Lastly, I almost got the bike out this week.  Soon.  So very soon.

See you on the road.
Mike

PS:  Look for a new spiritually-based post in the next day or so.  I'm leaning toward something along the lines of "why I believe."

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Ten

Excuse me while I wax a bit spiritually philosophical.  As I was walking today, I began to think of the signs I saw from a bit of a different perspective.

Have you ever wondered which way to go in life?  Do I go to college or just get a job?  Should I be a Republican or a Democrat?  Liberal or Conservative?  Should I work out, or should I sit and watch TV?  Those are good questions, but maybe there are some more important ones....like....

Should I take a harder road and do what is right?  Or, should I take the easy way and do what feels good?  Should I consider my spiritual life, or just feed my physical desires?  What's more important to me?  God?  Or, people's opinions?

Maybe your life is at a crossroads.  Maybe you don't know where to go, or who to talk to.  Do you need direction?



Maybe life has been coming at you from all directions.  Is your life on a collision course?  Are your dreams only vapor trails of ideas come and gone?



Did you think you were on a good course only to find out that life is throwing in some curves?  Are you unsure what's around the next bend in the road? 

 

Maybe it's time to STOP and look up!  Maybe you should consider consulting the Map Maker.  Maybe you should get a new GPS.

GOD

PROVIDES

SOLUTIONS

Is it time for you to seek HIM?  If so, don't just sit there behind your computer screen.  Get off you butt and get going.  If you look for Him, He will make sure you find Him. 

Does this message mean something to you?  If so, let me know.  If I can help, let me know.

The spiritual soapbox is being put away now....after one last thing:

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.  I Timothy 4:8

Here is my fitness update for the week:

Goal:  2011 miles in the year 2011 by walking, running, or cycling
Miles Completed:  90.7
Percentage Completed:  4.51%

Weight:  No change, still at 255.0 pounds.

It was an okay week.  Some good.  Some bad.  I walked very well toward the end of the week.

Time to run.  Angela is on her way home, and I need to help my wife with some stuff.

See you on the road.
Mike

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Have you ever had one of your kids tell you that you really need to read something?  "Oh, dad, you gotta read (fill in the blank)!  You'll love it!"  Oooooookaaaaay.  When my girls were little, I just shook my head and tried to be encouraging, but as I've gotten older, I've found that they are usually right.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a case in point.  I truly did love it.

My daughter, Angela read it and the two companion books while on her semester abroad trip to Austrailia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.  She said that everyone on the trip went sort of nuts over the books and they were trading them around the whole three months over there.  When Angela came home, she bought the set for my other daughter, Andrea for Christmas.  Andrea devoured the whole trilogy over Christmas break.  Then, my wife picked up the first book and it was obvious that she was sucked right in.  In fact, I've not heard of anyone who once they'd started the story could really put it back down.  So, I finally picked it up on Sunday afternoon.  I finished the first book just before midnight Tuesday night.  I'm purposely waiting to start the second one so I can get caught up on some rest first.

Well, what is it all about?  You might be wondering.

I can't speak for the rest of the trilogy, but the first book is set in a future version of North America after the USA is gone.  It doesn't explain what happened, but rather just informs you of where you are.  In this new North America there is a new nation (Panem) dominated by a central "Capitol."  The balance of the country is divided into "Districts."  At one time in Panem's history, the districts had revolted and are now held in a harsh submission.  As part of that submission, once per year a reaping is held where one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to represent their district in the "Hunger Games."  This is a brutal battle to the death held in a vast wilderness arena.  Only one can survive, and to do so they have to kill one another until just that one is left standing...if they still can.  The whole thing is broadcast like a reality TV show to the entire country.

The story follows the experiences of one girl who goes to the games.  It is written from her viewpoint and flows with an easy, conversational style.  It moves quickly, and each chapter break leaves you hanging to such an extent that you just can't seem to stop reading.  It is sometimes brutal and violent, sometimes romantic, occasionally heart-breaking, and most often incredibly exciting.  It is laced with action, but there is no profanity or blatant sexuality.

I believe it may have been written for young adults or maybe teens, but if you like to read and you like action-packed stories with true imagination, you will love this story.  Pick it up and give it a read.

Consider The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins as recommended reading.

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Nine

No snow this time!



It's been raining a lot!




Potholes...an Indiana tradition!




Daffodils rising....there's hope on the horizon!

It was an up and down week for my fitness challenge.  I took a really long walk last Sunday...over 5 miles, but I didn't walk again until Wednesday...2.4 miles to dinner and back to my hotel.  Then, I didn't walk again until Saturday.  On top of that, my eating habits were sometimes pretty good, and a few times really bad...like Thursday at lunch when I had a stromboli at a pizza joint on highway 41 south of Henderson, Kentucky.  Boy, did it taste good, but boy was it BAAAAAADDDDD for me. 

So, when I stepping on the scales on Saturday morning for my weekly official weigh-in, I was a tad bit apprehensive.  Did the stromboli stick to my waste like an old sock to velcro?  Or, did the 1 1/2 hours of basketball I played on Friday night burn it off?  Would I be disappointed?  Or, would I be unexpectantly encouraged?

Weight:  255.0 lbs

Oh, yeah!  Down 1.4 lbs over the previous week!

Makes absolutely no sense to me, but I'll take it.  I'm now down 15 lbs from the start of this endeavor.  Only 40 more to my goal.

If I can lose 1.4 lbs on a week when I'm far from on the ball with both exercise and diet, what could happen if I had a really good week, and what would a really good week look like?

Here's my ideal program week:
1.  Drink a lot of water.  My goal would be 64 ounces a day, but I might not be able to drive my car far enough without a bathroom to reasonably do my job.  So, let's just say a much larger amount of water on a daily basis.
2.  Stay away from starches (no potatoes, rice, pasta, or breads) except for a touch at breakfast each day.
3.  Some walking/running/cycling 5 out of 7 days with one day being a BIG distance day.
4.  Get 8 hours of sleep each night.  (That was another weakness this last week.)
5.  Eat lower fat proteins like fish and chicken for each of my evening meals.

Hmmmm.  Maybe, I'll give it a try this week.  "Try" might be the operative word.  There's been a bit too much travel in my schedule lately, and it is really hard to stay on task when the routine is so messed up.

I have to say that the weight loss this week was really good for my morale.  I actually had a few random thoughts of quietly dropping this thing this past week.  They weren't really "loud" thoughts, if you know what I mean, but they were there.  I guess the slight increase from the previous week discouraged me a bit.

As my old friend Sheridan Wright used to say:  "Keep on keepin' on."  I'm going to do that.  I'm going to keep on with the goal, the program, the targets.  I'll keep posting.  I'm hoping that my journey with this is at least a little bit encouraging to someone else that may run across it.  (If it is, I'd love to hear from you.)

Here's the balance of my update numbers:

Mileage Goal:  2011 miles
Miles Completed:  82 miles -- 4.08% of the goal.  I have actually walked 82 miles since January 1st.  Tracking the distance is kind of cool.

One last note, if you looked at my pictures above, you will have seen the one I labeled "Daffodils Rising."  This means that my bike will be coming out of the garage soon.  When it does, you're gonna see the number of miles completed skyrocket.  Oh yeah, spring is on the horizon!

See you on the road.
Mike 

This Is Your Time Here

If you take some time to think about it, there are probably about three kinds of folks in the world…


1. Those who constantly relive the past
2. Those who are always thinking about what they want in the future
3. Those who can’t see past the next weekend

Which one are you?

I think I’ve been number two for most of my life. On the other hand, I do probably spend too much time reminiscing about what used to be as well.

When you’re living in the past, you spend an inordinate amount of time wondering about what might have been, or kicking yourself for wrong decisions. You walk yourself through past situations and events over and over again; reliving glories that were, or almost were, and wishing you could go back and do it again.

Where’d my life go? Am I really this old? I wish I could go back.

Reminds me of the song Flies on the Butter by Wynona Judd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtIjGBV0X6k

You can dream about it every now and then
But you can’t go home again

When you’re always focused on the future, you are never content with what you have in front of you. All you can think about is what you don’t have and wish you did. I need a bigger house. I need a nicer car. I need a better job. More money. More toys. Prettier wife. More handsome husband. There’s always something else.

I know guys who’ve spent years upon years working 7 days a week and 10 or 12 hours a day. What’s the point? Can you ever arrive where you want to be? Why earn all that money and never have a chance to actually live your life?

Reminds me of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Casf9U2gaOI

He was so busy looking for his future that he couldn’t see the life he was living right in front of him.

Some folks don’t seem to care about the past or the future, but are completely focused on what makes them feel good at the moment. They don’t care if cigarettes cause cancer. They want that drag. They don’t care if someone gets pregnant. They want that sex. They don’t care if they hit someone with their car. They want that buzz. They don’t care about heart disease or diabetes. They want those fries…all the time…everytime.

They live in the moment…but, only in the moment. No foresight. No hindsight.

Reminds me of some lines from Life’s Been Good by the Eagles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4_Ry8qfrTI

I go to parties

Sometimes until four

It's hard to leave

When you can't find the door

It's tough to handle

This fortune and fame

Everybody's so different

I haven't changed

They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time

(Everybody sing) Oh yeah (Oh yeah)

I keep on going guess I'll never know why

Life's been good to me so far baby,

inside the Sad Cafe.

You may be wondering what has gotten me thinking about this. Let me explain. About a week and a half ago, I was asked to perform the eulogy for my sister-in-law. In that role, I shared some thoughts during the funeral, and then I also had some closing thoughts at graveside. In those closing remarks, I wanted to encourage those mourning to move past the pain of the moment, and focus on the future; on what could be. I wanted them to realize that they cannot change what has happened, but they could go on with their lives and make a difference with their future. In doing so, I shared the following lyrics from John Mellencamp’s Your Life is Now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4KUmm0XsLY

See the moon roll across the stars

See the seasons turn like a heart

Your father's days are lost to you

This is your time here to do what you will do

Your life is now

In this undiscovered moment

Lift your head up above the crowd

We could shake this world

If you would only show us how

Your life is now

Would you teach your children to tell the truth

Would you take the high road if you could choose

Do you believe you're a victim of a great compromise

'Cause I believe you could change your mind and change our lives

Your life is now

In this undiscovered moment

Lift your head up above the crowd

We could shake this world

If you would only show us how

Your life is now

To me, Mellencamp’s message is to recognize that the past is the past. We have this moment we are in to make a difference in this world. We need to think about what difference we can make and take action. It is the balance of all three viewpoints from above. We learn from the past. We think about what kind of future we want to see. We live in the moment with a view toward that future.

It is always a challenge to make a difference…to make your life count toward something worthwhile. But, God gives each of us talents, strengths, and gifts to use to make a positive difference in our communities and our world. 1 Peter 4: 10 - 11

Here’s a link to someone I heard last weekend that I think is doing what he can to use the talent that God has given him to make a difference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etIXTBEsyi4&feature=player_embedded

It is a challenge to me. Is it a challenge to you?  Are you ready to make a difference?

This is your time here to do what you will do.

WMBO-Fitness Update-Weeks 7 & 8

A Grand Canyon side hike during my 2005 rafting trip.



The Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon.  About 7 miles from river to rim.




Mt. Rushmore through a rock crevice




Devils Tower in Wyoming




A real snake in the grass.  I don't have to worry about those too much on Hickory Road.

To my dear readers, I need to make two apologies.  First, for not writing an update last week.  I traveled to Gatlingburg, TN with the church youth group, and there just wasn't a good opportunity to post.  Plus, when I got back home, I was way too tired.  Secondly, for not posting any new pictures from my walking this week.  I hope you enjoyed the "replacements."  You see, I took my camera with me today, and I had every intention of finding something at least moderately creative to post, but I ran into a snag.  I settled on my first shot, and I took my camera out of a pocket, but it wouldn't turn on.  As I fumbled with it, I noticed that it was literally coming apart.  Upon closer examination, I found that five out of the six TINY screws that hold it together were missing.  Frantically, I reached down into my pocket and I found one in the bottom.  I suppose that the other four had come out at other times in other places and this last one was the one that let it come apart.  So, here I am standing on a cold, county road corner trying to put a tiny little screw back into the side of my Sony Cybershot....when....can you guess?....Yep....I dropped the stinking little screw.  So, no new pics this week.

But, the good news is that I found five tiny screws in a glasses repair kit at home and the camera is back together and ready for next week.

The last two weeks held some ups and downs for me with regards to my fitness goals.  For those of you who may not have seen my original posting, I am attempting to cover 2011 miles in the year 2011 by either walking, running, or cycling.  Along the way, I hope to feel better, and lose a good deal of weight.

Anyway, I have walked fairly consistently the last couple of weeks.  I also played some basketball last night.  It felt good to be on the court even if I'm way too slow, get winded really quickly, and can leap even less than I used to be able to....and that wasn't much.  I also went to the doctor this week, and my cholesterol is down well into the good range, my blood pressure is excellent, and I had lost weight since my last visit.  Plus, I have added an inch of size to both of my calves.  This is good news because it shows that I am regaining strength lost after my Achilles surgery.

The bad news is that I made a number of pretty bad food choices in the week.  Pizza twice.  The youth group trip included two hamburgers, fries, a rueben sandwich, and two McDonald's fish fillet sandwiches.  Bad Mike, Bad Mike, Bad Mike!!!!!

REPORT TIME:

Weight:  256.2 lbs.  This is down 2/10ths since my last report, but up 2/10ths from my unreported last weigh in.  This week represents the first weight gain since I started this program, and it a direct result of my bad food choices last week.  This is me kicking myself in my oversized booty.

Mileage:  71.6 miles completed.  Miles to go:  1939.4

Time to sign off and post this.  Look for another post from me in the next day or two.  I've got a concept for a spiritually-focused post on the front burner of my mind.

See you on the road...hopefully with some new pictures next time.

Mike

Rhythmic Shots of Unexpected Love

Rhythmic Shots of Unexpected Love

In a darkened kitchen
Head leaned against a cabinet
Anxiety
Anticipation

Fatherhood begins

Dirty diapers
Runny noses
Cries in the night

Singing silly songs
Punkin and Sweetie Muffin

Shots of unexpected love tapping a tempo

Tottered steps

Shoulder rides

Potty chairs

Slobbery kisses

Ish, Pacey, or Happy?

Tap tap, Tap tap

Power Rangers

Barney the Dinosaur

Preschool Crushes

Sally, our dog

Camping at Jellystone

Boom boom, Boom boom

Grand Canyon

First bicycle

Playing in the sand and the surf

Blueberries in the woods

Kings Island

Shots of unexpected love tapping a tempo deep into my soul

Middle school awkwardness

High school beauty

River rafting and June snowstorms

Growing independence

Faith in bloom

A heart swollen with pride pumping rhythmic shots of unexpected love; tapping a tempo deep into my soul

 High school ends

College begins

Fatherhood doesn’t end

But friendship begins

Tap tap, Boom boom

Oh, is it truly possible for the love in my heart to keep up with this ever growing tempo?

And the rhythm will grow, as long as my beautiful daughters continue to grace my life with their delicate presence

My heart still swells with pride each time I think of my daughters and the love I feel still courses through me with an unexpected rhythm; tapping out its tempo deeper and deeper within my soul

I feel it now

I will feel it forever

For Angela and Andrea—the musicians of a father’s love

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A heart swollen with pride pumping rhythmic shots of unexpected love

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Six

I guess I'm intrigued by interesting mailboxes.  This one is mounted on an old waterpump.  I just think it is cool.



This is an old red brick church in Acton, Indiana.  They pretty much don't make 'em like this anymore.




So, why did the ant cross the road?  The view of course.  Keepin' it between the lines.

This was a very good week in a number of ways.  I had some good stuff happen with work, and I did really well with my fitness program.  I even played a little volleyball and a little basketball on Friday night.  It all culminated with a fun time on a date with my wife last night, and a great walk in the warm sunshine today. 

Last night almost was a bust.  We had planned to leave the house in time to be at Outback Steakhouse at 5pm.  Well, I thought Nancy was doing something and I was waiting on her, while at the same time she was waiting on me.  Long story short, we were both waiting on each other and we wasted a half hour.  So, when we got to Outback, there was a 90 minute wait.  On down the road we went.  Lots of traffic.  Lots of restaurants with packed parking lots.  We even tried our reliable La Trattoria in Greenwood where we have always been able to get into...NOPE...reservations only.  I was getting pretty upset at myself.  Finally, we decided to try a newer place on the south side of Indy called the Fireside.  There was a short wait, but not bad.  We got in.  Food was great!  We had a great time together.  All's well that ends well...right?

During the week, I had to drive back to Ann Arbor, Michigan in order to make a presentation to a number of managers from our entire North American management team.  Yep, just a little bit of pressure.  The presentation was on Thursday, but I drove up on Wednesday afternoon.  My boss' boss told me to be there by 5pm so I could go with the group on a charter bus to the Detroit Redwings hockey game.  "Don't worry about getting any dinner.  We'll have sandwiches on the bus."  Oh, great.  There goes the diet for the week.  Turns out it wasn't bad.  They were small deli style sandwiches.  Plus, I avoided the stadium food and the White Castles that we made a detour for on the ride back to the hotel.  All in all, I was fairly well disciplined on the trip, and I really enjoyed the hockey game.  It's more fun to watch in person than it is on the TV...for sure.

And the discipline paid off!!!!!  Here's this week's report.

Weight:  256.4 lbs.  Down 2.6 lbs for the week!!!!!  Down 13.6 lbs since January 1st!

I am so close to that 255 mark.  Maybe next week.  I have some obstacles again this week, as I always do, but we'll see.

Total Mileage Completed:  62.5 miles
Percentage of the Goal:  3.11%
Miles to Go:  1948.5

I walked 4.8 miles today.  It was beautiful outside.  The sun was shining.  And, I could still feel my chin when I got done.  That was a real plus.

Enough reporting. 

I'm planning another post for tomorrow....for my girls...for Valentine's Day. 

See you on the road.
Mike

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Five

This is the first update of the creek picture.  Not much has changed since the beginning of January.



Winter has been hard on this mailbox.  A snowplow knocked it over, but notice that it is mounted in a 5-gallon bucket.  That's because a vehicle took it and the fence out back in December.  What you can't see is that it also took out a fence on the other side of the road, needled its way through some trees in someone's yard, and then came back across the road to do this damage.




Concrete Fence Posts.  These had to be expensive to put in, and they've got to be really old.  I can't say I've ever seen them anywhere else before.




I thought I'd throw in a picture of where I'd rather be doing my walking.  Waikiki Beach is wonderful this time of year!

Update Time!!!!
This was another travel week for me.  I left town before the ice storm started on Monday and drove with my boss to Dayton, Ohio.  The ice caught up with us overnight there, and it took about 30 minutes to get enough ice off the doors and windows in order to drive across the street to Bob Evans for breakfast.  After we were done in Dayton, we drove south and then west to Owensboro, Kentucky where we spent the next two days and missed the balance of the storm.

Why do I tell you all this?  I guess just to let you know that I had more travel to try to work my walks and my eating around.  It is always harder to eat right when you are traveling on business and eating in restaurants for every meal.  I stayed pretty well on the program I've created for myself...I just had a little too much of some of the stuff. 

I do have one place to recommend in Owensboro.  Mostly, we ate at chains, but on Wednesday night, we went to the Old Hickory Barbeque.  Every local that I've spoken to says it's the best place in town.  Check it out if you're ever in the area.  Here's a link to their Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hickory-BBQ/26329619633

I finally broke down during this week's travels and used the treadmill for some of my miles.  One cool thing is that I actually jogged a little on Wednesday night.  Other than running the bases for softball last fall, I haven't really tried to run much since my surgery.  It felt okay.  I definitely need to build up the strength.

Oh, one more thing before I get on with the specifics.  I need to make a confession.  I ate like a thoroughbred stallion last weekend!  My wife even say something like, "You might want to think about slowing down."  I guess I got a little carried away; especially at Bravo's on Saturday night when they brought me the biggest stinkin' piece of lasagna I've ever seen, and I ATE THE WHOLE THING!  The waiter ever was surprised.  His comment:  "You ate the whole thing?!  That usually doesn't happen!"  My response to the my inlaws (who were buying), my wife, and my brother-in-law after he walked away:  "Good thing for him that I'm not the one leaving the tip!"

Good news though....I still lost a little weight this last week!

Here are the details:

Weight: 259.0 lbs
I lost just four tenths of a pound this week, but it was still DOWN.  Overall, I've lost 11 pounds, and I've been down at least a little every week.

Total Mileage Completed:  53.8 miles
Percentage of Goal Completed: 2.68%
Miles to Go: 1957.2

I've still got a long way to go, and a good deal of weight to lose, but...slow and steady wins the race.  I don't mind the slower weight loss as long as I stay on the downward track.  After all, I'm not trying to win a Biggest Loser contest or anything.

My goal for this week is to stay away from large plates of lasagna.

See you on the road.
Mike

The Consequences of Loving

I discussed a specific question a few weeks ago. Here it is again.


Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?


Now, I’m going to add another question for you to consider…


Do you love Him?


Do you?


Go ahead and answer for yourself. Say it out loud.


If you said “yes!” you need to realize that there are consequences for loving Jesus Christ. Let's explore it.


Love is an interesting thing. (The fodder for poetry, novels, plays, movies…it never goes out of style.)

     Love is a force of nature. (We are made to love.)
          Love drives us to act in certain ways. (You can’t stop it. It just happens.)
               Love is the one thing that can make us look beyond ourselves.
                    Love drives us to GIVE.
                         Give your heart.
                         Give your service.
                         Give your time.
                         Give your money.


There was a man in Tuscon a few weeks back who was driven by love. He and his wife went to the store one morning; not to shop, but to encourage a congresswoman. Dorwin Stoddard and his wife, Mavy stopped by to see Gabrielle Giffords. Suddenly, shots rang out. Dory Stoddard didn’t dive under a table. He didn’t run for his life. No dodging behind a pillar.


No. Dorwin Stoddard, driven by love, pulled his wife to the ground, shielded her with his own body, and gave his life over to the bullet that perhaps would have taken his wife’s life instead.  He loved.  He gave.


You see….


How much you love is reflected by how much you are willing to GIVE!


Love drove God to give to us.


Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3: 14-17


This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4: 9-10


God was driven by His love for us to send His Son.
          Jesus was driven by His love for us to lay down His life.


Is that love from God real to you? Do you realize what that means to you? Do you feel the impact in your life? Have you considered where you would be without it? What would your life be like if He had not given so much for you?


Two new questions:
Does God loving you DRIVE you to love Him? Does it drive you to love His church?


We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4: 19-21


If you feel the love of God in your life, it should (will) drive you to love your brother.

     That is an expectation that God has for us.

          Consider what Jesus said to Peter…


When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”


“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”


Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”


Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”


He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”


Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”


The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”


Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”


Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”


“If you love me, take care of my sheep!” GIVE. Give to my people! If you love me, give to my people. Give your love. Give your time. Give your service. Give your money.

GIVE.


Here is another thing about love. Its brilliance fades as we become comfortable.


In 1982, I took the woman who would become my wife out on our first date. In March of 1983, we began to “go steady.” Each month after that, I brought her carnations. Each month, I added another to the bunch that I would bring; one for each month we had been dating. In 1985, we got married, and the flowers slowed down….eventually becoming almost nonexistent for several years. I grew comfortable. I’m trying to rekindle that these days, but I’ve got a good deal of work to do to get back to where I was.  I am on the road, however.


The bottom line is that despite how much I love my wife, I had slacked off.

Don’t we do that with God too? I think we do. We grow comfortable, and we slack off.


Human relationships often fade over time.


The start is intense. Boy meets girl! Can’t get enough of each other. Can’t wait to be together. Spend hours together. They get married.

Time passes.

I’ve got her. I can relax now. A few pounds. A few whiskers. She knows I love her. Time together becomes something you squeeze in.

Time passes.

I’m putting up with her. She gets on my last nerve. Secret thoughts of others. You’d rather do anything but spend time together.

Time passes.

You’re done.


Early flames can wind down into fading embers. Fading embers become just a faint hint of a dying glow. Soon, there is only dead ash; blowing in the wind.


We get that way with God too.


Early Flames

• You feel the need for God in your life.

• You’re alive with passion for all things spiritual, and it shows on your face.

• You’re grateful for the Grace that God has provided you.

• You can’t get enough of being with God’s people.

• You can’t find enough ways to serve.

• You wish you had more money to give.

• Your heart is fully engaged.


Fading Embers

• God is an important PART of your life, but so are so many other things.

• You make time for church on a regular basis unless you find something else to do.

• You’ll serve…when it’s convenient.

• Extra stuff like Bible class or special events are not particularly appealing…after all, they’re just extra anyway.

• One of your favorite phrases on Sunday afternoon starts with “I don’t like it when…”

• Contribution is just one of your budget items.


Faint Hints of a Dying Glow

• God has become something you take for granted…or worse yet, an afterthought.

• You’ll go to church if you get up early enough, or if you don’t stay out too late on Saturday night.

• You’re too busy to serve in some ministry, and you’ve done your time there anyway

• Bible class? Wednesday night? Are you kidding?

• At least complaining isn’t a problem, because you don’t even think about church after you walk out the door—you’ve done your time. You’ve punched your clock. Time for lunch.

• Contribution? Well, maybe, if you have an extra dollar in your wallet or purse.


Dead Ash—Blowing in the Wind
• God? Who cares?

• I sleep in on Sundays.

• I’m here to serve numero uno.

• Bible? It’s on the shelf in the corner covered in dust.

• It’s my money. I earned it. I’m keeping it.


Take time to consider where you might fall in that progression. Which category best describes your relationship with God?


I’ve heard of married couples renewing their vows. They go off on a cruise or fly to Vegas, and once again after 25, 30, or maybe 50 years, they pledge their love for one another anew.


We can do that with God too.


As with any relationship that has faded a bit, it can be…


REKINDLED

     RENEWED

          REJUVENATED

YOU CAN STOKE THE FIRE!



Or, perhaps you need to start at the beginning.  Maybe you need to ask God to "go steady."

So…

Back to my original question…

Do you love Him?


Is that love driving you?


Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3: 18


Loving Jesus Christ has consequences.

WMBO-Fitness Update-Week Four



I feel like I'm on a pretty good track right now.




Anyone need a spare?




This is an old concrete fence cornerpost.  There are lots of these along my route.  I can imagine in 1000 years, some future archeologist is going to find one of these and speculate about:  Why it was built?  Who built it?  Where did they get the technology?  Was it an ancient directional marker for alien vistors?

 Folks, this was another less than idea week in a few ways.  I started off well enough with some good mileage early on, but by mid-week, I'd developed a pretty good case of tendonitis in my previously undamaged Achilles Tendon....yep....the one that has not yet torn.  As a result, I decided to rest it for a few days and not walk.  As it turns out, that worked out well enough because I had a business trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the schedule there wasn't conducive to walking anyway.

I also went a little off the wagon with my diet on Friday.  Had pizza for lunch and a sandwich for dinner.  I followed that up with several chocolate chip cookies later in the evening.  It was a lot of starch!  I guess it was sort of a mini-binge.  When I got up on Saturday morning and visited my scales, I was a little apprehensive.  All is well that ends well, though.  I was down.

Now, I've got something to say to all those folks who keep harrassing me about ONLY counting miles that I complete outside, and the fact that I am not counting treadmill or exercise bike miles...

Wah, wah, wah!  I think you're a bunch of weenies!

I do have one concession, however.  If I am traveling on business, and there is not an adequate and safe area to walk in, or the schedule prevents me from doing the walking at a reasonable time, I will consider putting some miles on a hotel treadmill.  That is my lone concession to this rule I've created for myself.  Frankly, I'm kind of proud that I've been out walking in the freezing cold temperatures while the rest of you have been huddled up in your cozy Lazyboy chairs.

Now for the details....

Total Miles Completed:  44.9
Percentage of Goal Completed:  2.23%
Miles to Go:  1966.1

Current Weight:  259.4 lbs
I was down 1.4 lbs from last week.

Yes!!!!! I hit my first weight milestone goal this week despite my Friday binge!  The new milestone goal will be to get under 255 lbs.

I have lost 10.6 lbs since January 1.

More roadblocks this week, but I need to stay the course, eat as healthy as I can, and walk whenever possible.  I'll catch up with you again next weekend.

See you on the road.
Mike