Ramblings about the bodybugg, 13 year goals and a new year!

Well today I took the plunge and bought the bodybugg. This is what the Biggest Loser contestants use on the show to monitor their weight loss. It is pretty cool. It shows you how many calories you are supposed to eat for the day, how many calories you need to burn in exercise or activity, and the deficit you need to lose weight. You need to add your food into the website to be accurate. You wear the device on your left arm. The new one is pretty slim so it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Once I hit my goal weight I can still wear it to make sure I don’t gain it back.

Like any other gadget I have bought over the last 10 years (Only God knows how much many I have spent) it is only good if you use it and eat right and exercise. I have been trying to take the easy way out when it comes to weight loss. I guess deep down I know it takes self control and hard work. It takes discipline and sacrifice. These are things that do not come to me naturally.

2009 is fast approaching and so is another year passed. I will be 32 in three weeks. I found a list of goals I wrote in 1996. Here are some of the goals I wrote almost 13 years ago:

1. Pray and read the Bible daily
2. Be at goal weight of 125 pounds
3. Exercise at least three times a week
4. Take classes for degree
5. Be involved in some sort of ministry

13 years later and I have accomplished one goal. I finally graduated with my degree. I look at that list and I see such failure. 13 years later, I still have not met my goals. I still have not met my weight goal. I am inconsistent with exercise and my walk with Christ and I fall short when it comes to ministry.

Can people change? I look at my list from when I was 19 years old and right now I think the answer is no! This next year, will it be different? Am I just setting my self up for failure again? Will I be writing this same message when I am 40 years old? I wish I knew the answer but I don’t. I guess the answer is up to me. It has always been up to me. Only I have the power over my schedule and priorities in life.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! A new year of possibilities, of fresh starts and of change!

Election Thoughts!!

Well the election is over. I am so glad. I am a conservative at heart. Not Republican or Democrat but conservative. There are many issues that the Democrats hold dear that I also hold dear in the same respect there are many things the Republicans uphold that I also believe in. I try to be independent and vote on what I feel is the best. That is way I like Propositions; Yes or No. I love that!

 

I am proud to be an American. I was very proud of the election process. I was walking to the poll center and I thought, in a lot of countries I would have to worry about being killed walking to the polls or not being able to vote at all because I am a woman. What great freedom we have!

 

I must admit I shed some tears when I listened to Obama’s acceptance speech and McCain’s concession speech. If Obama’s does what he says then I think we should be hopeful. Then again he is a politician and their track record on keeping promises is up for debate. I am committed to praying for Obama. I pray God gives him wisdom to govern us and that he surrounds himself with wise council.

 

Here is a comment I left on a friend’s blog, this only gripe I have about the die hard Obama people:

 

“My only comment is that my politically liberal Christian friends are all telling me to pray for the new President and God is in control. Don’t be bitter about the loss. I then ask them when the last time they prayed for President Bush was; their response to my question is, “he is evil and with all certainty they damn him to hell”. I have no problem praying for Obama or my President. I feel that is what I should be doing. The double standard is killing me though.  Do you only pray for the President when you agree with his politics?”

 

Busy week, Monterey and Las Vegas trips. Catch ya later!!!

TiVo and Fear

I am so glad I have TiVo. I am so sick of all the election commercials. Luckily I am in California which is not a battleground state.  Not even sure why Obama or McCain would even spend any campaign money here. I fell badly for those battleground states, it must be nonstop nonsense.  

 

One of the reasons I think the far right is losing ground is because they use fear. If Obama is elected then we will be socialists, have a terrorist attack and abortions will increase dramatically. Any level headed person knows that a President does not have this much power. I am not saying I am Pro-Obama, who I vote for is no one’s business but I do feel that the fear tactic is not working. Americans just want to be hopeful again. People want change and hope and that is the message Obama has chosen to use. Smart move Obama it might just win you the election!!

 

This also ties into the Proposition commercials. Again the extreme right is using scare tactics. If we do not vote yes on Prop 8 then are children are going to be taught in schools that it is ok for the princess to marry another princess. You know what, the schools might start teaching that but it is the parent’s job to teach morality not the schools. I do not want the schools teaching morality to my children (when I am blessed to have them).  I went to public school K through 9^th and they taught me evolution as fact. Do I believe that we came

from monkeys? Nope!!! I believe God created me. Someone taught me God created me and it wasn’t my 5^th grade science teacher. You along with God’s guidance will reveal the truth to our children not the government.  Again fear based thinking!!!

 

Stop using fear. Fear does not work. What we need is hope!!! We need to believe that God has it all figured out.

 

 I am so torn this election because how do we fight for what we believe is right and just without alienating those around us that need the message of a loving God whose central message is love and hope? Does anyone know how to balance this?

I have a blog, I guess I should start blogging!!

Thoughts on the Election, Christianity, Politics and Discipline:

To be honest I can’t wait until this election is over. Politics are so Hollywood. I recently watched a show about how the President, all the way back to Nixon has been saying we need to get off foreign oil. They put timelines. One said 1980, another 1990. We aren’t there yet. Obama says in 10 years and McCain says in 2025. I am beginning to think they really have no control over this. They give us these deadlines knowing that we are not going to hold them accountable. Who is holding them accounting to their promises? If I tell my boss I am going to do something by a deadline and I don’t get it done, I am held accountable. Don’t these polictians work for me? They must be laughing so hard at us!!

Christianity and Politics….I am really beginning to wonder if the two can coexist. I truly believe that we should vote. There are a lot of countries where I could be killed just for voting or as a woman could not vote at all. I do not think we should take that privilege lightly but on the other hand do I loose a little piece of my morality by voting. I do not think that one person is our Savior. Guess what, Obama or McCain can not solve my problems nor would I really want them or Congress too. Should Christians endorse a candidate? Would Jesus endorse a candidate? Would Jesus even vote? Not sure to be honest.

Spiritual Discipline…I am reading a book on Spiritual Discipline. I truly hate the word discipline. I think it stems from my issues with authority. For those who know me I am not a disciplined person and I truly believe that my lack of discipline is catching up to me. I am lazy especially when it comes to prayer, Bible reading, study, mediation, service…the list can go on! There is such a fine line between discipline and legalism. I am trying to find balance.

Well that’s it for today…I need to be disciplined and write me often.