This post is barely coherent, and if I took more time, I could probably make it make sense. One of the things that has struck me about the Trayvon Martin story is that it seems too many (mostly white) people are refusing to see one of the real issues in this case. A black boy who was doing nothing wrong was basically chased by a man who thought he was doing wrong based on an irrational fear. Although I understand that there may have been some illegal activity in the area in the past, this man chased this boy down instead of allowing law enforcement to check the boy out. The boy was guilty only of walking to the corner store to buy a snack in the rain, and wearing a hoodie to do it.
This police department failed both the victim and Zimmerman by failing to treat the investigation as a homicide until the defense of self-defense was proven. Self-defense is just that - a defense to a killing. The investigation should have been conducted as if there was a homicide, and leave it to the DA or a jury of Zimmerman's peers to determine if there is a sufficient self-defense argument to determine if the case should be thrown out. This police department acted as a jury and accepted the credibility of Zimmerman on the scene instead of collecting evidence. Now Zimmerman is being tried in the court of public opinion, which is never a good court to be tried in. Martin was failed by the police department because he was treated differently than another victim would have been treated.
One thing that I think that most white people do not understand is how they react when they see a black man or teen walking around them. Do you pull your purse closer to yourself when you see a black man but not when you see a white man? Do you automatically assume that a black person walking through your neighborhood is up to no good but do not think twice about the white person? Those actions are based on irrational fears of a person who is different from you. If you are a white woman living in the South, a black man is very rarely going to do anything to you because they understand that it would be a max sentence if they did. You do not need to fear "them." They may speak to hit on you, so just politely respond declining the advances. Do not fear someone just because of their race! It is ok to watch someone you do not know in your neighborhood to make sure they are not up to something, but it is not ok to track them down with a gun so that an altercation ensues and someone ends up dead. It is ok to be vigilant, but not ok to have irrational fears that someone is up to no good because they are dressed in a hoodie or any other way.
I realize that I come from an entirely different perspective than most people I know because of my life experiences. I cannot help but think though that one of my innocent boys (and I have a few of those) could easily be Trayvon. My boys look like him. My boys walk to the corner store for snacks like him. My boys even wear hoodies in the rain like him. My boys would probably fight if they were followed like him. The police department probably would not do as thorough of an investigation if they were shot like him. If the tables were flipped and one of them followed Zimmerman and acted as Zimmerman did, there is not a doubt in my mind that a proper investigation and arrest would have occurred at that time. Our society values certain lives above others, and you can see it the most when those who are valued least are victims instead of perpetrators. It is time to do a reality check as a whole and start addressing the irrational fears. I think some are learning from Trayvon, and at least his death will not be in vain if some change their irrational fears. Justice will not be served because we are humans living in a fallen world. However, maybe change will come in the way that certain victims are treated and how some laws are applied. And maybe we can overcome some of our irrational fears and not take matters into our own hands.
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Six Flags 2002
If there was one day I wish I could have captured on video so that I could watch it over and over again, it would be the day that the Center kids went to Six Flags in 2002. I remember bits and pieces of that day. I ended up with a group of four boys - I always get along with the boys better. One in my group was too short to ride many of the rides. I noticed his pouty-ness and decided I would not ride the ride if he could not ride it. I spent a lot of time with him that day. I also made the rule that we had to alternate rides between the ones he could ride and the ones he could not. My reward was some hand holding and lots of smiles. He was my buddy that day. My little sidekick. He was one sweet little boy.
Later the younger kids went back to the Center and I volunteered to stay with the teens. I assumed the older kids would not want me around. I was wrong. When they saw me they asked where I had been, and forced me to walk around riding rides with them. I say forced - I am sure I was easy to convince. One of the boys made me sit on the outside of him on a spinning ride. This resulted in him being pressed up against me for the entire ride. Another boy kept saying he felt like he was going to be sick causing me and my ride partner to laugh so hard we were almost crying. We got along that night. We were friends.
Now both of my ride buddies are gone. I said goodbye to the teenager - Guy - almost three and a half years ago. My short boy grew up - taller than me, but did not get to become a man. I will be saying goodbye to James this weekend. There is one day in my memory that unites them and it was that day at Six Flags. Sure, I remember them being around me together at other times, but this day was a special day. I am thankful for the precious memories. I am thankful for that day at Six Flags nine years ago. For the moment, it feels like it was yesterday.
Later the younger kids went back to the Center and I volunteered to stay with the teens. I assumed the older kids would not want me around. I was wrong. When they saw me they asked where I had been, and forced me to walk around riding rides with them. I say forced - I am sure I was easy to convince. One of the boys made me sit on the outside of him on a spinning ride. This resulted in him being pressed up against me for the entire ride. Another boy kept saying he felt like he was going to be sick causing me and my ride partner to laugh so hard we were almost crying. We got along that night. We were friends.
Now both of my ride buddies are gone. I said goodbye to the teenager - Guy - almost three and a half years ago. My short boy grew up - taller than me, but did not get to become a man. I will be saying goodbye to James this weekend. There is one day in my memory that unites them and it was that day at Six Flags. Sure, I remember them being around me together at other times, but this day was a special day. I am thankful for the precious memories. I am thankful for that day at Six Flags nine years ago. For the moment, it feels like it was yesterday.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Camelbak Water Bottle
I am not an environmentally concerned person. I am not one to really worry about the amount of trash I have. I do not recycle regularly even though that is available here. However, since becoming self-employed, I realized I was going through WAY too many bottles of water. While at the firm, I had a seemingly unlimited supply of cold water that claimed to be spring water and had very little taste. I do not like the taste of the tap water here so I became a bottled water addict once I entered the world of self-employment. I began to notice that I had too many water bottles everywhere waiting for the next trash day or recycling, and I would refrain from drinking water just because I did not want to throw away more bottles.
One day while shopping Target I ran across this water bottle:
I bought it on a whim, and I have been pleased with the purchase ever since. Due to its price and the price of the filters, I don't think it is cheaper (or it will take a while for it to be cheaper) than bottled water. However, I have noticed my water consumption returning to the pre-self-employment levels. The water tastes filtered coming from the bottle. The bottle is a convenient size. The filters supposedly last three months, and my experience has been that it was pretty close to the three month range before the taste suffered, and I think I used the first filter exactly three months (bought in late March/early April and changed in July). The filter system is easy to use. I have carried this bottle on trips, to camp, and all over the house. It is definitely a good alternative to drinking lots of bottled water. I still keep bottled water around for guests or to make Crystal Light since it is the act of using the straw to take a drink that filters the water. Additionally, the Camelbak, since it is a filter, is not made for flavored drinks, just water. Overall if you are a water drinker, I highly recommend this water bottle. I think it is worth the price for a single person drinking 3-4 bottles of water every day.
*The picture is a link to the Amazon listing for this water bottle. I bought mine at Target for a little bit more than this one, but I did not have to wait for it to ship. Also, my bottle is the charcoal bottle instead of like the one in the picture.
One day while shopping Target I ran across this water bottle:
I bought it on a whim, and I have been pleased with the purchase ever since. Due to its price and the price of the filters, I don't think it is cheaper (or it will take a while for it to be cheaper) than bottled water. However, I have noticed my water consumption returning to the pre-self-employment levels. The water tastes filtered coming from the bottle. The bottle is a convenient size. The filters supposedly last three months, and my experience has been that it was pretty close to the three month range before the taste suffered, and I think I used the first filter exactly three months (bought in late March/early April and changed in July). The filter system is easy to use. I have carried this bottle on trips, to camp, and all over the house. It is definitely a good alternative to drinking lots of bottled water. I still keep bottled water around for guests or to make Crystal Light since it is the act of using the straw to take a drink that filters the water. Additionally, the Camelbak, since it is a filter, is not made for flavored drinks, just water. Overall if you are a water drinker, I highly recommend this water bottle. I think it is worth the price for a single person drinking 3-4 bottles of water every day.
*The picture is a link to the Amazon listing for this water bottle. I bought mine at Target for a little bit more than this one, but I did not have to wait for it to ship. Also, my bottle is the charcoal bottle instead of like the one in the picture.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Signature Meatloaf
Meatloaf may be the ultimate comfort food. Having a meatloaf recipe to fall back on is almost as important as having a stocked spice pantry ... or toilet paper in the bathroom. I am exaggerating a little, although for someone like me who loves meatloaf, but is also picky about the taste of it, it is pretty close. I have worked and worked on creating a meatloaf recipe that I could remember without a recipe and could make regularly without worrying about how it is going to taste. I have looked at many different meatloaf recipes, and I finally decided that the recipes are just inspiration instead of to be followed exactly. Saturday I finally came up with something that is quite possibly the best meatloaf I have ever tasted. Meatloaf is one of those things that you might think your recipe is the best, but someone else may not share your opinion because taste in meatloaf is so personal. Gather a group of moms together to share their recipes, and you will probably discover the same number of recipes as the number of persons present.
Here is my signature meatloaf recipe:
1 lb ground turkey
2 lbs extra lean ground pork
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of Italian bread crumbs
1 lb (minus a little) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups of ketchup (eyeballed instead of measured)
3/4 of a small can of sundried tomato pesto (but save the rest)
1 small can of tomato paste
1 onion, sliced
Combine the first 7 ingredients in the same way you always do when you make a meatloaf. The longer you work with it, the better it combines. Plus, no matter how nasty it is, you really do need to use your hands. Form into a loaf. Meanwhile, put a layer of onions in the bottom of the pan/crockpot for the meat to lay on (to keep the bottom from burning and to soak up the cheese and meat grease). Put the loaf on the bed of onions, and place some slices at the edges too if the loaf is leaning on any edges. Cook like you would any meatloaf (3-4 hours on high in the crockpot). Combine the remaining tomato pesto with the tomato paste and spread on the loaf halfway through cooking (or at the beginning if you like it burnt). Cook until the middle is 165 degrees so you can eat it cold the next day (you know you like cold meatloaf almost as much as you like warm meatloaf).
I do not know if it was the ground pork or the Italian spices that sent this meatloaf over the top for me. Maybe it was the cheese. I am thinking about using Italian cheeses the next time I make it to see if it tastes good that way too. However, it was perfect made this way ... for me at least. I am so happy to have found my signature meatloaf! Feel free to try my recipe and mix it up. Make it your own. Get to work on your signature meatloaf recipe!
Here is my signature meatloaf recipe:
1 lb ground turkey
2 lbs extra lean ground pork
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of Italian bread crumbs
1 lb (minus a little) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups of ketchup (eyeballed instead of measured)
3/4 of a small can of sundried tomato pesto (but save the rest)
1 small can of tomato paste
1 onion, sliced
Combine the first 7 ingredients in the same way you always do when you make a meatloaf. The longer you work with it, the better it combines. Plus, no matter how nasty it is, you really do need to use your hands. Form into a loaf. Meanwhile, put a layer of onions in the bottom of the pan/crockpot for the meat to lay on (to keep the bottom from burning and to soak up the cheese and meat grease). Put the loaf on the bed of onions, and place some slices at the edges too if the loaf is leaning on any edges. Cook like you would any meatloaf (3-4 hours on high in the crockpot). Combine the remaining tomato pesto with the tomato paste and spread on the loaf halfway through cooking (or at the beginning if you like it burnt). Cook until the middle is 165 degrees so you can eat it cold the next day (you know you like cold meatloaf almost as much as you like warm meatloaf).
I do not know if it was the ground pork or the Italian spices that sent this meatloaf over the top for me. Maybe it was the cheese. I am thinking about using Italian cheeses the next time I make it to see if it tastes good that way too. However, it was perfect made this way ... for me at least. I am so happy to have found my signature meatloaf! Feel free to try my recipe and mix it up. Make it your own. Get to work on your signature meatloaf recipe!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Things I never thought I would say or do as a lawyer
I may or may not have recently told a client that donating plasma is a great way to raise money to buy a bus pass so that transportation would no longer be an issue. And to donate around court time so that a taxi could be hired.
I may or may not have recently said to a judge, "Please don't tell me that my client tried to use a whizzinator!" Judge's response, "Well, close. They made their own." [If you look up whizzinator, beware - don't say I didn't warn you! I first learned about these in a drug education course, so someone else had already looked it up!]
I may or may not have recently said that I was not going to starve no matter how good the person's case was just because they could not pay me the low price I was asking.
I may or may not have recently argued custody of a dog in a CPS case ... and won. Even worse, the parent was more upset that the custody of the dog was decided than that the temporary custody of the children was decided.
I may or may not have recently attempted 16 hearings in two counties on the same day. Although I prepared for 16, I ended up handling only 12 in two counties on the same day. Still an exhausting day!
I may or may not have recently decided to take a nap during the middle of the day, resulting in the need to work until 8 or 9 that night. Self-employment rocks!
I may or may not have recently said to a judge, "Please don't tell me that my client tried to use a whizzinator!" Judge's response, "Well, close. They made their own." [If you look up whizzinator, beware - don't say I didn't warn you! I first learned about these in a drug education course, so someone else had already looked it up!]
I may or may not have recently said that I was not going to starve no matter how good the person's case was just because they could not pay me the low price I was asking.
I may or may not have recently argued custody of a dog in a CPS case ... and won. Even worse, the parent was more upset that the custody of the dog was decided than that the temporary custody of the children was decided.
I may or may not have recently attempted 16 hearings in two counties on the same day. Although I prepared for 16, I ended up handling only 12 in two counties on the same day. Still an exhausting day!
I may or may not have recently decided to take a nap during the middle of the day, resulting in the need to work until 8 or 9 that night. Self-employment rocks!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Being Sensitive to Suffering
I have clearly seen throughout my adult life how God usually prepares us to go through the things we go through. I feel like God gives us little warnings before the unexpected happens. Maybe it is more of a benefit of a life of discipline. When we are disciplined enough to be faithful to the study of God's word, we can find ourselves prepared.
I have been going through a 2 Thessalonian precept study. I did not really want to do 2 Thessalonian this spring, but I feel that when the opportunity presents itself, and there are no other ministries that take priority over a Bible study, you should do it. This week's study was over the first chapter. One of the insights I had while studying the first chapter, reading verses on suffering and affliction, and looking up the Greek definitions of the words is that suffering is much deeper than just suffering ridicule for the sake of the gospel. It comes from Christians and non-Christians alike when you are being obedient to God's word. You will take actions that no one understands when you are being obedient. Part of obedience is getting involved in people's lives to the point that when they suffer, you suffer with them. We limit suffering for the sake of the gospel when I think it is a little broader when we are loving our neighbor and getting involved in their lives.
For example, Jesus befriended Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He was involved in their lives. Lazarus got sick and died, and Jesus suffered. He was grieved by the pain of His friends Mary and Martha even though He knew that God would be glorified in Lazarus' resurrection in the end. He was sensitive to their suffering even though He knew the outcome. He ministered to them in their grief. He went through this grief for the sake of the gospel. Ultimately God was glorified.
Yesterday, I received news that my little guy in New Orleans lost almost everything in a fire that completely destroyed their apartment. By completely, I mean that no possession other than a few shoes in the back of the closet seem recognizable. Even though I knew that God would provide for them and that things will probably be better for them in the end, there is still a sensitivity to their suffering that must be shown. It breaks my heart to think of some of the things that they have lost. Some of it can sort of be replaced such as pictures because I have most of the pictures anyway and clothes and toys and books, but there are also those things that cannot be replaced. When you get caught up in someone's life, you have to be willing to suffer with them. You have to be ready to sacrifice something of yourself. You have to be ready to grieve. Even though no one ridiculed my faith or held a gun to my head, I believe that it was a day of suffering for the gospel. If I did not love my little guy and his mother, I would have just thought it was a sad situation, but not allowed it to disrupt my life. Instead, so that God may be glorified, I allowed myself to suffer with them. I could show them love through actions, not just words of comfort. Even better, not too long after I received news of the fire, I received an e-mail from a friend I have not heard from in months on the subject of suffering. God is so good to us!
I have been going through a 2 Thessalonian precept study. I did not really want to do 2 Thessalonian this spring, but I feel that when the opportunity presents itself, and there are no other ministries that take priority over a Bible study, you should do it. This week's study was over the first chapter. One of the insights I had while studying the first chapter, reading verses on suffering and affliction, and looking up the Greek definitions of the words is that suffering is much deeper than just suffering ridicule for the sake of the gospel. It comes from Christians and non-Christians alike when you are being obedient to God's word. You will take actions that no one understands when you are being obedient. Part of obedience is getting involved in people's lives to the point that when they suffer, you suffer with them. We limit suffering for the sake of the gospel when I think it is a little broader when we are loving our neighbor and getting involved in their lives.
For example, Jesus befriended Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He was involved in their lives. Lazarus got sick and died, and Jesus suffered. He was grieved by the pain of His friends Mary and Martha even though He knew that God would be glorified in Lazarus' resurrection in the end. He was sensitive to their suffering even though He knew the outcome. He ministered to them in their grief. He went through this grief for the sake of the gospel. Ultimately God was glorified.
Yesterday, I received news that my little guy in New Orleans lost almost everything in a fire that completely destroyed their apartment. By completely, I mean that no possession other than a few shoes in the back of the closet seem recognizable. Even though I knew that God would provide for them and that things will probably be better for them in the end, there is still a sensitivity to their suffering that must be shown. It breaks my heart to think of some of the things that they have lost. Some of it can sort of be replaced such as pictures because I have most of the pictures anyway and clothes and toys and books, but there are also those things that cannot be replaced. When you get caught up in someone's life, you have to be willing to suffer with them. You have to be ready to sacrifice something of yourself. You have to be ready to grieve. Even though no one ridiculed my faith or held a gun to my head, I believe that it was a day of suffering for the gospel. If I did not love my little guy and his mother, I would have just thought it was a sad situation, but not allowed it to disrupt my life. Instead, so that God may be glorified, I allowed myself to suffer with them. I could show them love through actions, not just words of comfort. Even better, not too long after I received news of the fire, I received an e-mail from a friend I have not heard from in months on the subject of suffering. God is so good to us!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Excuses, Excuses
Whenever someone finds out that the part of my job that I enjoy the most is representing children in CPS cases, I am usually met with excuse after excuse after excuse. I think I am going to do a global response to the excuses, although I usually am much more politically correct when I actually respond to the person. Here is what I really wish I could say.
(1) Excuse #1: I could never do that, it would just be too hard.
I usually say, yes, it is hard. I still feel like I should do it anyway. What I really want to say is, if you think it is hard for you, think about the child that has no one to speak for them. Think about the child that has lived it. Might it be nice for that child to know that someone felt what happened to them was wrong? Might it be nice for the child to know that it is not their fault, and might you be able to tell them that? Might it be nice for the child to see that you cared enough to get involved when their parent does not even care enough to go to a few parenting classes and drug rehab? The child is going through things that adults want to close their eyes and ears to and that the child is not able to comprehend.
The right perspective to have is that it is a hard job that we are called to do. The Bible makes it very clear that Christians are to be the voice for the fatherless, the orphan, the oppressed. There are not outs. It is what God requires. It is not my command, but God's. This does not mean that the only way to help the fatherless, orphans, oppressed is by getting involved in some capacity in CPS cases. What this does mean is that if you look at your life and cannot see a way that you are helping the orphan and fatherless, you might be sinning. Although I have great respect for Compassion (and support some children myself), I think that this means more than just sending a check to an agency to do the work for you. I think it means getting involved and speaking out on behalf of the oppressed. For me, it means being an attorney for the children (and parents). For you, it might look like getting involved in CASA, volunteering to be checked into for a respite possibility for a person who is housing a child, or looking into fostering. It might even look like stepping in to help a family BEFORE the state comes in and befriending that family. Take some time to teach someone how to parent. Is it tough? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, if for no other reason than knowing that you are in God's will because His scripture commands it.
(2) Excuse #2: I would just worry about the children all the time and be unable to sleep at night
I have had very few sleepless nights as a result of my CPS work. Part of the reason is that by the time that the case gets to me, the children are out of danger. Yes, I have feared for the children when the judge put them back with a parent. I also have called a caseworker to move the kids because I feared for their safety. When you are in the case, if you really fear for the child, you are able to do something about it. I guarantee you that I would lose more sleep from the realization that I am not in God's will than I lose knowing I am at least trying to fulfill His will. My response is usually that I sleep just fine, you learn to shut your brain off. What I wish I could say is how are you able to sleep when you are doing nothing and this is going on all around you? You should be the one losing sleep!
(3) Excuse #3: I do not have the time
I am usually pretty blunt with this one and suggest that the person find a way to make time, whether it be by volunteering one hour a month at a local pregnancy center, a little more to be a CASA volunteer, or donating some time to a local group home. I always emphasize the giving of time more than money in that situation. See I usually know that the person who says it religiously watches American Idol or Biggest Loser or some other TV show that takes at least an hour of their time each and every week. I do not usually get this excuse from the young mother who really does not have spare time and is raising her children in the way that God lays out in Scripture and truly may be in a season where sending the Compassion money and donation checks is how she is able to contribute.
(4) Excuse #4: If I helped out other kids, it would take something away from my own
My usual response is a faked, obviously lying, "I understand." I compound sin by sinning myself. Really, I do not understand. This is the excuse that gets under my skin the most. The reason it does is because those who say it are usually the people that are idolizing their children. They do not see themselves as idolizing their children. However, they are the ones that are posting tons of pictures of their own children in the best of clothes with the best of stuff taking the best vacations and bragging about the accomplishments of the children. The children become the center of the parents' universe. The children become even more important than God, often made clear by the parent choosing the child's activities over religious upbringing. I am not saying that if a parent has a hard time feeding their own child, that they should take a foster child in. I am saying that when a parent spends all of their time and energy and money on their child instead of teaching the child to do without in service to others, there is a problem. The children often grow up selfish and conceited and do not have a concept of sacrificing for the benefit of others.
I propose that families should evaluate whether fostering and adopting might be a way to put the gospel on display for natural born children. Instead of saying that it might take something away from the natural born children, families should look at how children might learn about the gospel through the family's actions. Christians are God's children by adoption. Think about how great it might be to show children about how God adopts us through an earthly adoption. If adoption is not the route that can be pursued for various valid reasons, consider at least teaching your children about the needs of the fatherless and orphans and oppressed and let them see what you are doing to help. It does not help your children for you to shelter them or even try to, especially when you send that child to public school. Guess what. There is a pretty good chance that your child is going to school with another child who is being abused, neglected, talking about drugs, using curse words all before the child is a teenager. Your children are exposed to it day in and day out. Teach them to be part of the solution.
If your sixteen year old son is on drugs, yes, you probably need to focus on that child. If your children are babies and toddlers, you probably are right that it may not be best to foster/adopt at that time.
(5) Excuse #5: There might be something wrong with the child and I do not know if I can handle it
I usually say, you are right but there are ways provided for you to handle it. If you are a CASA volunteer who finds yourself in over your head, there are others who are more experienced that can step in. If you are a foster parent who finds yourself in over your head, there are opportunities to change the child's level of care so that they can get the help they need. If you are a prospective adoptive parent, you will have the child in your home for six months (at a minimum) before the adoption will go through. I also hate to burst your bubble, but your natural born child can reject the morals and values he/she was raised under, and break your heart too. It is part of the sacrifice you make when you start to actually love by thinking of the other person's well being before your own. You may have to make some tough decisions that may include the child being outside of your home, but in some situations you can continue a relationship with the child even when you are unable to provide the forever home.
(6) Excuse #6: That is easy for you to say, you do not have children
I usually get this one when I have accidentally lost control of my tongue and said any of the what I really want to say in #1-5. I usually respond to this one with all honesty by saying, "You are right. I realize that if God blesses me with children, I am going to have the temptations to make any of these excuses about why I should not get involved. I can only thank God now that He has made it clear to me that it is a command, not an option, and it is His will. I also have to pray that if I do have children, God will guard me from the temptation to use any of the excuses for not getting involved. I also pray that if I ever stray from God's will in this matter, someone will have the courage to point out to me my sin. I may not take it well, I may be offended, but I still hope someone will point it out to me."
(7) Excuse #7: I am not called to do that kind of work
Yes, you are ... by God ... in the Bible. You are called to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. You are called to help the widow, orphan, fatherless, poor and oppressed. There are no exceptions given that I have found. You want to know God's will for your life? It says it in the scriptures by the type of things we are commanded to do. Stop waiting for a direct call, and start following commandments. It is as simple as that ... and often the direct call comes from the obedience.
I fully recognize that there are other places in scripture that I am not fully following the commands that God has laid out. However, I hope that I will not use the excuse, "That is not my calling." There are exceptions in Scripture for titles, but not lifestyles of obedience. I know there are areas I need to work on. I pray that I can stop making excuses in those areas. I also pray that I can continue to follow God's will in the areas I do recognize are part of His commandments, not suggestions.
(1) Excuse #1: I could never do that, it would just be too hard.
I usually say, yes, it is hard. I still feel like I should do it anyway. What I really want to say is, if you think it is hard for you, think about the child that has no one to speak for them. Think about the child that has lived it. Might it be nice for that child to know that someone felt what happened to them was wrong? Might it be nice for the child to know that it is not their fault, and might you be able to tell them that? Might it be nice for the child to see that you cared enough to get involved when their parent does not even care enough to go to a few parenting classes and drug rehab? The child is going through things that adults want to close their eyes and ears to and that the child is not able to comprehend.
The right perspective to have is that it is a hard job that we are called to do. The Bible makes it very clear that Christians are to be the voice for the fatherless, the orphan, the oppressed. There are not outs. It is what God requires. It is not my command, but God's. This does not mean that the only way to help the fatherless, orphans, oppressed is by getting involved in some capacity in CPS cases. What this does mean is that if you look at your life and cannot see a way that you are helping the orphan and fatherless, you might be sinning. Although I have great respect for Compassion (and support some children myself), I think that this means more than just sending a check to an agency to do the work for you. I think it means getting involved and speaking out on behalf of the oppressed. For me, it means being an attorney for the children (and parents). For you, it might look like getting involved in CASA, volunteering to be checked into for a respite possibility for a person who is housing a child, or looking into fostering. It might even look like stepping in to help a family BEFORE the state comes in and befriending that family. Take some time to teach someone how to parent. Is it tough? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, if for no other reason than knowing that you are in God's will because His scripture commands it.
(2) Excuse #2: I would just worry about the children all the time and be unable to sleep at night
I have had very few sleepless nights as a result of my CPS work. Part of the reason is that by the time that the case gets to me, the children are out of danger. Yes, I have feared for the children when the judge put them back with a parent. I also have called a caseworker to move the kids because I feared for their safety. When you are in the case, if you really fear for the child, you are able to do something about it. I guarantee you that I would lose more sleep from the realization that I am not in God's will than I lose knowing I am at least trying to fulfill His will. My response is usually that I sleep just fine, you learn to shut your brain off. What I wish I could say is how are you able to sleep when you are doing nothing and this is going on all around you? You should be the one losing sleep!
(3) Excuse #3: I do not have the time
I am usually pretty blunt with this one and suggest that the person find a way to make time, whether it be by volunteering one hour a month at a local pregnancy center, a little more to be a CASA volunteer, or donating some time to a local group home. I always emphasize the giving of time more than money in that situation. See I usually know that the person who says it religiously watches American Idol or Biggest Loser or some other TV show that takes at least an hour of their time each and every week. I do not usually get this excuse from the young mother who really does not have spare time and is raising her children in the way that God lays out in Scripture and truly may be in a season where sending the Compassion money and donation checks is how she is able to contribute.
(4) Excuse #4: If I helped out other kids, it would take something away from my own
My usual response is a faked, obviously lying, "I understand." I compound sin by sinning myself. Really, I do not understand. This is the excuse that gets under my skin the most. The reason it does is because those who say it are usually the people that are idolizing their children. They do not see themselves as idolizing their children. However, they are the ones that are posting tons of pictures of their own children in the best of clothes with the best of stuff taking the best vacations and bragging about the accomplishments of the children. The children become the center of the parents' universe. The children become even more important than God, often made clear by the parent choosing the child's activities over religious upbringing. I am not saying that if a parent has a hard time feeding their own child, that they should take a foster child in. I am saying that when a parent spends all of their time and energy and money on their child instead of teaching the child to do without in service to others, there is a problem. The children often grow up selfish and conceited and do not have a concept of sacrificing for the benefit of others.
I propose that families should evaluate whether fostering and adopting might be a way to put the gospel on display for natural born children. Instead of saying that it might take something away from the natural born children, families should look at how children might learn about the gospel through the family's actions. Christians are God's children by adoption. Think about how great it might be to show children about how God adopts us through an earthly adoption. If adoption is not the route that can be pursued for various valid reasons, consider at least teaching your children about the needs of the fatherless and orphans and oppressed and let them see what you are doing to help. It does not help your children for you to shelter them or even try to, especially when you send that child to public school. Guess what. There is a pretty good chance that your child is going to school with another child who is being abused, neglected, talking about drugs, using curse words all before the child is a teenager. Your children are exposed to it day in and day out. Teach them to be part of the solution.
If your sixteen year old son is on drugs, yes, you probably need to focus on that child. If your children are babies and toddlers, you probably are right that it may not be best to foster/adopt at that time.
(5) Excuse #5: There might be something wrong with the child and I do not know if I can handle it
I usually say, you are right but there are ways provided for you to handle it. If you are a CASA volunteer who finds yourself in over your head, there are others who are more experienced that can step in. If you are a foster parent who finds yourself in over your head, there are opportunities to change the child's level of care so that they can get the help they need. If you are a prospective adoptive parent, you will have the child in your home for six months (at a minimum) before the adoption will go through. I also hate to burst your bubble, but your natural born child can reject the morals and values he/she was raised under, and break your heart too. It is part of the sacrifice you make when you start to actually love by thinking of the other person's well being before your own. You may have to make some tough decisions that may include the child being outside of your home, but in some situations you can continue a relationship with the child even when you are unable to provide the forever home.
(6) Excuse #6: That is easy for you to say, you do not have children
I usually get this one when I have accidentally lost control of my tongue and said any of the what I really want to say in #1-5. I usually respond to this one with all honesty by saying, "You are right. I realize that if God blesses me with children, I am going to have the temptations to make any of these excuses about why I should not get involved. I can only thank God now that He has made it clear to me that it is a command, not an option, and it is His will. I also have to pray that if I do have children, God will guard me from the temptation to use any of the excuses for not getting involved. I also pray that if I ever stray from God's will in this matter, someone will have the courage to point out to me my sin. I may not take it well, I may be offended, but I still hope someone will point it out to me."
(7) Excuse #7: I am not called to do that kind of work
Yes, you are ... by God ... in the Bible. You are called to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. You are called to help the widow, orphan, fatherless, poor and oppressed. There are no exceptions given that I have found. You want to know God's will for your life? It says it in the scriptures by the type of things we are commanded to do. Stop waiting for a direct call, and start following commandments. It is as simple as that ... and often the direct call comes from the obedience.
I fully recognize that there are other places in scripture that I am not fully following the commands that God has laid out. However, I hope that I will not use the excuse, "That is not my calling." There are exceptions in Scripture for titles, but not lifestyles of obedience. I know there are areas I need to work on. I pray that I can stop making excuses in those areas. I also pray that I can continue to follow God's will in the areas I do recognize are part of His commandments, not suggestions.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Safety First?
One of the problems with the current state of the church is that churches are obsessed with safety. Members are willing to say that they would die for Jesus, but they are not willing to do things that would put them in the position to do it, all in the name of safety. There are certain parts of town that we cannot go to, even to share the gospel, because it is not safe. We cannot continue to have our building in that location because the neighborhood has gone downhill and our cars might get broken into.
There is another aspect of safety that I think is damaging the church even worse. This is safety in relationships. You see, when you start to spend time with people and dare to love them, you are inevitably going to get hurt. You might be hurt by something that they do. You might be hurt by something that they go through. People in the church seem unwilling to let people in, to spend time with people, to make friendships at church a priority. Sure, we claim to be friends because we look at their posts on Facebook and sit with them on Sunday morning and maybe even eat lunch together, but it does not go much beyond that. We do not take each other seriously. Instead we have created this false church friendship that might bring meals when you have surgery or comment on your Facebook posts with godly encouragement, but is not willing to get down to the sinful level of your life. We might even shed a tear or two about what the other person is going through. However, we do not take the time to make a real difference in the person's life. This is all another attempt to keep ourselves safe.
I struggle with actually making relationships meaningful. I think that we do not really love each other, even in the church. If we loved each other, we would make each other a priority. We would not abandon the person going through a tough time. I see glimpses of persons in the church actually showing love, and I am encouraged by it. However, I also see so many looking out for number one and wanting praise for what they do instead of being willing to be a friend without praise and recognition. You are supposed to be a friend even when it is hard. Even when the other person screws up. Even when the other person makes the same mistake over and over and over. I think that the problem we have with friendship, even in the church, is trying to figure out what is in it for us when we do have the friend. We want the friend that is going to remember our birthday and give us encouragement and call us for lunch. We do not want the friend that is going to expect us to do those things and give nothing in return. However, we should continue to be the friend even when we are used and neglected and taken advantage of because we should be in the friendship for the benefit of the other person. Think about how different our churches would look if we started looking at our relationships in how we could benefit the other person instead of how that person can benefit you. Think about how much deeper our friendships would go. Sure, you would end up with people in your life that would use you then reject you once they feel that your use is up. But you would also find diamond in the rough friendships where you least expect it. I pray that I can become more of that type of friend that does not value my own safety, physically and emotionally, above love.
There is another aspect of safety that I think is damaging the church even worse. This is safety in relationships. You see, when you start to spend time with people and dare to love them, you are inevitably going to get hurt. You might be hurt by something that they do. You might be hurt by something that they go through. People in the church seem unwilling to let people in, to spend time with people, to make friendships at church a priority. Sure, we claim to be friends because we look at their posts on Facebook and sit with them on Sunday morning and maybe even eat lunch together, but it does not go much beyond that. We do not take each other seriously. Instead we have created this false church friendship that might bring meals when you have surgery or comment on your Facebook posts with godly encouragement, but is not willing to get down to the sinful level of your life. We might even shed a tear or two about what the other person is going through. However, we do not take the time to make a real difference in the person's life. This is all another attempt to keep ourselves safe.
I struggle with actually making relationships meaningful. I think that we do not really love each other, even in the church. If we loved each other, we would make each other a priority. We would not abandon the person going through a tough time. I see glimpses of persons in the church actually showing love, and I am encouraged by it. However, I also see so many looking out for number one and wanting praise for what they do instead of being willing to be a friend without praise and recognition. You are supposed to be a friend even when it is hard. Even when the other person screws up. Even when the other person makes the same mistake over and over and over. I think that the problem we have with friendship, even in the church, is trying to figure out what is in it for us when we do have the friend. We want the friend that is going to remember our birthday and give us encouragement and call us for lunch. We do not want the friend that is going to expect us to do those things and give nothing in return. However, we should continue to be the friend even when we are used and neglected and taken advantage of because we should be in the friendship for the benefit of the other person. Think about how different our churches would look if we started looking at our relationships in how we could benefit the other person instead of how that person can benefit you. Think about how much deeper our friendships would go. Sure, you would end up with people in your life that would use you then reject you once they feel that your use is up. But you would also find diamond in the rough friendships where you least expect it. I pray that I can become more of that type of friend that does not value my own safety, physically and emotionally, above love.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Candy Making
During the extra day off that I was able to take at Christmas, I decided to start teaching myself how to make candy. I am not talking about the chocolate you pop in the microwave, stir some nuts into, and call it candy making. Although those treats are good, there is something even better about old fashioned candy making. It is a cooking art that is going out of style in exchange for quickness and convenience.
Candy making is time consuming. It is not necessarily hard, although I have ruined a few batches of fudge and toffee. It requires patience. Lots of patience. Too much patience in the case of the unruined batch of toffee that was not according to instructions but was SO good! When you have stirred the toffee for over an hour, you begin to wonder if it is worth it. It was. When you review the instructions and see that you were not supposed to stir it and decide to take the non-stir approach, it is not worth it. It comes out too hard. I know that now.
My mom likes to tell how my grandmother and a friend would get together and make candy at Christmas time. I think that is something we are missing as a society. Since we shortcut things like baking and candy making and want to use mixes and boxes and microwaves, we miss out on the fellowship that comes along with having the patience to stir the candy. I am on a mission to bring candy making back in fashion. I am trying to recruit family members at Christmas time and even some ladies at church to make this a fellowship time. For one, the old fashioned fudge that is hard and grainy takes a lot of arm strength to stir, and I think it should be a team effort. The finished product is worth it though.
My family now has a candy maker in it. I have successfully accomplished soft toffee, fudge, chocolate mint fudge (soft), and pralines. I am trying to perfect my technique on the soft toffee and the chocolate mint fudge (and try different flavors of fudge). I have even attempted crockpot candy (still working on that one too). I feel like the product of a previous generation, one that took the time to create something great instead of buying it at the nearest store or using a shortcut for something almost as good. My fudge mistakes have been a nice addition to my morning coffee and to brownies (well, the batch that could be salvaged!). I have learned that my candy thermometer is one notch off in temperature. I have learned wooden spoons are the best, unless you are making toffee. I have also learned you can make candy on a humid day, just use a space heater to dry out the air in the room. I am not brave enough to attempt something like divinity yet, but I am sure that day will come. Maybe next Christmas when I have someone around who actually like divinity and can tell me if it tastes right. Until then I will continue to teach myself how to make candy in hopes that I can share my knowledge with others some Saturday soon and revive candy making in my generation.
Candy making is time consuming. It is not necessarily hard, although I have ruined a few batches of fudge and toffee. It requires patience. Lots of patience. Too much patience in the case of the unruined batch of toffee that was not according to instructions but was SO good! When you have stirred the toffee for over an hour, you begin to wonder if it is worth it. It was. When you review the instructions and see that you were not supposed to stir it and decide to take the non-stir approach, it is not worth it. It comes out too hard. I know that now.
My mom likes to tell how my grandmother and a friend would get together and make candy at Christmas time. I think that is something we are missing as a society. Since we shortcut things like baking and candy making and want to use mixes and boxes and microwaves, we miss out on the fellowship that comes along with having the patience to stir the candy. I am on a mission to bring candy making back in fashion. I am trying to recruit family members at Christmas time and even some ladies at church to make this a fellowship time. For one, the old fashioned fudge that is hard and grainy takes a lot of arm strength to stir, and I think it should be a team effort. The finished product is worth it though.
My family now has a candy maker in it. I have successfully accomplished soft toffee, fudge, chocolate mint fudge (soft), and pralines. I am trying to perfect my technique on the soft toffee and the chocolate mint fudge (and try different flavors of fudge). I have even attempted crockpot candy (still working on that one too). I feel like the product of a previous generation, one that took the time to create something great instead of buying it at the nearest store or using a shortcut for something almost as good. My fudge mistakes have been a nice addition to my morning coffee and to brownies (well, the batch that could be salvaged!). I have learned that my candy thermometer is one notch off in temperature. I have learned wooden spoons are the best, unless you are making toffee. I have also learned you can make candy on a humid day, just use a space heater to dry out the air in the room. I am not brave enough to attempt something like divinity yet, but I am sure that day will come. Maybe next Christmas when I have someone around who actually like divinity and can tell me if it tastes right. Until then I will continue to teach myself how to make candy in hopes that I can share my knowledge with others some Saturday soon and revive candy making in my generation.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Flying Solo
On November 1, 2010, I embarked on the adventure of solo practice as an attorney. What a ride the last three months have been! Here are some of my observations.
I am incredibly grateful for the five years I spent at a firm. I learned things at the firm that I could not learn anywhere else. It was not until almost four years in that I began to question whether I had a long term future at a firm. I started realizing that the work I wanted to do and enjoyed doing was not really the type of work you typically see at a firm. However, the years at the firm taught me the type of lawyer I wanted to be. I learned how to respect other attorneys. I learned how to be friendly and that friendliness can sometimes be the best way to advocate for the client. I learned billing practices. I gained a reputation. I also discovered that I do not like the greediness that is present in litigation. I prefer to work on cases that matter more than the bottom dollar. I struggled with balancing the cases that would pay the firm's bills and the cases that I perceived as being more meaningful. I will always be grateful for the time that I spent learning how to practice law at a firm.
Working from home is a good fit for me. I like the flexibility of being able to work at my own pace without someone looking over my shoulder. I like being able to roll out of bed and go to work immediately. I like wearing what I want when I want without worrying that I am not projecting the right image. My clients often prefer the dressed down look for meetings because it is less intimidating and makes them feel comfortable. Plus, my clients do not look at what I am wearing and think that I am charging the rates I do to dress nice. When you charge someone for your time instead of a product, you have to make them think that you are worth what they are being charged instead of that you are charging a certain amount because you need to support your lifestyle. I also like meeting with clients outside of an office setting. I like being able to do laundry when I feel like it, clean when I feel like it, and not being in a rush to get home each day.
It is easier for me to achieve the right amount of balance when I am my own boss. I know when I need to take a break. I know when I need some time off. I know when I am done for the day and productivity is going to suffer. I did not feel the freedom to make those decisions when I was reporting to a boss. I did not feel as if my time was my own. I did not realize how stressed I felt working in that environment. My bosses were good bosses. I just do not perform at my best when I feel like my life is out of balance. I did not feel comfortable asking the firm to allow me to participate in Vacation Bible School at my church. I did not feel like I could ask to take off to help out the preschool director if I needed to. It was not because my bosses were unwilling to give time off. It was just the personal feeling that I was not carrying my own weight. Now I feel the freedom to be more active in community activities, church, and cases that are not about the money because my time is my own and I will not be letting anyone down. I can balance more areas of my life without feeling like others are judging me for it. And if I mess up and commit time somewhere that is not in the best interest of my business, I am the only one who suffers the consequences for the decision. I like this balance.
God calls Christians to live in the world but to not be worldly. I think that the greatest temptation in my profession is to give in to the things of the world such as money, stuff, power, and prestige. One of my greatest fears was giving in to the sin of materialism by thinking I needed to have the nicest car, house, clothes, possessions. I looked at attorneys that succeed in firms, and the nicest house, cars, power, and prestige often result from that success. But at what cost? So many of those attorneys are miserable, have horrible family lives, sacrifice their reputation, and ultimately come to the conclusion that it is not worth it. I did not want to get to my sixties or seventies and reach this conclusion. I had no desire to be the richest attorney in town or to live in the nicest house or to drive the nicest car. I only have the desire to be the best advocate for the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the oppressed - those that cannot help themselves. I want to be about reconciliation in a society that does not value reconciliation. I want to be about the gospel in a world that needs the gospel above all else. I feel like the best way for me to incorporate this into my practice is by being out on my own where I feel that freedom to share. I know that I am going to be faced with the temptation to make more money and to be the best at what I do. I believe that I can best face that temptation by reminding myself that God calls us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. That is it. If I make more, it means I need to give more. My motivation for making more should be so that I can give more.
Finally, there are a lot of things that I can live without. I am learning to live without a secretary. I think this will benefit any future secretaries because I have done the work for myself prior to them working for me. I can live without the best of the best legal research subscription. I can live without mileage reimbursement checks. I can live without a receptionist. I can live without the best letterhead, business cards, website, advertisements. I can live without the noise that comes with working in an office. I can live without the fancy office. I can live without the best and seemingly unlimited office supplies. I cannot live without a reputation. Right now all clients are as a result of word of mouth, referrals from other attorneys, or court appointments. I had to build that reputation by being nice to other attorneys and respectful of the court. I had to build that reputation by returning client's phone calls. No client is worth ruining your reputation for. Although there are plenty things I can live without, my reputation is not one of them.
I am incredibly grateful for the five years I spent at a firm. I learned things at the firm that I could not learn anywhere else. It was not until almost four years in that I began to question whether I had a long term future at a firm. I started realizing that the work I wanted to do and enjoyed doing was not really the type of work you typically see at a firm. However, the years at the firm taught me the type of lawyer I wanted to be. I learned how to respect other attorneys. I learned how to be friendly and that friendliness can sometimes be the best way to advocate for the client. I learned billing practices. I gained a reputation. I also discovered that I do not like the greediness that is present in litigation. I prefer to work on cases that matter more than the bottom dollar. I struggled with balancing the cases that would pay the firm's bills and the cases that I perceived as being more meaningful. I will always be grateful for the time that I spent learning how to practice law at a firm.
Working from home is a good fit for me. I like the flexibility of being able to work at my own pace without someone looking over my shoulder. I like being able to roll out of bed and go to work immediately. I like wearing what I want when I want without worrying that I am not projecting the right image. My clients often prefer the dressed down look for meetings because it is less intimidating and makes them feel comfortable. Plus, my clients do not look at what I am wearing and think that I am charging the rates I do to dress nice. When you charge someone for your time instead of a product, you have to make them think that you are worth what they are being charged instead of that you are charging a certain amount because you need to support your lifestyle. I also like meeting with clients outside of an office setting. I like being able to do laundry when I feel like it, clean when I feel like it, and not being in a rush to get home each day.
It is easier for me to achieve the right amount of balance when I am my own boss. I know when I need to take a break. I know when I need some time off. I know when I am done for the day and productivity is going to suffer. I did not feel the freedom to make those decisions when I was reporting to a boss. I did not feel as if my time was my own. I did not realize how stressed I felt working in that environment. My bosses were good bosses. I just do not perform at my best when I feel like my life is out of balance. I did not feel comfortable asking the firm to allow me to participate in Vacation Bible School at my church. I did not feel like I could ask to take off to help out the preschool director if I needed to. It was not because my bosses were unwilling to give time off. It was just the personal feeling that I was not carrying my own weight. Now I feel the freedom to be more active in community activities, church, and cases that are not about the money because my time is my own and I will not be letting anyone down. I can balance more areas of my life without feeling like others are judging me for it. And if I mess up and commit time somewhere that is not in the best interest of my business, I am the only one who suffers the consequences for the decision. I like this balance.
God calls Christians to live in the world but to not be worldly. I think that the greatest temptation in my profession is to give in to the things of the world such as money, stuff, power, and prestige. One of my greatest fears was giving in to the sin of materialism by thinking I needed to have the nicest car, house, clothes, possessions. I looked at attorneys that succeed in firms, and the nicest house, cars, power, and prestige often result from that success. But at what cost? So many of those attorneys are miserable, have horrible family lives, sacrifice their reputation, and ultimately come to the conclusion that it is not worth it. I did not want to get to my sixties or seventies and reach this conclusion. I had no desire to be the richest attorney in town or to live in the nicest house or to drive the nicest car. I only have the desire to be the best advocate for the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the oppressed - those that cannot help themselves. I want to be about reconciliation in a society that does not value reconciliation. I want to be about the gospel in a world that needs the gospel above all else. I feel like the best way for me to incorporate this into my practice is by being out on my own where I feel that freedom to share. I know that I am going to be faced with the temptation to make more money and to be the best at what I do. I believe that I can best face that temptation by reminding myself that God calls us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. That is it. If I make more, it means I need to give more. My motivation for making more should be so that I can give more.
Finally, there are a lot of things that I can live without. I am learning to live without a secretary. I think this will benefit any future secretaries because I have done the work for myself prior to them working for me. I can live without the best of the best legal research subscription. I can live without mileage reimbursement checks. I can live without a receptionist. I can live without the best letterhead, business cards, website, advertisements. I can live without the noise that comes with working in an office. I can live without the fancy office. I can live without the best and seemingly unlimited office supplies. I cannot live without a reputation. Right now all clients are as a result of word of mouth, referrals from other attorneys, or court appointments. I had to build that reputation by being nice to other attorneys and respectful of the court. I had to build that reputation by returning client's phone calls. No client is worth ruining your reputation for. Although there are plenty things I can live without, my reputation is not one of them.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Driving Sin
I am a sinful driver. One of the side effects of being self-employed is that I now spend more time in a car. I like driving. I like the time to myself that it gives me as I think on life, pray, sing, listen to books on tape, or practice what I am going to say. God has used this time to point out some sins that I need to work on. One sin caught me off guard.
Integrity is firm adherence to a moral code or a state of being undivided. I have heard it explained that integrity is acting the same way in a group of people that you would in a room by yourself. There are not many people in this world who have this value. For me, as you can see from yesterday's post, I have been thinking quite a bit on what it looks like to love enemies (and friends). I have also been thinking about the quality of humility. One day as I was thinking on these things, I noticed that my driving was sinful because it was not exhibiting love or humility. I am a selfish driver.
I noticed this when someone else was a selfish driver. It is often so easy to point out the sins in others, but we often can recognize our own sin by seeing the sins of others. Someone cut me off. I was delayed probably less than two seconds as I had to slow down then pass the driver that decided that he should pull out in front of me. I was annoyed. The thought that popped into my head is "What makes him think that his time is more important than mine?" The wheels in my head started turning. I often do just that. I pull out in front of someone because I am valuing my time more than their time. I am showing a lack of respect for the person I am pulling out in front of or cutting off or running through a yellow/red light. If I want to be a person of integrity that values loving people and humility, I am going to have to start in my driving. There is no recognition for being a respectful driver. The other driver is not going to know that I am making a conscience decision to be respectful of his/her time. The other driver is not going to realize that I am valuing their time more than mine. I have decided that this is a good test of integrity for me. Plus, I fail at this test of integrity each and every time I am on the road. Old habits are hard to break. I am constantly having to pray that God will make me more respectful of other drivers by bringing this to mind. There is nothing more humbling than realizing that you are not a person of integrity because you fail to put the morals and values you claim to practice when no one is looking.
I pledge to make a conscience effort to be a more loving driver on the road. I pledge to try not to value my time above the time of the other drivers. I know I will fail at this almost daily causing me to realize my need for a Savior. I confess that for years I did not realize how sinful my driving was. It scares me to think that there are other areas of my life as simple as driving where I am unconscious of the sin. Because of this I am more thankful of God's grace and conviction as the little sins come to light to be dealt with.
Integrity is firm adherence to a moral code or a state of being undivided. I have heard it explained that integrity is acting the same way in a group of people that you would in a room by yourself. There are not many people in this world who have this value. For me, as you can see from yesterday's post, I have been thinking quite a bit on what it looks like to love enemies (and friends). I have also been thinking about the quality of humility. One day as I was thinking on these things, I noticed that my driving was sinful because it was not exhibiting love or humility. I am a selfish driver.
I noticed this when someone else was a selfish driver. It is often so easy to point out the sins in others, but we often can recognize our own sin by seeing the sins of others. Someone cut me off. I was delayed probably less than two seconds as I had to slow down then pass the driver that decided that he should pull out in front of me. I was annoyed. The thought that popped into my head is "What makes him think that his time is more important than mine?" The wheels in my head started turning. I often do just that. I pull out in front of someone because I am valuing my time more than their time. I am showing a lack of respect for the person I am pulling out in front of or cutting off or running through a yellow/red light. If I want to be a person of integrity that values loving people and humility, I am going to have to start in my driving. There is no recognition for being a respectful driver. The other driver is not going to know that I am making a conscience decision to be respectful of his/her time. The other driver is not going to realize that I am valuing their time more than mine. I have decided that this is a good test of integrity for me. Plus, I fail at this test of integrity each and every time I am on the road. Old habits are hard to break. I am constantly having to pray that God will make me more respectful of other drivers by bringing this to mind. There is nothing more humbling than realizing that you are not a person of integrity because you fail to put the morals and values you claim to practice when no one is looking.
I pledge to make a conscience effort to be a more loving driver on the road. I pledge to try not to value my time above the time of the other drivers. I know I will fail at this almost daily causing me to realize my need for a Savior. I confess that for years I did not realize how sinful my driving was. It scares me to think that there are other areas of my life as simple as driving where I am unconscious of the sin. Because of this I am more thankful of God's grace and conviction as the little sins come to light to be dealt with.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blog Dump
I go through phases in my blogging. Sometimes I have lots I want to write, but no time to write it. Other times I have lots of time, but nothing comes to mind to write. Here recently, I have had many things on my mind, but I have been waiting for the right time to write about them. Some may never make it to the blog. Others have been drafted and redrafted in my head many times and are almost ready. There are also ideas that pop into my head that act like they must be written about immediately. When I go through dry spells on the blog, it seems that several of those events occur all at once. This week might be a writing week. You may not hear from me for months afterward. This is not an apology for lack of blogging ... or an excuse. It is just an explanation of how my brain works.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Seasons of Change
It seems that everything around me is changing. Fittingly this season of change is starting in the fall when the leaves change and the weather changes rapidly. I have made a big change in my professional life. After five years of working for a firm, I decided that it was time for me to try solo practice. The timing just seemed right. I realized that I was not working on the cases that I like and that I am passionate about. I also realized that I could if I started my own practice. Therefore, I decided to give up the easy paycheck to work the cases that I am passionate about.
In the weeks leading up to my decision, I kept coming back to the Bible verse Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" I feel like I can best put this verse into practice by devoting the majority of my time to CPS cases and criminal law. I realized that I could maintain my lifestyle with the income from the cases that I love. I have no desire to be the richest lawyer in town. Nothing is more humbling than working with persons who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and who have no foreseeable opportunity to move forward in life. I feel that God has given me a passion for this type of law, and I trust that He will take care of me as I pursue what I feel that He would want me to do. I know that there will still be material temptations, but I never want to have to choose between a case that pays more by the hour or a case where life and death really are on the line. As of November 1, 2010, I work for Cyndia Hammond, Attorney at Law!
In the weeks leading up to my decision, I kept coming back to the Bible verse Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" I feel like I can best put this verse into practice by devoting the majority of my time to CPS cases and criminal law. I realized that I could maintain my lifestyle with the income from the cases that I love. I have no desire to be the richest lawyer in town. Nothing is more humbling than working with persons who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and who have no foreseeable opportunity to move forward in life. I feel that God has given me a passion for this type of law, and I trust that He will take care of me as I pursue what I feel that He would want me to do. I know that there will still be material temptations, but I never want to have to choose between a case that pays more by the hour or a case where life and death really are on the line. As of November 1, 2010, I work for Cyndia Hammond, Attorney at Law!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Two Completely Unrelated Things
(1) I have a new reason to watch The Biggest Loser this season. One of the contestants is a woman who was one of my really good friends in middle school and part of high school. You can read more about Sandy here. She lived within walking distance of my house, so I remember hanging out quite a bit. I hate the color pink, but I will be rooting for pink this season on The Biggest Loser! Sandy's brother, Mike, died this past spring just a few days after trying out for The Biggest Loser. His death was due to complications because of his weight. I hope that Sandy and Mike's story will encourage people to get up and get moving. So if you see any Facebook/Twitter posts pulling for pink, I have not lost my mind, but I am cheering Sandy on!
(2) It is probably unfair to include this in the same post since it is so completely unrelated. I do not usually write about things that are too written about on blogs, but I am making an exception for the Florida church. There are some things that strike me about the burning of the Koran in the Florida church. One of the things that struck me was covered here with some of the same thoughts I had about how it might not be smart to burn other people's religious books. Something else that I have been pondering is that this Florida church seems to be willing to risk other people's lives for what they think is the gospel instead of their own lives. It is no secret that certain Muslim zealots are willing to kill, riot, terrorize when someone does something offensive to a belief that they hold dear. There were murders, riots, and calls for death due to a cartoonist drawing a picture of Mohammed. This Florida church knows this. Yet this church is willing to risk the lives of others around the world because it wants to prove a point? What point it is exactly that they are trying to make anyway? We are called to risk our lives for the gospel, not the lives of others. Sometimes our actions for the sake of the gospel may put others at risk. New converts are often subject to persecution and therefore, conversion can result in a risk. However, this church is putting lives at risk without conversion, without risking their own lives, without actually taking the gospel where it needs to go.
Finally, if you have a heart for reaching the Islamic world for Christ, you are not going to do what is quite possibly the most offensive display towards the Muslim community in an effort to reach the community for Christ. We are called to love our enemies, not hate them. Burning the Koran is a sign of hate. I do not like to see millions/billions of people around the world deceived by the Koran, but that makes me pray for those who are sharing the gospel to Muslims around the world, or send money to missionaries in that part of the world, or research ways to share teh gospel with a Muslim, or show acts of love and mercy towards Muslims. Love would not lead you to burn the books just to be completely shut off from all opportunities to share the gospel because of your act of hatred.
I am slightly encouraged to see that the pastor is now "praying" about his decision due to the government attention that he has received and due to the counsel he is receiving from others in the Christian community. I sincerely hope and pray that he considers whether his church's actions are going to bring glory to God and further the spread of the gospel or hinder the spread of the gospel. I cannot think of how this act will spread the gospel. Instead I can only see how it can potentially endanger mission efforts around the world. I do trust that God can use this event to open conversations in mission efforts around the world and hopefully lead God's people to prayer and a commitment to spreading the gospel to those who are of the Muslim faith.
(2) It is probably unfair to include this in the same post since it is so completely unrelated. I do not usually write about things that are too written about on blogs, but I am making an exception for the Florida church. There are some things that strike me about the burning of the Koran in the Florida church. One of the things that struck me was covered here with some of the same thoughts I had about how it might not be smart to burn other people's religious books. Something else that I have been pondering is that this Florida church seems to be willing to risk other people's lives for what they think is the gospel instead of their own lives. It is no secret that certain Muslim zealots are willing to kill, riot, terrorize when someone does something offensive to a belief that they hold dear. There were murders, riots, and calls for death due to a cartoonist drawing a picture of Mohammed. This Florida church knows this. Yet this church is willing to risk the lives of others around the world because it wants to prove a point? What point it is exactly that they are trying to make anyway? We are called to risk our lives for the gospel, not the lives of others. Sometimes our actions for the sake of the gospel may put others at risk. New converts are often subject to persecution and therefore, conversion can result in a risk. However, this church is putting lives at risk without conversion, without risking their own lives, without actually taking the gospel where it needs to go.
Finally, if you have a heart for reaching the Islamic world for Christ, you are not going to do what is quite possibly the most offensive display towards the Muslim community in an effort to reach the community for Christ. We are called to love our enemies, not hate them. Burning the Koran is a sign of hate. I do not like to see millions/billions of people around the world deceived by the Koran, but that makes me pray for those who are sharing the gospel to Muslims around the world, or send money to missionaries in that part of the world, or research ways to share teh gospel with a Muslim, or show acts of love and mercy towards Muslims. Love would not lead you to burn the books just to be completely shut off from all opportunities to share the gospel because of your act of hatred.
I am slightly encouraged to see that the pastor is now "praying" about his decision due to the government attention that he has received and due to the counsel he is receiving from others in the Christian community. I sincerely hope and pray that he considers whether his church's actions are going to bring glory to God and further the spread of the gospel or hinder the spread of the gospel. I cannot think of how this act will spread the gospel. Instead I can only see how it can potentially endanger mission efforts around the world. I do trust that God can use this event to open conversations in mission efforts around the world and hopefully lead God's people to prayer and a commitment to spreading the gospel to those who are of the Muslim faith.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Entering the World of the Casserole
I am 30 and nothing shows my age more than my recent desire to cook instead of eat out all the time. I realized I was wasting money on food and that I could eat out only one to three meals a week and still save money by cooking at home. My investment into a Crockpot has more than paid for itself in the money I have saved by making as many meals as possible and packing my lunch for work. This weekend I dared to go where I had not gone before in the Crockpot. I made a casserole.
I have made dishes that are close to casseroles before this weekend. I made a meatloaf, but I do not count that as a casserole (although it does share some of the same characteristics as a casserole so you might). I made a lasagna, but I do not consider that a casserole because it is a lasagna. Again, you can disagree. This weekend I wanted to make something that was Mexican food like in my Crockpot but I could not find a recipe that sounded good, so I made one up.
All good casseroles, I concluded as I enjoyed my creation, have to be born of a similar process. I wanted to make enchiladas in the Crockpot, but I could not find a recipe that sounded right. I found some inspiration by reading different recipes and comments to get some tips. I wrote down a list of ingredients in quantities that sounded right before heading to the store. Once in the store as I picked up the two cans of enchilada sauce and headed back down the aisle, my eye caught the chili. I remembered mom putting chili over enchiladas. I pondered how good it might be to mix a can of the enchilada sauce with the chili and use that instead of two cans to add more meat. You see, I am going through an anemic stage right now, and chili has more iron in it than enchilada sauce. I even checked the can to make sure. I threw in some black beans too for the same reason. I then went back to the chili section to trade out cans of chili because I decided that the brand in hand would be too chunky and I would need a runny chili for the casserole so that it would be more like enchilada sauce. I never buy the runny chili. I was being bold. Then it came time to buy the meat. I decided on fajita chicken. The recipe called for ground beef. I could not leave out onion because I do not consider a meal a meal unless there is onion in it. By the time I left the store, I had 2-1/2 of the original ingredients in the recipe - corn tortillas, cheese, and one of the two cans of enchilada sauce called for. The recipe was officially inspiration. Or guidance on how to cook a casserole in a Crockpot.
As I threw the casserole together and left it alone while it cooked, I was nervous and excited about how it would turn out. It was either going to be a keeper or a dud. The chili mixed with enchilada sauce did not look promising as the casserole was being assembled. In fact, the whole thing looked pretty unappetizing in the Crockpot before it cooked and after it was done. I encouraged myself by reminding myself that I cannot think of a single casserole that I like that is appetizing when you put it in and pull it out of the oven.
It came time to take the first bite. The first bite was not good. I burned my tongue. My tongue was in so much pain I do not remember the rest of the first bite, including how it tasted. I waited a while longer before the second bite. Finally, I could tell that this was going to be a keeper, not a dud. In fact, the more I ate, the better it tasted. By the second helping, I was loving it. It reminded me of enchiladas, but without having to prepare the tortillas, assemble the little rolls, remember to put the tortillas with the seem side down, and pouring the sauce on top. The sauce had soaked into the chicken and the tortillas infusing them with deliciousness. It was incredible. I thought that the world should know about this recipe. Of course, it looked very unappetizing (still) but the taste made up for it.
I have determined that this must be how all casseroles are formed. Or at least how they are formed in the information age when cooks can compare recipes. I started with several recipes, but decided on one that sounded best. Then as I bought the ingredients, I altered the recipe based on what sounded good. At that point you can only hope that it is edible because you are in charted (or unblogged about) territory. Once you determine that the recipe is a keeper (and secretly thank yourself for writing down the ingredients as soon as you threw them together into a pot), you want to share it with others. I am going to share it, but more for your inspiration and guidance!
Crockpot Enchilada Casserole
1-1/2 lbs of precooked meat. I used frozen chicken fajita meat, thawed.
1 can of enchilada sauce
1 can of chili
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 onion
3 cups Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese
12 corn tortillas
Cook the meat if it is not cooked already. This recipe has a relatively short cooking time for meat, so raw meat probably will not get done. Cut the tortillas into six wedges per tortilla. Use a Crockpot liner (that part is not inspiration - trust me, it is worth it!), but spray the liner with cooking spray. Layer the ingredients starting with one stack of the tortilla wedges, meat, sauce, beans, onions, cheese. Repeat three to four more times. After you have used up the meat, sauce, beans and onions, top it off with a final layer of tortilla wedges and cheese only. Cook in the Crockpot on low for 4-6 hours. My Crockpot has an automatic warmer, so I set the timer for 5 hours and then let it warm for a few more. It was perfect for consumption after 3 hours on the warmer setting. At two hours, the sauce was a little runny still, but that could have been because it was so hot. Plus, at two hours on warm I burned my tongue with the first bite which may have had something to do with my thinking it was perfect for the second helping and hour later.
I have made dishes that are close to casseroles before this weekend. I made a meatloaf, but I do not count that as a casserole (although it does share some of the same characteristics as a casserole so you might). I made a lasagna, but I do not consider that a casserole because it is a lasagna. Again, you can disagree. This weekend I wanted to make something that was Mexican food like in my Crockpot but I could not find a recipe that sounded good, so I made one up.
All good casseroles, I concluded as I enjoyed my creation, have to be born of a similar process. I wanted to make enchiladas in the Crockpot, but I could not find a recipe that sounded right. I found some inspiration by reading different recipes and comments to get some tips. I wrote down a list of ingredients in quantities that sounded right before heading to the store. Once in the store as I picked up the two cans of enchilada sauce and headed back down the aisle, my eye caught the chili. I remembered mom putting chili over enchiladas. I pondered how good it might be to mix a can of the enchilada sauce with the chili and use that instead of two cans to add more meat. You see, I am going through an anemic stage right now, and chili has more iron in it than enchilada sauce. I even checked the can to make sure. I threw in some black beans too for the same reason. I then went back to the chili section to trade out cans of chili because I decided that the brand in hand would be too chunky and I would need a runny chili for the casserole so that it would be more like enchilada sauce. I never buy the runny chili. I was being bold. Then it came time to buy the meat. I decided on fajita chicken. The recipe called for ground beef. I could not leave out onion because I do not consider a meal a meal unless there is onion in it. By the time I left the store, I had 2-1/2 of the original ingredients in the recipe - corn tortillas, cheese, and one of the two cans of enchilada sauce called for. The recipe was officially inspiration. Or guidance on how to cook a casserole in a Crockpot.
As I threw the casserole together and left it alone while it cooked, I was nervous and excited about how it would turn out. It was either going to be a keeper or a dud. The chili mixed with enchilada sauce did not look promising as the casserole was being assembled. In fact, the whole thing looked pretty unappetizing in the Crockpot before it cooked and after it was done. I encouraged myself by reminding myself that I cannot think of a single casserole that I like that is appetizing when you put it in and pull it out of the oven.
It came time to take the first bite. The first bite was not good. I burned my tongue. My tongue was in so much pain I do not remember the rest of the first bite, including how it tasted. I waited a while longer before the second bite. Finally, I could tell that this was going to be a keeper, not a dud. In fact, the more I ate, the better it tasted. By the second helping, I was loving it. It reminded me of enchiladas, but without having to prepare the tortillas, assemble the little rolls, remember to put the tortillas with the seem side down, and pouring the sauce on top. The sauce had soaked into the chicken and the tortillas infusing them with deliciousness. It was incredible. I thought that the world should know about this recipe. Of course, it looked very unappetizing (still) but the taste made up for it.
I have determined that this must be how all casseroles are formed. Or at least how they are formed in the information age when cooks can compare recipes. I started with several recipes, but decided on one that sounded best. Then as I bought the ingredients, I altered the recipe based on what sounded good. At that point you can only hope that it is edible because you are in charted (or unblogged about) territory. Once you determine that the recipe is a keeper (and secretly thank yourself for writing down the ingredients as soon as you threw them together into a pot), you want to share it with others. I am going to share it, but more for your inspiration and guidance!
Crockpot Enchilada Casserole
1-1/2 lbs of precooked meat. I used frozen chicken fajita meat, thawed.
1 can of enchilada sauce
1 can of chili
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 onion
3 cups Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese
12 corn tortillas
Cook the meat if it is not cooked already. This recipe has a relatively short cooking time for meat, so raw meat probably will not get done. Cut the tortillas into six wedges per tortilla. Use a Crockpot liner (that part is not inspiration - trust me, it is worth it!), but spray the liner with cooking spray. Layer the ingredients starting with one stack of the tortilla wedges, meat, sauce, beans, onions, cheese. Repeat three to four more times. After you have used up the meat, sauce, beans and onions, top it off with a final layer of tortilla wedges and cheese only. Cook in the Crockpot on low for 4-6 hours. My Crockpot has an automatic warmer, so I set the timer for 5 hours and then let it warm for a few more. It was perfect for consumption after 3 hours on the warmer setting. At two hours, the sauce was a little runny still, but that could have been because it was so hot. Plus, at two hours on warm I burned my tongue with the first bite which may have had something to do with my thinking it was perfect for the second helping and hour later.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Learning Early
I am so excited that my lil guy loves books! I have brought at least one book for him with me each time I have visited since July of last year, and this past weekend, the first thing he asked for was a book. Nevermind that the Mr. Potato Head was right there. He wanted a book. Fortunately I brought him two this trip. I am very excited that he likes to read. It will also make it easy for me to know what to bring him each time I come in - a book of his own. I recently read an article that said that the number of books a child has in the home is a better indicator of educational success than socio-economic level. Books (which usually result in the love of reading) are important. I have a feeling that I will do my part to stock lil guy's own personal library!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
These are a few of my favorite things!
Here are some things that I am currently obsessed with:
1. My Crockpot -
I decided to purchase a Crockpot in April, and I have thoroughly enjoyed cooking in it since. My oven has been broken for a while now, but the Crockpot has been the perfect solution for me. I usually feel like cooking on Saturday mornings, so it is really convenient to put the dish together on Saturday morning, and have lunch for the rest of the week. How is it that more people are not using this wonderful tool?!?! I have made meatloaf, taco soup, chicken chili, Mexican corn chowder, baked regular and sweet potatoes, buffalo chicken, baked potato soup, bread pudding, and French toast since buying the Crockpot. I have been eating good (and cheap)!
2. A Year of Slow Cooking blog - In line with number 1 above, I have found that I can explore my obsession with the Crockpot and create culinary experiments using this blog as inspiration. Who knew that you could make so many different things in a Crockpot?
3. Billy the Exterminator -
If you have not yet watched an episode of Billy the Exterminator on A & E, you do not know what you are missing. I mean, where else can you find a guy who is going to tell you that all household pests are carriers of dangerous bacteria that can kill you. If you are lucky, you will catch an episode where he is bitten by a snake, stung by a wasp, bit by a bat, wrestles a gator, or accidentally kills an animal. It is highly entertaining, although hard to explain what is entertaining about the show. Plus, you get to see all sorts of socio-economic classes on the show. Most of the people Billy "helps" are middle and upper-middle class, but it is extremely funny to see what they choose to wear on TV. Some women dress to impress, have the big hair and full make-up. Others open the door in their pajamas, making you want to say "is that the best you can do for national TV?" Throw in some family drama, and it makes for a very entertaining 30 minutes.
4. Chocolate milk -
Thanks to an article about the benefits of chocolate milk before and after working out, I have made chocolate milk part of my daily routine. I prefer Bordens to the Walmart brand because the quality of chocolate is much better, but really any chocolate milk will do. Considering that I have not lost weight, but I continue to lose inches, at least I can say that the chocolate milk is not hurting me. Plus, it is better for me than the empty calories in Gatorade, so that is a bonus!
5. The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Last Chance Workout
-
I am officially obsessed with this workout. It is tough. Seriously. Do not try this workout. Seriously. The workouts on the 30 Day Shred became a little too "easy" (the term is used very loosely), but this workout is no easier today than when I started almost 5 weeks ago. It is tough. However, this probably accounts more for my continued loss of inches, but not weight, than the chocolate milk. If you have seen the show, you know that it would be crazy to buy, much less do, the Last Chance Workout DVD. However, it is awesome for quick toning of the arms and legs. Consider this your warning if you choose to purchase this amazing, almost-instant liposuction for the small price of $10. As with all workouts that I have tried where Jillian Michaels is the torturer/trainer, this workout is extremely effective and the results start to show pretty quick. However, I would highly recommend using another of her workouts or the Biggest Loser workouts as a starter before jumping to this workout.
1. My Crockpot -
I decided to purchase a Crockpot in April, and I have thoroughly enjoyed cooking in it since. My oven has been broken for a while now, but the Crockpot has been the perfect solution for me. I usually feel like cooking on Saturday mornings, so it is really convenient to put the dish together on Saturday morning, and have lunch for the rest of the week. How is it that more people are not using this wonderful tool?!?! I have made meatloaf, taco soup, chicken chili, Mexican corn chowder, baked regular and sweet potatoes, buffalo chicken, baked potato soup, bread pudding, and French toast since buying the Crockpot. I have been eating good (and cheap)!
2. A Year of Slow Cooking blog - In line with number 1 above, I have found that I can explore my obsession with the Crockpot and create culinary experiments using this blog as inspiration. Who knew that you could make so many different things in a Crockpot?
3. Billy the Exterminator -
If you have not yet watched an episode of Billy the Exterminator on A & E, you do not know what you are missing. I mean, where else can you find a guy who is going to tell you that all household pests are carriers of dangerous bacteria that can kill you. If you are lucky, you will catch an episode where he is bitten by a snake, stung by a wasp, bit by a bat, wrestles a gator, or accidentally kills an animal. It is highly entertaining, although hard to explain what is entertaining about the show. Plus, you get to see all sorts of socio-economic classes on the show. Most of the people Billy "helps" are middle and upper-middle class, but it is extremely funny to see what they choose to wear on TV. Some women dress to impress, have the big hair and full make-up. Others open the door in their pajamas, making you want to say "is that the best you can do for national TV?" Throw in some family drama, and it makes for a very entertaining 30 minutes.
4. Chocolate milk -
Thanks to an article about the benefits of chocolate milk before and after working out, I have made chocolate milk part of my daily routine. I prefer Bordens to the Walmart brand because the quality of chocolate is much better, but really any chocolate milk will do. Considering that I have not lost weight, but I continue to lose inches, at least I can say that the chocolate milk is not hurting me. Plus, it is better for me than the empty calories in Gatorade, so that is a bonus!
5. The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Last Chance Workout
- 
I am officially obsessed with this workout. It is tough. Seriously. Do not try this workout. Seriously. The workouts on the 30 Day Shred became a little too "easy" (the term is used very loosely), but this workout is no easier today than when I started almost 5 weeks ago. It is tough. However, this probably accounts more for my continued loss of inches, but not weight, than the chocolate milk. If you have seen the show, you know that it would be crazy to buy, much less do, the Last Chance Workout DVD. However, it is awesome for quick toning of the arms and legs. Consider this your warning if you choose to purchase this amazing, almost-instant liposuction for the small price of $10. As with all workouts that I have tried where Jillian Michaels is the torturer/trainer, this workout is extremely effective and the results start to show pretty quick. However, I would highly recommend using another of her workouts or the Biggest Loser workouts as a starter before jumping to this workout.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Buy These ... They are worth it!
Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
Tone without bulk. Anyone can do the workout, although it may take time to get to the point where you can make it all the way through without a break. It is tough, but doable. Much cheaper than a gym membership. Only requires arm weights and, if you prefer, a mat. Plus, it is only 30 minutes.
Gazelle Edge
Easy on the knees. Full body motion. Easy to add tension with arm and leg weights. Cheaper than most exercise equipment or a gym membership.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My Huge Announcement
I announced to the Facebook and Twitter world this morning that today I have lost 50 lbs in less than a year! Obviously this is a huge milestone for me. It probably took me around two to three years to gain it, so I knew it needed to come off slowly and methodically. Here are some answers to things that people ask (or want to ask) when they see how much weight I have lost:
(1) I have not dieted. I eat the same things I ate before I started trying to lose weight. I try to leave a bite when I am eating. I now make sure that the biggest meal of my day is at lunch. I do not eat after 6 p.m. except on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. Those are the only changes I have made to my eating habits. The cutting out eating after 6 p.m. made the pounds melt off. Basically, I learned my metabolism.
(2) I have exercised - pretty hard too. Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is well worth the $9-15 (and some money for hand weights). It takes 30 minutes from start to finish, approximately 20 minutes is feeling like you are going to die workout, but since each exercise lasts a minute at the longest (two minutes if you count the repeat), it is completely doable. The 30 Day Shred jumpstarted my weight loss and it is now going to tone my arms so that I have bridesmaid's dress ready arms for my brother's wedding in May. Those pictures are going to last for years - no old lady arms for me! I also workout on the Gazelle when I am not doing the 30 Day Shred. I can now do three miles in about 36 minutes, which is basically running for 36 minutes with the pace. Easy on the knees, cheap equipment, privacy of my own home. I found workouts that work for me.
(3) I have to exercise 7 days a week. No breaks for me. That does not mean that I do not take a break periodically. I just figured out that I do better not taking a day off. I may workout less one day than the others. I even did not workout during my Mardi Gras trip, although I did walk a whole lot and stand a whole lot (standing burns more calories than sitting, right?) and carry a ton of beads. Maybe eventually my body will allow me to work out only three to four days a week, but I am not there yet.
(4) I have been very careful not to lose too much weight too fast. While doing the Shred video, I would allow myself to lose 5-7 lbs in a week early on. However, I prefer to average only 1-2 lbs, and I did not get upset in the weeks I had no weight loss, in part because I did not have weight gain either. I was sick in December and lost 5 lbs without doing anything other than being sick in a week, so I made sure and packed two of the pounds back on the next week before resuming my weight loss so that I was not losing weight too fast. Weight lost fast usually comes back faster, and I do not want it to come back!
(5) I drink lots of water. I realized I was wasting money at most fast food places by ordering drinks. Since I usually take my lunch back to the office anyway, I started getting my food without the drink and just drinking water. I think I gave up many empty calories by making that financial decision. I still enjoy a good sweet tea periodically, but I pretty much stick to water. Plus, if I drink enough water in the day, I am not as hungry as I am on days when I do not drink enough water. I know I sound like one of those fitness guru columnists on this one, but I have to be honest that I think it helps more than most people want to believe.
(6) 50 lbs is approximately three jean sizes, three or four dress sizes (depending on the maker), two belt sizes, and I do not know how many shirt sizes because I have not bought a shirt that fits in months. No wait - I bought one from Mardi Gras and it was two sizes smaller. I do not know about button up shirts though. The only things in my closet that fit right now are my t-shirts from college (and the new Saints Super Bowl t-shirt I just bought), my Levis I bought two weeks ago and my Mardi Gras shirt. Even my winter coat is too big. Even the suits I bought at the beginning of January are too big. When I can afford to buy clothes that fit, I am sure I will look even skinnier! In fact, the only thing annoying about weight loss is the clothing situation.
So there you go - there are the secrets to my weight loss and the clothing issue that no one is ever brave enough to ask, but everyone wants to know. All future weight loss is about toning and losing that last ten pounds that I can now physically see in my stomach region. The fact that I can physically see exactly where I need to lose the last few pounds is a pretty big deal to me!
(1) I have not dieted. I eat the same things I ate before I started trying to lose weight. I try to leave a bite when I am eating. I now make sure that the biggest meal of my day is at lunch. I do not eat after 6 p.m. except on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. Those are the only changes I have made to my eating habits. The cutting out eating after 6 p.m. made the pounds melt off. Basically, I learned my metabolism.
(2) I have exercised - pretty hard too. Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is well worth the $9-15 (and some money for hand weights). It takes 30 minutes from start to finish, approximately 20 minutes is feeling like you are going to die workout, but since each exercise lasts a minute at the longest (two minutes if you count the repeat), it is completely doable. The 30 Day Shred jumpstarted my weight loss and it is now going to tone my arms so that I have bridesmaid's dress ready arms for my brother's wedding in May. Those pictures are going to last for years - no old lady arms for me! I also workout on the Gazelle when I am not doing the 30 Day Shred. I can now do three miles in about 36 minutes, which is basically running for 36 minutes with the pace. Easy on the knees, cheap equipment, privacy of my own home. I found workouts that work for me.
(3) I have to exercise 7 days a week. No breaks for me. That does not mean that I do not take a break periodically. I just figured out that I do better not taking a day off. I may workout less one day than the others. I even did not workout during my Mardi Gras trip, although I did walk a whole lot and stand a whole lot (standing burns more calories than sitting, right?) and carry a ton of beads. Maybe eventually my body will allow me to work out only three to four days a week, but I am not there yet.
(4) I have been very careful not to lose too much weight too fast. While doing the Shred video, I would allow myself to lose 5-7 lbs in a week early on. However, I prefer to average only 1-2 lbs, and I did not get upset in the weeks I had no weight loss, in part because I did not have weight gain either. I was sick in December and lost 5 lbs without doing anything other than being sick in a week, so I made sure and packed two of the pounds back on the next week before resuming my weight loss so that I was not losing weight too fast. Weight lost fast usually comes back faster, and I do not want it to come back!
(5) I drink lots of water. I realized I was wasting money at most fast food places by ordering drinks. Since I usually take my lunch back to the office anyway, I started getting my food without the drink and just drinking water. I think I gave up many empty calories by making that financial decision. I still enjoy a good sweet tea periodically, but I pretty much stick to water. Plus, if I drink enough water in the day, I am not as hungry as I am on days when I do not drink enough water. I know I sound like one of those fitness guru columnists on this one, but I have to be honest that I think it helps more than most people want to believe.
(6) 50 lbs is approximately three jean sizes, three or four dress sizes (depending on the maker), two belt sizes, and I do not know how many shirt sizes because I have not bought a shirt that fits in months. No wait - I bought one from Mardi Gras and it was two sizes smaller. I do not know about button up shirts though. The only things in my closet that fit right now are my t-shirts from college (and the new Saints Super Bowl t-shirt I just bought), my Levis I bought two weeks ago and my Mardi Gras shirt. Even my winter coat is too big. Even the suits I bought at the beginning of January are too big. When I can afford to buy clothes that fit, I am sure I will look even skinnier! In fact, the only thing annoying about weight loss is the clothing situation.
So there you go - there are the secrets to my weight loss and the clothing issue that no one is ever brave enough to ask, but everyone wants to know. All future weight loss is about toning and losing that last ten pounds that I can now physically see in my stomach region. The fact that I can physically see exactly where I need to lose the last few pounds is a pretty big deal to me!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Haiti Tweets
I have been following some of the tweets coming out of Haiti, but I have to say that the ones that have affected me most are being posted by Mark Driscoll (@PastorMark). You can read his tweets even if you do not have Twitter. Driscoll is a sometimes controversial pastor who is known for stating some attention getting things in the pulpit. Maybe that is why his tweets are currently my favorite. No sugar coating. No exaggeration. No trying to find the right words for a news article. Just honest. It would be easy to shield the eyes and ears to all that is said and the pictures coming out. Yet, I believe that maybe we are to look and listen so that we can feel and sympathize and pray.
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