Going to the gym!

(this blog has not been edited or re-read, sorry for any mistakes)

I just got reading my sisters blog. I had to catch up on a few because she has written several since Thanksgiving. Good thing they were short.

Last night I went to the gym for the first time in a long time after I found out that I could not cancel my gym membership because I was in a year contract. So since I now have to pay for the gym since our 6 months of free gym are over I figured I should at least go every so often. Anyways, I was encouraged to get back into the gym more regular. Also, I have been concerned for my future health if I don't do something about my weight now. So I decided that I would start going to the spinning class they offer. Spinning is a group stationary cycling class. It is very intense. I am very motivated by a group effort versus trying to be self motivated to get to the gym for one thing and then pushing my self while I am at the class for another thing. I was not pushing my self hard enough when I was going in the past. Plus, it is VERY expensive to get a personal trainer. I would just love something like that. With a personal trainer three times a week getting me focused and working hard...I could be cut in know time at all. Too bad. Anyway, the second best option is a group class of some sort. So here I am taking a spinning class. My goal? To lose weight, lower my cholesterol, and to get into shape for some out door biking this next summer. side note...I ended up puking during my first class. At least I made it to the bath room!

The reason why I have been thinking about my future health recently is because I have had some pretty weight stuff on my mind lately. Thing like being a real man of God. I have felt pretty cowardly for some time. I have been listening to alot of Mark Driscolls sermons lately and if there is one thing that he is teaching me is what it mean to be a man of God. I have been so concerned with a lot of non-sense that I have lost sight of what it really mean to be a Christian. It is about Jesus! No more, no less. Jesus should be the reason why I do anything. Quite frankly I have not been living like that. Thus, my lack of discipline in all areas of my life. I have not served the church for Jesus, I have not spent time with Jesus, I have not been the most sensitive and loving husband because I have not loved Jesus, I have not worked on being a man of integrity to honor Jesus, I have lost sight of Jesus! So, I am working on serving Jesus by trying to be more disciplined in more areas of my life so that I will grow to be more like Jesus. This includes my health, which I have a responsibility given by Jesus to take care of my family and be a provider. Which includes the children I do not have yet or future of those God will entrust to me. So...I may fail, but I am not much concerned about that as long as I trust God to extend His grace to help me to keep getting up and working toward Jesus.

I have also been learning about contentment. Kirstin and I have been working on your budget for 2008. It would be nice to have some more money as we see the money get assigned to all these things and not necessarily where I would prefer it to go. So, this time in our life is about waiting...waiting for certain things, waiting to have financial freedoms, waiting for things that would be nice to have in our lives. It really co-insides with me not have a job in my profession. Because I have made some commitment to work toward bettering our family, I have recommitted to continue applying for jobs and trusting in Jesus along the way. It has been good. As I am learning to be content, God is giving His grace. I need so much of it! haha.

One last thing I have been really learning lately is religion versus true Christianity. Religion has destroyed alot of God has made for good. It goes all the way back to the pharisee and continues today. I have to say I am guilty of practicing religion. The truth is, Christianity is about Jesus. His truth and not all the things we like to add or take away from it. Jesus is not a religion, He is someone we have relationship with. He is the one we put our trust and hope. He created us and everything else for Him self as a result of His perfect unity and fellowship and joy He finds in His Tri-unity with Him self. So, as I am striving to reject religion in my life, I am hoping to add true Church fellowship and unity with my fellow believers as a response to Jesus's intercession in my life. Jesus...what a amazing thing He has given me.

Ok...I am going to sign off for now...please will you give up a short prayer for my continued perseverance in striving to and for Jesus. No reservations!

Peace,

Joseph

(this blog has not been edited or re-read, sorry for any mistakes)