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240.2 / -1.8 / 24.8
OK - I don't have much on my brain except my trip south.... So here are some stats about Lake Istokpoga.
Lake Istokpoga, at 27,692 acres, is the fifth largest lake in the state of Florida. The lake is generally shallow, averaging only 4 to 6 feet in depth. The major tributaries to Lake Istokpoga are Josephine Creek and Arbuckle Creek, which are located in the northwest and north areas of the Lake, respectively. Water is discharged from the Lake through two major outlets: the Istokpoga canal that flows to the Kissimmee River and the S-68 Canal that flows through a series of canals to both Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. A reduction of high lake levels has provided the catalyst for development around shores of the Lake, including agriculture (citrus and caldium farms), pasture land, residential and commercial establishments. Many areas adjacent to the Lake that once flooded seasonally or infrequently are now drained. The lake is treasured by local residents for its recreational and scenic qualities. It is also an important regional resource that is being studied as part of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP).
It is 914.95 miles from my house and should take about 14.66 hours travel time to get there.
We will be leaving about 2:00 Sunday afternoon. We will drive all night, fish all day and then collapse!
See you when I get back - God bless.
242 / 0 / -23 (I hit the treadmill - Andrew!)
OK - I'm a little bummed - UK will play tonight in the opening round of the NIT (National Invitational Tournament). I've heard the jokes (hey I've even told some of them). NIT = Not In Tournament. The other day I heard one - NIT = we need a new coach Not In Texas! Being in the NIT says volumes. It says there are 64 teams better than you (maybe more). It says you didn't make the grade. It's winning Miss Congeniality in the Miss America Pageant.
There are the usual suspects in the NIT - but Kentucky is not among that number. Many teams play all season just to get there, the Cats don't. They play for the big dance. They play for March Madness and the Final Four.
But I wonder how often the church is like the NIT. Many are satisfied to play for the consolation tournament. Many are too afraid to do things different so they too could go to the dance! Far too many are content to stay in the no-name conferences that do the same-old same-old never seeing lives changed. This is not just happening in churches - it is happening in entire denominations, and sadly in many individual lives. People and churches who want to play the game in a sub par way - hoping for their bid in the "also ran" tournament.
There is greatness in Kentucky - Patterson and Meeks are simply phenomenal - but they were surrounded by too many NIT level players. I hope they return next year. I hope Billy G gets it together next year. I hope we find a point guard next year. But all that's just a game. There's really nothing for me to lose in this...but some team pride.
Not so the game God has called us to play, the race we are supposed to win... listen to the words of Paul.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
1 Cor 9:24-27 (NIV)
242 / +2 / -23
"I'm just saying"... Have you caught yourself saying that? I have. It's one of those phrases that catches on and then gets used to death! And I will likely do it myself, but it got me thinking. What are we just saying?
WARNING RANT COMING!
So what are we saying? I get really ticked when I hear people say "Oh my God!", I even see people text it (OMG)." Excuse me - I can understand using the Lord's name in vain slipping out (not an excuse here) -but give me a break. When you are at the key board or keypad on your phone - you have to put in those letters! So I ask people once in a while if they are praying or just using the Lord's name in vain? Come on people!
The "F" bomb - you just gotta love it when that one is dropped. Of course in my line of work most people don't use it around me... but I see it in texts, on MySpace and Facebook. I have recently dropped two "friends" from my Facebook list for a proliferation of the "F"bomb. Again - this is something someone took the time to type in! My daughter even warned her friends not to cuss while texting her - because I would block thier numbers if I saw it.
But how does, "I'm just saying" line up with how I'm living? Are we saying we are Christ followers but all the while more like casual spectators? Are we saying that Jesus Christ is #1 in our lives - but the evidence proves he is way down the list? Are we saying that we trust him - but act like the sky is falling everytime one of life's little surprises shows up?
"I'm just saying" will run it's course, but what about what we are actually saying? Let me put it this way. If how we are living is not lining up with what we are saying we need to change how we are living. If we are not willing to change that - then we need to just SHUT IT! I'm just saying.....
240/ - 3.8 / 25 (today's weight / loss since last post/ total loss)
OK - I took the plunge and registered on Facebook - Wow! It has been amazing. I am up to 220 friends. I was previously on MySpace - but found it a total waste of time and pretty much a cesspool. I had only gotten on it to keep up with my son and his friends... that was down right disturbing (not my son - but some of his friends).
But Facebook has already been a great minstry tool for me. I have been able to finally put some more name to some faces. I have picked up little details about what is going on in folks lives (good and bad). And I have connected with some old friends (some from back in my high school days). I have been able to offer encouragement to folks that I would not have even known needed it.
Facebook is one of several sites in the whole "social networks"genre. It is designed to help people get and stay connected with others. I'm sure there are good and bad aspects to this... The good is that connections can be made.. the bad is that connections can be made... But as a venue it is in itself neutral.
But this whole "social networks" craze got me to thinking. What about God's "social network"? How does God want us to stay connected with him? The truth is God wants us to stay connected with him. And just like we have a variety of ways to stay connected with others (face to face, phone, text, Facebook, e-mail, etc) God has several "networks" we can plug into as well.
Here are some we need to really use. His word - it's like God's e-mail to us. Prayer - you could call it "spiritual texting" Fellowship with others in the body (much like facebook).
So how well are we connected in God's "social network"? And are we spending more time on Facebook than in Hisbook?
243.8 / +.2 / 21.2
Busy weekend - Melody out of town Fri - Sun scrapping thing at Gen. Butler State Park.... she had a good time with some "issues" - but what event does not have some glitches.
Saturday - went to Lebanon Junction (south of Louisville on I-65). I participated in the funeral for Norma Jackson. She was my secretary at North Bullitt Christian Church. I led a prayer and was a pall bearer. I've never been a pall bearer before - it is a sobering experience. It was really good to hook up with some old friends from our days in Louisville. Wow - some of those folks are getting old!
Sunday - went to the 9:00 service - worship was awesome and Andrew Gill rocked the house. Great message on forgiveness. Our youth are so blessed to have a guy like him leading... check out the sermon on our website.
Sunday afternoon - Tim King, Nina and I went to the Bass Pro Shop - we were there with like 10,000 of our closest friends... Man was it crowded.. but we had fun. Got to check out some new fishing stuff and saw them feed the fish in the big tank. Man I want to get a hold on that 12 pound large mouth they have in there!
Time with Nina - Nina has been going through a rough spot - but we had some great talks this weekend - she is such a wonderful young lady. I loved the time with just us.
Sunday afternoon - when we got home - Melody had just gotten there... sweet! My baby is back home. We had some great conversation about her trip, our life, our daughter and stuff in general.
OH - WE ALSO WENT OVER AND SAW HAYDEN! The new grandbaby is rocking our world! And Abigail never ceases to amaze us.
Is God good or what?
