Looking ahead to 2008

My New Year's Resolutions for 2008:

1. Reach my goal weight of 175 lbs.
2. Record a demo CD of my own original music
3. Have the first 150 pages of my suspense novel complete
4. Do my Vision Quest or take the Advanced Standard class at Tracker School
5. I won't shave off my Brethren beard at all this year (commemorating the CoB's 300th Anniversary) If I do reach my goal weight, I will plan to be clean shaven so that I can prove I have a jawline... other than that I plan to keep the beard
6. Make a point to journal daily if not weekly

We are a moment

A Place Apart has updated their website. I wanted to post a prayer from their site that really connected with me. It is a reworking of the Lord's Prayer. Read with an intentional heart...Be Blessed.

Dearest Father,

Creator God,

Embracing Mother,

Dwelling in the realm beyond our present seeing,

Your Spirit presence

Within every created thing.

May your name be reverenced in Holy honor.

May your reign be established,

The reign of justice and peace,

The reign of healing and well being,

Your will for all people,

Begun in Christ,

May it now be completed

On Earth,

As it is within the realm beyond our present sight,

Known in some deep place within us,

Half remembered from our beginning,

Longed for as our truest home.

We seek your provision,

The bread of our daily needs.

Forgive us the wrongs we have committed

Against others,

Against your creation,

Against your created order,

Against ourselves,

Against you.

In light of our understanding of your forgiveness of us

We cannot help but forgive all who have committed wrongs

Against us.

Lead us away from desires

That would be harmful to us or others.

Rescue us from the hold evil has on us.

Nurture in us desire

That expresses a passion for living fully.

Your reign is life,

Yours is enduring power,

Yours the glory that does not fade.

We are a moment,

You are forever. Amen

Thanks Rocky...

After being in Illinois for Thanksgiving, which I actually did pretty good meal wise, and an off week getting back into the routines I gained 3 pounds. After the weigh in this week I lost another 6 pounds and am committed to keeping up the weight loss. So in like six weeks I've lost 15 pounds! Makes me wonder how much more I could have lost if I hadn't missed those two weeks?

Nonetheless, I picked myself back up and kept on pushing myself in the gym (I've discovered how good the Rocky Soundtracks are for working out) and avoiding temptations with my meals. If you were to ask my wife, she'd verify that I have been on ACTIVE overdrive this past week... I have just so much energy...

15 pounds! I AM doing it and I WILL get there!

Keep cheering me on.

Classic example of a high electric bill!

Discoveries

It's only been 3 months since I've gone from being a common tracker (one who just identifies a track) to a master tracker (one who sees a mini landscape within the track that tells the animal's story). When I say master tracker, I'm not professing to have the art and science of it down; what I am professing is that I'm now able to see all those things that a common tracker misses. I used to be a common tracker, which I always saw as more of a hobby any way.

So why do I track?

Because I've learned as much about myself as I have the animals I've tracked. I'm discovering what qualities come alive in me that allows me to track in my own unique way. There is something raw about the nature of tracking. When I am down in the dirt studying a track, I'm suddenly participating in a mystery, since I may never catch up to the one leaving the prints or other sign. And it's at that moment something in me begins to change. It's as if I'm growing wild with fur or claws or a tail. I'm connected to nature/creation in a such a way that most people only romanticize about. I am living the words of the Inuit poet Nalungiaq:

In the very earliest time,
when both people and animals lived on the earth,
a person could become an animal if he wanted to
and an animal could become a human being.
Sometimes they were people
and sometimes animals
and there was no difference.
All spoke the same language.

Scariest Video Ever?

A rather simple but disturbing video using game theory analysis method to thinking of the correct approach to addressing global climate change. It's worthy of checking out and if nothing else (agree or disagree) is worth passing along to others.

Advent ramblings... er... devotional thoughts?

Some random thoughts floating around in my head as we enter the season of Advent.

1. Get priorities straight: I need to spend more time in Advent (awaiting Jesus' coming) rather than Venting on Ads (commercialism of the season).

2. If you are entering into Advent does that then become an Adventure? (you=u, are=r, entering=e) How does Jesus' coming to earth as a child make our life an Adventure?

Remember I said it first...