The Year Of Wes

In my never ending blathering on about my weight loss and strength- gaining journey I come at you with another post about a few milestones I hit over the weekend.

First up I played a round of disc golf Sunday afternoon and that alone isn't anything to talk about, but the fact that I RAN (cue Flock of Seagulls?)several of of the holes was!

A while back some friends and I had joked about Speed Disc Golf being an option.  Well at that time I could barely even walk the courses without being out of breath and having major back pain.

So yesterday I'm just jogging along and it hit me that I've made some major progress!

I currently do 3 boot camps a week (45 minutes - 1 hour of intense workouts) and then run or bike one day a week.  Still planning to do my first 10k next month.

Then today on a whim I sat down at the store and checked my blood pressure.  It was 123 over 80!  That's as close to normal as its been in YEARS!  My blood pressure has run around 138 over 85 for quite a few years and the doctors always said it should be lower.

Well I guess all this output has finally caught up with the old ticker and my blood pressure is finally down where it should be.

I have a long way to go, in both weight loss and endurance in running, but I've also made huge strides the past few years and I can't imagine ever going back to where I was.  Honestly that guy is dead, and I'm not digging him up again!

Jason Rhymer, my fitness mentor and friend pointed at me during one of his boot camps and said "This is going to be your year!" and I took him at his word.  I keep reminding myself of his words and slowly but surely I keep seeing new sign posts that the old Wes is dead and gone, and the new Wes is here to stay.

Well that's all for now, until next time...

St. Peter Is That You?

I'm back from my second 5k trail run!  Just wanted to share a short report of how it went.

First a little background: last August, on a strangely cool morning I set out running not only first 5k, but my first trail run too.

As one who has never run since high school, and even then not any great distances this was certainly a challenge.

I started off o.k. but then my back started to hurt and we had to stop for a minute and try and stretch it out.  Still I kept going and I finished at around 54:30.  Not terrible I guess for my first time out and considering the back problems.

2014 came along and I had my sights set on doing the 10k option and in the meantime some friends told me about East Side Church's new Queen City Trail Run 5k.

Being my second 5k of course I wanted to finish faster than the last time, I didn't know however that Reedy Creek Park's trails would be even harder than the Charlotte White Water Center's.

I knew the park was hilly as I play disc golf there pretty regularly.

I didn't know that one of those hills would be waiting for me and brother was it a tough one.  Jokingly I posted later that I expected to see St. Peter waiting at the top of that hill.

But I kept going and the hill eventually was in my rear view and down another hill and up some more I made it to the finish line.  As I turned the last corner I saw the clock was just over 48:00 and I all of a sudden found more energy to run than I had all morning.  I picked up the pace and finished strong beating my last time by nearly 6:00!

Now I'm not here to tell you I'm a fast runner, far from it.  But I honestly never thought I'd be able to run 1 mile, much less over 3.

I'm living proof that anyone can do this stuff.  It's not rocket science.  It just takes some hard work, time and effort and you will see results.

Until next time...please sit on your sandals!

Heather

When our eyes first met,

my heart skipped a beat.

 

When I saw the first smile,

my heart took a leap.

 

When I saw the first tear,

I wanted to weep.

 

This gift is too glorious,

this joy from on High.

 

This grand gift of God,

in a package so small.

 

Though we only just met,

I see through God's eyes,

why He would die

for a sinner such as I.

 

I can't explain, or contain

my love for you dear,

and neither could God

when with nails

He was pierced.

 

His love my example.

I'll try my best to follow,

as I show you His love,

and as we reach for tomorrow.

What Is A Friend?

Not someone who likes you all the time,
but loves you all the time.

 

Not someone who gives you their wealth,
but gives you their time.

 

Not someone who ignores your faults,
but loves you despite them.

 

Someone who laughs at all your jokes,
even when they're not that funny.

 

Someone who takes the time to see your potential, not your reflection in the mirror.

 

Someone who talks about you behind your back, but only tells others how much you mean to them.

 

Not someone who places obligations on you, but places you first.

 

Not someone who is perfect, and always shows you how much you mean to them, but feels it deeply in their heart.

 

You are a friend of mine.

Imperfect

I'm not perfect.

 

Are you surprised?

 

My skin is flesh toned, but inside it's gang green, like moss growing on a tree: except the tree stuck to the ground is me.

 

I'm not perfect. Do you think you're better?

 

We all dig and scratch. Searching for a spiritual crumb.

 

When the Bread of Life, Jesus is offered we say, "Oh I'm full."

 

I'm not perfect, neither are you.
       

But a cross was carried by a man who was, perfect that is.

 

Oh that's just religion!

 

Well if it is, why do you fight it? Why not give in? Do you want to carry that sin all the way to your grave?

 

Hell is no party! It's not the bar down the street. Didn't you think the devil would trick you with lies and deceit?

 

He wants to trick you into forfeiting       

 

Heaven, a Life without ending.

 

Listen to God, His love He is sending.

Super Man

Oh little man

you struggle and toil, but no amount of money

can ransom your soul.

What can a man give for his soul that one day,

will stand before God, so that God will repay:

the choices and courses of your winding life,

He loves you, He grieves you would put down the knife;

You're digging and grinding into your heart.

You say you'd love to be saved, but it's too late to start.

Idiotic! That's a lie! Don't believe everything you hear!

 

But this promise, you can count on sincere:

It came from On High, when God sent His Son,

only Son to die.

If you believe and trust on His name,

He will become your Lord and Saviour, Oh my!

Jesus Christ is God, one and the same.

Do you feel it? Deep down inside?

That gapping hole, accept Him or...

I almost want to cry.

Please don't wait another day, saying tomorrow I'll say o.k. to Jesus Christ.

He is the only way to Heaven, the only Saviour alive!

 

He's listening and watching, for your reply.

Empty Me Out

A broken vessel, unworthy of Grace, yet on Calvary's Hill, you took my place.

 

Salvation unfounded for a retch such as I, since all I pursued was the apple of my eye.

 

But mercy intervened and God came to live, in a broken old vessel, but what can I give?

 

Lord empty me out, cleanse all for your use.

 

Through your Holy Spirit's power, please take off the noose.

 

Fill me up only with your presence clear, 'till all that they see, is a reflection of God here.

 

Shape me and mold me, let no stone go un-turned, for your reflection Lord Jesus is ALL they should see.

Cycling

I travel down this road, and many people I pass by

Sometimes they join me, and sometimes they just stand by.

 

It's their decision to have life on the mountain road or

just in complacency, a long valley with no way home.

 

I beg them, "Join me, come with me on a trip that never ends. Come join me and meet my truest friend."

 

He rode this journey long ago, but He was not like I.
You see, this man was also God. His name is Jesus Christ.

 

He loved us so much then, as now.

 

He gave His life to ransom you, with thorns upon His brow. He prayed while on the cross:

 

"Forgive them, they don't know what they do"

 

And on that day, that prayer He spoke was said for me and you.

True Love

God is Love.

 

Since God is the center of your marriage,
love is the center of your marriage.

Love is sacrifice.

You will have to sacrifice for your spouse.

God's love sacrificed on the Cross.

 

Love is a warrior.
Stepping out in the arrows for the other.

 

When arrows made of words fly,
you step out and shield your mate.

 

You protect and love.

 

Love is the little,
love is the big,
hard times, good.

Love, true love is there because,

 

God is Love.

Paint Me

Paint me Blue, because your love is

deeper than the oceans, higher than the sky.

 

Paint me Green, to show growth and life in you.

 

Paint me Orange, a color of fall and let your Grace and Mercy fall on me.

 

Paint me Red, to cleanse me by your blood shed on the Cross.

 

Paint me Yellow, for the Son that shines on me.

 

Paint me Silver, to reflect your glory back to you.

 

Paint me Purple, because you have made me a child of the King.

 

Paint me White, because you are Holy and I should be as you.

 

Erase the Grey's of complacency, fear and doubt.

 

Erase the Black's of sin and rebellion.

 

Erase the Dark tones and hues that hide the reflection of your image, which I am being Painted to resemble in this life and in Eternity ever new.

Thank You

 

Thank you for not calling it quits,

even though I'm not worth giving the time of day to.

 

Least among your children, surely am I.

 

You shed your Son's blood, so that I could be a millionaire.

 

And if that weren't enough, you daily show you care.

 

Please use this vessel, broken though it may be.

 

Let the world see you through me.

Blue Jeans

 

If Jesus had lived, His earthly days in the middle of this crazy haze,

would He have worn blue jeans?

 

Would He have been a homeless man on the street?

 

Or would have hung around Congress or maybe Wall Street?

 

Possibly He would be in some of the "Sin Cities" reaching out to those deceived by the tricks of the world.

 

Would He have worn the latest fashions?

 

Or listened to the coolest CDs?

 

We could ponder these thoughts until Jesus came back, but why bother?

 

Jesus IS living in these days and times.

 

He also lives through believers in the things we do and say.

 

He's not just a favorite teacher that we remember by His words.

 

He is actually living in Heaven and pleading for all souls.

 

So would Jesus wear blue jeans?

 

You know the answer.

The Judge's Chamber

Wash-up, reject, they all laugh and say.

I turn the other cheek, only to have the price to pay.

 

Mock me, scorn, hatred, lies, but I'm never out of somebody's eyes.

Wash-up, reject, they all laugh and say.

 

I pray for death, but they're kept at bay...

When I think it too great, my power too small, I call on His name and He silences them all.

 

Wash-up, reject, they cannot say. For they realize like I, we have NOTHING to say.

We are not judges, we didn't purchase God's judgment throne.

Who can sit in that seat, but Jesus alone!

 

Wash-up, reject we expect to hear HIM say, but if our life is in Christ, here's what He'll proclaim:

 

"Welcome In !!! I've forgotten your sins!"

 

For eternity we'll walk in awe beside Him.

Wash-up, reject, forever no more, because our sins, on THAT tree, He bore.

A Truly White Christmas

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, a childhood dream that never came true.

I grew up in the South, so my Christmases had skies of blue.
 

'Till God showed me how to have a "White Christmas" without a flake. When we ask for forgiveness, for our sins and mistakes.
 

He cleanses and washes our hearts, 'till they're pure. And He returns our hearts, as white as the snow.
 

So, this year I'd love to have some icy white flakes, but with Jesus' forgiveness when He died for our sake,

this Christmas can be white if His hand you will take.