Go Ahead and Quit Smoking! Listen, I have vices just like everybody else, but smoking is something you are NEVER going to be able to keep up alongside an active fitness regimen. If you're a heavy smoker who has ever tried to do an intense cardio session, you know what I'm talking about.
But the risks of smoking go a lot further than a little trouble on the treadmill. According to the American Cancer Society, 29 percent of all cancer deaths are due to lung cancer — that's more people than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. My life has been greatly impacted by this disease — I lost three grandparents to lung cancer. For this reason, I want to do anything I can to educate people about how they can reduce their cancer risk and improve their overall health — so they can enjoy as many precious years with their family and loved ones as possible.
That's not to say it's easy to quit smoking; few things are easy that really make a difference in our health. But the American Cancer Society has thought of that too; they have
Quitline, a toll-free confidential counseling service you can call for support anytime you need it. So no excuses! The sooner you quit, the greater the benefit. It's that simple. (from Jillian Michaels daily emails)
-I did my cardio workout yesterday, burning an estimated 380 calories doing so. I also peaked out at 3.9 miles an hour, and for a guy who has had his hip replaced, that's pretty impresive. Or at least I think so, and that is what really matters when it comes to working out. I am hoping that in a few more weeks, I will cross over the four mile mark on a consistent basis. I haven't hit the four mile an hour mark yet since my surgery, but I know it is coming and I am a little excited about it.
Since I didn't do the muscle building yesterday, I move it to today. Today is "Last Chance Workout" before tomorrow's weigh in. According to my scale at home, I haven't lost but two pounds. I'm bummed to the hilt about that... It's OK though, since I can see and feel the results. Hopefully the scale will be merciful tomorrow morning.
2nd Samuel 12:1-25
The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'
"This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die."
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."
David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead."
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"
He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
-Fasting is an expression of love. Weeping is an expression, too, but so is fasting. Have you loved someone so much that you fast for them? If you have ever read the book "Where the Red Fern Grows", you know how the story ends. If you haven't read the book and are interested in reading it, you should note that there is a spoiler coming here, so beware. Still, there are these two dogs, one dies and the other dog will not eat. It is like the dog is fasting for it's missing companion, a lifelong friendship with his friend has been severed by death. And the dog stops eating, just like a fast. It, too, dies, but the expression of love that the one dog had for another went down to the grave.
So, fasting can come in many forms. I heard of a brother who stoped drinking soda to encourage a friend. People have fasted from chocolate, drinks, meat, desserts, and all sorts of things to show an expression of love and prayer for another person. Fasting... think about it. Johnny Out.
This is the last "love study" for the month... at least directly. I am sure it will be hard to continue the next ten months and not at least talk about love once. Anyway, I was pretty successful this month, achieving over 90%... yeah!
Philippians 4:4-9
Luke 19:41-44
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