Four more pounds!

I lost another four pounds! I am pleased. 293.4 lbs. That makes 28
total.

Fun at Winter Weekend

Everyone seemed to have a good time over the weekend. This year, instead of going on a Winter Retreat, we had the speaker come to the church and had our activities and session on site. The pics above were from Friday night with the inflatable games and mechanical bull.

Uncle Phil's Diner Prep.

I haven't been posting over the last week because of the preparations for Uncle Phil's Diner Dinner Theater we are performing this weekend. I may post a few pictures later today about the past weekend. . . or maybe not?

Weigh In Wednesday

Six more pounds this week! I am so pleased. Unofficiall, that's 24.4 pounds so far. I am reasl surprised that I have not been grumpy during this time. There are nine more weeks to go. I still have work to do.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed Movie (Super Trailer)

I didn't have time to find and post this yesterday. Here is a trailer for Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed movie. I am looking forward to the release, which I think is February 12.

Conference Call with Ben Stein

As I type, I am on a conference call with Ben Stein and Motive Entertainment and Premise Media Corp. executives. Motive Entertainment is the company that is helping to distribute the new film “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”. Premise Media Corporation is the producer of the movie. Ben Stein, the star of the movie, is most noted for playing the principal in "Ferris Buellers Day Off" and the host of "Win Ben Stein's Money".


This new film, according to its website, follows Stein and his heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world's top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few. Ben travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth that bewilders him, then angers him and then spurs him to action! He realizes that he has been "Expelled", and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired for the "crime" of merely believing that there might be evidence of "design" in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.



I was a little disappointed at first that the producers gave the idea that they didn't want to endorse "Intelligent Design", but was encouraged as they talked about fighting for free speech in the academic world and elsewhere. They welcome all "reasonable" theories. However, Stein did mention that he felt Darwinism is lacking in certain fronts. Of the many educators and others they interviewed, many had their faces blacked out for fear of reprisal while others flatly refused to be interviewed at all. Many had lost their jobs, tenure and had been ridiculed if they dared go against the elite. Ben, himself, has lost opportunities because of his work on the project and regularly receives hate mail.



Both Stein and Walt Ruloff, Executive Producer and President of Premise Media Corporation, also mentioned that they hoped this movie could begin some open and intelligent dialog between those who believe in some form of intelligent design and those on the side of, for lack of a better word, Darwinism.



Ben said he thought that the country had "lost Its way morally" and hoped to see the return of morals throughout the land.



They gave two websites for "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". The first, http://www.expelledthemovie.com/ is the official site. http://www.getexpelled.com/ is a site for educators, pastors, youth leaders and anyone who would like some resources, etc. to help with this free speech agenda. On both sites you can post your own experiences via text, video, and/or audio on the "shout-out" link.



The movie comes out this spring. I will post a trailer soon.

Ooops

This is the picture that was suposed to go with the last post.

Blog Your Blessings

This is my nephew, Garrett, being . . . Garrett. But today he
represents one of my blessings - all the tenagers I have been able to
minister to over the past 21 (almost) years. When I think about it, I
am overwelmed.

Sent from my iPhone.

Church Sign Quote Friday

Watch your step carefully! Everyone else does

That's how I feel a lot.

Remote Control Racing - "Carpet Chaos"

This Saturday the Richfield Racers will be hosting an RC cars/trucks race in the Family Life Center of RMC. Practice begins at 9 AM and racing begins at 1 PM. They are titling the race "Carpet Chaos" since they run on the carpet. It looks like it could be a big event. Check out the website to find out more information.

Five More Pounds

I lost 5..2 pounds this week for a two week total of 18.2 pounds! I
am pretty pleased. Ten more weeks to go. I can't wait for next
week I hope to be below 300 pounds for the first time in a long time.

Sent from my iphone

Yetter scores 1000th!

Steph Yetter scored her 1000th point tonight at East Juniata gym!
Congratulations Steph.

Getting from Here to There

Did you ever wonder how long it would take to get from Here to There? Now we know. Click HERE to find out. Thanks to JIM for this find.

Fondue Party - Blog Your Blessings

I was pleased that we had a good turn out for the fondue party
tonight! I did pretty good limiting my food intake and everyone
seemed to have a good time.

Chruch Sign Friday - Something Better Than Google

That's saying something in today's culture.

When I went to weigh in at the MACC last week, a fellow pastor was
there as well. We decided to " encourage" each other on our weght loss
trek. We are going to give $1.00 per pound to the charity of the other
person. The little contest has taken a friendly turn. Today I recieved
a card of encouragement and this BIG bag of potato chips! What kind
of help is that?!? So .... THE GAME IS ON!

Week One Way In

I started last week at 321.6 lbs. I hope you can read this. If
not ..... It says 308.6!!!!!!!! 13 pounds in one week. That rate
won't continue but it is a good start - I think.

Saner Scores 1000th

Thad Saner scored his 1000th point here at East Juniata gym.
Congratulations Thad!

Halftime score: EJ 34, Millersburg 33

Diet Mt Dew Day!

I was bored at lunch and decided to blog about this special moment!

So a good friend of mine bought me 20 flavored waters and one Diet Mt
Dew for Christmas. The instructions on the Dew said I could drink it
AFTER all the waters were empty. I waited to start drinking water
until my diet began. TODAY I am drinking my last water!!!!!!!!

Sent from my iphone.

Jesus the Follower?

I was looking through my "Favorites" websites last evening and "re-found" a blog from Bill Allison. I liked his post about Jesus not being a leader. I suggest you check out the entire post. Here is an excerpt:

Jesus wasn't a "leader." He wasn't a CEO. He violated the "laws of
leadership. "He actually resisted opportunities to increase his influence—even
when the crowd demanded more of him. (How strange is that in this day and
age?) No, Jesus was none of the mental images that are so prevalent in our
current North American thinking about leadership. I contend that Jesus was, first
and foremost, a follower.

Faith Based Weight Loss

While I don't want this to become a weight loss blog, I was intrigued by a short part of an article on Smart Diet Tips. As a youth minister, I was please to see the following:

The best place to drop pounds may be your own house of worship. Researchers
set up healthy eating and exercise programs in 16 Baltimore churches. More than
500 women participated and after a year the most successful lost an average of
20 lbs. Weight-loss programs based on faith are so successful because there's a
built-in community component that people can feel comfortable with.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

Tonight my dad's side of the family had their semi-annual get together. I think this is the most people in attendance that I can remember. I think it is because my sister, Michele, takes this event seriously and makes sure everyone gets a reminder. I really enjoy renewing relationships and strengthening others. I am blessed with good relatives on both sides of my parents.

As you can see from all the food, tonight was difficult on my new diet. But, I survived, finding a bunch of fruit, veggie pizza, a meatball, three bottles of water and my first Diet Pepsi in three days.

P.S. Thanks to Sandy for coming back week after week even when I haven't "Blogged my blessings". I really do appreciate the comments, Sandy.

"Hungry for Hungary" Upate

Day two of my "Hungry for Hungary" Diet. Not too bad so far. I haven't had any diet soda since 10 AM on Wednesday. I am trying to exercise more and eat healthier and less. I am trying to not eat anything after supper. Someone told me "What you eat after six, sticks". I am not going to deprive myself of anything and yet eat small healthy "meals".

I weighed in in front of the youth on Wednesday night and will do so each Wednesday night. This is an unofficial weight but will help to show my progress. The weight there was 322.6 lbs. which was 4.6 pounds more than the weight at the MACC. I will update here every Wednesday night (via my phone) after 8:30 PM EST.

By the way, if any of you would like to donate to the "Hungry for Hungary" fund. Get in contact with me and I will let you know how to do just that. Every little bit helps.

Church Sign Friday #8

Sorry to be so pointed and yet it is the truth.

FOXNews.com: Boy, 11, Uses Toy Lightsaber to Defend Mom From Attacker

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320005,00.html

Sent from my iPhone

Loosing Weight for Money! or . . . Hungry for Hungary!

Well, I did it. I signed up to loose weight for money. Yep, someone is going to pay me $10 per pound that I loose! Let me explain. . .

One of the area fitness centers, the Middlecreek Area Community Center, has made an offer. If you are a member of the Center, they will pay you $10 per pound that you loose through the end of March - thanks to an anonymous donor. Actually I think it is more of a fundraiser for the M.A.C.C. and it worked to get me to join. I had to weigh in this morning and I have three months to loose as much weight as I can! I am going to donate any money I get to our Mission Trip to Hungary this summer. I guess you could say I am going to go Hungry for Hungary!

To help me keep on track, I plan to weigh in each Wednesday in front of the teens. I will show some pics, etc. and keep you updated. (I assume you are interested) I have no doubt I can loose weight, but I am hoping that after I loose it, I will be able to keep it off.

Anyone can join and be involved, but you have to sign up and weigh in by January 5. Check out the MACC web site for their contact information.

Welcome 2008

Happy New Year!