Shake My Head

Since September 11, 2001, there have been 43 clear incidents of Islamic inspired terrorism on United States soil.  In these incidents of Muslim actors attacking innocent men, women and children, 89 people have been killed and countless more injured.  How does the Obama administration deal with the problem?  Threaten to prosecute derogatory speech about Islam; and they go after the guns owned by people who are not the problem.  They also push to bring thousands of more Muslims to this country.

There is really no question that the vetting process is basically non-existent.  The FBI has made that perfectly clear the vetting process currently used cannot filter out any bad guys.  The process is a set of forms filled out by non-american workers in foreign countries, an interview (where they are asked if they are coming to attack the USA), and a background check (for which there is really no database to check these people against).  This process can take up to 2 years...not because it's thorough....because it is government.

We have agencies like Catholic Relief Services and the USCCB Committee on Migration making reckless and misleading statements about the situation.  Bishop Elizondo, chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration, recently exhorted bishops to push for refugees to be resettled in the USA.  On the question of security and safety, he says there is a government vetting process that takes up to two years.  He says that perhaps this process could be improved, but there is a process.

Bishop Elzondo ignores the growing evidence that the vetting process is basically non-existent and that terrorists have clearly slipped through and continue to slip through.  I heard a Catholic Relief Services leader on Catholic XM Radio channel basically just say the vetting process is up to the government.  CRS is pushing for more immigrants, for which they receive government funding, and punting the issue of safety to the "government."  They do this knowing full well that there is no safety or security.

All of this takes place while Jordan has put forth a plan to settle refugees there.  The USA would be safer, but the relief organizations in the USA wouldn't get money...organizations in Jordan would get funding. There is a safe, reasonable alternative to settling these people here, but there are other agendas involved.

309



A little over a year ago I weighed 309 lbs. I’m 5’10” and I was definitely obese. In November 2008, I started exercising at HealthTrac, a local hospital affiliated fitness center, and on April 9, 2009 I decided to run. When I ran that first mile that day I weighed approximately 290 -295lbs, but I was able to run to the local dam and back, about 2 miles, in approximately 38 minutes. I felt amazing. My only real goal was to feel better physically and about myself.


Since then I have been running pretty consistently. I did have to take a total of about 4 weeks off for an ankle injury and a bronchial infection, but I pushed day after day. After a while, my body had to run. The endorphins are addictive, and I very gradually got faster, more stamina and lost weight.


I discovered racing. I raced in Ann Arbor twice, Dowagiac, Niles, Concord, Nappannee, Portage, Berrien Springs, etc… I found that racing is the only true test of how well I’m doing in my daily discipline of exercise. I’ve shaved almost 10 minutes off my 5K (3.1 miles) time, and I’m anticipating a run under 30 minutes in one of my next few races.


In November 2009, I ran 71.75 miles, and my goal is to regularly hit 100 miles a month. I weighed myself after my run on Sunday, and I weighed 250 lbs.


Some of the things that surprised me:


The quickest way to gain speed in running is to lose weight.


I am now much more immediately effected by what I eat…I feel the effects almost immediately.


I feel muscles, sinews, and bones that I haven’t felt in years.


The right shoes and clothing is extremely important. It took me a long time to know how to dress appropriately.


People drive horribly. I’ve only been hit by a car once though I’ve had numerous near misses.


Running in the rain is the most incredible experience in the world!


I started off with everyone making fun of me, but now people are coming to me asking advice. Former runners are coming to me telling me that I have inspired them to take up the cross again.



I should note that my wife had been running for about 6 months before I took up the sport. She inspired me. We had a rule that we didn’t tread on each other’s hobbies, but she’s been gracious…especially since her injury and subsequent inability to run. Now I run for her.

SELF DISCIPLINE

This has been my year of least writing. This has been a challenging year for me, and it has been a year of refocusing on the important.



As I anticipate Y2K+10, I feel the need to simplify, prioritize and more than anything discipline.


So, here is what I want my life to be about next year (not in any order of priority):


Work


Running


Writing


Reading


WRWR – I believe that as I follow this formula, I will better follow Christ and be a better husband.


So, I plan on writing many more blog posts, and I plan on bringing my body into total submission.


May this be the Lord’s will!

The Devil Inside

Introspection is a tightrope between self flagellation and self pity.

What would your reaction be…I mean your real inside thoughts…about someone who was very friendly and sought your advice continually but who would exaggerate your mistakes and humorously come off as if it’s truly an act of benevolence that they talk to you at all. Now this is all done in a friendly, funny, non-threatening way.

Truthfully, it wears on me. I get really tired of it. It makes me more circumspect in my acquaintances in order to prayerfully never treat anyone even remotely like this.

Why? I’m probably self centered and selfish about it. I want people to like me, and I know how I feel pretending to like this person. Wow. I didn’t realize that until I wrote it (the pretending part).

Hmmm.

Daniel

I read the book of Daniel last night and wondered about a few things.

1. What was it like to study and prepare for three years as the Jewish captives?

2. What would have it been like to have guards show up with orders to kill you, and you have no idea why? What would my reaction have been? Would I have believed that God would tell me the dream?

3. What would have it been like to rule the kingdom for all those years? Daniel was a very old man when he was thrown into the lions den. He had basically been a very powerful man for many, many years.

4. Who did Daniel and the three who were thrown into the furnace marry? Did they have children?

5. How did the kingdom function when the king went crazy for seven years (or time periods)?

6. Did God perform any other miracles or especially gift Daniel in a supernatural way other than what was recorded?

Abbreviations:

I remember when I was in school having teachers teach us the traditional abbreviation of our state, "Mich.", and then teach us the new fangled two digit "MI". They made a point that the government wanted everyone to use the two digit way now. That would likely have been in about 1980 or so.

The two digit system for state codes went into effect at the post office in 1963 and for the rest of government in 1987. The 1963 innovation accompanied the zip code institution.

Just something weird I was remembering.

That Really Grinds My Gears

I felt like starting a list of things that are pet peeves for me. Don’t know why. Maybe I’m just an angry white male today….

1. People who fly around me in town at upwards of 60 mph only to slow down to 50 mph right in front of me for the next 12 miles.

2. When there is one speck of snow on a parking lot and everyone just ignores the painted lines.

3. Business owners who think they own you just because you’ve frequented their establishment.

4. Women who fish for compliments.

5. People who take up two parallel parking spots when they could easily fit in one. Also people who park too close in the parking lot.

6. Drive through attendants who say, “Pull forward to the LAST window.” How am I supposed to know which window was the last until it’s too late?

7. Waitresses who ask if I want a refill on my iced tea. Bring it. If I don’t want it…I won’t drink it.

8. People who expect me, the customer, to know what I want and need (like model numbers and part numbers etc…). If I knew that, I wouldn’t need help at the store then would I…and you could be at home collecting unemployment.

9. Guys who let women carry heavy things without offering to help.

10. NY Giants fans who take life a little too seriously.

11. The "one upper". Guys who start every part of a conversation with, "you think that's bad..." or "you think that was big...". Always got one better than everyone else.

12. People who make stupid lists…

EMOTION

I don’t know what is “mini” about a mini-stroke or Transient ischemic attack.

Seems dad had one on Sunday. I need to get to the doctor and get things straightened out with me. I love my wife too much not to.

Our mortality breeds emotion.