Weight loss: Things I’ve learned thus far …

Things I’ve learned on my weight loss journey …

Set realistic goals
One of the first goals that I set was to go to the gym every day for an entire month. With a loving, supporting and flexible wife I was able to hit that goal.

In retrospect, probably not the smartest goal I’ve ever set. I wasn’t killing it each visit, but still, I learned that your body needs time to rest between workouts.

Accountability
Share your journey with your spouse and/or close friends. It’s always great when you have others to hold you accountable.

It’s better with friends. 
Getting connected with my F3 buddies (Fitness. Fellowship. Faith.) has made all the difference in the world. I’m thankful for them pushing me to be better physically and spiritually.

Also because I’m back in the gym, our friends signed up for a membership too. So now Kyndal and I have gym buddies. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from mine in a while. Time to send a few texts!! We’ve got to hold each other accountable.

It needs to be hard!
Yes. You read that right. If it isn’t hard, you’ll get bored and drop it. By setting the bar high and pushing yourself, it makes all the difference in the world. That’s one of the key principles of F3. Who willingly gets up to workout at 5:30 a.m. with a bunch of guys? It’s because it’s hard and we encourage each other along the way.

For example, when I started working out with F3, the other guys would do 10 push-ups, I would do 5, then 8 and so on. Building over time. Don’t try and kill it, but you do have to push yourself. I still struggle with this. Just ask my buddy, John.

Don’t step on that scale!
If you want to see progress then don’t step on the scales often. It was at the 2-month mark before I stepped on the scale once I started this go-round. 2 months! Do you know how hard it is to walk past the scales in your office and at the gym, all day, every day?! It’s ok. You can do it! Push yourself.

How do you know you’re making progress without the scales? For me, my clothing — especially my belt — told me that progress was being made.

I’ve since stepped on the scale more often. In the past, I’ve tried to only weigh on payday (every other week). If you allow a period of time between weigh-ins, it will help you to see a difference, that’s for sure.

There’s an app for that. 
I started using an app, then after getting my Fitbit I transitioned to their app. There are several. Pick one and you’ll thank yourself in the months to come.

Track what you’re doing. 
Track your food and your exercise. You don’t have to have a fitness tracker (Fitbit or smartwatch) to do that. App + input = accountability and a way to measure your progress.

Calories in. Calories out. 
Before February of this year, I had never counted a calorie. I can’t even begin to imagine how many calories I was eating at one point in my life. Crazy!!!

Exercise is good. It will make you feel better, BUT it is really all about portion control. What are you consuming and what are you burning each day.

Talk about your journey. 
People will gladly chime in. Some will offer helpful tips, others might confuse you or overwhelm you. Find a place to start. Some people focus on carbs others on sugars, sodium, etc. I found calories to be a great place to start. Easy to find and easy to track.

You CAN eat fast food and lose weight. 
I eat at Chick-fil-A multiple times a week. I hit up J. O’Gradys in downtown Sumter and even Subway. You just have to make good decisions about what you’re eating. I’ve also found the Artisan chicken sandwich, grilled snack wrap and the strawberry banana smoothie at McD’s to be quite good too.

The Market Salad from Chick-fil-A is the bomb! Whoever thought grilled chicken, nuts, berries, granola, strawberries and honey mustard could taste so good!

Also, steer clear of frozen dinners or prepackaged meals, those jokers are packed with sodium!

Water!
Drink LOTS of water. Sodas are wasted and empty calories. Sometimes I’ll mix my tea — 1/2 water and half tea — just be mindful of the calories you’re consuming as you hydrate. You can cut sodas and notice a difference right off the bat.

It’s going to be hard but push through. 
There have been times when my family would order a pizza. I’d eat what I was going to eat to align with my goals and the remaining pizza looked so darn good. I had to keep telling myself, “You don’t need it!” Keep telling yourself that. Seriously.

Also when you see how long it takes to burn calories, you’ll think twice about that slice anyway!

It’s OK to cheat, once a week.
Set aside one day  — at most two — where you can go over a little. Save a special treat like a milkshake, big cookie or slice of Baker’s Sweets cake. However, when you see how many calories are in that milkshake, you’ll never look at them the same, just saying.

Kill two birds with one stone. 
I sometimes go to the gym, set my pace at 3 mph, walk and read my Bible or book via my Kindle or iPad mini. I’ve found it relaxing. I could care less about TV, so it’s a good way to exercise both my body and mind at the same time. Plus I get in some much-needed reading.

Labels.
Food and nutrition labels are your friend. Make sure to look at portion sizes and the number of servings per package. Some items will say 70 calories, but the package contains two servings.

Last, but not least, prayer!
Thank God for the strength to move and exercise your body. We take so many daily tasks for granted. Talk to Him as you go on this journey. He wants to hear from you.

A man for whom Christ died,
Chris

Walking daily and encouraging others along the way!
1 Corinthians 15:58


Top 6 “Nuggets” from Feb. 2015

On January 1, 2015, I started a plan to read the entire Bible again in the course of the year. Each day after my reading I post a “nugget” from my quiet time using the hashtag #Bible365 on my Facebook page. 

Below are the Top 6 (plus a special one) — in no particular order — from the month of February 2015. 

If you’d like to connect and see my daily “nuggets” connect with me up on Facebook or Twitter

Nugget #1

I’ll keep it simple tonight, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Nugget #2

Have you mastered Psalm 34:1? I don’t know about you, but I fail miserably at times. 

For the Bible says, “I will bless the Lord at ALL times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Wow! What a gut check of a verse. Two other verses — among many in this particular psalm — that I’d like to also share, with emphasis added on the last one.

Verse 18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Verse 19: “MANY are the afflictions of the righteous, BUT the Lord DELIVERS him out of them ALL.”

Nugget #3

Why is it important to know God’s Word?

As Jesus is in the wilderness, He is tempted by the devil. In Luke 4:10, you’ll miss it if you aren’t paying attention, the devil says, “for it is written …” And he (the devil) proceeds to quote Deuteronomy 6:13.

The devil knows the Word, he quotes it to Jesus. Don’t you think you should know the Word as well? When Jesus is tempted, what does He do? He quotes scripture back to the devil. Jesus replies by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.

It’s not a flesh battle we have to fight. Be equipped and prepared. The temptations will come! Know how to use your sword (the Word).

*Read Luke 4:1-12.

Nugget #4

God is our fortress. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 ESV)
Also verse 10 is another to underline/remember: “Be still, and know that I am God …” 

Nugget #5

God is in the transformation business! We just have to pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 ESV

Nugget #6

Jesus healed 10 lepers, but only one of them realized what had really taken place. What did he do?

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:15-16 ESV

How often do we forget to thank God for the blessings He bestows upon us? The healing He sends our way? The obstacles He removes?

Live a life of worship. Thank Him for all He has, is and is going to do in your life.

*Bonus Nugget

Today’s nugget is a very special one! When I realized the Psalm I was in, I knew I would share it. This scripture is what I was asked to read at my great, great uncle Charlie’s funeral. He was 99, just shy of 100 years old.

Knowing that, read this scripture with that in mind. What an amazing truth!

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. [interlude] We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” Psalms 39:4-7 NLT

Top 5 “Nuggets” from Jan. 2015

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A new year. A new plan. This January I started the 365 Day Bible Reading plan in the back of my new journaling Bible that I got for Christmas. 

On January 1, after reading I felt led to post a “nugget” from something that stood out during my quiet time using the hashtag #Bible365 on my Facebook page. 

Below are the Top 5 posts that received the most interaction — in no particular order — in the month of January 2015. 

If you’d like to connect and see my daily “nuggets” look me up on Facebook or Twitter


Nugget #1

Do you like to read the Old Testament?

If not, I’d like to remind you of one of many promises that you’ll miss out on. In Exodus Chapter 6 as God is preparing Moses and giving him the message to the Israelites, God tells us, “… I am The Lord … I will bring you out … I will deliver you … I will redeem you …” (Verse 6) God promises deliverance.

Hide that in your heart and mind.

Nugget #2

The fall comes when it’s more about us than it is about Him!

At the Tower of Babel the Word states they said, ” …Come, let US build ourselves a city … let US make a name for ourselves…” Genesis 11:4 ESV

Our prayer should be: Less of me, more of you Lord!

Nugget #3

First sacrifice in the Bible, Genesis 3. “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21 ESV

Something had to die to cover their sins.

Aren’t you thankful that in God’s timing that the perfect lamb was slain? Christ’s blood covered all, no more need for sacrifices. See 1 Peter 1:18-21.

Nugget #4

A sealed tomb, guards and large stone were no hindrance for God in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.

After Jesus was buried, I love how Pilate tells the Pharisees, “Go make it as secure as YOU can.” (Matthew 27:65) Man’s methods did not stop God’s plan from unfolding.

Just remember that the barriers placed in your path are no obstacle when God is in control. His Will and plan will unfold.

Nugget #5

Check your temperature! No, not for the flu or the common cold, but check your heart. Has it grown cold?

Interesting nuggets from my Bible reading today: I read of Jesus talking about the signs of the end times. He says, “… because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12

I see it all the time on Facebook and in our daily conversations — I’m guilty as well — but how quickly do we condemn others? The other ‘nugget’ I read was this, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight …” Psalm 19:14

A correlation? A coincidence? No. We first have to look to ourselves. Check the temperature of our own hearts. Has it become cold? What’s the remedy? To use Psalm 19:14 as a litmus test / a self check and a prayer to test and see if our words and thoughts (and actions) of our hearts are first pleasing to God.

Love one another!

If you’d like to connect and see my daily “nuggets” look me up on Facebook or Twitter

Your worst nightmare. 

What are you afraid of? 

As many of you get dressed up this Halloween, some of your costumes will be funny, others a fantasy and a few will probably be a little scary. 

When I think of Halloween I can think of some scary stuff. 

Ghost, goblins and the fear of a black cat crossing your path. Come on now, you know that’s scared you since you were a kid. Even when it isn’t Halloween, I’m looking hard when I see a set of cat eyes in the darkness, I’m looking to see if it’s black.

Moving right along …

Fear is something that we all deal with on a regular basis. Some of you may have a fear of clowns; creepy, crawly things (spiders, snakes); or even stepping on the scale. I would submit to you there is something that you should be more afraid of than any of those. It’s your worst nightmare. 

What’s your worst nightmare?

I’ll tell you what mine is: running into the man that I could have become had Christ not called me out of the miry pit and into the light. 

I don’t even want to begin to imagine what my life might look like had He not intervened and saved me from myself. But then again, on second thought, we should look back. It is by looking back that we see the man or woman that we once were and the person that we are now. It is in that moment of reflection that we have the greatest understanding of what grace really is.  We realize the person that He is molding and making us into. To be more like His son, Jesus. 

It’s a sobering experience. 

Quickly, I want us to take a look at someone in the Bible. A man named Saul. 

In Acts 8:3, under the heading of “Saul Ravages the Church,” Luke penned the following words under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

“But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

Does Saul sound familiar? If not, there is somebody who has a similar name in the Bible. Think about it for a second. After meeting Jesus on that ole Damascus Road (Acts 9) his life was forever changed. 

How was his life changed? Well as we read into Acts 9, the Bible says, “And immediately he (Saul) proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (v20) 

It goes on to say in verses 21 and 22, “And all who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

A few thoughts: (1) There isn’t anybody that God cannot save. (2) Christ personally meets each of where we are. (3) What does it say Saul immediately did? He was proclaiming Jesus. (v20) And once you’ve had an encounter with Jesus you should do the same. (4) Lastly, not only did Christ meet him where he was, he changed his life, he changed his mission, but He also changed his name! 

This man named Saul is better known to us today as Paul. He penned the majority of the New Testament. Paul — through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit — has been challenging Christians for almost 2,000 years. 

In closing, think back on Paul. What would have happened had Christ not met him? Can you imagine the countless Christians (followers of the Way, which is what followers of Christ were first called *that’s a free nugget) that he would have beaten, dragged to jail and murdered along the way. BUT GOD! 

So as you enter this Halloween weekend, I want you to think about how the grace of God has changed you! 

If you’ve never personally met Christ, well just call out to Him. 

I’d be glad to chat with you or you can find another Christian or pastor and strike up a conversation with them. Relationships begin with conversation. 

As you look back, thank God for all He has done. Oh and guess what? You’ll be one step ahead of the game as He prepares your heart for this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. 

As my grandfather would close his correspondences from time to time … 
(Thanks Gramps for this little nugget). 

A man for whom Christ died! 
Chris

1 Cor 15:58  

Let go. Let God!

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“We just have to learn to get out of the way and let God work!”

The following are some key points and thoughts that led to me stepping down as the pastor of New Life Church in Dalzell. I’ve attempted to make these thoughts as succinct as possible.  

Being transparent. 
I’ve tried to build the ministry God has called me to on transparency. Who has time for anything else? I pray this post is just that. Transparent. Real. Succinct. 

The following are areas that we prayed through in this process.  

We had a building, but not a church. 
When I got to New Life that wasn’t necessarily the case. We had a few families, however over time and for various reasons one-by-one those families moved on. 


As many of you were probably unaware, the church was loosely structured. This allowed for great potential in shaping the future of the ministry there in Dalzell, but after the families left there was no core group. 

After all the church is about God’s people, not a building. The church is to be structured with its people looking toward Christ, the head of the local church. 
   
Being good stewards. 
I believe that we are to be good stewards of what God has given us — both as the church and individually. That includes our time, money, resources and energy/efforts. This was a key factor in our decision making. 

Ministry cost. 
While our building was paid for, there were still monthly monetary needs. A few people + a little tithe = not a long way.  

Most people don’t like to think of the church as a business, but it takes money and good stewardship to minister to those in the church and the surrounding community. 

Help came from the least likeliest of places. 
There was also a shift in my philosophy of ministry. When there were just a few of us at New Life help came from the least likeliest of places. Where was that? Across the street from house — our neighbors.

For the sake of time I will not go into how God moved and brought them into our church family, but He did. We’re thankful and have enjoyed our time getting to know them more and growing spiritually as families. 

We’re called to reach those around us. 
Who did Jesus minister to? Those that were around Him! 

We are called to reach those that He places in our path. That shift I spoke of a moment ago came as our neighbors joined us. Why were two families driving clear to the other side of the county when we’re called to minister to those around us. 

Good stewardship = Blessings for others
New Life Church and its assets weren’t mine before going there, they’re His. You and I are just managing what He has given us, temporarily. All of these points I’ve mentioned lead us to where we find ourselves: Getting of the way so that others might be blessed. 

As I’ve mentioned, we had a building and no church. There was a church in our association that had church, but no building. They had been praying for years that God would open a door. In processing everything I was seeing and experiencing these last few months, I had to ask myself, “Why should we stay in Dalzell and struggle to reach a community we are not a part of when there is another group that could better use these resources?” When I talked that over with God, I knew the choice I had to make. Let go. Let God! 

Onward & Upward! 
In closing, as my buddy Jim Johnson would say, “Onward & Upward!” 

As we move forward the Moore family is excited about what God holds in store for our family and the ministry that He has called us to. We look forward to announcing our plans in the coming days. 

I think we all should remember, some chapters are longer than others. This chapter at New Life was definitely a training ground, preparing us for a future assignment(s). I wouldn’t change our decision to go there, the lives we had the chance to be a part of and the stretching — physically, mentally and spiritually — that has taken place these last few months. 

Again, we look forward to what God has in store for our family in the coming days, months and years. 

To God be the glory! 

A man for whom Christ died,
Chris

Spreading hope!

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Just a thought to kick off your week … 

Did you know that you can be a missionary in your hometown? And in your daily life?

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it, but you hold a valuable piece of real estate every time you eat out, it’s called a receipt.

That receipt can be used to spread the hope and love of Jesus (as seen in the example picture). 

I can’t remember where I first heard about this idea, but I try and utilize this space every chance I get. I usually write something similar to what is pictured, “Thanks for the great service! … Jesus love you! =) … Jer 29:11” 

People are looking for hope. People are looking to be told that they are loved.

I can’t think of an easier way to share the love of Christ! 

Is it about proselytizing or keeping a scoreboard of how many people we’ve “won” to Christ? Getting them to attend our church? Absolutely not! It’s about sharing His love along with the peace and hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. It’s not about me or you, it’s about being faithful and obedient. It’s about planting seeds. “The seed is the word of God.Luke 8:11 ESV  *Read Luke 8:4-15 http://bit.ly/19ZImjd

Also it is never us, listen to the truth in this verse, “… The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” Acts 16:14 ESV. He’ll open their hearts, just be obedient. 

Will you spread hope?
CM

CHIME IN: How do you spread hope?