Living Life in the Zone by Kyle Rote Jr. & Dr. Joe Pettigrew

The subtitle for this book is “A 40 Day Spiritual Game Plan for men.” And, it delivers on the promise. Of course, like any plan, to be effective it must be implemented. But, it does follow a very logical and well designed lay out. The book is divided into sections dealing with each area of a man’s relationships; his wife, his kids, his friends, his work and his future. You may look at the list and ask – “what about God?” Good question, and the answer is He is addressed in each one of the areas mentioned. He is not compartmentalized into a just for church or Sunday’s only category.

Each chapter is divided into several sections including the:

• Coach’s Corner – the issue is candidly addressed
• Game plan – what the Bible says about the matter
• Playmakers – examples of personalities who demonstrate the characteristic addressed (or demonstrate the lack of it)
• Time Out – questions to personalize the issue
• Today’s Assignment – how to apply what has been discussed

This book is not a heavy weight study, but it is one men can relate to, and benefit from – if applied.

It would make a good gift for any married – or soon-to-be-married man. Due to the emphasis on marriage and children, I’m not sure a single guy would relate to it that well.

(I will be posting a few of these book reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program J

Encouraging Words

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. – Proverbs 16:23

I read a story recently about a bunch of tiny frogs. It seems they decided to arrange a climbing competition. Their goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. As the event began, a large crowd was gathered to see the race and cheer on the contestants.

When the race got underway, few in the crowd believed that any of these tiny frogs would reach the top. Comments were heard such as: “Oh, it is way too difficult!” “They will never make it to the top!” or: “Not a chance they will succeed. The tower is simply too high!”

The little frogs began collapsing one by one…. except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, “It’s too difficult! No one will make it!”

Now, more frogs got tired and gave up…but one continued higher and higher and higher. This one tiny frog refused to give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one to reach the top. Then all of the other frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? One of them asked the winning frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It was only then the losers learned the secret, for the questioner had to shout to get his answer. The winner was deaf and couldn’t hear all the discouraging remarks!

You know, in a very real sense, we sometimes find ourselves in that story. At times we are the observers watching someone else strive to go further, do better, accomplish more. But, how often have you caught yourself thinking – and then saying – he’ll never make it. She won’t be able to do that.

Think now of the times when you were the one striving for that goal. Hopefully, there was someone there who encouraged you, prodded you along with “pleasant words.” Sadly, too often that isn’t the case.

You have the opportunity every day to be an encourager to someone, maybe your child, a co-worker, a friend or a neighbor. Think of someone you can do that for today.

In your own life, don’t listen to those naysayers and pessimists. When you know you are doing the right thing, think: God and I can do this!

There is an old saying which says, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are. Instead, tell your problems how big your God is!” That’s true for you and it is true for those around you.

Is there someone in your life who has been an encouragement? Do you recall a time when you were tempted to give up and an encouraging word kept you going?

Forgiveness, Full & Free

“He will again have compassion on us,  And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” – Micah 7:19

Just before Christmas, I got a telephone call from my credit card company. They were following up on some “suspicious activity” on my credit card.

“Did you use your card at Bed, Bath and Beyond?” the young lady asked. To the best of my recollection I’ve never even been in a Bed, Bath and Beyond! (I’m not going to lose my man card without a fight!)

Anyway, there was an attempt to make a charge there and to an on-line business which threw up red flags for the credit card folks. “What about those charges?” I asked, assuming there was some enormous process I must now go through in order to set things right.

“They aren’t yours and we’ll take care of them,” she said. I’m not sure what “take care of them” means. Maybe they are at the bottom of the Hudson River in cement shoes, or maybe they took a one way ride down a desert road. But, I do know they aren’t mine and they are off my account.

The Bible tells us we have the same option with our sins. Oh, those are ours, but God has promised to “take care of them,” if we will give them over to Him.

My prayer for you this week is that you will experience the freedom and joy of forgiveness and, in turn, God will grant it in abundance.

Review of Garmin Forerunner 305 (with heart rate monitor)

I’ve toyed around with the idea of buying this Heart Rate Monitor/Workout Data Collector/GPS for a while. I finally took the plunge and do not regret it at all!

One concern was that I was unable to find one in a store to actually hold and feel how heavy it is. It is physically larger than a regular watch, but the weight is not much different (if any at all) than my regular watch – a Timex Expedition.

The display can be set to show up to four pieces of data. It is easy to read even at that setting. Currently, I have mine set to display heart rate, distance, pace and time of day. However, I plan to change the time of day piece to calories burned. I know generally what time it is when I start my run and I can’t really see using this as a regular timepiece, it is a little too bulky for that. It not only will display the data, but it will also record the information for download.

I only use mine for running, but you can use it for biking and other sports as well (it is water resistant).

The GPS feature appears to be very accurate and when downloaded will even track when I crossed from one side of the road to the other.

The buttons are easy to use and the operation is simple. It comes with a quick start guide as well as a detailed instruction manual.

If you’re looking at this model, I highly recommend it. You can find some good deals on e-bay, and probably on Amazon.com as well. I have seen the MSRP range from $199 to $299. I’m guessing that has a lot to do with what is actually in the box, but just make sure you shop –and read the fine print – before you buy.

NOTE: This is not a paid endorsement and I did not receive anything from Garmin for this review. However, if they want to send me something . . . J

Where are you in the Christmas Story?

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” – Matthew 2:1-4

One of the amazing things, to me, in the record of the birth of Christ is the different reactions to those who were involved.

Herod hated Him. Although he had never met Jesus, didn’t know a thing about Him, Herod wanted the Christ-child dead.

Some ignored Him completely. The priests and religious leaders of the day knew He was to be born in Bethlehem (they were the ones who told the Wise Men where to find Him). Yet, they apparently weren’t even interested in going along with the Wise Men to see the significance of the star.

Others regarded Him, but didn’t have time to do much more than pay decent respect. The inn-keeper didn’t have time to be bothered with the Child, so he put them in the stable – out of sight, out of mind.

Then there were the Wise Men. Although strangers to Israel, we are told they came to Christ with the intent of worship and acknowledge Him as King.

You know, this time of year, it is easy to see these same reactions in folks today. There are those who despise Christ today and want to see any reference to Him wiped out.

Others find it easier to ignore Him. Surrounded by evidence of Him and His truth, they just go about their business and pretend not to notice.

Others, especially at Christmas, will acknowledge His existence, a few carols here and there and then they’re done.

Then there are those who truly seek to worship Him. A popular saying is “Wise Men still seek Him.” I think that might be better stated, “Wise Men still worship Him.” My prayer for you is that is where you find yourself in the Christmas story.

I hope you have the very Merriest of Christmases!

It’s a Control Thing

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.” – Luke 2:1-3

Does it ever seem like you have absolutely no control over your life?

We spend so much of our lives reacting to things, circumstances and even “putting fires out” for others.

No doubt that is the way Mary and Joseph felt. They were miraculously expecting and then they have to travel about 70 miles in order to register for the census. Could anything else go against them? We certainly couldn’t blame them if that thought crossed their mind.

But, with the benefit of hindsight, we see now that God was in control of the entire situation (no big surprise there – huh)? He was behind the conception, He was behind the census. Remember the prophet had foretold the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

So, when things seem so out of control in your life, remember that God is still God and He is still in control over all. How much better off we are when we get in line with what He is doing!

Simple Christmas

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”. – John 1:1-5

Eileen and I have always had a live Christmas tree.  Many years ago when we were first married, we had very little (as in no) disposable income to buy a tree. So we took a ride and saw a somewhat Christmas tree shaped scrub pine growing in a ditch alongside the road and cut it down and brought it home.

We each had a handful of family ornaments and a string of lights and we decorated that little tree and if there was ever a real life “Charlie Brown Christmas tree” that was it! We still have photos of it and it is still a wonder it looked as good as it did. It was very simple, yet so beautiful at the same time.

The passage above is the Christmas story as told by John. It is simple isn’t it? No frills, no angels, no shepherds, no inn, just Jesus.

There is so much to love about Christmas. But, it really is about the simple message – “The Light” of Christ shining into the darkness of this world.

My prayer for you this week is that amidst all the “extras” of the season, the simple meaning of Christmas will shine through – that you will simply  “comprehend” the Light. Merry Simple Christmas.

Do you have a memory of a “Simple Christmas”? I’d love to hear it.

Prince of Peace

“But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  – Luke 1:29-31

Thanksgiving is past now and here we are rolling into the Christmas season. Just about all of us are bracing for the rush. It’s kind of like going over a waterfall. We drift along through the year and then we get close enough to hear the roar (Thanksgiving). The next thing you know you are plunging headlong over it and trying to recover from the commotion (New Year).

We don’t have any control over all the outside activity involving the celebration of Christ’s birth, but we can direct our own actions, attitudes and expectations.

Imagine Mary’s interpretation of that first Christmas. Here she is a young girl getting ready for marriage. Not quite the event we have today, but a celebration nonetheless. Then the angel appears and tells her she is going to have a baby. Troubling news indeed!

What will people say? What will Joseph do? How could it even happen? In the middle of the flood of anxiety the angel says “Do not be afraid…” The Baby will be Jesus.

Now, our situations are certainly different today, but we all face anxieties which seem to be compounded this time of year. With gifts to buy and expectations to meet financial situations seem worse. Family gatherings magnify family troubles. There is so little time and too much to do. Stress levels go off the charts.

It may sound impossible, but you don’t have to be swept away in the rush. Follow Mary’s example. Trust God and focus the main thing – which is the wonderful gift of Jesus. He really is the reason for the season.

My prayer for you this week is that you will sense His peace in all things.

“The White Horse King – The Life of Alfred the Great” by Benjamin Merkle

Having never heard of King Alfred the Great, or the author, I was not sure what to expect from this book. What I found was a compelling page turner. It was not only well written, it was also very informative.

King Alfred lived and reigned in the 800’s and is responsible for the development of legal code, design of towns and warfare. We are given a short history of the Viking assaults on the Anglo Saxon people and countryside and the efforts of a Godly king who believed in protecting his people and standing with them against adversity.

He is not a man without fault however, and the author points that out for us as well.

As one who has never been a student of that era of England’s history, I found it refreshing the author took time to explain customs and practices without becoming boring or making the book read like a text book.

“The White Horse King” is a fascinating book and would make a great gift, but make sure to buy a copy for yourself as well.

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program J

Thankful for A Heart Attack

I was reading Lifeway.com’s Wellness Connection Newsletter by Branda Polk which started me thinking about my thankfulness.

Of course I am thankful for my family, friends, church family, my work and material blessings, and so forth. But, she asks, “Do you consider struggles, difficulties, and loss opportunities for gratitude? Gratitude is so much more than a warm-fuzzy emotion we call up during happy times.”

I am well aware of the admonition in scripture to be thankful “in” things, and being thankful “for” all things is quite another thing altogether. Yet, there are so many opportunities for gratitude we overlook because they come our way in more of an “undercover” capacity.

I think of my own struggle this year with a heart attack and the aftermath of it. How could that be a blessing? Yes, it didn’t kill or cripple me, but beyond that, what is there to give thanks for?

Let me list just a few things.

- It prodded me to get back into shape in a healthy fashion. There are numerous folks who have taught and encouraged me to exercise and make healthy choices in eating.
- I met some great people through the rehab process who inspired me and hopefully, have been a blessing to them.
- Indeed I was given a second chance and am reminded everyday, I am here for a reason (this is true for all of us).
- I got some great sermon illustrations out of the whole thing (that may seem small, but you preachers know how it is!)

I want pass this challenge along today. Look beyond the outward appearance of your life experiences and find thankfulness in the challenges, struggles and difficult parts of your life. Some of the greatest blessings show up in some of the oddest ways.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!