Welcome to Saturday, January 5, 2008
New Year Resolutions
Bucking a popular trend, as a rule I do not make resolutions for the New Year. Once I make the statement that I resolve to do this or that, I only set myself up for disappointment. Like many others; however, I do look at the turning of a new year as a time to take inventory and see what aspects of my life could use improvement. The thing is, each year this list of aspects of my life that could use improvement seems to go relatively unchanged.
Being a creature of habit, I find it very difficult to make drastic changes and set new courses. Subtle changes usually work for me and they usually come about through necessity rather than desire. For instance, last year I wanted to get better at managing my time. Well, my internship took care of that and I got in the habit of carrying my planner with me everywhere. I check it each day now and rarely, if ever, miss appointments or occasions.
Last year my wife and I also decided eat healthier and get in better shape. For me, that also means losing weight. Well, we accomplished some of that. We eat much healthier meals at home and eat way less junk than we used to. I still need to lose weight, but that is a work in progress. Last summer I lost about 28 pounds, but going back to school and having a very long daily commuter took its toll on my exercise program. But hey, it’s a new year right? Finding time for exercise is on my list!
Welcome to Fat City
And along those lines…The Mayor of Oklahoma City has issued a challenge to the good folks of that city; fight obesity, lose weight and get in shape. According to a poll by Men’s Fitness Magazine, Oklahoma City is one of the top ten fattest cities in the U.S. I don’t know how official it is, but his thinking is that inclusion on such a list should be motivation for people to take action. That will be a tough order for a city whose official meal consists of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie. According to an Associated Press article, also included on this menu is fried okra, squash, barbecue pork, biscuits, grits, corn, strawberries and black-eyed peas. What, no green vegetables?
Coffee for Me Thanks
It is no secret that I love good, hot, strong coffee; and nothing pleases my coffee habit quite like going out to one of the many local coffee houses. Perhaps that is one of the things I like so much about this time of year. My wife and I seem to have more time to go out for coffee, and our favorite spot is the Starbucks down at Barnes and Noble. But please, no skinny half and half vanilla lattes with caramel syrup and cinnamon for me thanks, just hot, black coffee. Below is my unofficial ranking of popular coffees in our area.
1- Starbucks Christmas Blend; simply their best!
2- Starbucks Sumatra Blend
3- Atlanta Bread Company Seattle Roast
4- Joe Muggs House Blend (Books A Million)
5- Starbucks House Blend
6- Gloria Jeans
7- Jumpin’ Juice and Java
Today’s Verse
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God. Joel 2:26
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled. Mark 6:41-42
Your generosity, Lord, humbles and inspires us. Make us more giving of all that we are. Make us more trusting in all that you are. Humbled and inspired, send us to all who hunger and thirst. Amen.
As always, today’s verse and prayer are from the Moravian Church Daily Texts.
