One of the best reasons to get up on Sunday morning and go to church is to hear Bishop Sutton. I always seem to learn something new and am inspired, often, to research what he says.
This week, I learned the government has kept a Conscience Fund since the early 1800's. Sure, sending money to the government isn't on par with Biblical forgiveness, but sending ill-gotten, stolen, or unremitted money to the government MIGHT help you sleep better at night.
The first letter sent to this fund demonstrated the fact that we often know what we ought to do, but we don't always know what to do. Maybe, for some, sending money in arrears will do the trick. For some, though, money can't solve the problem. Their conscience has been pricked because of something they've done or said that was inappropriate. And, if you don't already know this, money doesn't and can't fix everything.
I would suggest, to those who have decided their conscience isn't clear, that forgiveness, through the power of Jesus Christ, is the actual solution. After all, we are convicted of our sin through the Holy Spirit and feel the need to absolve ourselves because he gifted us with a conscience in the first place. Clearly, he wanted us to know right from wrong, to have a moral compass if you will, and he wanted us to have an "out" when we went astray. That "out" is forgiveness.
A clear conscience is, therefore, found in a person who is forgiven. However, only when that forgiveness is accepted will that person be truly free. There is nothing more pathetic than a person who can't accept the forgiveness offered by another person or by God. Forgiveness is meant to be embraced and to have the daylights squeezed out of it until is permeates the soul of the forgiven!
So, what is troubling you today? What past hurts do you need to rectify? What has gone unresolved far too long in your life?
If you have an answer, you have a conscience. And if you have a conscience, you have a Savior who is willing to forgive you, no questions asked.
Do yourself a favor and do the dirty work to move forward. I can't guarantee you won't suffer through the process, but I can guarantee that accepting that forgiveness will lighten your load. In the end, you will walk taller and feel better than before.
If what you've been doing hasn't been working, I would propose trying forgiveness just might be the answer.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Science of Skinny
My Mother-in-law has a knack for sharing. She is one of those people who has an opinion but is gracious enough not to "should" all over you, as in "You SHOULD do this." Instead, she offers you information and lets you decide if you are going to use it or not.
Over Spring Break she offered a couple of books she is reading. In fact, she bought copies for me and passed them along saying they were really helpful to her and invited me to read them. No pressure.
For whatever reason, probably because the word "skinny" is in the title, I opted to start reading "The Science of Skinny" first. The book is based on research done by a chemist turned nutritionist who lost 100 pounds many years ago and has kept it off with common sense eating.
Knowing that my Dad is an MIT-trained chemist and that I, his only daughter, almost FAILED chemistry in High School (even after hours of his tutoring and hours of my tears), you would think this reading this would be a real mis-match. But, let me tell you what, I feel redeemed at the tender age of 46! I could probably go back now and understand Mr. Kurth a bit better. I might even be able to hold back tutoring session tears. That is how much Dee McCaffrey's book has convinced me that chemistry isn't the rocket science I thought it was back in the early 80's.
I've waded through the chemistry behind sugar, processed flour, fats, oils, and the mad science behind food chemistry (aka: fake flavors, colors, preservatives). I have learned about proper pH levels in the body. I've even been able to pat myself on the back, but just a bit, for guiding my family's food ship in the right direction. But, I've also discovered that I have a LONG way to go. Even though I only find myself halfway through the book, I am INSPIRED to make healthy changes.
I've read Mike about a dozen paragraphs that highlight the science behind "bad" fats (goodbye canola oil! Hello butter and coconut oil!) and poor sugar choices (goodbye, agave nectar! Hello honey!). He is on board, too, even though he hasn't cracked the book one bit, because the science just doesn't lie.
I tote this book with me everywhere I go. As any Mom with growing kids knows, you have to take advantage of every spare moment to read if you aren't going to resort to books on CD. (I am an avid under-liner and highlighter when reading, so CDs just aren't my learning style at all.) I read at dentist appointments, stop lights, learning centers, and in between stirring the brown rice. I've recommended the book about six times because people see the title and are immediately intrigued. Then I immediately dive into the "why" I am reading the book and the amazing ability of Ms. McCaffrey to dumb down the science for people like me, the chemistry-challenged of the world. Not a single person hasn't jotted down the title and author's name.
Just a slight warning: if you aren't in the mind-set that you want to understand what you are eating, don't bother with this book. Once you are made aware of the choices you are making, you will very likely feel the way I do: slightly guilty when I veer off course and disrupt my entire system.
If you don't believe me, consider that today is "cheat day" for those of us observing Lent and I attended a baby shower. As with most baby showers, this one was rife with great, sugary choices, such as cake pops, strawberry cake (one of my favs), coffee cake with a thick frosting top, and pastries with dense cheese and fruit tops. Not only did I bypass all of them, I did so with a great deal of willpower, based on what I now know about sugar and processed flour.
I don't expect this book to change my body overnight. I don't expect to be "skinny" any time soon. That will require a bit more work than I think Dee's book can inspire or that my scarce time will allow. But, I can darn sure tell you I (and my family) will be a lot more HEALTHY as a result of spending the time to understand the foods I/we eat. And, for that, I have my sweet, dear Mother-in-law and Dee McCaffrey to thank.
Here's to happy reading and more healthy eating!
Over Spring Break she offered a couple of books she is reading. In fact, she bought copies for me and passed them along saying they were really helpful to her and invited me to read them. No pressure.
For whatever reason, probably because the word "skinny" is in the title, I opted to start reading "The Science of Skinny" first. The book is based on research done by a chemist turned nutritionist who lost 100 pounds many years ago and has kept it off with common sense eating.
Knowing that my Dad is an MIT-trained chemist and that I, his only daughter, almost FAILED chemistry in High School (even after hours of his tutoring and hours of my tears), you would think this reading this would be a real mis-match. But, let me tell you what, I feel redeemed at the tender age of 46! I could probably go back now and understand Mr. Kurth a bit better. I might even be able to hold back tutoring session tears. That is how much Dee McCaffrey's book has convinced me that chemistry isn't the rocket science I thought it was back in the early 80's.
I've waded through the chemistry behind sugar, processed flour, fats, oils, and the mad science behind food chemistry (aka: fake flavors, colors, preservatives). I have learned about proper pH levels in the body. I've even been able to pat myself on the back, but just a bit, for guiding my family's food ship in the right direction. But, I've also discovered that I have a LONG way to go. Even though I only find myself halfway through the book, I am INSPIRED to make healthy changes.
I've read Mike about a dozen paragraphs that highlight the science behind "bad" fats (goodbye canola oil! Hello butter and coconut oil!) and poor sugar choices (goodbye, agave nectar! Hello honey!). He is on board, too, even though he hasn't cracked the book one bit, because the science just doesn't lie.
I tote this book with me everywhere I go. As any Mom with growing kids knows, you have to take advantage of every spare moment to read if you aren't going to resort to books on CD. (I am an avid under-liner and highlighter when reading, so CDs just aren't my learning style at all.) I read at dentist appointments, stop lights, learning centers, and in between stirring the brown rice. I've recommended the book about six times because people see the title and are immediately intrigued. Then I immediately dive into the "why" I am reading the book and the amazing ability of Ms. McCaffrey to dumb down the science for people like me, the chemistry-challenged of the world. Not a single person hasn't jotted down the title and author's name.
Just a slight warning: if you aren't in the mind-set that you want to understand what you are eating, don't bother with this book. Once you are made aware of the choices you are making, you will very likely feel the way I do: slightly guilty when I veer off course and disrupt my entire system.
If you don't believe me, consider that today is "cheat day" for those of us observing Lent and I attended a baby shower. As with most baby showers, this one was rife with great, sugary choices, such as cake pops, strawberry cake (one of my favs), coffee cake with a thick frosting top, and pastries with dense cheese and fruit tops. Not only did I bypass all of them, I did so with a great deal of willpower, based on what I now know about sugar and processed flour.
I don't expect this book to change my body overnight. I don't expect to be "skinny" any time soon. That will require a bit more work than I think Dee's book can inspire or that my scarce time will allow. But, I can darn sure tell you I (and my family) will be a lot more HEALTHY as a result of spending the time to understand the foods I/we eat. And, for that, I have my sweet, dear Mother-in-law and Dee McCaffrey to thank.
Here's to happy reading and more healthy eating!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sermon Tidbits
Bishop Sutton is on a tear this Lent with great sermons. The takeaways are causing my pen to burn a hole in the bulletin every week. LOVE it!
This week's greatness:
Satan is a master at turning God's people against God.
Our real friend is God, but our culture needs to be reminded of that.
When we aren't getting what we want we perceive God is against us. (The opposite is always true!)
Satan confuses us to make us think we are running toward God when, in fact, we are running away from Him. And, when we are running away from God, Satan tricks us into believing we are running TO God.
That crafty old DEVIL!
This week's greatness:
Satan is a master at turning God's people against God.
Our real friend is God, but our culture needs to be reminded of that.
When we aren't getting what we want we perceive God is against us. (The opposite is always true!)
Satan confuses us to make us think we are running toward God when, in fact, we are running away from Him. And, when we are running away from God, Satan tricks us into believing we are running TO God.
That crafty old DEVIL!
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