WE SHOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THE HOMELESS!

    Cathi send me this video.....

    

      And I used to think we should all help the homeless, but as I've spent the last ten years or so hanging out with homeless people, I think this video has it right.  It's not so much about helping them - it's about recognizing them.  Just like any other person on the street, child in the classroom, person in a cubicle, member of your family - We all need someone to recognize us, show us we are valuable and let us know we matter!

       That's one thing I think we've done a good job with at First Church of Lombard.  Yes, our food may not always be that organized.  Sometimes the leader (who's been there ten years) still doesn't know how the tables are set up.  Maybe we haven't seen hundreds of people move out of the program.  But, we let people know they matter!

        So, really this video stuck out to me, more than a recruitment tool to get volunteers for the shelter (but I am more than willing to take you if it did that!).  It seemed to be a reminder that every person we cross on the street, every person we drive by, meet in the grocery store, work alongside - THEY ALL MATTER!

        Are we going to stop and strike up a conversation with everyone - NO! But, should we be prepared to and at least recognize they are there - YES!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Most powerful movie ever!

     What do High School Musical, The New Parish, The story of Joseph, Compassion International, and Carmello Anthony all have in common?  
      Well, I'm reading this book (guess from above which one is the book) and it's all about taking God's story, Your story, and the place where you live - factoring those into one vision for your life.  Basically, their saying where you live is just as important as the Bible or your history in regard to your purpose.
       Just read the story of Joseph today and it talked about how God blessed everything he did because God was with him.  Sold as a slave into Potiphar's house - God blesses him.  Thrown in jail - God blesses him.  Wherever he was, whatever he did - God blessed it!  
       Then I wrote my Compassion kid about how different the places we live must be, and how it would it be weird for both of us if we switched places.  But, then I wrote about how God put us where he did for a reason.
       And last night, I watched High School Musical - mostly because my daughter and niece wanted us all to watch (but I have to admit, even when they fell asleep I finished that bad boy!).  I am going to say it: High School Musical has the most powerful message of any movie I've ever seen!  The last scene comes on and everyone is singing, "We're all in this together." Basketball players are dancing with braniacs.  Drama folks are dancing with skaters.  Troy gives Kelsey the game ball, Ryan and Shapree congratulate the basketball team, Zeke gives Sharpay cookies, Mrs. Darbus and Coach Bolton enjoy each other's success, AND EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE'S LIFE BETTER.  They each use their gifts and talents to help each other - no matter who they are!
      So, how does Carmello fit into all this.  Here's what I would tell him.  Your place matters.  Choose wisely!  Maybe even more importantly, let God help you and trust that wherever you land God has you there for a reason.  Then, when you get there work together for greatness - for everyone!  Not just the team, the fans or your family, but you have the power to dramatically influence all those around you.  AND SO DO WE ALL!
     

THESE PEOPLE WERE MEAN!

     A wife deceives her husband so that her favorite son can get the most respected blessing.  A son blatantly lies to his father while pretending to be his brother and takes what is rightfully not his.  Another brother vows to kill his sibling as soon as his dad is gone.  A mom blames the women of her town so that she can cover up her lie and protect her son.  
      Maybe I'm not such a bad husband, and maybe our family is not so screwed up.
      This is the story of Isaac - Abraham's kid!  He's come a long way from the youngster who was almost sacrificed on an altar.  You would think of all people, him and his family would be grateful, would be indebted to God, would seek to honor Him.
       But, one generation removed from Abraham, it's a soap opera - but with real life actors.  Even reality T.V. wouldn't show this stuff!
       At church on Sunday, I was a little down on myself.  Not a great husband, not a great member of the community, not even a great neighbor in the last couple years.  But, boy oh boy, my family wouldn't dress up in goat skin and then lie right to my face (at least I don't think they would....and really, where would they find goat skin even if they wanted to.)
        Is it possible that we are too hard on ourselves?  I mean God was able to work through this screwed up family.  Is it possible that He could work through ours too?
       I think so, and I think He can work through yours too!
      But, just in case I'm wrong, hide the goats!

GOT A BAD STORY IN MY HEAD!

     God said, "Abraham!"
     Notice there is an exclamation point after it.  Kind of like when your wife says your name or your kid when they need something.  It wasn't like, "What's up Abraham?"  It was "Abraham!"
     So, I'm trying to take the fact that the Creator of the Universe said it, and think about how I react in those situations.
     
When someone yells my name, do I...
      a) Respond with "Here I am!"
      b) Say negative things in my head, but then say "Here I am!"
      c) Respond in a way that may sound nice on some planets, but everyone pretty much knows I'm just being a jerk.

      I pretty much waver between "b" and "c".  Heck, it doesn't even take someone yelling my name these days.  More and more, I see myself getting angry at the stupidest things.  Someone can ask me to do something nicely and I get all %^^&*&^^&*&^!  Last night, I got all frustrated because balloons and streamers weren't sticking to the walls.  It was my stupid idea to put up the streamers and balloons.  I didn't have to do it, and I got angry because of the extra effort I'd have to put in.
      When I read about Abraham responding, "Here I am!" it made me think.  Am I a "Here I am!" type person.  I think you can tell by the last 150 words - right now, NO!  But, I want to be.
      I want to be at work (easier).  I want to be when I tutor (easier). I want to be at the homeless shelter (getting easier).  And I want to be at home (that's the kicker).
      But to get there I've got to start changing the stories I put into my head.  Everyone is not a selfish, lazy jerk just trying to make life easier for themselves.  When things don't go exactly as planned my only response does not have to be anger.  My life may actually be better if I just "lose myself" and put others in front of my "needs."
       A couple of weeks ago, a guy talked about this stuff at church.  I never thought about it, but that's one of the hugest things God can do - allow you to change the stories you are putting in your head.  He can show you the truth.  Once I start seeing that, maybe I'll be able to circle "a".

A FOX WAS ON MY BLOCK THIS MORNING!

       For the first time since we've lived in Lombard (ok, really the first time in my life), I was driving to the gym this morning and a fox was walking down the 300 block of Lombard!  Then, as I'm driving to work, a skunk appears before ducking back under a car.
      A fox, a skunk - big deal, right?  Animals are everywhere.
     What's crazy though is I'm reading this fiction piece called, Chasing Francis.  It's about this guy who has pretty much lost his faith and his Franciscan cousin calls him to Italy to study St. Francis.  Basically, the story takes you through this guys journey while teaching what St. Francis has to say about life.
       Last night, it talked all about Francis' love of animals.  He would preach to them, sing with them, pray with them.  See Francis believed that all of earth - nature, animals, humans worked together to praise God and we could praise God through all of them.  To him, a chance meeting with a fox on Lombard Ave was just as sacred as reading the Bible.  A skunk crossing your path was just as big a miracle as someone finding faith.
      I worry, in this busy world of ours, that I'm missing some of God's greatest gifts.  Maybe my lack of motivation or energy is tied more into those sacred moments than not having a 44 ouncer every morning.
      This is where I think we could learn a little bit from those kids living on a dollar a day.  When we were in Ethiopia, those folks noticed.  Plants, animals, people - they were sacred for many reasons.  But, they wouldn't miss God in those things.  We shouldn't either.

HE WANTED A SHOWER!

     As I drove into the parking lot, there was only one car there.
     "No volunteers showed up last night, it's only been Louie all night," my homeless buddies informed me as I started a walk that began toward the door to enter, but quickly became a moonwalk back to my car.  OK, I didn't do that!  But I thought about it.  This was going to be one tough morning at the shelter!  Or was it....
      Louie asked all the folks to pitch in.  They had already set up the whole shelter, the dishes were done, and as I walked down to the hall mats were stacked, pillows were placed and sheets were in a big pile.  Nice!
       Then we started to bag stuff.  Laundry was taken upstairs.  People worked together to get mountainous walls of mats to the dungeon.  Chairs were put up.  Tables were cleaned.  What normally ends up being a "let's hurry up to get out of here by 7:20" process was done by 6:55.
       Two thoughts hit me as I talked to a former concrete manager.  One was how invested people who were part of the process are.  When I commented about how it was better when the volunteers didn't show up, one guy said, "Hey, we all want to get out of here!"  We had a common goal!
       It made me really think about what Compassion International does.  They take people from the village they already live in and let them be the solution to all the problems.  Genius!
       The second thought that crossed my mind was after the concrete guy had just organized the whole clean-up operation, got the laundry out, organized people to stack the mats, and was sweating profusely.  He went up to Louie, the PADS staff member, and said, "All's I want for this is to be able to take a shower."
        He just wanted to take a shower!
       When I walked in that place my first thought was, "I'm going to be here late, then have to take the laundry, and I'm going to have to be moving for the whole hour."  At one point, the thought even occurred to me, "I've got to stop coming to this shelter - it's too much work."
        He just wanted a shower!
      This really isn't about me.  To be honest, I found out today that the shelter is pretty much going to go on with our without me.  I've gotten kind of accustomed to playing the martyr.  But, it's a privilege to be there, and maybe, just maybe, today was a good reminder.
       What can I do to help is a lot better than how hard is this going to be!

#30KIDSIN40DAYS

     It started out as a little personal catch phrase!  I lost almost 30 pounds in 40 days, why not try to get 30 kids sponsored in the next 40 days?  There was no way I'd actually be able to do that, but it sounded nice.

     THEN I WENT TO THE COMPASSION CONFERENCE!

      I talked with a girl (and in no way had any impact whatsoever in her sponsoring a kid, but she did and I had talked to her in the previous 30 minutes to the sponsoring, so I'll take it!)  That's one!
     We had Small Group last night.  Now, I hate asking people to give up their money for anything.  But, then I thought, "This changes a kid's life!  I'm doing it!"  I gave them all a kid, said, "Put it on your fridge for a day and ask God what He'd want you do to."
      I'm going back tonight to pick up any kids that aren't sponsored - I've already gotten an email.  "We're keeping ours!"  That's two!  And a possible 6.
      I've got some friends who have churches, I've got some teachers who are just throwing away $38 every month.  I've got people in Lombard, and I know their addresses.  How great would it be to really change the lives of 30 kids?
      After you hear the stories of kid after kid and sponsor after sponsor who had their life changed by $38 a month - it makes a whole lot of sense to keep going.  So, I'm going to!  Here's what I put in the email last night to the Small Group, "I may not be able to end world poverty, but I can for this kid!"
       For now, that's my montra.  I'm like the George Schindler of Compassion (not really sure what that Schindler's guy name is, but I still remember him talking about how he could have sold his watch to save more Jewish people).  OK, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.  Heck, it's only been two kids, but it's good to have goals!

My Most Important Blog!

I am more convinced than ever!

     Satish Kumar started the day by telling his story.  What you don't see in the video is that his whole family converts from Hinduism to Christianity by visiting the Compassion programs, he starts a  business in India and hires 6 Compassion grads, he is marrying a girl he met.....in the Compassion program.  

      But, what really got me was when he said, "When you sponsor a kid, it gives them a chance to be a kid!  Without Compassion, I would have been selling vegetables since I was four!"  
     

"I flew around the world as an Air Force pilot, but I never really saw the world 

until I started working with the poor." - Mark Gehri

 Later, we Skyped with Bolivia!  Actual kids from an actual program.  They really do love those letters - one girl had handfuls of them.  As they talked about what they did in the program, and the guy on our side said, "We're proud of you!" and we clapped a lot - you could see the look of pride on their faces.                                                                                 PEOPLE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY 1951 = 52% 2014 = 21%  WE CAN DO THIS! WE CAN END EXTREME POVERTY! SOON!                                                                                       We learned about letter writing, how we can impact churches to sponsor Compassion kids, how you can have people experience poverty without having to travel to Africa, and met some of the most other- focused volunteers that you'll ever meet.  And then it was time for the clincher.  

     This guy named Scott Todd was a college student and saw a poster on a tree to change a kids life.  As he tells it, he argued with that poster until he eventually sponsored a kid from the D.R.  Long story short, that college kid graduates, becomes an award winning scientist, has a family, sponsors another kid, and then decides he wants to volunteer with Compassion.

      After a long process, he becomes a volunteer.  Six months later, they ask him to work for Compassion.  His wife loves the idea, they move the family, he changes jobs and shortly after is on the way to the D.R.  

      Scott mentions that he used to sponsor a kid from there, but he's out of the program.  They don't think he can see him.  No big deal.  

      He gets there and gets message that his old sponsee has become a Christian.  Not even sure he can see him, who gets off the bus with all the other Compassion kids?  When Scott asks him what happened the day before that he became a Christian, the young man responds, "When you sponsored me I asked God to have you come visit.  You never did.  But, when I heard you were coming, I put my faith in Christ."  

     Sponsoring a child changed the child's life, Scott's life, his families life and all who would read any of his books!

      

      That's what is cool about Compassion International!  Not only are they ranked in the top 1% of charities for effectiveness.  Not only are researchers blown away by what happens to kids in their program.  Not only do they build from within and solve poverty the right way.  Not only do they work on the whole child.  But, they change lives - sponsors, kids, families, and whole communities.

       This works!  I asked a lot of questions, and I am more convinced than ever that this is the greatest thing you could do to help end world poverty!

       If I told you that for $38 a month, you'd have a Satish or Scott experience, wouldn't you take that?  What if I told you for $38 a month, a child who might have been selling vegetables would have a beautiful wife, job and church family, wouldn't you take that?  If I told you that, if enough of us gave $38, we could end extreme poverty, wouldn't you do it?

www.compassion.com

                                                                                                                                                                                             

    

LOSING WEIGHT.....GAINING KIDS!

        So, for the last 40 day stretch I was focused on healthy eating.....and how horrible it was!  I blogged about the nasty stuff that was going into my mouth and what crazy concoctions this guy named Daniel made up.  But, it worked.  I lost a lot of weight and I found out that eating healthy wasn't all that bad!
         DID IT MATTER?  NO!  In no way did my heathy eating make any difference in the world.  When I die no one will care if I had a veggie cocktail for breakfast one day or will they even know that for one small moment in time I shopped at Trader Joe's and bought quinoa.
         So, now I want to do a forty day stretch of something that actually matters.  Think about it - how much of the stuff that you do during the day will outlast you?  After you die, how much of the stuff you do will have paid dividends?  How much of the things on our ToDo list have eternal implications?
          If you're a parent - there's one!  I'm lucky enough to work in a school - there's two!  But, a lot of the stuff I do would be on the, "IT DON'T MATTER!" list.
        Crazy thing is, that you would think the stuff that would go on the "IT DO MATTER" (I know that's bad grammar, but I'm trying to stay consistent) list would be hard.  It would take a lot of time or require a lot of sacrifice or come at great cost to the DO MATTER person.
       But, the one I'm thinking of doesn't.  It's a couple clicks, a little cash each month, maybe a letter to two every thirty days - that's it!
       And when I asked my brother what's the best way to solve world poverty, he said, "Do this?"
       Want to find out what this is - click here: www.compassion.com.

IT'S OVER.....OR IS IT!

Final Stats from the Daniel Plan (Lent Version)

AT THE START OF LENT                             TODAY

WEIGHT: 191                                                  WEIGHT: 161.5

FITNESS LEVEL: 8 out of 10                        FITNESS LEVEL: 7 out of 10

BRAIN FUNCTIONING: Great                    BRAIN FUNCTIONING: Little Worse

FRIEND SITUATION: Not great                  FRIENDS: Still not great

SPIRITUAL LEVEL: ok                                SPIRITUAL LEVEL: Awesome

DID I MEET MY GOAL: No

Weight:  This is the easiest to see.  Check it out.  

Fitness Level:  Along the way, I was not having as much energy as before The Plan.  However, today I feel like the energy is there and I'm losing weight.  There were a few unexpected things - like a hernia! My goal was always to run and jump while playing basketball without pain - I'm not there yet!

Brain Functioning:  I did a lot of stupid things while on the Daniel Plan - things I normally wouldn't do.  I mean, I am a moron most hours of the day, but I forgot a lot of stuff; however, as of today my brain seems to be coming back!

Friend Situation: It's going to take a miracle for me to ever be a "Great Friend Guy"

Spiritual Level: This is the most exciting thing that's happened!  I feel like I'm in a great place with God.  I'm focusing on things that really matter.  I'm working my way back to service, and  I can go a whole day without sports radio or my podcasts.

Summary: I'm going for it! This Daniel Plan deserves a shot to keep going!  But for Brain Functioning, Fitness and Spiritual Level reasons, I'm moving to the 90-10 (90% Daniel Plan, 10% Tony Plan).  Thanks again to everyone who shared this journey.  Good times! Good times!

TODAY YOU'LL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE!

       Say that over to yourself a few times today.  "Today you'll be with me in paradise."
       Now, when Jesus said that to the criminal next to him, it was literally, today you will be with me in paradise.  They were a couple hours from the pearly gates.
       And at first, that was what kind of got to me.  What if today I was going to be with Jesus in paradise.  Even more, what if Jesus was saying that to me - even if it wasn't today?  What if Jesus had already guaranteed me a spot in paradise?  And what if He wanted me to know that today - how would that change what I did and how I thought?
        But then, as I started writing this, another thought popped into my mind (I'm fasting from sound today so a lot of random stuff is popping in to my mind).  What if "Today, you'll be with me in paradise"?  What if I may not be called up to heaven, but I could experience paradise (even if it's just a little taste) today right here in Lombard?  What if today, and every day, I could be with Jesus in paradise - until I finally an walking through the Paradise Parking Lot?
         Now, that makes today a little more exotic.  That gives me a new hope on the next 12 hours!

THE SUN STOPPED SHINING

     I'm going to take a little break from Daniel Plan talk; although I am down to 165 and have started taking shots of vinegar every morning (don't ask!).  But, today I read something that kind of shocked me.
     For Holy Week, I'm reading from the Last Supper to Jesus' death.  No matter how many times I read that part of the Bible, it grips me.  So many things involved, the complexity and beauty of it all, and what it teaches us about life - fascinating.
      And I love it when you're reading a story from the Bible that you've read hundreds of times, but something new comes out of it.  Just when you think you know it all....
      THE SUN STOPPED SHINING!
      That's what the author of Luke says.  It stopped shining at noon and didn't come back on until 3.  Now, I don't know if he was just using hyperbole.  Maybe it got a little cloudy.  But, this is God.  This is His Son dying.  Turning the sun off for the Son - not too far-fetched!
       I'm just trying to picture that.  You are sitting in a Jerusalem, tending the sheep, and blackout!  People are walking along a Galilee road and instantly can't see the person they're talking to.  Imagine that happening today with all our lights and ways to overcome darkness, but in Jesus' time.
       And if you think about it in spiritual terms - that was the only time in the history of the world that the sun stopped shining, both s-u-n and S-o-n.
       Don't you think every person that saw what was going on was changed?  Can you imagine something like that happening and saying, "Yeah, He wasn't really God's Son."?
      I'm just trying to think what I would have done if I saw the sun stop shining and then found out it was at exactly the same time as Jesus' death.  Good question!

I LOOK DIFFERENT!

     "You are wasting away to nothing!"
     I've heard that a few times in the last couple of days.  But, to be honest, I haven't noticed my clothes fitting all that different (except for the fact that whenever I put pants on it isn't an Olympic event trying to get them buckled!).  To be honest, when I look in the mirror, I don't think of myself as overly skinny.  And, even today as I was lifting, I noticed that the Melton belly (which is either hereditary or just caused by drinking enormous amounts of Coke foe twenty years) was still well in tact.
     But something was different!  My body looked like a tank.  It's like the fat on my arms and chest and neck and face was gone.  It was weird - maybe I had fat covering all those places before and never let the gun shoe fully activate!
     I was thinking last night - whenever I've done these crazy eating things, I've basically starved myself.  So, I just kind of did like the Shrinky Dink in the oven thing with my body.  But, this time I've lost weight and actually look healthy - huh?
     This is just adding more fuel to the fire!  This stuff works.
     And even though, I heard about this crazy diet yesterday, Googled it, and realized it's not all that different from the Daniel Plan, it makes sense to keep going.
     This morning, I was down to 165.5 (that's after having a beer last night), I'm healthy and my life seems to be going pretty well.  If anyone asks, maybe you have to give this thing like 40 days - tweak it, play with it, make it your own, but stick with it.  You'll see.  You'll see.

A LOT OF DROPOUTS!

     "I didn't even go to my small group," said one lady who started the Daniel Plan, and has given up for now.
     "I've only lost 1.5 pounds," said a discouraged Daniel Planner after two weeks.
     "No way," said a hot wife who bowed out of the Daniel Plan by lunch on the first day after something disgusting was on the menu.
      I've noticed something about this Daniel Plan - a lot of people don't like it.  (Don't get me wrong, nobody likes it, but some have stuck with it all the way through.  And I even know one lady who eats this stuff all the time - like, it's her lifestyle!)  Since I've started this Daniel Plan, there have been a good number of people who have fallen off the wagon - some of whom I've even felt the need to offer advice to.
      Which is funny; because I am not sure what I think of this thing?  Yesterday, someone asked if I like it.  I'm not sure, but it's almost starting to just become normal.  Uh-oh!
      In fact, this morning I sent an email to a lady and said, "Give it a month, and if you still don't like it - GET OUT!"
      I think I may be advocating for this stuff!
     Whoa!  Am I going to become one of those wacky healthy eaters?  I'm not going to be that guy who is eating kale while everyone else has burgers and fries?  Man, this could get a little scary!  To think of Tony Melton as the healthy one - ok, I have to totally rethink this.  What is this Daniel Plan doing to me?

KALE SALAD.....I SAID, "KALE SALAD!"

      Went out to lunch with Mawi (name dropper - can you call yourself a name dropper?) yesterday, and it came time for me to order.  These were my exact words, "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Kale and Apple salad."
       This was right after Mawi asked if I had ever been there, and I said, "I'm more of a McDonalds or Culver's guy.  If you want recommendations for something on the menu, you may be asking the wrong guy."
       Here's the thing though.  I ordered it.  I liked it.  No regrets!  People around me were ordering Cokes, sandwiches, but I stayed with Kale salad and water.   And I was happy with it!
       I think the Daniel Plan is a lot easier when life is going good.
      A little backstory.  Mawi is this inspirational speaker who went from Sudan refugee to graduating top in his class at Harvard.  He does a lot of work with motivating students.  So, there's a lunch with him, his partner, the assistant superintendent, our principal........and me (one of these things is not like the other!)
      Obviously, I'm blown away at even getting invited!  Life is good!
      A day after I find out about this lunch, the Superintendent wants to talk to me.  Uh-oh, what did I do?  No, he pulls me out into the hall to ask if I'd like to be on the committee to help choose the new Assistant Superintendent.  I tell him that there are a lot of other people who would be better options, but he presses on, and now I'm helping select the second in charge.
      I go from dumbest tech coach in the district to meeting with Mawi and helping select the Assistant Sup.  When things like that are happening, it doesn't matter what you eat.  Life makes you full.  Satisfaction doesn't come from a 44 ounce cup or McDonalds Dollar Menu.
      As I continue to tie in the Daniel Plan to things that are probably totally unrelated, I have to wonder this, "Is this newfound respect in the district tied into the fact that I'm eating healthy?"  Is ordering Kale salad and being happy about it, the cause or effect?

I'VE GOT TO GET OVER THIS!

     Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment.  Hernia!  Ouch!  I had to take a little time off of school and in the miracle of miracles, it was like fifteen minutes.  In and out of a doctor's office.  Seriously!  15 minutes.
     So, I had a little free time.  On my way home, I saw the Wrigley Field of McDonalds, the Cowboy Stadium of McDonalds, the DisneyWorld of McDonalds - the Oakbrook two-story McDonalds - ahhhhhhhh!    Needing some gift cards for our Homeless Shelter NCAA Tourney pool, I had to stop in.
     And I was like American tourist in a foreign land.  I bypassed the lady who said, "Can I help you?" and walked right upstairs.  I took a personally guided tour.  Then, I ordered my gift cards.  That's it.  Just gift cards.
     No Coke!  No McChicken! No fries! No ice cream cone!  Just gift cards!
    Pretty good huh!  That was the perfect set-up for eating some junk food.  Free time, had to go to McDonalds anyway.  But Daniel would be proud - I resisted the urge!  So, win right?
    The only problem is, I was mad at Daniel!  I feel like I was cheated.  Of all the things I like to do in life (and it's a short list), eating out at a restaurant with free-refills is high on the list; especially when it's a once a year time off of work.  Heck, I got a hernia - that's reason for celebration!
     It seems like more and more there are times when I want to eat junk, but I don't.  Maybe that will change when I go 90-10 after Easter, or maybe I'm going to have to get over the "Eating at McDonalds will totally make this day better" attitude.
      It really does ruin the rest of my day.  I know I'm a middle schooler, but as I'm sitting here now I'm thinking, "Man, I should have had a Coke, read my book!"
     Of all the things that this Daniel Plan has made me think about, the psychology of food is definitely the most interesting!

30 DAYS RIGHT?

      Isn't that supposed to be the thing?  If you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit?  30 days right?  Well, I don't have a calendar by me, but we've got to be close.  And even if the calendar doesn't say so, you tell me if this is a habit.
       Got up yesterday, put the dishes away and made my oatmeal.  Did the dishes right after I was done.  Little later, put the dishes away, at my power bites, washed a few more dishes.  A little later, made my fish tacos (sooooo goooooood!), ate them, and did the dishes right away.  Later, I put those dishes away, started making my turkey and broccoli "sauce" for pasta, and washed the dishes.
       We went to the movies where you can eat stuff at your table.  I got water!  Went to Wendy's afterwards, I got nothing!  Came back home, made some pasta, ate it, did the dishes and went to bed. Oh yeah, I did try one of the chocolate covered bananas with walnuts too (sooooo goooood!  How could it not be good - it's chocolate and bananas!)
       And here's the big thing: I wasn't totally depressed about any of that!  30 days ago, if you would have told me I was doing dishes three times a day, preparing food for an hour, going to Wendy's and not getting anything or not having a Coke when everyone else is eating junk food, I would have said three words: "Kill me now!"
       But, with the help of sports radio, dishes are food prep - kind of fun!  And having a few unhealthy snacks every now and then (or a whole lot of them a couple days before) keeps me sane for the days when I don't have them.  And, in my mind, I've already got it planned out - have a "Last Supper" on Thursday night, start celebrating on "Easter Saturday", then on Monday have my meals ready to go.
        Habit?

GREEK YOGURT IS PASTE!

     Remember when you were in first grade and you'd take out the Elmer's paste?  That stuff would stick to the stick (ironic!) for hours.  You'd be trying to spread it on the turkey you just made with your hand, and there'd be like one huge clump.  That clump could hold a house together.  It was the stickiest substance known to man.
      Greek yogurt is paste!  If left in a bowl, I'm pretty sure the protective surface that would form could protect us from nuclear war.
      Makes a great breakfast though!  Add some raisins, some oats and a few nuts - yummmmmmy!
     That was just something I noticed this morning, but the real point of this story is to talk about how this Daniel Plan may have ruined Easter!  Yesterday, I drove one of the greatest high school basketball coaches to the airport.  Then, I went to meet another guy at the United Center for the McDonalds All-American game.  I left at 2:45 and wasn't going to be home until like 11.  Sure, I could have brought some carrots along or maybe packed some pine nuts.
      But, it was the McDonalds All-American game!  I would be spitting in Ronald's face if I didn't grab a McChicken (or two, with fries and a Coke).  So, I ate that.  And then, the aforementioned coach, paid me for driving him with 2 liters of Coke.  I poured one of those into my cup from McDonalds (no free refills) for the drive. 
        That is the most junk I've had in one sitting since I've started the Daniel Plan......AND IT WASN'T GOOD.  The first sandwich, yes!  The fries, yes!  The first Coke, yes!  But, as I gulped down the second Coke, I thought, "This is not good!"  And as I sat down in my chair, I thought, "This is not good." 
        My body felt strange and the nightmare hit me - Easter is ruined!  Easter was going to be Speedway for breakfast, all the candy I could shove down for brunch.   Pizza for lunch, and then the most Coke a human could drink at our family Easter party.
        Not only do I not think I could do that, I don't want to do that.  I may be at the point where a little junk = good.  Lot of junk = recipe for disaster.
         I'm not complaining.  I think this bolds well for the future.  90-10 works a lot better if the 10 isn't filled with more calories than Jabba the Hut would injest!  So, my Easter plans are busted, but the Daniel Plan has Greek Yogurted my life all together (see how I brought it all full circle?).

I ATE THE FRIES!

      We were at the Rock and Roll McDonalds downtown.  It was my first time there.  I was caught up in the moment (and we had just spent $30 on what would have cost us $20 in Lombard), SO I ATE THEM.  The kids were through, there were fries left over.  I ATE THEM.  And I ate half a cheeseburger too.  And I drank some of Grace's fruit punch (while we were at the Anti-Cruelty Society - which by the way, everyone should adopt a dog!  Now!  Go do it!).
       One of the hardest things about this Daniel Plan is seeing good food get thrown away.  This past week, we had five sandwiches left over from the homeless shelter.  Ham and Cheese, PB and J - good sandwiches.  After a couple days in the fridge, my wife asked what to do with them.
       "Throw them away!"  I said with a pain in my stomach similar to the one that Anthony Rizzo put there on Opening Day.
       Again, after Easter, I won't do that.  I won't throw stuff away just because it's on the plan.  I know that is not a recipe for success, but it just kills me.  And, after my fries, cheeseburger and fruit punch extravaganza, still weighed in at 167 this morning.  Still down 24 pounds.  Still looking good in the mirror at the gym - that's right, I was checking my own self out!  (And today was really the first day I thought, "Man, I am getting skinny!")
        Now, I'm going to Wisconsin for a couple days.  Do I bring my own food?  Eat what they give me?  Just go crazy since it's Spring Break.  What I have found in the last couple times I got off for a meal or two.  It doesn't really hurt if you just jump right back on.
        So, I ate those fries, and might even drink a Coke today.  But, as they say on the basketball court, "Next Play."  What I do next is the big thing!

WAS DANIEL A HERMIT?

     This Daniel Plan is easy........as long as you never leave the house, have a party to go to, get some crazy things on your schedule, or do anything besides walk the dog, eat, go to work, eat, do the dishes and go to bed!
      In the last two days I have gone to two different parties - one for my daughter's birthday and one for my niece's.  Shockingly, at these parties, their idea of dessert is not Greek yogurt with muesli!  My sister had a cake that was made to look like a minion - a real minion!  People are eating rice and beans, combos, chips.  They're drinking....stuff besides water!
       And one thought crosses my mind - why am I on this Daniel Plan?  In fact, when asked yesterday if I was going to keep doing this after Lent was over, I said, "Yes......and just suck it up until I die."
       Again, I'm losing a lot of weight - down to 166.5 from 191, I don't feel hungry, I don't have as much energy as before but it's not like I'm Lazy Leon!  But, boy I didn't realize the social aspects of this healthy eating thing.
        People really kind of get mad at you when you eat this crazy healthy food.  A lot of people tell you that you don't have to do this.  At work, at home, all over people suddenly have graduated from Healthy Living U.
        And I'm already mad because I'm eating nuts and apples and they're eating combos and chips.  So, I guess I've got to come up with a plan.
        1) I asked God to not make eating such a big deal for me.  Why do I even care if I don't drink a Coke or eat pizza?
       2) Once Lent is over, I will eat whatever someone has prepared - it's actually kind of rude not to.
       3) I will do the 90% / 10%.
       But, until Lent is over, I really do want to try to stick to this thing and see what happens to my body / mind.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE?

     The first time I went shopping for the Daniel Plan it took four hours.  I had to go to three stores, and it cost me over $200.  I just went shopping for the second round yesterday.  Two stores, an hour and a half, and $75.
      Yep, I had some leftover spices and nuts.  And I did shop for a fewer amount of days.  And I did pick out what I was going to eat this time from the Core Menu (did you know that they allow fruit after the detox?  I was actually excited about fruit salad!  Fruit salad?  What is wrong with me?)  But, this Daniel Plan - when you don't eat exactly what they have for every day and follow their crazy shopping list - seems doable.
       In fact, I'm kind of excited about the next ten days.  There are even deserts included - well, if you count fruit with cinnamon as a desert.  It was a little weird though.  I actually thought about how fat I was going to get if I ate whole wheat bread or why in the world I would buy chocolate chips.  21 days ago, I would have eaten a bag of chocolate chips on the way home from Aldi and ordered the bread bowl at Panera - I think I actually did that.
       There was even a point at Aldi's yesterday when I saw a good price on salmon.....AND I GOT TWO!  I knew I would use it!  How crazy is that?  (I just love the salmon and celery thing!)
       Now, to be honest, the really healthy turkey was $6.99 / pound and Carolina was $2.99 - guess which one I got!  And I didn't buy cage free eggs.  Oooooooh!  I know - bad person.  But, I am starting to tailor this Daniel Plan to a new lifestyle.
       Yes, I do look forward to tomorrow at 3am when I have to get a Slurpee to celebrate the birth of my daughter, and I can't wait until Easter.  But, after Easter I can totally see 90%, 10%.
       So, we start the next ten days of eating Core Menu.  Then, ten days of using their list of foods you should eat almost always.  Then, a day of gorging myself.  Then, dare I say it, Daniel Plan for life!

THREE WEE REVIEW OF THE DANIEL PLAN

     That's right, three weeks ago today, I was shoving every imaginable junk food down my throat for Fat Tuesday.  I probably ingested more calories that day than I have in the last three weeks!  Good times, Good times!
     But, that seems like a whole other life ago.  Last night, we had a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Don't tell anyone, but I got some wings (The cheap side of me is much stronger than the Daniel side - $10 for a salad compared to $5 for wings - you tell me what you'd order!).  But, as I went to bed, my body felt weird.  It wasn't used to all the processed food - for me to even type that is strange!  This coming from a man who lived on processed food for 42 years.
     This morning, I left for work.  Already had my lunch and snacks prepared and threw some nuts, berries and seeds in a tupperware, drank a small cup of almond milk and was on my way!
     For the most part, the dishes have been done daily and that $200 I spent on groceries actually lasted three weeks (with a ton of non-perishables left over).  But what about the important stuff?
     Am I still fat?  Well that Tuesday night I weighed in at 191.  This morning I was at 168.  It is possible that all that weight loss has affected my workouts.  I don't feel as strong when doing strength training, but I ran for 8 out of the 25 minutes on a treadmill.  For most people under 70 that's not a big deal, but for an overweight guy whose brother sat on his leg and hasn't done that in years - big deal!
     As for the most important (and some may think it's crazy to tie in a dietary plan to the following things, but that's how I think), my family life has been ok.  I still seem to not have as much energy as I'd like, get angry too often and make bad choices about a few things.  At work, kind of the same thing, but I have noticed that my work ethic has suffered a little bit.  In the community, I'm actually getting better.  I've got a better attitude towards PADs, and I even put on Christian music today.
      After three weeks, I am looking forward to the day when it's 90-10, but I can see the benefits of this healthy eating stuff.  Heck, why not do this for a lifetime?
      NOW, MY FAVORITE THINGS LIST:
1) Love the salmon and celery salad thing!
2) Chicken pesto
3) The stir fry (with or without that fake meat stuff)
4) Kale salad - yes, I said it.  Kale salad - with no olives.
5) Black bean soup
6) And I just put all the stuff from the protein shake in a bowl and ate it separately - much better!

      THINGS THAT ARE NEVER, EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER:
1) Quinoa
2) Veggie Mocktails
3) Taking all the leftovers and making soup

SUNDAY NIGHT OF THE NCAA TOURNEY

         Thursday morning you wake up early, go to McDonalds and fill out your brackets.  At 11:15, you get all excited to stream the games live - even though you're supposed to be working.  From Thursday until Friday night, your life revolves around guys named Parker, Wiggins and Drake.  Saturday, you may do a few things around the house while checking in on the games and maybe even watch a few at night.  Come Sunday night, you're hoping Arizona blows out Gonzaga so you can just go to bed!
          It's like that with a lot of stuff.  We get excited, go all hung ho, and then a couple days pass, a couple weeks, and the enthusiasm is gone!
        That's where we may be in the Daniel Plan.  People are not excited to hear about the foods you're eating anymore.  No one cares that you just sat down to lunch with a bowl of kale.  The "newness" of preparing meals, doing dishes and trying original recipes kind of wears away.  And you finally finish the detox and wonder, "What do I do now?"
         You've seen some results.  The scale is very kind to you.  Your body feels good.  However, you might not say this has been life changing as far as being able to run and jump in basketball, and you've even noticed the bad attitude that usually comes when you do this type of stuff.
          But, the one change you notice is that YOU CAN DO THIS!  This might be something that has "lasting power."  Sure, I'm not excited about eating the soup I made with all the leftover vegetables from the detox (lot of cilantro in there), but I'm looking forward to planning out my meals and seeing what this is like when I'm only eating stuff I like.  And, if I'm only eight pounds away from my goal weight - what if I could keep it there?  To top it off, basketball this Wednesday might not be as painful!
          We're coming up on three weeks, and there have been times when I really would have liked a cookie or some pizza or snackies from the teacher's lounge, but it hasn't been crazy.  It's been a sacrifice, but not a huge one.  Kind of like the NCAA Tourney, you make it to Sunday night.....and you can't wait for next Thursday!

SOME THINGS THAT BUG ME!

    I'm perfect in the pool!  Then, NC State can't make a free throw, Oklahoma can't either, Milwaukee doesn't pull off a miracle, and Texas (who I thought I picked but didn't) wins!  THAT BUGS ME!
    I'm trying to watch the games at work, and people keep calling me to do computer stuff.  THAT BUGS ME!
    Through some miracle I get all the games on the internet, but then my time runs out and I'm stuck with only CBS.  THAT BUGS ME!
     We didn't have the heat on last night, because it was so nice.  I wake up this morning - icicles hanging off my sides.  THAT BUGS ME!
     And as we're into Day 16 of this Daniel Plan. something bugs me.  Yes, I have started to enjoy the food (maybe enjoy is too strong a word, think "don't dread eating anymore").  Yes, the food prep has been tough when you actually have something to do in life, but for the most part I've relished it.  Yes, the comments about the gross stuff I'm eating and the Daniel Plan discussions have died down, but there is this whole new group of healthy friends I have.  And yes, I am down to 170 - about ten more pounds and I won't be fat!
     BUT SOMETHING STILL BUGS ME!
     I read this, this morning:
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
      IT BUGS ME!
     Why can't the poor do the Daniel Plan?  Why can't they choose from healthy or non-healthy options?  Why can't they decide if they want to drink a Veggie Mocktail or skip it for some Kale salad?
      Doesn't Jesus say here, "Don't worry about it.  God knows you need it.  These things will be given to you as well"?
      What's the deal there?  Do the people who are starting just not seek after His kingdom?  Is it possible that every person who is starving doesn't trust in God?  Why in the world are there people without food when God says "Don't worry about it"?
      You may say I'm doubting God for just writing this, and maybe I am.  But, I just don't get it.  How can you use the ravens (not the football team in Baltimore, actual birds) as an example of something that doesn't reap or sow and still God feeds them, tell people we're more important than ravens, and then have billions of starving (real starving - not like people in the U.S.) around the world?
       I don't get that, and IT BUGS ME!  Probably not as much as that NC State loss though - you're up 16!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

      Louisville is a #4 seed!  Wait, that is a different article.
      I can't believe that for the last three days, not only have I not lost weight, I've actually gained some.  Sure, I've lost a ton since the start, but I'm pretty sure that I could be at 174 pounds and not have to spend $200 on groceries.  I'm pretty sure I could be at 174 pounds and not spend a more time preparing meals than playing with my kids.  I'm pretty sure I could be at 174 pounds and not drink celery, spinach and garlic from a blender.  I'm pretty sure I could be at 174 pounds and not have to bring my lunches and dinners to different places like a third-grader on a field trip.
      When I started the Daniel Plan, I wanted to see what it would do.  Shockingly, I've never eaten like this before in my life (I've probably prepared more meals in the last two weeks than I have in the last 42 years!).  It looks like I may have plateaued on the weight loss.  Yesterday I forgot to bring my wallet into Aldi and did a couple other goofy things.  My workouts have been less energetic, and I even got angry over something stupid yesterday.
        My life has been pretty much the same as before I went all lettuce!  It may even be going downhill.
       Obviously, I'm going to keep going.  Two weeks is not enough time to reverse 42 years of damage.  But, if it was Easter Sunday today, I would just eat cheap healthy foods, skip a lot of the food prep, and maybe (I know this is going to be difficult for some people to hear), maybe even eat some processed food.
        I will say, I've gotten into a groove with food prep and dishes.  Our counter is spotless right now and I'm making stuff in no time.  We even have kind of a little Sunday routine where we make a family menu and go shop for the stuff - Oh boy, this is what my life is coming too.  I'm excited about meal prep and dishes!
        Back to thinking about why Louisville is a #4 seed!

I AM FAT AND NOBODY LIKES ME!

       There's been a lot of great lines since we've started this Daniel Plan, but Rob Brost went to the top of the leader board with that one.  "I am fat and nobody likes me!"  I was at a PTA meeting when I read that and laughed out loud (then laughed even harder at his texts later that evening - sorry, not appropriate for a family blog).
        So, it's been ten days, and I could say that I'm still on the FAT AND NOBODY LIKES ME plan.  I'm still about 13.5 (roughly) pounds away from where I probably should be.  And, as I was reading Rick Warren this morning, I'm not to the point where I'd rather have a  plate of vegetables than a hamburger, but........
        We had a grueling basketball practice yesterday!  I ran the girls through our summer basketball workout.  It's basically 40 minutes of movement!  Felt great!  I even did 2 defensive shuffles and 3 suicides afterwards - and fast (I only lost to one girl!).  That was my whole goal, to be able to play sports again, and yesterday I felt like I may be on track!  And then.....
         I ate something that actually looked like normal food this morning!  Eggs, like yellow eggs.  Not some crazy green or red (I'm noticing the color of food really does matter - drinks should not be green unless they start with M and end with Dew!).  And, today I will put another thing on the "NEVER AGAIN" list - quinoa.  At roughly 12:25 it will touch my mouth for the last time!
        I was thinking this morning, "Could I really eat like this forever?"  Forever is a long time, but I've done it for ten days - what's 12,000 more?  (About 40 more years of life times 300).  And can you imagine how skinny I'd be by then?
        Now, getting someone to like me - that's going to take a miracle!

BUBBLE WATCH!

      It's that time of the year, where experts like Joe Lunardi tell us which teams are in the NCAA Tourney and which teams are out.  Every morning on SportsCenter, you hear about which teams punched their ticket, and last week Harvard became the FIRST TEAM IN.
       Well, in honor of Joe, I'm doing the Daniel Plan Bubble Watch.  And the FIRST TEAM OUT is......the VEGGIE MOCKTAIL!  Never again will that recipe touch my lips.  At 6:35 this morning I gulped down my last swig (before I dumped the rest) and swore to never go back.  Just the fact that anyone would be allowed to publish that recipe in a book that people might actually read and try should be punishable by law.  I've got a bad taste in my mouth just writing about it.
       And just so you know, QUINOA is on the bubble list right now too!  As soon as I finish this breakfast casserole, they may also be booted from the "Field of 64" (sorry, I'm a traditionalist, 68 sounds weird!)
        Next on SportsCenter....
        It's Uh-Oh Time!  The whole reason I started this Daniel Plan was to get my body healthier so I could play basketball.  My thought process was I would give up the enjoyment of food if I could gain the enjoyment of playing sports again - my true love.
        So, every time I walk on the basketball court it's a Daniel Plan Report Card.  Yesterday, they did not Meet!  My legs felt just as bad as when I'd have a 44 ouncer and 2 Toranados for breakfast (oh, does that sound good right now!  Wait!  Focus!).  I've even noticed that my energy level at workouts has been not so stellar.  But, for now, I'm blaming the Veggie Mocktail, and we'll see what happens in 40 more days.
        I did just realize that I've lost 16 pounds in the first 8 days and have 40 left to get down to what I think would be a good weight for me - 160 (that's another 15 pounds).  Easy, right?
       After drinking a total of four Veggie Mocktails in an eight day span, I fell like anything is possible!

175.5 - THE ONE WEEK REVIEW!

     Fraternity's should try this Daniel Plan.  Forget sleep deprivation, pushing pennies with your nose, and whatever else those crazy frat guys do - have pledges blend up some beets, celery, ginger root and spinach, and you'll find out who really wants in!
     So, it's been a week, and after a week of anything you should reflect (Unless you've done a week of a big fat nothing, then just move on)!
     And since the Daniel Plan is all about the five F's, let's use that.
     FAITH - Honestly, I have seen myself get more honest with God.  I would say there hasn't been any huge changes as this wasn't a huge focus of my Daniel Plan.  But, I have found myself praying to be able to just take one more bite or cursing the devil who made quinoa!  (Side note, I just finished my quinoa last night - don't see myself ever going back!)
     FITNESS - Workouts have been pretty much the same.  Body was really sore a couple days ago, but feels good right now.  I'm playing basketball the next two days, so we'll see if I'm the Tony Melton of old (wait, my goal was to run and jump - never was much of a jumper).
     FOCUS - This is the big one!  I do notice my brain feeling like it's on that crazy expensive gas that I never get at Speedway!  For example, we had this rock idea.  It was going to take a little time, and I'm not the greatest handyman / guy type stuff guy,  but I was all in.  Bought the rocks, thought of a great way to clean the rocks and transport them to school, even thought of a great way to be able to write on them.  Just a lot of things I normally wouldn't have come up with.  In fact, as I think about it, I had the most clear thoughts that I've had at a tech coaches meeting the other day.  Maybe Coke does interfere with the brain signals!
      FRIENDS - This has been one of the coolest things.  I've talked to a lot of people about what I'm eating (surprisingly they've never seen anyone eat this junk!), and I've made this whole new community of healthy eating people (including a life long buddy from Trader Joes).  And it's very cool to connect with other Daniel Plan folks and talk about how much we enjoy this (some, who put vegetables in their drinks while on the beach, more than others!)
       FOOD - Little change here!  Here's the math equation that doesn't add up.  We spend a lot of time preparing food.....AND IT'S HORRIBLE!  You would think that the amount of hours that goes into food prep that this stuff would actually taste good (No offense chicken pesto, you were awesome!).  So, not sure I could do this for the long term, but I have gotten into a prepare the night before, do the dishes, throw this stuff down rhythm.
        And here's the big one.  I weighed in at 191 on Fat Tuesday night.  This morning: 175.5...in a week.  A little off of my original pace, but at this rate, by Easter I'll be 100!

I FEEL SOMETHING!

     I can't quite describe it!  It was something!  It felt weird, but weird in a good way!  As I went to church yesterday morning, my body felt good!  Throughout the day, felt good.  When I went to sleep, I was tired, but not the "I have to lay down tired." It was a good tired!
      This junk may be working!
      Sure, I've got this thing with my shoulder that just popped up when I started eating tree bark.  Sure, I am eating rice with milk and flax seed right now - and it's kind of disgusting.  Sure, I spent my whole Sunday on meal preparation.  But....
       The whole world seems clearer, my mind is firing on all cylinders, I'm noticing things I've never noticed.  As I walk, my body feels the way, I think, God intended it to feel.  My workouts are better, my mind is sharper.....
       OK, none of that is quite accurate, but these are the first positive signs (besides the weight loss - down twelve) of this Daniel Plan.  Maybe it takes like five days to reverse the negative affects from 42 years of the Speedway Plan, but I see hope.
       To be honest, I'm not sure I want hope.  I kind of want to have no changes whatsoever so I can just eat normal food forever, but this Daniel Plan might have something.  Who knew?

I'M TIRED!

      I had a hard time getting out of my seat at an incredible junior play last night!  I couldn't go five minutes without wanting to sit down while playing Xbox.  I just couldn't walk Freddie last night when we got home.
      I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE MORE ENERGY!
     I'm guessing that a man who could drink multiple 44 ouncers for the good part of the last 3,560 days of their life will take a little while for the healthy food to take effect.  But, if I eat all the junk that's in my fridge right now, spend zillions of dollars on groceries, and take hours of my life to prepare food, and do that for forty days......AND HAVE LESS ENERGY, there's going to be a knock on Daniel's door!
      On the positive side, I think my brother and I shared edamame and salmon yesterday for the first time in our lives.  And this Daniel Plan does give you something to talk about in almost any situation.  Healthy and unhealthy people love to talk about quinoa!
       And although I'm starting to look at those Coca-Colas like Marty looked at steaks in Madagascar, I might be getting used to this life style.  Yesterday, I poured out a Coke.  Sure, it had been sitting in my car for a week, but last Tuesday I would have drank that up.
       Jim asked me yesterday, "What's been your favorite?"
       TONY'S TOP FIVE AFTER FOUR DAYS:
       1) Cinnamon covered almonds
      2) Beef Stew
      3) Tempeh Stir-fry
      4) Vegetables with hummus
      5) Crunchy chickpeas
      OK, gotta go get my quinoa oatmeal off the stove.  Can't wait!

RUMOR NOT TRUE - DOGS WILL EAT THIS

     Today, some of my veggie omelet (sounds good right?  Not when you take all the junk that didn't "juice" and pour it in - beets, ginger root, spinach, yuck!) fell to the floor.  Freddie, my dog, was in the kitchen as he always is when we are making food.  It was the moment of truth.  Would Freddie, who loves all food besides these dog treats we once bought, actually eat the Daniel Plan junk?
      He did it!  So, just when you think this stuff is worse than dog food - you're wrong!
      Two big breakthroughs today: 1) For the first time, I actually ate more of something than I was supposed to!  I may have sneaked a few more than 25 of those cinnamon almonds into my mouth.  Tasty!  And they smelled so good last night.
       #2 is #2!  I have been a little worried!  Haven't dropped the boys off at the pool since we started this thing.  I won't go too much into it, but that is taken care of.
       Obviously, those were both big moments in my life; however this morning was an even bigger one.  This Daniel Plan is driving us crazy.  Last night, I had to run out to Ultra Foods to find nitrate free turkey - even the deli lady didn't know what that was, but got a great deal on the best turkey you can buy!  I come home and chop up a few vegetables for a Beef Stew.  Then, I start doing the dishes - there are a ton of dishes when you're cooking all the time!  My wife says she will do them while I walk the dog.
       Again, it's a ten o'clock bedtime (that's two hours past my normal).  We get up, walk the dog, go to cut the meat.  Have you ever cut up chuck roast?  I think it would be easier to just take it off the cow (and that cow was definitely not on the Daniel Plan - lot of fat!).  So, we're using knives, scissors, swords, the chain saw and my daughter wakes up.  She has to go to basketball early!  We forgot!
        Now it's make the stew, cook an omelet, get my nuts ready (almonds, that is!), and pack up some romaine, turkey and frozen berries for my food - while getting daughter to school and making it to Madison on time to show a video!
       If not the food, making it, may just kill us all.  But, I am down ten pounds on the scale (that put's me at -10 by the time we're done with this!) and the math class I teach was telling me about the healthy food they brought for lunch today - so there is some definite good coming out of it!

DO NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF!

     It sounded like a great idea!  Use the 1 SecDailyPic app, take a picture of my bare belly for forty days straight, and see what happens.  First, the app blows!  It kept on dying on me.  Next, I AM FAT!!  LIKE DISGUSTING FAT!!!  LIKE IT WAS MORE DISGUSTING TO LOOK AT MY BELLY THAN THE DRINK A CUP OF BEETS, CELERY, GINGER ROOT AND WHATEVER THE HECK ELSE WAS IN THERE!
     I guess the camera really doesn't lie, and it's probably a good thing that I drank that same cup of junk this morning for breakfast (switched it up a little - living on the wild side!) and eating quinoa, steamed veggies and way too much apple-cider vinegar for the second day in a row (I realized quickly that those recipes are way too much food for one day, and it's not the type of food you like to gorge out on!).
     And I will say, I woke up this morning and it said I had lost 7.5 pounds since Fat Tuesday!  I love scales - they lie so much!  But, I am noticing a few things.
      As I ate yesterday.  I didn't rush.  (You almost need a break in between bites to stop from throwing up!)  I sat down and talked to my wife.  I didn't eat too much (really, who wants to eat more of that junk!).  And I didn't focus on eating.  It was quite the opposite, instead of looking forward to what I was going to eat I couldn't wait until I was done eating.
       Although, it was tough to swallow (literally - except for that stir fry thing.  I could eat that every day!), I also finished everything.  It taught me that none of this stuff is going to kill me (ok, maybe that apple-cider vinegar will lead to a slow death), and I really can't wait to see the good it's going to do for my body.
       So, I did end up taking a picture; because I want to visually see what this does.  But, more importantly, it's kind of a sign: How I viewed eating before the Daniel Plan and how that may change come Easter.

WORST LENT EVER!

     We're only 8 hours in, and this is definitely the worst Lent I've ever had....and that's saying something (I once went 40 days eating only bread and water!).  Already, at this point, I've spent two and a half hours (and a gazillion dollars; although it was fun trying to find the stuff) shopping for food.  One night I even ditched my daughter who wanted to play basketball!  Then, I was up until 10:00 making stuff for today's first three meals (yes, only three of the five that I need today.)
      I made the shake.  Our friend told me to put it in the freezer, take it out in the morning, let it thaw for a couple hours and drink it.  I took it out at 4, it's 8 - still frozen.  I'm having carrots, cucumbers, celery and jicama (which, by the way, blows!) for breakfast.
      I know what you're saying, "Isn't there supposed to be humus with those vegetables?"  Well, I made the humus last night not knowing exactly what a clove of garlic was.  I used two whole things - my wife says that is bad for you.  No humus!
     Then, I made the quinoa, which is going to take 40 days just to learn how to pronounce, and even steamed some vegetables.  In the book it says to make this dressing - with apple cider vinegar.  I don't care what you put before it - it's still vinegar!  But, I made it.  And I mixed it up with the quinoa and vegetables.  I walked by dog for a half-hour last night, and still was about to throw up when I got home just from thinking about the smell.  I was sweating in my bed just thinking about having to eat that.
      Good news, I am fat (191 last night).  And if nothing else, this food will be so terrible that I won't eat for forty days and lose a lot of weight!  And as I eat this jicama, it kind of grows on you.
      It will definitely be an interesting 40 days - oops, there's my first of many flagulations!
     

THE BIGGEST SIN!

     Do you know what the biggest sin in the world is?  Before I tell you, let me share my morning.  I woke up at three.  You know the kind of waking up where you still lay in bed but aren't sleeping.  Thoughts of what I could do in the one class I teach started popping in my head.  Have an imaginary box delivered to my room.  Dress up like a pirate!  Quit, walk out, and have the kids teach themselves!  By 3:45, I'm up (even before the dog was ready to walk!)
     So, do you know what the biggest sin in the world is? Before I tell you, let me share what I just read.  Jesus is talking about the bucket and light thing.  You don't hide the light with a bucket, or something like that.  That's what I thought about when I was awake at 3a.m.  It's been a long time since I did goofy stuff in the classroom.  Call it laziness, lack of motivation, just trying to get by, not wanting to make a fool of myself - whatever the reason, it's been a while since I've really been the person God made me to be.
     So, about that biggest sin in the world?  Are you ready for it?  Actually, I've already told you.  Whenever we don't do something God made us to do, that's it!  Whenever we have a chance to let our light shine and don't, that's it!  Whenever we settle for doing something instead of doing something great, that's it!
     I think far too often God gives us these great ideas.  But, because they seem too crazy or would take too much energy or require too much time - we don't do them.  Those great ideas could change the world, one crazy idea at a time.
     So, the next time you get a little whisper from God, just do it!  If you don't, it may just be worse than anything on the Big Ten!

WANT TO IMPRESS? KISS THE FEET!

     Have you ever met a person who goes the extra mile?  You know, the kind of person who doesn't settle for doing something good, they make it great!  It's doing the small thing that takes whatever you're doing from ordinary to memorable.
     We were just talking about the last time we saw my mom.  It was after a play Grace had done.  Luisa and I decided we weren't going to go to Culvers for the second night in a row.  So, Grace, Sofia,  and Luisa headed for home while I picked up some things my mom had for me in her car.
      As I drove home, my mom pulled up next to me on Main Street.  She rolled down her window and said, "Does that mean I can't just buy them ice cream for you to take home?"
      We were going to Culvers!  But, my mom was in the left-hand turn lane!  She turned left on Roosevelt, had to do a U-turn to get back to Main, and when we finally met at Culvers, it was time to order.
      It's like 8:30 at night.  The girls are going to bed as soon as they eat this.  So, what does my mom order - the two largest Concrete Mixers they have.  Not only was she willing to ask the question, not only did she do a complete turn-around to make it happen, she didn't settle for the small - SHE WENT GREAT!
      Yesterday, we ordered the biggest Concrete Mixers we could - we did not forget that moment!  And Jesus didn't either.
      Remember that time he went into Simon's house and the lady is kissing his feet, drying them with her hair and pouring perfume on them?  Not only did He forgive her, but He made her an example of what true devotion is.  SHE WENT GREAT!
     So, today, when we're tempted to do the safe, ordinary, easy thing - don't!  GO GREAT!

TOP TEN TIPS FOR A BETTER MARRIAGE

      My sister has this speaker that she loves!  Every time I talk to her she's like, "Shauna is so awesome! I love when she's at Willow Creek!  Every message she does inspires me.  I want to be like Shauna!  Shauna! Shauna! Shauna!"
       So, I decided to listen to her message on marriage, and WA-LA the TOP TEN TIPS FOR A BETTER MARRIAGE were born!
10) BE A PERSON OF FORGIVENESS - Forgive first, judge later.....way later (like after you're dead)
9) BUILD UP OTHER MARRIAGES - Whenever you talk to a member of the opposite sex ask yourself, "How can I build up their marriage?"
8) TAKE CARE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL HEALTH - There's a reason you are a two before you can become one.  If you are not emotionally healthy going into marriage or every day of marriage, the marriage is not going to "fix" you.
7) GET COUNSELING - Now, I'm too cheap to get real counseling, but getting together with other people who want to improve their marriages to talk about how to make those improvements - golden!
6) SPEND TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE - Without kids, talk, ask tough questions, talk about stuff besides kids.
5) ASK GOD FOR HELP - She didn't actually say this, but I think it's a good idea!

    Whoops, I guess there were only five.  I always like when they say a meeting is going to last 4 hours and it takes 3, or when you get out early from work.  So, reading five when you're anticipating 10 - bonus!  I better stop now or else I ruin the positive mojo from the 10 to 5 thing, and really I think we've got enough to think about!

WAS LOVIE SMITH A GOOD COACH?

     OK, I know it's been a year, but I've got a point here so stay with me.
     Lovie Smith was fired because he didn't win enough games, or to put it more succinctly, he didn't win enough games to get into the playoffs.  So, does that make him a bad coach? **** His players respected the heck out of him.  I would venture to say that you couldn't find another team in the NFL that played as hard for their coach.  His teams were constantly competitive.  Although he didn't make the playoffs for five straight years, the Bears were mostly in the hunt and when he was fired the team went 10-6.  There were some issues with the media and not being a great "face of the franchise."  So, was he a good coach?
      I guess it depends on what fruit you are looking at!  What is the fruit that really matters to you?
      I got to thinking about fruit this morning.  All this stuff we do in life, how do we know what's right and what's wrong.  Easy - just look at the fruit!  What are the things that are happening because of the way you live?
      But, then I went a little deeper.  There's a lot of fruit to look at.  In the Christian world it could be how many people have asked Christ into their lives, or feeding the poor, or being a great neighbor, or teaching other's about God's kingdom.  I started to look at my life and realized I'm not really sure which fruit I should be judging it on.
      What are the things that God really cares about?
      I'm guessing bringing people into a relationship with Him would be tops.  There would also be the "thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven" stuff.  And loving your neighbor would be big too.
      You know what?  I'm going to choose those three, and I'm going to say that in two of the three there's some pretty good fruit.  And if I won 66% of my games as a coach it would put me right in the Lovie Smith range.  What does that mean?

***** I think Lovie Smith is a good coach because of the relationship he had with his players.  He got the most out of them and put them ahead of anyone else.

MAN, JESUS KNOWS HIS STUFF!

     Do you know when I'm the most down, the most-likely to do something that Tony Melton should never do, the most likely to boost my spirits with a little Coca-Cola?  It's when I think about how cool other people are!
      Sometimes I just wish I could be as cool as them.  I wish I could talk like them or be as good with people as them or come up with creative ideas like them or be as strong in my opinions as them.  I just wish I was cooler like that.
       OR DO I?
22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
       I just read the Beatitudes - you know the part in the Bible where Jesus takes everything you think you know about the world and turns it upside down?  Food, money, popularity - all great things in the good old U.S. of A.  But, Jesus says REJOICE if you don't have them.  In fact, it almost seems to me like He is saying, if you follow me you are not going to have any of those things (that may be the way you know if you are truly following Him)
       I'll be honest, when I read that (as I was eating a plate full of snacks) it just struck me - how do people live their lives without tapping into the Jesus knowledge?  I don't read the Bible often enough, but when I do it just seems to put my head back on (that doesn't make any sense), it get's me back on track.
      I'm just thankful Jesus came down here to share this stuff with us.  Who would have thought - cool ain't all that important!

TECH COACH OF MEN

     I'm sitting in my office trying to figure out how we're going to incorporated iPads into the classroom.  Jesus walks in and says, "Try a check-out system.  That way more students can benefit and it gives teachers more freedom."
     I try it - the teachers love it.  Student's test scores go up.  The district applauds my work as a tech coach, and parents are constantly complimenting the incredible idea.
     Jesus comes back two days later and I'm blown away.
     "Did you see that?  It was incredible!  I am not worthy!  You are not only the Savior of the world, but an awful good tech coach!"
     Jesus isn't even smiling.  He looks at me dead in the eye and says, "I am going to make you a tech coach of men!"
     I WONDER IF THE SUCCESS JESUS GIVES US AT WORK IS JUST A PRECURSOR OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL DISCIPLE!  
     I wonder if anytime we get a great idea, something we do works out, we come up with a strategy that helps not only the company but people - I wonder if that's always Jesus saying, "You think that is something, I'm making you a _________________ of men."
     Honestly, the first thing that hit me when I read that was - who cares if I figure out the totality of Google Drive?  Who cares if I am the supreme knowledge on iPads?  Who cares if I can maneuver my way through Skyward?  My job is to be a fisher (a.k.a. "tech coach") of men.
     I've struggled many times this year because I don't know as much as the other tech coaches, and there have been times when I don't see a lot of technological fruit from my labor.  I'm not sure what this job is and I don't quite know if I'm doing it well.
     But, what I think God has been teaching me is this - this isn't my main job.  He's the boss of my main job.  And if I'm going to determine if I'm successful or not, that's the one I should focus on.

ANOTHER DECISION

     One unanticipated aspect of my new job as Tech Coach has been putting in positions where people actually want to know my opinion on stuff.  As a teacher, people pretty much tell you what to do - every decision you make is behind closed doors (and usually that door is to your classroom and you're the only one who knows about it).  However, these days more and more people are coming up to me and asking about instruction, achievement and the use of technology.
     I'm actually having to form opinions and share them.
     Just now, the head of Math and Science approached me about a computer program we're using and  how we should implement it going forward.  I said a few things, but when I left I thought to myself, "Was that really what I believe?"
     I read two different passages of Scripture this morning.  The first was about the husband treating his wife as the weaker partner.  I'm not going there, but there was definitely a sense of the husband being willing to make tough decisions.
     The second passage talked about Jesus and how everyone was amazed when he taught.  Power and authority were the words they used.  Jesus didn't really care what people thought and how he was perceived.  His main concerns were teaching people about the Kingdom of God - and He just said what God was telling Him too, no matter what.
      All of us are leaders of something.  We all are asked our opinions on anything from Michael Sam to how we should raise our children.  I think what I learned from Jesus today was to...
1) Talk to God before I open my cake hole!
2) Be strong in my opinions - trusting they are from the cake hole maker!
3) Realize that God may have bigger plans for me than I even have.  Maybe I've got it in me to make these kind of decisions.
      To all of us who don't consider ourselves great decision makers - watch out!  God make think otherwise.

I'M DRINKING A COKE RIGHT NOW....IS IT WRONG?

       We had a long talk (ok, like ten minutes) about if God cares about your body.  I'm still not sure it's all that crucial and that God is really more concerned with how you treat people and build the kingdom.  But, as I went to bed last night, a bigger question came to my mind.
       HOW DO I REACT WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK LIKE ME OR PEOPLE DON'T LIVE LIKE ME?
       I realized yesterday that I'm white trash (alright, I've known that ever since I saw my first blow-up in Romeoville).  But, growing up we kind of made fun of the rich people or the folks that spent a lot of money on things.  And, as a kid who didn't have all the cool clothes or cool things (like CD players!) there was a little jealousy or resentment or something against people who did.  Anyway, even to this day I have an affinity for white trash type of people (by the way, the color of your skin has nothing to do with white trash).  And when I am around different type of people sometimes I feel the need to prove myself or there's just an insecure feeling that comes with being in that situation.
      I also realized that I feel this need to stand-up for the white trash way.  I'm not exactly sure what that way is or what I'm standing up for, but deep down there somewhere I think I'm doing it.  And really, if I'm going to be totally honest - I think I'm like a lot of people who just want to prove whatever they are doing is better than what everyone else is doing.
      The point is - I don't react well with people who are different than me or think different than me.  My first inclination is to prove I'm right or better than that person.  Over and over in my mind I will try to justify what I'm doing and think of all the ways I'm right.  Sometimes, I'll even just keep on doing it, even though I know I'm wrong, to prove a point.
       Instead of focusing on another's opinion and how I could change to be more like Christ, I just want to prove my, let's say, worthiness.
       I don't know how you do this.  How do you look at someone who does stuff differently than you do and just respect that and agree to disagree?  How do you just think, "Well, we've got different views on stuff - no one is better than the other.  I'm not better than them and they are not better than me. We're just different."  How do you walk into situations trying to learn about other ways of doing things or other opinions without having to prove yours?
      God may care more about how we take care of our bodies than I realize, and that's ok.  He made us the way we are for a reason - each of us.