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!