For someone who is committed toward updating his ol' diary on the Internet, it sure has been a bit since my last post—8 days! In my defense, I looked back and saw I haven't written in an April since 2018...well, maybe 2019 had something, but that is digital dust in the wind.

And after a few of those posts from back in April '18, I LOVED how I was focused on fitness as it was the genesis of my modern regimen development.

It has been five years. If I knew at 39, that I would be here now, I might have been disheartened! That said, my core focus then was weightloss. There was a bit of trial-and-error involved, MANY audiobooks and a crossroads of YouTube, but I learned and earned my 149 lb weightloss.

But, all of that sits dusty in the 2021's trophy case. After some tough losses in 2022 that were the result of a lack of focus and injury resulting in mega weight gains, I have got a few wins in 2023. It looks like I will be piling up more in the win column.

I have signed up with the Bartlett Recreational Center for a gym as a cardio supplement to my training. It is a bit crowded for my liking, clearly the result of its sub-$30/month fee. That said, it brings back memories to me as a 22-year-old surrounded by fresh paint and new weights.

I say supplement, because today I (re)purchased the incline bench I referenced from one of those 2018 posts. I also picked up Nordic Track's Select-A-Weight DB set for $349:

YouTube Link

Crankin' out the reps next to the pool is gonna be awesome this year...so need that old summer playlist of mine.

Ahh, this is so amusing! I missed including in yesterday's Easter post this amusing video by The Babylon Bee:

YouTube Link

It highlights a favorite apologetic acronym of mine, something I picked up years ago regarding Christ's death, burial and resurrection, the greatest FEAT of all time.

• F - Fatal Torment Jesus died. He did NOT barely survive. His manner of death even fulfilled OT prophecy.
• E - Empty Tomb - There was no body. If there was, the Pharisees could pull it out when His followers proclaimed Him to be alive. They would not have said that his disciples stole the body.
• A - Appearances After Death - Jesus appeared to 500 witnesses after His death. People could be directly asked if they saw Him. Jesus even had a fish fry on the beach with His disciples. I find this ever so delightful.
• T - Transformation of the Disciples - His disciples went from cowards who denied Him after living daily with Him for 3 years to those who suffered in this life and endured a horrible death for His namesake. Many people live for a lie. Who dies for a lie?

Today's Homeschool

I spent my first period with the kids this morning on...4 verses. But, to be fair, it is a hunk of meat! I am using Hebrews 11 as an opening for a future run through some prominent characters in the Old Testament and their roles as types and shadows of Christ. Since the Old and New Testaments focus on Jesus, a strategic survey supported by expository tactics is not a shabby idea.

Later, I did a review on those tired algebraic problems...

Two drivers leave the same place to travel to the same destination. The first driver leaves two hours earlier than the second driver. The first driver travels 52 miles per hour, and the second driver travels 68 miles per hour. How many hours will it take the second driver to overtake the first driver?

(The answer is 6.5 hours)

Now, the school I went to growing up focused on these sorts of things. Typical, right? I mean, yeah, I could sit down with a notepad and hammer that out but couldn't I just give them a holler on the horn when I pass by 'em?

Fitness

I entitle this post with a track from the 28 Days Later soundtrack. It specifically reminds me of 2021 and how I was amused myself to go running in the morning in the context of a post-apocalyptic world full of zombies.

This week I gear up to a greater fitness regimen while opening up the throttle on everything else. The thing is, I have not been slacking in life; I have been busy. I just gotta optimize things.

I actually have plans of creating my 5K race construct, the kind where I create races of 1 entrant—well, I do not give out ribbons/trophies. No one wins in my races. Like the ol' Russian reversal,

In America, you win race. In Soviet Russia, race win YOU!

(Incidentally, this other song is from the same soundtrack and is fun for running, though it reminds me of my past explorations of London.)

"They Glory in Their Shame"

Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Philippians 3:19

With regards to yesterday's post and my vantage point on this culture, I ask myself why am I shocked? Even churches do not follow Jesus, but clumsily form Jesus into their own image; how can I expect society at large to NOT love the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil? (John 3:19)

As far as churches go, there is this mindset of what can I take from God all the while bowing down to The Cool Kids' Table. There is not this attitude of worship and love for God and how He is timeless and infinitely beyond us in ever scope, yet came down to suffer and die for the stupid things we did. They are not like Isaiah:

YouTube Link

So why should I expect the world to NOT be pagans? OF COURSE, they are going to champion that which will send them to Hell (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). They do not love God.

I just find it so personally jarring because the world is so not me.

I am done making cultural commentary. You can just read up on The Babylon Bee on EXACTLY how I feel about present-day society. If I took an Arminian approach, maybe I could find comfort that maybe just the right argument might change their hearts. But, there is only divine election. God calls His people to Him and they come.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

Romans 11:2-5

I am listening to this old fave from 2004 for me, Jeremy Camp, One Day at a Time.

I love Jesus. I know that sounds so trite. I am likely within a quarter mile of a clothes rack of tired t-shirts with that. Look, it is the reason I live. He is my hope; He is my life. When my life has been off-kilter of that truth, I stand with trembling legs.

My death is coming soon; glorification and eternity await. What a warming realization!

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

Indeed, time is fast. I have no promise I will live as long as my parents. In only 19 years, I will have reached the age when my Mom died—21 for my Dad. Nineteen years ago was my big year of 2004 of my Dad's death, Europe and move to and from Arizona. Twenty-one years was 2002 as I volunteered as a barista, continued to learn about daily Christianity at the Mug and worked at a church.

These are fresh memories. It stands to reason that the chapter with the life of this fallen body will soon close.

In the Meantime...

However, there is more than mop-up duties remaining. Just because I know what my end shall be does not keep me from playing the game and responding in a spirit of thankfulness to God. I have no plans to build an earthly kingdom with the short years that remain. I do not pursue wealth, prestige or power.