THE PRODIGAL PIG

Mission Accomplished!

2008-08-23T06:52:00.004-05:00

I AM FINISHED!

Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal

2008-07-26T08:36:00.003-05:00

Several weeks back AJ (A.K.A ToadKing) introduced me to a free online diet and weight loss journal called Fitday. It has really helped me track calories eaten, exercise, and weight loss. It provides some pretty useful reports on your progress and helps you set goals in various areas.

Below is a chart showing my personal weigh loss over the past 4-months (I entered all the information I had been keeping on notebook paper):

Oh yeah, by the way - I'm down 123.5 lbs.! 11.5 lbs. to my ultimate goal!

Anyway, Fitday is very useful...and, somewhat addictive!

Before and After @ 7 Months

2008-07-10T13:23:00.003-05:00

Down 113 lbs.

Frosty The Snowman...

2008-06-17T08:15:00.003-05:00

The End IS Near!

As I have continued to lose weight people have commented that I appear to be "melting away." So, I thought it would be appropriate to use the picture above for today's update.

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 100 lbs.

100 lbs. - WOW! Six months ago I would have never imagined it possible...but, then again, all things are possible through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Today's accomplishment will serve as a testimony to Gods power. You see, back in January our church organized a 21-day Daniel fast. Pastor Travis encourage each participant to have a specific need or purpose for our fast and to pray for God to move in that area. My desire was to lose weight. However, my desire has always been one for which I was only willing to talk about as I consumed a full rack of ribs and drank a 2 liter of Coke.

My prayer was answered as God has given me the dedication, drive, and determination to succeed in loosing the weight.
To God be the Glory!

Weight Loss Update...

2008-06-09T06:25:00.003-05:00

Just after my Doctor's visit I had a rough week - some call it a plateau. A few busy weekends, birthday parties, eating out vs. at home, lack of time for exercise, etc. all contributed to me gaining 8.5 lbs. back (going from 246.5 up to 255). Life settled down and after a few weeks of regained self-discipline, running, running, and more running, I lost the 8.5 lbs. and kept cruising. This morning I weighed 239.0 lbs. - 4 lbs. to go to my 100 lbs. milestone!

?? BBQ As An Art ??

2008-06-09T06:15:00.002-05:00

I saw this video on Pop Pop Culture, one of the blogs I frequently read - thanks Corky for the amusing posts, and wanted to share it with you. The sad part is that as I watched the video I realized that the BBQ sauce used was actual one of my favorites - Sweet Baby Ray's. MMmmm... makes me want some ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Hmm, I wonder if this is considered edible art?

An Open Apology to My Pharmaceutical Sales Friends

2008-05-23T04:47:00.002-05:00

Based on my visit with the Doctor yesterday, I must make an apology to those whom are employed as Pharmaceutical Sales Reps. Based on my new weight, blood preasure, and cholesterol levels...I doctor instructed me to quit taking one pill and is likely going to change me to a different, smaller dosage of another. So, while I am still supporting the drug industry - it is to a lesser degree now.

The only other significant development is that for the first time in my recent history (15 years) the doctor said if I didn't lose anymore weight, he wouldn't be terribly concerned. However, following standard protocol, I did get the "But, the more you lose, the less likely...."

So onward and DOWNWARD I'll continue to go...

Whats Up Doc?

2008-05-22T07:15:00.004-05:00

Today is the big day. In just a few hours I see my family doctor for the first time since December. In the post Going, Going, GONE! I talked about my last visit and the possibility of being placed on diabetic medicine.

Since that time I have worked very hard to lose weight and exercise all with the goal of avoiding the label of diabetic and the possibility of being removed of all other prescriptions I take. Today we shall see how far I've come...

As of this morning I've lost 88.5 lbs. (now 246.5), my waiste size has went from 50" to 42", and I am now able to jog 2-3 miles a day.

Stay tuned...

My Baby

2008-05-20T11:59:00.004-05:00

Pressing On!

2008-05-16T05:34:00.004-05:00

Today brings the accomplishment of another goal on the journey to 200 lbs. A few months ago, I half jokingly wondered if I could be at 260 lbs. before my next doctors appointment. I then said - with the belief that it wouldn't be possible - a dream would be 250 lbs. Today, with a full week before my scheduled appointment - I tipped the scale at 249.5 lbs. GRAND TOTAL LOSS = 85.5 lbs. in almost exactly 4 months.

I've always wanted to do the following:

First, I'd like to thank God who made all this possible! I'd also like to express my appreciation to my Treadmill (The NordicTrack C2500), the UT TRECS Facility, my family, and of course my coworkers whom continue to find new ways to motivate me.

The next goal - lose 15 lbs. for a total of 100 lbs. by July 1, 2008.

See you at the finish line!

Dilbert Like Office Policy

2008-05-14T12:09:00.002-05:00

I received the following "Policy" in an email today and thought it was funny enough (read as true to my situation at work) to share:

Dress Code:

- You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.
- If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise.
- If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise.
- If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor; you are able to come to work.

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break:
- Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.
- Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
- Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management

2008-05-13T05:33:00.005-05:00

This week several of my coworkers and I are traveling back and forth to Chattanooga to conduct interviews for a position we're hiring. The normal course of events when I spend any amount of time in Chattanooga is to find a Sticky Fingers BBQ resteraunt. If your a BBQ sauce fanatic like me, you'll enjoy the 5 different varieties they offer - Tennessee Wiskey being my favorite.

So far this trip has been different...

First of all, in my last blog entry I describe the day of trangression I had over the weekend with sushi. The thought of digging a deeper hole was unbearable. So, I decided to try something different that would offer a much healthier and lower calorie option.

Based on some quick internet research (thank you Google) and the recommendation of some locals, we chose to eat at BoatHouse Rotisserie & Raw Bar for lunch. Having recently taken the plunge and tried raw oysters, clams, and mussels and knowing that they have very few calories, I decided to try the El Scorcho Shellfish Stew and Bread.

The dish looked amazing when they delivered it to the table...the bowl of soup had a tomoto based broth with onions, green peppers, fresh cilantro, and lime juice that had some other sort of spice (it was spciy hot!). The bowl was garnished with fresh avacado and slices of lime. Included in the soup was 3 oysters, 4 mussels, 4 clams, and 2 LARGE shrimp. A perfect sized meal that (minus the avacado that I left as decoration due to the calories) was low in calories and very tasty.

I'd recommend this place as the food was very good, the atmosphere was good - especially since it is located on the river and offers a pretty decent view...

81 Steps Forward - 2 Steps Back

2008-05-12T05:24:00.003-05:00

OK, So the fact that I'm human was confirmed again this weekend...after loosing 81 pounds, I had a moment of weakness this weekend and visited Makino's All-You-Can-Eat Japanease Sushi Buffet. One plate lead to the second and on to the third! The total damage - 3.5lbs. Ouch!

So, Sunday, I worked the treadmill really hard and brought the gain down to only two pounds. Man was that SUSHI good!

59.25% = One Big Dumbbell

2008-05-08T04:46:00.003-05:00

Today's weigh in confirmed that I've reached another milestone in my epic quest to lose 135lbs. As of this morning I have now lost 80.5 lbs. in just under 4 months. As a short term goal I'm trying to get to < 250 before May 22 - my next doctor's appointment - as I hope to get off (or reduce the dosage) of my medications.

"If You Want It Done Right...Do It Yourself"

2008-05-05T07:44:00.006-05:00

My last few posts have been regarding the disappointing or mediocre BBQ I've had of late. So, with spring sprung, and summer quickly upon us, perhaps I'll have to get motivated and make some BBQ myself. As further motivation, I recently celebrated my 33rd birthday - for which I received various gifts of money for which I had no specific plans. Thats all changed!

The other day I ran to Kroger to pick up a few items for my wife. As I was heading to the checkout, I came across a small section of gas grills that caught my eye. Thats when I discovered my next purchase...The Char-Griller Duo. This unit is the best of all worlds - a gas grill - a charcoal grill - and, with a $60 attachment, a texas-style smoker.

My goal this week is to clean off the back deck at the house, preasure wash it, and remove my old grill and chairs. All of which to provide my soon to be new friend a nice and clean new home...

:)

Here's to a happy and productive summer of endless grilled / smoked items.

The Search for Smoke Leads South

2008-05-05T07:23:00.003-05:00

After my disappointing experience at Ott's BBQ in Knoxville on Friday, the family headed out to Cleveland, TN on Saturday as my cousin was graduating from Lee University. After all the festivities finished, including a small family reunion and a brief tour around the alma matter, we decided to visit a local BBQ joint as the taste for BBQ had not fully been quenched on the previous day.

The wife and kids has eaten at a place called Jordan's BBQ before on one of their trips to visit Uncle Brad. My oldest had enjoyed a peanut butter and banana sandwich her last visit and aggressively suggested we go back their so she could partake of another. Having never been there myself, and the fact that my wife said it was good, I was agreeable.

The facility was what I would expect for a locally owned BBQ joint, had great atmosphere, and smelled of smoke! Ah, now this is how its supposed to be... Anyway, I ordered the combo dinner with ribs and a smoked chicken breast, corn-on-the-cob, and their hot slaw. Notice the semi healthy option for a side dish... Even better is that when the food came out, it actually covered the plate and didn't cost nearly as much as the trips to Ott's.

I have to say, I'm much more of a baby back ribs kind of person and Jordan's serves spareribs. Nevertheless, their ribs were very tender, had a good sauce (not great), and had a semi smokey flavor. The smoked chicken breast was very moist and tender, yet again, just a slightly smokey taste. The sides, well, they were sides...not a huge fan of the hot slaw and the corn was .... corn.

I would certainly eat there again and it was much better than Ott's. However, my top three or four BBQ favorite eating destinations are still secure in their rankings...

Ott's to keep driving!

2008-05-05T05:32:00.004-05:00

Being a BBQ enthusist, I've been eager for the famed Ott's BBQ to reopen. For months I've saw blogs of folks recounting just how great the sauce was. Having opened last week, the Prodigal Pig, yours truly, made the trip over the hill (If the wind blows just right I can smell the smoker cooking) to see what this Ott's was all about.

The renovations to the resteraunt looked fantastic - although somewhat upscale from many of the BBQ joints I've frequented. Since it was a nice evening, the family decided to sit outside on the patio. Having two smaller kids, I gave my wife my order and then took the kids outside to get situated.

I should have know something was wrong with the place shortly after my wife appeared on the patio with "the" look. You know the look, the one where something was expensive or where she just encountered bad service of some sort. Turns out that in order to finance the renovations, Ott's has set their prices too high and skimped on the amount of meat they include.

Having recently acquired a taste for french food, I still held out hope in that sometimes small portions of excellent quality food more than make up the difference. Since I've been on a diet and exercise campaigne, I didn't really need the USUAL amount of pork I have been known to consume. Which brings me to another negative point...not a single available side dish had the hint of being healty (no side salad, green beans, corn-on-the-cob, etc.). So I opened up the sandwhich and was amazed at the lack of pork. Nevertheless, I charged on. The first bite of my sandwhich was nothing spectacular, in fact, not even half-way good. The pulled pork had very little, if any, smokey flavor. Further, the meat had large pieces of fat still attached. Hoping that the sauce would add value to the meat, I grabbed a bottle and covered the bun liberally...what a mistake. The sauce, to me, had an overwhelming pepper taste...

So, my first trip (and perhaps only) to Ott's was a HUGE disappointment! As the title suggests, perhaps next time I "Ott's" to just keep driving...for further down the road is Buddy's BBQ which, in my humble opinion, is MUCH MUCH better and less expensive. Better yet, continue on to Famous Dave's or the Bread of Heaven.

The Florida Trip In Review

2008-04-29T13:00:00.002-05:00

We Ate!

Rachel learned to drive! :(

Jenna sought help to be released from the evil puppy!

Not quite the man I used to be...

2008-04-29T05:33:00.004-05:00

After 10 days away from home and the comfort of my normal exercise/diet routine, I got back home on Saturday --- not looking forwared to greeting my trusty digital scale! After all, I ate most everything I wanted while on vacation with only a hint of self-control, mostly after my encounter with the 75 year old track star grandmother.

Evidentally the morning runs and constant walking associated with being at Disney went a long way towards burning off the extra calroies I consumed. I got back home Saturday, jumped on the scale, and to my pleasant surprise I neither gained nor lost any weight! That was a huge accomplishment given the temptations and lack of self-control I had at times on our trip.

3 Days later, a really intense workout or two later (I can certainly tell a big difference in my stamina and running speed after Florida), and back to the comforts of my normal diet plan, I've lost 4lbs. That brings my grand total weight loss to 72.5 lbs. - now just 62.5 lbs. from my ultimate goal of 200 lbs.

When I first began this journey, I thought 135 lbs. was an impossible mountain to climb -- however, I'm reminded by Phillipians 4:13 that "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"

The Old Grey Mare...

2008-04-25T10:20:00.002-05:00

I suppose it is just another day. After all, it seems like any other day - I'm stuck in a conference center room listening to a lecture on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards auditing techniques. Even better, tonight I get the "pleasure" of taking the family to Disney's Animal Kingdom (never been there before) and smell animal droppings.

Maybe its the fact I'm now on day 10 of being away from home or maybe its a proportional dose of being a scrooge that comes with another year of life experience (today is my 33rd birthday)...whatever the reason, it really does feel like a normal day. I feel older, but thankfully in better shape and much lighter than this time last year. Hey, I even passed up granny today on my morning run and maintained the lead throughout... All-in-all, I look forward to another year - one that brings greater accomplishments in my personal health, spiritual growth, and further enjoying my family.

High Quality Bait, Err Sushi

2008-04-22T15:47:00.004-05:00

Kimonos, located inside the Disney Swan Resort Hotel (Kimonos Information), has excellent sushi. The atmosphere is very pleasing, service is great, and the fish is top quality. I could have eaten the entire boat (see picture above) myself. MMMmmm...here's to top notch Sushi bars!

...and miles to go before I sleep!

2008-04-22T07:37:00.005-05:00

This morning I gained a new motivation in my pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Over the past few months I've worked hard to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise regularly. So, as usual, I got up early to begin my day with exercise and a light breakfast. The hotel (Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort) that I'm staying at is situated near Disney's EPCOT and Hollywood Studio theme parks, in addition to the Disney Boardwalk and several other Disney Resorts. All of these properties are connected by a very nice and wide walkway - landscaped to the 9's - and very well maintained.

Having so many different walkways, I tried a new route today that lead me along the waterway behind the Disney Boardwalk towards Hollywood Studios. Walking briskly, I approached the park and suddenly knew someone was about to pass me jogging - so I moved over. Suddenly, I realized that, despite my progress in exercise, I still have a long way to go....

I was being passed by a jogging grandmother who had to be 75 years old. To make matters worse, I decided that if she can jog at her age like that, surely I can keep up with her. So, for the next 2 miles, I ran as hard as I could to catch her, walk a little to catch my breath, run again to catch up, and then gasp for breath for a minute or two. At one point I actually passed her and gave myself a comfortable lead - for which moments later she GRACEFULLY passed me and kept gaining separation.

So, like one of my favorite poems suggests, I have miles to go before I sleep....

GO GO GRANNY!

Dining at Disney

2008-04-21T13:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, while I was in class, the girls went to Disney's Magic Kingdom for the day. After class was finished, I hoped on the bus from our hotel and headed over to spend a little time with them in the park. Aside from spending time with them and watching them laugh and be excited about various activities, the highlight of my evening was a turkey leg. A SMOKED TURKEY LEG! That took two hands to hold...

It was extremely good! I hope I get another before our trip is over!

The Mouse Tax - With An Economic Stimulus Package

2008-04-17T19:24:00.003-05:00

Often times I've heard people refer to their trip to Disney World as having to pay "the mouse tax." Having two small children, both girls, I know the love they have of the Disney princesses and all the other characters. In the past, I have considered Disney as an option for vacation and always decided that it is just too expensive. The ticket prices are through the roof and food is outrageous. To further complicate the scenario, I can't think of ANYTHING I'd love to do LESS than walk around a theme park with screaming kids in 90 degree weather for miles upon miles - AND have to pay close to $100 for the PLEASURE.

I know, this is where the wife calls me scrooge or some other loving adjective...

So, when my employer decided to send me to a training course in Orlando at the Disney Swan and Dolphin resort, originally, I wasn't too excited. Nevertheless, I knew I had to take one for the team and take the family along. After all, what kind of dad would I be if I could take my girls to Disney, and, have most of the cost picked up by my employer (hotel, transportation, and my meals)?

As I mentioned in a recent post, I've been really working hard over the past three months to lose weight. Having exercised a considerable amount as part of this effort, I'm anxious now to see how well I can handle the endless walking.

I arrived mid afternoon today and got settled into my room - the girls are coming tomorrow so the oldest doesn't miss too much school. To my own surprise, I decided to take a walk and find the exercise room. After a 4 mile walk and a small workout, I'm actually excited about being here and spending time with my family (when I'm not in my class - ;) and enjoying Disney through their eyes versus thinking WHEN ARE WE JUST GONNA SIT DOWN - ENOUGH ALREADY.

Its sad to think how many memories I may have spoiled or never made because I was too overweight or tired to get out there with my girls and just have fun.

So, while it took an economic stimulus package from my employer to get me here, I am looking forward to paying the mouse tax and making some new lasting memories with my girls.

WAIT! Don't Hesitate!

2008-04-15T06:56:00.004-05:00

This morning as I was walking on the Treadmill, I had a revelation. The Bible states that "They that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." The part that we often miss is that once he says GO, we are not supposed to hesitate. Obedience requires immediate action, no second guessing...

With that in mind, I saw on WBIR (local Knoxville news station) last night that my beloved BBQ joint (Bread of Heaven) has reopened for business. I've WAITED nearly three months for them to reopen...and...today, I will not HESITATE to renew my love of their BBQ chicken and greens.

See the report at the following URL:

Bread of Heaven Video on WBIR

P.S. - This apology goes out to my treadmill for what I am about to require of you to compensate for my trip to BBQ Heaven!

Going...Going...GONE!

2008-04-08T05:31:00.004-05:00

As one can easily see, the frequency in which I have taken time to blog over the past few months has dwindled to almost nothing. You see back in December I had the old annual physical. A physical, you know, where the doctor says you need more exercise, you need to eat a better diet, blah, blah, blah...

When the nurse weighed me I was horrified with the number she wrote down - in fact I think I got whiplash double checking to make sure my eyes hadn't suddenly failed me... Sad to say, I was at my all time highest weight of 335lbs. Being 6'2", I hide the weight pretty well as most people wouldn't beleive I weight THAT much. Nevertheless, it is true.

To top it off, the nurse called me at home the next day to say that based on my blood work, the doctor wanted to start me on medication as I'm showing the beginning signs of being diebetic. Having a long family history of hypertention and diabeties, I knew I didn't want that to deal with.

In January I made a committment to myself and my wife and kids to change. I began dieting and exercising. In February I purchased a treadmill and added both a morning and evening walk to my schedule. At the end of March I joined the exercise facility at my place of employment...

Today, April 8, 2008 - a little over 3 months from the beginning - I can say GONE to 60lbs.

Thats right I weighed 274.5lbs. at this morning's weigh in! 60lbs. Thats more that my 6 year old weighs, heavier than a bag of concrete mix, thats more than 7 gallon jugs of milk (a gallon of milk weight 8.5lbs.). No wonder I have so much more energy.

So, if you need an execuse for my lack of posting or question my committment, just suffice it to say that I'm prolly on the treadmill or at the gym working more of this insane weight off. My goal is to be down to 260lbs. when I go back to my doctor at the end of May. The ultimate goal is to be down to around 200lbs.

Being a Berean - The Importance

2008-04-07T08:01:00.003-05:00

ACTS 17:11 Calls those from Berea a more noble people for they received the word of God AND searched the scriptures to verify the truth of what they were taught. Today, more than ever, we need to adopt that principle in our daily lives. I taught a Sunday School class this weekend using the following scriptures/points. I also showed the video below to demonstrate the perverted teachings and beliefs that modern culture presents. My friends, the end times are upon us...

WHY IS STUDYING GOD’S WORD SO IMPORTANT?

(Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1)

- These scriptures warn that false teachings will work to lead us away from God.
- Aside from false teachings, we also must guard ourselves from false preachers/teachers/apostles.

(2 Corinthians 11:4,13; Galatians 1:6-9)

- The teaching that circumcision and keeping the Law are necessary for salvation is condemned (Gal. 5:2-4; Phil. 3:2).
- On the other side, teaching that liberty in Christ gives us excuse for licentiousness is also condemned (Jude 4).
- The denial of Jesus Christ's coming in the flesh is regarded as from the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:1-6).
- There are warnings about people who cause dissensions by teaching doctrine directly opposed to what Christians already know to be true (Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3:10-11).
- There are warnings about those who claim to love God but do not love God's people (1 John 4:20; 5:1), and who deliberately break away from the church on the basis of perverted doctrine (1 John 2:19).
- Finally, there are warnings against adding to or taking away from the words of prophetic Scripture (Rev. 22:18-19) or twisting the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16).

Looking over these warnings from Scripture, we may classify heresies into six major categories:

1. Heresies about revelation — teachings that distort, deny, or add to Scripture in a way that leads people to destruction; false claims to apostolic or prophetic authority.
2. Heresies about God — teachings that promote false gods or idolatrous distortions of the true God.
3. Heresies about Christ — denials of His unique Lordship, His genuine humanity, His true identity.
4. Heresies about salvation — teaching legalism or licentiousness; denying the gospel of Christ's death and resurrection; and so forth.
5. Heresies about the church — deliberate attempts to lead people away from the fellowship of true Christians; utter rejection of the church.
6. Heresies about the future — false predictions for which divine authority is claimed; claims that Christ's return has taken place; and the like.

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Hang Drum Blues

2008-02-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

So the other day I was on YouTube and ran across this video:

I want want of these! Apparently they are next to impossible to find as only two companies in the world make them..

A Day of Mourning!

2008-01-31T15:24:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite local BBQ joints will be closed for the foreseeable future due to an overnight fire...I'm terribly depressed.

Bread of Heaven Catches Fire

:(

"It's all greek to me..."

2008-01-04T08:58:00.000-05:00

As one would expect, the journey to a particular destination sometimes includes detours. As I mentioned in previous posts, I've been studying early church history and various apologetics to better understand the foundation of my beliefs. One of the themes I keep seeing presented by skeptics is that accuracy has been lost in translation from the original manuscripts to the modern english bible. Perhaps the only way to PERSONALLY settle this dispute in my mind would be to learn the original language.

Ironically, for quite some time, I have heard numerous preachers state "in the greek it means..." or "the word X is only used Y times and it always means..." during their messages. Having never really considered how such statements are researched, I have always assumed their correctness at face value and assumed this must have required significant study on the ministers part.

A little over two weeks ago I began researching various resources to learn greek. I've discovered a couple great items that have aided my learning process...

Biblegreekvpod is a free video podcast, available on iTunes, that offers short videos as introduction to various grammatical aspects of the language.

Teknia Software, along with the "Basics of Biblical Greek - Grammer" and Basics of Biblical Greek - Workbook" are great books to fill in the blanks not answered in the video podcasts.

Greek Bible Study is an online bible that uses the "Basics of Biblical Greek - Grammer" to create a graduated reader system for greek students. Very useful in testing your new skills.

Tis the Night Before Christmas...

2007-12-24T04:15:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it is the caffeine from the Mt. Dew I drank for dinner, since I haven't had one in several weeks, that has me awake at 4:15AM on this Christmas Eve!?! Then again, maybe it is the words of the Lord that I read prior to falling asleep that has stirred my thoughts and emotions...

Several months have passed since I began the "To Live As Christ" bible study written by Beth Moore. The study, which looks at the life of the apostle Paul, has been extremely eye-opening for me in several ways. Last night as I was rereading a portion of the bible study, the RED words in Acts 9:15-16 caught my attention:

"But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Something really strikes me about this passage.

To understand this, a little context is in order. As my recent posts have alluded to, I am trying to better understand the roots of my beliefs. Not that I question them or am searching for answers - I am quite confident in that respect. However, I have not really been able to defend my faith when questioned by skeptics. Modern culture and skeptics echo the sentiment that Christianity is a crutch or a convenient social construct to standardize morals. Numerous movements seek to undermine the credability of the Bible or to prove that Jesus wasn't the risen savior. Neither of which have gained any significant ground in over 2,000 years worth of efforts...

With that said, the thing that strikes me about the Acts passage is the statement "I will show him how much he must suffer..." Whether this SHOWING refers to the few days that he was blind and praying, or over the course of his ministry, or both I don't really know. But the greater question is the thought of what man says "yippee" I get to be stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, mocked, ridiculed, etc., etc., etc. - and willingly do it for some social crutch or common moral construct? Especially since the 10 commandments had long since been in place if we were just looking for moral law!

I believe the only reason a man of Paul's stature (a Pharisee) would do such a u-turn is to have had a real encouter with the Lord Jesus. One that he could hear the words of the Lord echo day after day in his mind - one the continued to reassure him of the calling and purpose for which he was called. Something I'm sure he would have to have been reassured of frequently throughout his missionary journeys and the numerous trials.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, I'm going back to bed so I don't wake the mouse... :)

Merry Christmas and God bless!

The Hero Pattern

2007-12-21T08:19:00.000-05:00

During a recent church service, the youth pastor at my church referenced the lack of uniqueness surrounding the birth of Christ. The point he was trying to make was that their has to be something more to our faith than a story - it has to be a relationship. Having never heard such a statement, about the birth of Jesus not being unique, I was dumbfounded. While my faith is not established on this point, It aroused an interest to understand the scope of what he was referring to.

Oddly enough, I ran across the The Blasphemy Challenge website that is encouraging folks to commit the unforgivable sin, video tape it, post it on youtube, and receive a free DVD. The DVD is titled The God Who Wasn't There. Out of curiosity I watched the provided trailer and the argument of Christ's birth lacking uniqueness, referred to as The Hero Pattern in the video, was used as "proof" that Christianity is a hoax. A quick google led me to the following site: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa4.htm.

I'm curious what other people's perspective is on this topic?

On an aside, I think the basis for the Blasphemy Challenge is fundamentally flawed in their interpretation of what Christ was truly saying. The following page helped clarify the true meaning for me: Unpardonable Sin

Gasp! Politically Incorrect?

2007-12-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Can he say that? Won't that offend potential voters? Its refreshing to see that Huckabee is being true to his convictions in spite of his quest for the oval office...

"The Case For Christ" As An Objective Apologetic?

2007-12-10T08:01:00.000-05:00

In my previous post - The Basis for an Objective Apologetic - I outlined my desire to find an objective set of criteria to evaluate the authenticity of the story of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the methodology employed by author Lee Strobel in the book “The Case for Christ” seems reasonable. Essentially Strobel, a former journalist for the Chicago Tribune and a once self-proclaimed atheist, uses the typical logic that an attorney would employ in any standard legal case.

The book documents a two-year period of Strobel’s life where he researched the historical, scientific, and religious aspects associated with Jesus Christ. All-in-all I think the book is very well written, and, for the most part, I agree with the conclusions he and many of those he interviewed, have arrived at. Specifics to follow in future posts...

The basis for an objective apologetic

2007-12-07T12:08:00.000-05:00

Why do I believe what I believe? This question has repeatedly surfaced in my mind over the past few months. These questions, combined with the world’s ever increasing effort to undermine the validity of Christianity, has created a deep desire within me to analyze why and how I have confidence in the authenticity of Jesus and the Bible.

Having no formal theological training, unless you want to count the few bible classes I took in college -- knowledge from which I’ve all but forgotten -- I’m looking to create an objective set of criteria by which I can read various religious, historic, and scientific sources to be able to firmly explain why I believe certain things.

Historically, man has used written apologetics to outline their specific beliefs and then to defend those beliefs against critics.

Ask.com defines it this way “The term apologetics comes from the Greek apologia, which means "defense" or "answer." Apologetics is the task of defending a particular idea or belief system and answering its critics. The origin of the concept of apologetics lies in the beginnings of Christianity. Between the second and fourth century, a number of Christian teachers wrote defenses of Christianity against pagan critics.

Usually, apologetics occurs in a religious context, and involves giving reasons for adopting a particular religion as opposed to some other religion or no religion at all. Apologetic defenses are done of doctrines so fundamental to a faith that it is assumed that no members would disagree with them - thus, the defenses are created with external critics in mind.

Most apologists one encounters tend to be Christian apologists, because a great many Christians believe that it is an important part of their faith that they go out and convert others.”

That pretty much sums up where I’m at - desiring to define my beliefs (It helps to know why you believe something when defending it and sharing it) -- and wanting to understand why others are critical of the beliefs I hold.

Stay tuned for more from the prodigal pig.

Happily Ever After - Part 2

2007-04-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

In a previous post I address how the lack of trials in ones life may be a sign of being on the wrong track....after further study of the ministry of the apostle Paul, I'd like to continue that though.

Is it possible that the absence of persecution in our life is a sign of ineffectiveness?

Observe the following pattern:

Pisidian Antioch
Acts 13:49 - "The word of the Lord spread through the whole region"
Acts 13:50 - "But the Jews...stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from the region."

Iconium
Acts 14:1 "A great number of Jews and Gentiles believed."
Acts 14:2 "The Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds.
Acts 14:5 "There was a plot ...to mistreat them and stone them."

Lystra
Acts 14:9 Paul performs a miracle for a cripple and people begin to worship Paul & Barnabas
Acts 14:18 The had difficulty keeping the crowds from sacrificing to them
Acts 14:19 "Jews from Antioch and Iconium" came and won the crowd....they "stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead."
Acts 14:20 "he got up and went back into the city."

Phillipi
Acts 15:15 Lydia and her household baptized
Acts 15:18 Paul casts out evil spirits from a slave girl
Acts 15:19-24 Paul and Silas sent to prison

Thessalonica
Acts 17:4 "Some Jews were persuaded....and a large number of God-fearing Greeks....and a few prominent women"
Acts 17:5 "But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd"

In each of these sequences Paul's ministry is shown as effective (persuading many to believe, performing miracles, baptizing many, etc.). In each of these cases persecution was encountered.
Now consider Paul's visit to Athens. In Acts 17:16-34 Paul attempts to persuade the people of city. No real persecution is encountered. The people seem receptive, however, Acts 17:34 says "a few men became followers." Its interesting that when Paul's ministry was effective, he was persecuted....and when he was ineffective, he suffered no persecution.

While this trend may not carry on throughout scripture, it certainly was the case for Paul.
Perhaps this is why Peter says the following:

I Peter 1:6-7

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Happily Ever After

2007-03-26T12:04:00.000-05:00

Most fairytales end with the line "...and they lived happily ever after." Many people believe that this is how the life of a Christian should be characterized after accepting Jesus as their Lord and savior. I've know people in the past that would comment "there must be sin in the camp" when others would face difficult times or trials. As I continue to study the life of the apostle Paul its painfully obvious that a life free from conflict isn't part of God's plan. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps the converse is true....if your life is smooth sailing, perhaps you are not where you need to be in your spiritual journey.  

Matthew 7:14 states "Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” This suggests to me that the way of a Christian will be filled with obstacles, isolation, and incomplete vision.

What the bible does promise is the following:
• God has a specific plan (Jeremiah 29:11)
• God provides a "flashlight" (Psalms 119)
• God provides power (Acts 1:8)
• God provides armour and weapons (Ephesians 6:10-17)

The Empty Tomb

2007-03-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

The title of today's post, "The Empty Tomb", is not likely a new revelation to many. The resurrection of Jesus has long been a central tenet of Christian theology. However, with the recently published documentary "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," many may question the validity of this precious believe.  

As I mentioned in "The Journey from Tarsus" post, I've been studying the life of the apostle Paul. I've been simply amazed at how entrenched the Pharisees had become in legalism. So much so that they could not recognize the very presence of the Messiah who was promised in prophecy by Moses. The gospels are filled with numerous accounts where Christ confounds the Pharisees as they try to apply religious legalism to the ministry of Jesus. The Pharisees, as Stephen points out in Acts 7:1-39, had become stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears. Their regimented life stlye and adherance to the legalistic doctrines that they and their forefathers had established led them to try and silence Christ and his disciples.  

The last miracle performed by Christ, the resurrection of Lazarus, was "the straw that broke the camels back." Caiaphas, high priest of the Sanhedrin, and many other Pharisees sought to and were successful in having Jesus crucified. Of specific interest is that after his death Caiaphas and the Pharisees went to Pilate requesting that Roman guards be sent to protect the body of Christ.  

Matthew 27:62-65  

The next day, the one after Preparation Day,the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said,`After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the bodyand tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.   

This brings me to the point of today's post and the associated revelation I had. Considering the following points:

• The Sanhedrin and Pharisee's were concerned for the security of Christ's body
• Their desire was to silence the teachings of Christ and the christian "movement"
• Persecution of Christians documented throughout NT as Christianity spread

The Sanhedrin and Pharisees, who went to great lengths to have Christ crucified would have expended significant energy in locating the body of Jesus. What better way would there have been than to simply produce the body of Christ - effectively silencing all that Christ had accomplished. The fact is they were not able to find his risen body. Today, some 2000 years later, the secular and religious opponents to the message of Jesus continue to try and find the body of Christ.....

So today I have two conclusions:
1.) The Tomb IS Empty
2.) If they truly want to find Christ, I have his exact location:

The Journey from Tarsus

2007-03-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

Over the past several months I have really developed a desire to learn more about the Bible. Perhaps in a future post I'll share more about the past few years of my life and how it has been almost stagnant in spiritual growth. Through the circumstances surrounding the birth of my 2nd child, where my wife and I saw God's mighty hand in action, I realized that I needed to invest more time and energy into my relationship with God.

  Having not been raised in a christian home, I struggle with not really knowing how to study the Bible. To complicate matters, the ministers/teachers at most churches I have attended assume that those in the audience have a good foundation for spiritual understanding. The realization that I needed better, more focused, teaching led to significant changes in my family's lives. This included the desire to find a new church more geared to developing the spiritual foundation and understanding of it's members. Although this was not an easy decision, looking back it was certainly the correct one.

  I recently came across the website for the Two Rivers Church (http://www.2rc.cc) located here in Knoxville, TN. After navigating around their website for a while I discovered that the pastor (Brad Brinson) made his sermons available for download. Further, in most cases, he also provides an outline to follow along with the message. After listening to several of his sermons regarding the topic of prayer, I came across a series he taught in early 2006 on the book of Ephesians (written by the apostle Paul). I found the series of sermons so fascinating that I committed myself to doing an in depth study of the life and ministry of Paul.  

This weekend I visited the Cedar Springs Bookstore (http://www.cschristian.com/e/home.asp) to see what, if any, study guides or resources were available to assist me. I chose a study created by Beth Moore whom my wife says is an incredible teacher, based on several past studies she has completed. The title of the study is "To Live Is Christ: The Life and Minstry of Paul." (http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/eshopping_product_page/0%2C%2CM%3D201079&I%3D0767334124%2C00.html?R=779590)  

The 10 week study begins with the assumptions made by the author regarding what the childhood of Paul must have been like. Tarsus is the city where Paul was born....thus, let the journey begin towards a better understanding............

What is a Prodigal Pig?

2007-03-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE PRODIGAL:

According to Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I, of course, am no exception to this fundamental principle. The amazing fact is that despite the seemingly endless ways I have failed him, he forgives my transgressions.  

In Luke 15:11-31 Jesus shares the parable of "The Prodigal Son." The story represents what God has done for each of us through the gift of his son Jesus. The Father has given each of us our inheritance - eternal life. John 3:16 states that "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  

During the course of our lives, we often end up in a place where we never wanted to be....In isolation from the creator and lacking the inheritance of eternal life. Romans 6:23 confirms that "the wages of sin is death." Therefore, we, in someway must reestablish communion with our heavenly Father. Jesus, through the way of the cross, provided this avenue.

  I, being a prodigal son, love the words of Ephesians 3:16-19 as it sums up my desire for each of you. I desire that you may know the extent to which God loves each of us and that you understand that the provision of forgiveness has already been made. We just have to accept it in our hearts....thus, the focus and desire for maintaining this blog.  

THE PIG:

Well, I love BBQ! Perhaps that is a slight understatement. A coworker recently commented that my personal modo seems to be “No Pig Left Behind.” I believe it is more accurate to state it as “No BBQ Left Behind” as I equally enjoy beef, pork, chicken, etc.

In my mind there is a great correlation between a spiritual journey and good BBQ. Good BBQ is only achieved when it is prepared "low-and-slow." My spiritual journey, like BBQ, has been a process that has taken time to fully develop. So, this blog will focus on what I consider to be biblical truths, my passion for BBQ, and the love I have for my amazing family.