iBelin

The Endless Climb

// April 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Discipline

Kairos Community, the church I serve as pastor, is going through Bootcamp led by Reginald A. Lewis, Certified Personal Trainer and Founder of the ‘Fit and Fly Nation.’ It will take place on Saturdays in May at a cost of one non-perishable food item to be donated to the Second Harvent Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Email me or leave a comment if you want to know more.

This is a guest post is by Reginald Lewis:

The Endless Climb
When it comes to fat loss and fitness, it can seem like you are climbing an endless Mountain. Or maybe I should say endless blubbery Mountain.

The path can be long, uphill, and not well marked. Not to mention the pain that’s involved. But you don’t have to do it alone.

Find a guide.

I have in my life a few mentors for various aspects of business and personal life. I may have everything together when it comes down to maintianing a healthy lifestyle, but when it comes to other aspects of my life I admit I can’t always do it alone.

God/My Pastor : Spritual Guidance
Financial Advisor: Financial Guidance
My Parents: Relationship Advice (they have been married for over 27 years)

Get the point?

Think of your trainer as someone who is mentoring you in leading a healthier and more active lifestyle.

Laziness
I know a lot of lazy people.

People who would rather spend the day planted on their couch than anywhere else.

People who choose take-out over home cooked, every night of the week.

People who would rather have a root canal than go do a workout.

Sure, I know that we all have our occasional lazy day on the couch, but lately it seems that more and more people are turning laziness into a career.

What about you?  Do the following describe you:

You are habitually inactive.

You’d rather be a passive observer than an active participant.

You’re a master excuse-maker.

You find shortcuts in order to avoid the long haul.

If that’s you, don’t get down on yourself. There are many legitimate causes of laziness. Here are just a few…

Sleep Deprivation: When you’re short on sleep it’s easy to become unmotivated, which quickly turns into laziness. Get a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night in order to maintain enough energy to get you through the day. Some experts even say that ten hours of sleep each night is what you need to function at your best.

Caffeine Abuse: Starting your day with a jolt of java may help with your initial alertness, but the dip in energy that takes place a few hours later could be the reason that you become lazy later in the day. Avoid the rush and crash of caffeine and instead rely on your steady supply of natural energy.

Bad Habit: At some point being lazy simply becomes a habit. If every night after work you head straight to the couch, it soon becomes automatic and not a conscious decision.

Breaking the habit of laziness is actually quite easy. Simply take yourself off of autopilot and make the conscious decision to do something productive instead – like heading to the gym rather than the couch. Inactivity: If your job keeps you in a chair for hours at a time, and you don’t exercise when off the clock, then your body is just accustomed to inactivity.

It’s time to wake up your under-used muscles and to reacquaint yourself with the joy of motion.

A simple way to get back into the swing of things is to go on a 30 to 60 minute walk either before work or after you return home. Once you’ve broken yourself in with consistent walks, contact me to get started on a fitness program that will quickly get your body back into great shape.

Laziness begins when you ignore that little nagging voice in your head. You know, the one that reminds you when you should take action on something rather than sit by and let the opportunity slip away.

Is today the day that you will kick laziness to the curb?

Is today the day that you will take action toward achieving your goals?

Is today the day that you will listen to that little voice of reason?

Imagine Your Ideal You
What does the ‘ideal you’ look like?

How does the ‘ideal you’ spend their time?

Who would the ‘ideal you’ spend time with?

What would the ‘ideal you’ accomplish?

The distance between you and your ‘ideal you’ is created by laziness.

When faced with decisions, big or small, do what your ‘ideal you’ would do, rather than taking the easy way out.

A Saturday in Spring

// April 17th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Nashville

So, I’ve enjoyed this Saturday in Spring and I thought I’d share some of it with you:

The day started in Edwin Warner Park on the blue hiking trail. When I finished, I rested my dogs and took in the view from the deck of the nature center:

After getting the heads up from Konson, I headed to Centennial Park for the Earth Day Festival:

This couple was a little off the Earth Day path making beautiful music. They perform at Dan McGuinness on Sundays at 5:00 p.m. I’m going to check them out (and have the fish and chips!)

Music – Earth Day in Centennial Park Nashville from Roderick Belin on Vimeo.

Love me some Oasis Center! Kairos Community, the church I serve is partnering with them to made a difference in the lives of young people in Middle Tennessee.

These folk are from the Common Ground Bakery in Pulaski, Tennessee. Real good baked goods. You can find them at the Farmers Market and various festivals around Middle Tennessee.

Dance – Earth Day in Centennial Park Nashville from Roderick Belin on Vimeo.

See how this says, “Free Convenient Quick”? I’m wondering what transit is doing for the paying folk north and south of downtown who have no choice but to use public transportation that all to often is neither Free Convenient or Quick! But I digress…

These guys are flying a kite. I’m thinking about writing a post on our being attuned to the Holy Spirit using this video.

Kite – Earth Day in Centennial Park Nashville from Roderick Belin on Vimeo.

And then there was this quilt which deserves it’s own post. Click the quilt!

A Quilt and a Legacy

// April 17th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Nashville, storytelling

There was a beautiful very young couple sitting on the edge of the lake in Centennial laughing and enjoying each other and the day on this beautiful quilt. He was fair with hair like silk. She was dark with hair like wool. Both equally precious to God and to me.

When I asked about the quilt, I was met with effervescent smiles and learned that the quilt was given to the guy by his grandmother. It looked old but appeared to have a new back on it held in place by yarn ties about 3 inches apart. They made me smile – the couple, their quilt and how much they were enjoying being together. I especially liked that they were reclining on a family treasure that looked so worn and delicate yet strong enough to support them. The small details and stitches carefully, loving presided over by a matriarch has been reinforced in later years to ensure that they legacy lasted for just such a moment as I was graced to see.

My camera phone failed before I could get a picture of the back of the quilt and I thanked them for taking the time to talk to me. I was going to race to the car to get camera to see if I could get another picture of the quilt, and, hopefully, of them. But, as I turned to see where they were, they had rolled the quilt up, put it in a backback and was walking away clinging to each other.

I suppose this is how legacies should be handed down – given to the young, reinforced when time wears them down, spread out to provide a foundation where love can blossom and then packed up and carried to the next place when one can pause and be renewed.

Go Outside and Walk!

// April 15th, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Discipline

Yeah, that’s right! I’m telling you, not asking! Go outside and walk!

Listen, I have been one of the most sedentary people on the face of the earth in my lifetime. A lover of TV and snacks galore, I fell victim to bad moods, sluggishness and lethargy. But then, I found this amazing place: Outside! It’s free and no reservations necessary. What’s more, you can go there whenever you like. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night impinges on the hours of operation Outside! It’s always open and available.

Going outside for a walk is the answer to many a malady:

• Feeling tired? Go outside and walk!
• Mind a little cloudy? Go outside and walk!
• Mood a bit low? Go outside and walk!
• Pants too tight? Go outside and walk!
• Bored? Go outside and walk!
• Out of sorts? Go outside and walk!
• Sluggish bowels…? Go outside and walk!
• Not sure how to tackle an assignment? Go outside and walk!
• Feeling lonely? Go outside and walk!
• A little too dependent on the evening beer, wine or liquor? Go outside and walk!
• Not feeling sexy? Go outside and walk!
• Difficulty sleeping? Go outside and walk!

Going outside for a walk is perfect for making a good day great:

• Clothing fits perfectly? Keep it that way: Go outside and walk!
• Feeling sexy? Flaunt it: Go outside and walk!
• Just had a wonderful meal? Go outside and walk!
• Got something to celebrate? Go outside and walk!
• Want a really cool way to spend time with family? Go outside and walk!
• In love? Go outside and walk (holding pinky fingers)!
• In like? Go outside and walk (listening and laughing a lot)!
• Want to be in love? Go outside and walk!
• Want to do something wonderful for yourself? Go outside and walk!

Go outside and walk! There are mucho blessings for your body, mind and soul when you go outside and walk!

Blessed to Be a Blessing

// April 9th, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Discipline, Homelessness, hunger

Spending time mumbling, grumbling and complaining about what you don’t have is the biggest joy and peace killer in the world. Why? because when you are focused on what you don’t have you are not enjoying and thanking God for what you do have…

You are blessed! If you are alive, you are blessed. Hey! for that matter, if you are reading this, you are blessed. So give up the mumbling, grumbling and complaining and exchange these for love, gratitude and service.

Seriously, complaining people are miserable and no fun to be around. Moreover, when you help someone else, you boost your value in your own mind and you polish off some of the “patina” on your self-image.

Want to know who I’m using my blessings to bless? Click here! BUT NOT BEFORE YOU LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW (I am sooooo serious)!!!

My 2000 Concert of Sacred Music

// April 7th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Worship Resources, worship

1 Malotte’s The Lord’s Prayer
2 O God Our Help in Ages Past
3 How Tedious and Tasteless the Hours
4 Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee
5 Great is Thy Faithfulness
6 My God is So High
7 Gonna Shout All Over God’s Heaven
8 Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning
9 This River
10 My Chains Fly Off
11 Three Hymns (Be Still My Soul, In Times Like These, The Name of Jesus)
12 Medley of Hymns sung to RETREAT LM

Peace

// April 7th, 2010 // 5 Comments » // Faith

“Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea,
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of oceans and earth and skies!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will:
‘Peace, peace be still.’”

I dreamed I was in a worship service and the choir was singing the James Cleveland arrangement of “Peace, Be Still.” I stood, listened, lifted my hands and surrendered fear, chaos and troubling thoughts that were disturbing my peace. I laid hands on chest and my stomach and received the truth of the song into my own heart, my belly (the seat of my emotions, feelings and will) and my life!

A woman of God whom I trusted was moving through the congregation ministering to people while the choir sang. She came to me and laid hands on my chest. As I went out in the Spirit, I awakened to write this to share with you:

No matter what threat of danger or circumstance has disturbed your peace, the Presence of Almighy God in your life is even now speaking in a calm voice that only s/he with the assurance of authority uses: “Peace, Be Still.”

Whatever storms are raging in your life, GOD who has ALL POWER says, “peace…”

Surrender the fear, chaos and troubling thoughts and receive the Peace of God.

Peace.

I Live In Hope*

// April 5th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Homelessness, hunger

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives hope to the hopeless. I live in that hope.

I live in hope that more and more citizens of Middle Tennessee will have the blessing of shelter.
I live in hope that hungry men, women and children will find permanent, regular and consistent means to food.
I live in hope that more and more people will open their eyes and hearts to really see our homeless sisters and brothers.
I live in hope that dignity be restored to men and women whose lives have been devastated by poverty.
I live in hope that people who are homeless will no longer be treated as criminals.
I live in hope that children will eat a sufficient amount of healthy food to feed their minds and their bodies.
I live in hope that those who recognize they are blessed will commit to be blessings to others.
I live in hope that Middle Tennesseans will rise to the challenge before us and give hope to the hungry and homeless.
I live in hope that people and organizations will come together in partnerships to support the work of organizations that produce results.
I live in hope that people from different backgrounds and beliefs will collaborate to find new solutions for old problems of homelessness and hunger.

When a negative reality has persisted over time, there is a temptation to lose hope that reality can change. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ restores hope to the hopeless, the homeless and the hungry.
I live in hope. I am the change.

*I’m going to share what I’m learning and doing about homelessness and hunger in a series which this post begins.
(Photo by Maggie Smith)

Resurrection Wounds*

// April 4th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // LENT, Lent Devotional

“When he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
John 20: 20

In the movie Madea’s Family Reunion a song sung by Rachael Ferrell, lyrics by J. Carlock goes something like this: “As time passes they begin to multiply adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree; there are wounds in the way; some old, some new all stifling debilitating and cruel and some are passed down from elder to youth – they don’t belong to you.

As time passes, they begin to accrue, a strange sort of value; some you don’t think that are worth holding on to; cause you don’t want to change who you are: there are wounds in the way”

There are times in our lives when we have allowed our wounding to get in the way of our living. Jesus did not allow his wounds to get in the way of the resurrection.

John’s gospel indicates that Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection. Initially he had sent them news of the resurrection and now he comes himself
The disciples were locked behind closed doors perhaps to encourage each other, pray or develop a new strategy to do damage control of the horrific evens on that fateful Friday. Wounds tend to do two things. They will either cause you to hide or try to hurt someone. Hurt people can hurt other people.

Although the disciples were on lock down, Jesus appears to them and shows them his wounds. Some scholars in a majority opinion believe that Jesus showed his wounds to prove that he was the same Jesus that hung on the cross and rose from the grave. The wounds proved that he was who he said he was. He was the risen Christ and not an impostor.

The wounds were the evidence, the tell tale signs of the resurrection. They were validation of his life and teachings. The wounds spoke of the resurrection: Jesus is not just a good guy; another prophet or teacher but he is the Son of God who said he was going to suffer and die and said he would rise on the third day.

His wounds were the fulfillment of what Isaiah spoke as in he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity. Jesus bore the marks of his affliction and ours in his body.

Flora Slosson Wirellner writes that showing the wounds were acts of mercy- swift acts for friends who were confused; who misunderstood; those struggling to understand what was happening.

The resurrection did not blot out the wounds, erased the wounds, and reversed the wounds. Jesus rose from the grave in spite of the wounding with the scars and the sores that were produced by the hurt and pain of a brutal public crucifixion.

The wounds themselves are a sign of healing; scabs formed over the abrasions where his skin was scraped off as he stumbled along the apian way carrying the cross; wounds were a sign of healing – the lacerations where his flesh had been torn open by the leather whips; penetrating wounds from the spear in his side- the clots that had formed over the bleeding holes in his hands, and feet that indicated healing- like stretch marks on a woman’s belly show the at one time new life stretch the skin to its breaking point but now healed the scar remains.

Jesus showed his wounds. They identify him with the human condition. God fully entered into our daily life through his son; entered into the daily injustice and pain of exclusionary idioms– he passionately carries our wounds in his body and longs for our healing

The wounds remind us that God through his son Jesus Christ will never ignore or negate nor minimalize the human condition. He will never be beyond our reach or cry. Jesus suffered for us then and suffers for us now.

Jesus shows his wounds – they more than validate his resurrection he also demonstrates that in spite of all that happened to him on Calvary – he did not let his wounds get in the way.

The wounds of his descend did not prevent his assent; the wounds of his demise did not get in the way of his come back; the wounds of his downfall did not prevent his uprising. The wounds from his humiliation did not prevent his elevation; the wounds of he agitation did not get in the way of the wounds of his motivation; the wounds of his crucifixion did not get n the way of his glorification. The wounds did not get in the way.
It is an encouragement that as we celebrate another resurrection Sunday, to never let our wounds get in the way!

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com
www.vashtimckenzie.blgospot.com
www.13thame.com

**During Lent and Holy Week, devotional writings will be posted by Facebook and Twitter friends who are praying and fasting together in a Daniel Fast. Read more about this “Journey to the Heart of God by clicking here.

Saturday, April 3rd – “Who Will Help to Bury Me?”

// April 3rd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // LENT, Lent Devotional

John 19:38-42 (KJV)
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
One day in the year 2000, in my hometown, my infant son and I were riding in my recently purchased first car. I was so elated to have transportation I forgot one of the most important components: gas. I ran out of gas right down the street from the gas station. I looked around in dismay at the daunting task of how I would get to the gas station. With no phone and no other prospects, I got out of the car with my infant son and started walking. After 10 minutes, a young lady pulled up behind me and said, “I just couldn’t let you walk down this road with the baby.” She gave me a ride to the gas station and back to my car. In one of my vulnerable moments, I was cared for by someone whom I did not know.
I have learned that you will often be cared for in those vulnerable moments not by those whom you know, but by those who simply have compassion for you. Do not be deterred by the unavailability of those with whom you are familiar: God always places someone or something in our path to help to “bury” us. Joseph and Nicodemus were not the better known affiliates of Jesus, but they were there in Jesus’ most needful moment. Be confident that God always sees you and has those in place who will help to wrap you, preserve you, and bandage you in your time of need. The above scripture reference is not a story of doom and gloom, for we know that Jesus rose from the dead. The bandages and spices simply helped to preserve what would soon resurrect. You will resurrect soon. Until then, allow the linen and spices that are being applied to you to preserve you.

Prayer: Give us this day, our daily bread…

Terrance L. Culp, Associate Minister
The Life Cathedral
Orangeburg, SC
www.twitter.com/terrancelculp

**During Lent and Holy Week, devotional writings will be posted by Facebook and Twitter friends who are praying and fasting together in a Daniel Fast. Read more about this “Journey to the Heart of God by clicking here.