E-Flash From Dan, Mother's Day 2010, And More...

Dear E-Flash Friends;

This Sunday, May 9^th, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day by honoring moms.  Hey, it’s a biblical thing to do, it’s even one of the 10 Commandments.  I hope you will invite your mom to come to church and then take her out afterwards for lobster and caviar.  Then I hope you will take her to a luxury car dealer and allow her to pick out any car that she chooses.  Then I hope you will lavish pearls and diamonds and other types of fine gold jewelry on her….

…Oops, sorry about that.  Every now and then I get in some type of strange mode and I start typing things with no consideration for logic or making sense.  I apologize, I’ll try not to let it happen again.

Okay, forget about the lobster and the luxury car and the expensive jewelry.  But we’re still going to honor moms this Sunday and I hope you will be able to be here.  “The Guys” will be leading the worship, that’s right “The Guys”—and that’s always something special.  We are praying and believing that God will be greatly glorified and that moms will be wonderfully blessed…and that somehow, we will all have a great time and be challenged in the faith, as well. 

If you say, “Oh, come on, all those things are not likely to happen in ONE service.”

I say, “Well, be here on Sunday and let’s find out.  That’s what we’re praying for.”

And the great time of worship together isn’t the whole story.  This Sunday our Mountain Movers discipleship group will also be having a Bake Sale fundraiser which will include selling “Biggest Loser” cookbooks.  I love it!  A “bake sale” in which we also offer cookbooks with recipes that will help you lose weight.  This proves that the Mountain Movers are becoming incredible disciples of Jesus because you have to have a fantastic amount of faith—mountain moving faith—to sell cookies, brownies, and cakes with frosting, along with a cookbook containing diet recipes.  The sheer beauty of that combination is likely to make this their best fundraiser ever!  In fact, in honor of that fundraiser I’m going on a very strict diet until dinner tonight, and then I’m going to eat 2 or 3 packages of Twinkies, followed up with a large chocolate sundae.

No, no, don’t thank me.  It’s the least I can do.

Moms, we love you and we hope to see you on Sunday!

“Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 5:16

Blessings,

Dan

I'm thinking of using this photo for the cover of

my up-coming diet cookbook.  I don't know...

what do you think?

P.S.  If you would like to have the E-Flash From Dan sent directly to your e-mail, send an e-mail message to: cog111st@aol.com    

....and type, "Send me the E-Flash" in the "subject" field.

Push Up Project, Day 8

I’m on my quest to work my way up to doing 100 non-stop push-ups.  My deadline is April 30^th.  I’m on Day 8 of my 75 day countdown.

Every time I tell people about this project, they are very encouraging.  I’m getting wonderful support.  Today at the restaurant where I hang out and do some of my reading and writing, I mentioned my project to Mary, one of the cashiers.  She said, “That’s great!  Here have a free cookie.”

Support.

Tonight, after supper at my sister’s house, she mentioned dessert.  And I said, “No, I better not, I’m training to do those push-ups.”

She said, “That’s great!  Here…” and she handed me a piece of my brother-in-law Paul’s birthday cake.

Support.

When I got home, later this evening, I petted Jasper on the head while I was sitting at the computer typing this note.  He said, “That’s great!” And he brought me a package of Twinkies from the kitchen.  (Actually, he brought 2 packages, but he ate one, himself.)

Support.

Today is the day of the week when the work-out that Paul created involves “squat thrusts”—or sometimes they’re called “burpees”.  After last week, I thought this particular exercise would be just a little bit easier this week.  You know, the legs get stronger, the muscles have begun the adaptation process, and the movement gets easier, right?

Nope.

I did the first set of squat thrusts this morning and it was very hard.  It almost felt harder this week than last week.  In fact, I hate to say this…it PAINS me to say this…it bothers me more than you will ever know to say this…but after that first set of squat thrusts….I felt old.

You say, "Wow, that's interesting, because you know what?  You LOOK old, too, Dan!"

Knock it off, wise guys.

But you know what?  I got warmed up and the blood started pumping and my resolve grew stronger.  And by the second and third set of squat thrusts…well…I felt even older.  Squat thrusts are not any easy exercise.  Have I mentioned that already?

But here’s what I did.  (Cue the “Rocky” theme song music.)  Since the squat thrusts were the hardest exercise, I did more sets of them.  Really.  I did.  I did 4 sets of 13 reps.  And then I did 3 sets of 15 reps.  Was it hard?  Yes.  But I figured, “Oh yeah?  I will be tougher than the squat thrusts!  I will beat them, they will NOT beat me!!!  Squat thrusts?  You will bow to my willpower and my discipline and MY SUPERIOR RESOLVE!!!!!!”

There I am, can you close your eyes and see it?  I’m standing at the top of the stairs, like Rocky, pumping my fists in the air as I jump up and down in slow motion, and the theme music reaches its inspiring climax!

By the way, does anyone out there have some crutches I could borrow?