3 pm--Started Miralax diet (mixed with Gatorade--ummm, ummm, good!) So far still not a real big deal.
Currently watching the final episode of Pride and Prejudice with Jan.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tim's Big Colonoscopy Adventure--Part 3
1:45 pm--Chicken broth really doesn't taste all that good but at least it has some protein.
4 hours right on the button. That nurse knows her laxatives.
Simple things to be thankful for--Vaseline, Preparation H, Huggies Baby Wipes
4 hours right on the button. That nurse knows her laxatives.
Simple things to be thankful for--Vaseline, Preparation H, Huggies Baby Wipes
Tim's Big Colonoscopy Adventure--Part 2
12:30 pm-just got up after laying down for a brief nap. Didn't sleep much or well but did rest.
Otherwise, nothing yet. This prep day is a piece of cake (or, better metaphor, a glass of water!) :)
Otherwise, nothing yet. This prep day is a piece of cake (or, better metaphor, a glass of water!) :)
Tim's Big Colonoscopy Adventure--Part 1
Monday, March 10, 2008, 10:10 am--tomorrow I'm having my very first colonoscopy! I can't tell you how excited I am. So, ala Katie Couric, I've decided to blog my experience so that you weenies out there over the age of 50 who have yet to do this will take courage from me--one of the biggest weenies you'll ever meet.
Today is prep day (i.e., spring cleaning day!). I got up at 6:15, did my 20 mile bike ride followed by my push-ups. In between, at 9 am, I took my four laxative pills. It's the first time in my life that I've taken a laxative so it should be a very moving experience.
The doctors office called just as I was nearing the end of my bike ride and told me the four laxative pills wouldn't kick in for about 4-6 hours! So, so far, so good!
In the meantime, I will be hanging out, doing some reading, watching tv, getting to really know our bathroom, and checking in with you to give you the occasional updates.
I'm off to drink more water and dream of burgers and fries.
Today is prep day (i.e., spring cleaning day!). I got up at 6:15, did my 20 mile bike ride followed by my push-ups. In between, at 9 am, I took my four laxative pills. It's the first time in my life that I've taken a laxative so it should be a very moving experience.
The doctors office called just as I was nearing the end of my bike ride and told me the four laxative pills wouldn't kick in for about 4-6 hours! So, so far, so good!
In the meantime, I will be hanging out, doing some reading, watching tv, getting to really know our bathroom, and checking in with you to give you the occasional updates.
I'm off to drink more water and dream of burgers and fries.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The People God Uses
I wrote yesterday that I had lunch with a pastor friend last Friday. It was a good chance to get caught up on mutual pastor buddies and acquaintances. These are all pastors I really admire but as I thought back over the conversation I was struck at just how human us pastor-types are.
One is a high control freak (yes, that describes me, too, but I'm thinking of someone else). Another has no training or theological background at all and has built an amazing congregation. One has few if any real people skills and has built a massive church. One has incredible physical challenges and has a global ministry. One struggles with an anxiety disorder (yours truly). One can't organize anything let alone spell the word but still has been used to build a significant mission. And the list goes on and on.
Not unlike the group Jesus put together--a foot-in-the-mouth Peter. A traitor to the Jews tax collector--Matthew. Two brothers with hot tempers--James and John. A thief and betrayer--Judas. And yet Jesus used them all (he could have even used Judas--Jesus chose him after all) to bring his grace to the world.
Jesus uses every day people, with foibles and challenges and glitches and idiosyncrasies, in their every day lives as teachers and realtors and mechanics and husbands and wives and parents and gardeners and bank tellers, etc., to bring his amazing grace to a world filled with people with foibles and challenges and glitches and idiosyncrasies.
One is a high control freak (yes, that describes me, too, but I'm thinking of someone else). Another has no training or theological background at all and has built an amazing congregation. One has few if any real people skills and has built a massive church. One has incredible physical challenges and has a global ministry. One struggles with an anxiety disorder (yours truly). One can't organize anything let alone spell the word but still has been used to build a significant mission. And the list goes on and on.
Not unlike the group Jesus put together--a foot-in-the-mouth Peter. A traitor to the Jews tax collector--Matthew. Two brothers with hot tempers--James and John. A thief and betrayer--Judas. And yet Jesus used them all (he could have even used Judas--Jesus chose him after all) to bring his grace to the world.
Jesus uses every day people, with foibles and challenges and glitches and idiosyncrasies, in their every day lives as teachers and realtors and mechanics and husbands and wives and parents and gardeners and bank tellers, etc., to bring his amazing grace to a world filled with people with foibles and challenges and glitches and idiosyncrasies.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
How big is big enough?
In our current series, 40 Days of Simply Living, one of the questions we are asking ourselves as followers of Jesus immersed in a consumer culture is--how much is enough? How much do I really need to live a fulfilled, abundant life?
I heard the question raised from a different perspective the other day. I was having lunch with a pastor friend of mine. He told me of a conversation he had had recently with a soon to retire pastor of a large, 45 acre campus. He said to my friend, "Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't build a huge campus. The financial burden I am leaving my congregation with is enormous." His church needs to take in $100,000 per month just to turn on the lights. That doesn't include ministry staff, programming, etc. And they will have to do that every month until Jesus comes back!
I was a part of a large, fast-growing congregation. To keep up with the growth we had to buy more acres. We had to build more buildings. I understand the pressure of trying to accommodate all the people God brought out way. Thankfully we were wise enough to include schools to ease the financial hardship. To this day I believe it was God's call for us to purchase that land and build a large campus.
But one of the unintended consequences of these overly large church campuses, if we aren't careful, can be the "inheritance" we leave the next generations--a huge campus with huge bills and the pressure to maintain the campus and pay the bills!
This retiring pastor said that if he were to do it again, he'd start more churches and not build a huge campus.
Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, the "more" bug hits us pastor-types as we seek to grow our congregations. Like consumer culture we believe the more we have, the bigger we are, the more people we can reach. Which is true. And worthy. But what are the long term consequences? Who will pay for it down the line? Even if the buildings are paid for, who will pay the light bills, the staff bills to staff the buildings, etc. If we aren't careful the missions of the generations to follow us in those big buildings will simply be to figure out how to get more people in to cover the bills.
I'm a pro big church guy. I've seen first hand the power of a church with momentum. I've seen the kinds of ministry big churches can do.
But when is big big enough?
As Grace looks to the future--to building, to church starts--it's a question we'll want to keep in mind.
I heard the question raised from a different perspective the other day. I was having lunch with a pastor friend of mine. He told me of a conversation he had had recently with a soon to retire pastor of a large, 45 acre campus. He said to my friend, "Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't build a huge campus. The financial burden I am leaving my congregation with is enormous." His church needs to take in $100,000 per month just to turn on the lights. That doesn't include ministry staff, programming, etc. And they will have to do that every month until Jesus comes back!
I was a part of a large, fast-growing congregation. To keep up with the growth we had to buy more acres. We had to build more buildings. I understand the pressure of trying to accommodate all the people God brought out way. Thankfully we were wise enough to include schools to ease the financial hardship. To this day I believe it was God's call for us to purchase that land and build a large campus.
But one of the unintended consequences of these overly large church campuses, if we aren't careful, can be the "inheritance" we leave the next generations--a huge campus with huge bills and the pressure to maintain the campus and pay the bills!
This retiring pastor said that if he were to do it again, he'd start more churches and not build a huge campus.
Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, the "more" bug hits us pastor-types as we seek to grow our congregations. Like consumer culture we believe the more we have, the bigger we are, the more people we can reach. Which is true. And worthy. But what are the long term consequences? Who will pay for it down the line? Even if the buildings are paid for, who will pay the light bills, the staff bills to staff the buildings, etc. If we aren't careful the missions of the generations to follow us in those big buildings will simply be to figure out how to get more people in to cover the bills.
I'm a pro big church guy. I've seen first hand the power of a church with momentum. I've seen the kinds of ministry big churches can do.
But when is big big enough?
As Grace looks to the future--to building, to church starts--it's a question we'll want to keep in mind.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
I'm Back!
It has been awhile since I've checked in on my blog. Jan and I were in Hawaii for a couple of weeks on vacation and it's taken me another week to find a moment to blog again.
Jan and I had a wonderful vacation. It was one of those vacations in which every day moved nice and slow. It was the first time I'd taken two full weeks off at once in a long time, missing two weekends in a row. And it was good!
So I'm ready to hit the blog again in the coming days. I'm excited to see what may come out of my fingers onto the screen.
Jan and I had a wonderful vacation. It was one of those vacations in which every day moved nice and slow. It was the first time I'd taken two full weeks off at once in a long time, missing two weekends in a row. And it was good!
So I'm ready to hit the blog again in the coming days. I'm excited to see what may come out of my fingers onto the screen.
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