More than I ask or imagine. . .

Lose Weight A Thon

On January 1, 2007, my weight was between 300 and 305 lbs. It stabilized there since seminary. When I moved from Nashville to Philadelphia to go to Westminster Theological Seminary, I gained between 40-50 lbs. Who knew that cheesesteaks, pizza, and cola would do so much harm. The lowest point, or the heaviest, was after doing 2 papers in one night I celebrated by having 2 cheesesteaks and a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Mmm, I mean yuk! After I did that, I felt like an addict.

So, this year as whim, I decided to run a 5k, and start lifting weights again. Lifting weights is like reading the Bible. It is amazing and so good for you, but you make all kind of excuses about doing it. No more. As of September 2007, I weighed 285 lbs.

I seemed stuck there for while and then Hesed had an idea. You have heard of a golf a thon, walk a thon, and even a read a thon, but she had an idea for a git fit a thon or lose weight a thon. So here is the situation, I am going to try to lose 30 pounds in 3 months. So on October 1, I weighed 285 and the goal is to be 255 by December 31, 2007. I am asking people to support my college minstry by either pledging a dollar amount per pound, pledging an amount if I lose 30 achieveing my goal, or pledging an amount as an encouragment gift.

Below, is my before picture so let me know if you want to jump on the bandwagon. It takes a villiage to make Jerry lose weight.

New Life Sermons on the Web.

Yes, if you really want we do still have tapes, but we skipped over the whole DVD thing and now they are on the web. If you would like to listen to sermons by me or our other fine pastors at New Life Dresher, just click here.

If you have any feedback, please comment on this blog!

Bittersweet Summer

As I look back to my last post, I realize how much has gone on this past summer. My last post was on May 4, that day I also found out that my wife was pregnant. We ran a 5k on the 5th, my new year's resolution was to run a 5k. Then, getting ready for church on Sunday, my wife felt a sharp pain and was very ill. I went to church as usually expecting her to meet me. She had gotten worse, and so I just went home to be with her. Around 6pm that night, Hesed lost consciousness and went into shock. We live close to the hospital and the paramedics where there in minutes.

Hesed had an ectopic pregnancy that had burst, they had to remove her tube and the baby. God was so gracious through it all. A sad time but a time when we felt his goodness and faithfulness admist the pain and loss. Hesed is a remarkable woman, and she is recovering nicely. God will make plain one day why this happened, but now I am so thankful that Hesed is alive and at full health

We continued our fitness theme, doing a program called "Body for Life" for 12 weeks, I lost about 15 pounds and built some strength, off the momentum of the 5k.

In July 2007, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found it early, and now she is having a great time looking forward to a family trip to Disney World this Christmas. The ironic part is that she got her check-up 5 months early because she wanted to go to DW. God does work in mysterious ways.

The summer was a difficult time to say the least but in all of that, I found Jesus to be a refuge and an anchor. I am continually reminded of the Cross of Jesus Christ that reveals that suffering leads to resurrection glory. Praise his wonderful name! It is sweeter than honey in the mouth.