Monday, January 12, 2009

10 Tips- Practical Advice From the Treadmill

10 Tips- Practical Advice From the Treadmill-

Being on the treadmill for 40+ minutes gave me some time to think and I am ready for some Monday morning straight talk. Here is some no pulling punches, no holds barred, down to brass tacks solid advice for this young year. If you don’t want to read it, delete it. Go to another site…you have my permission (No, of course you don’t need it, but this is for the wimpy among us.) So here it is:



1) Self Improvement- Turn off the TV and look in the mirror. Yes, I was watching TV while on the treadmill, and one of the talk shows had several “experts” critiquing the “stars”, showing video clips from the Golden Globe Awards. One was fat, the other had one of the worst hairdos that I have ever seen, and none of them were dressed in any way that would make you think that they deserved a “Best Dressed” award. Yet they could laugh and find all sorts of fault. Sadly, they are like most of us. They find it easier to criticize others than to improve themselves. Remember the scripture, “Judge not, that you be not judged….And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ...Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”(Matthew 7:1-5). Mirrors are great for getting specks out of your own eye. The Bible is the best mirror of all, but too often a man “forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:24-25). Take a good look at yourself in God’s mirror. He will help you become who you need to be.



2) Work- Get off the snooze button and on to work. Yes, there are a lot of folks who are out of work, but industrious people usually find a way to find a job. Jobs are found by those up and awake, not those in bed or on the couch. The more you work at finding work, the more likely you are to find it. If you can’t find a job that pays what you want, find one that pays what you can get- a little is always better than nothing. Some take the approach- “I can make more at home.” That may be true, but you can find a job easier if you already have one, and it is much better for your health and mental well being to be working. If you can’t find paying work, work at something that will help someone else (God’s work always pays off), or pay off for you later, such as getting a better education. Remember what you Mama told you- “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”



3) Weight loss- Forget the latest fad diet and do what you already know to. You know you can’t get skinny eating double Whoppers. Eat smaller portions. Leave off the bread, butter and bacon for a while. Remember you can have anything you want to eat- but not everything you want to eat right now! It will taste even better tomorrow. Drink water- It will save you calories, money and make you feel better than all that caffeine.



4) Money- Get off of Ebay and on to God’s plan- Give some, Save Some, Spend Some. Next time you start to bid or buy- stop! Give ½ and save ½ and both you and the church will prosper. Or were you going to spend money on that credit card you did not have in the first place? If so, did you really need it or really want it? If it was a want- delay buying for just 24 hours and see what you think then. Shop for groceries at Aldi or the local bent and dent save bunches. Stop going to the bingo hall and go to the credit union instead(Few of them are in any financial trouble and they pay more interest and charge less fees than banks.)



5)Feeling Blue- Do all of the above. Getting out of the house, making small improvements in your health, finances, and spiritual condition will give you a sense of well being. True depression is a medical problem. If you are clinically depressed, see a doctor before anything else. If one doesn’t work, find another. Spend time with happy people.



6)Sex- Not married- take a cold shower, not someone else’s mate. Married- stop being selfish and spend more time doing something to make your spouse happy. Sex is all about unselfishness. (Read 1 Cor. 7:1-5). Having physical problems, see a doctor, now!



7)Child Rearing- Since all of my children are grown and gone, I can now advise others. Perhaps advising is more fun than rearing children. Not really. Here goes- tell them you love them a lot, spank them when they need it, but praise them twice a much. Be consistent, united, and determined. Don't get down on your child. Never give up on them- one day, or year does not a life make. Have fun with them. Remember that your most powerful teaching tool is your example. Make good memories for them and they will make good memories for you.



8) Prayer- Pray instead of worrying (Phil. 4:6). Fretting solves nothing, just makes problems bigger. If you can’t quit worrying, refer to number 2 above.



9) Politics- Don’t give much attention to politics. The world was helped more by Jesus, a carpenter’s son, than any politician that ever lived. Political power may reside in Washington, but all power rest in Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18). We can probably change the world more by saving one soul than passing a hundred laws.



10)Music- Add a little music to your life. Nothing invigorates quite like singing as loud as you can, in the shower or out. Singing praises to God is one of life’s greatest blessings. Regarding secular music, listen to bluegrass, more than blues- it will put pep in your step. David Courington

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