Month: October 2015

Temple Fit Tip Of The Week 10/15

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, courage to start, fitness3 Comments

Review:

  1. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Aim for half your body weight in ounces.
  2. Eat less by using smaller plates.
  3. Move.  Don’t have to kill yourself, just move. Exercise during commercial breaks instead of sitting on the couch.

This week I will just post a couple things I have read or watched about having the courage to start. Take a look at the links.

and

The following article I posted (since I couldn’t find link since it was forwarded to me) :

I’m just getting back from a quick workout at the gym with my son Dave.

We did some sprints to warm up.  Hit the rowing machine for 5 minutes.  Then jumped into some barbell exercises.

I’m glad I can do this now, because just a few years ago, I was completely out of shape and just stepping foot in a gym was a big deal.
I was a decent athlete in highschool (nothing special) and always kept myself in pretty good shape over the years.

Lots of working on our farm and hauling stuff across the field kept me in good shape.

But everything kind of spiraled out of control for me about 5-6 years ago when I reached my heaviest point.

I was 55 lbs overweight with high blood pressure, E.D., low testosterone and numerous digestive problems.

I still remember feeling embarrassed when I went to sign up for a new gym membership.

I had my head down as I quietly asked the nice lady working the front-desk at Planet Fitness if I could buy a membership.

Part of me felt guilty.

Part of me felt embarrassed.

I was ashamed that I had let myself get so out of shape.

I still remember my first workout.  I wanted to keep it simple, but even that turned out to be too much.

I walked in the gym that day planning on working out for 20 minutes.  I ended up leaving after less than 5 minutes.

Not because I was frustrated or anything like that, but because I was so out of shape that I flat out couldn’t do any more.

I remember walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes, then I did about 7 push ups.  After that I went over to the pull-up bar and just hung their like dead weight.

In fifth grade, I was a scrawny little 50 lb runt who knocked out 19 pull ups and held the school record.

Seriously.

There was a big plaque on the wall with “Jeff Reagan” embossed across it.

But that many years ago…

Now I was 50 years old, clutching the pull up bar with a death-grip, holding on for dear life.

Knocking out 1 pull up wasn’t even an option for me that day.

And I remember beating myself up over that.

But when I got home, I started to realize what I was doing to myself.  And I stopped.

I realized how stupid it was to sit there and criticize myself.
I decided to just accept the fact that I was out of shape, and work on improving each session at the gym.

I had to admit to myself that I was out of shape, no matter how much I wanted to deny it.

And if I just improved a little each session, within 90 days, I would be in much better shape.

And that’s what eventually happened.

Now here’s the point I want you take from this…

No matter where you’re at on your health journey, there’s no need to beat yourself up over your past failures.

Everyone has them (I certainly do).

What matters is that you accept where you’re at right now, and you start from there.

And just by improving a little bit each day, you’ll start to notice some major changes in just a few weeks.

It’s kind of similar to how compound interest  works when you save money.  The earlier you get the ball rolling, the more it snowballs and the better off you’ll be.

Ok, thats it for today.

Talk tomorrow.

God Bless,

– Jeff Reagan
Founder, Patriot Health Alliance

Four Songs God Put On My Heart This Morning

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, come to Him, God, music, struggling5 Comments

I have been struggling for the last week or so. Don’t know why, just comes out of the blue sometimes. This introvert may just be getting anxious for all the extrovert stuff coming up in the next few weeks. Volunteering at Columbus Marathon since not running it this year, me injured and wife doing NYC instead. Then going to NYC for a weekend for the marathon and to do some tourism with money I don’t have to spend. Bad time of year coming up for me with bad memories. Etc. etc.

Anyway, I listen to music and usually when I finish the songs I had on this month I will revisit older cd’s. I listen to the songs in alphabetical order by title so I don’t hear same singers, or genres, all the time. Takes me about a month to go through 500 songs or so. However,  God put it in my head to start listening to next months and these four songs were what I needed to hear so I wanted to share.

Just a reminder that God is there. We just have to ask, confess, repent, and He will come find us.

Awakened by Denise Renee – 

Come Find Me by Alabama – yes I know love song but I can hear it as a plea to Jesus to come find me, even as I am just blowing along and on the ledge, I need my friend, come find me (even though I should be finding Him)  

Be Still by Kristene Demarco – 

Be With Us Now (Emmanuel) by Building 429 – 

Every Rose Has It’s Thorn

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, stuggling today, thorns2 Comments

Every rose has it’s thorn. What a sad way to live, but many of us live this way. We fail to see the beauty in things because we are complaining about the ugly part of it. Something good happens in our lives and we start wondering when the bad will happen.

We look at someone and because the way we look we automatically think they are not a good person. We don’t look for the beauty inside of them. We think because someone is attractive that there isn’t an ugliness inside of them. Most of us have both, beauty and ugliness. It’s what we choose to show the world that makes people see us for the rose or the thorn.

We are not all okay. We all have thorns. Yet, so many of us choose to only love the roses. Anyone can love a rose, but can you love a thorn?

I have thorns and the last few days I have been letting them get the best of me. It’s crazy how one day we can be on top of the world and the next be in the dirt but that is life. My Jesus had to wear a crown of thorns to save me from these thorns I carry around. It’s a lot easier said than done but I keep fighting my way back to the rose. I know I will get there, it just may not be today. I know God will get me through it and use these times to strengthen me in the future.

I don’t even know why I am down. Maybe it’s just that time of year. Where I start to see the ugliness and not the beauty. Maybe it’s just the weather changing. I know God is with me and sees me and loves me. I know he loves the ugly, the weak,the thorns,  the least of these. He loves me when I am like this. I know I need to see the blessings in these times, for they are all around me.

It’s just whether I choose to see the roses or the thorns.

Songs about roses:

Every Rose Has It’s Thorn by Poison – 

Black Roses by Clare Bowen – 

Blue Roses by Flyleaf – 

Buy Me A Rose by Kenny Rogers – 

The Rose by Bette Midler – 

The Maze

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Lost in a maze, music, Satan's lies12 Comments

I was shivering. Strange, since when I went to bed I put an extra blanket on and set the thermostat to heat up the house at 6:00. I then realized I was also wet. I startled awake only to realized I wasn’t in my warm bed. I was in some type of… give me a minute to look around. I was in some type of maze. Confused, bewildered, baffled were some of the words that came to mind. I had to be dreaming, but I wasn’t.

I yelled out, but no one answered. I did the only thing I could and started to walk. Around this bend, turn left here, turn right there, dead end, start again. I then saw a note up ahead. I read it: If you have ever lied turn left at the next turn.  Well yeah I have lied, who hasn’t? I came to the turn and went left. After about 200 yards or so I found another note. If you have ever stolen anything, turn left again. Unfortunately, I had to turn left. I kept walking for another 200 yards and yet another note. If you have ever dishonored your mother or father turn left again.  Well, to be honest I am sure I have but if I did maybe it was just something little like talking back or missing curfew. Guess my answer was already made for me because the only way I could turn was left.

I know I just walked in a square but yet I was someplace new. Hanging up at the end of this walkway was a mirror. As soon as I looked into I heard the voices. You are ugly. You aren’t good enough. No one likes you. Your kids don’t even like you. Look at your body, what have you done to it. You are a disgrace. Why are you even alive?

I covered my face with my hands and ran. I ran as fast and as far as I could but I could not get the voices out of my head. I came to another intersection.

Have you ever committed adultery? Well. Not physically. Then another voice: that doesn’t matter. Have you or haven’t you? Okay, yes I have! Correct. Go right.

Have you ever murdered someone? Of course not, I said. Are you sure about that? Yes, I am positive on that one. Then the images came to me like it was yesterday. The girl I talked into sleeping with me. She was so young and innocent. I wanted her. She said no but eventually I wore her down and she gave in. I murdered a piece of her that night. I murdered a piece of the boy I used to make fun of because he wasn’t like me. Oh God! Make this stop. Good try! God isn’t here and he isn’t coming. This is my world and you are just a pawn in it.  Go right.

Have you ever worshiped someone other than your so called God? Have you ever used your so called Gods name in vain?  Have you ever ….  GO RIGHT I SAID!

NO!! I screamed. I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to go where you want me to. I can break this. I can walk away. You are a liar.

No, you can’t. Remember you are a nobody. No one likes you, except me. You are what I need to change this world.  YOU can follow me, YOU can rule the world with me. YOU can turn stones into bread. YOU can jump off a building and angels will catch you. I can make you into the most powerful person in this world. TURN RIGHT!!

No, that’s where you are wrong. I don’t want to be the most powerful person in the world. I don’t need to be liked by everyone because I know God loves me. I don’t need your lies. I just need to follow the truth. With that last word I sprinted as fast as I could, to the left, and ran and ran for what seemed like days. I didn’t realize that the maze was disappearing as I ran. I was breaking free from the chains that bind me. By the time I stopped it was all gone.

I fell to the ground. Exhausted. Sweating. Breathing hard. I didn’t hear the footsteps come up beside me. Maybe there wasn’t any. I heard his voice. The one I have heard many times throughout my life but ignored. I felt him kneel beside me. I felt his hand on mine. I heard him say well done. I heard him say I love you. I heard him say I want you. I heard him say you belong with me.

He picked me up and walked me back home. He said trust in me. Have faith in me. Love me. And just like that he was gone. But was he really?

Breaking Inside by Shinedown – 

It’s A Maze from the Secret Garden – 

Lost by Red – 

Lost and Found by Rocket to the Moon – 

Come and Lead Me by Danielle and Mackenzie – 

You Set Me Free by Angie Miller – 

You’re Not Alone by Owl City – 

Lead Me To The Cross by Hillsong – 

Impossible by Sidewalk Prophets – 

Lost Get Found by Britt Nicole – 

Changed by The Katinas – 

New, forgotten, unknown 10/9/15 – New Music Friday

On By roberthansen1317In Christian, Christian life, country, music, new music Friday, pop, reggae, rockLeave a comment

A few more musician followers this week.  I hope my sharing your music will get word out about your music. Please take time to listen/share/purchase the song I wrote with the wonderful Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise at the bottom of this page.  Thank for the follows.

Send An Angel by Becky Kelly – 

Becky also has a new song out, check it out here:  also check out her Christmas song Where’s The Line To See Jesus – one of my favorite Christmas songs.

I’m Yours by Becky Kelly – ♫ I’m Yours – Becky Kelley. Listen @cdbaby http://bit.ly/1VICrpq

Take Me To Hollywood by Ashley Krouse – 

The Right Road by Capturing Souls – 

Not War by Casey Conroy – 

Some new music I listened to this week from some non-followers.

One Way To Live by Clint Black – 

I Am by Leona Lewis – 

I Ain’t The Girl by Lindi Ortega – 

I Don’t Like Who I Was Then by The Wonder Years –  

I Rise by Etana – 

I Will Go by Big Daddy Weave – 

Pass The Ammo by Moonshine Bandits (Crucifix) – 

Hunter by Du Blonde – 

Make Them Gold by Chvrches – 

Lose It All By Brett Eldredge – 

Question Everything by Five Finger Death Punch – 

Lombardi Avenue by Katie Dahl – 

and our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer – 

Now on i tunes :  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

Temple Fit Tip Of The Week 10/8

On By roberthansen1317In better health better you, Christian life, exercise, fitness, Temple Fit, tv commercial exercise1 Comment

Let’s review:

Week 1 : drink more water, less sugary drinks

Week 2 : use smaller plates to trick your brain into eating less. Cut out sugar foods.

This week, let’s move. And keep moving. If you are new to exercise, don’t over do it. Start small. Two to three times a week move. It doesn’t cost money, you don’t have to join a gym. However, find someone to motivate you, to do it with you. It’s hard to say I want to sleep 30 more minutes when you know someone else is waiting for you to show up to exercise with them.  Just move. Exercise is a mental game. If you wake up and say I am going to walk for 30 minutes today, more times than not you will. If you wake up and say I don’t feel like doing anything today, chances are you won’t.

I have read that breaking a habit or starting a new one can take anywhere from 21 days to xxx days.  I have always heard and believe in six weeks. When I first started running a lot, when I met my wife, it took about 6 weeks for me to get in the groove.  Now  if I start a new workout program it takes a lot less time than that and it will for you also once you get into an exercise routine habit. I also learned this from our Run For God classes. People that have a hard time running 60 seconds on the first day are able to run 3-5 minutes without stopping at the 6 week point. They all say how much easier it is getting. The point is stick with it. A lot of people start out strong then in two or three weeks they quit because they don’t see the results they think they should have.

How about moving during commercials? You are watching tv at night and commercials come on (typically 3-4 minutes in length) get up and do some jumping jacks, run in place, push ups, etc… A one hour show is typically 42-45 minutes long when you take out the commercials. That’s 15-18 minutes to move. Two hours that’s 30-36 minutes.  That’s just to start. As you get stronger exercise during the show, rest during commercials.  Even make it fun by doing an exercise depending on what commercial comes on. See some workouts below. Your kids can do these with you also.

From a biblical perspective, the number 40 is significant and symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. The number 40 is mentioned 146 times in the Bible.  For the purpose of this article we will discuss the 40 days (six weeks minus two days).

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights for Noah’s ark. Moses was also on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights. What happened when the people were tired of waiting? They started to worship a golden calf. Be patient. Transformation takes time.

The prophet Jonah powerfully warned ancient Nineveh, for forty days, that its destruction would come because of its many sins. The prophet Ezekiel laid on His right side for 40 days to symbolize Judah’s sins (Ezekiel 4:6). Elijah went 40 days without food or water at Mount Horeb. Jesus was tempted by the devil not just three times, but MANY times during the 40 days and nights he fasted just before his ministry began. He also appeared to his disciples and others for 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.

In summary, let’s move for 40 days. Be patient. You will have set backs but stick with it. It will become a habit.  Your body will feel better. You won’t be as tired. Your mind will think more clearly.  Remember weeks 1 and 2 :

No excuses. You can do this. You will do this. Make it simple, make it fun. Get out of your head. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

read this devotional from Proverbs 31 : http://eepurl.com/U0YzH

This Disease

On By roberthansen1317In cancer, Christian life, disease, Hope in God, music8 Comments

I have been going back and forth, fighting myself on whether or not I should put my lyrics on here. On the plus side, maybe my words could touch someone without being in a song. On the negative side, what if someone used my lyrics without my permission. Anyway, in honor of October being breast-cancer month I have decided to put this one on here. I can hear how I want it to sound in my head but, unfortunately, God didn’t bless me with the talent to write music.

I wrote this 2/10/15 when I was in Kroger one day and saw someone in a wheelchair and the words just started coming out. I wrote if for cancer but a friend of mine said he could see this disease as just being sin in general. I had never thought of it like that but I can see it like that also.

I would still like to turn my lyrics into a song but finances are not what they need to be for me to do that. I would love to have Lily Messer sing it. Or the girl who sings Thank You by Jesus Army. Or Lauren Daigle. Or maybe there is a voice out there I haven’t found yet that will reach out to me. All my attempts so far have failed but I am not discouraged. God will take the words where they need to go and the rest will be history. Anyway, if you are a musician and would like to put music to these lyrics, feel free to contact me.

healing-bible-scriptures

For those that have cancer, or any disease, I pray that you will find strength in the one who made you. I pray you will find comfort in His arms. I pray that you will fight.

This Disease

This disease is tearing me to shreds

Some days I can’t get out of bed

I still have a voice to pray

That You God can heal me today

I’m okay if this is the day I die

In you I know I will always be alive

Behind these tears know I’m at peace

I’ll miss this world but I’m ready to leave

I know I’m coming home

I know they won’t be alone

Your arms will comfort them like they have me

In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease

Thank you for giving me time on this earth

Thank you for dying, to show me what I’m worth

Thank you for giving me your words, your life

Thank you for dying so I can be alive

I’ll be an example, I’ll fight to the end

I pray that I’ve been a good friend

But when I breathe my last breath

As my time in this world is put to death

I know I’ll be coming home

I know they won’t be alone

Your arms will comfort them like they have me

In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease

Let them know I didn’t give up

That they will always have my love

I’ll be watching them as they grow

I pray that You they will get to know

It’s time to leave this disease behind

Your eyes they look so kind

As my soul leaves this body

I’m coming home to You God

I know I’ll be coming home

I know they won’t be alone

Your arms will comfort them like they have me

In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease

This disease didn’t win

Your love was always within

Let me know what you think. Any musicians that would like to put it to music let me know.

I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge – 

Healing Hand of God by Jeremy Camp – 

My Story by Big Daddy Weave – 

Through All Of It by Colton Dixon – 

Your Hands by JJ Heller – 

Believe by Elisa Lynee – 

No One Fights Alone by Christian Spear – 

Hold On by Dominic Camany – 

Hope by Capri Ruberto Anderson (Capri Canada) – 

I’m Gonna Love You Through It by Martina McBride – 

My Everything by Owl City – 

It Is Well By Bethel Music – 

Kayhla’s Wedding

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, giving my daughter away, God in your marriage, music, wedding13 Comments

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Surprised? Yes I was too when Kayhla told me she was moving to Virginia, and she wanted to marry Joey, someone I had never met. She just moved back home and out of a bad relationship. I just got her home and was hoping to spend some time with her. I had never met Joey nor did I know anything about him or his family. When she told me I told her I did not approve. I thought it was too soon. I was trying to look out for her best interests and maybe, just maybe, I was being a little selfish.

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I don’t know her heart though and she said Joey is the one for her. They had been best friends for three years. They met at church camp. Through all of her bad relationships he was there for her. She was going to church with him now. She was scared because he is in the Air Force and could be deployed. She put her fears aside to marry the man who makes her a better person. Maybe it was time I put my fears aside also.

After meeting Joey a couple times my reservations were pushed aside. I could tell she was the Kayhla that I know and love. She was silly, goofy, laughing and happy around him. He told me how he adores her and will  treat her like God would want him to treat her.  He slowly won me over over the last three months.

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20 years ago God gave me a baby girl to take care of. I raised her the best I could. Made many mistakes on the way but I was always there for her, and I always will be. On October 3rd, I gave her away to another man. A man who I hope will hold his promise to me.

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All I know is that I have to give it all to God. Let Him direct her steps. Let Him direct their steps. All my worries and fears are gone because I know God is there.

Like their pastor said I can only pray that they will put God first in their marriage. That they will put the other person second and that they will put their own selves last. Communicate. Isn’t that what marriage is? It definitely isn’t easy but put God first and the rest will fall into place.

Congratulations Kayhla and Joey. I pray you have many many years to love each other. Welcome to the family Joey. I love you daughter. I don’t know if I will get used to seeing you on social media as Kayhla Reichert. Who is that? I will get used to it, eventually.

I pray you two ask God for help each day in strengthening your marriage.

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My Baby Girl by Sol Knopf – a video to Kayhla 

God Gave You To Me by The Hoskins Family – 

A Promise To Daughter from the movie Courageous – 

Marriage Prayer by John Waller – 

This Ring by T Carter – 

Take My Hand by Emily Hackett and Will Anderson – 

Better Today by Coffey Anderson – 

Beautiful In White by Westlife – 

I Do by Westlife – 

When I Say I Do by Matthew West – 

See You Tonight by Scotty McCreery – Kayhla and Joey’s song – 

New, forgotten, unknown 10/2/15 – New Music Friday

On By roberthansen1317In Christian, Christian life, country, gospel, music, new music, new music Friday, pop, rock1 Comment

A few more musician followers this week.  I hope my sharing your music will get word out about your music. Please take time to listen/share/purchase the song I wrote with the wonderful Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise at the bottom of this page.  Thank for the follows.

My Girl’s Hand by Mitch Goudy – 

She’s My Kinda Party by Dana Michael – 

Moving On by Waiting Hill – 

Juliet by Anastasis  (Jacob’s Well Records) – 

Some new music from non-followers I have been listening to this week:

This Corner by Denaun – 

Love You More by Nichole Nordeman – 

Airplane by Langhorne Slim – 

Another Man’s Words by Vintage Trouble – 

Every Giant Will Fall by Rend Collective – 

Blind Love by Bon Jovi – 

Father I Stretch by Kim Burrell – 

He Knows What He’s Doing by Jason Crabb – 

Break by Katharine McPhee – 

How Did You Love by Shinedown – 

December by Neck Deep – 

Driftwood by Cody Simpson – 

Eye Of The Storm by Scorpions – 

Real Men Love Jesus  by Michael Ray – 

Everything Breaks by Jewel – 

Who remembers this oldie:

December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – 

and our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer – 

Now on i tunes :  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

Temple Fit Tip of the Week 10/1

On By roberthansen1317In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Christian life, fitness, smaller plates to lose weight, Temple Fit, your body is a temple1 Comment

Two weeks ago I talked about drinking your water. Can’t believe it’s been two weeks already. I will try to give a simple tip each week.

This weeks tip is plate size. Did you know not only with all the crap the food industry puts in our food that our plate sizes have also increased. The average plate size 50 years ago was 9 inches. Today it is 12 inches. What do we do with those 3 extra inches? We fill them up so each meal we add 100-150 calories. Which leads to overweight children and adults. The average adult is now 26 lbs heavier than in the 1960’s.

Have you ever heard someone say my eyes were bigger than my stomach? Unfortunately the more we eat, the bigger our appetites get. Look at the plates below, which one do you think has more food on it?

The 8.5 inch plate correct? They all have the same amount of food. You can trick your brain into thinking you are full by seeing a full plate, on a smaller plate.

Use smaller plates and you will automatically eat fewer calories even though your brain will think you are eating more. Your stomach may grumble for the first few days but with the less you eat, you will reset your appetite  so you won’t feel as hungry and that grumbling will go away.

Interestingly enough, plate color also matters.  If your goal is to eat less, select plates that have high contrast with what you plan to serve for dinner. Want to eat more greens? Try serving them on a green plate! The color blue is actually an appetite suppressant. Use blue plates and eat less. Yellow plates tend to increase appetites.  If replacing dinnerware is difficult, remember that tablecloths are important, too. By selecting a cloth with a low-contrast to the dinnerware, you can minimize the effect of the Delboeuf illusion and lower the likelihood of over-serving.

The food industry is now using the same tricks the tobacco industry used 40-50 years ago. See your homework below.

Sorry got off schedule a little, it is really disappointing how the leaders of our country and companies (some) have chosen money over people.

Notice I haven’t even talked exercise yet.  Baby steps.  Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Use smaller plates which you will eat smaller portions.

Until our voices are heard and we change the food industry the best thing to do is eat as fresh and organic as you can. Buy locally if you can.

Stay tuned to next weeks tip.  God bless.

Homework : watch That Sugar Film if you can and read these articles on sugar. I found it interesting that in the film how they talked about if you took out all the foods in the entire grocery store that only 20% of the store would be left. Then in this article I received a few days later it talks about how 80% of the food we eat has high fructose corn syrup.  Direct correlation. I read that when our grandparents had dessert that that was almost all the sugar they ate in a day. Today, because of all the sugar in our foods, we consume the equivalent of two desserts with each meal. Think about that! We can also eat less sugar by eating less food – smaller plates.

The first article is from NewsMax Health http://nws.mx/1O2Q3LD.

The second article : http://drpescatore.com/sugars-death-toll-keeps-on-rising

The third article : http://www.reportingonhealth.org/2015/05/15/your-brain-sugar

The fourth article : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/06/sugar-brain-mental-health_n_6904778.html

There are many more but what it all comes down to is we need to eat less sugar.

To Lose Weight, Opt for a Small Plate –