On Saturday, Steve Allgeyer came to Jefferson City to provide training for the core team that takes care of our tri-parish Lifeteen Program. Steve works for Lifeteen nationally, and did an excellent job. Click
here to learn more about Lifeteen.
In addition to providing good tools and resources for our ministry, Steve talked with us about personal spirituality. His point was that if we were going to lead young people into a deeper relationship with Christ and His church, we had better take care of ourselves first. After listening to him, and filling out a personal spiritual inventory, I realized that there were two areas of my life that I needed to work on: creating a strong, consistent prayer life, and taking care of my body.
The first is prayer.
I dont' want to give the impression that I don't pray, because I do. What I lack is a significant chunk of time during my day that belongs to God alone. I pray to God throughout the day, at meals, and certainly at Church. There isn't any time, though, that I can just focus on God and center myself. I would very much like to change this. Here's what I would like to work towards:
I would like to get to the point that I spend 30 minutes a day in prayer. To be truthful, I would like that to be a full hour, but I need to start with a goal that seems attainable. My schedule is such that trying to find the same time every day will be somewhat impossible. I plan to start with just five minutes, then work my way to ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, then on to thirty minutes. I know this won't be easy, but I need to make my actions reflect my belief that God is in charge of my life, not me.
The second is weight loss.
This is not something I can hide from anyone. This morning, I stepped on the scale and it read: 249 lbs. I wish I could say that I was shocked and saddened to be at that weight, but that would not be truthful. Six months before I married Erin, I she and I started doing Weight Watchers, with unbelievable results. I ended up dropping 50 lbs! I looked and felt better than I had in years. Since getting married, however, I have reverted back to my old habits of eating too much of the wrong things, and not exercising at all. I want that to be different.
I want to lose 70 lbs. That may seem like a lofty goal, but after losing 50 lbs. at one point, 70 doesn't seem like that much more. I am partly inspired by my mother who has lost almost that much since she started eating better and exercising a few months ago. I still remember the things I learned in my Weight Watchers experience. I know how to eat right, I just don't do it. I know how to stay active, I've just been lazy.
I'm calling this effort: 70/30: Seventy for weight, thirty for prayer. That may seem like a lot to take on all at once, but I think I can do it. I don't think the two are exclusive from one another. What I'm trying to do is be a healthier all-around person. I believe that by doing that, I will be a better husband, father, youth minister, musician, and speaker. I'm going to need your help, though.
As I start this effort, which begins today, I am going to need the people around me to not only pray for me, but help me make good choices as well. I am weak when it comes to fast food, portion sizes, and snacking. It would also be good for you to ask me how my prayer life is going. That will help keep me honest. I will post a weekly update to this blog letting you know how it's going.
Thanks for reading this long post. Since we are supposed to all help each other be healthier and live as Christians, if I can help you in your jouney, please don't hesitate to ask.
-Shannon
This one for a Toyota sales event.
Those of you who don't follow the St. Louis Cardinals, probably have no idea who Mike Shannon is. Mike Shannon played for the Cardinals in the 1960s until an injury ended his career. He then became an announcer (along with Hall of Famer Jack Buck) on KMOX broadcasts of Cardinal games, where he has been for 36 years.
Today, our friends Brad and Joia Farmer met their newly adopted daughter in China. The little girl's name is Ava Therese FuBin Farmer. The Oddwalk family has been following their adoption journey and are very happy that this day has finally arrived. Congratulations to the (newly expanded) Farmer family! 
From July 28 to August 5, Orin's wife Erin took part in a young-adult mission trip sposored by the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows and Oblate Youth Ministry to La Morita, near Tijuana, Mexico (near San Diego, CA). The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have a health clinic there. The group spent most of the week just talking with the people, talking with the Oblates who try to meet their needs, and examining what they could do to help social justice issues when they returned home. Read more about their trip (but, strangely, not the salmonella part) by clicking above or here.
The pop music star, of course, not the mother of God.
Joia Farmer's New CD is out - click above and go listen!
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