Control Freak!

Just wanted to take a minute and update everyone on my son.  A lot of you have been praying for him and checking in on him and that has been overwhelming and kind.  You will never know how much that has meant to us.  Cayden was diagnosed with pneumonia a few weeks ago and is now doing much better thanks to your prayers.  The big thing that we were worried about was the small seizures/convulsions he was having.  The doctor's had him go through an e.e.g. which is a test that monitors him while he is sleeping.  That test came back negative, meaning he passed with flying colors.  They have basically said he is fine and doesn't need any further testing at this point.  Thanks again for the prayers.  I discovered something about God through all this.  If you have kids you will understand what I'm about to describe to you.  When your kids are sick, you feel HELPLESS!!  I so wanted to take his place through this process.  I wanted to control the situation and make it better but I couldn't.  I felt like I was not able to protect him and that really bothered me.  I was fighting for control and God is giving His up.  Let me explain.  God could control us if he chose to but he doesn't.  He gives us the freedom to choose and therefore relinquishes control.  I don't have it and want it... He has it and chooses not to use it.  It has to be so hard for him to watch us make decisions that ultimately hurt us and others when He could step in at any moment and change it... If I had the control I long for would I even come close to making the right decisions with it...

Every Monday Matters[3]

Just getting back into the gym for the first time in months... Definitely lacking the motivation.  One thing about working out that a lot of people forget about it is that you have to also eat healthy if you are going to really benefit from the work out.  Here are some tips for healthy eating.

"Eat Healthy" Monday 03

FACTS: French fries are the most widely eaten vegetable...

- Annual cost for chronic conditions and diseases is big money:

$117 billion for obesity

$66 billion for high blood pressure

$432 billion for heart disease and strokes

$50 billion for weight-loss aids, diet foods, supplements, and weight-loss medications

   yet obesity is still increasing.

- 79% likelihood exist that an overweight child will become an overweight adult.

- 75% of adults don't eat the recommended daily 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables.

- Snack consumption by children has increased 300% from 20 years ago.

- 400,000 people die annually from poor eating habits and laziness.

TAKE ACTION TODAY:

1. If you suffer from or have a family history of any of the aforementioned chronic conditions or diseases, consult your family physician for dietary counseling.

2. Although every individual is unique in his or her dietary needs, here are some ideas to help:

- Eat fewer foods with refined grains and sugars; reduce your intake of fatty foods; and eat smaller portions.

- Eat more dark vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, low-fat milk products, and lean   meats.

- Eat slowly so that you will feel full before you've overeaten.

- Don't reward yourself or children with food.

- Develop a routine and eat at similar times each day.

- Drink plenty of water.

- Limit snacking.

3. Eat to live; don't live to eat.

YOU MATTER

You deserve to be in good health.  For most, diabetes, hypertension, and other obesity related chronic diseases are preventable by simply eating healthy and exercising.  You will feel better than ever both mentally and physically-the only way to really live.  If you don't want to do it for yourself or your wallet, do it for those who love you.  Just start...one day at a time.

"The Encounter"

For those of you who are not located in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, The Encounter may be something new to you.  The Encounter is Community Worship night that happens twice a year. We started this event over 4 years ago with the heart to see God's Church come together for worship.  Not just the local church but the Church big "C."  This is video footage from the last Encounter in September.  Just to celebrate what God is doing I thought I would post this.  We had over 42 church's represented at this event with 8 worship pastors on stage, from 8 different church's, leading those people in worship.  It was such an amazing night.  We do have the potential to be the answer to Jesus prayer when he prayed in John 17:11 "so they may be one as we are one."  What would happen if the mavericks out there stopped trying to do ministry by themselves and linked arms with men and woman from church's in their community to not only worship together, but live life together. Yes, the local church is still God's plan to reach our world... but it goes further than that.  It has to. It's about the Church coming together like never before... or the Church coming together like "before"...

"Habitual Scatteredness"

I was reading a leadership blog the other day and came across some of this information.  I think it was one of Andy Stanley's blog's but I'm not sure.  Sometimes I feel like I get lost in blog world but here is what I was challenged with.

In our fast paced, twenty-four hour society we are constantly distracted and diverted from working on what we should be working on.  It creates lives of almost habitual scatteredness.  Focus is the sine qua non of reaching our potential.  This scatteredness is largely responsible for draining us of the energy we need to accomplish our goals.  Additionally, in Success 101, John Maxwell outlines three difficult situations that we need to be aware of and learn to manage around:

Activity Without Direction - doing things that don't seem to matter

Burden Without Action - not being able to do things that really  matter

Conflict Without Resolution - not being able to deal with what's the matter

These sap our energy because they chip away at our dignity and needlessly undermine our ability to focus.  If we find ourselves faced with any of these difficult circumstances, we need to work extra hard to manage around them.  The first step to accomplishing this is seeing the big picture and knowing our part in it.  Knowing our purpose can insulate us from many of the external distractions we face on a daily basis.

Maxwell writes, "The better you are at making sure you're doing what you should be doing, the better chance y ou have for making an impact on others and being successful."  At the same time, not all stress is bad.  We need to look for opportunities within our circumstances to expand our capacity.  Loehr and Schwartz write in The Power of Full Engagement, that "Any form of stress that prompts discomfort has the potential to expand our capacity-physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually-so long as it is followed by adequate recovery."  It's part of learning to manage yourself exceptionally well.

I hope that was as insightful to you as it was to me.  I took some time and shared this with our youth leadership team, and really feel like it was good for them to hear and try to apply.  Take some time and write a list on each of the three energy drainers mentioned in this artical and begin to work towards a more fulfilled journey.  Seems to work...

Tough Week

We found out today that my 3 year old son Cayden has Pneumonia.  Lets just say it's been a tough week at the Mudd home.  Again we could use your prayers.  Those of you who are parents you know how it is when your kids get sick.  I can handle my own sickness rather well, but when one of my kids are really sick... wow, that is killer.  I will admit, however, that I am really pathetic when I'm sick.  My wife always comments that I don't handle sickness well.  She may have even said I act like a girl when I'm sick but then again, who doesn't.... Right?

I Hate Being Sick...

For the few of you that are following my blog you may have noticed I have not posted for a few days.  First of all, thanks for noticing.  Second, I have been really sick.  Probably every two years I have this tendency to get so run down, that I catch whatever is out there.  Well this time as you can tell by the medication I am on, it's alittle more than the common cold but I am not dying.  I have bronchitis!  Awesome right?  Anyway I will be taking some time today to catch up on a few posts so please check back later.  If you can, I could use the prayers.  Our worship band is playing at a retreat this weekend and I can't sing a note at this point without sounding like I'm going through puberty.  Anyway, nothing spiritual just not feeling well and could use the prayers.  Or is it more spiritual than I know...

Walter Payton's "Roundhouse"

Easily one of my favorite football players of all time.  Walter Payton!  Tonight we are going to his restaurant in Aurora, IL. called "Roundhouse."  I have been there once before and was so overwhelmed with all that he accomplished in his career.  Here is a few things maybe you didn't know about Walter Payton.  He was inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1993. He played in 9 pro bowls.  He was a first round draft pick.  The only professional team he played with was the Chicago Bears.  He never missed a game for injury and later said the reason he never got injured was because he would always strive to hit his opponent harder than they hit him.  He played his last NFL game on January 10th, 1988.  He was called "Sweetness" to the end.  But something few people have ever heard is this, he was offered an opportunity to be moved up on the donors list, but declined because he knew someone would have had to die so that he could live.  I'm looking forward to walking through the room that holds things that he valued here on earth.  To remember a man that died before his time.  A good man.  Not sure there will ever be another like him.  He was a hero.  I wonder if he knew Jesus.  I hope so...

"3 Sides"

There was a line in Top Gun, where he talks about breaking a major rule of engagement.  "You NEVER leave your wing-man."  That is just one of those rules you don't break.  Well, I have this standing rule that I typically refuse to break.  However, today I did.  Dang it!!  I hate when I do that. It's simple, there are 3 sides to every story... your side, their side, and the TRUTH.  Typically when I'm giving someone advice or listening to their story, I never react or give advice based on one side of the story.  There is always another side and typically that side is just as jaded as the other.  See the problem is... people perceive things differently!  Lets put it this way... perception is reality... UNTIL INTERRUPTED BY FACT!  The fact part is typically the truth that is rarely experienced because people are to busy giving others advice based on one side of the story.  I am typically soooo good at waiting to hear or being aware of, the different sides of a story, but I really blew it today.  I'm such a freaking rookie sometimes.  There is nothing more powerful then to sit two people down and hear each side of the story and then help THEM see the TRUTH in what is really going on.  I think the enemy really uses relationships to divide people. I know he uses people who mean well but only take sides when they should serious consider all sides. It's our responsibility to help people discover the TRUTH of what really happened and what needs to change.  Anyway, I blew it today, but it was a good reminder that I must continue to stay neutral and advise people based on the truth not someone's perception of that truth.  Ugh... does that make sense?

Social Injustice[2]

  

Just another opportunity to discover ways we can help the world we live in.  I know that the poor was always on the heart of God and Jesus himself mentioned true religion was reaching out to those who can't help themselves.  It goes without say that we live a culture [America] that is very centered around self and the consuming power of "more."  If you have ever heard of the band Dispatch, then you will be familiar with "Braddigan."  "Braddigan" is a band that the drummer of Dispatch, Brad Corrigan, started.  He has taken his ministry [Love Light and Melody] to the trash dumps of Nicaragua and is bringing awareness to the world.  If you would like more information on how you can help and support Love Light and Melody, visit www.lovelightandmelody.org.  Buy a shirt... sponsor someone... make a difference... or just simply be aware...