The Mattster's Messenger: February 2007

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

AI-The guys week 2

So FINALLY someone who can do justice to a performance of Mustang Sally. Sundance (my twin) brought it last night as well as several of the other guys and of course Chris Sligh (my other pick) did a great job as well! My picks to go home for the guys-Brandon and Sanjaya. Sorry guys, your performances were just not there...especially Sanjaya. We'll see what the girls have to offer tonight, the guys raised the bar last night I believe!

Monday, February 26, 2007

07 weight loss battle-7 weeks in

Can someone please tell me how in the heck the scale said that I gained 5 pounds this last week? I didn't eat much different than before and it said that I gained 5 pounds which is discouraging seeing as how I went to the gym 3 times last week, biked 14 miles on Friday and raked leaves all day Saturday. It doesn't make sense. Oh well, I suppose it could be "muscle" but I want my numbers going DOWN not up! Oh well I've got this week to get the number back down before next Monday's judgement day so I gotta work hard this week!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

American Idol-The Girls...

So Stephanie, Melinda, Gina, and LaKisha-phenomenal, the rest not so great. The rest of the girls are going to have to step it up a few notches as are the guys if they expect to make it through. It's gonna be a long road for some of them.

American Idol-the guys

So I'll have to admit, the performances from the guys last night were underwhelming at best as far as I was concerned. The only two performances that even perked my attention the least bit were Chris Sligh and Blake Lewis. Sundance, while I appreciate that you are representing me as my twin...STAY AWAY FROM KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN! I hope he stays around though for a little while longer though as seeing him on TV does help with my reality TV complex.

Speaking of twins...does anyone else think Sanjaya looks like the guy from Nacho Libre that was Jack Black's tag team partner? Here is a pic to prove what I am talking about...

Sanjaya Malakar

Hector From Nacho Libre...aka Esquelito

Am I crazy? I keep expecting Jack Black to come out dressed as Nacho when he sings. Oh well...guys you are going to have to step it up in order to win. We'll see how the girls do tonight.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

weight loss battle 07-6 weeks in

Well last week was a rough week, I just wasn't motivated and found myself slipping back into my old ways. Needless to say I was a bit worried about going into the gym today (they were asking Megan where I had been-gotta love accountability) and it was again time for the weekly weigh in. I hadn't really overate last week, but I just didn't exercise so I was worried. The cool thing was...I still lost one pound so I am now down to 336. I am a bit disappointed though as I know I could have lost more had I just worked out more, and I need to watch even closer what I am eating as I am still not eating as healthy as I could (and my bad cholesterol went up a couple of notches which is not good). Oh well, week by week, day by day. This week will be better!

Pop Culture No go...

Well it looks as if my knowledge of pop culture for the time being will have to remain obnoxious at parties and home alone as it doesn't look like I am going to make VH1's World Series of Pop Culture. Last weekend was supposed to be the trip to Orlando to audition, but my teammates backed out so we didn't get to go. I did however take the online test to audition as one of the wild card team members, but I have yet to hear anything. So at least for the time being my reality TV days shall not come to fruition yet again.

There is one more chance to take the test online again and I may try it once more to up my chances, but most likely I'll just have to hold this knowledge as a secret weapon at church functions.

Longing to put my pop culture knowledge to good use...
-Matt

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Thanks everyone

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have been praying for me over these last few days. I have these ups and downs and although it seems like there have been a lot of downs lately I know God is good and good things will come of the struggles I am facing. Although it is tough, I know God is stretching me and I am being forced to rely more on him daily. I am sorry to have sounded whiny in my last blog believe me I know my problems pale in comparison to many things that are going on out there today, I have just recently found that if I blog/journal my prayers I communicate them better and it helps me share with those of you who ask how to pray for me. Know that your words have meant the world to me, I really appreciate all of your words of encouragement.

On the upside both of my favorites for AI this year made it through. So I am thrilled to start making phone calls each week to vote for Chris Sligh and Sundance Head...I know I'm pathetic.

God is good, and it's great to have friends like ya'll! I am praying for you as well.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Discouragement

God I am so discouraged tonight. I just don't understand what I am doing wrong. I don't understand why these teens don't like me. I am pouring myself into them and doing all I can do, yet when it comes to youth night, a fun outing, or spiritual event they don't come. Friday night we had the senior high night out and only 3 came, tonight for the TLW rally only one "wanted" to come and we had to drag the other three to get them to go. I hear things like "they're too busy," "the have to do this school event," or worse yet and the one that hurts the most-"they went to another church with so and so." Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the ones who do come, but I am discouraged.

God I don't know what to do, am I too hard on them because I want them to see the awesome things God has to offer and become all that they can for Him? Am I not fun enough? Do I preach too long? Do I not play enough games? Is it because I sometimes side with their parents or try to help them see that we as adults (parents too) do love them? I have been trying everything I know how to do and yet they still don't come or they bring the mood down when they do come. What am I doing wrong? Are they trying to push me out? Do they want us to leave? We are trying so hard to show them we care and spend time with them as much as we can, but something isn't working.

I know you aren't done with us here yet. God, I am very thankful for the kids who do come. The one's that do show up when we have an event have a great time as do we when they are here-all of them are awesome, middle school and high school. God use these kids to help us break through and have something great happen with our ministry.

God I'm not going to give up, but I am just discouraged tonight, please touch my heart this evening, I need your love tonight.

God I won't give up on these kids, but please show me something...as FFH would sing, "Lord move...or move me."

Thanks abba,

Your child Matt

Monday, February 12, 2007

weight loss battle 07-5 weeks in

Well the gym is reopen. Evidently there was a miscommunication on the part of the landlord and the county inspectors, but all is well and so it is back to the grind after a week off from the gym. It was kind of nice to recoup and have some downtime, but the scales show it. I didn't lose any extra weight this last week according to the "official" scales at the gym, but on the flip side of that, my home scales are actually weighing me now, which is great...if Meg is right and there is a 4lb difference between our scales and the gym's then I have lost some more as I am weighing in at 329 on our home scale, but I can't get a consistent reading from them yet though so we'll stick to the official scale at the gym which puts me still at 337, same as last week...oh well, you can't lose every week.

Also on a blog note, sorry I've been sort of quiet this last week, my folks are in town and I am still madly working to write my thesis, PLUS we had revival all last week so I was swamped, all is well though!

The battle continues...
-Matt

Thursday, February 08, 2007

The gym is...

The gym is...CLOSED!!! So Meg showed up at the gym yesterday (I wasn't feeling well) and was informed that the gym is closed until further notice- something about a permit issue or something. That's really great and has put a kink in our workouts this week. I know it's a campy request and minor compared to all the real needs out there, but pray this gets resolved quickly so we can back in and workout.

fighting the battle...
-Matt

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Christian bloggers...

I recently participated in a Christian blogger survey put out through Rick Warren and purpose driven. Below is a list of all the blogs of the participants of the survey, I will have some of the results later I am told. If you want to, take some time to check out some of these sites. I do not endorse or know the content of each of them, but you may want to peruse some of them to see what our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are up to. Here is the list...

Monday, February 05, 2007

weight loss battle 07- 1 month in

Well today was judgement day again, time for the monthly official weigh in and new measurements, and I have to admit I was somewhat surprised yet encouraged. As it relates to weight, my official weigh in was 337.2 which is right at 5 lbs lost for the month. When I started this year I was at 342.2. While I did not lose as much "weight" as I had wanted to this month, the numbers are actually a little deceiving. My BMI went down almost a whole percentage point, which is great meaning I am becoming more active and my metabolism is going up. The best part though was that my body fat percentage went down 4.6% equalling out to 18lbs of body fat lost...so basically I "lost" 18 pounds of body fat, converting 13 lbs of that into muscle which is great. To say the least I am encouraged! So one more month down and a long way to go, but we'll get there! Gotta run, I'm off to the gym since all I did this morning was weigh in. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement and if you are fighting the battle with me, hang in there WE can do it!

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Chris Sligh Debuts on American Idol (Season 6)

OKay so here is the other guy I am pulling for this season. Anyone that can make me laugh...AND sing is worth a vote, hopefully at least one of these guys will make it through from Hollywood. Plus this guy seems pretty cool. Thoughts?

Jury Duty...served!

So I forgot to post that I didn't get picked for jury duty. I am not sure what I can say about the case other than it was a civil case, and I'll leave it at that just to keep myself from any possible trouble. So I guess they didn't like my opinions about cases similar to this one so it disqualified me. I honestly wasn't trying to get out of it, I kind of wanted to serve, but I felt I need to be honest, since I was under oath I guess...but here's a quick summary of how the day went...

Wake up...snooze...wake up...realize I better get out of bed and get ready since they make it very clear there are "legal ramifications" if I don't show.

Drive downtown, park the car in a specified location and catch a trolley to the courthouse...yeah really makes me feel like I should be nervous about serving. Get the car parked, catch the trolley, have fun watching people who OBVIOUSLY don't want to be there

Get to the courthouse, go through the security...again making me feel REALLY confident about being here and surviving, proceed to check in.

Stand in line, check in, go to LARGE room with uncomfortable chairs hoping for some type of coffee or breakfast...YEAH no go on that one

Listen to my stomach growl realizing I should have eaten something since they didn't provide anything...also realizing my eyes were very heavy since I hadn't had that nectar which brings life in the morning...COFFEE!!! The only option was vending machine coffee which is just gross.

try to stay awake then greeted by fellow church member who was selected for duty also, talk about youth group and church life...able to stay awake for the time being.

Greeted by over zealous judge and court workers who tell us how happy they are that we are serving...as if we had a choice (but remember I DID want to serve just this once)...told to watch really outdated video about jury service...almost fell asleep

Really outdated video interrupted by a need for 40 jurors...Lord please let me be one so I don;t have to sit in these really uncomfortable chairs...YES I'm picked, but did I mention how much I hate being called Mr. W.M. McKee (they could at least read the whole name)

Proceed to court room and answer many questions in front of the judge, attorneys AND clients-which was really uncomfortable since I am sure the clients thought we were judging them, I know we had to do it, but I sure hope these people who I have never met and never will again most likely don't think I am a bad person because of my answers, but I had to be honest.

After 2 hours of questions informed I would not be selected for this jury...told to proceed back to really large room with uncomfortable chairs. Finally cleared to grab some lunch (did I mention my stomach was growling?) and be back at 1:15 to await more orders (in really uncomfortable chairs).

1:15-nothing, except a bunch more people who just arrived back from not being selected, they were cleared until 2...and us...told to wait again in really large room with uncomfortable chairs and no complimentary drinks until then!

2:00-nothing except a sore butt

2:15-see above

2:30-finally some news-my group will "not" be needed and cleared to go, with full credit of service for one more year!

So no comfortable chairs, no complimentary drinks, and a few hours later and I have fulfilled my civic duty for the year...is this really how it is supposed to work? I love this country!

So until next year...no more jury duty!

The Mattster's Messenger