My Writings. My Thoughts.
Book Review: Deadlock by Al and Joanna Lacy
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
The Zarbo brothers are seasoned outlaws with a reputation for killing. Already wanted in two states, they set their sights on Colorado and a string of bank robberies. They don’t count on running into Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman.
John arrests Lee Zarbo, but his brothers remain in hiding. Lee’s sentence to death by hanging incites them to desperate measures. They’ll do anything to get him out alive. Even kidnap the Chief U.S. Marshal’s daughter.
When John learns of his young daughter’s captivity and the conditions for her release, he must turn to the Lord for direction. It takes all the faith he can muster to wait for the answer. Without freeing a dangerous criminal, can John find Ginny before they kill her?
Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and Western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies
You Can Buy The Book At: Amazon.com
royb
Book Review: Meltdown by Chuck Holton
// August 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
If you love techie, adventure, military, guy movies or books, Meltdown is for you. From the very beginning, this book is full of adventure. With adrenaline pouring out of the pages, Meltdown seeks to take the reader on an adventure from one end of the world to the other.
The story follows an elite group of Special Ops guys (and girls) as they track down a serious, very deadly threat to the world. With traces back to Chernobyl in the Ukraine, this weapon has the potential to bring the U.S. to its knees.
I admired the writing style because the author, Chuck Holton, was able to bring adventure and excitement to the reader without becoming provocative or disgusting. In many books and movies, writers use every chance they get to include either a sex scene or a decapitation, in order to shock the readers or viewers. Chuck Holton keeps us on the edge of our seats with plenty of action to go around, and doesn’t stoop to that level.
The book is fairly short but you really have to pay attention to keep up with all that is going on. The only concern I had were the amount of characters and how often it jumped back and forth from scene to another. But, if you can keep up with it, it is well worth it.
I would suggest reading the first two books of this series, but this book does stand on its own and can be enjoyed anyway. Mr. Holton does elude back to things that happened in those books, but if you haven’t read them, like I haven’t, it won’t deter you from keeping up with this one.
Summary:
TASK FORCE VALOR
Explosive Ordnance Disposal — The Bomb Squad
The global war on terror has reached catastrophic proportions, leading the U.S. Special Operations EOD team—Task Force Valor—to Chernobyl, where ghosts of past disasters are nothing compared to the nuclear nightmare about to unfold.
With CIA Agent Mary “Phoenix” Walker heading her first Special Ops mission and Master Sergeant Bobby Sweeney fighting demons on and off the battlefield, Task Force Valor races to stop a terrorist threat in the Ukraine before Europe is turned into a radioactive wasteland.
But when the terror reaches American shores, the team is powerless to help until they can save themselves. And when they finally track down the source of the chaos, what they find is worse than anything they could have imagined.
Chuck Holton has traveled the world, experienced combat, served in the Elite 75th Ranger Regiment, and is the author of six books, including Allah’s Fire, Island Inferno, Bulletproof, Stories From a Soldier’s Heart, and A More Elite Soldier. His journeys have taken him from the depths of the Atlantic, to the mountains of Burma, from the dogsleds of Alaska, to skies of Iraq. Chuck lives in Appalachia with his wife, Connie, and their five children.
You can purchase the book at online at: Amazon.com
royb
Cycling Devotion: Follow My Example
// August 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, Devotions
When I first started riding a bike rather seriously, I was lucky enough that a local bike shop owner kind of took me under his wing. Not that I was any different than anyone else, he just knew that if he showed me some things there was a good chance I would keep riding and not stop, like many people do.
Well, 2 1/2 years later I’m still riding.
As I began doing longer rides and bigger group rides, two things became very obvious: I had to learn how to ride in a group and how to refuel as I rode. Paul, the bike shop owner, talked with me for a long time, numerous times, and I got the gist of it, but I still felt like something was off. He said I had to learn how to eat on a bike and how to pull (lead) on a bike.
His solution, which was fantastic and Biblical (but he doesn’t know that part) was for me to follow him. He told me to ride with him and when he eats I eat, when he drinks I drink, and when he points out something on the road, I need to take notice and learn to spot it as well.
Paul knew that talking was good but probably not the best way of communicating, so he took time out of his very busy day to literally teach me how to ride a bike properly.
On these rides, and there were a couple, I learned how to signal for a pedestrian, how to tell someone I’m slowing down, how to tell someone I’m passing someone else, how to slow down without out causing a sudden stop for the guy right on my wheel. But he also showed me how often to drink and eat and how to do it efficiently, without losing momentum. I also learned how to draft properly and how far away to be from the tire in front of me, and I learned where to draft (echelon) when the wind is blowing.
Everyone can learn these things in time by riding with groups and picking up little stuff here and there, but Paul wanted me to be the best rider I could be and the best way to do that was to have me follow him and do what he did.
It’s a Biblical Principle
God put Adam and Eve on earth and had a glorious, personal relationship with them, and they sinned. God has been trying to reestablish that relationship ever since. Through Noah, after the flood, then Abraham and then Moses with the commandments, He has given us every chance to be the people He created from the beginning. But we kept turning our backs on God and put how other people see us over our true identity. (i.e. Pharisees and Sadducees)
So, God sent His only son to earth to be the sacrificial lamb, the perfect sacrifice. And in doing so, Jesus lived on earth for 33 years dealing with heartache, abandonment, chastisement, loneliness and loved ones being sick. And through all of that, He taught (showed) us how to handle situations. And if that wasn’t enough, when he went back up to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to live inside of us to teach and guide us along the way.
Not only do we have the Bible to tell us what God has for us, we also have a guide that is with us 24/7 showing us as well.
Well, like I said, my bike friend Paul was teaching me a Biblical principle and didn’t even know it. If I will allow God to mold me and shape me into the person He created me to be, I will learn much faster and perhaps skip a lot of mistakes.
If I simply do as what I see Jesus do and act the way Jesus acted, I’ll be fine. And how do I know what Jesus does and how He acted…..read the Bible.
royb
I Exercise More Than Ever, But I’m Not Losing Weight
// August 11th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, society in general
Just the other day, Saturday to be exact, a friend and I had a discussion about exercising and weight loss. It went something like this:
Me: Dude, check this out. I’ve been riding this bike for a couple of years now but haven’t really lost any weight and I’m the same size as before.
Dude: Yeah, me too. I’ve got the same gut I’ve always had.
Me: It doesn’t make sense, but I think it’s because every time I ride, I eat like a horse afterwards. The more I exercise, the more I eat.
Dude: Makes sense to me. After we get done, you want Zesto’s fried chicken or Mexican?
Me: Probably both.
And now that I think about it, I actually did end up at a Mexican restaurant that night eating more food than any one person should be able to hold. And while I’m being honest here, I went to Sandy’s and got ice cream too –but just a little. I felt horrible after eating so much food, but I didn’t have any regrets because of the amount of exercise I just did.
Exercise
On average, from all the information I’ve read and been told, I will burn roughly 600-800 calories and hour by cycling. And that number goes up when it is hot outside, because your body has to work extra hard regulating your body heat. So, Saturday I rode for roughly 3 1/2 hours in 90 degree heat. If I do the math, I burnt roughly 2000-2800 calories, not taking into account the humidity and heat.
Eating
Saturday night, I went to Jalisco Mexican Restaurante. And, for the record, it was excelente. But, again, from what I’ve read and been told, the meal I inhaled had roughly 2000 calories in it.
Mexican Meal that contains Fajitas (1000 calories), Rice (200 calories), Beans & Cheese (250 calories) , Basket of Warm Tortilla Chips (450 calories) = 2000 calories total
My Findings
As you can see, from a nutritional, weight loss perspective, the day was a wash. I basically rode a bike just long enough to burnt off the meal I ate that night. This doesn’t take into account breakfast and lunch. My overall calorie intake was much higher than what I burnt off. Also, the next day I was still hungry. And if I ride a bike for 5 hours or more, I’ll be hungry for even longer.
It is simple, and I was right, the more I exercise the more I eat. The reason I haven’t been losing all that much weight –I have lost some— is because I’ve used my exercising as an excuse to indulge my appetite. I am getting healthier, from the standpoint of endurance and aerobic ability, but my waist size body mass hasn’t gone down much at all.
Now, again, this is my unscientific research that I’ve thrown together, but today I read an article that, unfortunately, backed up my unscientific research.
Conclusion
I have to stop eating everything I find after I finish exercising. Also, when I do eat, it has to be something other than a 2000+ calorie Mexican meal. If you know my wife, as she is reading this, she is screaming at the top of her lungs, “THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR YEARS!”
But I know I’m not alone. I have friends and/or family members who will eat doughnuts after they finish running or walking on the track. It’s like a reward they give themselves for exercising. But of course, then they wonder why the weight isn’t just falling off.
I was under the impression that if you want to lose weight, or get healthy, just exercise. That was the magic. Unfortunately, for me at least, it isn’t. I have to learn to go against everything my body is telling me and not engorge myself on anything with sugar and transfats in it.
P.S.
While exercising, especially for anything lasting longer than an hour, you and I must make sure we are taking in carbs as we go. The body uses carbs to fuel itself as it goes. Whether you are eating gels or whatever, just be sure that you are refueling as you go or you will get sick and your body will shut down, because it is out of gas.
My rule of thumb when riding (A friend of mine, a bike shop owner and avid cyclist, taught me this) is to drink a bottle of water every hour and eat two-three gels an hour when the temperature is normal. When it is unbearably hot I’ll drink a bottle every 45 minutes and at least 3 gels an hour.
royb
royb
Cycling Devotion: It’s The Simple Things
// August 6th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Cycling, Devotions, Relevant Faith
When I leave from the house, whether I do an hour ride or a 3 hour ride, I always have this annoying, horribly rough, 1 1/2 mile road that leads up to my house. This road shakes my bike and my body to pieces every time.
Well, today they re-paved that road and it is no longer the worst part of my ride. Now, when I turn onto Pine Street, I won’t cringe at the thought of climbing that little hill.
And that got me to thinking. It’s the little things sometimes that mean the most. It’s a tiny paved road or the correct height on the seat or having a friend ride with you that you haven’t seen in awhile.
Next time you’re having a rough ride just take a minute and enjoy some of the little things that have happened along the way.
As for the spiritual aspect of this devotion, I’ll let you decide how that affects your relationship with Christ. Leave a comment if you think of something good. I’d love for others to see it.
royb
Cycling Devotion: When You See a Fellow Rider, Enjoy It
// July 28th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Cycling, Devotions, Relevant Faith
When you ride a bike in the mountains, or any long, out-of-the-way road, the only people you see are other riders.
A couple of weeks ago, I rode from Tryon, NC up to Saluda, NC. I left from a parking lot near Tryon and rode a few hours up to Saluda and then took the express down –a seven mile fast descent. And, from the time I left the parking lot heading up the mountain, it was at least an hour and half before I saw another person, and it was a fellow cyclist going the other direction. I didn’t know this guy and will never see him again, but for a brief moment, we had something in common: a love of pushing ourselves to exertion and throwing up (I mean, cycling).
More often than not, when you ride somewhere out of the ordinary, you will see very few people; and the ones that you do see, you will feel a strange connection with. During another ride recently, the Tour de Cure here in Columbia, I somehow ended up between groups of riders. I spent nearly two hours riding by myself, which is somewhat daunting on a ride like that because the route usually is unfamiliar to you. But, I remember how relieved I was when I finally came up on some riders at a rest stop.
If you ride at a park or in a busy downtown area where everyone goes, you will more than likely see many, many people along the way. That’s because it is probably an easy, flat ride that is good for every type of rider. When you step out and do something different or harder, like a century or mountain ride, then the number of people you see will be considerably less, and at times, nonexistent.
Our walk with God is much the same way. As we try to follow Him and lead a holy life, we will only occasionally run into someone going the same way. Unfortunately, most people sitting on the pew beside you, or singing in the choir, are living in a comfortable little world that they’ve built, and they try very hard to keep it from getting disturbed. And if that is you, then so be it. But, if you feel like God is calling you to more. To reach more. To say more. To do more. To see more. To be more. Then, as you travel that road, use the people that God sends you as a time of refreshing, an oasis.
It can get lonely on that road sometimes, just remember to keep going. Just over the next hill could be someone to ride with you and be your friend along the way.
royb
Jimmy Valvano Speech
// July 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
If you’ve never watched this video, do so now. It is about 11 minutes or so, but it will inspire you and possibly change you. This speech was given by Jimmy Valvano, coach of the N.C. State basketball team, during the ESPY awards in 1993. He talks about his bout with cancer and what each of us can do to live an enjoyable, passionate life.
Expectations of a Political Leader
// July 22nd, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Uncategorized
President Obama’s pick for Surgeon General is a Doctor from Alabama, Regina Benjamin. Sounds innocuous enough, but the controversy surrounding her recently is the fact that she is fairly overweight. By fairly I mean obviously. Critics have been slamming the would-be Surgeon General pick because of her weight, saying that she is unfit to tell Americans how to take care of themselves if she can’t take care of herself. Leaders, for years now, have been calling obesity in America a serious problem.
About 1980, the health and physical fitness of Americans began a downward spiral, as the rates of overweight and obesity began to climb. The nation now faces a growing public health epidemic, one that threatens the well-being of future generations. As the nation has become more urbanized, motorized, and screen-centered, an increasing number of people lead sedentary lives, and the rates of overweight and obesity continue to soar. The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. (The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)
Those who are backing Dr. Benjamin for Surgeon General (I can’t find the article. I will post it when I find it) are saying that, because of her weight issue, she is in a better position to give advice. She can tell people about the dangers of being overweight because she struggles with it herself. Now, don’t get me wrong, but isn’t that like saying the Drug-Czar should be a heroin-addicted, drug-addict, because he understands drugs. Or like saying the local police chief should be a convicted serial-killer because he understands the criminal mind. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to go to a marriage counselor who has been married three times.
Obviously there are many pressing health issues in America besides obesity and she may be a perfect choice for them all, but don’t give me this crap about her being in a better position because of her weight (I don’t know where she stands on any issues so this isn’t an endorsement). Just admit you like her as Surgeon General despite it, not because of it, and I’ll respect your opinion much more.
So What
Now, what does this have to do with expectations of political leaders?
I remember in elementary school, being given some kind of President’s Physical Fitness Award –I don’t remember the exact title. But during P.E. we had certain things we had to do –pull-ups, sit-ups, etc..— in order to get this award. And it would have been weird to me for the President to ask all of us kids to be active if he wasn’t. Now, I was young and don’t remember if President Reagan was a very active man, but at his age he must have been in order to do the job of President.
I also don’t know whether the first President Bush was very active or not. But I do remember when Clinton jogged to McDonalds, and the infamous CigarGate, so I don’t think Clinton was all that health conscious. The second President Bush was very active and took his health extremely serious. To my knowledge, he didn’t drink or smoke and was either riding a bike or running every chance he got. Now with Obama as President I don’t know what his stance or views will be towards a healthy lifestyle. I know he smokes and drinks, now how much, who knows, but that is different than our last president. He and his family look to be in good shape, so we’ll see.
I say all of that to ask this: What do we expect out of our leaders? Do we expect them to be good role models? And then, what is a good role model? What do we want or not want them to do? Do we care whether or not the president or surgeon general or governor are obese or an alcoholic? Do we want our leaders to be monogamous? Do we care if he/she has a fling on the side as long as they are good at their job?
Do we treat our political leaders differently than we do our employees or co-workers? What if the top salesman in a large company was obese, do you think he would be fired? Of course not. How about if he was cheating on his wife? Nope, the company would care less as long as he is producing great results.
So, why do we expect so much of our leaders in office? And should we? Do the moral and “life” choices leaders make, give an indication of what kind of person they are?
I’m not going to reveal my opinion just yet…I want to hear from you. I’ll post again soon and finish this conversation.
royb
Perspective
// July 16th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // society in general
I read this on the wall at Jimmy Johns in Columbia, SC and thought it was worth blogging about. Read it and comment.
How Much is Enough?
The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, only a little while.
The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “ I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then?”
The American laughed and said the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions?” asked the fisherman, “Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play guitar with your amigos!”
Author Unknown
Book Review: Holy Roller by Julie Lyons
// July 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
Holy Roller, by Julie Lyons, was a fantastic book. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened the book, but it was clear from the start, that this book was special. Having grown up in Pentecostal circles, this book hit right at home.
Throughout Holy Roller, I kept thinking this must be some kind of fiction. I was waiting for the punch line. But, luckily, this was a true “I call it as I see it” story from a writer sharing from her heart. The way the book is told from a personal experience, as opposed to just writing about something she’s never been through, kept me wanting to read more. She bares her soul throughout the book, even the dirty little secrets that she hoped, at the time, no one would ever find out.
The book chronicles her relationship with Christ, her job, her family, her church and her marriage. She holds nothing back, that I could tell, and gives us a bird’s-eye-view of how she dealt with each.
I highly recommend the book to everyone. This book is about Missions, loving people who most people won’t, sticking with a church even though it is hard, race relations, dealing with inner conflict, finding out where God wants you, and most of all, watching as God shows himself faithful in every situation, even though it may not be obvious at the time.
I recommend you buy this book and read it. You can buy it at Random House.
Summary:
Julie Lyons was working as a crime reporter when she followed a hunch into the South Dallas ghetto. She wasn’t hunting drug dealers, but drug addicts who had been supernaturally healed of their addictions. Was there a church in the most violent part of the city that prayed for addicts and got results?
At The Body of Christ Assembly, a rundown church on an out-of-the-way street, Lyons found the story she was looking for. The minister welcomed criminals, prostitutes, and street people–anyone who needed God. He prayed for the sick, the addicted, and the demon-possessed, and people were supernaturally healed.
Lyons’s story landed on the front page of the Dallas Times Herald. But she got much more than just a great story, she found an unlikely spiritual home. Though the parishioners at The Body of Christ Assembly are black and Pentecostal, and Lyons is white and from a traditional church background, she embraced their spirituality–that of “the Holy Ghost and fire.”
It’s all here in Holy Roller–the stories of people desperate for God’s help. And the actions of a God who doesn’t forget the people who need His power.
Biography:
Julie Lyons is an award-winning writer, editor and investigative reporter who for more than 11 years served as editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper owned by Village Voice Media. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband, Larry Lyons Jr., live in Dallas with their son.
