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BIG TIMBER, Mont. — Without their consent or knowledge, a pastor in rural Montana has sold his church and congregation on eBay for $3 million.
“I finally got good and sick of them,” says Tad Marshall, pastor for 15 years who completed the secret sale last week. “This serves them right. All of them.” Entire Article

Story from Lark News
Picture from The Write Side of My Brain

I eat at Panera Bread about 3-4 days during the work week, aince I am sticking to a pretty strict soup diet. Today, as I am standing in line to order, I was tempted by the Wild Blueberry Scones. I love blueberry stuff, and these looked great…however I check calories on everything before I order them now, so I am sitting here typing this at Panera after using their very own free Wi-Fi to check those calories…let’s just say I didn’t give in to the lust of the blueberry! See the Nutrition Facts below! That’s worst than my bowl of Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice soup was including the
French Baquette slice.

I haven’t posted a weight update in a while…so here it is! 167.
My original goal was 165, but I am not content only being 2 pounds away.
I changed it a little while back to 160…my ideal weight for my height is
between 151 & 165.

I will admit…the more I lose the harder it is getting.
I think I am just tired.
There are more days now where I just want to skip the gym.

A few things that have helped me in my diet…
These have helped me not have to frequent the gym as much…
CLA and Fish Oil.
(I also used Flaxseed oil for a while)

My wife has told me to quit losing weight
But when I look in the mirror I do not see much of a difference, so…
160 here I come!

My journey so far – Starting Point (191 lbs) – Post 1 (185 lbs) –Post 2 (181 lbs)
Post 3 (179 lbs) – Post 4 (172 lbs – this is where I changed my goal)
Post 5 (My personal commercial for Special K) – Post 6 (My struggles)

There it is…my weight journey…as you can see I started real fast
and it has slowed down a lot lately, however a lot of my appetite came back as well and I have eaten more than I was in the beginning, a lot healthier, but more quantity.

We found out today that Nicki is going to have a girl.
Either God answered my prayer a couple of years ago, when I prayed that He would allow our next child to be a girl, or he answered Shane’s prayer and our son was miraculously transformed into our daughter in Nicki’s womb within the last couple of days…I guess miracles still happen.

Anyway, the name battle has begun, Nicki and I agree on the first name, but we are having marital discourse over the middle name, hopefully Nicki will get saved and see it my way!

Nicki: Haley “Elizabeth” Carnes – How boring…yawn!
Me: Haley “Stallone” Carnes – A name after God’s own heart!

If it was a boy, Stallone was going to be the middle name, according to me, and I think it goes great with Haley! I guess it will be fun to register for a girl…for those reading this, I am registering at Sports Authority for a shotgun…and…a baseball bat to start off with, those dating days will be here before I know it!

I am still studying the book of Jeremiah, and I ran across this prayer. There are several others like this from Jeremiah, as well you will see prayers with similar tones from David in the Psalms:

Jeremiah 18:18-23
Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”

Lord, hear me and help me!
Listen to what my enemies are saying.
Should they repay evil for good?
They have dug a pit to kill me,
though I pleaded for them
and tried to protect them from your anger.
So let their children starve!
Let them die by the sword!
Let their wives become childless widows.
Let their old men die in a plague,
and let their young men be killed in battle!
Let screaming be heard from their homes
as warriors come suddenly upon them.
For they have dug a pit for me
and have hidden traps along my path.
Lord, you know all about their murderous plots against me.
Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins.
Let them die before you.
Deal with them in your anger.

I don’t know about you, but after reading this, I cannot help but to appreciate how much Jeremiah loved God…and…loved others. I guess a lot of churches would not be using Jeremiah as an example on how they would like for their people to accomplish that part of their purpose statements! I guess it is true that you can love someone, but still be honest with God when you want Him to knock ’em upside the head…I feel much better now!