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I haven’t blogged in 16 days. There is much going on in my life and if you really are wondering what’s going on with me check out my twitter. I have been updating it 4 or 5 times a day.
I really need to blog about our 30 Hour Famine and the end of the biggest loser contest.
Hope to write more in the next few days.
Blessings friends!
For the last week I have been using Twitter. If you don’t understand Twitter and how it could be beneficial check out the video below. It could be a very neat tool if I only had more friends in real life using it. One thing I have notice, is that I don’t keep up with my facebook status as much when I’m using twitter.
To follow me on Twitter, goto my twitter page at www.twitter.com/joshuajohnson
This is video from the Today Show this morning announcing that the “New Kids on the Block” are returning with a new album this summer and tour this fall. They will again be on the Today show May 16th to perform.
This video cracks me up because of all the 30 something women screaming their heads of during the whole interview. I will need to take my wife to this show in the fall as she was a huge blockhead in 1989. The funny thing is that I saw them in concert by accident in the late 80’s when they opened up for Tiffany, my junior high crush.
Andy shared the following newsletter from Sean Meade this morning, and I thought I would do the same. Any amount donation could help. I really believe in Sean’s vision and Stuck in the Middle. Please consider giving $10 or more.
An Urgent Request…Stuck in the Middle desperately needs your help, and more specifically Jill and I need your help. Three years ago Jill and I sold our home and one vehicle to help raise the capitol to launch Stuck in the Middle. Since then we’ve worked hard to fundraise and build support for this ministry. Stuck began as an annual event in Kansas City, but in 2008 and 2009 it will go national with events in Dayton, Orlando, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Seattle, Colorado Springs and Honolulu. Those events will impact the lives of thousands of middle school students, exposing many to the gospel for the very first time. In addition to those events, Stuck will also be involved with national training events, school programs, summer camps, retreats, and multiple other outreach programs. From a ministry viewpoint, it’s amazing to see what God has done in such a short period of time. From a business viewpoint, the increased activity means that Stuck will finally be able to stand on its own two feet and be financially independent. But these events are still a few months off, and we need your help to survive until then.
This is the part of the email that is very difficult to write. It’s difficult because it is humbling to admit the great need that this ministry and my family have for your support, and because I’ve learned that when a ministry struggles financially, many see it as a lack of God’s support. I believe in the work that God is doing and has done through Stuck in the Middle, and I believe in the work that is still to come. I believe we are following God’s will for this ministry, but the reality right now is that Stuck in the Middle is financially running on empty.
Here’s the bottom line: We have nothing left in our account to pay the bills for April, or to pay my salary tomorrow on April 1st. The humbling truth is that the Meade family’s rent is due on Tuesday, and without that paycheck we do not have the means to pay it. Nor do we have the means to pay the other bills that the paycheck would normally cover, or the rent and bills that Stuck in the Middle has due at the first of the month.
For the first three years that Stuck in the Middle existed, I did not receive a salary from the ministry. In January the opportunity came to take this ministry national, and we felt God’s leading for me to go full-time. Since then I’ve accepted only 40% of the approved monthly salary that our board of directors voted for me. Jill and I knew that we could make ends meet if we kept our budget very tight, and we felt that we should not receive full salary until the ministry could fully support itself and was 100% debt free.
So how can you help? My answer to that would be to please do something, and please do something right now. It doesn’t matter if you give $10 or if you give $10,000. If each person reading this email supported the ministry with a gift of some size, the crisis would be swiftly averted. Stuck in the Middle is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and any donations are tax-deductible. You can donate online right now using your bank or credit card by going to Stuckinthemiddle.com and clicking on the “Support” tab. You can also mail donations to “Stuck in the Middle, 405 South Sunset Drive #4, Andover, KS 67002″. Because of the immediate need, please do email me and let me know if you are choosing to help us out and how much you are contributing.
This process is as frightening as it is humbling for me. Starting in June we’ll have money coming in from summer camps and a few other sources, but in the meantime both Stuck in the Middle and the Meade family don’t have the means to survive without your help. Would you please prayerfully consider supporting us with a one-time contribution? You’d be helping me support my family as I continue the work that God has called me to, and you’d be supporting a ministry that is making a difference in the lives of middle school students nationwide. I cannot thank you enough for your contributions and prayers, your support is a great blessing to me, my family, and the lives impacted by this ministry. Thank you so much for your support.
In His Grip,
Sean Meade
Founder and President
I only lost 1 pound this week. It is to be expected as Holy week was a bit crazy for me. We had our semi-annual pie sale. (I had very little pie, but ate quite a bit pizza during our breaks) Despite the fact that I lost only 1 pound I have lost a total of 13 pounds over 7 weeks. It doesn’t sound like much but currently at 172 that 7% of my body weight. My BMI has gone from 25.8 (overweight) to 24 (normal range). I have five weeks to go so if I continue at this rate I will finish at 162.
Here are my weight loss strategies so far.
1. No more sugar soda- I used to hate diet soda. It has now become a treat for me.
2. Clif Bars for breakfast- I used to skip breakfast, and was very hungry by lunch which made me end up overeating. These bars are 250 calories and keep me full all morning. Thanks Andy.
3. Anytime Fitness- This is probably the real reason for the weight loss. I try to make it at least 5 times a week. I workout on the eliptical as the treadmills give me shin splints from time to time. I am curious how the weight training is effecting the weight loss. I am doing lighter weight and higher reps. I’m sure I have built some muscle, however my metabolism has increase as well.
The very first time I went to Bible Camp I was a speaker. That is pretty crazy. I would guess good number of youth pastor would not be able to say that.
Last night my friend Nick, who is the program guy at Covenant Pines Bible Camp came I got our junior high students excited about going to camp. He did a great job. He didn’t get up there and give short little prep talk and leave. He gave our students a great taste of what camp is like. He led our game, put on a sweet promo video, and then gave away some prizes. I sort of figured that he was doing this special for our group because our church is his home church. He let me know that he goes personally to every church that the camp supports and does the same thing. I was impressed. Nice work Nick!
With never going to camp before I used to be a bit skeptical about how influential camp is in the lives of students. However, I would say that countless numbers of our students have given their life to Jesus at camp and grow closer in their walk with Him.
This mornings weigh-in was my first big disappointment of this whole weight loss adventure. I didn’t lose any weight this week. The most frustrating thing is that I worked out the most this week. (5 days) Maybe I loss fat this week but increased in muscle? Maybe I should just do cardio this week. Maybe I need to watch my calories a little closer. Hmmm…
Today marks 2 weeks in our new house. I am amazed due to my wife’s good taste and Ikea how good the place looks. All day today we were putting up light fixtures, coat racks, curtain rods, pictures, mirrors, etc. The following pictures are a little dark because they were taken on my cell phone, but you get the idea.
So I am over the 1 month mark and I have averaged about 2.5 pounds per week of weight loss. My last weight in on Monday I was down 9 pounds after 4 weeks. In some ways this feels pretty slow, but in other ways I guess it is pretty healthy. Part of me thinks I may need to be a bit more hardcore about counting calories. I currently am working out 3-4 times a week, I would like to up that to 4-6 days a week. It is just so tough with needing to give full attention to the fam and youth pastoring. I guess what is key is that I am establishing new habits that I can continue after the contest is over. The one frustrating thing is I don’t really feel like much of my gut has gone away yet. Where did those 9 pounds come from?
mayberryman
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