The End of An Era

I am very sad as I found out today that my favorite pizza place in the world, Demetrio's Pizza House in Bradenton, Florida, is going to be closing down in a few weeks as the owners are retiring after 35 years in the business. 

Not only has Demetrio's been a landmark in Bradenton - an award-winning one, at that - but it has been my family's favorite since it opened. We routinely went to Demetrio's on Sundays after church and the staff there knew us all well. We celebrated many birthdays and other special events there and we have a ton of great memories. I am going to miss it very much.

It's truly the end of an era. I'm so glad that we are currently in Florida and will be able to enjoy their pizza one last time tomorrow (our second visit on this trip). I've literally never had any other pizza like it - and trust me, I've searched! Now if only I could somehow convince them to share their recipes with me...!

What I Need Most

I was out for my morning run today, finishing up a 4-miler where I was pushing my pace a little harder than usual, when Lincoln Brewster's song "Oxygen" came on my MP3 player. The chorus of the song is, "You are life every breath/ You're the heart beating in my chest/ I breathe out and breathe You in/ I need You more than oxygen."

It was the last line that caught my attention. "I don't know," I thought wryly, breathing heavily while striving to finish the run, "I need oxygen pretty badly right now!"

But the truth of the statement struck me: I do need Jesus more than I need oxygen. We all do, but I think we often will busy ourselves by focusing on our immediate needs - the urgent rather than the important. Yes, we need health, and shelter, and safety, and all that - but it's all ultimately meaningless without a relationship with God. And not only for "someday in the future" or "after I die" - I need His strength and presence and power daily - hourly (...is "minutely" a word?) 

The challenge for me (and I'm guessing for all of us) is to be aware of my dependence on God all the time. 

Think about that the next time you're out of breath.

The Challenges of Headline News

So the 94th Academy Awards took place Sunday night. I wonder if most of America would have known or cared, had it not been for the now infamous altercation between presenter Chris Rock and Will Smith. Will Smith's slap was endlessly debated on multiple media channels throughout the day with everyone weighing in. (Apparently, even with inflation, everyone still has at least two cents to put in!) The visual of the slap has already developed into a meme that will no doubt endure for years to come.

What strikes me about this whole incident (no pun intended) is that the discussion has consumed all the oxygen in the room, so to speak. There has been little coverage of anything else except for Biden's latest faux pas that his handlers are furiously trying to walk back. So if you came across any news yesterday - especially any cable news - it was focusing on one of those two incidents.

The problem is that we have become such a society consumed by the sensational that we have little time to dig into items of substance. There is so much more going on in the world around us, but we get sucked into the hot topic of the moment (if it bleeds, it leads!) instead of items of more lasting import. They are interesting, but not important. Important things get covered in feature articles and books and are never accompanied by flashy graphics that try to grab your attention. But we often focus on the trivial and don't take time to go deep. (I was going to write "have time", but that's not really true. We always have time for what we decide is important.)

There is no doubt much that occurred yesterday that will endure long after this latest controversy blows over. But you'll never know about it if you just spend time consuming the headlines being fed to you by social media, the legacy media, or cable news networks.

Regional Favorites

One of the fun things about traveling to different parts of the country is being able to enjoy products that are not available in your area (Krispy Kreme!), and being able to share some regional favorites of your own. We brought some Top the Tater with us to share with my sister as that is unavailable in Florida and is an addictive family favorite.

Yesterday she introduced us to "Florida Chips", specifically Old Florida Gourmet Tortilla Chips. As you might imagine, they are not readily available in Minnesota (although you can order them from their website, but shipping is kind of steep. Same with Amazon.) They're a spicy, tasty treat you can pick up at Publix, and if you're in Florida or visiting you might want to grab a bag and give them a try!

What regional favorites do you enjoy?

If the Shoe Fits...

There are several items that can help you succeed as a runner. For example, it's great to have good tracking tech. All smartphones today have built-in GPS and with a decent app like Runkeeper or Strava you can track your run - as long as you run with your phone. A fitness watch is even more convenient. I currently use the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music, which is $125 (renewed) on Amazon right now. There are several others in that price range that will work great (any Vivoactive or Venu watch by Garmin is more than sufficient and pretty inexpensive). Mine also functions as an MP3 player and connects to my bluetooth earbuds - another helpful accessory. So with some appropriate clothes (shirt, shorts and socks), and little optional tech you, can start running.

Perhaps the most critical item is one that is often overlooked: a good pair of running shoes. Notice, I didn't just say shoes, I said "running shoes". It's worth investing in some good shoes that will assist you in your run and, most importantly, help prevent injuries. It's sad how many Cross Country students I see with inadequate footwear because they (or their parents) try to cheap out on the shoes. Compared to other sports, the cost for Cross Country or Track shoes is pretty minimal, and is definitely and investment in helping avoid injury.

A decent pair retails for about $129, although you can often find deals on previous year models. (I will often buy $150 shoes for around $60-$70 new - it's all about watching for sales and closeouts.) Most running stores will offer discounts to Cross Country student athletes, as well. I love and recommend Saucony shoes. My current favorites are the Saucony Endorphin Shift shoes, although for student athletes I might recommend the Endorphin Speed or Pro shoes. Again, talk to people at the running stores who are familiar with the different types and they can recommend shoes that work best for you.

If you're in the Twin Cities area (or in driveable distance), I'd suggest Twin Cities Running Company. They have a great staff and selection and will be able to help you out. Run N Fun also is a good choice. Both offer discounts to student athletes (I think 15% off, but you'd have to check).

It's worth going to a good running store to get fitted with a good quality shoe. It is definitely an investment in your own health and will help you become the runner you want to be.

Another Rule for the Road

I did a sermon at church a few weeks ago called "Rules for the Road", but after our trip to Florida over the last few days I think I might add another rule: Listen to the Locals.

Our first stop on the trip was to visit with my dad in Tennessee. We surprised him by inviting him to join us on our road trip to my sister's house in Ft. Meyers for the week. After the first night of traveling together, we stopped about half way in Tifton, Georgia. 

There are a ton of chain restaurants in Tifton, which is either a bigger city than I thought or just a very popular stopping place for travelers. Restaurants of every kind surrounded the hotel and we were suffering from a bit of analysis paralysis while trying to figure out where to eat. On a whim, as we were checking into the hotel, I asked the clerks staffing the desk for their recommendation. Both immediately and without hesitation said The Pit Stop. 

That sounded good to us, so after getting settled in and going for a quick run, we headed over to a wonderful little barbecue place for a meal that will no doubt be a highlight of our trip. It's a locally owned establishment that's been around for a while, and if you're ever in the area and want to stop by, you won't be disappointed. Great big portions, nice sides, and friendly service. We headed back to the hotel and feel into a food coma after dinner, but not before stopping back by the front desk to thank them for the recommendation.

The moral of the story: ask people who know the area for recommendations. They'll be happy to share their advice and you'll come out ahead.

Rewatching Classic TV

There are some TV series that stand the test of time and that people could enjoy just as much today as they did during their heyday. Others haven't aged as well and I think the only reason we watched them originally was that there was nothing else on. Then there's the third category of shows that we enjoyed once, but wouldn't necessarily require repeated viewings.

Over the past couple of years I have enjoyed watching and re-watching (for me) several classic TV series with my oldest son, Jordan. We've gone though all the seasons of The West Wing, Cheers, Frasier, and are now on the second season of the wonderful Sports Night (an Aaron Sorkin series that preceded West Wing). 

There's a bunch more we are considering for our next series. I loved Wings but Jordan had trouble connecting with it during the first several episodes we watched. He's watched How I Met Your Mother a couple of times on his own and we're considering a re-watch of that together as I loved it the first time, but it's been several years. I'm also strongly considering MASH, which I think he would enjoy as it has some of the same comic sensibilities of others he likes. Or maybe Community. Or The Office. 

So many great old shows to re-watch - I'm sure I'm forgetting some. It makes you wonder what are the TV shows out today that we'll be re-watching in another decade or two. 

Any classic series that you would watch again?

Online Reviews

The purpose of posting a review for a product or service is to attest to one's personal experience with said product or service in order to assist another person in making a decision regarding said product or service. 

So why do reviews so often seem to make it more difficult to make a decision than less?

Getting ready for our trip to Florida I researched several potential stopping points along the way. Specifically, I was looking at various hotels we might stay in overnight. This is a process that begins for me prior to the trip and continues often to the very moment we are ready to check into the hotel, especially when we're not sure exactly what city we will end up stopping in. I like to have the flexibility to decide to stop early or keep going on a trip.

It's always hard to know where to stay if you're not familiar with the area. You have to balance the cost (I'm cheap, so that's important) with the amenities. For instance, most of the time we are looking for a place near the interstate and after we've been driving all day it's nice to have a treadmill to get some running on (or at least get to our 10,000 step goal) as a lot of times running in the area is kind of a sketchy deal. So with a variety of variables to consider, I always turn to online reviews.

Unfortunately, when it comes to hotels at least, the online reviews seem to make the process more difficult, not less. I think it's because the people who post reviews are often the disgruntled customers wanting to strike back at the hotel. Or they're the entitled customers who freak out because something isn't exactly to their snooty high standards. Regardless, there have been many times we have stayed in a particular location and found it to be perfectly acceptable, but to read the online reviews you would think they were horrid pits. Or you get the occasional, particularly unhelpful "we had loud people next to us" comment. Not usually something the hotel can control unless there are structural issues with soundproofing.

I think the big problem is the relative anonymity of most of the reviewers. A review would carry a lot more weight if it was from someone I knew personally, rather than Anonytraveler_347. 

That's one of the reasons I post "Rob's Recommendations" regularly on this blog - to help my friends (or readers) make a decision about a particular item. It may be that our relationship carries some weight and would help people find or avoid a particular items, service, place, product, tv show, movie, etc. Plus it may eventually generate good conversation in the comment area of this blog if anyone ever ends up commenting.

All that to say, if you find a good place to stay on the road, let me know! I'll do the same. Maybe we'll develop our own network of places to visit on our travels.

Is it Time for Cross Country Yet?

I love coaching Cross Country. It's so great getting to know our wonderful students - and I think we have the best group of student athletes in Cross Country overall than any other sport (and I'm not biased one bit!!) And I love these kids - several have become very good friends of mine. I also enjoy our coaching staff and hanging out with them.

I look forward to our summer breakfast runs where we run a couple miles and then eat breakfast together at someone's house. It's great for team bonding and it's fun to get to know some of the parents, as well. I enjoy practices and talking to students and sometimes running with them, and the meets are always a highlight.

But by the end of Cross Country season, I'm ready from a break from the day to day practice schedule. It's pretty time consuming so I have to be extra diligent and structured in my prep time for Sundays and my pastoral responsibilities. So after the season is over I'm happy to have a few extra hours each weekday to flex a little bit.

Which is why I'm in awe of many of our student athletes who go from one sport to the next. Whether it's hockey (extraordinarily time consuming!) or basketball, many transition not only without a break, but actually with some overlap in practice schedules! Then it's on to spring sports - Track, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, etc. The students were begging me to help coach track, but there's no way. One sport is plenty. I don't know how they do so many and keep up with their schoolwork and other extracurricular activities like band, choir, drama, speech, etc. (Of course, they are a little younger than me...)

So kudos to our student athletes. I'll look forward to cheering many of our runners on at track meets (and baseball games, etc.), and I'll look forward to joining them again this Summer for Cross Country practice!

The Great Resignation: Student Edition

There has been a lot of talk in the media in the last year about the so-called "Great Resignation" where people are quitting their jobs, or just not returning after the Covid lockdowns. There's been all sorts of speculation about the causes and so forth, but there is one aspect of this that has gone under-reported, and that is the "Great Resignation" that is taking place in our schools - specifically among our students. Of course, they aren't allowed to just quit or walk away their jobs as students, so they continue to show up in body, but with a significant lack of engagement.

I've been subbing for about 18 years and I've never seen the general apathy among students as bad as it has been this year. I'm sure part of the issue is that our state in its infinite wisdom decided that because of Covid, nobody can fail! Everybody passes, so there are kids who spend a year without even logging in during distance learning but there were no consequences - other than that they have been totally sapped of motivation to achieve anything. I spoke with yet another teacher yesterday about the struggles of dealing with these demotivated, checked-out students. Many teachers are considering retiring or just doing something else because the situation has become so frustrating. Which is a shame, because these are some really great teachers that we are going to lose.

The other ones I feel really bad for are the students who are engaged and motivated. They often pay the price for their peers who are not only disengaged but often disruptive. But it's very difficult to remove the disruptive students long-term due to policies and parents.

It's a no-win situation for schools. I don't know what the answer is. But it's a problem that's only getting worse. Hopefully the motivated students will persevere and the teachers will be able to do the same.

Rob's Recommendations: Inglorious Treksperts

For all my Star Trek friends. If you're looking for a great podcast, I'd highly suggest checking out the Inglorious Treksperts podcast with Mark A. Altman and Darren Dochterman.

Most Trek podcasts I've come across are pretty lame, but this one is great, especially if you like classic Trek. The hosts aren't the biggest fans of more recent incarnations, so the podcasts focus on the original, Next Generation, DS9, Voyager, and Enterprise. They have some amazing guests on, as well. If you are an old-school Trek fan, you won't find a better way to pass an hour (or more!)

A Non-Scrolling Recipe

If you've ever tried to look up a recipe on the internet, you'll know what I'm talking about here: You just want to see the recipe, but first you have to scroll like half a mile down while the person tells you about the history of the recipe and how they once make it an it didn't work right, and then their spiritual connection to the recipe or something. (I don't really know what all they put in there because I'm too busy scrolling, scrolling, scrolling...) Seriously, what's up with that? I'm guessing it's just to sell advertising or something. You know, some way to keep you on their website longer. It's just annoying is what it is.

So I thought I'd break the paradigm here and give you a recipe without all the scrolling. It's called Bean Dish (or Baked Bean Dish) and it's one of our family favorites (it's in the oven right now). I like it because it's pretty easy to make, plus it's pretty tasty. It's one we got from Rosalie's Aunt Lynn and modified slightly for our family. You'll have to let me know if you try it and enjoy it. (We always make some crescent rolls or something to go along with it. The bread pairs well against the sweetness of the bean dish.)

Baked Bean Dish 

1½ Pounds Ground Beef, browned and drained

2 Tablespoons Flour (if needed to thicken)

Onion powder to taste (or Sliced Onions)

28 oz. Can Baked Beans (the big Bush’s or similar brand can)

8 oz. Can Tomato Sauce or equivalent amount of Ketchup (or BBQ sauce)

3 strips Bacon – cut up, or Real Bacon Bits (optional)

½ Cup Brown Sugar (save for top)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Brown and drain ground beef, add flour and onion powder and stir in. (Optionally add onions and sauté with the meat.) Add tomato sauce and beans. Put in casserole dish and put bacon on top (cut in 1-inch pieces or use real bacon bits). Sprinkle with brown sugar on top. Bake uncovered 45 min-1 hour at 350 degrees. 

There you go, and with no unnecessary scrolling.

Heading Out on a Road Trip

I love me a road trip! I'm looking forward to getting away with Rosalie for a couple weeks. We're traveling to Florida to see my sister in Fort Meyers, and my amazing an marvelous Aunt Mary Jo and a wonderful old friend, Sue Swartz, in Bradenton. (Plus, I'll get to eat at Demetrio's - the best pizza place in the world!) On the way we will spend some time with my dad in Franklin, Tennessee, and one of my best friends from college, David Karnes, and his lovely wife, Denise, in Chattanooga. 

Rosalie and I like to listen to audio books as we travel, as well as catching up on our Mike Rowe podcasts that we enjoy listening to together. It makes the time pass faster and for me it's a lot like watching a movie in my mind. There's a new Jack Reacher novel that we have in our listening queue (Better Off Dead), as well as some Travis McGee books (we're up to The Quick Red Fox), a mystery, and some science fiction novels and short stories. It's really a very eclectic collection. Our library has a bunch of audio books that you can check out for free, which is super helpful.

It's funny how you get so excited to head out on vacation, but afterward you look forward to getting back home. I guess that's better than the alternative - not wanting to come home!

Tapping Out

I think we've all had those TV series that we really enjoy, but they go on for so many seasons that you lose interest. Maybe the quality goes from really good to just adequate. They don't jump the shark, exactly, but you're just not into them as much anymore. Episodes seems to pile up in your DVR and you think you'll get back to them eventually, but something else always seems to be more compelling to watch when you have time. 

It's really hard for me to let go and quit a series because I'm very much a completest - once I start something I want so see the entire thing, even if the quality falls off and it loses it's appeal. There have been a bunch of shows that I have stuck with to the bitter end just to say I saw them all, even though I've lost my enthusiasm. Maybe I hope they'll recapture some of their lost glory, and sometimes that happens. Sometimes not. Seinfeld was in that category for me. I thought they could have ended a season earlier and gone out on a higher note. Same with The Office.

There have been more that I've quit recently for various reasons. I think it's easier because there is so much other entertainment content available to consume. I haven't watched Survivor this year. I gave up on This Is Us a couple seasons ago; same with Chicago PD. Plus there are tons more over the years: The Flash, E.R., Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, The Blacklist, etc. Some I'm still holding onto for now, but they're on the bubble, like most of The Walking Dead series, especially World Beyond. (Yes, I know the series concluded, but I'm half a dozen or so episodes behind. Like I said, they've stacked up in my DVR.)

Some long-running shows are able to reinvigorate themselves with fresh characters or plot lines, (Alias did that pretty dramatically and very well... for a while) but they tend to be the exception. I think the showrunners or networks or whomever is in charge get caught in the past and keep retreading the same old plotlines and premises because they don't want to take a risk to try something fresh and new.

It seems like there's a lesson in there for us.

Rob's Reviews: The Adam Project

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for time travel movies. There's a great new one that debuted on Netflix last week titled The Adam Project, starring Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell. The Netflix description reads: After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the future.

You're probably familiar with Ryan Reynolds, and my guess is you'll be hearing a lot more about Walker Scobell in the future, as much of the movie hangs on his ability to pull off a 12-year-old version of Ryan's titular character, Adam Reed, and the interplay between these two wonderful actors. Walker nails the snappy, snarky as sweet character and really makes the movie.

It's not the deepest, most realistic science fiction movie of all time - it's just a lot of fun. Rosalie and I watched it the other night and enjoyed it for what it is: a humorous and heart-filled buddy-action movie. It's one I enjoyed enough that it may warrant repeated viewings. If you're looking for an entertaining diversion, I'd highly recommend it.

Afraid of the Question or the Answer?

I came across an interesting verse this morning that I had never really considered before. Jesus is predicting his death and resurrection and the disciples are just clueless about what he's talking about. Then there's this verse in Mark 9:32

"But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it."

Isn't that interesting? I always kind of pictured Jesus with sort of a teacher-student relationship with the disciples, or as a friend, or even kind of a big brother. Why do you think they were "afraid to ask him about it?" Were they tired of being called out for being wrong? Peter got rebuked in the previous chapter pretty strongly by Jesus the last time Jesus was telling them about what was going to happen, so maybe that's part of it.

But I've gotta think that Jesus was open to questions. He was a rabbi, after all, and every teacher I know certainly welcomes questions (you know, within reason). I wonder if maybe they were afraid they did understand what he was talking about, and they didn't want to face the truth. Were they afraid of the question, or more afraid of the answer?

It made me wonder about us: are there things we don't understand that God might be willing to explain, but we just don't ask? If so, what are we afraid of? Are we afraid God is going to rebuke us for asking a question? Or is there a truth we don't want to face? 

What questions are you afraid to ask?

The True Test of Character

I heard an interview on Andy Stanley's Leadership Podcast this month with Adam Grant. I wasn't that familiar with him, so I did a little research and I'm going to check out more of his writings.

One comment I came across was a Tweet he made (March 12, 2022) that caught my attention. He's not the first to say something like this, nor is it the only true test of character, but it struck me as quite profound and so I thought I'd share it here. Here's your deep thought for the day: 

You can’t judge people only by how they treat you. The true test of character is how they treat those they don't like or need. Even if someone is kind to you, proceed with caution if they’re consistently unkind to others. Selective civility is a sign of deep-seated hostility. 

The Power of a Streak

Streaks are great motivators. (Not "streaking"... that's a whole different thing.) 

I have many Snapchat streaks going with students. My top was with T.J. Rank before he went to boot camp at 663 days. I have others that are approaching that now. Some of my students at school have Snapstreaks of over 1000 days. (According to one web site, Snapchat streak was introduced in 2015, and apparently, the longest Snapchat Streak record as of June 27, 2021, was 1682.

When a streak starts to get long (over 100 days maybe?), you'll go to great lengths to keep it going. Many students will have their parents keep up their Snapstreaks if they are away at camp, or even grounded from their phone. A glitch caused me to lose a Snapstreak with one student and his girlfriend contacted Snapchat to get it reinstated!

At one point I had a streak going of hitting my goal of 10,000 steps a day that was over two years long. When I broke it, it was really difficult to get back on track, because I figured, "Well, it's only x amount of days now." It was much more motivating when it was hundreds of days in a row.

Which made me wonder: When does a habit stop being a habit? When you miss one day? Two days? A week? More?

 

Some habits we want or need to break. But when you develop a pattern that is healthy and helpful, don't let an interruption stop you from maintaining that pattern.

Rob's Recommendations: Moms on the Run

Rosalie has been a part of our local chapter of Moms on the Run since it started up in Pine City about a year ago. It's led by our friend Heather Rank and Rosalie has really enjoyed being a part of it. According to their web site: "Moms on the Run is an instructor-led fitness program with coaching to motivate, educate and encourage you on your fitness journey."

 There are about half a dozen or so women that meet a few times a week (two night in the winter, three in the warmer months) to run or walk and get in shape together. She has really enjoyed being a part of this group and making some great new friends. She'll also tell you that it's been wonderful for accountability for her as she is getting ready to do another half marathon with me (and a bunch of other Pine City folk!) at Grandma's Marathon this June. (We'll actually be doing the Great Grandma's Half Challenge which includes a 5k the night before the half marathon.)

Here is a blurb from their web site:

Moms on the Run is a structured fitness program for women of all ages (not just moms) and fitness levels who want to get in shape--and have a fun time doing so. Run your first 5K, improve your speed and endurance or stay motivated in your walking routine. We focus on interval training to increase cardiovascular fitness levels and maximize metabolism benefits. You'll start right where you are and walk, jog or run your way to a first race or personal record.

I believe the next session starts at the end of April or in May. You can get more information on their web site or - if you are in Pine City - let me know and I'll get you connected to Heather.

Who am I and Who do I Want to Be?

Would you consider yourself introspective or not? 

If you stopped to think about that question, the answer is probably yes.

It's interesting how many people seem to neglect thinking about themselves - their character, emotions, attitude, maturity, relational intelligence, temperament, spirituality and so on. Some of it no doubt depends on a person's wiring patterns. But I think often we distract ourselves in order to no think about ourselves. And there are more distractions available to us than ever in history.

When's the last time you spent time in solitude and silence? 

What books are you reading, or podcasts are you listening to, or work are you doing in order to know yourself better?

Without introspection - without know where you are - you'll never know where you want to go because you won't even know where you want to be.

That's one of the things that makes the discipline of weekly corporate worship so valuable. Even if you don't really connect with the music, or speaker, or other people, that hour on Sundays gives you a chance to take your mind off everything else and focus on what God might want to say to you.

Family Camp with the Skit Guys

The Skit Guys, Tommy Woodard and Eddie James, are two of my favorite comedians - and two of my favorite people! If you've been around our church for any time (or many others!) you'll be familiar with many of their great skits on video. They have a wonderful podcast called Laugh More with The Skit Guys, and they recently came out with a book, Smells Like Bacon, which is all about friendship and is very funny. 

Now they're back with their first movie which is coming out in just a couple of months. It looks to be a great one for the whole family. Definitely will be taking our youth group to see this one. Here's the trailer:

Spam - It's not just for dinner anymore!

For some reason over the past several weeks I have been getting way more spam email than I used to. It used to be several a day and I would go into the spam folder in Gmail and delete a dozen or so every week or two. Now I'm getting about 50-60 spam messages a day. Obviously someone has gotten a hold of my email address. I am very thankful for the analytics in Gmail which are very good at sorting the spam from the real email.

But it got me to wondering a couple of things. How can this be profitable for whatever companies are sending this? Who in their right mind responds to these emails that are so obviously not from who they pretend to be. The spelling is bad; grammar is bad; often bizarre emojis in the subject line; or really crude or gross things. There are all kinds of clues that these are not legitimate emails. 

So who responds? Is it very young kids or senile seniors or mentally challenged individuals? How can the senders make money? Or is it just access they are looking for? I seriously don't understand it.

On the other hand, I think it would be interesting and kind of humorous to respond to some of these and see what happened. Not to send them money, but to see how much more spam would be generated. Obviously I don't want to do that on my own account - or on any computer that I valued as I am sure that would open me up to spyware or viruses or whatever. But it would be an interesting experiment... For someone else.

The Journey of 10,000 Steps

It was March 8, 2017 - five years ago yesterday - that I began my first few steps - literally - toward getting healthier, and eventually becoming a runner. 

I was inspired by a student in my youth group to begin walking 10,000 steps a day (he wasn't trying to inspire me, exactly, but that's how it worked out). It's not that 10,000 is a magical number, but that's what my phone set for me for a goal, and it was more than I was doing, which was about 5,000 a day. An extra 5,000 steps took me about an hour of walking on the treadmill, which got tedious. So I started running a little bit of it, and then more, and more... and the rest is history. 

I kept my 10,000 steps per day streak for years. At one point I think I had a three years with only 2 days missed due to extraordinary circumstances. I still target that goal and miss only a few days a year.

There's a lot more to my journey that led to a huge weight loss and general overall healthier life, but that was the genesis of it. 

So, what steps can you begin to take to change your life?

Ukraine and Americans - Opinion and Policy

Yesterday's blog post referenced an article by Salena Zito entitled Ukraine crisis brings out the best in Americans. Her observation is that public support for Ukraine has united people on both sides of the political aisle. That is something I've been observing recently, as well. 

It's been interesting to see how corporations and politicians are beginning to respond to overwhelming public opinion (or conviction...maybe? Sure. We'll go with that.) regarding the Russian invasion by stopping their involvement with Russia. It seems like many could have responded more quickly. Better late than never, I guess. (But as my Aunt MaryJo would always say, better never late!)

Which begs the question, what companies are still doing business with Russia during this crisis? (Other than, you know, the US government, which is still buying oil from them.) From what I understand, as of this date, Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Pepsi are still operating there. I'm sure there are others. Why would we as US consumers support companies that prioritize their profits over doing what it right? Maybe we need to publicize not only those who have stopped supporting Russia and start publicizing those who are. (And while we're at it, maybe the government could, you know, set an example or something!)

Hopefully this post will soon be out of date because Russia withdrew from Ukraine, or  these companies and our government have stopped trading and doing business with Russia. We'll see.

[Update: According to the latest news, Biden just announced a ban on Russian oil imports. Wow, my blog worked fast!]

Rob's Recommendations: Salena Zito

I've been enjoying reading a journalist I was first introduced to last month in Mike Rowe's "The Way I Heard It" podcast. He interviewed Salena Zito, who writes regularly for the Washington Examiner, New York Post, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as columnist and reporter. It's a spectacular interview if you want to check it out - which you definitely should.

I immediately began following her on Facebook and through some of the newspapers she writes for. I am also in the process of reading her book with Brad Todd called The Great Revolt about the changing state of American politics and the populist coalition that Trump rode to power. She is a wonderful writer and I highly recommend her stuff.

Ms. Zito wrote a great article that came out a couple of days ago in her Post-Gazette column. The headline is Ukraine crisis brings out the best in Americans. It is a very compelling read and well worth your time. Go do it now. It's not long. Then come back tomorrow for some of my thoughts on this topic in what may be my most political post yet! (How's that for a teaser?)

Rob's Recommendations: The Batman

Well, The Batman turned out to be a great movie after all. I went in with few expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Even at almost 3 hours long, the movie never seemed to drag. It's not a typical action super-hero movie, which is good because I think Batman works best as the Dark Knight Detective instead of a super-hero with a ton of gadgets.

Jonah described the movie as a "great dark detective noir movie that happened to have the Batman in it," which is a wonderful description. Not a movie that would necessarily appeal to young kids, but definitely for thoughtful teens and adults. I'd give it a solid "A" rating from me.

What Do You Expect?

I'm planning to go see the new Batman movie (creatively titled The Batman) tomorrow with my sons, Jordan and Jonah. I'm not sure we really needed another Batman movie so soon, but it should be interesting to see the latest interpretation. 

I asked several of my classes at school on Thursday to see who was planning on seeing the movie this weekend and was somewhat shocked by the general lack of enthusiasm for this release. A few were looking forward to the movie, but it was a fairly moderate response overall. From what I've seen of the early box office returns the movie is doing well, so my polling sample must have been atypical. Still, I would hate to be a movie producer right now trying to come up with properties that create a buzz. 

My boys and I are going in with moderate expectations. We anticipate it being enjoyable, but how much new ground will be trod by this incarnation is unknown. I'll no doubt update via this blog in the coming days. 

It got me to thinking about the whole issue of expectations. Is it better to keep expectations low or moderate and be pleasantly surprised? Is it because we have been disappointed in the past? Or is it better to approach things in life with a more optimistic, hopeful outlook? Something to think about.

If nothing else, I expect we will enjoy an afternoon out together with some good movie theater popcorn.

Bowling with the Youth Group

There was no school today, so we took the youth group bowling this afternoon and then back to church for pizza and games (mostly 9-Square in the Air). We went to a small, local bowling alley over in Braham and we had the place to ourselves which was fun.

One of the things I really appreciate about our youth group right now is how encouraging they are to each other (usually!). It was fun to hear everyone laughing and cheering one another on. It's also great to see junior and senior highers hanging out and enjoying playing together.

The First Signs of Spring - Concerts!

Spring band and choir concert season is here with the junior high concert tonight and senior high on Monday, both beginning at 7:30 p.m. I love attending these events to support the students - several of whom are in my youth group and most of the rest I know from subbing at school. But, more than that, the music is really great. 

We have a phenomenal music program in Pine City lead by long-time choir director Jen Krinke and band directors Kevin Cahill (elementary and junior high) and Blake Groe (senior high). Plus, Joanne Cahill who teaches k-1 music and the incomparable Jen Hansmann at the elementary school (who also serves as our pianist and a vocalist on our worship team at First Pres!) 

Needless to say, if you get a chance to enjoy any of the upcoming concerts, I highly recommend you take it. Great music and very encouraging to our student musicians. (Plus, it's a cheap date!)

UPDATE: Okay, so they aren't Spring concerts, they are "Mid-Winter" concerts. I think I was just too excited that Spring is around the corner. Of course, in Minnesota I guess March is still mid-winter. 

Junior high went great. Looking forward to senior high on Monday!

Don't Travel Alone

We started a new series last Sunday (just a short 2-parter) called Road Trip and I talked about some rules for the road (riffing off a message Andy Stanley did a while back). 

One of the rules we talked about is this: Don't travel alone. You were made for community, but too often because of pain in our lives or just our personalities we tend to isolate ourselves from others. We tell ourselves, "I don't really need anyone else. I'm okay on my own."

But God created us for community. Once in a while I'll hear someone say something like, "I can be a Christian without going to church." Well, of course you can. But why would you want to? And while you may be able to "be" a "Christian", I would suggest that it is much more difficult to be a disciple, which is what we are all called to be. When you surrender your life to God and accept the forgiveness made possible by Jesus' death and resurrection, Scripture says you become a child of God - you are "adopted" in the family of God. You were never meant to do life alone.

I know people sometimes struggle to find a community of believers that is a good "fit" for them. But it's worth it to keep trying. Your traveling companions on the road of life really do determine the direction and quality of the trip (ie. of your life!) 

Who are the people that you are doing life with? Who could you invite to join you on your trip?

If you'd like to hear Sunday's complete message, check out our podcast: anchor.fm/rob-spahr or on Spotify, Apple/iTunes, and Google Podcasts.

Blogging for Posterity

I spent a little time yesterday looking back over my blog posts from the last 15 years - which sounds impressive, but only total 264. It's only this year that I have been diligent about posting daily (and I've only missed one day so far! Fingers crossed.) 

It's interesting looking at my earlier posts and how many of them are very time-bound about things going on in my life or ministry at the time. More recently I have tried to post items which have a greater reach and hopefully greater value to people beyond just those who know me personally. My goal it that if someone stumbles across this blog accidentally, they might still find something to encourage, inspire or entertain them. 

It does make for a nice kind of journal for my thoughts and kind of a time capsule. Perhaps someday my kids will read back over my old posts and smile at some crazy thing I said.