The Weigh and the Truth

For the past eleven months, my friend, Karen and I were working towards our goal of getting healthy with a reward of a few days in Newport, Rhode Island to reap the benefits of our hard work. Karen looked amazing. Me? Not so much. Now, this isn't a "poor me" pity party - just reality. I completely failed to reach my goal. Karen - forever the optimist - phrased it well. She said this past year was about learning what works and this year is about implementing what works. And with that encouragement, the sequel begins.

As we sat overlooking the ocean in Newport, Karen and I talked about what worked, what didn't and what we want to accomplish in the next year. One suggestion Karen had echoed what I had been feeling as well, which is to introduce my faith into the equation. She noticed - as had I - that when I was squarely in my faith while eating right and exercising, I had great success. So, this year is about my one year through the Bible and my quest to lose ... dare I say it ... 100 pounds.

My title incorporates a little from last year . . . weighting for Newport (Karen's brilliant suggestion) and my willingness to be more transparent (truth). But, because of my Christianity, my title gives honor to Jesus who said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.

This passage was referenced this morning in church. I do not believe it was a coincidence that one of the other scriptures cited this morning was the same one God used to save me fifteen years ago. It is from Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saived, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." If you are wondering "huh?" don't worry. That was my reaction fifteen years ago, too.

Basically, when God created the world and created Adam and Eve, he had a close relationship with them in the Garden of Eden. But when they sinned - ate of the fruit - their perfect relationship with God was impaired. And every other person followed suit - we are all sinners and we all fall short of what is necessary to have a relationship with God. Until Jesus. He was perfect. He never sinned. And He died on the cross for my sin. It was God's grace to send His son - His perfect son - to die in my place. By putting my faith in God's promise that if I believe that the death of Jesus was sufficient to reconcile my relationship with God, I have been saved. Again, Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." In other words, I can't earn the right to go to Heaven. No matter how good, how generous, how kind I am, it will still never be enough. No one can boast that they earned their way into Heaven. Only by accepting God's grace, can we be assured of salvation. Jesus confirmed this himself when He said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

I have a Bible entitled "Once a day Bible." Each day has scripture from the Old Testament, the New Testament and a passage from Psalms or Proverbs. It will run for 365 days. If we assume day one began on January 1st, today is technically Day 224. But since I'm starting now, I'll start at the beginning. Likewise, since I want to lose 100 pounds, I need to set a goal of one pound every 3.65 days - or about two pounds a week. I'm looking forward to the year ahead.