That I Should Gain

As alluded to in a prior post, Charles Wesley wrote quite a number of famous hymns, perhaps the most famous is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, but in my early years attending a Baptist church we'd sing several Charles Wesley hymns. I'd always sit on the hard, wooden pew in this small, old church that smelled musty, with it's ancient red hymnals and blue Bibles in the little book holder on the back of the pew. It also provided tiny pencils that were seldom sharpened quite enough and tithe cards in which all kids would doodle on.

Back in those days (birth to 3rd grade) I'd attend this small church every Sunday with my Grandma and my Aunt. My mom hardly attended but that was even more reason for my grandma to scoop my brothers and I up every Sunday and transport us to her church. I have fond memories of my Grandma... she'd always have mints with her, always attend Sunday morning church, seemed to know the words to most hymns and ALWAYS sang them off-key in her slightly southern drawl. She was always dressed up for church and expected my brothers and I to dressed nicely as well.

I never truly felt like I fit in at this church; probably because it always seemed like it was my Grandma's church, not mine. Most kids attended with their parents but I always attended with my out-of-tune Grandma and my Aunt who taught Sunday School. Plus, I did not live in this church's neighborhood so I rarely did kid's choir or VBS though I always longed to do that. My cousins all did (and hated it) but I never got to.

After Monday's post of mentioning Charles Wesley I've had a few of his hymns in my mind. Today as I stepped on the scale I was happily shocked to be down a few pounds, and more notably, in a different number range than before. The first thing that came into my mind was the hymn, "Amazing Love". (And can it be that I should gain)

The opening strain is what reminds me of my weight: "And can it be that I should gain?" It normally doesn't seem to matter what I do; I always gain. I know that theoretically it's simple math: If I expend more calories that I consume then I'll lose weight and this can easily be attained through exercise or eating less. I'm not really into exercise I generally just try to eat less.... but for some strange reason, even if I hardly eat anything at all I don't lose much, if any weight. Of course, then I get discouraged because I'm seemingly being SO GOOD there should be some type of results from my efforts and there's none and then I just don't care and eat anything I want....... but when I'm being so good, I really do wonder: How can it be that I should gain?

I'm glad that I am in a lower number range right now but it's not a victory yet; I've been here a number of times this past year and never can get under 125, let alone back down to 110.I am happy that I stepped on the scale tonight because perhaps it will help motivate me to continue being good. The only problem is that one can't tell. I don't see any noticeable difference in the mirror and not sure my pant fit truly is very different. But perhaps 8 pounds is not a big enough number to truly reflect in the mirror. (and no; I did not lose 8 pounds in one day; this is over a couple of weeks)

I don't know why I gain so easily and it really doesn't make sense. Do you have things that you are trying to change that seem resistant? That by all rights and logic should be yielding results but aren't?

Oh, and an off topic question: Why is it that we seldom sing the third verse to most hymns? I know; hymns are seldom sung at all anymore but just the other week my church sang a hymn, one that I knew quite well and yet we did not sing the third verse. (and for some reason, I generally like the third verse but I think a big part of it is pride: I know my hymns. Even the third verse.)

But again: What are things in your life that by all accounts should yield results yet there's no actual, measurable result? What do you do about that? Try harder? Give up? Plan a different method?

Be More Vile

As some of you may know, I've been reading a book about the history of Christianity and it's really quite interesting. One thing that amazes me is how God can (and does) use the imperfect, but that could easily be the subject of another post. What I want to address is to submit to be more vile.

"At four in the afternoon I submitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation, speaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thousand people. The scriptures on which I spoke was this (is it possible any one should be ignorant that it is fulfilled in every true minister of Christ?), "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
John Wesley

I just find that it's interesting all the books that are written about doing things and reaching people outside of the church building. I agree that premise but I find it interesting in reading history how it's not a new idea and that many great men of God fully believed that the gospel is for the poor, enslaved, captive, bruised, and broken-hearted among us. In England at the time preaching was only done in a church on Sundays; not out in a field in the open air. By preaching outdoors John Wesley and George Whitefield could reach people that might not enter through the church's doors. Add to that George Whitefield's influence on the Great Awakening and all the tent revivals and outdoor preaching done at that time by him and others and one can say that God does great things when we, His people, are obedient. Inside and outside the institutions of the church.

I forgot to mention: Charles Wesley is John Wesley's brother. Does the name Charles Wesley sound familiar?