Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Wednesday, June 23, 2010......Day 158

Day 158 of the Fruit Feast. i had a terrible detox last Friday that lasted thru Sabbath. i was feverish and could not sleep at all. i had little appetite, but i felt like drinking alot of juice (which i did). i drank at least a couple of gallons of fruit juices over the weekend. i feel back to 100% today. Thank the Lord it did not stop my workout progress as i have done over a 1000 push ups and 240 chins in the last two days. i went out Monday and played ball with my son in the heat and humidity and that felt fantastic. Today i am back to feeling strong and fit. By God's grace i believe i will reach 6000 push ups in four weeks by the end of this week. There is an extra week in June this year so i am not sure how to handle that. My goal for this month was 5000 push ups and 1000 chins so i will surpass both of those (in fact i already have as of today).

Our garden is growing nicely and i look forward to see how the produce comes out. The electric fence is keeping the deer and rabbits at bay. i am hoping the watermelon comes out as i am really into them at this stage of my raw journey. Melons and juices are at the top of my list right now, but i am also enjoying the mixing of crushed nuts and nut sauces with vegetables. Yesterday i had some crackers made from such a mixture.

i am enjoying the study of the scriptures as we have started studying Revelation again. Its wonderful how the Saviour lets His servants know what will happen before it does. We are living in very interesting times indeed.

Today, i have not yet had dinner, but i will post what i have eaten so far.

Breakfast: 56oz of fruit juice (mango-watermelon-cantaloupe). 4 raw burgers my wife made (shouldn't have eaten that this morning).

Spiritual bread: Read Revelation 1-3, Ephesians 4-20-22, Job 32-33.

Exercise: 600 push ups, 120 chins, 1 hour.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Tuesday, June 15, 2010.....Day 150

Day 150 of the Fruit Feast. Today is exactly 5 months of 100% Raw. Last year i did 7 months but the difference this year at this point is the focus is not so much on the salt, but to stay away from the grains. i was thinking i needed to overcome salt as the next step in my journey (now i still think i will have to eventually), but the next item in my progression was the grains. Being raw without them and with the salt seems very easy. i am feeling really good and strong. My mind is very clear. i want to say this though, NOT EVERYBODY SHOULD GIVE UP GRAINS. i don't believe in a one size fits all health program. Everybody is different. i know people that eat grains and have no problems. But for me, they cause mucous and clog my system. So i need to avoid them. The deal for me was that all my life i was raised on them. Stuff like bread, pancakes, muffins, popcorn, rice, pizza dough and so forth are things i ate from as long as i can remember. Even as a vegan i ate those things. When i began my raw journey in 2004, i still used Ezekiel bread and Bulgar wheat because i thought they were raw at the time. It was last year, when, after i failed in my quest to get rid of salt and got a little discouraged that i really noticed it. i began to eat the Bulgar wheat with the avocado and/or boiled plantain. Now, i was focused on the salt but the wheat caused mucous to come up in my nose less than 24 hours after i ate it. Then i ate the popcorn, rice and home made pizza dough figuring to start raw fruitarian again in January (which i was blessed to do).

Of course i could feel my system getting clogged up and i definitely noticed it in my bowels. This year, after i fell off the salt wagon at my wife's surprise party, i didn't eat any grains. i stayed raw. No mucous, no clogging of my system. Yes, i did feel some water retention, but it was not the same thing. Now, i am still believing that eventually the salt will go, but i am not as worried about it right now. i am very glad that the grains are gone. i loved them, but they did not like me. The nuts help me as an excellent substitute. As long as i don't eat them whole (i tend to overdo that) and just use them in recipes (like the Fruit Fusion). i would like to soak them from time to time, but i never think about it in advance. If a person was interested in going raw from eating dairy and flesh foods, i would begin with just vegan. That is no flesh or dairy but i would use the grains along with fruits, vegetables and nuts. Then progress over time to raw vegan. There are those that jump into raw vegan ism almost from day one, but i find these people are rare. Particularly if they are going to do it for several years.  Most people are not like that but instead progress over time. Some take more time than others. This is my seventh year at this and i am just getting to the point of dumping grains (hopefully for good). In some ways, i believe people want to rush into it because either they are that type of personality and/or they desperately want to lose weight. But honestly if we are talking about making permanent changes for the rest of our lives, perhaps some deliberation, patience and thought are appropriate. i seek to avoid comparing myself to others who have gone to raw vegan because, while i can get some tips from others, everyone is not the same.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

 i find most of the people (some would say "gurus") seem to imply that everyone is exactly like them and so every one's path must be like theirs. While there are many things similar to all humans, there are just as many things different. Anyways, that is my soapbox for the day.

i am fasting today so i will post what i ate yesterday.

Breakfast: 36oz of fresh OJ. 1/2 a large watermelon.

Lunch: 8 raw cabbage wraps.

Dinner: 48oz watermelon-cantaloupe juice.

Spiritual bread: Job 25-28, Jude

Exercise: 500 push ups, 120 chins...50 minutes. 6 games of full court ball with my son (4 games to 2, hey maybe next time kid).

Grace and peace be multiplied to all.

todd

Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday, June 11, 2010......Day 146

Day 146 of the Fruit Feast. i am fasting today. i have a brother in Christ that needs some deliverance. i fast and pray for him and i also fast and pray for me. That i may be more partaker of the Divine Nature.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

i really do not want to be a fake, hypocritical Christian. i want to be real. i want my experience to be real. i have found that any other way is just a waste of time. i was thinking about this verse recently:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

This is deep to me. There will be many who have lived thinking they were fine for eternity and they will be disappointed to find out they were not. i wondered why and i came to certain conclusions. Many times we lie to ourselves. Now that is bad enough, but what is worse is, eventually we begin to believe our own lie. Self-deception is a miserable thing. Many have made an art form and a science out of living a lie. Carrying on a facade for so long that one believes the facade is real. i have done this in my past. i am so thankful to the Father and the Lord Christ that thru the Eternal Spirit and well-deserved chastening, i was awakened to my true condition and sent the gift of repentance. Then i thought, "what is the Father's will?" The scriptures provided my answer (as always):

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Thessalonians 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1 Thessalonians 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

To be made Holy. To be reverent to the Lord Christ. To be consecrated to be His Disciple....forever. i want this. But i found more......

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

i thank the Lord for my wife of more than 25 years. i thank the Lord for my 4 children. i thank the Lord for my 2 grandchildren. i thank the Lord for the wonderful health He has given me. But if He were to allow all this to be taken from me (it can all go in a moment), i want to be able to whole-heartedly, honestly, sincerely, give thanks still. Regardless of the situation, circumstance. Whether it tastes sweet or bitter. All praise, honor and glory to the Father of Light and our Lord Christ the Lamb.

i have been eating extremely well this week. i say extremely because i have been enjoying every meal. i was inspired to make up this thing i called the Fruit Fusion. Its a Raw Remnant original. Its a raw fruit crisp with crushed almonds, dates and raisins at the crust (note: i do add salt to my crust and sprinkle alittle on the fruit but some may not do that depending on their diet). Then i make a sauce with blueberries, dates and orange juice. i mix the sauce with sliced strawberries and ripe bananas and pour the whole thing over the crust. Sometimes i make a sweet cashew creme with it. Really good. Since its the warm season here i have really be only wanting melons and/or fresh fruit juice in the morning. i also have been having that in the evening. i am feeling very, very strong. This week i have done 1535 push ups and 372 chins. That's not including some crunches, running a lot of basketball and working in the garden. i feel wonderful. Since i am fasting today, i will report yesterday's meals.

Breakfast: 55oz of watermelon-cantaloupe juice. Ate half a cantaloupe with some watermelon while making it.

Lunch: 2 bananas. half a watermelon. Raw Fruit Fusion.

Dinner: 64oz of watermelon-cantaloupe-orange juice.

Spiritual bread: 1 John 3-5, Job 18-21

Exercise: 205 push ups, 60 chins. 2 hours  basketball. Today i did all the specialty type movements. Clapping push ups, diamond push ups, incline and decline.....etc. i also was doing sets of 5 chins and holding the movement at the top for isometric affect. Nice way to finish a week.

Sabbath rest and peace to all in Christ.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Friday, June 4, 2010

Friday, June 4, 2010....day 139.

Day 139 of the Fruit Feast. i have been very active this past 7 days or so. i was especially active getting the final touches of our garden together. i put up an electric fence because around here, the deer will totally clean out a garden. We have so many of them that hang out in our yard, i tell my family we might as well name them like pets. i love animals and i am aware that its man intruding on their habitat that is causing them to be more public than they would like. But at the same time, i didn't put in all the effort and expense of a garden to feed the deer and rabbits. So i put up the fence and planted the garden. i pray all the effort pays off in a nice bounty of food. We planted watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini,  tomatoes and sweet potatoes (my wife's idea). i was so busy, that i only had time to work out 3 days this week (i usually do four workouts per week). So i had to do some extra push ups today to meet my weekly goal of  1400. Thank the Lord, i was able to do it in a timely manner. i will tell you that gardening with the shoveling, the pulling, the bending and all the movements, is very good exercise. i shoveled out rows and did raised beds. My legs definitely felt it afterwards and its a small garden (20x12). If i did a larger garden it would really be a workout!

This past week i spoke to my dad, my brother and my mom all on the same day. That is a rarity. Even more rare is all were actually pleasant conversations. Its sad that there is so much dysfunctionality in the world. Where so many families have so much anger and frustration. Its the result of the entrance of sin. But one day, i believe, there will be no more of that.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

i am thankful that the signs all show, that day is coming sooner than many think. May we be found in Christ at that time. Amen.

Breakfast: 36oz watermelon-orange-cantaloupe juice. Few pieces of watermelon & cantaloupe while i cut it up.

Dinner: 36oz OJ. One medium size durian (about 6lbs).

Spiritual bread: Esther 3-9

Exercise: 600 push ups, 120 chins. 55 minutes.

Sabbath rest and peace to all in Christ.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Have a wonderful weekend!

todd

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Wednesday, June 3, 2010....Day 137

Day 137 of the Fruit Feast. With this past weekend being Memorial Day in the USA (thanks to all Veterans for their service), i have been quite busy. Doing bible studies, preaching and teaching, working out, gardening and exercising have taken up alot of my time. The Raw diet is still going very well inspite of the salt. i am still 100% raw and still enjoying it. i have not had cravings for the last few weeks at all. i get the slightest of tastes for the grain foods once in awhile but its not any real temptation. The Autumn season is usually when those cravings are the strongest so we will see what happens. i am behind on my weekly push up/chin up schedule because of the various other activities. So far this week i am at 800/180 (after having done 500/120 today). i am planning on about 300/60 per day for the next 2 days to reach 1400/300 for the week. The goal for this month is 5000/1200. i do feel alot stronger now. One of the reasons for my having to play catch up is on Monday i played ball with my son. 8 grueling games of one-on-one full court. i got him this time 5 games to 3. i am really loving these times as we are not only bonding but building memories that will last the rest of our lives. i never really ever had that with my father, as i recall more pain than love. But i am so very thankful that i can have it with my own son. The Love of Christ is a wonderful, life-changing thing.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

i have been sticking, pretty consistently, to a diet routine that has me either eating melons or drinking juices in the morning (usually at least 36oz but usually more than 40oz). Then eating something more substantial in the afternoon (large non-sweet salads with nut sauces or things like the fruit crisp). Then more juices or melon for dinner. This morning i changed that a bit (and i felt it negatively). My wife is doing a 30 day juice fast for the month of June. She juiced some carrots yesterday and i used the residue mixed with some soaked flax seeds to make some dehydrated crackers. They were so so really but i ate them this morning prior to my melon and juice. My stomach felt it in a negative way. While i was able to recover i really don't want to alter the routine again if i can help it as i knew i sent confused signals to my system.

Breakfast: 6 carrot-flax crackers, 54oz of watermelon-cantaloupe juice, half a cantaloupe.

Lunch: Non-sweet fruit salad with dulse, wakame and guac.

Dinner: 36oz of watermelon-cantaloupe juice, 3 bananas.

Spiritual bread: James 3-5

Exercise: 500 push ups, 120 chins, 2 hours in the garden.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd