It was a good stretch of the legs.

Going from Jericho to Jerusalem Jesus would travel 15 to 18 miles and climb 340 stories. It would take you 5 to 8 hours to walk it depending on your pace and fitness. Along the trail you would go past the spot of the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus with his disciples would be safe from the robbers that preyed on travelers. Jesus on that final journey would know the outcome of the cross. 
Right now I would be challenged to make such a walk. At 35 or 55 I could. I am amazed recovering from injuries how much more challenging it is to get back to walking conditioning. The good news I am making progress. 
In your Bible reading read one of the gospel's account of the last week. I am looking at Luke 18:34 to 24:52. Read it in a Bible with paragraphs and it should take about 30 minutes. Think about the hard walk from Jericho. Read Wayne Styles blog on that walk. 
http://www.waynestiles.com/the-ascent-of-adummim-a-tough-hike-in-more-ways-than-one/
The physical walk helps us to see the Bible come alive. Each day of holy week Jesus walked 2 miles to Bethany in the early morning and evening. Be blessed, keep walking

Our brain keeps developing - helps to fight dementia

In the March issue of today's geriatric medicine Katherine O’Brien PhD and Rosco Nicholson MA discuss the topic Lifestyle Influences Brain Health.

http://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/0315p18.shtml

They cite 5 million Americans over the ages 65 suffer from Alzheimer's disease. What stuck up for me that means 1 in 8.5 have this disorder. In every five years after the age of 65 the number doubles. With these kind numbers it is easy to see why baby boomers are trying to figure out how to avoid Alzheimer's or slow it down.

I think it is important to note that we are aging and to not live in some kind of denial. One of the things that occurs with Alzheimer's is that it affects judgment and critical thinking of self-awareness. This is why it's so important to have support from family or close friends who have your interest and care about you.

For years we were taught that our brains are given at birth and the cells last for a lifetime. New research indicates for example “that exercise can increase the level of the brain-Derived neurotrophic factor, a hormone that promotes growth of new brain cells.” “Our brains develop new neurons at any age. Researchers now believe that the brain changes throughout life, growing new cells and altering neutral structures in response to certain environmental input.”

I have known for a while that our brain makes new connections all the time. I have read research that shows the ability to learn and make new memories the brain is constantly we organizing and connecting in new ways. Years ago and I read where walking and exercising improves our brain function better than games and crossword puzzles. When you walk your breathing changes and you're the blood flows a little faster giving oxygen throughout your body from head to toe. Notice your feet after a walk, your circulation has improved. That works at the in the body your head, The blood flow to your brain has improved. 

When I had teninitis exercise increase the blood flow to the small arteries around my ear and in a few months the crickets I was hearing when away. Exercise is a good way to improve our vascular health. If we pick up the habbit of walking every day we can help clean up arteries.

Back to the article they bring up the topic of cognitive reserve and it has been discovered in autopsies there are people who show advance stages of Alzheimer disease yet they did not show any of the symptoms of the disease. Researchers have speculated is the delay of the appearances symptoms based on the ability of people who have a higher education or the ability to use your leisure time more efficiently to develop cognitive networks.

The focus turn to four lifestyle pursuits that may help the brain deal with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Increase activity, eat healthy foods, maintain social and cognitive engagement, and reduce stress.

The take away for me in the article is in my older experience in my including physical exercise, a healthy diet. Am I still engaged in life to continue learning and being involved with others. The article brushes by my spiritual life, but that is part of it too. One more thing the researchers pointed out for us be aware of online games to help memory for money. Their claims may be overstated. We are scared of losing our marbles and that fear is used buy some to make money. The games may have some benefit but at least be aware of the con possibility. When it comes to healthcare it is good to weigh the claims and the cost of things. You are in charge of your health decisions. A lot of things medically that can help us but if it's too good to be true it may be misleading.

Exercise, healthy diet, keep working on your friends and family, an work on your mental health and spiritual life are all low cost investments. It is scary do help our parents or loved ones as they age. I think it is cool that we can do things to give us an edge. Keep walking

Add strength training to get back into the swing of things

Many of you know by now everywhere you look there are articles and information about health. Sometimes I find new information and other times I find more support for good ideas that I have already looked at. 

The Wall Street Journal an article by Heidi Mitchell Does Stress Make  us forgetful? Heidi interview Dr. Sinja of Yale who informs us if we have stress that is controllable it helps us to perform to our ability. Our memory functions very well we are in a situation when we can plan and work towards a goal. The problem with stress is if we are presented with the situation where wehave too many tasks to perform or too short of time to do what we need to do, we get a overloaded and we panic. Instead of reacting with reason we react emotionally. Normally these things that we would remember we now forget. If we are multitasking 10 things at once, each thing that we are trying to do only gets about 10% of our efficiency. Another problem with stress if we have too many major stresses our brain functions less. 

The good news is Dr. Sinya it Informs us that if we get enough sleep, eat small healthy meals and exercise our brain heels stress and our memory can be restored.

In another article from the Wall Street Journal Laura Johannes reports The Benefit of Pumping Iron Late in Life. Research shows intense strength training helps fend off age-related disabilities. When I first started studying health in my middle 50s Dr. Cooper of Cooper aerobics centers presented studies about the benefit of strength training for aging adults. Strength training has been shown beneficial in rehabbing injuries and recovering quality-of-life for greater independence. Research is cited here where are the benefits of muscle gain from strength training and the same is true of the benefits of aerobic training appear to be about half the gain as younger people.

I would not get discouraged about that because we usually start from a weaker point in our health. The benefits we get from our muscle gain greatly improves our quality of life. I have good reason to share with you strength training should be part of your weekly routine. Strength training can have a tremendous relief over pain of arthritis and have been proven to return people back to a normal life. The article gave an example of people in their 70s. Dr. Cooper reported people in their 90s who were able to put on muscle. The strength training form and modification are key ideas.

Leslie Sansone and others have reported in their research how walking improves brain health. Walking is more healthy for you then crossword puzzles. Strength training helps with cardio health and apparently helps us boost our higher level brain tasks. Strength training is really new to you then consult a trainer. Checking with your doctor and take a look at programs for seniors to use strength training to improve muscle and joint health. Check out the articles and keep walking.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-benefits-of-pumping-iron-in-later-life-1426475062 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/does-stress-make-us-forgetful-is-that-why-we-cant-find-the-car-keys-1426527607 

The sky is the limit, at least a 14er

I was reading an article today on the training that a 35-year-old woman Christy Mehan  does to ski the 54 14,000 Mountain peaks in Colorado. She does the skiing in March to May where it snows more and the snow sticks. When she and her husband climbed the peek the fun part comes when they ski down. She prepares for these aventures in the winter with 5 mile runs high intensity light weight workouts twice a week. In the summertime she hikes the mountains and participates in running events. 

Weight training and mountain climbing works all the muscles in her body and running helped her to control the breathing she needs to do it high-altitudes. Some of the climbs she has done have been dangerous where if you fall, you die. Christie is the first woman to have climbed and skied the 14,000 peaks in Colorado. She now is a 14er. Some of the views have been breathtaking. Doing these things with your husband and fellow 14ers demonstrates how beneficial the support is to do the extreme skiing.

Their hobby is possible because they work at their fitness. When she runs, it is uphill and that's pretty good for 5 miles. 

We all have our fitness and health goals. They may not be the same as world-class athletes but it is good for us to take care of ourselves so that we can enjoy the life that we have. Thank you Christie for having lived well. Keep the rest of us walking

http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-it-takes-to-climband-skievery-colorado-14er-1426524299?mod=WSJ_hp_RightTopStories

What people have looked at and where they come from

I am getting close to 57,000 hits on walking with the fat man. I have readers from most of the 50 states and many countries not indicated on map. Russia, England, Germany and Canada I have had the most readers. But the Philippines and France have visited.

 Post most visited, most of my blogs get about 40 hits. Most of you doing Facebook get similar or more hits. There are many successful blogs out there. Some get more exposure because of linking blogging with ads. Many I think are just written better.

For me I like sharing my pursuit of better health. Staying positive with info and sensitive to issue related to health and age I think I encourage a few people. I'm matter where we live we are all keen to the idea I'm working on our health. I have published pages as well. For the most part they just hang there waiting for people to click them.
If you read a post that you like share it on Facebook or Twitter. I would like to see more people following the blog. That doesn't mean that you're read it every time but I hope it becomes one of the blogs you follow. I follow over 30 blogs. Keep walking

Praying back the Scriptures a Quiet time skill

Daily Growth for March 7

Daily Prayer

http://www.kenboa.org

I have several ways to have a quiet time. In my late 20s, a friend of mine Daniel from Grand Rapids used to go up onto John Ball Park that overlooks the city of Grand Rapids. At 5 o'clock in the morning we would pray by rewriting scripture with personal pronouns. We were praying to start a ministry where nobody had a Ministry. As we looked over the city our eyes went where nobody had a ministry.

Many years ago I came across a three month devotional written by Ken Boa, Face to Face. Thoughtfully Ken put scriptures to be prayed with with the appropriate Time for responses. The book is well worth your investment. Today you can get these daily prayers email to you when you go to his site. Over the years I use them from time to time to give purpose in my quiet time. 

Below is a Sunday adaption and the responses are geared to worship. In the daily guides there are more responses to pray for others. The (blue) text is the actual Scriptures Ken paraphrase from. You can appreciate Ken's approach (black) and careful work. The (brown) text gives you a glimpse of my responses in my quiet time today. What I benefited from was my mind focusing on the prayer. If you did this your response would be different.

A healthy quiet time uses several techniques. So in that spirit here is one more, keep walking

Adapted from Simple Prayers

Daily Prayer Day 66

I DRAW NEAR TO YOU, GOD

I praise You, Lord, that You are intimately acquainted with my ways and that You always love me and have my best interests at heart.

May I not be like those who draw near to You with their mouths and honor You with their lips, but whose hearts are far from You, and whose reverence for You is made up only of rules taught by men.  (Isaiah 29:13)

13 "The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service — yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote" —HCSB

As I am praying I am aware I am talking to God. I am not concern with man-made rules to please people; but I am focused on talking to God and His point of view.

I desire not only to call You Lord but to do what You say.  By Your grace, I will come to You, hear Your words, and put them into practice.  Then I will be like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock, and when a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  (Luke 6:46-48)

“Is there something that I should obey God about? There may be something I'm already thinking about? Can I focus on what it is? Is there some principle I should be putting into action? I want to build on the foundation of obeying God. It has been my experience that God is interested important things. Man-made rules tend to obsess over on unimportant details."

46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. HCSB

Take a moment to offer this day to the Lord and ask Him for the grace to grow in your knowledge and love for Him.

"Lord may think on and learn things today that are beneficial. What I experience and learn increase my love for you and others. Lord may “my little grey cells” increase in my care for you and others grow".

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

Jesus is Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased.  (Matthew 3:17; 17 And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! HCSB 

Mark 1:11; 11 And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! HCSB 

Luke 3:22) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You! HCSB 

“To actually hear your voice Lord, I cannot wait to know you by sight and not just by faith. In faith I hear your wonderful voice as you look down and you were pleased with your Son. May you look down and be pleased with me.”

Apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 3:21-24) 

"Lord because what Christ did on the cross, I've been forgiven and accepted in the beloved. I did not earn it, but it was given in grace. As a child of the King I know you work through me to do practical steps of righteousness in the power the spirit. I know it today if You want me to say encouraging things and you also want me to do acts of kindness, acts that are beneficial for my self and others, respond with the quiet strength of gentleness that can turn away wrath."

21 But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets22 — that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the •redemption that is in Christ Jesus. HCSB 

I LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH

You have loved me with an everlasting love; You have drawn me with lovingkindness.  (Jeremiah 31:3)

3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. HCSB 

“Thank you for loving me before I love you. Thank you for all the people you brought into my life to draw me to you. Thank you for Judy, Bob, Harvey and Chuck who help me find you despite all the chaos in ignorance. Thank you for Good News for Modern Man as you began to reveal yourself to me in your word.”

MY RESPONSE TO YOU, LORD

I will be strong and courageous, and act.  I will not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God is with me.  He will not fail me or forsake me.  (1 Chronicles 28:20) 20 Then David said to his son Solomon, 

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord's house is finished. HCSB 

"Thank you Lord for being with me when I was depressed, attacked with anxiety's and overcome with negative emotions. Your presence was ever with me then and I thank you for the support of Barb and my children who intervened for me at that very scary time. I thank you Lord for being with me now providing needed exercise that I can do. Lord, thank you for being with me as I get older reminding me life has challenges that are filled with joy. I thank you Lord that the 'fat lady' is not singing and I can live for you today.”

What is my hope or joy or crown of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming?  My glory and joy is the people in whose lives I have been privileged to have a ministry.  (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

“Lord I thank you today and give you praise for my three Liberian boys whom I taught, trained, and included in my ministry as we traveled through the bush. Thank you for the three that protected me in the jungle and helped me to talk to people of a different language. They have survived war, deadly disease, poverty and loss of parents. Thank you that the relationship I had with the boys has helped them become men, men of faith, pastoring and caring for their families. It is more than I could of hoped for.”

19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy!

HCSB

Lord, I thank You for Your beloved Son and for the righteousness which comes through faith in Him.  I thank You for loving me with an everlasting love, and I ask that I would act with courage and hope.

"Amen"

I can change my mind, sort of

In my search around the net today there were two articles that caught my attention. One article had to do with avocados. Sometime back I read several articles about the high cholesterol in the avocado. Since I didn't exactly like an avocado it was easy to rule out for me for a beneficial diet. But overtime we have had a chance to look at the avocado and besides antioxidant and in vitamins, the avocado is high in fiber. The avocado is also heart healthy in that it raises the good cholesterol and lowers the bad cholesterol. Fiber in the avocado like all natural occurring fiber is good for blood pressure. So I've had a change of mind about the avocado. Depending on what you put in the avocado it can be very healthy for you. Now if I could just learn to like it, which is probably at the heart of the matter for me.

From Cooper aerobics' health blog, Today I Will the writer shared a study that with just a little improvement in our lungs ability to process oxygen we can greatly improve our chances against sudden death. “Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is defined as the body’s maximal ability to transport and utilize oxygen at the tissue level.” 

Our best chances of doing this is starting to move a little more. The present guidelines are 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week. That would be five days of brisk walking for 30 minutes. The reality might be that we are not at that fitness level. So we follow our doctor’s guidelines and work at it. Age is also a factor. Because of our age any moderate movement or walking could have big benefits. So we always have to start from where were at and see if we can improve it. There is a chance that our efforts may move out of a poor (CRF) and double our chances to improve against sudden death. If you look at the article and the charts you they will help you see what I'm writing about. Check out the link to see if I got it right.

We know 30 minutes of walking every day is good for us. We know that walking or moving throughout day is very healthy for us. But the reality is we may be somewhere in the middle working on that, so come walk with the fat Man.

http://todayiwill.com/2015/03/good-news-for-very-low-fit-men-improving-fitness-just-a-little-bit-helps-decrease-risk-of-premature-death/#.VPjmbUKT38s

Paul Smith, a well lived life

He types his art with One finger
Paul Smith confirms a God-given
talent and "my finger".

My aunt Wilma sent me a video of Paul Smith who is an artist that uses a typewriter to create his art. It is an older story but I was not aware of. What interested me was his self education. I took time to observe him and get to know him like I have hundreds of disabled kids. He blew me away!

In 2004 a local news program where Paul lives in a nursing home in Oregon at the age of 83 Paul demonstrated How he used the typewriter to draw. The video clip that I saw was just under 5 minutes. What makes the video so powerful is the fact that Paul is severely disabled with cerebral palsy. With one finger he uses eight keys on a typewriter to mark out his drawing. I thought the report also drew attention to the character and personality that Paul had. I saw the date 2004 and I thought it would be unlikely that Paul was still with us. So like I often do I search the net to find out more about him. 

As I studied his artwork I noticed not only the keys used to draw his art but also the way he uses the ink on the ribbon to create his colors, light and shadow and wonderful feel he generates using techniques that went beyond just to keys. As type writers and inks changed so did his art. He was able to express more as the years went by.

He would work 3 to 4 hours a day on his art. When you watched him work you could see the effort it took to do it. Paul himself did not concern himself with the effort but with what he was trying to create. If you got caught up with how he moves in his handicap you may miss what are you seeing of him as an artist. With Paul it wasn't anybody could do this if they work hard enough but that he had a God given ability to do the art. Most people would seeing this video see what we would tell students; “See if you work hard enough you could fulfill your dreams.” It is kind of like watching Michael Jordan and if you work hard enough you could be like Mike. Paul said, “It is not, if you work hard enough you can be an artist; but it is about, ‘What can you do?’”

FDR, more than keys

As I spent time getting to know Paul and seeing how he work the ink and keys into his drawing I can see the artist at work. Paul was born in 1921 and he wasn't expected to live out of infancy. He never learned to read and write. He lived at home with his parents until 1967 when his parents passed away. In is 46 years with his parents traveled with him all over the US. He took a trip to the Bahamas. Like many handicapped kids the parents gave Paul many wonderful experiences.

At 11 years old he began to use the typewriter to draw experiences. One person commented this is not about the content of his art but how he does it. I can see getting wrapped up in the amazement of Paul working through his handicap. But I think it did matter because it is what made him an artist.  What Paul drew was his life.There is a beautiful picture of a squirrel who came up to him to be fed. You can see in his drawing how the squirrel comes to life. He drew people and you can see in his art the people that he cared for. Look at the FDR painting.  He loved trains and art. 

His art today eight years after his death has grown in popularity and is being sold. In Paul's life most of his art was given away or was displayed in the nursing home where he lived. He loved music, church and prayers, chess, and people. He lived over 40 years in a nursing home and was well cared for. It is a lot easier for people to care for you if you're a nice guy. In 2004 Paul moved to be closer to family but he soon missed his friends of 37 years in the home and move back to Oregon. He passed away in 2007. 

Can us see # ( ) - detail of Mona Lisa 

Today Paul would've learn to walk sooner and maybe learned to read and write. His ability to play chess and express his artistic ability in words leads me to think that he would've learned to read and write. But I'm not exactly sure because each person's learning disabilities are unique to them. Paul said, “I am a self-made man, but I goofed.” Would we in his education today miss the mark completely on Paul's ability as an artist? Would Paul have the three hours a day to develop the techniques of the typewriter to do his art? Would that be encouraged or would emphasis be on a watered down curriculum that would've put his art in the closet? Reading and writing may have open doors up for Paul. Working with Paul earlier in his life may have opened up of their experiences as well. School, art, and thinking don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. 

Paul was an accomplished chess player, music lover, and spiritual person. These are probably things his parents built into his life and I don't think they would've been developed in school. What do you think? 

Doctors thought Paul would die in childhood. This self-made man lived almost to 90. The value of his work has grown since he died. He was a good man and friend to those who knew him. He lived in one room. He designed his own furniture. His life was well lived. Keep walking