The Body Rabyd – Spring-Board 2015

 

It has been a solid week this week.  I hit every workout and made my goals as far as getting all the sets and reps in for the week.  Now it is time for me to hit the next three months of Spring with some real gusto.  Each month will be somewhat different so it will keep my body changing up.  The testing is over and it is time for a real program from March 1st to May 31st.

My goal is very simple to do all three months and get back on track.  This is a spring-board to getting back on track and making myself ready for my summer program which will be centered on lighter weights, lots of reps and cardio.  Trying to use the summer heat when I get there but for now I want to just get back to where I was before my long hiatus.

Flexibility: Really here the whole point is to actually be getting to do beginning yoga with some confidence.  March – Learning Poses and starting to put them together.  April and May – Doing beginning routines until I get pretty confident.  I want to be ready to try something a little harder when I get to summer.

Cardio: 20 minutes per day but I want to change things up come April.  As long as the snow is on the ground I will use the treadmill but once I can see there is dry ground I might head outdoors to actually do some running.  I have no plans other than to consistently do 20 minutes of cardio each day.  I may even try some cross training routines if the snow lasts too long.

Strength: Going to a five-day split.  I have two reasons for doing this: 1) It gives me two days of rest instead of three.  The extra day really is too much in my opinion. 2) Giving me a plan in case one day a week I can’t do a workout for some reason it leaves me Saturday as a fail safe day.

Sets and reps:  March – 4×8; April – 4×10; May 4×12

Monday: Legs; Tuesday: Chest and Delts; Wednesday – Back and Traps; Thursday – Abs; Friday – Arms.

Sat. and Sun. – Rest

Nutrition: Been focused on simply eating as well as possible.  Mostly want to see more water and less carbs but I am not so focused on nutrition.  Summer time will have nutrition at the forefront with fat loss as the central goal.

The preliminaries are over, time to get to work.

Blessings and Cheers!!!

Theology Pub – The Game Master

I had traveled a week and a half  through forests with a werewolf companion to see the Game Master and I was now struck with two things.  1) She was female and I was expecting a male but then again I never inquired as to the sex of the Game Master.  2) I felt her outfit would have been less provocative if she was simple naked.  Metal bikinis and body paint tend to do that to me.  I actually was also struck by how bored she looked sitting on her stone throne against the side of the mountain. The red glowing eyes made me think something otherworldly.  She was definitely an immortal of some kind.

Lytria and I had covered a lot of ground together.  Every night it ended the same with me holding up in a tower, stone house or something similar while she transformed with her wolf into a werewolf.  We actually talked quite a bit.  From my observation, she was not evil but simply a woman caught between being civilized and animal.  She actually knew quite a bit about more things than I thought.  According to her, the lycanthropy was the result of her making a deal with a witch to try to bring back a lover from the brink of death.  The lover ditched her once he was cured of his illness but the witch she had dealt with still demanded payment.  Lytria chose part of her soul as repayment but to keep living the witch bound her to her wolf.  When I asked about the lover, her response was that he made her first transformation a memorable one.  Women with power should not be pissed off.

“So, you’re the Bartender Mr. Lies sent into my world.”

“If you do not mind Miss, what exactly is your connection to Mr. Lies?”  I was a little confused.

“He and I have a long-standing arrangement.  He tries to keep me amused and I take care of problems for him.”

“So he provided entertainment and you provide executions?”

“Not executions, sport.  There is little fun for me if the game is rigged.”

“Ah. So what game are we going to play that is both fair and sporting?”  My sarcasm was not veiled at all.

“I think for you something simple but challenging.”

The Game Master frowned slightly and her eyes narrowed.

“I think a simple dungeon hack will do.  With your woman as the prize plus one other gift.”

“Other gift?”

“I will grant a boon to you if you survive and win.”

“I see.  Could I keep that as a favor to ask for later?”

“If you wish.”

“Ok.  Game on.”

The Game Master smiled and then waved her hand and the world changed again.

I found myself with Lytria and Fenthora standing in a castle ruin of some sort.  I could see the sunlight coming through the various cracks and windows.  The thing is we were standing in front of a stairway leading down into blackness.

“Your woman lies below.  Find her, free her and get out alive and you will have my favor.”  The Game Master’s voice echoed in my head.

I pulled of my rucksack and dropped it to the ground.  I retrieved a torch and lit it.  I threw the pack back over my shoulder.

“Lytria, you don’t have to come with me.”

“Actually, yes I do.  If I help you win, I am free of my curse.”

“Oh, ok then.  Let’s go.”

With that, we descended into darkness.

Welcome to All Things Rabyd, your friendly neighborhood ‘clothing optional’ theology pub.  I, the Rabyd Theologian and your bartender, thank you for stopping by.  Please drink your theology responsibly or have a designated driver to get you home.  Please tip your waitress and they might give you a kiss on the cheek.  Just remember life is short so enjoy it.  Blessings and Cheers!

Mr. Spock

I was very young when I saw my first episode of Star Trek.  I fell in love with Mr. Spock immediately.  I think the first episode I ever saw was the one where he and Captain Kirk have to fight over Spock’s wife on Vulcan.  The thought that it as great that the Vulcan’s were so logical but had outlets for their emotions that were pretty mystical.  I wouldn’t have put it in those terms but that what ultimately kept me coming back to Star Trek.  That and Captain Kirk was a real captain to me.  None of this diplomacy stuff, set phasers to annihilate thank you.

The fact is Captain Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy simply made a great trio that wasn’t just funny at times but could be quite philosophical in their debates where al sides of an issue could be presented.  The show formed a lot of things in me.  My love for science fiction, my love for space, a love for thinking of the possibilities and some interesting theories of God and the universe also came out of this series.

Central to all that was Spock.  Leonard Nimoy once admitted that the character took a life of its own and became more famous than he was.  Fact is many interesting things went into the making of this character but one thing that I never forgot that the famous split finger greeting is from Jewish tradition.  Nimoy never forgot his roots and poured some of that into Spock.  In the end Nimoy probably had more influence on what Vulcans and Spock were than Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

Today marks the passing of a great actor who allowed the character to be bigger than he was.  Mr. Spock is finally dead and there is no Genesis effect to bring him back.   RIP – Mr. Spock.  RIP – Leonard Nimoy

Biblical Inspiration – The Final Quest (Part Eleven) – Open Dynamic Theory – What is Meant by ‘Open’?

As I take up my digital pen on this issue again.  I head down the path of explaining what I think as far as how the Bible was inspired.  In my last post in this series I proposed the name form my theory as “Open Dynamic Theory”.  In this post I want to explain what I mean by “Open”, the next will discuss “Dynamic” and finally I want people to understand what is meant by ‘Theory”.  In part I simply want to take each part and look at it more closely.  I will then probably conclude this study with a final word.

Biblical Inspiration and Open Theism have met before I am sure but I think about the implications of the two ideas meeting as game changing compared to what people consider normal.  Open Theism considers the nature of God in true give and take relationships with people and so the Bible being both a work of human being and a work of God needs to be considered in that relationship context.  Open theism also deals with God’s actions in time and his relationship with time a little differently so that is going to play a part on how God inspired the Bible.

1) The Bible is very much something that changes in its message and implications as time passes.  God from time to time changes the rules or modifies them.  What this means for the person who interprets the Bible is they have to be very conscious of these changes and when the those changes take place.  The message changes because of the passage of time and the decisions people and God make.  Knowing the time context for interpreting according to Open Dynamic Theory is going to be much more emphasized.

2) ‘Open’ also implies that the history of the Bible could read differently.  It is not just important to know what the Bible says happened, but also what could have happened.  “What were the other possibilities?” becomes a key interpretive question.  The Bible is not the product of fate sealing every single word.  This means that the other possibilities the course of the Bible could have taken need to be considered if we are going to full assess the weight of each decisive moment in Biblical history.  “Had Hezekiah not prayed to have his life extended what would have happened?” and similar questions are very legitimate for those that hold Open Dynamic Theory.  Another legitimate thing to consider is God may know the possibilities of the future at a certain Biblical moment, what he does not know is what choice will actually be made.  Example: Paul wrote 1st Corinthians for instance not knowing how the Corinthian church would react, what we need to also consider is that God knew all the possibilities but he did not know either which choice they would make.  If they had not changed for the better, 2nd Corinthians might have read very differently.

3. ‘Open’ also implies and absence of fate in which books of the Bible were chosen.  The whole process of how each book got into the Bible is as much a part of the process as the actual writing of those books themselves.  The choices of the people of God bear some weight in what is inspired and what they are going to accept as ‘God Word.’  God is working with people in the inspiration and canonization process not despite them.  There is a give and take even in the process of what books were placed in the Bible from a God-Man relationship perspective.  It was not God just forcing the issue but working cooperatively at times.

There is much more to be explored here, but this is the basics I see at the present time.  One thing is for sure there is more to this process of inspiration that just God dictating terms.

Next: Open Dynamic Theory – What is Meant by ‘Dynamic’?

The Rabyd Writer’s Soul – Getting There

 

Writing is coming easier and I have to say it is because I have relaxed a little bit about it and just seek to do some good writing rather than a whole bunch of it.  The blog is actually sort of caught up to Wednesday with this post and if I can get two more posts in today I will actually have a complete week up to this point.  Mondays always seem to be days where I just want to chill and relax and that interferes with my writing.  Sunday’s take a lot out of me in some respects.  I guess  lots of preachers suffer this syndrome so I don’t think it is unusual.  I just need to buck up on Mondays and write two posts and then relax.

The rundown:

Finances – Tax return time.  Need to hope we can get something back so we can make headway on our last debt.  At the same time we are almost ready to start making increased payments.

Family – Oddly enough I feel the family is Ok right now.  My grandma and uncle are facing some serious health issues but for the most part we all seem to be doing quite well.  Miss my oldest son but the other two make up for it by being around so I am good. My granddaughter Jane (Yes, she is named after Jane Austin) is the light of my life right now.  Her innocent look at the world without words yet is so fun and inspiring to watch.

Reading – Back to the reading a reviewing.  My previous post outlines where I ma heading there so enough said.

Writing – Blog is doing better.  Book outline is almost done for the Spring of writing my non-fiction book.  1000 words a day planned.  Hopefully this goal will help me keep moving with it.

Blessings and Cheers!!!

Rabyd Reader – Unfinished Business

 

In order to get my reading back on track I am getting back to an old reading project.  I had started this one long ago by reading a fictional book then a non-fictional book.  I changed it to both being fiction because I was getting enough non-fiction done because of research for my other posts.  At the time I dropped this project, I was involved with reading all of Robert Heinlein’s novels and I had just started Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files.  I kept reading for a while in this pattern but stopped doing reviews.  Looking back at this time I would say it was simply a matter of the fact I got off track and now I want to get back on track.

Thus the return of the Rabyd Reader.  Don’t worry my thoughts on reading will still be in The Rabyd Writer’s Soul.  This place is devoted to reviewing the books I have read and as such it can appear anywhere during the week.  I will however regularly target the middle of the week for at least one review.

I am also debating creating a page specifically for my book reviews.  It would be a spot on this blog where if you wanted to see I have reviewed something you could do so.  There are over thirty reviews so far and if I were to do one book a week I imagine this would grow quite well over the next couple years.

I am asked once in a while if I am a speed reader.  No I am not.   Not by technical definition anyway which lists speed reading at roughly 1000 words a minute plus.  I am what I would call a fast and relentless reader.  Non-fiction I can read at 650 words per minute with 95% retention.  That’s what made me a good student and probably will help me in the future.  Oddly, fiction I slow down for to about 400 words per minute because it is a question of enjoyment as well as reading.  Reading a fiction book is more like enjoying a good meal.  I could read it faster, I just prefer to slow down and enjoy the story as well as read it.

That said, I do need to get back to writing reviews so my reflection time on each novel is better.  Thus, the Rabyd Reader’s return.  Hope you enjoy.

Blessings and Cheers!!!

Rabyd Philosophy – The Book of Rabyd 1:1 – “There is a God”

The Book of Rabyd, as I have said before, is a collection of principles, saying and wisdom from the Raby family over the years that I have in a sense filed in a ‘book’ in my head.  These verses of ‘The Book of Rabyd’ have guided me over the years as truisms and wisdom that Have allowed me to look at the world in a far more positive light and to get through some pretty rotten things in my life as well.

There are basically three chapters to The Book of Rabyd and it is not a closed cannon so things can be added to it as time goes by.  Some of these things are statements from my father who at times was claiming he was quoting his own father, so who knows how long this chain has been going on.  If anything this is an effort to organize them for posterity sake if nothing else.  I am sure also that some of these sayings are openly plagiarized from somewhere else so if you see something you think is copying someone else, you are probably right.

It should also be noted that all are subject to change as life goes on.  The Book of Rabyd has been edited many times and probably will continue to be so.  The Book of Rabyd is a work in progress.

The Three chapters or divisions of The Book of Rabyd are:

Chapter 1 – Life Principles

Chapter 2 – Points of Wisdom

Chapter 3 – Sayings

You know where something comes from by its reference.  1:1 for instance is from the first chapter and 3:12 would be from the third much like the Bible.  I also hope to add a page including a full text of The Book of Rabyd but also links to the posts that explain each one.  Up first:

Rabyd 1:1 – “There is a God”

Like it or not my father added this one and it is not going away anytime soon.  Each member of the family is of course free to chart their own path regarding this notion but the family will, as long as I am still the Patriarch of it, will be guided by this statement of the fact of God’s existence.

Now  we are not making a claim about anything other than God’s existence.  There is no claim that the God that exists must be a certain faith or even personal just that God exists.  Sorry, the Raby family are theists and not atheists.  This is not to say anyone is forced to be theists but simply that we will not guide the family based on the notions of anything other than there is a God.

This has been challenged by myself to be honest.  In the end however, I find the evidence for God’s existence far more compelling than for his non-existence.  In large part, it is this simple truth that give life far more meaning than just being a cosmic accident.  It is the philosophical questions that ultimately point us into some meaning for life and unfortunately atheism to me and our family fails on a lot of levels to give life any meaning other than ‘nasty, brutish and short’.  Sorry not good enough.

That said, we are also quite tolerant of others who are atheists.  There is no desire for use to push our theism on others.  We share it freely to all who ask but if we are anything we are both sympathetic and understanding to those that decide to walk the other side of the path.  Mostly it is because many of us have considered the other side and know why one would choose to walk there.

Next: Rabyd 1:2 – ‘You are not God’