Participating in Augusta's Biggest Loser has opened up new ministry opportunities already. I submitted an article for publication in a Baptist pastor's magazine (the monthly magazine published by the Baptist Bible Fellowship), and it made it into January's edition. Through a combination of that article, and my presence on facebook, I am beginning to hear from pastors, former classmates, etc., who are looking for help, advice, and accountability in the area of managing their weight. I'm hoping to have my story published in some form in the Augusta Chronicle's religion section - a Baptist pastor who is trying to lose weight is a novelty, as we Baptists (particularly here in the South) are noted for our love of starchy and sweet foods.
I've not addressed the moral aspect of these issues thus far, because overweight preachers do not generally have much to say about their own shortcomings in this area. But the hypocrisy of denouncing the evils of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs while joking about our ever-expanding waistlines is too overwhelming to ignore forever. Maybe when I am at, or close to, my goal weight, I will feel more able to address these issues. Our pastor's wife suggested maybe eventually doing a Sunday night series of messages, not to condemn, but to offer hope.
Weigh-in is tomorrow night (Monday)... I don't think it's going to be as good as I hoped for, but still should be at least a 4 or 5. How can I be upset with that?
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