Archive for the Disability
Saturday, February 25th, 2012
Twin Cities: Groupon for our favorite gym
Lion’s Gym, our old favorite, is offering a Groupon deal this weekend. (If the link doesn’t open the Lion’s Gym page on Groupon, click “all deals” on the menu strip at the top.)
If you live in the Twin Cities and you’ve been thinking you really ought to get back in to a fitness routine, check it out. Lion’s Gym has two locations now–in St. Louis Park and in Robbinsdale.
When you go, tell Stephen that Noel sent you. It’ll be as good as if you area already his old friend. Please let me know when you sign up, so I can high-five you.
Below is what I wrote a year ago about Lion’s Gym and Stephen & Leah Menya, the owners.
__________
We ran into a friend who felt her life had been changed by training with Stephen Menya and Leah Menya (page down on “our team” page) at Lions Gym.
I have to say, my first drive-by impression was underwhelming. If I hadn’t been looking for the gym, I wouldn’t have noticed it, tucked between a tanning salon and something else in a mini-stripmall sort of building.
But we all know it’s what inside that counts. And our friend was very persuasive, so we signed up. It was amazing.
Here are some of the things I like about Lion’s Gym:
- There’s a flavor of Africa in Stephen’s voice and words and laughter and often in the music playing.
- He calls us Mamá and Papá as he would any other people his parents’ generation in his home village in Kenya.
- After our one initial session, Stephen knew what we needed. Mamá needs to work on her abs. Papá needs to strengthen his lower back.
- Stephen sets the tone at the gym, and he is outgoing, happy, and funny.
- He introduces members to each other so we introverts can’t just sweat and be miserable in our separate corners.
- Stephen and Leah are Christian believers, and we have prayed together about challenges in their life and business.
- When we arrive, we sometimes hear worship music playing.
- Where else would the encouragement to push harder be, “Don’t waste your reps!”
- Stephen and other staff train all 3 of us at the same time, cycling us through sets on separate machines or sets of weights. I have seen them work effectively with 6 at the same time, each doing different exercises.
- Most important, the trainers know their stuff and are good teachers. We always appreciate the breather when we pause so they can show us a chart and explain how some group of muscles works so our exercise makes sense to us.
- Occasionally we get to see their wonderful toddler Sam. He drops into knee bends at the prompt of ”up – down – up – down.”
- Finally, you know that I care about life being accessible to people with disabilities. Recently, I found out that Stephen and Leah rearranged all those monstrously heavy machines so that one client who is visually impaired can make his own way around independently while he is working out.
Postscript: Matt Ledbetter joined the staff after I wrote the above. He’s good. I’ve seen him working winningly and effectively with both ends of the fitness spectrum: high-level athletes at one end and at the other end, elderly people who can hardly walk into the gym.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Desiring God Pastors Conference: Crawford Loritts
Crawford Loritts is the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia. His talk this morning is especially related to his book Never Walk Away: Lessons on Integrity from a Father Who Lived It.
If you want to follow the comments in the order he made them, read from the bottom up.
And remember: Watch @desiringgodPastors Conference in 4 languages — #English #Spanish #Chinese &#Russian::ht.ly/8Lv0j
Work of the Holy Spirit: I have never had [in myself] everything I need to do what God’s calling me to do. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpascon
NoelPiper10:07am Work of the Spirit– 5. WALK: the Spirit gives us power to do boldly what we need to do. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper10:06am Work of the Spirit– 4. Live: He fills our lives by living in us, and we model that life before our children. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper10:06amWork of the Spirit–3. Fruit: We don’t produce fruits of the Spirit. They are supernatural work of the Spirit. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper10:04amWork of the Spirit– 2. Led: If you’re led by the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper10:01amWork of the Spirit — 1. Walk: Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:58am The Holy Spirit is not an influence. He’s a person who has regenerated, baptized, sealed us. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:57amHow easy it is to ignore the work & power of the Holy Spirit in transformation. @CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:55amIn cemetery with my son: Remember, these people paid your “tuition,” as we are for the next generation. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:52amPop, as I’m walking out the door when a teenager: Do right. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:51amPop, after racist incident: That’s all right. We know who we are. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:50amPop: How people treat you should never define you. It’s not what people call you; it’s what you answer to. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:49amPop, about report card: How can somebody be so smart & so dumb at the same time? @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:45amPop’s 3 D’s with no negotiating: Dishonesty, Disobedience, Disrespect. @CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:43amPop’s lessons in manhood– 4. Out of integrity comes your inheritance. @CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:43am Pop’s lessons in manhood– 3. Out of discipline comes integrity. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:42amPop’s lessons in manhood– 2. Out of strength comes discipline. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:41amPop’s lessons in manhood– 1. Out of struggle comes strength. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:40amPop never sat down & had a talk with me about manhood. He just lived it. @CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:39amA real man embraces obligation & responsibility–not curse words or burden, but his purpose in life. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:38amTeen thinks manhood=doing what I feel like. Father needs to pull himthrough to knowing right & wrong. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:36amA father teaches what to say “no” to, so a child knows what to say “yes” to.@CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:35amA father teaches limits, the banks of the river that leads to the destination he wants his children to reach. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:33amBroad category of need,met primarily (but not only) by father: accountability, discipline, parameters, goals. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:29amBroad category of need, primarily (but not only) from mother: touch, affirmation, warmth. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:28amEvery 28 days a woman is reminded of who she is. A man knows he’s a man only when a key man tells him so. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:25amMy history not only intact Black family. I’m ticked when we set up a new kind of slavery to entitlement. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:24amI want to keep my eyes set on where I’m going: that city built by God. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:23amWe have lost a noble vision of eternity, of a city built not by hands, but by God.@CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:18am @CrawfordLoritts‘ father: Karen didn’t ask to marry you. You asked to marry her, and you better take care of her. #dgpasconNoelPiper9:16amMy father (slave grandson) wasn’t God. WAS a man of impeccable integrity. I’ve always wanted to be like him @CrawfordLoritts #dgpasconNoelPiper9:10amBe careful of your ego. God spoke to Balaam’s ass. Make your own application. @CrawfordLoritts#dgpasconNoelPiper9:05amMother washed my mouth with soap for saying “Shut up” to my sister. I’d learn respect if she had anything to do with it.@JohnPiper #dgpasconNoelPiper9:03am@CrawfordLoritts is Senior Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Roswell, GA. #dgpascon ow.ly/8ME1WNoelPiper8:49amPhoto: Hundreds of pastors begin day together with prayer. #dgpascon pic.twitter.com/mHCF0lgVNoelPiper8:20am@CrawfordLoritts speaks at 8:30 session about lessons learned from his father. #dgpascon ow.ly/8MyvbThursday, December 22nd, 2011
When Joy to the World isn’t our world
You don’t have to live many Christmases before you realize that the emotions of Christmas are not all joy. In fact, some years we may wonder if joy will ever come again.
I’m thinking about that reality now, after hearing from some people who are suffering right now. The causes are quite different, but for all of them, Christmas as they’ve known it seems like another planet.
That makes me want to put it down in stark black and white: Christmas can be hard, really hard, unbearably hard–all the more when we look around at all the jolliness and feel like we’re alone in our grief or pain or loneliness or uncertainty or fear or hopelessness or confusion or alienation or . . . .
A few years ago, I wrote to a friend whose child had come through a crisis not long before Christmas.
I realize that it doesn’t resolve your situation to hear that you’re not alone. But I pray it might help lighten the burden at least a little to see what some others have to say, people who are in your shoes now or they have been there.
These articles are in no particular order and are from from various perspectives. I think it will be quite possible as you read to substitute your own challenges or the struggles of a person you love.
When Christmas Stinks, by Michael Monroe
Joy (and Grief) and Joy at Christmas, by Molly Piper
The angels’ words were a battle cry, by Joni Eareckson Tada
FAS and Christmas, by Julie Martindale
“Suffering is the reason for the season,” Charles Colson
White Elephant: Explain that to an FASD Kiddo, by Barb Clark
He Says There’s Something Worse than Death, by John Knight (poem by John Piper)
God Uses Silly Videos to Make Much of Himself, by John Knight
The Most Important Posting I Will Ever Write . . . & a Christmas Greeting, by Mike Evans
Home for Christmas, by Greg Lucas
Together on the Ledge, by Lisa Qualls
A request to you: Please share with us resources that have helped you in your difficult times.
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
Music when Christmas is hard
There have been times in my life when I felt as if I were living and moving in a thick, muffled fog–when my heart couldn’t see or hear anything clearly, if at all. I can look back on a few of those times and know the exact moment when a glimmer of light broke through. It happened with music. I don’t know how music which enters through the ears can shine a beam of light into the heart. It doesn’t work metaphorically or physically, but that’s what happened.
Today, I’ve been collecting things I’ve read from people writing about their Christmas celebrations when it’s hard to celebrate. I was struck by the role music plays or has played for some of them.
Need some Theology with that Hymn, M’am?, by Carrie Zeman
Drive-by Caroling, by Julie Martindale
Christmas Joy, by Joni Eareckson Tada
Request for you: Please share with us music that speaks especially to your heart at Christmas.
__________
Subscribe to NoelPiper.com by using the one of the Subscribe links to the right or by clicking here.
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
What I forgot to say
ADD in action . . . When I listed some gift ideas for the ADDer you love, I forgot to list the 2 items that had been in my mind in the first place that prompted me to post the list. So here are 2 more gift ideas. Both of these have been a great help to me.
Motion-sensor light bulb base. After one more less-than-happy conversation about lights left burning in the basement laundry room–OK! About me leaving the lights burning–a thought struck me. Lots of people have motion sensor lights outside their houses. Might there be such a thing for inside?
Yes, there is. The base screws into the place where you have been screwing in your bulb, and then you screw the bulb into the base. In other words, there’s no electrical installation required. And yes, that has eliminated one thing to be unhappy about. That alone makes it worth the price, and I suppose the savings in electricity will balance it out eventually. (Note that only some available bases work with fluorescent “bulbs,” which of course are another electricity saver.)
Eyeglasses “tether.” For some reason, I can’t just put on my glasses and keep them on. For years, when I take them off, I close them and often hang them by one arm in the neck of my shirt, where they usually were safe. But then, there are the times when I leaned over and they fell on the floor, collecting scratches and the times I laid them somewhere and couldn’t remember where.
I bought my newest glasses before a trip to the Grand Canyon, and I imagined them slipping out and falling, falling, falling. So I squeezed my mind’s eye shut against my stereotypes of people who hang their glasses around their necks.
I’m a convert. Since then, I can’t remember one time when I said, “Where are my glasses?” And my 3-month-old glasses have not one scratch–an all-time record for me.
I’ve taken advantage of my craft stash of beads to make my own necklacey holders too. May as well treat this ADD tool as a fashion accessory. Maybe I’ll even make earrings to match.
__________
Subscribe to NoelPiper.com by using the one of the Subscribe links to the right or by clicking here.
__________
Disclosure: If you click on a link and purchase an item, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I only recommend items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I use personally or wish I did.
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
Just the Way I Am
Just the Way I Am: God’s Good Design in Disability is a remarkable book written by a remarkable woman.
Krista Horning was born with Apert Syndrome. She has undergone more than 60 surgeries to her face, bones, and joints. Through her pain and suffering, Krista has seen and knows the goodness, love, and power of God.
In Just the Way I Am, she makes simple/profound statements about the sovereignty of God and uses Scripture to show where she has learned these truths.
This book has made such an impact since its release last year that it sold out well ahead of what had been expected. Here’s the update on the next print run. Soon!
In the meantime, you can read the book online.
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
Inside that mind . . .
Inside that mind.
I wish I could see at times.
I think it would be fascinating
to know what goes on in there.
Jason Wilkie, about his son.
April is Autism Awareness Month.
I hope you will take time to scroll through these photos collected by Alan Taylor from around the globe, including one of Jason Wilkie’s son.
__________
You may also be interested in some autism-related resources I posted earlier–books I have learned a lot from.
Monday, March 7th, 2011
In like a lamb, leave like a lion
[Don't miss the amazing gift offered at the end of this post. Gift. No strings attached.]
During our 8 months’ leave last year, one important new thing for us was beginning to work out together. Until then, Johnny was a regular runner, I was a sporadic walker, and Talitha often used our treadmill.
When we were trying to decide where to go, we ran into a friend who felt her life had been changed by training with Stephen Menya and Leah Menya at Lions Gym.
I have to say, my first drive-by impression was underwhelming. If I hadn’t been looking for the gym, I wouldn’t have noticed it, tucked between a tanning salon and something else in a mini-stripmall sort of building.
But we all know it’s what inside that counts. And our friend was very persuasive, so in September, we signed up. It’s been amazing.
(Though I do think it ironic that the exercises that are supposed to keep me young and strong make me hobble painfully like a really old woman. Some days, it’s lunges that are killing me. I can’t stand up from my car seat without finding a strong handhold to pull myself up. This is 
good for me. This is good for me. This is good for me.)
Here are some of the things I like about Lion’s Gym:
- The first session is always free–a good time to see the gym and get a feel for the benefits of membership.
- There’s a flavor of Africa in Stephen’s voice and words and laughter and often in the music playing.
- He calls us Mamá and Papá as he would any other people his parents’ generation in his home village in Kenya.
- After our one initial free session Stephen knew what we needed. Mamá needs to work on her abs. Papá needs to strengthen his lower back.
- Stephen sets the tone at the gym, and he is outgoing, happy, and funny.
- He introduces members to each other so we introverts can’t just sweat and be miserable in our separate corners.
- Stephen and Leah are Christian believers, and we have prayed together about challenges in their life and business.
- When we arrive, we often hear worship music playing.
- Where else would the encouragement to push harder be, “Don’t waste your reps!”
- Stephen and other staff train all 3 of us at the same time, cycling us through sets on separate machines or sets of weights. I have seen them work effectively with 6 at the same time, each doing different exercises.
- Most important, the trainers know their stuff and are good teachers. We always appreciate the breather when we pause so they can show us a chart and explain how some group of muscles works so our exercise makes sense to us.
- Occasionally we get to see their wonderful toddler Sam. He drops into knee bends at the prompt of ”up – down – up – down.”
- Finally, you know that I care about life being accessible to people with disabilities. Recently, I found out that Stephen and Leah rearranged all those monstrously heavy machines so that one client who is visually impaired can make his own way around independently while he is working out.
Okay. Here’s the gift:
Lions Gym is offering you 4 personal fitness training sessions at half price–$140 instead of $280.
All you have to do is call 952-474-7000 before the end of March to make an appointment for your initial free session. When you get there, tell them Noel sent you. Then when you decide to follow through with four more training sessions, you will pay only half the usual price.
You know you meant to get into a fitness program at the beginning of the year, but you didn’t. Or you haven’t been able to follow through. If you live in the Twin Cities area, get back on track.
You know you need it! Go for it! Maybe I’ll see you at Lions Gym.
(And please comment here to let me know you’ve made that appointment.)
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Nonverbal, but testifying
“Some of you know that a person with autism may be prone to perseverating.”
I’ve learned that word from friends with children with various special needs. But I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I ever heard it at the Desiring God Pastors Conference. Paul Miller grabbed my attention at that moment.
He told us a story about their daughter, Kim. I’m not going to tell you that story right now or what perseveration means. But you can hear it pretty early in the audio from Paul Miller’session.
Here’s the story I want to tell you. The Millers were in the waiting room at the emergency room when Kim had a major melt-down. “An effective way to get shown immediately to an exam room.”
As Kim cried uncontrollably, she signed repeatedly, “Jesus, help me. Jesus, help me. Jesus, help me.”
A couple of weeks later, she used her speaking computer to talk about that night, “God spoke to me.”
Now, this is not the language the Millers normally use at their house to talk about how God communicates with us. So it seemed pretty clear that Kim was telling them her own experience with God. They asked what he told her. Her answer: He said, “Don’t be afraid, Kim. I’ll be with you.” He spoke to her in words she knew from his written word.
God knows how to speak to Kim. Being terrified didn’t keep Kim from praying or from hearing God. He spoke to her with familiar words she could understand in the midst of her roiling emotions. Being nonverbal didn’t stop Kim from testifying to God’s work for her that night.
Kim’s testimony is an encouragement to me. If God wants me to hear him, he will have no trouble making himself known.
I’m guessing some of you have had similar experiences that might help the rest of us.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Just the Way I Am — win a book
I have a friend named Krista Horning. She is an amazing young woman. One of the amazing things about her is that she has created a wonderful book praising God’s providence and sovereignty in a life affected by disability.
I want so many people to be blessed by this book. And I’m asking you to help me and perhaps win 2 books. Here’s how:
1. Please take a moment to think about who should have a copy of this book: Sunday school class? Grandparent of your own child? A friend preparing to be a physical or occupational therapist? Your doctor? A neighbor child?
2. Then, via the comments below (no emails) complete this thought: If I had 2 copies of Just the Way I Am, by Krista Horning, I would give one to ______.
3. Please enter this contest only once and only if you promise to give away one of the 2 books you’d receive as a winner.
4. Post your comment by the deadline of Friday, 4/30, midnight.
Mostly I’ll be choosing randomly from amongst all the comments, but if any of them catches my attention particularly, that one might automatically become a “random” choice.
Each winner will get 2 copies of Krista’s book–one to keep and one to give.
Krista and her family serving at
Joni and Friends Family Retreat last summer
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Your story, which has become my story, which is still today God’s story
Earlier I pointed you toward Greg Lucas’s stories about being a police officer.
Today is his son’s birthday–a good day to tell you to go see his other blog–Wrestling with an Angel– where he writes stories and insights from his life with a son who has multiple disabilities.
. . . just as we were about to give up, we found someone who could help. He picked us up off the floor of our hopelessness, held us up with His strong arms, wiped away our tears with His gentle hands, and healed your seizures with His mighty power. He changed our lives forever. His name is Jesus, and you know Him well—for it was you that introduced us to Him.
From that point on, everywhere I went I told people your story, which has become my story, which is still today God’s story. He turned your tragic disability into a wonderful ability to impact lives and spread His fame. I am still amazed at your one simple life, so well lived in His amazing grace, with such a display of His fantastic glory. You were (and still are) an All Star on His team.
Be sure to read all of his birthday letter to his son.
