Today I begin...

A new challenge and an old commitment...

When I began to lose weight, I asked the Lord to help me with my appetite.  I promised Him that if He would help me with my appetite and discipline in this area, that He and I would one day run a marathon together! 

Before I thought it, I had said it...I mean really, a marathon?  At that time, I was struggling for 10 minutes on a treadmill...

I have tried many times to take that promise back.  "I really didn't mean that Lord!  You know I was just kidding!" 

Have you ever promised something and wish you had not done so?  Yeah, me too.  Far too often than I care to admit.  In this instance I have wanted to just let it go.  Chalk it up to a moment of emotional weakness.  You know, a slip of the tongue, a carefree word that I am not bound to keep.

Yet, I remember Jesus' words in Matthew 5:37, "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'.... (NKJV)  In other words, I have made my commitment to the Lord, and I need to keep my word.  Truth be told, I really do want to keep my word.

So watch out what you say.  You may have to eat your words.  Or in my case, run them as I begin training to run a marathon in early spring.  It's time to keep my word.  I will post more as I continue my training, so stay tuned.

That's all for now...

I gotta run...

School is back in session.  Everywhere you go, young people are loading up their 85 lb. backpacks, and heading off for days of learning and growing.  As the summer break was coming to an end, my children were dreading heading back to school.  As we were buying school supplies, checkout clerks would ask my children if they were ready to go back to school.  The answer was always a quick "no."

As I think about it, I am the same way many times when the Lord is trying to teach me a thing or two.  Learning at the feet of Jesus can be a difficult position to find yourself.  When God gets ready to take me to another place in Him...deeper...farther...then He inevitably has to teach me something new.  It is at those times that God's word will hit me with a "new" old truth that I haven't thought about in a long time, or ever.

When my kids went to school this morning, I had two thoughts go through my brain.  The first thought was, "Lord, please protect my children, and give them a great day in You."  The second thought was, "Lord, I want to be taught by You today.  I want You to teach me something that You want me to learn from You today."  No sooner had the thought crossed my mind, when I felt the Lord speak into my spirit.  "Ok, you better get ready then..."

Sure enough, all morning long, God has lovingly, but firmly I must add, put His finger on areas in my life that He is wanting to change, mold, and shape into His image.  I must admit, sometimes it's not fun to be in Christ's school of formation.  One thing is definitely true though.  It is the best school to attend!!

Have you enrolled recently?  I challenge you to sign up for a new class in God's school of formation and discipleship.  He will teach you things about yourself that you wish you didn't know, but were glad you found out.  Be aware...it may be a difficult class...

I have to go...I just heard the bell ring...

I heard someone say that he needed a "me" day this week, and it made me think.  What would that be like?  What would it be like to have a day all to myself...a "me" day where I can do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want?  Wow!  That's it!  I need a "ME" day!!  I have felt pulled in a thousand directions, and running at NASCAR speeds.  It sure would be nice to have a day for me, by me, all about me.

As I pondered this, another thought came into my mind that I tried to ignore, suppress and otherwise deny.  Of course God knew about it ( I really believe the thought came from Him, because I wouldn't have come up with it on my own).  I still try to suppress it and ignore it when it pops up.  The thought came in the form of a question:

"Do you REALLY need a ME day?  Is that what it's really about?  Is it really about YOU?"

As soon as the question came to my mind, I felt exposed.  You know...the "Adam and Eve hiding from God in the cool of the day" kind of exposed.  My mail had been read.  My sin had been found out.  The camouflage had been torn away and I was unable to hide anymore. 

In reality, I have more ME days than I would like to admit.  At my core, I want...I need...I desire...  Get the picture?  The central theme in all of that is "I."   How many days have I lived with the attitude that I deserve this or that?  Or what is the count on the times that I have thought, "It is time for me to do something for me?"  The truthful answer to those questions makes me shiver.

It seems that I live more for myself than I ever do for others.  Don't get me wrong, I serve others at times.  Yet, many of those times I find myself thinking "what about me?  Could someone do something for me?"  I am more selfish, self-absorbed, self-willed, just SELF, than I even realize.  Just typing those words makes me begin to break out in hives, and worse, excuses.  "But I deserve this...I am tired...I have worked hard...I am given out.  (Ever been there?...come on, admit it...please...misery loves company, you know...)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church in chapter 2, verses 5 - 8,

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death–
even death on a cross!  (NIV)

If anyone ever deserved a ME day, it was Jesus.  But, as Paul said, Jesus made Himself nothing.  He was a bondservant, or slave, to the Father.  Jesus even told folks that He only came to do the will of His Father. (see John 5:30, 6:38)  Jesus' attitude was one of selfless submission to the will of God the Father.  Even at the climax of His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus yeilded and said "...nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42 - NKJV)

I am so glad that when Jesus was on the cross, taking my sin upon Him, that He didn't climb down off of that piece of precious timber saying, "You know, this is not going to happen.  Nope!  I am not going through with this.  I am going to do something for ME instead.  That's right, I am going to have a ME day."   Jesus, of course never said that, and you and I can be eternally grateful!!

"Lord, help me to have the attitude of Jesus!  I really don't need a ME day.  I need to instead selflessly submit to your will for me, and to give my life in service to You and to others..."

After all, it's really not about ME anyway...

Am I the only person that after Christmas thinks about all of the things that I wanted to receive but did not?  Everywhere I go I am still seeing advertisements at stores screaming at me and telling me what I need.  Commercials on television inundate me with suggestions (dare I say, commands?) of what to wear, what to drive, and even what to eat.  I mean, of course I want the triple-turtle-fudge-on-steroids-chocolate-cheesecake!!!  Why can't I have that?

In 1 Corinthians 13...the "Love" chapter...Paul writes in verse 4, "Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head." (The Message)

I totally understand and get the never giving up part.  I like that thought.  It reminds me of why I like the Rocky movies so much...never quit or give up.  It gets a little more difficult from there.  "Cares more for others than for self," and "doesn't want what it doesn't have" are two parts that Paul could have just let out, right?  I mean, everywhere I turn the world is screaming at me to take care of number 1...me.  I should get what I want, when I want it, and how I want it delivered.  That is the way the world works, or at least should work.  It is all about me!! ... or is it?

In God's Kingdom, if I am going to be a vital, participating member...which I desperately want to be...then words like sacrifice, service, and selflessness need to rule the day.  And the greatest thing I can do, according to the Apostle Paul, and more importantly, Jesus Himself...is to LOVE. 

That means I put others and their needs and desires above mine.  It means trying everywhere I go, even church, to BE a blessing...not just RECEIVE one.  I look deep within the recesses of my heart and soul...and ask myself that haunting question...do I want what I do not have?  What does that have to do with love? 

I think it has to do with focus and intent.  We have all desired something that we couldn't have.  Money, cars, even food...but what about words of affirmation, or a hug, smile, or just a simple "Thank you?"  When those do not come, we feel jilted, cheated, and even pouty...

And then we read that if we are to truly love as Jesus wants...we will release those desires and expectations of others that we have...and just LOVE.  Hasn't God demonstrated that toward us?  Just a thought...

See ya...I've gotta run...

Have you ever seen someone sitting near you in a church service balancing their checkbook?  What would make a person do that?  Boring sermons?

I have been in a service before and while the minister was preaching, there was a person doing just that...balancing their checkbook.  Could it just be boring sermons?  Maybe it was a boring sermon, because I was the one preaching that day.  Or maybe it was something else.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life...." (NKJV)  The Greek word that is used here for worry is merimnao which comes from the word merizo which means "to divide into parts."  The suggesting is that of a divided mind, distracted by things that cause stress and worry.  In other words, wherever you are, you are not there in your mind.  Your mind is on other things, worried and not able to be present in the moment.  Maybe that is why the person was balancing their checkbook (I didn't ask them, by the way).  They may have just paid their tithes and offerings, and then were worried that they would have enough money to pay bills that were due.  Whatever the reason, that person was distracted enough to where they could not focus upon the message being preached...again, maybe a boring message...but rather felt the need to balance a checkbook.

The Christmas season is a wonderful celebration of the birth of our Savior.  It is a time where we rejoice, celebrate, go to special services, enjoy family gatherings,...and buy presents.  For many people, the activities of the Season, coupled with the economic times we face, create stressors that cause us...yes, I said us...to worry.  Will we be able to make it through another shopping excursion?  Will we have enough money to pay the bills?

For any other subject, when Jesus said "Do not ..." and then someone does whatever that is, we call that, dare I say it, SIN.  Jesus commands us, "Do NOT worry." (emphasis mine.)  So, when we worry, we sin.  Well, you probably don't, but I do. 

When I worry, no matter where I may be, I am not really there.  My mind is a million miles away.  I have a mind that is divided into parts.  When I am worried is the time that I hear my wife say, "You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"  Well, uh, um, no honey, I was preoccupied, in deep thought, concerned, troubled, or whatever other word I come up with at the time.  I have never answered anyone with, "I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention, I am sinning."  No, we call worry - stress, anxiety, or something else...but we rarely call it sin.

However, worry points to our problem, instead of to our Solution, our Source...Jesus, our Savior.  That is why it is sin.  It pulls us away, divides us from the God who loves and provides.  It turns our focus on the hurts, pains, and struggles of life.  It is a trap that is set by its cousin - FEAR.  When we worry, we become fearful that things will begin a downward spiral in our lives with no positive end in sight.  That same fear then begins to paralyze us to the point that we cannot function, or even stay, in the moment.  When begin living tomorrow, today.

Jesus went on to say later in that same chapter, in verse 32, "...for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  (NKJV)  Did you hear four of those words?  YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS.  He knows!  God knows!!  Whatever you are worried about today...He knows all about it.  And He doesn't just sit on that knowledge.  Jesus goes on to say in that familiar verse 33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (NKJV) 

God, the One, True God, knows what you need, and will never leave you!  He is our Source!  So enjoy His Presence this Christmas Season, and say goodbye to worry.  Focus on the moment, and do not let worry divide your mind into parts...even if you find yourself listening to me preach a boring sermon.

Have a great one!... Um, ....I've got to go balance my checkbook.

I love the Thanksgiving season.  What a great time of year this is to pause and ... eat, watch football, spend time with family and friends, take long naps, eat some more, watch more football, shop good deals...oops, and oh yeah, give thanks to God for His blessings.

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, I am amazed at how this holiday gets swallowed up by the commercialization of Christmas.  When I think of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the verse in James that says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:17 NKJV)  This should remain the time of year that we pause to reflect and give thanks for all that God has done for us.  And boy, hasn't God been faithful!!  Just think of all of the blessings that come from Him.  His mercies are new every morning, and His grace is abundantly awesome!

Make sure this Thanksgiving that we give God thanks and discipline ourselves to remember Him and His goodness in a culture that increasingly wants to crowd Him out of this time of year.  It does take discipline to do that.  To pause.  To remember.  To be thankful.  Nothing that we have came to be of our own strength and will.  It is ALL because of the goodness of our God!

So enjoy the football, family, friends, and food.  And thank the Lord for your blessings.  And don't let Thanksgiving be swallowed up by preparations for Christmas.  I am trying this year to discipline myself to remember the Lord more, to eat a whole lot less, and give God thanks in the middle of the busy-ness of the season.  (By the way...I am not there yet...we already have all of our Christmas decorations and lights up, inside and outside the house...)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

October 30, 2010...I will never forget that day as long as I live.  I have been training, running, getting in shape for what was to be my first half-marathon.  In other words, I was paying someone for the opportunity to run 13.1 miles.  Several people have told me during this time that I was crazy for doing it. (there were times...many times...I would say that I agreed with them!)

Saturday turned out to be a perfect day.  The temperature for the race in Greenville, SC at the start was 45 degrees.  Perfect for a fresh morning run!  As we lined up (all 1304 of us), there was a feeling of excitement in the air...and butterflies in my stomach.  I had never run this far.  In all of my training, 10 miles was my longest run.  As I stood at the start of the race I began to have all kinds of thoughts:  "did I train enough? can I really do this? WHAT was I thinking?  Is that popcorn I smell?"

As we started the race, people cheered, rang cowbells, and clapped as we ran.  After we ran about 3/4 of the first mile we were introduced to what this race was about...HILLS!  As I continued to run, I began to pray two things:  "Lord, help me to run my own pace, and Lord, please help me to never walk a step while I run this distance."  I continued to run...and run...and I think I saw Forrest Gump pass me...and run.  Hill after hill, mile after mile. 

As I turned at the last street intersection, I heard a wonderful sound: "Hey Daddy!!!  Woo-hoo!!!  Keep going, you are almost there!!!"  I looked and there was Traci, Kalie and Jaret yelling and cheering me on!  What a great feeling!  I can't explain the feeling of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line!  Then I had a thought...what next?  And I remembered my prayer...

- "Lord, help me to run my own pace"  -- One thing I tried to focus on during my race was to run at my own pace, and let the gazelles of the world fly on by me.  That got me thinking - How am I running my Christian race?  Am I trying to compare myself to others, worried about where I am serving, or something else along those lines?  I am reminded that my standard for comparison is Jesus, and I always fall short.  (Romans 3:23)  So instead of comparing my pace to someone else, Lord help me to remember  I am running for you...

- "Lord, please help me to never walk a step while I run this race" --  The Apostle Paul had a phrase he used to the Phillipian church as he was nearing the end of his earthly journey.  He was tired, exhausted, and had been running his race for a long time.  Still, in spite of all the struggles, trials, and hardships, Paul said to them, "... I press on." (Phil. 3:12)  Then, two verses later, he says, "I press toward the goal..."  Lord, in this Christian race, just like this past Saturday's half-marathon, help me to keep running, to press on, when I am tired, weary, and ready to quit.

May you and I both keep running the race, at our own pace, in our own place!!  Keep it up...you can do this!!  And who knows?...there may even be a full marathon in my future!!!  (...just don't tell my wife...or my knees.)      :-)

See ya...I gotta run!!

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When I was little we used to play hide and seek.  My friends and I would all get together and decide who was "it."  Whoever was "it" had to close their eyes and count to a specific number.  As the person was counting, all of us would scramble around trying to find a place to hide.  Whoever was the last one to be found became "it" for the next round.

As the person counting was nearing the end, they would alway shout out, "Ready or not, here I come!" 

"Ready or not..."  What a phrase.  Sorta gloomy, unnerving, even foreboding at times.  Kinda makes me nervous.  I think of "ready or not," and my mind immediately begins to focus on the "NOT." It is like the race coming this weekend, "Ready or not, here IT comes."

As I have been preparing for this upcoming race this weekend, all sorts of thoughts have been running through my mind.  "Have I trained enough?" "What if I get cramps?"  "What if it starts raining?"  "What happens if I were to get tripped up?" 

The amazing thing about all of those thoughts are that they are all negative.  And I am a positive person!  Why then does my mind drift toward what could go wrong, when I hear "Ready or not?"  Could it be that I am really unprepared...haven't trained enough...do not have enough base miles under my belt?  No, I think it is because I am normal (although my wife and children may debate that!). 

I think that when we are facing the unknown, or something that we have never done before, our normal human (should I say, carnal?) reaction is to doubt that we are ready and able to take on the challenge.  Why is that?  I say it is because of our pride that tends to focus everything on self.  When I doubt my ability or preparation, what I am really saying is that it is all up to me.  It is all about me, my abilities, my training, and my focus.  However, the Apostle Paul brings in a different perspective when he writes that very familiar statement to the Philippian church, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)

We love that verse, and the fact that it tells us that we can do all things through Christ.  We focus of the all things through Him.  Yet, when I am running...long, hard distances...I am reminded of another verse that brings me even more stability and faith.  Jesus said in John 15:5, "...apart from me, you can do nothing." (NIV)  Wow!!  The pressure's off!!  It doesn't depend only upon my effort, no matter what the issue...or race!  Without and apart from the help and presence of Jesus, I cannot do anything!

Why does that excite me?  Because Jesus also said that He would never leave me or forsake me...that He would be with me until the end of the age! (see Matt. 28:20)  So, ready or not, doesn't only depend on me (yet I know I have to do my part, trust me).  My focus needs to be on Christ and His provision...always...whatever the circumstance...or trial...or struggle...or half-marathon.

Well, that's all I've got...See ya...I've gotta run!

It is official.  I have signed up, paid my money, and I am scheduled to run my first half-marathon on Saturday, October 30!  I am excited and nervous at the same time.  I have trained (and I still am in training) and prepared as best as I could have.  I think I will be ready for race day...but, then again, I am not altogether sure.  We will see... Kinda like other stuff of life, huh?

Well, I will talk later.  I gotta run...

CLICK HERE and you can see the map of the route...

I don't know if you have seen the movie "Up" or not, but there is a character in that movie that hits a little too close to home.  In the movie, and I don't want to give it away if you haven't seen it, there is a little dog who has one of those cones around its head.  He also has a collar on that makes it possible for him to communicate with humans. Anyway, he is a dog that is seemingly full of endless energy.  Others would call him hyper.

At one point in the movie, the dog is running along with a boy, and says that folks often say he is hyper and easily distracted.  While he is running and saying this, he quickly jerks his head to the left and says..."oooh, look.. a squirrel."  If you have seen the movie, and that dog, you have seen me.  So many times I am easily distracted in a conversation, thought, or action by something around me.  I am not diagnosable as ADD or ADHD, but I do have strong tendencies that way. 

As I have said, I was going to chronicle my training and running, the past week has been one of distractions as far as the training goes.  Now understand, the distractions are normal things in life, but I have allowed them to cut in on my training.  It reminds me of what the Apostle Paul asked the Galatian church in Galatians 3:1, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified," and in Galatians 3:3, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (NIV) 

I know many things are important and necessary in our lives.  While I am talking about physical training, Paul here asks the Galatian church, in my own paraphrase, "Who has distracted you?  Who has cut in on you and made you try to earn grace by your own efforts?"  Let us never forget that God's grace can never be earned or deserved.  No matter what distractions of this culture may present themselves, we cannot ever attain salvation or God's love by our own merits.  We could never do anything that would make God love us more than He loves us right at this very moment.

So when the distractions of this life crowd in on us.  Keep on marching to God's drumbeat, and do not let them affect your relationship with Him.  Stay focused on Jesus.

....Ooohh look, a squirrel.....