Saying Goodbye to Some Old Friends

Well it happened I had to say goodbye today. Actually, I have needed to say adios for a while now but could not bring myself to do it. When I got serious about running the first thing was to purchase a well researched pair of running shoes. Running shoes have a millage limit based on your running style. Today was the day I gave in and bought some new shoes.

Two old friends, used on a rotation basis, were retired this afternoon. They have been with me in the sun, rain, mud, and at least once in the snow and ice. They are split, torn, soles slanted and worn out. BUT they still fit! Yet they had to go and my feet and knees now are singing the praises of the new pair.

You know I have to go spiritual on you for a minute now.  If you are a Christ follower your old life has no place hanging around any longer. The old life is split, torn, soles slanted and worn out. Sure the old life feels like it still fits - but it really does not and is doing damage to you. You are a new creation in Christ. Yes, the new life has begun and it is so much better than anything you could image.

2 Corinthians 5: 17-18 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. and all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 

So say good bye to the old life and embrace fully the new.

Workout: warm up, short run in the heat 3 miles, core, stretch and re-hydrate.  Love the new shoes - Brooks Ghost 9 (third pair of Brooks brand 2nd pair of Ghost - I'm hooked) 

Reset and Restore (more than you think)

Some of you know that I am a fan of using my juicer! Every quarter I go through a major juice cleanse for my body to reset itself and restore a good balance. While doing this I have discovered the challenge of also restoring pace to my running. But its is necessary to eliminate some of the bad stuff and habits that I have formed.

These times also help me to establish some new patterns in my spiritual life as well. While doing this I try to chose a spiritual focus to concentrate upon.  My focus came on my run today in connection with a quote I did not use in my sermon yesterday (it did not fit sermon after all). Restoration of friendships is an essential piece of my Christian walk.

Here's the quote:

Instead of focusing on a person's past, look at how far he's come.

My juicing, weight, running patterns, and overall spiritual life needs to be well maintained. Time and again we all get out of balance. Some of those times involve others. I was reminded today that there have been times we have all judged someone solely on their past and have not considered the work of grace that Jesus has accomplished in their lives.

Paul restored a valuable friendship and may have encouraged a younger man in the process to pursue great things for God's kingdom. "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." (2 Timothy 4:11).

I am sure that I don't wish to be judged on my past but on how far I have come with the help from the Lord Jesus. How about you?

Workout: Warm up, ballistics, 5 miles, cool down...

Little Things Bring Improvement

There is one little thing that made all the difference today in the run. It was my posture. As a recreational runner I do read articles about improving my times, distances, and work outs. Posture comes up over and over again. Please understand I am no expert just one who has tried to improve.

Struggling through the run today the thought hit me that I was not running with good posture.
Shoulders needed to be back, head up, relax arms and keep focused on my breathing and pace. Funny thing is that this actually helped me improve the run.

Spiritually we have a posture too. Biblically there are three postures for prayer. The word mentions bowing prostrate, kneeling, and standing in the presence of the Lord.  In all these occasions it is not the position of the body that counts but the posture of the spirit. We are to come humbly before the Lord. This is our real posture. This little adjustment will make a great deal of difference. So, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:10.

Workout: ballistics warm up, 5 miles (sprinted the hills - if you could call it sprinting), cool down mile, stretch.

OH YEAH - If you sit with good posture properly you will burn an extra couple of calories. 

Rainy Days Offer Blessings

As a small boy I was not fond of rainy days. Rainy days kept me from outside activities. Millennial generation that is what we did cause we only had 3 TV channels, no text messaging, no google, and only Pong computer game (image below).  So rain messed us up!

Rainy days now to me are a sweet blessing. Sure the vegetation is being watered and the pollen is being knocked down, but there is something great about running in the rain. The cool breezes, calm gentle drips of cold water, and the slap my big feet on wet pavement amazes me. We need refreshing from time to time. Rainy day running offers me the blessing of a refreshing.

Our spiritual lives need refreshing too. Amazingly every time that we need refreshing He is there to bring them to us. Jehovah promised that He would be our refreshing - Hosea 14: 6 "I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon."  And the pathway to the greatest refreshing of all is found by turning to him. Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,"

Turn to Him today for your refreshing!

Workout: Warm up, ballistics stretch, 5 miles (more of a traffic route today - thanks for all you who weaved around me in the bright yellow shirt - and open your eyes to the young lady that made me jump into the weeds!!) core and stretch! Drenched with sweet sweat and rain.

Unexpected Detours

The morning's run was going well. On my particular path today I crossed railroad tracks on four different occasions. These are near a switching area and usually there are train cars awaiting a hook up. Today while making my way back to cross over some big engines had rolled to a stop. I was thinking "just turn around and add some extra miles." As I approached as if opening the automatic doors they roared to life and rolled away. Great timing.

35 minutes later tired and ready to be completed on my final approach home I was pushing it. Oh yeah, I was rolling at a good clip for me (round a 6 min pace). Winded and muscle aching I visioned making the turn, crossing the tracks and heading the last bit to the house. When I saw that the train had moved and was now stopped across that section of track. I was blocked. No way around and I had made a commitment to not stop till I got home.

There are times in life that we run into unexpected detours. Detours and delays are not always bad things for us spiritually. Truthfully, many detours are Jehovah's way of directing our path for his purposes. Think about Paul's plans to preach in Asia and the Lord put a road block up. Acts 16:6... the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. (You can read the whole context and see what happened Paul's Unexpected Detour)

These detours give us time to see God in action. Sure they can take longer than we had planned. but last time I checked we are on His time table not our own.

Workout: Warm up, ballistics, 6.3 miles, stretch - in the detour I got to see some baby turtles on their morning run. 

Struggle is Real - Memorial Day

Memorial day weekend rushes back memories of family gatherings, barbecue, and Brunswick stew. These were good days that have translated into new family traditions. We must do some things to remember those who served and sacrificed for us to enjoy these times.

We remember those who paid the price in the struggle for freedom. Miles away from family, hard days and dark nights staying ready to defend. Sometimes in trouble some moments in erie silence. But always prepared to take on any trouble with courage.

Matthew 14: 24.  Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

Thankyou will never be strong enough a word to provide for our patriots, patloon leaders, and foot soldiers who gave so much for our freedom. May I suggest that we offer an elevation of our character. We need to Be (1) Honest & Humble; (2) Dedicated & Dependable

Being these requires being available to the one who DIED for our sins, Jesus Christ. Because in our selves we cannot and must admit that we can’t BE these without him. When we admit we can’t He admits that He can!  Matthew 14:27 b “Take courage. I am here!”

Training: 6 miles, core work and stretch. Goal is 235 miles during summer break. 32 miles in right now.

Runner's High

Well, it finally happened again. Yes sir, hit that runner's high around mile 5 today. A couple of cool things were going on today in the run. Namely there was no time limit to my run today. This doesn't happen often but when it does it is the first of the highs. My mind still doesn't understand how you can hit that euphoria while pushing hard running on the road.

When the excitement of the run hit me it brought to mind our spiritual lives. Spiritual highs take some effort to arrive at as well. Similarly these spiritual highs come during times of great effort. One of my spiritual highs came about 10 years ago when a friend introduced me to the writings of Major Ian Thomas. The Indwelling Life of Christ has helped me interpret these spiritual highs and lows. The everyday can become as filled with the "highs" as much as the spiritual mountain tops. My strength is inadequate but Jesus is completely adequate. My part is to be available and dependent upon him. When I admit I can't He always can there is the spiritual high of life.

Today on the run in the country I spotted deer, rabbits, a fox, some sort of big cat (panther kitten), and the evidence of a skunk. Good day - summer running started off right.
I suggest Indwelling Life of Christ