I just got home from a 13.1 mile ride on my bicycle. Whew, these West Virginia hills are tough. I love it though! Riding my bike gives me a bigger high than running because it is so much harder. I think I push harder when I ride as opposed to when I run. I love both but there is something truly exhilarating about pumping the pedals. It sure has been good to get my bike in working order and to get back on it. Now, I can get all the muscles in my legs back into the shape that they need to be in. Speaking of the muscles in my leg, they feel like jelly right now but that is a good thing - yeah! So yeah, 13.1 miles in 51 minutes. That doesn't seem very fast, but there were a lot of uphills.
Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna go fix me a huge bowl of cookies n cream ice cream 'cause I deserve it!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Hardest Job I Have Ever Had
Being responsible for the godly raising of children is by far the hardest job that I have ever had. I thought church planting and pastoring was difficult but it doesn't even compare to the hard work of being an intentional parent. I mean any idiot can bring a kid into the world, but the work and sacrifice involved in raising children to be adults who love God and others and live a sacrificial life is a whole other matter. My kids are 4 and 2 and I already worry that I am not a good enough parent to lead them the way that they should go.
It is my prayer that my Heavenly Father (the only perfect parent) will lead and guide me as I seek to lead and guide my children. I so desire to be what Brannon and Anna need in order to live lives for the glory of God.
God grant me patience and wisdom to bring up my children up in the knowledge and admonition of You!
Here is some free advice for all you out there who don't have children yet. 1)Don't miss out on one of the most amazing blessings of life - have kids! 2)But don't have them until you are ready to lay down your lives in order to sacrifice for their holy upbringing because it will be hard and very demanding(if raising kids is not hard, then you are either doing something wrong or there is something wrong with my kids).
The good news is that based on the Word of God, I expect the responsibility and hard work of raising the next generation of Jesus followers to pay great rewards.
Thank you God for the hardest job that I have ever had!
It is my prayer that my Heavenly Father (the only perfect parent) will lead and guide me as I seek to lead and guide my children. I so desire to be what Brannon and Anna need in order to live lives for the glory of God.
God grant me patience and wisdom to bring up my children up in the knowledge and admonition of You!
Here is some free advice for all you out there who don't have children yet. 1)Don't miss out on one of the most amazing blessings of life - have kids! 2)But don't have them until you are ready to lay down your lives in order to sacrifice for their holy upbringing because it will be hard and very demanding(if raising kids is not hard, then you are either doing something wrong or there is something wrong with my kids).
The good news is that based on the Word of God, I expect the responsibility and hard work of raising the next generation of Jesus followers to pay great rewards.
Thank you God for the hardest job that I have ever had!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Apathy Sucks
It has been a really long week and as it rolled into Friday and Saturday, I lost my desire to care. I don't know what is wrong with me except maybe I haven't had a break since January 10 and also that things haven't been normal at my house for over a month now. I am not sure of the cause, but I know that I got uncharacteristically apathetic yesterday. It really sucks to feel like this. It is better to be in a super bad place than to just not care about anything.
The whole day today, was marred by this apathy until I forced myself out the door to run. The weather helped. It was my absolute favorite weather to run in. It was 70 degrees and raining. It was awesome. I ran through Westover for 31:27 and wondered how apathy had taken root in my life. It is so weird. Apathy is the opposite of everything that I am.
The run really helped. It helps me to push myself in all the right directions. I am still fighting the apathetic bug, but I am better than I have been in 36 hours and am looking forward to tomorrow (Sunday). I still think I need a major break, just not sure where to find the time or the money to take one. Gotta do something soon though. Keep me in your prayers cause apathy sucks and it is a horrible place to be!
The whole day today, was marred by this apathy until I forced myself out the door to run. The weather helped. It was my absolute favorite weather to run in. It was 70 degrees and raining. It was awesome. I ran through Westover for 31:27 and wondered how apathy had taken root in my life. It is so weird. Apathy is the opposite of everything that I am.
The run really helped. It helps me to push myself in all the right directions. I am still fighting the apathetic bug, but I am better than I have been in 36 hours and am looking forward to tomorrow (Sunday). I still think I need a major break, just not sure where to find the time or the money to take one. Gotta do something soon though. Keep me in your prayers cause apathy sucks and it is a horrible place to be!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Morgantown - Tonight's Coolest City
It is 59 degrees in Morgantown right now! That is the coolest area in the continental U.S. according to the temperature maps on The Weather Channel. After the rain moved through this evening, you almost need a jacket when you go outside. Morgantown, WV is the coolest city! So true, so true! Just another reason I love this town so much.
Monday
I have always enjoyed Mondays, but ever since Crossroads started really growing and threatening Satan's Kingdom, Monday's have had a way of really kicking my teeth in. Sundays are such an amazing time in my life and ministry. It is so wonderful to worship with and fellowship with God's people. I have never looked forward to church as much as I do now, but that high seems to result in some crazy lows on Monday. I have heard of church planters and preachers that have a hard time with Mondays as well and now I understand it also.
I read on Perry Noble's (pastor of New Spring Church in SC) blog a few weeks back that the most important day of the week to pray for your pastor is on Monday. Weird, but true. Keep me in your prayers all the time, but I especially appreciate the prayers on Sunday evening and all day on Monday.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
I read on Perry Noble's (pastor of New Spring Church in SC) blog a few weeks back that the most important day of the week to pray for your pastor is on Monday. Weird, but true. Keep me in your prayers all the time, but I especially appreciate the prayers on Sunday evening and all day on Monday.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
Sunday, June 22, 2008
New Exercise
I finally got the back tire on my bicycle fixed this evening. It has been a long time since I have ridden, so this afternoon, I fixed the back tire and put a new seat on that I have had for years and decided to jump on and spin for some miles instead of run them. It was exhilarating being back on my Felt bicycle. And I love climbing the West Virginia hills. I wasn't out to long because I am not in bike shape, but it was a great ride of approximately 9 or 10 miles and I rode for 39 minutes. It felt great and I am excited to get back into bike shape and add the cycling regimen to my running workouts. It was a great conclusion to an awesome Sunday! (more on that tomorrow)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tiring and Great Day
It is great to be tired when you have a day like today! I stared the day off being lazy with my family. That hasn't happened in a long time so it was very nice. Then, late morning, we planted some tomato plants that our neighbor started for us. Becky is excited about having fresh tomatoes growing right beside our house. After that, I went and ran five miles. It was a great day for running. Sunny and 77 degrees. I did the 5 in 40:45 with a final mile in 7:48.
After that, the real running began to get ready for our church block party in our community park. It was a great time tonight. We had hoped to make over 100 contacts, but only about 35 or 40 showed up. It was still a wonderful time with some people from the community so we made lots of new friends. Hopefully they will come to church and come to Jesus.
A huge "Thank You" is in order to Whispers of Hope Ministries from Charlotte, NC who helped so much with the block party and evangelism this weekend (more on that later). Tonight was a good time of ministry and outreach. Pray that the seeds that were planted will grow. I know God is going to bring a harvest here in Morgantown!
I am smelly and tired. I am going to shower and crash. Tomorrow should be rockin - Sundays always are!
After that, the real running began to get ready for our church block party in our community park. It was a great time tonight. We had hoped to make over 100 contacts, but only about 35 or 40 showed up. It was still a wonderful time with some people from the community so we made lots of new friends. Hopefully they will come to church and come to Jesus.
A huge "Thank You" is in order to Whispers of Hope Ministries from Charlotte, NC who helped so much with the block party and evangelism this weekend (more on that later). Tonight was a good time of ministry and outreach. Pray that the seeds that were planted will grow. I know God is going to bring a harvest here in Morgantown!
I am smelly and tired. I am going to shower and crash. Tomorrow should be rockin - Sundays always are!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Great Run - (Feed Your Soul)
We had awesome WV weather today. The sun was shining and the temperature was a perfect 70 degrees. My run was awesome. Time was tight so I just ran in my neighborhood. I was out for 31:14 and it went by fast and seemed easy. I think the reason that that was true was that I was listening to an amazing sermon. It was by some guy named Ron who I had never heard of. He was a fill-in for Francis Chan out at Cornerstone Church in Semi Valley, CA. The sermon tittle was something about how we as Christians allow our culture to affect us in a negative way so I thought I would listen. Man am I glad I did. It was awesome and like I said above, I almost forgot I was running 4 miles.
The weather was great. The sermon was great. The run was great. Running or not, we need to always be putting good, holy stuff in our brains whether we are reading it or listening to it. I hope you are putting some good, holy stuff in your brains. We need to constantly combat all the garbage that this world throws at us.
For the glory of God, FEED YOUR SOUL!!!
The weather was great. The sermon was great. The run was great. Running or not, we need to always be putting good, holy stuff in our brains whether we are reading it or listening to it. I hope you are putting some good, holy stuff in your brains. We need to constantly combat all the garbage that this world throws at us.
For the glory of God, FEED YOUR SOUL!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Crossroads in the Park
As a church, we have started meeting Wednesday evenings at the Granville City Park. We started last week and tonight was the second week. It has been a great time and I am looking forward to it all summer long.
Last week we had a prayer request/praise report time and tonight we just had some good fellowship with one another. It is such a good time being with our church family. It is so great getting to know all of the new people that God is sending into our midst as well as maintaining the awesome relationships that have been Crossroads for 2 years. It is my prayer that over the course of the summer that our relationships will really grow and that we will all be one in unity and purpose.
It is amazing what God has done at Crossroads Church over these past two years and showing up at Granville City Park is a good testimony to that. Seeing individuals who helped launch us sitting down and talking and laughing with people who have been attending 1 month is so cool to see. It is just going to keep growing as we stay true to the vision that Gos has revealed to us from His Word.
Church family is such a great thing and I am thankful for the brothers and sisters who have walked this church journey with me for years and thankful for my new brothers and sisters that God has recently brought into my/our church family/life. It is a great experience.
It was awesome seeing Jennifer dressed up as Easter (you had to be there) and doing pull-ups under the pavilion with Kent and Scott. It was fun laughing with everyone there. It was great seeing Steve F. and Jason B. in deep conversation. Paying HORSE with a big group was a good time. Having playtime together is an important time of growth for our church as we move forward in our relationships with one another.
I look forward to some great times this summer as we continue do Wednesday nights in the park!
Last week we had a prayer request/praise report time and tonight we just had some good fellowship with one another. It is such a good time being with our church family. It is so great getting to know all of the new people that God is sending into our midst as well as maintaining the awesome relationships that have been Crossroads for 2 years. It is my prayer that over the course of the summer that our relationships will really grow and that we will all be one in unity and purpose.
It is amazing what God has done at Crossroads Church over these past two years and showing up at Granville City Park is a good testimony to that. Seeing individuals who helped launch us sitting down and talking and laughing with people who have been attending 1 month is so cool to see. It is just going to keep growing as we stay true to the vision that Gos has revealed to us from His Word.
Church family is such a great thing and I am thankful for the brothers and sisters who have walked this church journey with me for years and thankful for my new brothers and sisters that God has recently brought into my/our church family/life. It is a great experience.
It was awesome seeing Jennifer dressed up as Easter (you had to be there) and doing pull-ups under the pavilion with Kent and Scott. It was fun laughing with everyone there. It was great seeing Steve F. and Jason B. in deep conversation. Paying HORSE with a big group was a good time. Having playtime together is an important time of growth for our church as we move forward in our relationships with one another.
I look forward to some great times this summer as we continue do Wednesday nights in the park!
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