1 Week 'Til Race Day!

A week from today, I'll stand at the Start Line with more than a hundred other runners. Our hearts will pound in our chests as we wait for the sound of the starting gun. Then, it all comes down to who has trained and prepared for the race because the course is a bear!

This race will be extra special to me. Why? Because it will be the second time I run this race. Last year, I was new to running when I entered the LifeChoice Care Center 5K (click link for reflections on race). I had 'trained' but honestly knew little about how to properly train. I didn't know how to breathe properly, stretch, pace, or anything else. I just knew how to run. So, when the race started, I took off. I believe it was adrenaline that took over because I finished with a pretty good time: 3.1 miles in 24 minutes, 21 seconds for an average pace of 7:51/mile.

I've never been able to beat that time! I've run three 5K's since then (and one with a course as flat as they come) and yet have never been able to get a better finish time than that first race.

On May 26, 2012, I ran in the Spring Lake 5K race (SUPER hilly) and finished in 27:14. (I also ate a bowl of cereal that morning ... yes, with milk. I definitely learned from that mistake.)

On August 25, 2012, I ran in the Red Mule Runners 5K around Lake McKethan. That course is as flat and easy as any 5K I'll ever run. Yet, I started the race too quickly and my pace during miles 2 and 3 suffered for it. I finished in 25:22.

On November 3, 2012, I ran in the Run for New Beginnings 5K. That was a VERY hilly race through downtown Brooksville and I absolutely enjoyed that race! Yet, I finished in 24:40 - 20 seconds shy of setting a PR (personal record).

So, in one week, I'll get a second chance. I've trained a little better but a couple of things are going against me.
- I'll try to drop a couple of pounds before the race but I anticipate running with about 5 more pounds than last year.
- I also recently injured my Achilles tendon and had to back off of running for a couple of weeks. This week, I'm babying my A.T. so as not to cause another flair up before the race.

But all that being said, ultimately relying upon the Lord, I plan to beat last year's time.

Sermon (video): The Cost of Being a Christ-Follower (Matthew 8:18-22)

On one occasion, two men came to Jesus and publicly expressed their desire to follow Jesus. Jesus' response was unexpected. Instead of simply encouraging them to come as they are, He made it clear that it would cost them.

The message Jesus gave to those two men is completely relevant to our own journey of Christlikeness. It provides a great opportunity to inspect our own resolve and motives and make the necessary adjustments.

Click here to view this sermon.

Video: Go Carting on Spring Break

I took a vacation day today and went with my family to Tampa to ride go-carts. We made quite a few great memories! Click the play button below or watch on Youtube @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jPdzspOGsc.

Sermon (video): Our Response to Jesus' Victory over Sin (Matthew 8:14-17)

Some folks think that simply because they are saved and are striving to live a holy life that things will go well for them. They go into a spiritual tailspin when "life" happens and quietly wonder: "God, why is all of this happening to me?"
 
This sermon takes a look at Matthew 8:14-17 and shows the reason why "bad things happen to people, including those who strive to live a holy life." It further dives into what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross and what our response should be when we understand what He did.

Click here to view this sermon.

I failed to glorify God and ...

In this season of our life, Kim and I have been learning that through Christ we can do all things (Philippians 4:13) but without Him we can't do diddle-squat (John 15:5) [Jesus didn't actually use the words 'diddly-squat']. We've had conversations in which we agreed that as God blesses us with more opportunities and more successes in the future, we will be quick to remind each other of those truths if we suspect pride welling up in each other.

This is, after all, how God operates. Before He allowed Joseph to become second in command of the only world power at that time, He humbled him by letting him be sold into slavery and then had him thrown into prison for a few years. Before He allowed Moses to have the incredible task of leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He humbled him by sending him to the wilderness for 40 years to tend sheep.

Before God uses anyone, He humbles them first. God is about the business of glorifying Himself and the only persons who are capable of joining Him in that task are those who are no longer seeing the need to compete for that glory.

Well, how quickly we forget! Let me be transparent for a moment...

I have two races coming up next month. I've registered for a 5K race on April 6th and then a half-marathon on April 20th. Some intense training and high miles have been a weekly staple as I've prepared for them. And while the half-marathon is going to be a high point for me simply because I've never run a race that long, the 5K is special because it is the second time I'll run that particular race. I ran it a year ago and it was the first race I ever participated in. It also happens to be the fastest race I've ever run. I ran the 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 21 seconds. I've never beat that time since.

So...

I posted last Saturday on my dailymile running blog this message: "This is the second time I will run this race. It is also the first 5K race I ever ran as a new runner last year. My finish time on this course last year was 24:21. I've never been able to beat that 5K PR. I WILL beat that time on April 6th!"

I was feeling a little self-confident. I should have remember Proverbs 16:18 where it says: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

I went out the very next day for a Sunday afternoon long run. I was supposed to run 10 miles but crashed and burned after 8.56 miles. Then, on Monday, I was supposed to do a 7 mile run but only got in 3.5 miles because my Achilles Tendons on both of my legs were in serious pain.

Here it is Thursday and I haven't run since Monday. My Achilles Tendons are getting better but are still a little painful.

I've had time to assess why it happened:

• Physically - It happened because I have not been doing enough stretching (specifically dynamic stretching) before each run. I need to begin doing some static stretching after each run as well.
• Spiritually - It happened because I was getting confident in myself rather than confident  in what Christ could do through me. I believed that I had the power within myself to reach the goal. However, I failed to remember that back at the age of 8, I submitted my life to the authority of Christ. He's the one that calls the shots and gets the glory now ... not me.

I've learned both lessons and may try to run a little tonight or tomorrow. I'll realize that whatever I can do or accomplish only happens as the Lord graciously provides me with the ability and opportunity. I'll also focus on gratitude to the Lord when I experience success knowing that He is the one who did it through me. In doing this, I will be glorifying the Lord, even while I run!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do (this includes running!), do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord"

I just heard a well-intentioned nationally-known speaker on the radio ask the question: "Do you want to be sure that you're saved? You can be." And then he said that assurance comes by knowing whether or not we have done what Romans 10:9 requires. What does that passage say? "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Because of my respect for the author/pastor, I won't give his name. Yet, I soundly disagreed with his comments. I don't have a problem with his citation of Romans 10:9. I simply disagree with his application of it.

I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill. However, I don't believe this is a mole hill. I believe that this sort of mindset is what has led to the apathetic state of the American church (in general). 

So many churches are only a few funerals away from closing their doors when we've been assured that the gates of Hades won't prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). "Christian" marriages far too often break up in divorce when we're told it is supposed to be a beautiful picture of Christ's relationship to the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33, esp. 32). Pastors all too often are found to be frauds, living double lives, when we are clearly commanded to live lives that are "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:1-2). We see so many churches embroiled in internal fights when Jesus Himself prayed for our unity (John 17:20-26).

All too often, the Christian community shows itself to not be so "Christian." Why is this? It's quite possible that we've taken the Gospel that is free ... and made it cheap. We've reduced it to a prayer ... just words ... and all too often, empty words. It could be that many who profess to be believers and are on our church rolls are not really believers after all (Matthew 7:22-23).

So, what do we do with Romans 10:9 that says all we have to do to be saved is: "...confess with (our) mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in (our) heart that God raised him from the dead..."

First of all, we must put Paul's words in context. Who was he writing to? To the Romans, of course. But, a moment's reflection reminds us that the world leader ruled from that very city. Caesar's throne was in Rome. Caesar was the only lord as far as he was concerned ... and as far as any Roman was concerned (especially those who kind of liked to stay alive). Any words spoken that talked of some other king, lord, leader, etc. was treasonous!

The Jews, at the occasion of Jesus' mock trial, understood this. Listen to these two passages:

• "From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, 'If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.'" (John 19:12)
• "...Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your King?' The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar.'" (John 19:15)

So, when Paul said that to be saved, you needed to "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord", he was saying that following Jesus was treasonous. It was a person's commitment to follow Jesus as their supreme ruler, not Caesar. If Caesar's words ever conflicted with Jesus' words, they were going to obey Jesus! Further, a true follower of Jesus would make his allegiance public, "with his mouth," even if it cost him his life.

Do you see how applying Romans 10:9 in the 1st century was VERY different than how it is understood today?

Second, we are told in Scripture to examine ourselves to see if we are truly saved (2 Corinthians 13:5). Yet, we are never told to go back to some prayer that we prayed. We are always encouraged to look at our lives to see if it is bearing the fruit of a true believer.

• "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). It's obedience to Jesus words that shows we are saved.
• "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46). Calling Jesus "Lord" means absolutely nothing unless we're obeying Him.
• "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13). This is the classic text on how we can be sure we are saved. 1 John was written so we can know we're saved. What permeates the pages of 1 John? It is the behaviors that are evident in true believers.

Our obedience to Jesus doesn't save us. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, the Scripture makes it clear that true believers will live differently. While we will continue to struggle with sin, we will be getting victory over it and becoming more like Jesus.

It is this lifestyle of becoming more and more like Jesus that is the only evidence we have of whether or not we are truly headed to Heaven or Hell.

The way that leads to Heaven is not just the narrow gate (salvation); it's also the narrow way (a life of obedience) that shows we've truly been saved (Matthew 7:13-14).