Author: Jason

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Midnight Runner

Last night at 10:15 I decided that it was time for me to go on a 3 mile run.  I was not able to ‘get my run in’ earlier in the day and it was still over 80 degrees outside.  So while the eldest was finished up Algebra homework and the other two were reading themselves to sleep in bed off I went into the black night.  (From a training perspective this was a big move for me – having to get the mileage in, as just a month ago I would have just grabbed a bowl of ice cream and plopped in front of the good old tele!”)

So off I went into the night down the street.  It’s been a long time since I had run in the dark and it always seems that the darkness at 11pm is darker then the darkness at 6am.  Not sure why, but it seemed a whole lot darker and more ominous then when I run in the mornings.  Anyway, on with the story and away from boring not needed details like this sentence.  I noticed that I really could not see the road in front of me, outside of the few times I crossed the path of a street light or a porch light.  The rest of the time, I was just running in the general direction of the road towards the lights I could see in the distance.

It struck me how much this is like life.  We spend so many parts of our life not really sure of the road we are on, not able to clearly see what lies right in front of us, but we continue pushing onward, towards the light, towards the hope that lies out there, trusting that the road will be there.

I have recently added a few Fireflight songs to my playlist and this reminds me of the lyrics of their song Unbreakable

Sometimes it’s hard to just keep going
But faith is moving without knowing
Can I trust what I can’t see to reach my destiny?

and later in the song

Forget the fear it’s just a crutch
That tries to hold you back
And turn your dreams to dust
All you need to do is just trust

Even as I approached my house I could see the faint outline of the porch light reflecting off my mailbox, but I could not make out the house, or bushes around it.  I was hoping there was not a huge coyote or man eating night stalking creature in the shadows.

But that’s us.  Pushing forward, trusting, moving with faith, uncertain of  the road, but certain of the destination.

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (New International Version)

Keep your focus today!  Stay strong, and keep running!

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Boys of Fall

Forrest GreggI am sure most of you have heard Kenny Chesney’s new song Boys of Fall.  Last night, we watched the ESPN documentary that aired Sunday by the same name.  Maybe some of you watched the program as well.  If you have every played football, or been a fan of football, I am sure you will want to try to catch that show. Although I tried my hand at the gridiron in junior high, I was too skinny and slow to be effective as a football player and moved on to other endeavors.

But that is not today’s point.  This documentary is filled with interviews with great names from football’s past and present – from Joe Namath to Peyton Manning.  The part, however, that I found very interesting was when a few of the coaches talked about the impact of tradition and history.  Phil Fulmer even said, that when you are out there and its fourth and one and you think of all of the other guys that have worn the orange and white before you that it makes you get that extra yard, that it makes you dig deeper and find a way.  Sound familiar?

So that and the whole concept that was being discussed that football was a microcosm of life led me to think about our lives of faith.  We understand in football why the tradition has an impact on the current players.  We understand the team aspects, the ‘no holds bared’ way of fighting on the gridiron.  So can we take that same approach to our spiritual lives?  Maybe Paul, or whoever wrote Hebrews, was a football coach on the side?  He delivers a pretty good locker room speech in Hebrews 12 that sounds a lot like some of the talk on Chesney’s show:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”  Hebrews 12:1-6 (New International Version)

Think about all of those who have followed Christ before you, those who have led the way, and take encouragement from them today.  You can hang in there, even when its fourth and one.

Hm, maybe life is a big football game?

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Pity Parties

Man, have you ever had those days where you just want to complain and grip and spend the day saying “whoa is me…”?

I think I started the day that way today.  I even told Amy as she left for the day, “My day is gonna suck!”.  (yes, I know one of the S words, right behind ‘shut up’ and “stupid” that I should not be using”).   But really, do you ever feel that way.

I left for my run, with that attitude, returned with that attitude and then sat at this keyboard for 25 minutes with that attitude.  Stewing.  However, something deep down inside kept telling me, no, that’s not the way it is.

The fact is that it’s easy for us to let the world force us to think about ourselves and our supposed problems and to crowd out what is good around us.  I think I have been writing about this a little too much over the last few weeks.  But its not just because I struggle here, its because I know from other conversations that we all do.

I canceled the pity party this morning, washing it down the drown with the shower water.  It’s no way to approach the day.  It’s no way to impact others. Why does that verse in Philippians keep haunting me?

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4

Lets be humble, and more concerned about others then our own simple lives.  No Self-Pity Parties today!

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Hearitly Ahead

Yep!  It’s Monday again, and here comes the monotony of the “work-a-day” world full force towards us.  It’s so easy to want to pull up the covers and stay were you are.

So it seems like one of those days that we need to turn to the the expert in futility – the write of Ecclesiastes.  It is well know that this dude, King Solomon, realized the vanity and futility that sits right int the face of men.  However, he didn’t give up, nor give him.  For he make this declaration:

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave,  where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (New International Version)

Well, that’s a little morbid, but its real.  We get one chance at this little game of life.   I think the Message is even more plain on this topic:

7-10 Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.
Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Dress festively every morning.
Don’t skimp on colors and scarves.
Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precarious life.
Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!
This is your last and only chance at it,
For there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think
In the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, The Message)

So here’s the deal, yep, Monday stinks.  But we only get so many of them.  Lets make ’em count!  Get out there with all your might and impact the world around you!

Do it up!

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Attitude Friday

Well, its Friday, Football’s here and Fall is in the air.  It’s about to be the best time of the year!  wOOT wOOT!   That just something to get pumped about!

However, my mind it still hanging back in Philippians, so this is a weak post today for such an awesome day. However in twitterland its Follow Friday, so lets use this day to remember who we should be following:

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:1-5

And he choose to give up being equal to God for you!.  Be Humble, and impact those around you today by follow the example of the Christ.