Were...

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. And don’t imagine that this is a complete list of the sinners who will be excluded. It is a representative sampling. You’re not off of the hook if your pet sin isn’t mentioned.

Galatians 5:19-21 adds to the roll-call of the non-inheriting. “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witch-craft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

That phrase “and the like” means your habitual sin is covered. You are – or were – wicked. You are – or were – not saved from sin. The wicked – that’s you and me in our natural state – will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

Now let’s read verse 11: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

“And that is what some of you were.” What is Paul saying? To what does he refer in the past tense? He’s referencing the sinners mentioned in verses 9 and 10. He’s talking about those who had been sexually immoral those who had been idolaters, those who had committed adultery. He’s talking to the former male prostitutes in the church, to the former homosexual offenders and former thieves. He’s writing to believers whose hearts used to be filled with greed, who used to get drunk every weekend, who used to slander others and swindle their friends out of whatever they could.

To each of these people, and to every sinner reading or hearing his words, he says, “That’s the past! You were wicked. You were incapable of inheriting the kingdom of God.”

I don’t know about you, but hearing the word were in this context is more than encouraging to me. It says to me, “Your past sin does not define who you are today.”

Is that good news or what?! How can that not give you joy and peace and a sense of freedom?! How can that not stir up hope in your heart?! You can say with confidence, if you’re a believer, “I was a sinner! But that’s not me anymore. I’m no longer defined by my sin! Woohoo!”

Think of your past. Remember your sin. Gone! Done with. Behind you. Forgiven. Was, but no longer.

B-icicle Ride

connect.garmin.com/activity/153127308

brrrrr! it was 32 when i got up this morning. 34 when i left the house for my ride. 30 when i got back. add the 13-15mph wind to the mix and it was cold! not that i'm complaining.

i wasn't going to get up and ride this morning. after late nights this weekend, i was going to sleep in till 6:00 and just get ready for the day. then i woke up at 5:00 wide awake. i looked at the clock. i thought for a second or two about staying in bed. then i got up. "why not go for a ride?" i asked myself. "why not?" i agreed.

i geared up with multiple layers and got out the door by just after 5:30. i had to loop around a few blocks waiting for a train before i could leave town, but after that there weren't any delays.

i fought my way north passed the airport to iuka averaging 12.8mph, then turned around and raced back to town. the initial struggle made this a very different ride that saturday's tailwind ride. more work. in some ways more satisfaction. a tailwind fought for is worth more...i guess.

made it back by 6:30 to wake my wife up, but she was already in the shower. i better get ready myself. (12.57 miles @ 15.2mph)

wind-assisted insanity

connect.garmin.com/activity/152589912

oh the things i have done on a bike since meeting Dan M. thing i never thought i'd do. tonight's wind-assisted insanity ranks up near the top of the list of crazy stuff my friend's roped me into.

i was taking a nap this afternoon, trying to recover from getting too little sleep last night, when dan stops by to see if i want to ride up to great bend since the winds are from the south at 35mph or more. his ex-wife is coming for a visit and will be there about the same time as we arrive. it's around 4:00 and the sun's supposed to set at 6:30ish, so we don't have a lot of time. first he says, "let's leave in 45 minutes," so i slowly get ready. a few minutes later he calls back and asks, "can you leave in ten minutes?" i shrugged my shoulders and said, "sure. why not?" that's what you'd say to wind-assisted insanity, right?

so less than fifteen minutes after waking up, i've snarfed down a PBJ and readied myself for a 50-mile speed fest. i was in such a hurry to get prepared that i forgot my cell phone and money. ended up not needing either. whew!

when dan and i rolled out of my driveway, he said, "i'll be happy if we can make it in an hour and fifty." he lied! he wanted to go much faster! i just shook my head when he kept pushing the speed up higher and higher. even before we made it out of town we were flying along and near 25mph.

we climbed the little rise on the way out of town at around 28mph. i was breathing hard. dan was not. he assured me that there weren't many more hills. that, at least, was the truth. the biggest hill was at about the halfway point riding up and over the railroad overpass in st. john. i dropped down to 26mph on that. i just smiled and rode past dan who had "hammered" on ahead and waited for me there. before that i hit just over 40mph on the flats. the wind was awesome!

about 35 miles into the ride, my energy dropped considerably. dan was still "hammering" out and waiting for me once in awhile. i never took a break. i sucked in a gel and then ate a mini clif bar. that helped a bit, but i still couldn't keep up with my friend.

around 40 miles, dan had mercy on me and rode the rest of the way into town with me. my average had dropped from 30.6mph down to 29.8mph by that time. i'd done all i could to keep it over 30mph, but it wasn't in my legs. grrrrr!

dan and i talked the rest of the way in to the gas station. mostly dan talked and i tried to continue breathing regularly. i succeeded, i guess. i didn't die! we hit 50 miles just as we pulled up to the intersection across from the gas station where we were to meet dan's ex. five minutes later or maybe seven, she showed up. we loaded our bikes in the back and drove back. it was nice to sit on something comfortable for an hour. hope i can walk in the morning. (50.25 miles @ 29.3mph)

2.04 miles in 18:02

connect.garmin.com/activity/151882930

i've been resting my running legs for a week and a half, hoping the pain in my achilles would go away. it did somewhat. there was still a dull ache to it, but nothing like when it first happened. i was limping then. yesterday it felt good enough that i decided i'd test it out on the streets, so this morning out the door i went at 6:00. i ran slowly, concentrating on each footfall. trying not to strain anything. for the first mile and a half i didn't have any real problems. during the last half mile, my achilles went from dull ache to not-as-nice ache. i don't think i did any permanent damage, but i may take a few more days off before trying this again.

Pastors as we really are...

I've seen so many of these photo groupings, that I thought I'd have a little fun at my own expense. Rather than poke fun at marathoners or cyclists, I'll do my best to tease myself and my colleagues. Hope none of those way-too-serious preachers see this.

A clean bottle...

Manufacturers of bottles abound, each one trying to grab a share of the hydration market. Dozens of companies churn out cheap bottles used by sporting goods stores or race directors as give away advertising. Other firms, many of them, create artsy offerings of brushed metal sold in department stores and specialty shops catering those concerned about their impact on the earth’s ecosystem. In such an atmosphere, getting a second look for a new product is a challenge.

Dave Mayer decided to take that risk and enter the bottle battle arena. His new twist on the old bottle? A removable bottom in addition to the traditional removable cap! This innovation, according to Mayer, makes the Clean Bottle easier to…well, clean. Everyone who’s ever owned a bottle of any kind knows that mold and algae are a constant threat. The owner has to keep it clean and aired out or the bottle gets kind of gross. With both ends of the bottle removed, the likelihood of grossness decreases.

Since I’ve fought to keep my bottles clean for cycling over the past eight or nine years, I picked up a Clean Bottle and gave it a try. I was impressed, when it arrived, by the quality of the bottle’s plastic. It was firm rather than flimsy like a giveaway. The lids at both ends were good quality with seals to make for a leak-free experience. My Clean Bottle fit nicely in the cage on my bike frame, yet was easy to remove when I wanted a drink. The opening for drinking was a bit hard to pull, but it was sturdy and seemed to resist the teeth marks. I took the product on several rides and never had any trouble with it.

I was pleased with the ease of cleaning. Since I was able to open both ends, I could reach more of the inner space. The bottle also aired out and dried better than other bottles I’ve used. Other company’s products molded even when I cleaned them immediately. This makes the Clean Bottle well worth a little extra cash outlay in my book. Yet it is currently priced at $9.95. Very reasonable for a durable product.

One thing I would like to see personally is an insulated version. I like my drinks cold when I’m riding. During the winter months, the Clean Bottle works as is. I haven’t had a “slushy” in it yet. I’m not sure how it will handle the heat. I guess time will tell.


You might also enjoy BarbaraHughes’ review or The Amazing Feats of Bottle Boy.

GIVEAWAY: The winner of the February 22, 2012, drawing for a Clean Bottle was @dazzeetwit on Twitter. Thanks to all who read my review and participated in the drawing. A big thank you to Dave and Jesse at Clean Bottle for making the contest possible.

4.12 miles in 36:44

connect.garmin.com/activity/149323236

there was a thin covering of snow on the streets and sidewalks this morning as i set out on my run. it was awesome to run along and hear next to nothing as my feet fell into the soft stuff. i ran south into the wind with plans to do a loop around lemon park's path and run right back. i ran through sixth street park to get there, surprised to see the footprints of another runner who'd already been there. it was the same in lemon. footprints the whole way around! some brave soul was out before 6:00. good for him...or her! just before i left the park, a white tail buck ran across the path about 15 yards ahead of me. i almost didn't see him in the dark. he was there and then he wasn't.

as i left the park, i decided i had time to run a bit farther than i'd planned, so i headed out to main street and ran north. it was fun leaving prints as i glided past storefront after storefront. i ran out into the street a couple of times to avoid snow shoveling crews hard at work, but got right back onto the sidewalk.

i continued north on main past downtown and then turned east on school to head home. i was cautious on the brick surface since it can be slick. thankfully, i didn't fall. i made it home safely, walked in the door and woke my beautiful wife up to get ready for the day.

2.95 miles in 23:48

connect.garmin.com/activity/148675961

the only question i have is this: why did i wait around until the temp dropped from 12F to 10F before i headed out the door? i must be an idiot! "welcome to the IRC. here's your sign."

anyway, once i got out there, it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be. the wind was just above a breeze at 11mph, so the windchill was only -4F. rather pleasant as long as i kept it to my side or at my back. no fear of overheating! that's a plus.

i ran out east to do a little highway shoulder run on route 61 south. i turned east onto highway 54 then decided running out past wal-mart was going to take too long, so i turned around and ran down the highway west until i got to doug reh chevrolet. i ran through their parking lot to get off the highway, then continued south on country club road. from there, i turned onto sixth and the zigzagged my way back up to the highway. i crossed at howard and ran home, arriving right at 6:30. perfect timing!

The amazing feats of Bottle Boy...

The Tour de France is arguably the pinnacle of the pro cycling calendar. Elite riders from around the world work for months to get themselves into top shape, hoping for a stage win or for a chance to ride in a breakaway. A few dream of donning the famous yellow leader’s jersey worn by the likes of Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Lance Armstrong and most recently Cadel Evans. Whole squads of riders sacrifice themselves so that their main man can wear the maillot jaune down the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

This 21-day spectacle of endurance which brings the best of the best in the cycling world together every July also draws a slew of unusual characters. Fans drape themselves in their country’s flag and scream support for their countrymen. Shirtless men with antlers on their heads chase riders up the steepest roads in the Alps and Pyrenees. The devil (a.k.a. Didier ) even shows up and urges the best on with his pitchfork. Thousands of people from all around the world line the roads each and every day so they can get a glimpse of their idols.

Attracted to the throngs of people are well over one hundred advertisers in creatively decorated vehicles driving ahead of the pro peloton. Companies spend hundreds of thousands of Euros for the chance to throw samples of their products to the crowds lining the route each day.

This past summer, an enterprising newcomer to the Tour, CleanBottle, took a novel approach to grabbing air time. Entrepreneur Dave Mayer, working with two others, donned costumes and ran the Alps as Bottle Boy. They were noticed. Over and over Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, world famous Tour commentators, saw the 7’ bottle running and chatted about Mayer’s ingenious invention, a water bottle which unscrews at both ends making it easier to clean. Because of the coverage, people all over the world now recognize Bottle Boy.

Not that he was famous at the time of the race. The mascot got more than his share of weird looks, especially when he was packed up in his black bag. “Everyone who passed by was curious to find out if we were transporting a body,” Mayer reported. Once the suit was out and put on, people understood what was happening and looked at the group less suspiciously.

Prior to the Tour, Bottle Boy got a nice steam cleaning and stayed fresh for all of two days in France before the rain arrived. Mayer said, “Moisture and mascots do not get along particularly well and we had to improvise some trash bag jackets to make it through the rainy first week and a half.” To maintain his youthful glow, Bottle Boy had to have a 15-minute daily sprucing up.

Over the course of the three-week event, Mr. Mayer personally ran a total of about 10 miles in his suit, a real workout at altitude. Staying hydrated was a challenge since drinking inside the Bottle Boy suit was impossible. His and his helpers’ only hope was to drink three liters of water before each run and hope that was enough. Mayer said he drank at least 100 liters of water directly tied to his running during the Tour.

Recently, Mayer appeared on Shark Tank and won a major business victory. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, offered him $60,000 for an 8% stake in the company. Close friend, Bill Walton, helped Mayer’s cause by putting in an appearance.

What are Bottle Boy’s plans or the future? Not everything is clear, but he plans to visit the Tour again in 2012. Watch for him in July. (For a chance to win a Clean Bottle, read my review and enter.)

3.10 miles in 24:14

connect.garmin.com/activity/148463328

i had enough of slow yesterday. today i ran fast...for me anyway. i mapped out my route ahead of time just to make sure i could spell everything, then headed out the door.

it was cold! only six degrees colder than yesterday morning, but i felt every one of those degrees as i sucked in air to keep me going. it was a little harder to get all the turns correctly executed in a more oxygen-deprived state, but i managed it and didn't even trip once.

i made it home and had to double back a bit to hit 5K. i just CAN'T stop at three miles! i'll get better some day, i suppose. if i have to.

Parting is such sorrow...

A friend on Twitter posted this today: "Way too many religious tweets in my timeline. Please stop or unfollow me." I asked him to define religious tweets. "Tweets that mention a religion? Tweets that imply religion. Tweets that mention a religious figure. What?" I wasn't trying to be belligerent. I really wanted to know. His response was a little disapointing. "Quotes from the bible mainly." Well, I post a verse that's meaningful to me from time to time, so I knew he was tweeting me. Not me alone, I suppose, but definitely me. I told him I'd done that in the past and probably would do it again in the future. Then I asked, point blank, "Do you want me to leave?" His reply took some time, but it came. "Yes, please, although I did enjoy your running tweets. Thanks." He has since unfollowed me. Kind of sad. I quote an occasional verse and he wants out of the relationship.

3.40 miles in 31:56

connect.garmin.com/activity/148260145

this morning's run was my first intentionally lazy-paced run in ages. i'm always pushing it, never really recovering. i decided to change that.

i left the house a few minutes after 6:00 and headed west on manor street. as i rounded the corner onto lawrence, i decided to entertain myself (and you i hope) a little by running the word slow. i calculated how far north on lawrence i needed to go to make sure i could run the curves of the "s" properly when i got to it and then did it slowly. i'm pleased with the results. i ran a nice relaxed 9:22 pace and spelled slow correctly with my garmin. what could be better than that for recovery?

you'll have to look at the garmin map to see my handiwork.

People we have the right to kill...

4.58 miles in 38:38

connect.garmin.com/activity/148050065

i wasn't sure what i wanted to do when i got up this morning. i toyed with the idea of another long run. in the end, i just meandered around a bit running east then south then north then west then whatever way i wanted to go. i sort of followed a plan, but not really. it was cold, so i quit early.

Funny you should ask...

I've started a new Facebook page. Why? you ask. Because I need another outlet for my nuttiness! Isn't that why everyone starts a Facebook page?

My page, SQOD, is pretty simple really. I ask a strange question every morning. You answer it.

The first strange question of the day, the one I posted yesterday, came from an old family joke on my wife's side. They always ask each other and occasionally complete strangers, "Did you drive or bring your lunch?"

The second question - "Was your body made to run 100 miles or to drink expensive coffee?" - and all subsequent entries cannot be blamed on my wife. She is innocent.

If you like SQOD, hit the "Like" button. If you really like it, invite your friends.

5.11 miles in 45:11

connect.garmin.com/activity/147834413

i left home with a little more motivation today. i was going to do hill repeats. nothing like the threat of bodily harm to get the blood pumping. i ran east to terrace and took it north to maple. i ran east on maple to parkway and headed south to parkview. (there are a lot of streets with "park" in them here!) parkview is where the short steep hill is. i was going to do repeats there, but when i hit the base of the steepest part, i just couldn't. my right hamstring had too much of a twinge in it and i didn't want to risk injury. i changed my plans and decided just to put in some miles. i looped around and around covering all the streets between school and maple and parkway and stout. if i'd had more time i would've kept going to the west, but i was nearly out of time when i hit five miles and i decided that was enough for today. i don't want to add too many miles all at once. i need to be patient and build up to the longer miles i'm going to need to get ready for november's run for mission 100-miler.

Define hate speech...

What is hate speech? I've been thinking about this question for some time. Seriously thinking about it. It seems everyone has a different opinion on the matter. We're pretty clear about what hate speech is when it comes to speech concerning people of other ethnic groups, but less so in the debate over homosexuality.

So let me ask you: What do you consider hate speech? Read the options below and in the comments section tell me which ones you think are or are not. I am not asking this to stir anything up. I would just like to know what you think.

Hate speech is...

• Shouting derogatorily at someone you believe is a practicing homosexual.
• Quoting Monte Python's, "Bet you're gay!" when teasing friends who are heterosexual.
• Reading out loud or posting any passage from a religious text that includes homosexual behavior in a list of sins.
• Calmly stating an opinion that differs from the "they were born that way" argument during a conversation with a friend.
• Waving signs publicly that say, "God hates fags!"
• Suggesting that any kind of natural disaster or terrorist attack could be a sign of God's judgment against a nation that has accepted homosexual behavior as normal.

What's your take? Are any of these hate speech? Are all of them? One or two, but not some of the others? How do you define hate speech on this matter?

Note: All serious answers which do not turn into personal attacks against others will be approved for posting.

7.00 miles in 1:01:01

connect.garmin.com/activity/147618263

i did not feel like running this morning, so i ran seven miles. crazy, huh? i seriously did not want to go at all when i got up, but i somehow kept going and going and going.

i started out with no plan. i ran out to main street and down to highway 54 with the idea that i'd just complete the loop back to home. then i came up with this nutty, stair-stepping, zigzagging, back and forth route that got me back home at 6:30 with 3.51 miles under my feet.

i ran inside and woke up my wife, telling her i was going back out to run a little more. i ended up doubling my mileage by zipping up and down the streets going back out to main street and then shooting back down the highway at the end.

i'm pleased that i was able to run this far without the motivation to do so. it will serve me well come november when i'll be running 100 miles. i'm pretty sure there will be a moment or two of unmotivated running during that.

One of my new favorite songs.

Giving +Ks on Klout

My friend - we'll call her Ann - is having trouble giving +Ks to her influencers on Klout, so I decided to post a tutorial. I hope she will find it useful. Maybe you will to if you're signed up for Klout and are struggling with the same problem. (Click on any of the screen shots below to see a larger version. If you click on the first one and then on the larger image repeatedly, you can see each image enlarged and in order!)

Step 1: Go to Klout - www.klout.com - and sign in.

You should see your own profile if everything goes well.

Step 2: Click on the "Influencers" link.

This will take you to your Influencers page and will first off show you who you influence.

Step 3: Click on the "Your Influencers" tab above the list of people you influence.

Now you can see those who influence you and you are ready to give out +Ks!

Step 4: Click on an influencer's name.

As you can see, I chose my friend Jen's name and the link took me to her profile.

Step 5: Now click on the "See all..." link under her "Influential about 18 topics" list.

You can now see the topics Klout believes she is influential in.

Step 6: Choose a topic and click the "Give +K" button to the right of it.

When you do so, you'll get a confirmation screen like this that acknowledges your +K gift. Notice that I now have 4 +K at the bottom of the screen instead of 5.

Step 7: If you want to, Tweet (or Facebook) about your generosity by clicking one of the buttons.

The Twitter or Facebook box will come up and you can edit what will be shared. Click "Tweet" or "Share" and it will be done as you wish. The dialog box will disappear automatically leaving you with the same screen.

Step 8: Click the "X" on the "You gave +K" box.

Notice that the "Give +K" box next to Dailymile is now grayed out. I have given Jen +K there so I can't do so again for a few days. I can select another topic and give +K in it if I have more +K.

And that, Ann and all Klout users, is how you give +K. (Please give me some of yours when you have the time. Look for user openmikey.)

11 Things About Me

Brian Adkins (a.k.a. MarathonBrian), my Chicago-based dailymile running teammate and friend, recently “tagged” me on Twitter, forcing me to answer a series of questions. His mandate also included instructions to do the same with 11 others.

The rules of the game:

1)     Post these rules.

2)     You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3)     Answer the questions set for you in their post.

4)     Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5)     Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

6)     No stuff in the tagging section about “you are tagged if you are reading this.” You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Random Things About me:

1)     I did not own a car until I married in 1987. My beautiful wife owned a blue 1981 Toyota Celica which her parents gave her the year before. I married her so I could drive it. (Boy am I in trouble if she reads this.)

2)     I have visited every state in the Union except Florida, South Carolina, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii. If anyone wants to fly me out to one of these states, I’d be grateful! Coach would be fine. I’m not picky!

3)     I have been a pastor in the Friends church for almost 23 years. I was pastor in Arba, Indiana, north of Richmond, for 10 years after graduating from Bible college in 1988. I spent the next thirteen years in Argonia, Kansas, leading the Friends church there. The past seven months have been at Pratt Friends Church in Pratt, Kansas.

4)     I am thirteen months older than my next sibling. My sister is four years younger than me and my youngest brother is thirteen months younger than her. Weird coincidence, don’t you think? Thirteen months for both sets of siblings!

5)     I collect Pepsi bottles, cans and memorabilia. I have international Pepsi stuff from Israel, England, China, Mexico and Russia. (I drink Pepsi, too. I HATE Coke!)

6)     I have been running the clock for volleyball and basketball games for five years or so. I started when I was living in Argonia and picked it up at my kids’ new school when we moved. I am currently sitting at a junior high JV tournament waiting for the boys championship game to  start.

7)     My wife is smarter than me. Her college GPA was 1/100^th of a point higher than mine. Those two B+ classes put me at third in our graduating class behind her and her roommate.

8)     I am not a good swimmer. I tend to panic when I run out of breath rather than breathe correctly. I attribute my fear of swimming to the drowning of a senior higher during a pool party during the time I was taking swimming lessons. He got his finger stuck in the drain. Scared me spitless!

9)     I have a habit of drawing things using my Garmin 305. I just run a route that looks like a dog or an elephant. Sometimes I spell out words too. Strange, I know. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. (P.S. I usually need to carry a map to make such outings successful.)

10)  I love to run. I love to cycle. It would be hard for me to nail down which I love to do more. On any given morning, you’ll find me out doing one or the other while the rest of the family sleeps securely in their warm little beds. Going early is the only way to keep my obsessions from interfering with family and work life.

11)  I enjoy music. Listening to it brings me great joy. Singing is one of my favorite pastimes. I play trombone and song flute, too. For kicks, I pull out my trombone once in awhile and play along with the high school pep band at ball games. Sight reading is so much fun!

Brian’s Questions for Me:

1)     Favorite event? You mean besides my birthday, right? I’d say the Run for Missions. Loved running in the inaugural 10K and the first half marathon. I enjoy running in support of my friend Adam on the 100-miler too. This year I’m going to run the whole thing with him.

2)     What’s your favorite Ryan Gosling movie? Well, since I’ve only seen two of them, The Notebook and Remember the Titans, I’ll have to go with Remember. I know I’ll get in trouble for this, but I hated The Notebook.

3)     What’s your favorite post-race celebration food? I don’t know that I have a favorite, but if Brian’s buying, I’m ordering steak!

4)     Who manufactures your favorite race day shirt or singlet? I love the dailymile team shirt. It was made by Saucony in ViziPro orange! Love the look and the feel. I really like my Idiots Running Club shirt, too, but I’m not sure about the manufacturer.

5)     What’s your second favorite Ryan Gosling movie? What?! Another?! As I mentioned in question 2, I’ve only seen two and I hated one. No second fav for me!

6)     Gatorade or Powerade? Either one’s fine. I use Gatorade powder for mixing at home, but I’ll drink Powerade if I’m at a convenience store and it’s cheaper.

7)     Favorite newspaper? I guess it would have to be the Pratt Tribune. It’s the only paper in the world I can get into just by organizing a Santa Hat run on Christmas Eve. Didn’t even have to call a reporter. I just posted the event on Facebook.

8)     You’ve just won a race/event, what’s your initial action or reaction? If you’re talking about before I puke, I’m looking for a patch of green grass to empty on. If you’re talking after that, I’m throwing my arms in the air and taunting the rest of the field as the cross the line. Not really. I wouldn’t do that. I’d only mock David Murphy of the Idiots Running Club.

9)     Would you rather be taller or smarter? Yes, I would. Thanks for asking. Taller would make me better at basketball. I’d like to be able to dunk. Smarter? Well, why not. I might be able to outwit Brian in race strategy then.

10)  Which historical figure would you like to have a 2-hour dinner with? I’d like to sit down and eat with Jesus. He’s a friend of tax collectors and sinners, so he’d be with a friend! I’d mostly listen, but there are a couple of things I’d like clarified, so I’d ask a question or two.

11)  Favorite holiday? April Fool’s Day is pretty great! I love tricking my kids, my neighbor’s, the guy in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. “Hey, Buddy! Your socks are untied!” (Note: If you are a scrawny junior higher in a big city, do not yell that at random strangers. I tried it once and the guy pulled a knife on me. That’s how I remember it. Of course, he was across the street, so I can’t be absolutely sure.)

My Questions for My Tagged Friends:

1)     If you were to change careers, what would be your dream job? Why?

2)     What is your most prized possession? Why?

3)     You’re offered a choice: Pepsi or Coke? Which do you choose and why?

4)     Would you rather do without your computer or your toothbrush for a week? Why?

5)     What do you order when you’re in a hurry and you have to take the drive-thru?

6)     Would you rather skydive or read a good book? Why?

7)     Long ride, long walk, long run or long swim? Which would you enjoy most right now? Why?

8)     How many geese have you been attacked by in your lifetime? Remember the petting zoo!

9)     Which club would you be more likely to join: the Idiots Running Club or the Quilters Guild? Why?

10)  Have you met anyone famous or even semi-famous? Who? Did you talk with them or just stare?

11)  Mountain biking or road biking? Trail running or running on the street?

My Tagged People:

Annie – annsrunningcommentary.com
Coach Kristie – coachkristie.com
Murphy – runlikeamug.blogspot.com
Elle Dubya – elledubya-health.tumblr.com
Jeff – hardcorpsrunner.wordpress.com
Mr. Shaw – aveteranrunnah.com
My other brother, Darryl – lovingthebike.com
Mr. Run for Missions – adammonaghan.blogspot.com
Sis-in-Law, Heather – theadventuresofbeingyoung.blogspot.com
Pre-Dawn Runner, Greg – predawnrunner.com
Sir Thomas – believeintherun.com

2.53 miles in 20:01

connect.garmin.com/activity/146970937

i didn't have a lot of time to run this morning since i'm running the clock for a junior high jv basketball tournament which begins at 8:00. clock operators have to be there for warm ups, so that means 7:50. my daughter is in the first game, so that means 7:30 to get ready. time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'.

i walked out the front door with no real idea concerning what i wanted to do other than run. i'd considered cycling, but 20mph winds are NOT fun on a bike, so i settle for running. i thought i might do a longer run, but changed my mind and chose to run the elephant's head. (see the gps map at right. see what i mean?)

i started out feeling just a little sluggish. not a lot of pop in the legs, but once i got warmed up, i felt better and better. since i didn't have a map with me, i spent all my mental work on figuring out the route and didn't have time to worry about pace at all. i guess that's a good thing. will you look at those negative splits?! i sort of sprinted (for an old guy) at the end, running the last quarter mile or so somewhere around 6:45 pace. i toyed with the idea of running a bit further and completing a 5K, but a near-puke experience nixed that.

all in all, i'm pretty happy with the experience. nice pace. artistic route. no rain. dry heaves. it doesn't get any better than that!

CIA Agents Already Know This Stuff

Note to self: You cannot operate a computer's fingerprint scanner with gloves on. Trust me on this one. I've tried it. No dice! Duly noted.

Hallowed be Thy name...

Have you ever thought about what it means when you pray, "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name"? You are honoring God our Father's name. His name is awesome! Let me list the names given to Him in the Bible...

A faithful God (Deut 32:4), A forgiving God (Neh 9:17), A fortress of salvation (Ps 28:8), A glorious crown (Isa 28:5), A jealous and avenging God (Nah 1:2), A Master in heaven (Col 4:1), A refuge for his people (Joel 3:16), A refuge for the oppressed (Ps 9:9) A refuge for the poor (Isa 25:4), A sanctuary (Isa 8:14), A shade from the heat (Isa 25:4), A shelter from the storm (Isa 25:4), A source of strength (Isa 28:6), A stronghold in times of trouble (Ps 9:9), An ever-present help in times of trouble (Ps 46:1), Architect and builder (Heb 11:10), Builder of everything (Heb 3:4), Commander of the army of the Lord (Josh 5:14), Creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), Defender of widows (Ps 68:5), Eternal King (Jer 10:10), Father (Matt 5:16), Father of compassion (2 Cor 1:3), Father of our spirits (Heb 12:9), Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17), Father to the fatherless (Ps 68:5), God (Gen 1:2), God Almighty (Gen 17:1), God and Father of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:3), God Most High (Gen 14:18-22), God my Maker (Job 35:10), God my Rock (Ps 42:9), God my Savior (Ps 18:46), God my stronghold (Ps 144:2), God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Ex 3:16), God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3), God of all mankind (Jer 32:27), God of glory (Ps 29:3), god of gods (Ps 136:2), God of grace (1 Pet 5:10), God of peace (1 Thess 5:23), God of retribution (Jer 51:56), God of the living (Matt 22:32), God of the spirits (Num 16:22), God of truth (Ps 31:5), God our Father (Col 1:2), God our strength (Ps 18:2), God over all the kingdoms (Dan 4:17), God the Father (Col 3:17), God who avenges me (Ps 94:1), God who relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13), Great and awesome God (Deut 7:12), Great and powerful God (Jer 32:18), Great, mighty, awesome God (Deut 10:17), He who blots out your transgressions (Isa 43:25), He who comforts you (Isa 66:13), He who forms the hearts of all (Ps 33:15), He who raised Christ from the dead (Rom 8:11), He who reveals His thoughts to man (Amos 4:13), Helper of the fatherless (Ps 10:14), Him who is able to do more than all we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20), Him who is able to keep you from falling (Jude 24), Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1), Holy Father (John 17:11), Holy One (Rev 16:5), Holy One among you (Hos 11:9), I AM WHO I AM (Ex 3:14), Jealous (Ex 20:5), Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25), King of glory (Ps 24:7-10), King of heaven (Dan 4:37), Living and true God (1 Thess 1:9), Lord Almighty (2 Cor 6:18), Lord God Almighty (Rev 21:22), Lord is Peace (Judg 6:24), Lord Most High (Ps 7:17), Lord is my Banner (Ex 17:15), Lord my Rock (Ps 28:1), Lord of all the earth (Zech 4:14), Lord of kings (Dan 2:47), Lord our God (Deut 1:6), Lord our Maker (Ps 95:6), Lord who heals you (Ex 15:26), Lord who is there (Ezek 48:35), Lord who makes you holy (Heb 2:11), Lord who strikes the blow (Ezek 7:9), Lord will provide (Gen 22:14), Love (1 John 4:8), Maker of all things (Jer 10:16), Most High (Gen 14:18-22), My advocate (Job 16:19), My Comforter in sorrow (Jer 8:18), My confidence (Ps 71:5), My helper (Heb 13:6), My hiding place (Ps 32:7), My hope (Ps 25:5), My light (Ps 27:1), My mighty rock (Ps 62:7), My refuge in times of trouble (Ps 59:16), My song (Ex 15:2), My strong deliverer (Ps 140:7), My support (2 Sam 22:19), One to be feared (1 Chron 16:25), Only wise God (Rom 16:27), Our dwelling place (Ps 19:1), Our help and our shield (Ps 33:20), Our judge (1 Sam 24:15), Our lawgiver (Isa 33:22), Our leader (2 Chron 13:12), Our Mighty One (Isa 33:21), Our Redeemer (Isa 63:16), Our refuge and strength (Ps 46:1), Righteous Father (John 17:25), Rock of our salvation (Ps 94:1), Shepherd (Ps 23:1), Sovereign Lord (Acts 4:24), The Almighty (Ruth 1:20), The compassionate and gracious God (Ex 34:6), The Eternal God (Gen 21:33), The consuming fire (Isa 33:14), The everlasting God (Isa 40:28), The exalted God (Mic 6:6), The faithful God (Deut 7:9), The gardener (John 15:1), The glorious Father (Eph 1:17), The glory of Israel (Mic 1:15), The God who saves me (Ps 88:1), The God who sees me (Gen 16:13), The great King above all gods (Ps 95:3), The just and mighty One (Job 34:17), The living Father (John 6:57), The Majestic Glory (2 Pet 1:17), The Majesty in heaven (Heb 1:3), The one who sustains me (Ps 54:4), The only God (Jude 1:25), The potter (Jer 18:6), The rock in whom I take refuge (Ps 18:2), The spring of living water (Jer 2:13), The strength of my heart (Ps 73:26), The true God (1 Thess 1:9), You who judge the people (Deut 33:3), Your glory (Ps 57:11), Your praise (Ps 138:1), Your very great reward (Gen 15:1)!

Do you know this great God? Praise His name!

List taken from the Experiencing God workbook, by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude King.

6.57 miles in 56:39

connect.garmin.com/activity/146563068

when i went to bed last night, the plan was to ride this morning. i started putting on cycling gear then discovered that my bike's taillight wouldn't work. i fiddled with it a bit and got it to light up while it was apart, but couldn't get it to do anything when it was sealed together. weird stuff.

since i'm not particularly fond of getting hit, i decided i'd put the ride off and go for a run. i was up early, so i had time for a bit longer workout than usual, so i set off to run a loop - kincheloe's loop by name now - that i'd scouted on my bike last summer. i knew it was somewhere around 10K, so i figured i had enough time to do it.

i ran to the east along school, dropped down the hill on parkview drive, turned north on parkway avenue and ran up to maple. i took maple east to highway 61, then headed north. somewhere along i this first leg of my journey, i realized i'd left my knuckle lights at home. on the one day i knew i'd really need them, they were sitting by the computer in the house while i was running along outdoors.

i had no fears running the first stretch of 61. there's a wide shoulder there and an extra lane for cars to move over to if they need to. it's after younie's landscaping that things are a bit more tentative. the margin narrows at the same time the roadway does. i prayed that i wouldn't meet an inattentive driver traveling at 70mph around the curve. i met only one car in the mile or so it took to get to northeast 20th street!

i turned west and ran along dark 20th. this mile and a half stretch of old asphalt held the biggest surprise of the morning - cramps in my gut! i haven't had a side in ages. today they appeared out of nowhere. the only thing i can figure is that eating two gummi worms before i left caused the pain. whatever the source of them, they passed quickly enough. before i was across to highway 281, they were gone.

i turned south onto 281 at kincheloe's, a farm equipment dealership, and ran toward town. i crossed over to the "wrong" side of the road for a short stint to get around the one house i knew had a dog. i figured he would be asleep, but just in case, i put some distance between him and me. once i was passed, i ran back across the highway to the "right" side and ran on to the city limits.

it was nice to return to civilization and be able to see where my next footfall would land. i ran down main street, over the railroad tracks and south to school street. i turned east onto school and ran for home. at the bottom of the hill i hit the 10K mark. my time was 53:19. not my fastest ever, but still beats than the skinny kid's time! loser! i ran on and finished at my front door at 6:36 - late for waking up my wife. i walked in and woke her up, then went back out to walk a bit and cool down.

all in all, i am pleased with this morning's run. not bad for an old cyclist! i know i'm going to have to start increasing mileage sometime to get ready for november's 100-miler, but now is not that time. i'll hit it hard when june rolls around. until then, i'll just put in a 10K or half marathon distance here and there.

Repent and resist...

James 4:7-10 gives us these instructions. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (NIV)

If you want to win the battle against sin, it starts with making God your ruler. You do that by trusting in Jesus and choosing to follow him. You do that by humbly confessing your sin to God as you turn from it. You do that by standing firm against temptation when it comes.

Listen to God’s word! 1 Corinthians 10:13 is for you. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)

The temptations you face have been faced by countless others. You aren’t experiencing anything new. Others have overcome with God’s help. Trust him to help you escape!

You want some more encouragement from God’s word? Hebrews 12:1-3 is great! “Therefore, 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. Let 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (NIV)

Resist the wrong that has become your habit. Turn away from it. Replace your sinful behavior with right behavior. Let Jesus, who faced temptation and won, change your heart.

Sign up to receive messages like this in your inbox. Send a blank email to knowthetruth-join@freegroups.net. 

i am so in this one

i joined. what else could i do when i learned of the existence of a running club that so perfectly fit me? i don't recall how i stumbled upon the idiots running club, but it was a match made in...well, somewhere.

the irc (that's short for the club's name and a whole lot easier to text!) is a loosely-connected group of runners who worry less about what all the gurus of runnerdom say and more about putting in the miles.

irc members are likely to come back from runs with beardsicles or icicle mascara than they are to be all color-coordinated at the gym. their humor is self-depricating. their posts are fun. who wouldn't want to join?

if you want to learn more, visit the irc blog or their facebook page. you'll be glad you did. "ti no trid emos bur!"

take that wednesday!

connect.garmin.com/activity/146353088

i was hyper this morning...super hyper! i completed my knuckle lights giveaway, a first, and was pumped about the results! so i hopped on my bike and rode hard! i shot out of town as quickly as possible and hit the smooth-as-butter asphalt that is north highway 281. they repaved the section from the edge of town out to iuka last summer and it is awesome to ride the lane-width shoulder! i don't know why i don't take that route more often.

my plan was to ride out about 20 minutes and then turn and sprint back home. i rode out longer than that. i really had to push it coming back. thankfully, the wind at my back helped me up the slight inclines on the homeward trek and i ended up pulling into my driveway at 6:31 with almost three more miles than i thought i could get when i started.

take that wednesday! (12.89 miles @ 17.5mph)