Our life is like a long distance run or race and we’re all participating in it.
Over the years, I’ve competed in distance races from between 400 yards and 50 miles. In the 50 mile event, I ran along the American River in California for most of the way. The first 30 miles or so were on an asphalt path. It was smooth and very, very gradual in it’s steepness. We were running up the river so there was a slight grade when we were on the path. Eventually, the route made its way off the asphalt and onto a dirt path. This narrow path was often rocky, crossed over many small spots of water and was uneven – very unlike the smooth asphalt. One could have easily stumbled and fallen. The race of our life is so much longer than than the longest ultra-marathon run. And it’s like the uneven path that I described above. There are many opportunities to become tripped up as we live in this world day to day.
Jesus and Your Faith
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the best way to run this race of life is by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the person on whom our faith depends from the very start of our race until the end. Our race on earth will end only when we die or when Jesus comes to take us away in the rapture, whichever comes first. It is only by keeping focused on him that we have any chance of living the kind of life that God calls each of us to live. Jesus tells us that he came into the world so that all people could have an abundant and full life. (John 10:10) Paul somewhat describes what a full life looks like when he lists the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. These “fruits” become evident when the Spirit of Jesus is manifested in our lives.
As we regularly reflect on what Jesus did on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven – which makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God – we are encouraged and don’t get as weary in our race. We also need to stay close to or abide in Jesus so that we can draw strength from him and so that his Spirit is reflected in our life. (John 15:5) I have identified this as an essential Spiritual Exercise for a healthier life.
Each step you take, every conversation you have, each glance you take – all of your actions and behaviors – is a part of your race here on earth. You can only run and finish your race well if you keep your eyes on Jesus.
Questions to Reflect On
How frequently are you reading the Bible as a way to keep connected with Jesus?
How evident are the fruits of the spirit in your life?
Are you regularly being “tripped” up by the same sin? If so, what will you do to get back on a ‘smoother path’ in the race of your life?
About a year ago I was asked a very thought provoking question by my oldest son. His question was something like this – “What is the single belief you have that has the greatest impact on how you live your life?”
That is a tough question and I had never been asked that or pondered my beliefs in such a way. How would you answer this question? Think about that for a bit before you continue reading. Really now….. pause and think on this for a minute or two.
Okay. Would your response be something like one of the following? God loves me. I am a child of God. Because I treat others like I want to be treated, I am treated well. I trust God no matter what happens in my life.
Drew, my son, shared his answer to this question with me and for the last year, I have adopted it as my answer.
The Bible is Truth
That is how I answer the question now. The single belief that I have that most impacts on how I live my life is that the Bible is truth. This belief has profound impact on my life in many, many ways.
Because I believe that the Bile is truth I desire to know what it says so I read it almost daily. I study it. I think about it, or meditate on what it says, throughout the day when I can. Because I understand that what I think about strongly affects my speaking and behavior, I write out and speak affirmations that are based on scripture….. and send them out over Twitter for others to receive. (See the right sidebar on my blog)
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The truths that I read in the Bible give me hope, strength and wisdom for daily living. Knowing that God inspired men to write the books of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) helps me know that the Bible contains God’s guidelines on how he wants me to live my life. It teaches me how to handle the stressful circumstances that life throws at me. It teaches me how to be in relationships with other people, including my wife, my children and my parents and siblings. The Bible gives me principles for taking care of my emotional and physical health.
The Bible also reveals to me how to have a full and abundant life here on this earth and how I can be assured of living eternally – forever and ever – after I die here. (John 3:16 and John 10:10)
Because I believe - I know – that the Bible is truth, I have a deep, deep peace, joy and love in my heart and this motivates me to share what I believe… what I know… with others.
Questions to Reflect On
What is the single belief that you have that most impacts on how you live your life?
Are you being true to that belief? Are you “living it out?”
Are you sharing this belief with others? If so, what impact is it having on their lives?
This week, the East coast of the states will be experiencing record high temperatures. Health experts will recommend that people living there should drink lots of water to replace what they lose trying to stay cool through perspiration. Yes, that is excellent advice for our physical health and well being. The human body is about 60% water in adult males and 55% in adult females. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight. Blood contains almost 70% water, body fat contains 10% water and bone has about 22% water.
Many of the water products on the shelf are using the word “life” in their marketing of the water. Nestle suggests that their purified water is “Pure Life.” When I see this printed on a bottle of water, I’m reminded of the truth of the matter. The Bible tells us that there is one source that provides us true life – Jesus, the Living Water.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:10-14
After I have been working in the yard on a hot day, I’ll typically go to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water to quench my physical thirst and to replace the water I’ve lost through sweating. Drinking pure water is probably the best way to satisfy the need to rehydrate physically. But what about satisfying spiritual needs?
Sometimes we try to meet our inner spiritual thirst through external means that do not satisfy like food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or other forms of unhealthy or addictive behaviors. These earthly things will not truly satisfy the need that God has given each of us for a Savior. Only Jesus can satisfy this need.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.‘” Jesus in John 7:38
Questions to Reflect On
Do you have a deep inner thirst that has not yet been quenched?
Are you daily drawing on Jesus as your Source of Living Water?
I have been reading a book that has just been published titled Psychology in the Spirit, by Todd Hall and John Coe. I learned of it through Intervarsity Press for whom I am reviewing books on occasion.
In one of the chapters, Coe addresses what he understands to be the core truths of the Christian faith and how it ought to guide Christian psychologists. His views sure seem to be right in line with what the teachings of the Bible boil down to in regards to our life purpose. Here’s a summary.
God exists and we are made in his image, (Genesis 1:26; 2:18) and are fundamentally, relational beings. We are created to be in relationship with God and other people. In that light, we’re to love God with all our might and to love others. (Mark 12:30-31 and 1 Corinthians 15:28)
We are all sinners, and by the grace of G0d, are saved by what Jesus did on the cross. (Romans 5:6-10) Because of this we are a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We are also to become like Christ to the degree we can before our life on earth is ended. (Romans 8:29)
It’s only by the power and guiding of the Holy Spirit within us that we can love God and others and be more Christ-like as God desires to fill us with the fullness of his presence. (1 John 3:2-3 and Ephesians 3:17; 5:18)
And these key aspects of living are to be done in such a way that God is glorified. (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11)
If we can keep this in mind day to day and be guided by regularly reading the Bible and meditating on the truths found there, we will be much more apt be to living out God’s will for our life – our purpose in life.
My prayer for you is that you be drawn closer to God through Jesus by the power and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. In this, may you clearly understand his life purpose and be able to live it. To God be the glory. Amen!
An affirmation for today – “If I don’t stand firmly in my faith, I won’t stand at all.” Isaiah 7:9
Mary Chind of The Des Moines Register was recently awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her photograph above of the heart-stopping moment when a rescuer dangling in a makeshift harness tries to save a woman trapped in the foaming water beneath a dam. The woman, Patricia Ralph-Neely, was saved by a construction worker after her boat went over the Center Street Dam. Her husband, Alan Neely, didn’t make it. He and his wife were in the boat, scouting out a perch on the riverfront for their grand kids to watch the holiday fireworks show. Read more about this incident here.
Chind’s reporting and photography represents the immediacy and urgency of this dramatic rescue.
When I saw this picture for the first time yesterday, my initial thought was that the man’s arm stretching out to rescue the woman is representative of how God reaches out to help us in times of trouble. As well, God patiently reaches out to us to restore us into relationship with himself, despite our faults and shortcomings.
Sometimes we feel like we are drowning in the circumstances that life throws at us because life can be tough. And during those really tough times, it can really be a “Godsend” if someone will reach out to help us. If we listen close enough, we’ll realize that God is reaching out to lend a helping hand.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20
Questions to Reflect On:
Does the photo above, and the idea that God is reaching out to you, strike a chord within you? If so, will you grab his hand?
You and I can experience true and long-lasting joy and an eternally full life because of Jesus’ suffering and death. Jesus tells us the type of joy and blessings we can experience in His Sermon on the Mount.
The above paragraph is an introduction to a post I made on this topic last year during Holy Week. In lieu of writing a new post, I thought it would be wise to point you to last year’s entry on this topic.
Have a wonderful day and be reminded that the One who loves you more than any person died so that you can experience joy and life – to the fullest and eternally.
Many of us enjoy watching what happens on the basketball court during March Madness, the annual NCAA basketball tournament. This year’s tournament, that started on Thursday, has seen several favored teams lose in either the first or second rounds.
Some of you may know that a big upset occurred this past weekend as the 9th seeded Northern Iowa Panthers beat the number 1 seeded Jayhawks of Kansas in a thriller, 69-67. Many sportscasters had Kansas as the favorite to win the overall tournament. President Obama picked Kansas to win as well. However, the young men of Northern Iowa pulled off a big upset.
Today, during an interview of Northern Iowa’s coach, Ben Jacobson, the coach made it a point to say that it’s in the preparation for the game that the game is really won. He made this point three times. He told the folks on CBS who conducted the interview that it’s the practice that prepares his players to be able to play the kind of games that they play. I think most any coach would say the same thing about the importance of the preparation period.
Trials of Life
It’s also in the preparation times of our faith that help us to be able to handle the tough times, the trials, of our lives. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer over three years ago, I wrote an article for the local paper about how my faith was a anchor in this health storm of my life. My faith was able to be an anchor during this storm because it prepared me to cope with the adversity that cancer can bring to one’s life.
My “preparation” was hours of quiet time with God. It was hours spent reading the Bible. It was hundreds of Bible study sessions with my small group of men. It was hundreds of thoughts thinking about God and his nature and his truths. It was hours spent in church listening to pastors teach the Word of God. These things along with many others prepared me to get through my trial.
It’s in these same ways, and many others, in which we all are better prepared to live the game of life that we all find ourselves in. And life certainly can offer many trials, but it’s in the trials of life that we have an opportunity to grow and become better people. It’s in the trials of life that we have an opportunity to grow closer to God.
The more prepared we are for our trials, through living out and practicing a strong faith, the better able we’ll be to handle those trials, just as Northern Iowa was better able to play, and win, their game with Kansas on the basketball court.
Questions to Reflect On:
What was the last big trial in your life that your faith prepared you to endure?
What aspect of your faith helped prepare you the most for this trial?
Scriptures Related to Trials and Preparation
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. Jesus in John 16:33
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7
Over the past few days I’ve been reflecting on how I might simplify the message I’ve been writing and speaking about. My thought has been that the more concise I can articulate this message, the easier it will be to explain to others and for them to understand. With that in mind, I thought I’d share this condensed version with you.
An Inspiring Day
As I’ve pulled this together, all my senses have been engaged. I’ve been sipping on a few cups of great tasting coffee, listening to the trickling of the water in our small fountain, hearing the birds chirp, listening to a playlist of soft, instrumental Christian music on iTunes, feeling the warm spring air as it breezes through an open window, and seeing the bright sun shine on the trees and flowers in the back yard. It’s been quite an inspiring morning and early afternoon!
Understanding the Faith and Health Connection
This is, I believe, the essence of the faith and health connection:
The 2010 Winter Olympics are over. Over the course of 17 days of this year’s competition, Team USA earned 37 medals — the most ever by one country in one Games, besting Germany’s mark of 36 set at Salt Lake. The feat was even more impressive considering it was the first time the U.S. earned the most medals in a Winter Olympics since 1932 at Lake Placid. Germany won 30 medals and Canada, the host country, won 26 total medals.
Medals Made of Recycled Material
And here’s a piece of trivia for you. This year’s 549 medals contained metal from recycled TVs, computers, and keyboards that might have otherwise ended up as e-waste. (More on this here.) I suspect that over a period of enough time, these medals will likely become tarnished.
Physical Conditioning and Discipline
To be good enough to win an Olympic medal, whether it be bronze, silver or gold, takes a tremendous amount of talent, skill and, for most of the events, a high degree of physical conditioning. Preparing for an Olympic competition requires discipline and perseverance. In the end the award that athletes receive is a medal, along with the distinction of being recognized as the world’s best athlete in their respective sport.
“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25
Running the Race of Life
Our life as a Christian is like an Olympic athlete training to win a medal. Whereas the prize for the athlete is a medal, our prizes are at least two-fold.
One prize is the abundant life that we are able to live because we are walking day to day with Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The more disciplined we are at incorporating spiritual exercises into our lives on a daily basis, the more rewarding and fulfilling our life can be. The more we live according to the guidebook that God gives us, the Bible, the sweeter our life can be. God has this “prize” for us on this side of heaven.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that theymay have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Paul encourages the Corinthians to run the race of life with endurance and that the crown we will receive will last forever. He encourages us to press on, to persevere, to endure. As athletes require discipline in physical training and in what they eat to be competitive enough to win an Olympic medal, we must be disciplined in various forms of spiritual exercises to win the crown of a full and abundant life. ( Corinthians 9:24-25 )
The more disciplined and consistent we are in our spiritual exercises, the more abundance we will tend to receive this side of heaven. This is one reason Jesus died on the cross for you and for me.
The other “prize” that God makes available for us is the crown of eternal life that we’ll spend with Jesus after we leave this earth. It becomes available to us when we accept Jesus in our heart as our Savior. Isaiah 35:10 tells us that everlasting joy will crown the heads of those who walk with Jesus in a personal way. Unlike the tarnish that will probably occur with the metal of the Olympic medals, our crown of everlasting life and our joy will continue forever.
I encourage you to be disciplined in applying the principles of the Bible in such a way that you’re experiencing a full and rewarding life – the kind God desires for you. And I pray that you are confident that you’ll live eternally in the presence of God because of a choice you’ve made to invite Jesus into your heart.
A Few Questions to Consider
What disciplines in your life contribute most to your level of spiritual fitness?
Are you experiencing an abundant life in the way Jesus has made it available for you?
What spiritual exercises could you incorporate into your life to give you a more full life?
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Running and Life
Beliefs and Your Life
This week, the East coast of the states will be experiencing record high temperatures. Health experts will recommend that people living there should drink lots of water to replace what they lose trying to stay cool through perspiration. Yes, that is excellent advice for our physical health and well being. The human body is about 60% water in adult males and 55% in adult females. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight. Blood contains almost 70% water, body fat contains 10% water and bone has about 22% water.
After I have been working in the yard on a hot day, I’ll typically go to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water to quench my physical thirst and to replace the water I’ve lost through sweating. Drinking pure water is probably the best way to satisfy the need to rehydrate physically. But what about satisfying spiritual needs?
You and I can experience true and long-lasting joy and an eternally full life because of Jesus’ suffering and death. Jesus tells us the type of joy and blessings we can experience in 
Over the past few days I’ve been reflecting on how I might simplify the message I’ve been writing and speaking about. My thought has been that the more concise I can articulate this message, the easier it will be to explain to others and for them to understand. With that in mind, I thought I’d share this condensed version with you.
The 2010 Winter Olympics are over. Over the course of 17 days of this year’s competition, Team USA earned 37 medals — the most ever by one country in one Games, besting Germany’s mark of 36 set at Salt Lake. The feat was even more impressive considering it was the first time the U.S. earned the most medals in a Winter Olympics since 1932 at Lake Placid. Germany won 30 medals and Canada, the host country, won 26 total medals.
To be good enough to win an Olympic medal, whether it be bronze, silver or gold, takes a tremendous amount of talent, skill and, for most of the events, a high degree of physical conditioning. Preparing for an Olympic competition requires discipline and perseverance. In the end the award that athletes receive is a medal, along with the distinction of being recognized as the world’s best athlete in their respective sport.
