Aug
19
2010
Running and Life
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?
Jul
10
2010
It was a year ago this week that I last laced up a new pair of running shoes. That is until earlier today.
On July 9th of 2009, I made a blog entry about running shoes and the bible being two pieces of fitness equipment that I most frequently use. The Nike Air Max shoes I blogged about then and that I have enjoyed using for a little less than a year blew a tire so to speak. Two of the ‘air bubbles’ burst and this resulted in reduced cushioning. My daughter urged me to return them to Nike with a request for a replacement pair. The replacement shoes arrived this morning. The runner in me felt compelled to lace them up and take them for a spin… a slow four mile run along my favorite rural route. So, I then grabbed my iPod and headed out the door.
As usual, my thoughts wandered to many topics while I was running. One thing I thought about was walking. I wondered how many years of running I still had in my knees and ankles. I turn 60 later this year and have been running since I was 16. Thankfully, I made a conscious decision about 15 years ago to pull way back on my running in hopes that I’d be able to keep at it longer than I would otherwise. Who knows, God willing I’ll be able to run throughout my 60′s into my 70′s!
I’ve been meaning to blog about walking with God for a while and on the run, I was inspired to do it today.
The Bible tells us that Noah and Enoch both walked with God. It doesn’t say they ran with God… but walked with him. It’s interesting isn’t it? The picture we imagine in our minds of walking with God is certainly different than of running with God. Running suggests a quicker, more hurried pace. Walking suggests a slower, more relaxed and intentional pace.
David gives his account of walking with God in Psalm 56:13.
“For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light.” Psalm 56:13
What does it meant to walk with God? There are two spiritual exercises that come to mind. One is that we will obey him. The other is that we will be in his presence.
Noah was obedient to God when he built the ark. By his obedience, his family was saved and the entire human was was able to continue here on earth. (See Genesis 6:8-9) Talk about the importance of following God! If you want to be reminded of the value of God’s commandments and of following them, read Psalm 119. In almost every verse in the chapter, we are reminded of why God’s instructions to us are important.
When we are walking with God, when we are obeying his guidelines, we are also living a Holy life.
“And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.” Isaiah 35:8
To walk with God is to be obedient to him and his ways.
When we know that we are in God’s presence, we are in a special place spiritually. Lingering in God’s presence while reading the Bible, or praying, or listening to inspiring music, or by walking outside in nature is a great place to be in. The more I sense his presence, the stronger I feel spiritually. Being in God’s presence enables me to better handle the difficult times and bumpy roads that come my way. As David writes in the Psalm above, walking in God’s presence gives us life.
Another image I have when I think of walking is a path, not unlike the picture I have added in this post. A path is a way we take to get from one place to another. This reminds me that there is one path, one way, to God in heaven – to be assured of an eternal life. Jesus tells us what path to take in John 16:6 – “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It’s pretty clear here that the only way to be connected with God the Father is through his Son, Jesus.
Finally, the last book of the Bible tells us of an outcome of “walking in God’s way” on earth. We will walk with God in heaven.
“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Revelation 3:4-5
I don’t know about you, but I want to be walking with God in as many ways as I can. There sure are numerous benefits while we are on earth. And, I want to be dressed in white walking with God in heaven some day. 
Questions to Reflect On:
Are you walking with God?
Are you running such a fast-paced life that you don’t leave time for personal time with God?
Helpful Resources:
Article – His Instruction Manual: Our Guidebook for a Healthy Life
Article – Get FITT Spiritually and Physically
Article – An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises
Other Blog Entries About Running
Jun
03
2010
Spiritual Fitness and Couch Potatoes
I’ve been reading the daily devotionals the magazine from InTouch Ministries for over 10 years. Below is an excerpt of an article by Robert Bruce titled Confessions of a Couch Potato from this month’s issue.
“The most important thing I’ve learned since starting this (running and fitness) journey is that my health and my faith are not part of two separate worlds. For most of my life, I’ve pretty much eaten whatever I wanted and lived a fairly inactive lifestyle—all while trying to be a “good Christian.” I never saw the connection between physical fitness and faith, though the two are inextricably linked. Paul said that our bodies are temples designed to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). In other words, the way we manage our physical health affects our spiritual well-being.”
In the article, Bruce shares how he embarked on becoming fit through becoming a long distance runner. I was able to relate well to his comments because I have been running since I was in high school for over 40 years. More importantly I appreciated his insight into the connection between his health and his faith, as that is the focus of my writings and speaking.
Running is probably not the right choice of physical activity for everyone, but it’s one vehicle you can use to take good care of your physical health. The important thing is that we do something on a regular basis to move our bodies… to care for the temple that they are for God’s Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
So, go move your body. Go for a walk. Then read Bruce’s entire article on page 26 of this pdf file in the June 2010 issue of InTouch Magazine.
Questions for Reflection on Spiritual Fitness
How physically fit are you?
How spiritually fit are you?
How well are you caring for and honoring your body, the temple of God’s Spirit?
Spiritual Fitness Resources
Article – Get FITT Spiritually and Physically
Article – Spirituality and Health – Understanding the Connection
Web Page – Spiritual Exercises and Spiritual Fitness Assessment
Mar
01
2010
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 they may 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?
Where will you spend eternity after you die?
Additional Resources for Running the Race of Life
Article from this Ministry – An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises… for a Healthier Life
Website Page from this Ministry – Spiritual Exercises and a Spiritual Fitness Assessment
Website – How to be assured of an eternal life with God.
Website Page from this Ministry – Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
Jan
13
2010
Why do I exercise?
It makes me feel better.
It helps me manage my stress.
It helps me control my weight.
I like the way I feel after I shower and dress.
It helps me think more clearly.
It energizes me.
It helps me take better care of my body, God’s temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
It keeps me fit so I can do other things that require a degree of fitness.
I enjoy being outside when I run.
Perhaps you have made a resolution to become more fit or to be more consistent with exercise. Over the years as I’ve worked with many, many other people to help them with their physical activity regimen, I’ve seen that the more important the benefits they received from exercising the more likely they were to keep at it.
As you head into 2010, and if being physically active is important to you, I’d urge you to take a few minutes and make a list of the reasons why you’d like to be more physically active and more fit. Put on this list the reasons that are very personal to you as I have done above. Then you might consider checking off the top three reasons why you’d like to be more consistent with physical activity and focus on these most significant benefits. It may also be helpful to review the level of importance that these benefits are her to you. The more important they are to you and the greater value you place on them, the more likely they will truly be a motivation for you to exercise.
Now, get in that workout ……….. and make it a great day!
Aug
07
2009
Monterey, California - 1981
Today I went for a short run before the summer heat and humidity rose too much. The forecast high in Charlotte is 93. On many of my runs I get ideas for my posts on my blog and that was the case today.
The thought popped into my mind that I have been running over 40 years. It’s actually been 42 years as I started in the 10th grade in Atlanta, Georgia. Through high school, prep school, college and then for a time afterwords, I enjoyed success as a long distance runner… the longer the distance the more competitive I was. My last major run in a competition was the Louisville Marathon in 1985. Since that time, I’ve run primarily to stay healthy, fit and manage my stress. I also enjoy it.
As my thoughts during my run continued, I wondered how many miles I might have run over the years. I suspected that I could come up with a pretty good estimate because I kept good records when I was competing in school and afterwords for a while. When I finished my run, showered and ate, I went upstairs to pull my running logs off the shelf of my bookcase. I used 3-ring spiral notebooks, typically using one page to log my running efforts during each week.
High School Running Log
Looking over the notebooks revealed some neat facts and memories. On Sunday, September 1, 1968, I ran my 1000th mile. During three years of high school, I logged 1,914 miles. The most covered in one day was 18 and the most in a week was 60. At West Point, I ran during cross country, indoor and outdoor track. At the peak of my competitiveness, I was averaging close to 8 miles/day and on Thursday, December 13th, 1973, I passed the 10,000 mile mark!
Over the last 25 years or so, my runs have been about 2-3 miles and I’ve gotten out two or three times a week. By my calculations, I have covered approximately 39,000 miles over these last 42 years. Wow! I had no idea. I am amazed that my joints, especially my knees, have held out. It’s a good thing that I have not continued with the competitive running. I can’t imagine that my knees would still be hanging in there if that was the case.
I have had a major shift in my overall motivation for working out and staying in shape in the last handful of years. It’s so that I can stay healthy which helps me better do the work that God calls me to do. I know that I am more alert, have more energy and can stay better focused when I work out on a regular basis. Keeping fit also contributes to reducing my chances of the many lifestyle-related diseases that could set in and hamper my efforts to do things for God.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 that “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Certainly, it is a miracle in itself that God designed the human body so that it could run 39,000 miles and more over a lifetime. He has put our bodies together in unimaginable ways. My Heart has beaten at least 1.8 trillion times over the last 58 years. Imagine that! Another miracle.
In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 we are reminded by Paul “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.” (New Living Translation – First Edition)
Personalized License Plate
Clearly there is much benefit to being physically fit, but it is even more important to be spiritually fit. Spiritual exercises like reading the Bible, praying, surrendering to God, serving others and forgiving others are all important aspects of one’s spiritual fitness program.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to run the race that God has set before us and we are to do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. (See Hebrews 12:1-2) In the middle of the 12th chapter, we are encouraged to mark out a straight path for our feet so those who follow us will not stumble and fail but will become strong.
I’m thankful to God that I’m still able to enjoy my short runs and that while I am on them, He gives me the inspiration and creativity from which I can share spiritual truths with my readers. I’m also thankful that He has given me the ‘work’ to encourage others of the faith to “remain on a straight path.” I pray that He is also using me to share the Gospel with those who do not know Him.
In the ‘race’ of your life, don’t give up. Stay the course. If you are a believer, others are watching you and many need to experience the love of Jesus that flows through you. Go deeper in your faith. If you don’t know God in a personal way and are looking for spiritual strength to help you cope with the stressors of life, consider accepting Jesus into your heart and receive His strength, peace and joy.
Questions to Ask Yourself
What ‘work’ has God called you to do? Is your health an obstacle for doing this ‘work?’
How spiritually fit are you? Are you engaged in meaning spiritual exercises throughout each week?
Do you have real peace, joy and hope because you experience Jesus’ love?
Related Material I’ve Written on Spiritual Fitness and The Connection
Article – An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises
Article – Assessing Your Spiritual Fitness
Article – Surrender: A Spiritual Exercise For a Healthier Life
Web Page – 18 Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life
Scriptural Basis for the Faith and Health Connection Ministry
“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.” Galatians 5:6-8
Jul
09
2009
Adidas Rom Running Shoe
I’ve been running for about 42 years and my estimate is that during that time, I’ve probably broken in a new pair of shoes about every two years. Using that logic, my guess is that I’ve run through more than 21 pairs of shoes. Who knows. The number could be much higher. Earlier this week, I began breaking in my latest pair of shoes during the summer’s heat. I’ve always thought that breaking in a new pair of shoes was a neat thing to do and I thought it would be fun to capture the experience in a post. So, here’s a brief look back at a bit of my running shoe history and a connection between these shoes and my Christian faith. Read more of this article »
Apr
20
2009
Imagine running for over 2 and 1/2 hours in a competitive race and coming in second – one second behind the winner. That’s what happened in the running of the 2009 Boston Marathon in the women’s division.
Salina Kosgei won the race in 2:32:16. The second place finisher was Dire Tune. American Kara Goucher was third. In the men’s race, Deriba Merga won in 2:08:42. An American, Ryan Hall placed third – the best American finish in many years.
I hope that in the running of the most important race of your life – your spiritual race – that you are not doubting whether or not you will win a prize at the end of the race.
Hebrews 12:1-4 encourages us to run our race of faith – from start to finish – with our eyes set on Jesus. If we do that… run our race of life with Jesus, then we are assured of receiving the prize of eternal life. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 tells us that we will receive a crown of righteousness and that Jesus will present it to us. This award – this prize – is available to each person that eagerly awaits Jesus to return because they know that upon that day, they will enter into heaven with Him – and they will win their race. In this race, all who believe in Jesus will receive the best prize – eternal life!
Are you running the race of life with Jesus? I hope so. This is certainly one race that you don’t want to finish second in.
Aug
28
2008
A few days ago I was listening to Johnny Cash’s song, “I Walk the Line”, while I was running. One of the lines in the song is “Keep a close watch on this heart of mine.” It reminded me of several scriptures:
- Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.”
- Proverbs 14:30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones.”
- Proverbs 15 :13 – “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”
- Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
From a spiritual perspective, our heart is the deepest part of our being. It perhaps includes our soul and our spirit. It’s clear by what we read in scripture that God advises, in fact he commands us, to take care of matters of the heart. Certainly Johnny Cash knew that, and God wants us to know that too.
How do we take care of our heart? We guard against things that are not of God. We resist the lies that the evil one speaks into our mind. We spend time reading God’s Word so that His truth can sink deep into our spirit and soul – our heart. As we understand His truth by reading the Word, we do our very best to live our lives in accordance with His guidelines and His truth. We monitor our behaviors, our thoughts and what we say. We take an honest look, on a periodic basis, deep into our heart, to see if there is any aspect of our heart that is not in alignment with God.
Having any bitterness or unforgiveness in our heart certainly is not of God. If somebody has hurt you in the past, if you are upset with God or you haven’t forgiven yourself concerning an issue of your life, your heart is probably not right with either God, yourself or another person. God would want us to take this issue to Him prayerfully so that we don’t carry this burden in our heart. Doing this frees us up on the inside so that more of God’s Spirit can control us.
Yes, our heart is the wellspring of all life. It is at the deepest level of our heart that God lives in us with His Holy Spirit. He does not want to share space with anything that’s not good, pure and holy. Is your heart pure? Is your heart full of peace, joy and love? I hope so, because when that’s the case, God’s spirit certainly can be alive in you to the fullest. Consequently, your life will probably be healthier because of it. You’ll also be a better example for others who observe you as you live this life.
Take good care of your heart….and have an awesome day!!
See more scriptures about the heart
Aug
16
2008
We’re about half way through the Olympics and I don’t know about you but my competitive juices begin to stir up from my old distance running days. 
I just wish there were more live finals televised of more of the running events.
I’ve come across a few web sites that have listed Olympic athletes who are professing Christians and thought that you’d want to know about them as well. One site is at Christianity Today and another is at Sharing the Victory Magazine.
