What Defines You?

26.2!  

I did it! (though not as fast or with as much finesse as I would have liked).  Over the past year running has been a big part of my life and has been part of what defines me as a person.  If you were asked to talk about me, running would most likely be part of that.

How else would you define me?   Die hard Steeler fan?  Hopefully you would add "Devoted husband and father" and  "Committed follower of Christ"  The definitions you use and the order that you use them say a lot about who I am more than what I can say about myself, because that is what I show to others as being the priorities in my life.  If I said I was a "runner" but all you ever saw me do was eat junk food and sit in front of the TV all day would you believe me?

The early Christians did not just call themselves "Christians".  That was a name given to them by others which meant "little Christs".  People saw Christ in them, in their actions, and defined them as being like Christ.  Wow!

When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)  Acts 11:26

What do they see in me?  or you?

Run On!

By the way – the running isn’t over – and neither is the blog.  Stay tuned for further posts.

The Knees are Strong!

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Hebrews 12:12-13

I have been wanting to run the Pittsburgh Marathon for a long time.  It’s my home town, has been a popular marathon, and more than once, an Olympic qualifier (not that I’d have a chance, but cool nonetheless).  After finishing my last marathon (the Air Force Marathon) in 2003 I had hoped to run the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2004.  But due to losing its primary sponsor,  it was suspended until 2009.  During that time period, well, life got busy with 3 trips to China and 3 new family members.  So running, obviously,  became less important.  But, in 2009 it was time to train.  I signed up for the Pittsburgh Marathon and began getting ready.  Two months later I was in too much pain to continue training, and based on x-rays and an MRI on my right knee was told that running (and marathons) are not in my future.  The swelling was pretty convincing too.  A few years and many pounds later I was convinced I needed to do something.  Last April (2011), inspired by the running of my brother and his wife, I beseeched (biblical term meaning desperately pleaded!)  the Lord to begin running again and vowed to run to get back in shape unless the knees failed to cooperate.

It is over 1 year and  approximately 1,000 miles later and 3 days before the Pittsburgh Marathon and my knees feel as good as ever!  And God needs to get the glory!

The knees are strong!

These last few months as I’ve trained for the marathon have been some of my most stressful ever.  Losing my brother Greg, who was (and still is) an inspiration for running this marathon was hard to accept.  He looked forward to this upcoming weekend as much, if not more, than me.  He is greatly missed, but I’m sure he is enjoying his new home in heaven.

Work has also been stressful.  During this time I’ve had several members in my department fall ill and have either undergone surgery or soon to have surgery.  One coworker passed away as a complication form surgery.  Not to mention that this is also one of our busiest times of the year. 

In addition there has been numerous church related and kid related activities (soccer, basketball, baseball), partnering with my wife as we (she mostly) began homeschooling), and other family health issues and activities. 

So it has taken quite a bit to get to this point with 26.2 miles yet to run. 

But the knees are strong!

Over the past year I had committed to being in God’s Word, the Bible, every day.  For the past 400 days I have kept that commitment.  On most of those days I have also been faithful to engage God in prayer.  Those times, more that running, has sustained me and kept me going.  I like the Bob Carlisle song that says

“When you see me on my knees, it’s not because I’m weak, I’m getting stronger!”   God has sustained me even in the stressful times.

The knees are strong!

I don’t know what Sunday will be like but I look forward to running with my sister-in-law, Lynn, and niece Shelly. I look forward to running through the neighborhoods of my home city.  I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of my wife and daughters at the finish line.

I look forward to teaching my kids to run with Jesus and how to rely on Him and strengthen their knees and someday cross the finish line and receive the prize as Jesus says “Well done!”.  I look forward to seeing Greg again!

The knees are strong!  Are yours?

Run on!

Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers  and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
    as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
 Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”