Well I managed a finish at the Chicago marathon. That is all it was. My right leg really started to sieze on me around mile 19 so I pretty much walked in from there. It was a gorgeous day for the marathon in Chicago.A nice cool 30 something degress at the start and never warming to above 45 degress. Absolutely perfect weather for running. It would have been a day to do well if I had been better prepared. It was great to see all the runners for Team World Vision at the charity village and then see the signature orange shirts along the race route. i really enjoyed Chicago. The miracle mile is one of the most beautiful stretches of architecture in the world in my opinion.The only downside of the trip was going alone. Kind of sad sitting by Buckingham fountain after the race on the walk back to the hotel. The days after the run have been miserable. Today is the first real day I have been able to focus on anything. Haven’t blogged in forever. Will start back on my memorization project on Monday.

Reflections on 1st John

Vs5: “But whoever keeps His word the love of God is perfected in Him.By this we know we are in Him.”

Throughout the letter the primary evidence of knowing and walking with God is love for others.You can’t claim to love God and not love others.This is a process though. As we keep the word and are in the word our love of God and others grows.

Running Reflection

Just completed what is called a digital footprint for the Chicago marathon. The footprint helps raise money for the charity you may be running for. We all leave “footprints” where ever we go. I hope I am leaving some good footprints along life’s path.We are his feet to walk with!

Today’s Run

Took the Day off from running.

Reflections on 1st John

vs4 “if we say we know him and do not keep his command then we are a liar and the truth is not in us”

I really have nothing to add to that. Pretty harsh indictment.Life isn’t about claiming to know Him based on knowledge alone. It is knowing Him based on knowing and  DOING His word.

Running Reflection

It’s Monday and I’m behind on stuff.I will try to have something by Wednesday in way of a running reflection. The scripture memory part of this “experiment” is actually doing better then trying to blog something everyday.Find myself playing catch up on trying to keep this current and somewhat meaningful.

Todays Run

Ran 3 miles in my neighborhood.Just didn’t have anything today most be the Monday blues.Last good day I’ve had was Saturday. Have felt the blaws ever since.

Reflections on 1st John

vs 3: “and this is how we may know that we know him if we keep His commandments.”

Pretty straightforward objective test of how we can say we know Christ. To know His commandments we have to read them and then do them. I know in my life I often try to rationalize away the clearness of what Christ calls for, because quite frankly I don’t like His requirements on certain things.I’m reminded of Mark Twain who said, “it isn’t the parts of the Bible I don’t understand that bother me it is the parts I do.” I agree.

Running Reflection

Seems loike every time I attend group worship one thought keeps hitting me.I don’t know why it happens more in that setting then others but it does. The thought is this,at some point in life I have to Run Across America and my time is wasting away. I’ll keep praying about this and why is is such a strong desire of my heart.

Today’s Run

A very easy 25 min. jog today with the men I’m coaching at the Salvation Army. Very warm and muggy.A few men were out today doing a skit at a local church.I gave one of the guys a ride across town after coaching.We had a good talk. He opened my heart to the fact that is is broken people who care about others, not those who have it all together. He ministered to my soul.

Reflections on 1st John

vs2: and He is the propitiation for our sins, but not for ours only for the whole world 

A strange word propitiation. Makes memorizing the vs. easier though.It means Christ is the payment in place of our sins.We don’t suffer the penalty of our sin because he took it on himself.Not really sure why John added for the whole world.I’ll look into that when i take up the commentary reading. I looked at a couple of commentaries this weekend. Man I had forgotten how dry and boring are the ramblings of psuedo scholars.Hope I can find a couple that are relevant to the realities of living in a hard world.I could care less about the gnostics of John’s day and the date the letter was written.Great cure for insomnia . 

Running Reflection

Well less then a week until the Chicago marathon.I’m thinking hard about why I am running this particular marathon.I’ll be running with a team of people who are acting in a concrete way to put their faith into action. They will be doing good on a Sunday for others. In a way they will be used as agents of healing lives on the Sabbath.So I will miss “church” on the “sabbath” and worship with an act of Chrit likeness next Sunday.

Todays Run

Ran 8 miles today at a very easy 11 min. mile pace. Felt good about todays run. Hope the first 11 miles of the marathon goes as smoothly.

Reflections on 1st John

Chapter2

vs1:”My little children,these things I write to you so that you might not sin, and if anyone sins we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous one.”

The goal of the letter is for those who John is writing to to quit sinning. John knows though that all people sin so that necessitates a way to handle that reality. Christ pleads our case as our sin accuses us. He is qualified to do this because he is THE righteous one. No one else is righteous of themselves. We are only right with God through Christ.

Todays Run 

No run today. A friend invited me to play in a charity golf tournament in Waco. A fun time with some great men.

Reflections on 1st John

vs10: If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

This is the end of Chapter one.I keep reviewing and I think i might actually have a chapter memorized. To deny sin is evidence that we don’t believe what God says about our natural condition. It also evidences that we aren,t allowing his word in us. The word here could very well mean the presence of Jesus himself not just the written word.I’ll bring that up to my mens study group on Monday night and get some feedback.

Running Reflection

Been a tough week. Just don’t have much to say right now on this. My heart is really heavy as I think about my friend Dan and his fight with all his health issues and now diagnosed with ALS. maybe I’ll be in a better mood after the weekend.

Todays Run

Ran an easy 3 miles tonight. Still nervous about Chicago.Have a golf tournament tomorrow so probably won’t have time to run.