It must be friday!

Running Update:
February- 70.3 miles in 11:32:03
9.84 m/mile pace

Year- 123.3 miles in 20:41:33
10.07 m/mile pace

Summary:
I've run almost 1 day in 60.
120 miles is the distance from my house to Rocky Mt., North Carolina or almost from here to Fredericksburg, VA.

Things that concern me #1: I have no idea how long this list will be but I'm just going to start with #1 and we'll see how long this list goes. Not many things concern me but I'm sure there are more than I'd like to believe. Some might concern you to some you might think I'm silly about- like antiques, they concern me. But I digress.

#1: So I'm sitting down to enjoy my friday afternoon. I turn on the tv and then scan the recorded shows on the dvr. Among some of my favorites like Around the Horn and Monk and some of Nathan's like Backyardigans and Deigo I find...WALKER TEXAS RANGER. Heather has some explaining to do when she gets home... now you know why I'm concerned!

Full Report: Here is a link to the full report of the cnn article I posted about yesterday. It's interesting to get to the meat of the report. I'm looking for the video clip that I saw on cnn this morning about this article but so far no luck. If you find it let me know.

Full Report

CNN Reports: I don't think anyone that reads this blog will find this news report shocking but it's worth passing on to you.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/25/religion.survey.ap/index.html

Quote: "The American religious economy is like a marketplace -- very dynamic, very competitive," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum. "Everyone is losing, everyone is gaining. There are net winners and losers, but no one can stand still. Those groups that are losing significant numbers have to recoup them to stay vibrant."

Quote: One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.

I think this article speaks more of the lack of commitment of 18 to 29 year olds rather than mass exodus from the faith. Most people I speak to believe in God but fewer want to commit to something that requires sacrifice, commitment and is not self-serving.

8.3 miles- DONE!

100 Mile: Well, I did it. One hundred miles so far in 2008.

No more crying: Nathan was sick from Friday to Monday. We took him to the doctor and she couldn't tell us anything. He complained of a sore throat but didn't have a fever, there was no vomiting; just a grouchy almost 3 year old and lots of stress for his parents. All weekend this went on and the most frustrating thing is knowing your child is hurting but not being able to make him fell better. He would say "make me feel better" or "fix it". And we would just have to tell him we couldn't.

Then this morning hit and I noticed there was something odd about the sound of our house. It took me a few minutes to figure out what it was- Nathan was laughing! He's normally such a happy kid and I'm glad he's back!


8 mile: Yesterday I set a new personal record. I ran 8 miles straight. Actually it was 8.3 miles (math doesn't go so well after about 6 miles hence the extra .3 miles. I found it beneficial to ice down the knees after the run to prevent swelling; it worked and the knees feel great today.


100 mile: Tomorrow I plan to run 5 miles; normally I would only run 4 on wednesday but if I can do five I will have run 100 miles in 2008.


Unconventional: Dear Church! You know lives don't come with handbooks and if they did or if yours did I'm assuming it's wrong in almost every way. I find that the ministry of The Bridge and my pastoring The Bridge doesn't come with a handbook either.

So many times on Sunday or on Monday morning I'll get the desire to contact the church. I don't need to chat with everyone but just relay a little information to them. Sometimes Sunday afternoons or Monday's God will reveal to me what he's doing at the Church and I want to share that with those that make it up. While possibly slightly unconventional this monday I wrote the church an email. Here's what it said.

Dear Church,
I was thinking this morning that sometimes when Sunday is over I wish I had a way to connect with all of you. I'm often reminded during the week that most of what happens in our week DOESN'T happen on Sunday.

Then it dawned on me that I do have a way to connect with you and while semi-impersonal it's better than nothing.

First of all let me give you the words of praise! Going into this new year I had a God-given impression to set goals for us both physically, financially and spiritually. We all came together at B360 and you heard that vision. I felt impressed to articulate these goals to you because we never want to be a church that just exists but we desire to be a church that is going in the direction God has called us. In short we never want to be stagnant but moving.

Praise #1- our attendance is increasing!
Praise #2- for the 2nd time this month we exceeded our weekly bottom line financially. Yesterday's offering was $180 ABOVE what we're trusting God for weekly!
Praise #3- perhaps I'm biased but I know God is working in our hearts as individuals and as a church. He is drawing us closer to himself!

Prayer: With praises comes prayer and with God's working comes trials, tribulations and attacks from the enemy. I want to ask you to pray for my family during this time and I will commit to praying for yours. As I mentioned in the message yesterday Nathan has been feeling bad for most of the weekend. It dawned on me last night that some of his discomfort is likely spiritual attacks and with some dreams Heather has been having that was conformed. It only makes sense that while we are progressing as a church the enemy will attack us where we are weakest- often through our health and our children. I also know that this next month with the birth of our new little boy, Seth, that there will be additional trials.

So please pray for my family and pray for yourselves, pray prayers of protection. What God is doing through us is exciting and what he has planned for us... I can't even imagine!

Blessings and have a great week!

Thanks: [begin sarcasm] Just wanted to thank all of our elected politicians who are spending so much time on the Baseball Steroids case that is going on right now. I can't think of a more important issue to deal with in the US than steroid use among professional baseball players. What I'm most impressed with is the attention to detail and the passion these representatives are giving toward this important issue.

I should also thank Congressman Specter for investigating the whole "spygate" incident with the Patriots spying on the Jets last season.

Sounds like a good use of taxpayers money if you ask me!

[end sarcasm...for now]

And the Place was Shaken by John Franklin. Typically I revolt against books like this. They are against my very being. I should address why first. I hate "how to" guides on things of spiritual discipline. I hate giving advice like that and I hate being given advice like that.

However I know that God is making a movement of prayer happen at The Bridge and frankly I want to be an influential part of this movement. I can feel the winds of revival blowing in our hearts and I know that God is going to use prayer. So I read this book and it's a very good guide of adding creative and important elements to prayer meetings. I know that much of this will look different simply because we're a different sort of church but God is God and we'll pray to him- this book was a great base.

Runner's World Complete Book of Running by Amby Burfoot. Not much to explain if you're not into running. This book was indeed a complete book of running. But even you have to see the comedic value of the editor of the book being named Amby BurFOOT.

Mourning: In just a few minutes the last down of NFL football will take place. I know it will return but still it causes sadness in my heart. I've got march madness just around the corner and then...
drought.

Run: Today I had the afternoon and I was feeling pretty good so I thought I'd go out and enjoy the spring like weather while it lasted. I checked the weather and saw that the wind was blowing about 30 mph with gusts of up to 42 mph. Those numbers meant nothing to me before my run. After my 5.2 mile run they mean much more. Running into the wind was like running up hill. Running with the wind to my side was like running and getting pushed every coupe of strides (this is no fun while running beside a road). Running with the wind to my back was equally fun sort of like running with a wind sail.

But I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed the challenge- that's what matters.

Nathan: I'm sure any parent of a 2 (almost 3 year old) will tell you that their kid makes them laugh all the time and I'm no different. I wanted to write down a few stories before too much time goes by and I miss the opportunity.

In October Heather, Nathan and I were driving down to North Carolina for a family vacation. We made our first gas stop a few hours from home and Heather said she'd like to get something to eat. The closest place was bojangles so we pulled into the drive through. Heather was telling me what she wanted and right as the guy says "can I take your order?" completely out of no where Nathan yells from his car seat in the back to the guy taking orders "I want chicken nuggets".

____________________

Around Christmas time Nathan was sitting at the table coloring and I was in the living room getting some stuff done. I made it very clear to Nathan that crayons were only for paper and not the table or the floor. Suddenly I noticed it had been quiet in the other room, which is never good with a 2 year old. I walk into the room to see him sitting under the table coloring our nice wood floors. I took the crayons from him and said "Nathan I'm going to clean this up and if it comes off the floor you won't be punished but if it doesn't I'm going to have to punish you." I grab the cleaner and I'm scrubbing the floor while Nathan looks at me with hope. Then the starts yelling "Go dad go!"

Children of The Bridge: Our church meets in a bowling alley. We like to call it up scale family bowling center but it's a bowling alley. Perfect for our needs but 6.75 days a week it's a bowling alley, bar, putt putt course and pool hall. It's also a very obvious building that most of the young children in the church pass with their parent's on a regular basis. I've heard stories and can't tell you how many times we'll be driving and Nathan will say "look there's our church. Can we go?" I'll tell him that none of our church friends will be there and that sits ok with him.

Other kids can't understand why there are people at their church and they aren't there. I just find the whole situation humorous. I can see them in kindergarten saying to their friend. Hey that's our church. The other kid replies, no it's not that's a bowling alley. No that's my church. Poor confused kids.

Windy: The weather here is about 70 degrees right now and today the high will be a amazing 77. It's an incredible February day. The wind is blowing. I know what that means. The wind means that tomorrow the weather is going to be nothing like it was today. Wind around here means that the weather is changing. If you don't believe me got to weather.com and type in my zip code 23435. See it's going to be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow than it is today. Then go to the 10 day and you'll see that the weather will even out and then on Sunday it's going to be windy again and again the weather is going to change.

The wind means change- at least around here.

There's a wind blowing in the church right now and I know that it means change. Change generally means adversity but adversity means good things. Amazing how that works. I've felt the breeze blowing since the start of this year and I have felt it's effects. Sometimes it's hard to keep moving in the wind but I know it means good things to come. Blow wind blow!

To illustrate my point (we all love pictures don't we?) I attached a picture of wind.

The Richest Man in Town by V.J. Smith. This book was passed to me by a friend. Books that are recommened to me are one thing; books that are handed to me usually get read. I read this book in about 45 minutes and there while there isn't much mass to it there is much to glean.

I don't even want to describe it. Ok, I'll try. It's about "Marty" a seventy something year old man that works at wal-mart. He changed lives.

The Richest Man in Town

Wrong!: Ever been wrong before? Happened to me once. See below post for confirmation.

Super Bowl: I think the most absurd thing I heard about the score of this super bowl is 31-28 Giants.

Let's all stop pretending. Pats by 18.

35-17 Patriots

Dialogue: This is from "Tom" your first myspace friend: Check out what Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul have to say LIVE in today's Super Dialogue. Watch and ask the candidates your questions LIVE on myspace.com/election2008 at 3pmPST/6pm EST. Today, you get to ask the questions and interact with the candidates one final time before Super Tuesday!

Dialogue: funny word isn't it. defined as: a conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play or movie.

I think we like the word dialogue because it's less intrusive. If you're in a dialogue with someone and you don't like what they say you can just disregard it as not your opinion and you leave none the worse for wear. There's no harm in a dialogue...after all it's only a movie, book or play.

Mark Driscoll said this originally and I keep coming back to it in my thoughts. Dialogue seems harmless until we consider the garden of eden; the first sin stemmed from a dialogue between woman and the serpent.

Race: I ran in my second 5k today- the Norfolk 5k and half-marathon. Technically it was my third, the first I did walking and the last two running. Thanksgiving was my first running and I finished in 28.43 today I ran a much colder 5k and finished in 26.23. I was happy to improve by 2 minutes and 20 seconds; most of all I really felt I pushed myself the right amount- man I love racing.

Line up for the next few months is a 5k on April 5 and a 10k on April 26 and one at the end of May.

I might need to get a second job to cover race entrance fees but between racing and giving blood I have a ever growing t-shirt collection; some better than others.