Runner's Log 5-17-05

Wow was I tired today. Good run yesterday morning, hour and a half of testing in martial arts in early evening, and then a weight lifting circuit after that for upper body. Safe to say I crashed pretty hard last night. Got up this morning. Went a little shorter due to fatigue. Only 6 miles at 6:20/mile. I am glad to be training this way in the mornings. It is harder to hit my goal paces in the am rather than 5-6 pm. I'm not by nature a morning person, even less a morning runner. Run went well, but it was good to be finished and relax today. Tomorrow is a workout. Should be a good one!

But Seek First The Kingdom of Heaven....

Solomon has pegged our modern society well. Let's face it, most of us are taught that if we work hard and compete fiercely enough, we'll make it to the top of our profession and there we'll find relaxation, peace, contentment and happiness.

But the truth is that if we're not content and satisfied where we are, then we'll never be satisfied. When we look up the pyramid of success and examine the lives of those at the top, do we really find many happy, carefree people? Not at all. If we listen long enough, we'll hear their whines of loneliness, disillusionment, and despair.

If we're going to avoid an emotional and philosophical crisis as we look back over our life's pursuits, now is the time to sit back and ask ourselves that question: Why am I doing this?
- Chuck Swindoll

New Commandment

THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY by Glenn Miller
May 2005

Agape Dynamics

GOD'S WORD: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

Something I notice about the above verse is that it is a command. It is not a suggestion or a plea or a "pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top" request. It is a command; something that is REQUIRED and EXPECTED from the one in authority. In my childhood understanding and a good part of my adulthood, I've seen this verse as something more of a guideline rather than an expectation. But if it is a command, then I need to take a more severe look at my life and benchmark my actions against it.

If I am to love others as Jesus loves me, I would not see others as better or worse in the kingdom. Jesus doesn't.

If I am to love others as Jesus loves me, I would be quicker to forgive those who have wronged me. Jesus did and does.

If I am to love others as Jesus loves me, my discipleship would not be filtered by comfort and convenience. Jesus' didn't.

If I am to love others as Jesus loves me, I would put others' needs above my own. Jesus did, on the Cross.

If the Cross is anything, it is not a symbol of death or defeat or dejection, but a sign that still calls out to you and to me to "Love one another...as I have loved you!"

Let's take up our crosses, my friend,...AND LOVE!

Reproduction permitted for non-commercial use only. Copyright 2005 by Glenn W. Miller

Runner's Log 5/16

Today's run went well. 8 miles in 53:13. Lots of hills (as close as Texas can approximate here in Fort Worth anyway). Drills after that. I'll get some fast twitch work later tonight in martial arts, and then a weights session after that. The concrete roads are bit tiresome to the muscles. With no asphalt or dirt trails to run, there's a perpetual pounding that occurs. It's nice to be able to cross-train! Running at 5am helps with the pollen problems and temperature problems as well. Now inside the 18 weeks mark! Counting down.

Oh for more of this kind of preaching:

May 16

Preaching: Preach to Make Them Sweat

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" --Acts 2:37

I preach to my congregation week after week. And I pray that I may be able to preach with such convicting power that my people will sweat! I do not want them to leave my services feeling good. The last thing I want to do is to give them some kind of religious tranquilizer--and let them go to hell in their relaxation. The Christian church was designed to make sinners sweat. I have always believed that, and I still believe it. The messages preached in our churches should make backslidden Christians sweat. And if I achieve that objective when I preach, I thank God with all of my heart, no matter what people think of me. Jesus Is Victor!, 61-62. - A.W. TOZER