What to do? What to DO?

Quote of the Day

If you have a doubtful issue in your life, something with a question mark after it, put it to this fourfold test – The Test of Expediency (I Corinthians 6:12): It may even be good, but is it good for me to do? The Test of Enslavement (I Corinthians 6:12 again): Does it make me its slave? The Test of Edification (I Corinthians 10:23): Does it build me up? The Test of Example (I Corinthians 8)” Does it offend the weaker brother? If your problem clears these four hurdles, it should no longer be a problem.
--Vance Havner


Then there's the lessons that my parents have tought me. 1)There's more than one way to get the job done. 2)Sometimes your choice is between two good things, not one good, and one bad. It can make decision-making a pretty tough issue. For our finite minds, I feel that there are two things that shouldn't be overlooked. 1) Our own free will, and 2) God's sovereignty and power in spite of our limitations.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of thsoe who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" --Romans 8:28

When I'm having a tough time with decisions, it helps me to remember this: That in spite of what I do, God knows all, and is actively working in my life. I may make a choice with good intentions, but that still was not God's idea but my own instead. God doesn't pull his "hair" out (quotes for those scholars out there who'd say "...but Athos, God doesn't HAVE hair) when I mess up.

He in his sovereignty can work in spite of me and create what is good and pleasing to Himself from my life. God is not surprised when I make mistakes, he knows how flawed I am. But when I mess up, he forgives, and then says something that I'm sure is along the lines of "now sit back and watch me make this work ANYWAY". God is Good.

"All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful" - Psalm 25:10. Ours aren't, but his are.

Our decisions should come after much prayer and seeking God's will and leading. Then we must choose, and at the same time TRUST in our Lord.

--Athos

ITCHING EARS AND BURNING HEARTS

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
II Timothy 4:3

Did not your hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32

It is a day of itching ears. Men chase popular preachers who can entertain. Religion is just another fad. And not a few Christians who pass as lovers of sound doctrine cannot endure its application, but move from preacher to preacher, church to church, listening to their pet Pal or Apollos or Cephas. A lot of what goes for Bible teaching and evangelism is but religious entertainment. Men are not moved within to the point of obedience. They have itching ears.

We need an outbreak of holy heartburn, when hearers shall be doers, when congregations shall go out from meetings to do things for God and men instead of pleasantly gossiping while the fowls of the air snatch up the seed of the Word.

God move us from itching-ear retreats to burning-heart revivals!
- Vance Havner

Runner's Log 6-08-05

Wow, today was a toughie. 75*, 82%humidity....so far, not bad, just warm. Muscles a little sore and pretty tired from yesterday....still not so bad, supposed to be an easy day. Pollen, off the charts high. I was pretty much in 02 debt the entire run, which I cut 2.5 miles off of because I couldn't breathe. Did 6.5 miles total w/o a watch. Didn't worry about time...I'm glad I didn't now. Needless to say I'm pretty tired after 6.5 miles with no air.

The good side to this? The barometer is rising which should help the air thin out a little on the humidity side, and that will let the pollen float higher off the ground. We'll see. Looking forward to tomorrow...it can only get better after todays run :-)

Runner's Log 6-07-05

Hills, Hills Hills!!! I love Hills, hills are my friend....ah, the old mantra comes back with such a ring of truth. I still love hill running. Today started off well. I did a 3 mile warm up, then hills then a 3 mile cool down. The downside: My new archnemesis- tree pollen of some tree that grows down here that I've never been around before.

The warm up was great. I got loose and felt good. Then did the first set. The hill is a 130meter ..maybe 6% incline. Did a total of 8 repeats building from 60%-80%-100% per third of an ascent. Got the first set done and was getting a little woosy. Muscles were fine, but my chest was aching trying to breath...it was like the air weighed in at 5 pounds an inch or something. Took a rest, and then did the second set. Finished them well, and actuall ran about 150 meters (20 meters past the top) just to do it, but by then I was feeling pretty bad in the lungs. Ended up having to walk most of the cooldown home. Not a fun ending, but a great workout....definitely hit 02 debt today! Big whoopie.

All in all, a good hill run today. I need some more of them for the purpose of leg speed and strength building. Just need some better air next time. With all the humidity and pollen out lately, it's been rough. I do much better once I get out on some open roads, I clear up and feel better....but to get away from the trees, I'm also getting away from the hills around here then. Just have to take it as it comes. Good run, bad air. C'est la vie!