place of nathan.

This Saturday morning, I ran in the inaugural Fort-4-Fitness Half-Marathon.
There were 2,000 in my race, along with another 1,000 running a shorter 4-mile run/walk.

I had a pretty bad race, and I am still beating myself up about it, even though I beat one of my goals.
I for sure wanted to be under 2 hours, but thought I should be able to run under 1:50 pretty easily.

Around mile 6, I left my right calf tighten up suddenly. Then around mile 8 the top of my left foot started hurting me, causing me to limp. I stopped a couple times to loosen my shoestrings.
But from miles 8-12, I got passed by a lot of people. I was running pretty slowly…

I ended up at 1:53:35.

And then came this weekend…
My other foot started hurting Saturday afternoon–a full four hours after the race was over. My foot is killing me! I’m not sure what’s up with it, but ibuprofen is my lifeline at the moment!
Both of my calves are also rock-hard, which means I can’t take very big steps.
Not sure what’s up with my tight calves, I’ve never had tight calves before two weeks ago.

My training partner Isaac finished at about 1:43:46. Good job Isaac!
My brother-in-law Nathan finished at 1:44:30. Great job Nate!

Next up for Isaac and myself is a 5K in a couple of weeks. So we’ll be doing a lot of speed work in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully we can both get down around the 20:00 mark. It’s should be a challenging couple weeks of speed work–lots of 800 meter and 1600 repeats! Lots of sore muscles!

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We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts…We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

1 Thes 2:4, 6

Basically, I don’t give a flying flip about pleasing you. This serving God thing isn’t a popularity contest. It’s all about God.
It’s all about God.
It’s all about God.

God is really reminding me of this fact this week. May I never forget it!

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I was listening to a session from Perry Noble, where he was talking about our personal preferences–the things we prefer and the things we do not prefer.
Personally, I don’t like opera and I don’t like country music. If you do, that’s okay with me, just as long as you don’t make me listen to it with you.
But here’s what Perry said:

The problem is when we allow our personal preference to get in the way of God’s preference when it comes to what He wants to do in our church.

May we always remember: It isn’t about me, it’s about God.

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I am getting very anxious to run my half-marathon this weekend.

This will be my first half-marathon in 10 years–and I’m not going to be even remotely close to my time back then.
This week I’ve been tapering my workouts (running less distance, less speed) in order to feel really great come Saturday morning.
I said earlier this year I was telling myself my goal was 2:15, while more realistically my goal was really to break 2 hours. After some great workouts with Isaac the past several months, I’m not shooting to hit 1:50. Running for an hour and 50 minutes straight!
Sweet.

Then in a month or so, Isaac and I (and maybe Jason) will take on a 5K race, where we will annihilate our old-man PRs. (I don’t plan on ever touching my high school or college race times ever again.)

Wish me luck! I’ll report back on how things went, too.

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This Email was received from our missionary in India.
The missionary is currently stateside, while his wife and children are still in India.

Have you spent time considering what it would be like to be a Christian which persecution like this? Please keep our Christian brothers and sisters in India in your prayers and thoughts.

MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CALL ME THAT THE HINDUS DESTROY A POLICE STATION AT RAIKIA 20 KM FROM G.UDAYAGIRI AND 4000 HINDU MILITANTS ARE ATTACKING THE G.UDAYAGIRI REFUGEE CAMP.THEY HAVE CUT THE POWER AND TELEPHONE CELL PHONE AND HAVE SENT THE LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS TO KILL WITHIN 5 DAYS OF TIME. NEED MUCH PRAYERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS AND THE CHURCHES. THEY HAVE BLOCKED THE [Removed for Confidentiality's sake].THINGS ARE NOT AT ALL GOOD. IAM CONCERN OF OUR STAF,CHILDREN AND BELIEVERS WHO ARE AT [Confidential] RIHGT NOW.

How would you fare if you were thrust into such a life?
How would the church fare?
How would your faith fare?
How would Jesus fare?

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This week I realized the secret of having a green organic lawn.
By organic, I mean, no chemicals, no fertilizers, no weed killer.

I found myself doing this key this week, and am finding it works!
The key? Sit on the ground and pull out all the weeds.

Happy weed-free lawn!

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I’m getting rather excited to go camping this coming weekend. (Wanna join us?)

That got me thinking about what I enjoy most about camping. I think for me, camping is an escape from the technology-driven, high-stress hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If only for a day or two, it’s an escape (I leave my cell phone, iPod and Macbook Pro at home) from what I deal with daily and get back to the basics.
I can’t just go to the fridge and get lunch. I have to kindle a fire, get coals going, etc. I have to work for my food. I have to boil my water to make coffee (french press), instead of just pushing a button on my coffee maker.

It’s like an alternate reality, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable for me!

What do you like best about camping?
(And if you’re interested in joining our camping excursion this coming weekend (Sept. 19-21), let me know in the comments and I’ll fill you in.)

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Yesterday afternoon I went out for a long run with Isaac.
11.4 miles later, we returned back home. We stopped twice for a brief water break, and were cooled by a slow but steady sprinkling of rain, with the occasional shower.

After the run, I was completely exhausted.
Today, my calf muscles are so very, very tight. My right calf is like super tight. I’ve stretched it about 15 times so far today, but nothing is quite getting it loosened up like I wish it would.

But anyway, I’m looking forward to the Fort Wayne Half-Marathon in a couple weeks!
Let’s see if I can break one hour…

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If you could take a trip vacation anywhere in the world, and cost is of no bearing, where would you choose?

Me? Probably tour the Italian countryside (as long as I’m with my wife!).

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Have you heard about what Barack Obama said yesterday? Here’s a little background. Last week at the Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin said this:

What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? (pause) Lipstick.

And then yesterday, Obama said this:

The other side, suddenly, they’re saying ‘we’re for change too’. Now think about it, these are the same folks that have been in charge for the last eight years. (pause)
You know, you can put lipstick on a pig. (audience roars in laughter.) It’s still a pig.

Do you think Obama was refering to Palin as a pig?
If so, doesn’t that make Obama the ‘male chauvinist’ pig himself?
Will this comment backfire on Obama? Has it already?

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I was reading an article in Citizen magazine (Emily Sanders), and I had a question: What’s the difference between a prostitute and a porn star?

If it’s it’s illegal to prostitute your body, shouldn’t it be illegal to prostitute your body while being filmed? I don’t get it. Can anyone enlighten me?

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