faithrunner

I will ride again this year the Frisco to Forth Worth MS 150 ride to raise funds to end the disease of Multiple Sclerosis . The official website describes the ride this way: "The 2009 Bike MS: SAM'S CLUB rolls out May 2-3 . On Saturday morning, May 2, 4,000 cyclists will pedal from Dr Pepper Ballpark , home of the Frisco RoughRiders , and make an overnight stop at Texas Motor Speedway . [The only time I"m ever close to NASCAR anything.] The following morning, riders take a victory lap on the speedway's huge racetrack,then head to the Finish Line at Sundance Square in historic downtown Fort Worth." I will ride with over twenty riders who are part of Legacy Cyclists and part of the larger team, Richardson Bike Mart . My youngest daughter, Summer, is making her first attempt at the ride . She's even planning to camp out with some of the team at TMS Saturday night. The forecast looks wet , but we are hoping for the best. If you would like to support me as I ...

In the 80th year of my father's life and in the first year in my granddaughter's life I ran my seventh Boston Marathon . It was not pretty, but I finished, and I believe I am finished with this difficult course. Thanks to Billy Allen and adidas I have been able to not only run the marathon but bring friends to join me in this historic marathon. This year Greg Sankey (read his blog on today's event), long-time friend and who is running a marathon a month this year, Hector Retta, college roommate, and his daughter, Emilia , made the run from Hopkington to Boston. They finished far in front of me, and I was glad they got to experience the event. We gathered on The Commons to board the buses to Hopkington and then waited 2 hours waiting for a port-a-potty and for the run to begin. It was cloudy and cold today; and, add to that a 10 to 15 mph wind in your face from the east and you have the makings of a long day. I had been sick all this past week , and I started out slowl...

Yesterday remained cool and cloudy with some rain, but our worship and celebration of Christ's resurrection was warm and bright . I was so proud of our worship team and their efforts to put our Good Friday and Easter Sunday services together that facilitated our worship of the Risen Lord. It was truly a wonder-filled morning of worship and praise, hope and faith. I enjoyed seeing returning and every-week friends and family , and to see those who were truly seeking present in the crowd. I pray all that was said and done will help each person trust Jesus for who He is . If you would like to hear the message, you can go here . Our next message series, Adam+Eve, begins Sunday . It is a series on relationships, particularly those in marriage. Kenyon will kick the series off while I am in Boston running the marathon on Monday . Check out the current message page on the Legacy Church website for the topics and speakers. Like the disciples who were filled with wonder of meeting the res...

I woke this morning to wind and rain and to the pangs of an 18-hour fast . I had been awakened several times in the night by passing storms and worries about what it will be like if the weather continues until the time our Easter Celebrations starts. Would the sun come out in time? Would the "fair-weather" attendees roll over and stay in bed? I will wait to see what happens, but this morning I will possibly relate more to the anxiousness of the followers of Jesus. They spent their night wondering about not only the loss of their leader but the potential loss of their own lives. If people wanted Jesus dead, they may be next. Anxiety and worry, grief and fear woke Jesus' followers that morning. Maybe you awoke to those today. This was the setting for the greatest event in human history. Read about it here...

I did not spend my day cloistered in solitude and prayer . I feel somewhat guilty about that because the saints of old found great satisfaction in periods of silence, and it seems a Day of Prayer and Fasting should be spent that way. I have those times in my life, but not today. I guess you could say we celebrated the resurrection of life a day early by giving new life and color to our flowerbeds and backyard. After my morning run , I came home to load six 16" pots that would hold plants in them--plants full of variety and color--into the Element. (Got to love the plastic floors and room in the Element for jobs like this.) Kevin and Shannon Stone met us at the house about 10:00. They were the ones who had t old us of the flowering treasures and how we could fill our beds and pots with explosions of color and life . We followed them in our car like kids following friends to a new ice cream store down Central Expressway to the Dallas Farmer's Market . We ended up at Ruiba...

The crowd's response to Pilate's sign intrigues me. The message nailed above Jesus' head read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." He had it written in the three primary languages of the region. The religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead and seemed to make up any charge to get him executed did not like Pilate's plaque placed above their sacrificial lamb. I figure if you do whatever it takes to get a job done, you don't complain about it when it gets done-- unless you are convinced you are in control . The religious leaders thought they had Pilate wrapped around their little fingers and could even get him to print whatever they wanted on their victim. But, by then he had enough of their pressure and said, "What I have written, stays." The Roman governor loved the irony and message sent to the masses as they looked upon the crucified carpenter. Pilate gave them what they wanted against his better judgment, so there was no way he'd let t...

It's about six a.m. and I am headed to White Rock Lake for my usual run with a group I have met there for years. Today will be different for two reasons. First, it is my last run of any length before the Boston Marathon on April 20 ; and, second, I will have on my mind the suffering and death of Jesus . We usually joke, catch up, or give movie reviews as we run the 9.2 mile loop around the lake. This morning, I will remember at sunrise, about the time we start our loop, that the rooster crowed three times and signaled Peter's denial of his Leader and Friend . I will remember that Jesus has been up all night ridiculed and made a joke through a bogus trial process that would hand him over to the Romans to be killed. I will recall the circus of injustice before Pilate and the screams of the mob to crucify the one who came to show them (me) the love of God. I am the guards. I am the mob. I am Pilate . I see Jesus and turn my back too many time. This morning although it is crisp,...