faithrunner

I am riding in my first MS150 this year . It is May 5 and 6 (Yes, I taking a Sunday off to do this), and I will be riding with The Legacy Cyclists Team , a team from Legacy Church members and friends and is part of the larger Richardson Bike Mart Team . I am riding for at least two people I know with MS and for whom I will wear a Champions Against MS bandanna on the ride. If you know of someone or would like me to ride for them, feel free to let me know . I would love for them to sign the bandanna before the ride. Join the Legacy or Bike Mart Teams and join us each Sunday at 5:00 p.m. on the Legacy Drive side of Legacy Church for training rides. We average about 8 to 10 riders a week (hoping for more as we get closer to the ride), and we average about 25 miles a ride (all paces), which includes as many hill and speed workouts as you need or want. If you want to know more about the teams or the training rides, contact our team captain, Jim Craig . IF you would like to make a don...

Traveled to Austin last Thursday to pray at the opening of the 31st day of the 80 th session of the Texas State Senate . Kim's mother, Frankye , went with me, and the Senate recognized her with a resolution for her 80 th birthday as a "treasured citizen of Texas," and they gave her the flag that flew over the capitol on her birthday. Terry Franks, Legislative Director for Senator Patrick was our contact for the day. His wife Jenny, serves on Dan Flynn's staff. Now you're getting the picture... If you want to see what I prayed, which only I remembered, go here . I was the guest of Senator Dan Patrick of Houston. He's the radio talk show host who surprised everyone with a landslide victory last year. He also wrote a book titled, The Second Most Important Book You'll Ever Read , on how to read the Bible. Pretty good. I saw our own Senator, Florence Shaprio , who has been a friend to Legacy Church since she was Mayor of Plano and Kip Averitt , we were at...

I'm teaching for B. H. Carroll Theological Institute again . They were accredited this year, and I am pleased to be part of the faculty, which include pastors with terminal degrees and teaching ministries along with their pastoral duties. I love it because Legacy Church is a Teaching Church , and I get to integrate my studies into the life of our people. This term (Omega, April 9-June 2, Mondays 6-8:30 p.m. at Legacy Church ) I will teach Biblical Interpretation , an introduction to the art and science of understanding the author, text and readers of Scripture. I am pleased that several of our LifeGroup leaders will participate in the class. Students will choose a passage at our first class meeting and apply the principles of interpretation each week in order to produce a interpretation project at the end of the term. Should be hands-on fun! Okay, a 50k may be more "fun," but that term is relative for all of us. You can sign up as a reader here . Students must be accep...

Okay, I'm back after a month or more...I've been busy, but you will see more of me because the spring always cranks up the activity. Finshed the Waco 5-0 50k for the second time this past weekend with some of the NTTR group. A killer course, 3 ten-mile plus loops through the trails of Cameron Park, Central TX's best kept mountain biking and trail running secret. My results stunk due to my lack of serious hill training and the fact I ran the Outback section four instead of three times due to a wrong turn... David Chisum , my running partner in several areas of my life, commented: "So you chose to run a race that only 26 people in Texas did. Brilliant. I would like to say good job, but I can't get past the first sentence I wrote." Lessons Learned: "I suffered because I was undisciplined" and "You can't serve four masters ( pastoring , running, writing and teaching) and do any of them really well" But, what's a multi-tasker to...

We continued to have great moments of inspiration and re-creation while in San Diego. I am grateful to Legacy Church for the opportunity to get away with Kim, Kenyon, and Libby. You will sense a freshness in me as we reconnect after four days apart. Here you see me next to the Rolls Royce, which was our rent car for the week. It was a bit of a stretch to fit it into the budget, but we thought the value was worth it. NOT! Hey, it was sitting in the parking lot, and I thought it would be a good pic. Nice, huh? We got away on Thursday afternoon to see the Hotel del Coronado . Here are Kim and Libby down by the shore. It was cool and breezy , but wonderful! After the beach, we headed to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park . We strolled through a hacienda on the site, and then had dinner at a local Mexican cafe...very good. Eugene Peterson's presentation on Friday morning was the highlight of the trip for me. He answered the question, "What is a pastor good for?" He...

For the first time in years, I am taking time away to "sit and soak" at a conference. Kim and I are with Kenyon and Libby Draughon at The National Pastors Convention in San Diego. We arrived Wednesday afternoon and will return home Saturday. The lineup is great! Yesterday, we heard Brain McClaren (be a friend to yourself), Eugene Peterson (spiritual formation; I'm reading Eat This Book ) and John Eldredge ( Epic , which we will use in our next series), who were sandwiched between The Skit Guys (Eddie was connected to Legacy for a while; Kim and I had a great reunion with him), and other people who entertained and led in worship. Ken Medema does his "summary song" each session, and we continued to be amazed at the gift God has given him. Today, Ruth Haley Barton (solitude and its role in leadership) and Todd Agnew (who also was part of Legacy for a season. He brought authentic worship to our student ministry when Stacey Whitt and Greg Pinkner were here) b...

I like the winter months (okay, weeks in Texas). I enjoy a cold morning before sunrise writing at my computer with Anonymous 4 and a candle burning in the background. Add a cup of coffee or tea with soy milk and Splenda , and you have my preferred environment for winter. Let the sun come up and I'd rather be running on the trails of Arbor Hills in Plano or Northshore trails of Lake Grapevine. I like winter in North Texas. I have been busy but away from this blog. So, I'll update briefly. I have spent most of my writing time (early mornings) on a project for Clarity Publications , an inductive walk through the Old Testament. Yes, the entire OT! 48 chapters, five passages a chapter...I'm lovin ' it, but it taking hours of time I don't have. I'm up to chapter 19 and all of them are due March 1. Yikes! I've also begun my training for my spring runs. I have to squeeze this in early evenings on nights I don't have meetings and on the weekends. I have th...