Keep Your Eyes on our Shepherd

Whenever my phone rings late at night or very early in the morning, I know the person on the other end is usually not just calling to chat. That was the case Sunday morning, January 21. Thankfully, I was already awake and dressed for the day. I was about an hour or so into my Sunday morning routine when the ring of the phone startled me. The person on the other end of the line was my mother.

When I heard mom’s voice I immediately guessed why she was calling. I assumed the news had to do with My Aunt Cile who lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. She had been in the hospital since two days after Christmas battling cancer. My assumption was correct. Mom shared with me that at 5:00 AM Aunt Cile went home to be with the Lord.
Aunt Cile was a special woman in many, many ways. Proverbs 17:22 best describes her—a cheerful heart is good medicine. Aunt Cile was always cheerful, and she made everyone around her cheerful with her zest for life. As I said at her funeral, she had the uncanny ability to live until she died.

An example of her living until she died occurred the very weekend she went home to be with the Lord, and with her loving husband, Uncle Jack—mom’s brother. On Friday Aunt Cile requested one of her daughter’s call her beautician to come to the hospital to cut and curl her hair. On Saturday, she requested her manicurist to make a visit. And, the next morning Aunt Cile breathed her last breath.

I told that story at the close of her funeral service, illustrating how Aunt Cile was prepared to die. To verify how prepared she was to die she even purchased the bottle of nail polish—which she never did—so her girls would have the right color to paint her one unpainted nail that was being used to monitor her blood-oxygen levels. That’s what I call planning ahead.

Preaching a family members funeral is tough business for a tender soul like me. Four years ago one of my brothers asked me how I was able to conduct Uncle Jack’s funeral without falling apart. Before I could answer, one of my favorite cousins interjected, “He didn’t do it; the Holy Spirit did it through him.” My cousin Mark was correct. Last weekend the Holy Spirit empowered me once again.
Before concluding the service I shared one other story I discovered from my reading:

In his book, A Turtle on the Fencepost, Allen C. Emery tells of a night he spent on the Texas plains with a shepherd who was keeping two thousand sheep. The shepherd prepared a bonfire for cooking supper and providing warmth. The sheep dogs lay down near the fire as the stars filled the sky.

Suddenly Emery heard the unmistakable wail of a coyote with an answering call from the other side of the range. The dogs weren't patrolling at the moment, and the coyotes seemed to know it. Rising quickly, the shepherd tossed some logs on the fire; and in this light, Emery looked out at the sheep and saw thousands of little lights.

Emery writes, "I realized that these were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. In the midst of danger, the sheep were not looking out into the darkness, but were keeping their eyes set toward the shepherd."

To trust in the Lord is to keep our eyes on our Shepherd, to be always looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. As each of you face the sorrow and grief of losing Aunt Cile, may we be reminded to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Wow, that’s good stuff. That is a huge reminder, isn’t it? When grief comes, and it will come, keep your eyes on our Shepherd.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

The first journal entry of my morning included the following:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Poor in spirit escribes my true condition before God. I am spiritually bankrupt without Christ. That means I am nothing, I have nothing and I can do nothing apart from the grace of God through Jesus Christ.”

I implore you to keep Matthew 5:3 on the tip of your tongue, the front of your brain and at the core of your heart this week. I want the CrossPoint family of faith to embody all eight of the core traits Jesus preached about in the preamble to his message we call “The Sermon on the Mount.”

Next week we will add Matthew 5:4—blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted—to our list. Until then, let’s keep working on the “poor in spirit” part of our disposition as disciples.

And how do we develop a spirit of poverty? Martin Lloyd-Jones says, “To develop a spirit of poverty look at God.” That’s good instruction. The more we exalt God in our lives, the less we will think of ourselves. Remember, he must increase, so that we will decrease.

While reading through the Bible this week look for ways God is exalted. When you find those examples, use them in your personal communication time with Him.

Just for Fun!

I believe the coldest place in Birmingham is the Sam’s parking lot overlooking Trussville. Every time I fill my Expedition with gas at Sam’s I nearly freeze to death.Can anyone think of a colder place in our city? Let me know if you agree or disagree. If you disagree, then tell me of a place that you think is colder.

Gradual Adaptation

I’ve got my longest run yet of my 18-week marathon training plan. Today I must run 19 miles. I am super charged. Last night I loaded up on the carbs. This morning I woke up extra early so I can get a good part of my run completed before the sun rises. There is just something about watching the sun rise in the middle of a long run. I am also charged because I plan to run two ten-mile loops, which equals twenty miles. My thinking is simple: why run 19 when you can run 20?

Running a marathon is not as difficult as it sounds. In order to run one you must practice a physiology principle called Gradual Adaptation. Let me paint you a picture.

Suppose you were overweight and out of shape, and someone challenged you to run a 5K (3.2 miles) in 30 minutes.

Chances are you would fail miserably. Most people would not be able to run for more than 60 seconds without stopping to catch their breath. And, before the run concluded, some might stop altogether and admit they were out of shape and that they could never run that distance in the allotted time.

On the other hand, suppose your challenger gave you 10 weeks to train in order to run a 5K; that my friend would be another story. And that is where the Gradual Adaptation principle comes into play.

Gradual Adaptation is process by which you consistently and patiently build up toward your goal. What makes the gradual adaptation plan so successful is a series of steps which allow you to build on your progress.

To run 3.2 miles in 10 weeks you might use the following plan:

Week ------ Days ------ Run ------ Walk ------ Repeat

1 ----------5 days ---- 1 min ----- 5 min ----- 5 times
2 ----------5 days ---- 2 min ----- 4 min ----- 5 times
3 ----------5 days ---- 3 min ----- 3 min ----- 5 times
4 ----------5 days ---- 5 min ----- 2.5 min --- 4 times
5 ----------5 days ---- 7 min ----- 3 min ----- 3 times
6 ----------5 days ---- 8 min ----- 2 min ----- 3 times
7 ----------5 days ---- 9 min ----- 1 min ----- 3 times
8 ----------4 days ---- 13 min ---- 2 min ----- 2 times
9 ----------3 days ---- 14 min ---- 1 min ----- 2 times
10 ---------3 days ---- 30 min ---- none ----- 1 time

I list that chart because I know of several CrossPointers who were able to complete last year’s Fifth Annual CrossPoint 5K in 30 minutes or less even though ten weeks prior to the race they were out of shape. That is proof that the Gradual Adaptation plan works.

The same principle can be applied to training for a marathon. The first week of your plan requires you to run a total of 21 miles. The third week it increases to 28 miles. The tenth week requires you to run 42 miles and so on, until you build your base up to a steady 45 or 50 miles. Then you taper down the mileage until race day. Ten weeks ago I would never dream of running 20 miles. Today I am pumped because I know I have built up my base to run that far.

Now let’s use the same principle to reading through the Bible. The Bible is an amazing book. It is a book like no other book. It contains 66 books. The 66 books of the Bible have 31,176 verses, 1,189 chapters which describe the life and times of more than 2,930 personalities. It is such a large book in both quantity and quality that many people shy away from reading it. “It is just too much to read,” they opine.
However, if you were to read a few chapters a day, say from a different book each morning, within 52 weeks you would read the entire Bible. The reason I read a small portion of Scripture each day is so that I can read through my Bible each year I live. And, as I have communicated before, the more I go through the Word of God the more the Word of God goes through me.

How are you doing with your daily Bible reading? If you are on pace, stay the course. If you are behind, get caught up this weekend. Whatever you are doing and wherever you are in your reading, put the Gradual Adaptation Principle into practice.

Connecting

When I open my Windows Internet Explorer a small icon pops up on my screen that spins in a clockwise manner. Beside the icon is the word “connecting”. Combined the icon and word tell me my computer is “connecting” to the World Wide Web. Within milliseconds the icon disappears as my homepage is displayed.

Each time I click my Internet Explorer button I am reminded what we are doing this year at CrossPoint—we are connecting.

The vision of CrossPoint is the most cogent vision I have ever read. It does not get much simpler than JUST ONE MORE. Our vision is so pristine we can illustrate it without saying a word. Can you think of a more lucid vision statement? I cannot.

Now that we have established the vision, it is time we establish the process by which we fulfill our vision. In case you have not seen it yet, the process by which CrossPoint reaches JUST ONE MORE to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ is a three step process:

First, we want JUST ONE MORE to connect with God through worship.

Next, we want JUST ONE MORE to connect with God in a Bible study group.

And finally, we want JUST ONE MORE to connect with God through identifying their ministry in the church and their mission in the world.

I was visiting with a new CrossPointer Monday night at a church league basketball game. She informed me that she and her husband joined CrossPoint for two reasons. One, they found a Bible study class they absolutely love. Then she added, “Wearing name tags make it so much easier to know every one in the class.” Then she said their second reason for joining was to so they could get involved in a particular area ministry.

I was impressed with her clarity. She had already figured out the CrossPoint process. The CrossPoint process is sequential. First, we connect with God. Then, we connect with God’s people. Next, we connect with God’s plan.

Yet that is not the final product. Like the spinning icon on my Windows Internet Explorer, we must keep moving in the process. After we reach the three connection points, we must reach out to JUST ONE MORE to help them make connect.

Have you connected yet? I am curious to hear where you think you are in the CrossPoint process. Give me your feedback.

Steve Hit the Big 5-0!

Our staff surprised Steve Parr with 50th birthday party this morning. Oh no, oh no, Steve hit the big 5-0! That is right, Steve Parr turns 50 today.
We started the day by greeting him at the main entrance with a cane and a wheelchair. Ginger, Tammy and Sharon distributed multi-colored footprints throughout the building. Each set of colored footprints provided Steve directions to the bathroom, his office, my office and the kitchen. Sharon also printed each staff member a new name tag with a large font so he could read them easily. The best item of the day was his name tag. It read, “My name is Steve Parr. If you find me wondering around aimlessly please call my wife, Anita at…”

During lunch we each gave him a special gift. You must ask him about some of those gifts. Then we enjoyed cake and ice cream. We had a ball, of course, at Steve’s expense. But as expected, he took each jab in his usual magnanimous manner.

Part of his birthday surprise included some trivia questions from 1957.
See how well you answer the questions I asked:

• Who was President of the United States in 1957?
• Who was Vice-President?
• Who was the Governor of Alabama?
• Who won the World Series?
• Who won the NCAA Football Championship?
• Who won the NCAA Basketball Championship?
• What first-ever “family-oriented” television show premiered on CBS?
• What device was invented to help heart patients?
• The Russians introduced the Space Age with the launching of what rocket?
• What was the cost of a first class stamp?

Here are your answers:

• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Richard M. Nixon
• James E. Folsom
• Milwaukee Braves
• Auburn Tigers
• North Carolina Tar Heels
• “Leave It to Beaver”
• Pacemaker
• Sputnik I
• 3 cents
  
  

My, my time how times have changed!

When you see Steve Parr tomorrow night at CrossPoint, tell him happy birthday!

WOW!! What a Day!!

60 new members span the entire front of the CrossPoint worship center

Yesterday was a marquee day for CrossPoint. I am not sure we have ever had a day like that in our brief history.

It was very strong adding that many new members in one Sunday. It was a great way to begin our CONNECT series.

For review, let’s remember we want JUST ONE MORE to CONNECT

…with GOD through worship
…with GOD’S PEOPLE through Bible Study
…with GOD’S PLAN through doing the ministry and mission of the church

I know that bare numbers do not represent the measurement of our success. However, since numbers represent people, numbers do give us some kind of indication of our influence.

Take a look at some of the new member statistics from yesterday at CrossPoint:

Total # in worship: 1226

Total # in Bible Study: 820

Total # of new members added to our family: 60

Total# of new family units: 29

Total # of people in those family units: 74

There is more.

The incredible day was capped by Bryan surprising us with a new worship song he wrote for our CONNECT series:

Connect with God

I connect with God
And I connect with his people,
For it is the plan for man to spread
His mission through the world.

Lord we love you
We honor you
We adore you
And Worship you
Magnify your name
Let all the earth proclaim
That our God reigns forever more.....

I had a cousin from Nashville worship with us yesterday. She told my mother during lunch she had never experienced anything like what she did at CrossPoint. I agree. Neither have I.

We are, among churches, most blessed.

Lyric James Haskins: The Story Behind His Name

On November 1, 2006, Lyric James Haskins was born into our world. As many of you know, he arrived in rather dramatic fashion. For those of who do not know, allow me to explain part of his dramatic birth account.

Bryan Haskins was called to CrossPoint as our Worship Leader in June of last year. The same week we called Bryan, he and Charma discovered they were pregnant with their first child. June of 2006 will always be a memorable month for them as well as for CrossPoint.

Charma made it through the summer months of her pregnancy without any complications. Then, sometime in September – only 20 weeks into gestation – Charma went into labor. Charma’s OB GYN put her on 100% bed rest. A few days after going on bed rest, Charma had more complications. As a result, the doctors were forced to check Charma into the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy.

I rushed to the hospital the day of this major crisis. I was in the hospital room when the OB GYN tried to gently, but matter-of-factly, let Bryan and Charma know that if the baby came anytime the next three or four weeks, there was virtually nothing she could do to save him.

Imagine the heartache Bryan and Charma were feeling when they heard that news. I was standing in the room with them, and my heart sank to my feet. While the doctor was explaining more bad news, I started praying. I asked the Lord to give me some Scripture to share. Before the doctor exited the room I had my Scripture. It was a passage I had been studying for several weeks as I was preparing for my series from the book of James.

The doctor left the room. Bryan and Charma were wiping away the tears. I think Lynn and Ginger Hayes were there in the room with me. If memory serves me correctly, my mother was there also. With the courage only the Lord can give, they looked to me for guidance and prayer. Before praying I reminded them of this singular promise:

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

Then we proceeded to pray. We know the Lord heard our prayer, for 10 weeks later Lyric James Haskins entered this world. Yes, he was a bit premature, but the doctors were confident he would make it.

The night of his birth Vonda and I rushed to Brookwood Hospital to meet the little fellow for the first time, and to congratulate mom and dad. It was that night at the hospital I learned the story behind his name.

The name Lyric was suggested by a band member Bryan has played with through the years. As soon as he heard Bryan and Charma were pregnant he said, “Bryan, since music is so much a part of your life, you should name your child Lyric.” Bryan tells me that Charma loved the idea of the name. So they decided very quickly his first name would be Lyric.

With his first name determined, what would they give him as a middle name?

Of course, I was pushing for Ryan. If truth be told I had a name early in the process that I thought would suit the young baby very well – Ryan Bryan. Then, as he grew older we could call him R.B. R.B. Haskins has a good ring to it, especially over a loud speaker system in some type of athletic competition. I suggested if they called him Ryan Bryan he could tell all his buds he was named after his pastor and his father, both ministers of the Gospel. For some reason, even after all my arm twisting, the name never stuck. Actually, it never gained any momentum. That’s okay I still have two or three namesakes running around CrossPoint. Let’s see there are Ryan Faith, Jonathan Ryan, and Ryan Taylor. And let’s not forget Christopher Ryan in Columbus, Georgia…okay, I will get off that kick.

Now back to his middle name.

The way Bryan tells me they determine to give him the middle name James has to do with the day they admitted Charma to the hospital. He said, “Soon after the doctor left the room, you quoted from James 1:12 about ‘Blessed is the man who perseveres’. When Charma and I thought of that moment, we decided he must carry the name James. We thought James would suit him well since so early in his life he learned how to persevere.”

I was reminded of this story the other night when I walked by my refrigerator, glancing once again at Lyric’s birth announcement. The top of the card reads, “Lyric James Haskins, November 1, 2006.” In the center of the card is a precious photo of him lying in his father’s hand. And inscribed at the bottom of the card is the James 1:12 passage.

And now you know the story behind his name.

Lyric James Haskins, like all the other CrossPoint babies, carries a name with meaning and purpose. Knowing all the talent Bryan and Charma possess, there is a real good possibility Lyric will be just as talented. And with the name James, we know he will persevere. He already has.

I rejoice in the arrival of Lyric James Haskins. His mother and father tell me the doctors want to keep him at home for a few more weeks. Hopefully his first Sunday at CrossPoint will be February 4, when we have a large family dedication celebration.

Carter & Clinton Do Not Speak for Me

Since when did Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton become spokesmen for Baptists? I did not realize Baptists were facing such calamitous conditions. Let me state it most emphatically—JIMMY CARTER AND BILL CLINTON DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME!

And what is it that Mr's. Carter and Clinton are speaking about? They are organizing a new campaign to unify Baptists, and I quote,

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Advocates of the "New Baptist Covenant" championed by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton predicted it will help heal the racial divide that has separated Baptists in America since before the Civil War.

Speaking on behalf of 40 Baptist denominations and organizations in the United States and Canada Jan. 9, Carter and Clinton -- two of the world's most famous Baptist laymen -- announced the groups had committed to put aside more than a century and a half of social and theological differences to unite behind an agenda of compassionate ministry.

Somebody please get me some Tylenol!

Click here to read more: http://www.abpnews.com/1605.article.

While reading I asked myself, “Am I that far out of touch with Baptists?” When I read it a second time, I asked, “Are Carter and Clinton that far out of touch?”

The real keeper of the story comes toward the end, when some who support the movement commented:

While the Baptists who came together in Atlanta Jan. 9 were thrilled to have the support of two former presidents -- both Democrats -- they also recognized their movement will be limited if only moderate and progressive Baptists, and only Democrats, get on board.

Mercer's Underwood told reporters at the Atlanta announcement that Carter and Clinton "are not here in their capacity as political leaders, they are not here in their capacity as Democrats. They are here today in their capacity as Baptists. We anticipate that there will be many other Baptists participating in this endeavor who also happen to be public officials that happen to be Republican."

McCall agreed: "I think it's very important so that it doesn't come off as a political thing. It would be easy to interpret, with the two Democratic presidents, that it was a political thing. I think it's important to find other Republican Baptists and bring them into it."

"If this is seen as a Democratic agenda, that won't benefit any of us," said ABC's Medley. "And if it doesn't do the pan-Baptist thing, then it will have failed. I hope we do have conservative folk there, as well as progressive and moderate folk. Regardless of where we may be in political parties and things like that, these are things that we're committed to as the body of Christ, and that agenda is larger than a political agenda."

Please! What are they drinking? Would someone please pass the Kool-Aide?

Do not get me wrong. I am for unity. But I think unity should be based on Scriptural and doctrinal integrity, not a political, a social agenda or even the empathetic sounding “compassionate agenda of ministry”.
At this point I am reminded of the saying, “If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck and smells like a duck, chances are it is a duck.” This looks, sounds, walks, and smells like a political agenda.

When you use two lightening rods like Carter and Clinton, you automatically spark a brush fire of resistance. If you want an example, re-read what I have just written. I could never support “The New Baptist Covenant” thanks to the spokesmen who are promoting it.

Apparently I am not the only person having problems with other parts of Mr. Carter’s agenda. Click here for this tidbit of information released the same day: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24746.

I guess the next thing you know Baptists will do is ask Madonna to speak for us about sexual abstinence, Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump about walking in humility, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejab about world peace.

I am curious to hear your thoughts.

Fuel for your Body…& Soul

Wow, what a difference a week makes!

Last week I attempted to run 16 miles. And, as I described to you last Friday, January 5, I ran out of gas.
Today, I ran 18 miles without once running low on fuel. What was the difference? The difference was fueling my body for the run.

Last week I did not prepare sufficiently for my run. I ate a salad the night before and a biscuit the morning of the run, and I did not consume any gels or snacks along the way (other than a candy bar I purchased during the run that did more harm than good).

This week I loaded up on the carbohydrates. I ate spaghetti and a baked potato last night. This morning I started my day with a good serving of oatmeal. Additionally, I carried three packs of GU (an energizing gel loaded with potassium, protein and carbohydrates) with me. I re-fueled my body once every four miles with the GU. I also staged a Gatorade break at the half way point. The result: 18 miles in 2:57:13. That is a little over a 9:50 per mile pace. That may not sound like a fast pace for you, but for me it is the best pace I have ever kept for more than 10 miles. Additionally, it is 10 seconds per mile faster than my goal time today.

Just to illustrate how good of a run it was, I ran 18 miles instead of the planned 17. My goal was to run 17 miles. I ran an 8.5 mile loop through Homewood. Toward the end of the run I felt apprehensive about the mileage because my total time was much better than I estimated. Thus, I added some additional distance, thinking I needed the extra distance to cover 17 miles. And now for the good news; I measured my run and discovered I actually ran 18 miles and not the required 17.

Once again, I must make the same connection as I did last week. In the same way we need fuel for our bodies we also need fuel for our souls. Fuel for our bodies includes food. Fuel for our souls includes worship.

How many of you actually prepare for worship? How many of you load up before you come to CrossPoint?One week ago I did not prepare for my run, and it showed. This week I prepared for my run, and I ran more than I planned and faster than I expected.

I have said this before, and I will certainly say it again. Your private worship with the Lord influences your public worship. Or, the more you worship the Lord individually, the better equipped you are to worship Him corporately.

Just like I do the night before a long run, I use my Saturday evening to prepare for my worship on Sunday. My Saturday night “preparing for worship” routine typically includes a quiet, relaxing evening at home. I end the day by retiring to bed at a reasonable hour so I get plenty of rest. Then, I wake up very early to review my message and to prepare my heart. I spend a considerable amount of time in prayer and Bible study, followed by reading and re-reading my manuscript. I try to be thoroughly prepared for worship by the time I arrive on our campus. Then, when worship begins I am ready.

I am curious to know more about your Saturday night routine that prepares you for worship. Even more, I am interested in knowing what you do during the week that helps you worship each weekend.

The Power of Routine

Lately I know I have been talking a lot about running with my daily blog. I guess you can you tell I am consumed with it, can’t you? This usually happens whenever I train for a marathon. When you log the kind of miles I am logging each morning you cannot help but to think, eat and sleep running.

While running this morning, I considered how important routine is to me. Let me explain.

When God called me to the ministry in 1985, I was not a very organized man. I often “shot-from-the-hip” and considered myself to be an “in-the-moment” kind of guy. Soon after enrolling in seminary I realized how much I would have to change that behavior in order to be used more effectively by God.

As a result of my seminary training I developed a daily routine. Since then, I have augmented my daily regiment because I know the value of being organized.For those of you who say you could never be organized? I am Exhibit A on debunking that myth. And for those who say being organized will quench your impulsive approach to life. I am glad to report I am still a spontaneous person. Discipline, I believe, does not limit one’s spontaneity as much as it enhances it. Do not be afraid to live a life of routine. It will help you more than you think.

Now, back to my thought I had during my early morning run.

There are four things I do each morning that I think produce great results. I have learned to make these disciplines a part of my daily routine. I do not do these things seven days of every week. But I do hit them about five or six days of every week.

My morning routine includes the following:

• I run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning
• I read and study my Bible
• I spend time conversing with the Lord
• I keep a daily journal of life events
• I plan my day
  

That may not seem like much, but those five disciplines keep me in line with what the Lord is doing in my life. The more I work on this routine, the more the Lord seems to work in me and through me.

How do you organize your day? Do you live a structured life? What disciplines do you have in place to produce results?

Sobering Video

My friend Ray Pritchard from www.keepbelieving.com introduced me to the following solemn video from his blog. Click here: www.miniature-earth.com.

As we say at CrossPoint, “WOW!” Let me know what you think.

You Go Noah!

Are you reading through your Bible? I am, and I am enjoying it more than I ever have before. I love reading a different portion of Scripture each day. I call this particular reading plan “going through the Bible as we go through the Bible.”

Did you notice the short sentences of obedience provided in today’s reading from Genesis 4 -7? Go back and look at these sentences:

At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 4:26b

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 5:8

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
Genesis 6:22

And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
Genesis 7:5

Do you know what I learn from these sentences? I learn that nothing can take the place of obedience.

Keep reading!

I Ran Out of Gas!

For those of you who do not know, I am currently training for my fourth marathon, the Georgia Marathon (www.georgiamarathon.com), which will be run on March 25. Actually I am in my sixth week of an 18-week training program.

When I completed the New York City Marathon two years ago I said I would never run another one. I reaffirmed that commitment in 2005 after I had arthroscopic knee surgery. Then something snapped last summer. That “something” was the idea of CrossPoint hosting its fifth annual 5K run in October without the pastor participating. So, toward the end of June last year I decided it was time to get back in to some kind of decent shape, decent enough to run CrossPoint’s 5K.

Don’t ask me when or where I was when I decided to run another marathon, because I cannot actually remember. I do know last September, on a day I was enjoying a long run, the thought of a marathon entered my mind. It had been almost two years since I had run more than five miles. That particular Saturday I turned a five mile jaunt into a seven-miler, and I was, as they say, hooked.

My longest run in the 18-week plan prior to today was 13 miles. I ran that without any difficulty two weeks ago. Last weekend I took a 10 mile job. Today I was required to run 16 miles. To be more precise, I ran nine miles, jogged four more and then slogged through the final three. Even though I did not finish well, I completed my run within the allotted pace I allowed myself.

What happened at the nine mile mark was so frustrating. I have had it happen to me before with other long runs and in my first marathon. The first five or six miles I felt really strong. Miles seven and eight were smooth as well. The problem I encountered at mile nine was that I ran out of gas.

To “run out of gas” means to lose your energy. Your body just shuts down until it receives some protein and carbohydrates to refuel it. I just did not have any fuel. I was on empty, and if I did not get something in my body soon I was not going to finish my run.

Thankfully, I had some money in my running shorts pocket. And, thankfully, there was a gas station about 100 yards away from where I ran out of gas (no pun intended). I walked in, bought a Hershey’s chocolate bar, swallowed it whole, and went back to my run.

I implored the two friends I was running with, to move on without me. They had a goal in mind, and I did not want my body shutting down to impede their progress. I knew, also, they would wait for me at the finish line.

For the next four miles I was strong, once again. And that is when I made my next mistake. I should have saved half the candy bar for the last few miles, because within thirty minutes or so my body started running on empty again. The sugar had worn off and that is why I slogged through the last three miles.

Next time I take a long run I will carry some packets of Gu with me. For those of you who do not know, Gu is an energy gel full of sodium, potassium and carbohydrates. Most training models say you should consume a one ounce packet of an energy gel every five miles. Today, I remembered why Gu was such an important part of my training plan.

Some of you may be wondering why I would write extensively about my running routine today. That is a great question. I have two reasons for writing about it.
The first reason I write about my run is that I was reminded today of one of the key lessons of pushing your body to the limit. Our bodies are remarkable, yet fragile machines. When properly cared for and fed they can produce great results. When we abuse bodies, as I did today, they tend to shut down. I guess my early morning biscuit and Gatorade was not enough fuel. Next time I will start with a muffin, banana and Gatorade. And, yes, I will carry some Gu with me.
The second reason for writing about my run is more ethereal. While completing the last few miles, I thought about how we should feed our souls as well as our bodies. Worship is the best way to feed your soul. We need worship. Worship gives us spiritual energy. And when I have periods without worship, my soul also “runs out of gas.”

There are two times in every week when I feed my soul the fuel of worship. The first time is every morning when I wake. I spend time alone with the Lord. By doing so, my soul has the energy necessary to take on the day. It receives the nutrients to sustain it.

The other time in the week when my soul is fed is during corporate worship. Three times each Sunday morning I refuel on worship. There was a time when I did not worship on Sunday mornings due to everything I had on my mind. Now, thanks to Bryan’s leadership, I am free to worship and seek the presence of God Almighty, even though I have a lot on my mind.

Is your spirit running on empty? Are you spiritually tired? Do you find yourself needing a spiritual lift during your week? I beg you to worship. Worship twice a week—once every morning and again on Sunday morning with your CrossPoint family. When you do so, you will not run out of gas.

Next weekend I am required to run 17 miles at one time. I think I will carry three packs of Gu to refuel my body. I may even spend some time feeding my soul during that long run.

CONNECT: Reading through the Bible

So, how are you doing with your daily Bible reading plan? My mom tells me she is staying a few days ahead so she can avoid ever getting behind in her reading. I try to practice the same discipline. It never hurts to remain a day or two ahead just in case something precludes you from reading one day,

The first four days of reading reaped major benefits for me.

From Genesis, the Lord reminded me that it is not good for man to be alone. I still marvel at the fact that although Adam lived in an age of complete innocence—no crime, no sin, no sickness, no government, no politicians, no taxes, no death—his situation was still not good. Wow!

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will
make him a helper fit for him.”
Genesis 2:18

What about this reminder on the second day of our Bible reading? How timely are these words?

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:8 & 9

Of course, the Psalms always speak to me. Did any of you see this sentence hidden at the end of Psalm 2?

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:12b

And then there is this incredible statement of faith made by Job, found in today’s Bible reading plan:

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job 1:20-22

I think it is rather obvious our plan to “read through the Bible” as we read through the Bible will produce great benefit for us in 2007. If you have not started reading, please start today. You still have time to catch up.
If you are reading through your Bible this year, let me know. Also, I would be curious to hear how the Lord has spoken to you thus far.