Adidas Rom Running Shoe

I’ve been running for about 42 years and my estimate is that during that time, I’ve probably broken in a new pair of shoes about every two years.  Using that logic, my guess is that I’ve run through more than 21 pairs of shoes. Who knows. The number could be much higher.   Earlier this week, I began breaking in my latest pair of shoes during the summer’s heat.  I’ve always thought that breaking in a new pair of shoes was a neat thing to do and I thought it would be fun to capture the experience in a post.  So, here’s a brief look back at a bit of my running shoe history and a connection between these shoes and my Christian faith.

Cross Country Running at Atlanta Water Works

As I recall,  my first pair of running shoes were the Adidas Italia.  They looked very similar to the Rom model with red stripes  pictured here, except the distinguishing three stripes that identify the Adidas brand were green in color.  The year would have been 1966 and I was running cross country at Therrell High School in Atlanta on the southeast side of town.  My father was in the Army stationed at Ft. MacPherson at the time.  Coach Wall trained us.  I remember the state meet was held that year at the Atlanta Water Works, pictured here.  If you look closely at the shoes worn by the runner on the right of the photo, you can see they are Adidas, similar to the Italia model.

Nike LD 1000 Running Shoe

In the mid 70’s while running at West Point, one pair of shoes I can remember running in was the Nike LD1000.  Bill Bowerman, employed by Nike and the University of Oregon track coach at the time, invented the concept of the waffle running shoe.  I recall having many Nike shoes with these waffle-type soles. Each year at the Academy, we were fortunate to be able to update our shoes to be  able to wear the newest style.  One thing I didn’t like about these yellow shoes was that they quickly became soiled-looking because the dirt easily discolored the upper part of the shoe.

Shoe Goo

On more than one occasion over the years I’ve used a product called Shoe Goo to extend the life of the soles of the shoes.  The concept would be to squeeze some goo on the sole at the heel of the shoe to build up the area that had worn.  In fact, I can remember back in high school, before the days of Shoe Goo, that I used adhesive tape to build up the heel.  I would roll up some tape and put it in on the outside edge of the heel area.  This is the spot of the shoe where my foot first strikes the ground and would wear the most.  The problem with this techniques was that about every other time I ran in the shoe, I’d have to re-apply the tape because it would come off.  I have often wondered if there have been other runners who ever used this technique.

Nike Air Max 2009 Running Shoe

Over the years, I’ve also worn shoes manufactured by Brooks, New Balance, Saucony, Asics and others.  Last week my youngest son, Dan, had a new pair of running shoes sent to me direct from Nike.  This is the first time that I have not gone into a store and tried on several shoes before making a choice on which ones were most comfortable.  I had concerns how they would fit and feel.

These Air Max 2009’s were a Father’s Day gift.  Dan told me that he wanted to treat me to a really nice pair of shoes.  Knowing that I’ve been running for such a long time and worn so many shoes, he wanted these to be special.   I’ve run in them three times now and each time out I’m happy to say that I’m liking them more and more.  I told Dan the other day that these shoes have more cushion than any running shoes I have ever worn.  It must be that air pocket under the sole that provides the extra cushion.  Well done Nike!

A Long Distance Runner in Wheat Fields

My runs are no where the distance that they used to be years ago.  I’m typically covering about two to three miles a run and make it out three to four days a week. And my fitness level today isn’t quite what it was back in the day, but I can still appreciate a really comfortable pair of shoes and it’s still with lots of anticipation that I lace up a brand new pair of running shoes and head out the door for the first time.  It’s often felt like I’m ‘running on air’ that first run in a new set of shoes.  And, for this pair of Nike Air Maxes, that’s pretty much what I was experiencing.  I look forward to the day when I slip on my next pair of new training shoes… but that won’t be for a year or so.  Some experts suggest replacing your shoes every 300 to 500 miles. If I follow this guideline, then at the earliest it I’ll have to wait another year minimum.  Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy breaking these Nike’s in!

This last picture reminds me of running among the wheat fields in Moscow, Idaho where I finished high school.  If you follow the link provided, you’ll see a picture of rolling hills similar to those only a mile from where we lived on the outskirts of town. What great memories!

Well, I’m off for another run….and I’m back now.  This is the first run in my new shoes this week where I haven’t stopped for a short period of time to walk just a bit.  The weather has been hot and very humid.  I was aware of this on the last stretch of my run and I wondered if anything made this one different.  It dawned on me that I was wearing my Ipod today listening to my Christian music. I am certain that the songs kept me moving!

Another thought I had on the run was how to make a connection between a pair of running shoes and our faith.  I had been wanting to do that as I began this article but the right thought never popped into my head.  It did on my run.

The Bible - Essential Equipment for Spiritual Fitness

Hands down, my most important piece of fitness equipment is my set of running shoes.  As I indicated at the onset of this article, I’ve been running for over 40 years.  It is my favorite type of exercise… always has been and always will be as long as I can keep at it.   One cool thing about running, and walking for that matter, is that it requires no special equipment other than a good pair of shoes.  You can walk or run just about anywhere so it’s a convenient type of physical activity. My most important piece of equipment regarding my Christian faith is my Bible.  I couldn’t do without it.  I start most every day reading from it during my devotional time.  Looking around my home office and into the living room I can see many Bibles.  I have a few New International Versions(NIV), a New Living Translation(NLT), King James, and a New King James.  Most days I read from the New Living Translation and the NIV Study Bible.

Reading the Bible daily helps me understand more about God and what He wants me to do with my life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Whether I want to exercise to maintain my fitness level or sustain my faith, I know right where to find my most important pieces of equipment.  My running shoes are in my closet and my Bible is on the side table.

Be well and stay fit!

Questions to Consider

What’s the most important piece of equipment you own that keeps you spiritually fit?  How often do you use it?

Related Articles I’ve Written

An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises

His Instructiuon Manual: Our Guidebook for a Healthy Life

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  Galatians 5:1

Once I was a captive to my sin.  I am now free in Christ Jesus.

God is the Deliverer from our sin and the bondage it brings us.

The cross is to Christians as the Statute of Liberty is to Americans.

Our freedom from sin was accomplished by Jesus on the cross over 200 years ago.  The choice is ours whether to receive this freedom associated with His death and resurrection. We are free to choose life or death. (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)

We have freedom in our country to worship and pray as we desire.

We have the freedom to proclaim God’s truth and share it with others.

God loves us so much that He’s given us a free will…. to believe in Him, love Him and to obey Him.  Without this freedom of choice, it would not be love.

Salvation from God is a free gift.  It’s grace.

This freedom we have available to us cost God the temporary death of His only Son.  For that I am so grateful.

For the freedoms I have enjoyed because I am a believer, I have a responsibility to share the Good News with others.

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31-32

This weekend is also a time to remember that the freedom we celebrate in our country is in part because of the lives of many who have served in our Armed Forces over the years.

And I’ll end this post with a prayer… passed along to me by a dear friend:

Dear Lord,

There is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience this freedom from sin and death that you have provided for me through Jesus Christ. Today my heart and my soul are free to praise you. For this I am very thankful.

On this Independence Day I am reminded of all those who have sacrificed for my freedom, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let me not take my freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May I always remember that my freedom was purchased with a very high price. My freedom cost others their very lives.

Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for my freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.

Help me to live my life in a way that glorifies you, Lord. Give me the strength to be a blessing in someone else’s life today, and grant me the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Christ.

Amen

When you learn something you want others to know… why not share it?

Earlier today I received a tweet from my son with a cross in it, like the ones above.  Wanting to learn how he did that, I asked.  He told me.

The solution is pretty simple:

Press and hold the Alt key and while doing that, type 0 1 3 4 on your keypad and then release the Alt key.

Try it.    †

Now I’ll just have to use it a bit so I’ll remember it.

Have a terrific day!

An MSNBC article provides insight into the report which indicates the the obesity epidemic in America is still worsening. In 31 states, more than one in four adults are obese according to the report.  Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year, and no state experienced a significant decline.  It’s a national crisis that “calls for a national strategy to combat obesity,” suggests Robert Wood Johnson vice president Dr. James Marks.

“The combination of poor nutrition and not enough physical activity have contributed to two-thirds of adults becoming either obese or overweight and nearly 23 million children obese or overweight.”  This is the leading sentence of the recommendations of the report.  The recommendations continue to read as follows.   “To improve the health of Americans and control health care costs, obesity prevention and control must become a national priority. The country’s health and well-being require that we take action. Obesity is one of the nation’s most overwhelming health problems, but up to now,policies to address it have been limited and under-resourced. As one of the nation’s most overwhelming health problems, combating obesity must be a central objective of health reform, and the country needs to develop a strategic approach to address obesity.”

The report also calls for a ‘National Strategy to Combat Obesity.’  It says “This strategy needs to be a comprehensive, realistic plan that involves every agency of the federal government,state and local governments, businesses, communities, schools, families, and individuals. It must outline clear roles and responsibilities and demand accountability. Our leaders should challenge the entire country to do their part to help improve our nation’s health.”

Each of the specific recommendations in the report for the various agencies to take have to deal with physical activity and nutrition.  In a general sense, recommendations are made that employers and local organizations provide preventive wellness programs.

I contend that the initiatives that could make the greatest impact on the incidence of obesity in both children and adults in our country are God-related.  More than advice and encouragement to eat better and move more and improved access to health care, people need a vibrant and strong personal relationship with their Creator – the God of the Bible.

The real root of so many illnesses and diseases we struggle with in our society are spiritual, not poor nutritional habits and inactivity as many would suggest is the case in obesity.  Sure, being inactive and eating poorly are contributors.  Yes, access to health care makes a big difference.  But what about the faith factor?  I suggest that it, or the absence of it, makes all the difference in the world.

Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was.  His reply, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

If we do not love God as He intends for us to, and love others and ourselves as He desires us to, then we’re going to have many problems in our lives.  In the absence of these strong and meaningful relationships, some of us, many in fact according to this recent report, will develop belief systems, mindsets and associated lifestyle behaviors that are conducive to weight gain.  It’s highly likely that these unhealthy factors may be due to broken and unhealed relationships with God, self or others. Think about it – God calls us to love him with our entire being. He calls us to be in loving relationships with others just as we love ourselves.

Prescription for Good Health

I’ll bet that if we researched this issue, we’d find a great proportion of those who are obese are not really well in their relationships with God, themselves or others. The unhealthy and long-term thinking patterns and associated toxic emotions of feeling unacceptable, worthless, unloved, guilty and anxious will set off a regular dripping of harmful chemicals(cortisol, etc.) in their bodies through the inner workings of the endocrine and limbic systems.  If left unchecked a host of complicated immune-related diseases, diabetes and obesity included, may develop.  I also think we’d find that there is a measurable and significant absence of health-related beliefs and practices outlined for us in the Bible.

What are we to do to turn around the obesity epidemic? Turn to God in a heart-felt and genuine way.  Get to know Him.  Develop a personal relationship with Him through His son, Jesus and by reading and following His guidebook for living.  The Bible outlines all the advice we really need to be able to get a handle on this issue.  All Americans need to do is read it and follow the guidelines that our Creator has given us within it.

Yes, we do warrant an F grade in the fight against obesity in America but there is an F that is missing in this Fat epidemic and it’s faith in God.

If we’re going to have an impact on this aspect of our health-care crisis in America, I’d recommend that those setting national policies to turn around obesity in adults and children and in health care reform include a very big dose of faith/God-based initiatives into their planning.

Resources

The Bible online

A one-page article on understanding the spirituality and health connection

These are affirmations I’ve tweeted over the last few weeks.  Speak and claim them for yourself.  Have a terrific day!

“I follow the light of Jesus so I don’t stumble in the darkness. His light leads to life.”  John 8:12

“I don’t hide my light under a basket. Instead, I put it on a stand for all to see… for the glory of God!”  Matthew 5:15

“I believe that Jesus is the Messiah so I have life.”  John 20:31

“I use well what is given me by God, so He gives me more.”  Luke 19:26

“I looked for God in earnest, and sought Him, so I found Him.”  Jeremiah 29:13

“The Lord is my light & salvation. I shall fear no one.”  Psalm 27:1

“I am forever free from condemnation.”  Romans 8:1-2

“I do not cling to worthless idols so I have much grace.”  Jonah 2:8

“I am blessed because I trust in the Lord and make Him my hope and confidence.”  Jeremiah 17:7

“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to my heart.” Psalm 19:8

“I recognize Jesus’ voice and follow Him. He’s given me eternal life and I will never perish.”  John 10:27-28

“The Lord is my salvation and my strength.” Isaiah 12:2

“God has poured out His love to me by the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 5:5

Without hesitation, I walked outside to where I’m growing two tomato plants.  One is a grape-shaped cherry tomato and the other is a larger Big Boy brand.  They’ve been ripe for a little over two weeks now and I’ve already enjoyed a few dozen cherry tomatoes.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and A and the anti-oxidant lycopene. They are my favorite fruit during the summer. Yes, botanically, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant – therefore it is a fruit.

As I was rinsing off the tomato I picked and preparing to cut it, the thought came to me quickly that as a tomato is a very healthy fruit to eat, as a person stays closely connected to Jesus, he/she will exhibit much fruit in their life.  (See John 15:5) Paul explains this to us in Galatians 5:22-23 – the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control.

Then the thought came into my mind that Jesus is the path to perfect fruit.  The more we stay connected to Him and partake of Him, the more fruitful our life will be… and it probably will be healthier.  When our lives are rooted in Jesus, then we will bear these kinds of fruit. That’s what the Bible says. And any physician will tell you that a life that exhibits the fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians is likely to be healthier than a life absent of such fruits.

Points to Ponder

So, on this second day of Summer, are you incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables into your daily diet?  You can get some pretty healthy fruits and veggies at your local market.

More importantly, how are you nourishing your spirit so that your life will exhibit the kind of fruit that Paul mentions in Galatians?  Are you remaining close to Jesus?  Do you know Him in a personal way?

Helpful Links

Get to know Jesus

Other blog posts on diet and fruits

This is the conclusion to a recent presentation I made at Duke University.

Two weeks ago I was fortunate to attend and present a poster presentation at the second annual meeting of the Society for Spirituality, Theology and Health.

The title of this year’s presentation was The Spirituality and Health Connection: Why It Exists – A Christian Faith Perspective. (a 2 page pdf file) As I mentioned in an earlier post while I was attending the meeting, what I attempted to do was capture the essence of the Christian faith as it pertains to health and wholeness on one poster-sized paper.

The presentation, supported by 194 scripture passages, captures 41 key principles that I contend make a difference in a person’s well-being and health. It also highlighted seven important medical truths and seven spiritual truths relevant to wellness and wholeness.

Eventually, I intend on revising the Spiritual Fitness Assessment I’ve developed to include many of these additional principles.

As I mention at the end of the poster, if you’d like to collaborate on a research project or educational initiative addressing these principles, I’d love to hear from you.

Have a terrific day!

The Grey Reef on North Platte River

Last week I was in Casper, Wyoming helping a friend conduct fitness standards testing for the city’s Police Department.  I’d driven through Wyoming before but never spent any time in the state.

It so happens that this area is home to some of the best trout fishing in the United States, if not the world!  The North Platte River runs right through Casper. I love to fish but don’t do it too often.  I did not take any of my fishing gear on the trip because I did not know if I’d have enough free time to get out on the river.. and I was unsure of where to fish.

By good fortune, one of the police officers we tested during the first day there is not only an avid fisherman but a fishing guide sponsored by Orvis, a leading manufacture of fly fishing gear. Jeremy was gracious enough to loan me his gear – flies, waders and a rod.

After fitness testing one day he took me to the Grey Reef, a world renowned spot about 25 miles out of town, and oriented me to the type of flies and fishing techniques that are popular on this river.  Over the course of two days, I was able to get in about 8 hours of fly fishing for large rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. I’ll forgo a long explanation of the technique used to tie on flies to the leader, cast and retrieve the line but it was something new that I had to learn from Jeremy.

One aspect of the fishing that is relevant to this post and different than I was accustomed to is the method of constructing the leader or the end of the line.  It involved tying additional sections of monofilament line to the end of a tapered  leader onto which you tie the fly.  These end sections, called tippets, are the diameter the size of a piece of thread. There are a few special knots that are used to connect the tippet to the leader and it’s important that the knots be tied correctly, otherwise it may come undone and the fish would get away.  (Read more about the construction of the leader and tippets at this link if you’re interested.)

Cutthroat trout

On my second day of fishing, I returned to a hole that I observed other fisherman being successful in the evening before. (The photo to the right is of a cutthroat being landed.)  I was able to hook into a large trout.  By the color, I’m thinking it was a rainbow.  I had it on for about 30 seconds until the tension on the line went limp and I recognized that it was no longer hooked.  Upon reeling the line in, I recognized that the knot I had used to tie the tippet to the leader had come undone.  The connection was not as it should have been so I lost the fish.  Had the knot been tied correctly, perhaps I would have been successful in landing this nice rainbow, which would have been very rewarding and thrilling.

As in using and tying the right kind of knots in fly fishing to connect the tippet to the leader, the way we connect to God in our faith is important to living a full and rewarding life. The more grounded we are in our faith… the stronger our connection to God… the better we’ll be able to handle the life events and associated stressors that come our way.

In John 15, Jesus encourages us to stay connected to Him and that if we do that, He’ll remain connected to us.  He indicates that when this happens, we will have fruit in our life and that our joy will overflow.  He also says “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

To me, being connected to Jesus and God means daily reading the Bible, praying, meditating on the scriptures, listening to uplifting and encouraging music, regularly going to church and having conversation with Him throughout the day.  When I do these things, I have a sensing that He is with me.  His presence then gives me strength, hope, joy and peace for living and managing life.

A Few Questions for You

Are you solidly connected to God and Jesus? If so, how are you benefiting?

If not, can you sense how you might connect with Him more solidly and the benefits you’d receive?

The Spirituality and Health Connection

Read more about why and how the spirituality and health connection exists.

Along with 30 others, I’m presenting a poster presentation.  The title of my presentation is The Spirituality and Health Connection: Why It Exists – A Christian Faith Perspective.

As I mentioned to a few people yesterday, I guess I’ve tried to capture the essence of the Christian faith – as it relates to health and well-being- and the 66 books of the Bible onto one 36″x48″ piece of paper! Yikes!

After the conference, I’d add a link on my site with my material.

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator.” Blaise Pascal, French Physicist and Philosopher

Have an awesome day.

Doctor Wendy Magee, International Fellow in Music Therapy at London’s Institute of Neuropalliative Rehabilitation, describes music as a “mega-vitamin for the brain,” capable of influencing and improving motor function, communication and even cognition. “When neural pathways are damaged for one particular function such as language, musical neural pathways are actually much more complex and much more widespread within the brain,” Magee told CNN. “Music seems to find re-routed paths and that is why it is such a useful tool in terms of helping people with different kinds of brain damage because it can help to find new pathways in terms of brain functioning.”

It’s not surprising that researchers have documented the health benefits of singing songs of joy.  In the Bible, there are countless exhortations for us to sing out songs to God.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.”  Psalm 96:1

“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”  Psalm 98:1

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”  Isaiah 49:13

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16

God knows the impact that singing songs of joy has on our health.  If you’re suffering from a health issue, lift up a song to God, thanking Him for who He is and what He’s done in your life.  Sing out to him in praise. He wants your praises regardless of how you’re feeling.

Songs of praise to God glorify Him most importantly.  A secondary affect may be that they have a positive impact on your health.

Be well!!