RunSTRONG.

Trials, Tribulations, and Spiritual Growth.

2012-06-20T15:34:00.001-05:00

Over the years that I have worked within emergency management I have seen plenty of times in which people run from danger. I have seen fear in the eyes of men looking at a wall of flame four times their height, and I have seen the chaos of the crowd when the tornado siren wails...but I have also seen the beautiful growth after that same wildfire, and that storm.

The grass grows green and healthiest following the wind driven fire...
The flower brightens and heightens most after the spring thunderstorm...
The gold refined to it's purest form once run through the heated kiln.
and so it is true with my life and yours.

Great disaster and difficult days drive me to prayer. Prayer: humble and broken brings me nearer to my great God. I have seen others that too have been touched by tough situations, pains, and loss...and when I look so often at those who have weathered such a season with God as their Captain I see that they carry a confidence that others who even in the calm do not. How awesome to see our King bless those who are faithful to Him! How awesome to see that the fruits of those storm covered days grow larger and sweeter than the fruit of the easy days!

If troubling days you find yourself in, take heart, fellow believer! Take heart, for our Lord does not promise you an easy path to the Promised Land, but He does guarantee a safe path. And, if in your days of trouble you look to Him, if in His hand you trust your day, you will have the most blessed of fruit grown in your life.
The Gettys: When Trials Come

Psalm 121

2012-06-08T14:38:00.001-05:00

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber not sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

Psalm 121

Sometimes, it seems like I have it all put together, all sorted out, things figured out, direction given, action being taken. Or, at least that is what I have been hearing from others most of my life.

Early this week I heard something different. My good friend Rob said, "Bradley, I have never seen you un-sure of anything."
You know what, Rob was right (kinda). I may be unsure of my direction, I may be unsure of my job, of my living arrangements, my transportaion methods, even at times my friendships...But, I have never been unsure of who my God is, or where it is that I recieve the strength to carry on through each day, and each moment within those days.

My Lord, is Creator of all. My King, the Director of my life. I may be doubled over. I may be in pain, turmoil, and anquish...but I am strong with His strength. I am strong with Him as my Captain. I trust Him fully, and nomatter how difficult the path is that is before me, I will always faithfully take that next step!

I hope that as you read this you find that you can have the same confidence in your future as I have in mine, and I pray that this quickly written blog post is an encouragement in your day!

In closing,
Happy Friday! Go enjoy your weekend!

True Commitment, True Love.

2012-06-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to run with one of our residents (we will call him AP) here at the facility. It was so good to get out and do some running with AP, as he is soon to be completing his time here and he has set a goal for himself to run daily when he is out of the 'system'. He has only recently decided that he wanted to do this, and now cites that he wants replace smoking with running when he gets stressed out and overwhelmed.

Since AP has voiced his goals to me, I want to take these last couple of weeks and prepare him to accomplish them. We started our run just shortly after the rain started to fall (which any of you that know me well, know that I love running in the rain!), the sky was overcast, and our spirits were high.
As we ran out of town we kept a solid pace, and had to walk only three times of about fifteen seconds each. When I pointed out the turn around point of three miles and said I wanted to try to keep from stopping, he doubled up his efforts to keep moving forward. We were successful in that goal, and after showing him how to do a wide turn around that prevents a runner from losing momentum we were on our return leg of the run!

As we began our trek back I encouraged him to push onward without coming to a stop, and took this time we had together to ask about his life. He talked to me about his moving often and about gang life. He told me about the good aspects of being apart of a gang (basically security...people don't mess with you when you belong to a crowd), and about the negative aspects of gang life ("having to rob people at gun point is not fun", "I don't want to kill someone", and "I don't want to end up somewhere worse than here"). He spoke to me about his wanting to be done with it all when he 'got out', and about no matter how much he is ready to move on he still has a tie to 'them' (his fellow gang members), he still has a commitment to them, and basically how they were still his 'safe place'.

After running in silence for a mile or so...well outward silence because I was not truly silent. I was praying through all that silence, praying that I might be used by God to bring this young man to Him...and that even if He chose not to use me to do so, that He would still draw AP to Him through others! After that time in prayer, I told AP that he had to do whatever it took, whatever he needed in the short time he has remaining here at SFAP to sever that 'committment' because it was a false commitment. I told him that his "homies" might kill for his security, and that he might do the same for them, but that they would not die for him nor he for them. I told him that there is only One that we can trust, and that that person is not even our own selves for we are only human too. I told him that the only real security we have is security given by God.

We finished our run without a single stop more, we ran hard, and the rain fell on us through from start to finish. Back at the facility, I gave AP a handshake and told him I was proud of him. Standing at the finish of our run, now soaked by God's beautiful grace, and by his beautiful rain...praying.

Today, I once again find myself praying that same prayer.

I pray that AP and I will have another chance to catch a few miles. I have been praying that the time we spent together and the words shared have been working on his heart and that as he tests them in his mind and heart he finds them to be true (as they are). I have been praying that he might have questions, I have been praying that I can share with him the rest of the story. The story of our great God and not only the security He provides, but also that although others might kill for him, Christ is the only one that has died for him!

Won't you pray for AP too?

My God

2012-06-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

"i am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
whom have i in heaven but You? and there is nothing on earth that i desire besides You.
my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength (Rock) of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:23-26

Sometimes,
...actually most times things are tough. This world knocks us down, and there seems to be nobody to help us up. As we sit on the pavement the whole world walking by us, we reach out, we look to friends, family, and eventually to anybody for a helping hand.

What unspeakable peace I have in knowing that my God is here. He is here with me, no matter what I am going through or how utterly alone I feel, I take comfort in knowing that the creator of the universe is my Strong Tower, my Rock!

If today you feel like you are in a canyon with steep walls and no escape...here's me reminding you of what I have been reminded of today!

"My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty! There is nothing my God can not do!"

A new direction...the same path.

2012-05-22T22:23:00.000-05:00

It has been a long while since my last post.
It has been a short while since my last life change...or last three life changes.

At the start of May I took a new position with SWOSU (Assistant Director of an adjudicated facility), that took me to a different part of the state, and on to my next season of life, or at least the next chapter of this book.
This window of opportunity was quickly presented and as quick as it was presented it required an equally quick response. The decision that was before me was difficult. I was plagued with the urgency of this offer, plagued by the weight that was carried by my decision.

To stay, to go?
The decision was most difficult.

The pros of staying were largely relationship in nature. People flooded my mind. Faces. Person after person; individuals I had invested time with, friends I had grown closer with, relationships that I had hoped to continue to pour effort, time, and love into, they all were there...heavy on my thoughts.
RAs
Chad and Amy
Residents
Church Members
Co-workers

Would the move injure my ability to continue to build these people up? Might I still be able to make a difference in their lives just as great from a distance as I could in the same town?

The pro to taking this job was very similar to the pros of staying in Weatherford. People. Granted not people in the community...250 tops, but rather the Residents of the facility. See, this program houses sixteen criminally active young men, who are given a chance to change the course of their lives.
These are mostly men that have never seen anything but what they came from, all they have are gangs for support and hardly a one has had a positive male figure in their life.

Through out the 24-hour period that I had to make a decision, a verse kept on the forefront of my mind.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

That verse consoled me. It helped me be confident in the decision that I would ultimately make.
Clearly I took the job. Now, I am looking for a house to buy...trying to take these next steps in as much faith as I took the first. I am still living in three locations it seems...here at the facility, back in Weatherford, and back in Arnett...all at the same time. I guess if you count the nights I have slept in my truck then you can add those locations too. :)

Things have turned rough this past week. I often feel all alone. I run much, and think more. My thoughts drive me to wonder about this decision to leave what I know as home for this location that is barren for friendship. I do not question my coming up here, but I do find myself less confident in being here next month...next year...and on.

Through this rough week, a verse has found itself consistently on my mind.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust. Trust the Lord with everything. My understanding is less than His. His understanding is greater than mine. Pray to Him in all things. Consider Him first in all things. Look at His will (to bring Him glory), first making that my priority and He will make my paths straight.

Today, left to my own thoughts...I am fearful. My road seems uncertain, with many bends.
Today, with this verse I look to my past. My. Path. Has. Been. Straight. He has led me through everything, straight through it all. He has blessed me daily, greatly. I know without any doubt this seemingly perilous path, will be straight, and it will be glorifying to my King.

And that reminds me of the other pro to coming on this journey. I knew that with this move my relationship with my Lord would grow as a result. And it has done exactly that.

In these hard lonely times, I remember:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you." For I AM with you.
Isaiah 43:2

I am not alone. Nor are you. Thank you to my Lord and thank you for helping remind me: Tara, Lacie, Cole, Ben, Dad, and Heath. You were used greatly.

Usufruct: A lesson from Jefferson on bearing (spiritual) fruit

2011-09-27T14:54:00.000-05:00

The term usufruct is so difficult to define, but as I have come to understand it (or at least, as it is in my head), usufruct is the productivity of a parcel of land.

President Jefferson often was found to defend a citizen's use of private property so long as that citizen does not hinder or lessen the usufruct (fruitfulness) of the land. So, the president's belief was that we as 'landowners' have the right to use the land as we desire so long as our use of it does not injure future users/owners of that land. President Jefferson would at times even go further and say that our responsibility as 'landowners' were not only to prevent lessening the fruitfulness of the land (by overgrazing, over-harvesting, striping the land of resources, or toxify-ing the land by dumping or other means), but to actually increase the productivity...fruit bearing, of the land.

When I first heard the concepts that President Jefferson pressed about usufruct, I immediately processed them in terms of 'spiritual fruit'. And it is these concepts of spiritual usufruct, and spiritual fruit that I hope to share with you today...along with encouragement to you that you may be highly productive with the opportunities that God has given you.

So first, a definition:

Fruit, is anything being produced or accrued; it is a product, a result, or an effect. Fruit is the return of labor. Fruit serves as the evidence of one's intentions and claims.

So often when we hear of fruit in a Christian context we think of the 'Fruit of the Spirit' (Gal. 5:22) which refer to specific qualities that are possessed by a believer. Those qualities being: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.

It seems so easy to instantly jump to this list of qualities anytime we hear any scripture that speaks of fruit...or the product that we as believers yield.

For instance:

"You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?"

Matthew 7:16

For us to quickly fast-forward to these 'fruits of the spirit' when we hear of the scriptures is not a bad thing at all, however, to stop there and not progress any further would be amiss. Because as we stated earlier, fruit is anything that is being produced or accrued, anything that is a result of our labor. The labor of Christ in us does not only produce works in our character and within ourself, but also produces effects in those around us.

The labor of Christ in us also produces disciples! Disciples! The labor that we undergo everyday, the fight that we fight everyday, the race that we run everyday, as a Christian, that laboring, fighting, running, living, has a result of fruit, good fruit! Fruit of the Spirit? YES! Fruit of disciples? YES!

Now that we have made sure that we understand the fruits we produce as Christians, let us apply Jefferson's concept of usufruct to our 'spiritual field'.

And as such we 'children of God', 'heirs', we have the responsibility to build, plow, fertilize, (DISCIPLE) those around us in a way that not only prevents smaller fruit harvests but actually increases those harvests! Our responsibility as believers and disciples is to build other disciples and increase their harvests.

How?

By not overgrazing, over-harvesting, stripping the land, toxify-ing...

in other words: By love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.

In all these things enter in prayer.

Bountiful harvests await!

Rebuke...NEEDED!

2011-09-22T13:24:00.001-05:00

טֹוב לִשְׁמֹעַ גַּעֲרַת חָכָם מֵאִישׁ שֹׁמֵעַ שִׁיר כְּסִילִֽים׃

Stet...at the top.

Life right now is so good,

life right now is wonderful...absolutely amazing!

I feel like I am back to being the ole' me...things have begun returning to normal. God has brought me out of the dessert and into the 'land of milk and honey'!

My prayer times have been the highlights of these past few weeks.

I have been encouraged by my time with the Lord! These sweet times of prayer have overflown into all aspects of my life, including my conversations. These conversations with old friends (Ben, Lacie, Scott, Josh, Kim, Allen, Cole, Allyson, Clayton, Charrissa), new friends (Tieben, Cash, Nick), and complete strangers (John, and others) have been such a blessing!

These two things alone make 'my life grand' (cue George Strait), but couple them with the opportunities that God has given me recently to invest or help others, and how much time I have had for running, and for travel, and you see why I am in the clouds.

Now that we have all the house keeping and updating portion of the post out of the way, I can inform you that this is not a post about how great I have been. Rather, it is going to be a quick writing about something I have been reminded of recently. It is going to be about a verse in Ecclesiastes, and how that verse is pertinent always...even when you are 'at the top', or you 'have the whole world on a string'.

"It is better for a man to hear the rebuke

of the wise

than to hear the song of fools."

Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV

Sometimes, when we climb higher and higher, when we are freed from previous struggles, when we are walking in God's guidance, we feel invincible. We feel untouchable by those previous hindrances and hard times, and it can become easy to walk void of concern of those times returning.

I have been here before...I have found myself within the oasis beyond the dry sandy dunes more than once. And I did not properly guard myself against past temptations, struggles, and sin. I felt fixed and spent my time praising God for the deliverance and gifts (a good thing to always do), BUT, I failed to spend much time asking for continued perseverance and strength. I failed to ask for a continued refinement. I failed to seek a continued change in my heart and life.
In these failures, I lost some of the humility that brought me to the true realization that God changed me, and that it was not me changing myself. With the loss of this understanding, I began to try to fix my oneself again...to only find that I had slipped back into the same places I was before, and now with a gilt, and a shame that pushed me all the further into the dessert.

So, this time. These glorious days of refreshment, have been filled with praise, (oh have they been filled with praise), but equally so they have been filled with prayers for continuation, for strength, for refining fire, for wise rebuke, for a sincere and humble spirit, for a contrite heart.
:)
And how God loves to answer prayers!
He sent me rebuke for a wise source, a strong sister. She shared with me concerns that she has had for sometime. These concerns were concerns that I too have had, but had thought I had been doing well within. Turns out I may not have been doing so well...so in this time of being so high...so strong...so victorious, God has given me a spot that I know I can not fix. He has given me an area that I know only He can change! And how humbling it is that He brings it to me now!

It is so good to find rebuke from wise friends who desire my refinement as a christian man, as apposed to words of flattery from all the world.

So, thanks...
Thank you for the helping hand,

3:5-6

2011-07-06T15:08:00.001-05:00

I always struggle with memorizing verses.

In honest I actually have a difficult time remembering much of anything I am suppose to. All those algebraic and english concepts discovered in grade school and refreshed throughout the years of college are now gone...

Even with this issue every so often, motivation from my depth comes to build my desire to memorize verses and quote scripture. And each time I have some form of success for a few weeks or a month. Then I begin to once again fall off the wagon and begin down the path of forgetting what was so carefully recited and marked as knowledge to be remembered. First I drop a few words here and there, then begin to struggle with chapter and verse...running a scripture from John with the location of a chapter and verse from Romans...and so on and so forth. From there I begin to become demoralized in my goal and slowly slip back to a state of remembering only bit and pieces here and there...

THEN. In the thick of a moment, right in the heart of trouble, as soon as a hard time comes knocking...so comes this verse remembered.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

I recall the first time I set out to memorize this verse. DWC (Dallas Winter Conference for all of you not in the know) 2005, James Camden and I sat in the hotel lobby at an early morning hour, after a night filled with worship and fellowship, games and conversations. Here, in one of the few hours that the majority of CRU's (Campus Crusade for Christ's) college students slept, we exchanged thoughts, confessed to each other regrets and sins, and spoke of dreams and hopes. It was then, that James handed me a paper. A paper with this verse on it. He was working on memorizing it, and had ask me to hold him accountable.

Since that morning, many more rotations has our world made on its axis. James is now married and I a groomsman for his wedding. I have gone to Alaska with CRU and returned...and James and I both to Italy for short while... Yes. Much has happened in our lives since then, much has changed. But through it all this verse stays.

When things get tough, God reminds me of something I worked so hard to remember. God speaks to me through this and other scriptures memorized. Even when moments before I could not recall the faintest of any...

That's how it works.

We read.

We pray.

We memorize.

He works on us.

He changes our hearts.

He reminds us...

He speaks to us...

God,

Thank you.

i will trust in You, even in the times i feel lost. i know You are here. i know You are my Shepard. You lead me to safe places. You protect me.

i love You.

Lifeline...

2011-06-28T15:28:00.000-05:00

At least once every season of every year I find myself unravelled and unravelling all the more. I become unfocused and unmotivated. I stay up late. I workout little. I trudge through the day. I eat poorly. I leave tasks unfinished. I am slow to start new things.

When I see that I have once again begun to travel down this road, I always wonder why. It's funny that I ask myself that because I already know the answer. My stated priority is not being matched with action.

SEE: I am Mr. Priority.
I always have been. Even as a grade schooler I remember saying things like, "#1 is God, #2 is Country, #3 Family/Friends." Years later in college, I found that in my younger years I had only said, "this is my priority"...and that my actions showed otherwise.
I said what I wanted to be true of me even though it was not. In those early years I did not know God, and my family and friends were far more important to me than Him or my country.

I came to understand that saying things does not make them true, but our actions can be used as a truer gauge of sincerity. Being honest with myself and others has always been one of upmost importance to me, and when being honest with myself I find I am most likely to grow.

Today, I am still Mr. Priority; make a difference, eat healthy, reach out, early to bed, early to rise, be positive, workout often...the list goes on.
But, the most important difference between the young me and the me today is that, my time with God is not just a priority...it is beyond a priority. God, His character, and His direction for me, is not just an object to be seen but rather the lens that I must see all objects through.
God has become the drive of my days, He is the caster of my days and the molder of my heart.

When I start down this season of perpetual unravelling, I know why.
It is because I am making my Lord a priority, but not living as though He is my only priority. When Christ is not my everything, then I amount to absolutely nothing.
HE is my LIFELINE, He is my everything!

171 Days

2011-06-20T16:16:00.000-05:00

Today marks six months twenty days since we all began down the path of 2011 resolutions...eleven days till the half way point. So...how is your resolution holding up? Still holding onto those extra pounds? Chances are you have not done as well as you would like. If you are like the rest of us your resolutions have fallen and likely not to be revived until day one of 2012.

It does not have to be this way! I hope that your reading this will be your first step toward revamping your motivation.

Every January we have hundreds of resolutions set and every year they sound like this, "stop smoking, get fit, lose weight, enjoy life more, quit drinking, become organized, learn something new, get out of debt, spend more time with friends and family, help people more, ect...", and chances are if your 2011 resolution is among these, that was your 2010, 2009, and 2008 resolution too. So let's change this. Let's finish what we started.

Here are some resources and facts to help you jump your ambitions back up:

Watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Get active, and go for the BIG resolutions...like competing in a triathlon
If you are average in your diet then you drink a soda a day (at least) and it you do, then you consume approximately 91,000 calories in the course of the year from that beverage alone
According to the CDC, 12% of adult Americans have heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and growing each year
77% of families owe debt

Take these next few days to thank about setting a six month resolution to make your life better...

Dad

2011-06-19T22:46:00.001-05:00

My favorite photo of you is from several years back.

It's a photo that was taken at the old baseball and softball complex in Shattuck. You and I are both dressed in gold and black, the front of your shirt said coach and the back of mine said Jennings. That year we placed first (i think) in the t-ball tournament and you were announcing each player as they came to accept their individual trophy. I was last out of the team to come forward, and that was when the photo was snapped. Me going forward, too far away from the line of teammates for them to be frozen alongside us. There in that photo sat three; me reaching to shake John the pharmacist's hand, John with one hand outstretched and one holding that gold flaked plastic ballplayer, and you. You are pointing at me with your hand, and upon your face was a smile.

I remember that your were announcing my name, but to me when I see this photo I always hear, "I am proud of you".

Anyone who knows me well, knows you are my best friend, and I thank you for making me who I am.

I also owe a tremendous thanks to the other influential folks in my life. Thank you Mom, Clay, Grandparents, and friends.

I owe ALL thanks to God my Father.

It's Friday!

2011-06-17T15:03:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

Yes it has been ages since I posted last. And yes, it is tougher to regain traction starting a blog back up...even more so than starting the blog to begin with. However there is good news. I am back and back for good!
Let me tell you what is new in my world:

I am working on finishing up my masters degree here at SWOSU in parks and recreation management
May 2012 I plan to begin working on a master's of divinity/theology
along with the MDiv, I plan to begin down the path of becoming a military chaplain
my BIG goal of 2011 is to become 100 percent debt free
I have now completed seven marathons!!! (lucky number seven)
you can now follow me on twitter

I am so excited to be back, and you can expect to here from me on a regular base! I am still the same ole' OklahomaBrad, and I hope you return to following me regularly.

It's Friday, have a little fun....grow a stache...

or buy and paste if you can't!

Lets ease back in...

2011-03-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

It has been, a very long time.

If you are reading this, you agree...

I appologize for the months of hibernation that this blog has entered. I hope that this entry serves as an entry of awakening. That with this publish, I will again share with you wisdom and thought, this is the hope.

"o Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens...

...when i look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?"

Psalm 8

O Lord,

what am i, who am i...

fully unworthy

of your grace,

fully justified

of your wrath...

YET

you have sent your Son to die

to die for ME?

O Lord,

you have saved me,

boughten me you have...

God, help me you everyday.

to serve

God, help me others everyday.

to love

God, help me die this day to self, that i may live this day for you...

Happy Monday 8.23.10

2010-08-23T23:08:00.001-05:00

So near to missing all of Monday, to post this new weekly addition... Sorry about the wait (if there are those out there waiting)

I went home this weekend! Loved it! I miss the solitude and peace.

If you have a home...be thankful. There are many who do not.

Raced in the local 5k and placed 1st, as well as taking first in the amazing race. Thanks to my partner, Tanner! Next month is a great month for entering and completing a race!

Be thankful for your ability to do things...whatever you do.

One of my favorite shows to watch (in the seldom event I choose to watch something other than what is around me) Survivorman. If you get the chance check it out.

Today, a few of my friends and I invited a hitch-hicker to a bible study. His name was George Nelson. And he certainly was not by any means a Christian. If you would I ask that you pray for him as you think about it. I hope that our time with him will be used by God in a good and positive way, and that it may help him find salvation in Christ.

If you are curious of my faith, please check it out. Feel free to ask me any questions you would like.
Since there is no greater blessing than Salvation in Christ, I will leave it there.

Have a beautiful, wonderful week. If you come to troubles, know you come to them not alone. :)

Friday Funny! 8.20.10

2010-08-20T17:11:00.002-05:00

As I am now picking up a routine for every Monday with 'Happy Mondays', I have decided to begin a rountine for my Friday aswell.

Welcome to the first 'Friday Funny', I got my idea from fellow blogger 'Steve in a Speedo.

Monkey Butt

Happy Monday!

2010-08-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

Hello Everybody!

It's MONDAY! Yea, I know sometimes Mondays are a drag...they are the day that stifles the fun of the weekend, and brings us all to yet another week of work or school. But, there are so many good things and blessings, within this day too!!! At times it's just difficult to remember that.
So, this is the beginning of 'Happy Monday!'!!! I will be blogging weekly on this day with the simple purpose of sharing with you all the things I have found to be happy about. These blogs may be small in length, but I hope you will leave them smiling and more fully aware of how great a day it really is! I stole the idea from Snippet & Ink, whom I enjoy following, and it will be in a format that is a bit erratic; you may find everything from, short statements to lengthy stories, links to funny sites to verses from the Bible.

Welcome, to Happy Monday!

Before I leave this world I really would like to learn to juggle...since I woke again today, I have another chance to learn!

This past week was a great opportunity to view meteors, check out these 12 awesome meteor photos. If you have kids, and have not given them the opportunity to see this amazing view created by God, please give them that chance. :)

Cardinals fans be excited! Even as we have fallen to number two in the division, we are still fighting hard and Albert is helping us with his record setting homeruns!

Since I have bought the new Apple, I have started listening to Podcasts, and absolutly love them! If you too listen to podcasts, I highly recommend Tommy Nelson's podcast at Denton Bible Church. If you get a chance, check it out, I think you will like it.

If you are in the Weatherford area on Thursday night, come check out my friends from Green Corn Revival, perform at my number one hang-out spot The Cup. They perform at 7 P.M.

'always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy' Philippians 1:4

If you have things that are making you happy this day, or if you have something share with others, please feel free to post!

In closing,

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

-Oh the Places You Will GO - Dr. Seuss

Window to My Day

2010-08-15T16:55:00.000-05:00

Just a random picture, I miss the old crew... :)

Good Sunday, everybody!

Boy this week has been tiring, with move-in here on campus and all of the work it takes to prepare for another school year. Stewart hall now has all but our last forty (or so) residents moved in, and have completed our first event of the semester; NoonCakes!
We served around seventy-five residents and others this morning at noon following church. I think it went well and is the beginning to a great year!

Tonight, I will be playing OOZEBALL with the 'DawgDays Committee'! Really looking forward to winning the oozeball tournament :), I will be adding pictures soon!

On other notes.
I will begin once again running. These past couple of weeks since the 'Tinhorn incident', I have not ran even one mile!!! Crazy, I know. It is the longest break I have had (I think) in the last three years!

Yesterday, I began reading Jungle Pilot, the story about Nate Saint; his life, and missionary journey in Ecuador. I really enjoy it, as I figured I would as it is the writing that encouraged the making of End of the Spear, which is one of my favorite films!

Well, to all you in the Weatherford area; come join the fun tonight! Hope your day is grand!

Please Watch

2010-08-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=455621345922

Everyone, please watch this video. I could not help but tear up throughout it all...
Please thank the men and women who serve you and this country.

After you watch it, ask yourself why you don't cling to our Heavenly Father, as we cling to our eathly fathers...I want to run into the arms of my Savior every morning, I want clasp Him with my legs and crawl up to have Him hold me.

I realize that to watch this video you must have facebook...I am sorry if you don't.

Guess it was time for a slowdown (forced).

2010-08-04T18:18:00.001-05:00

Well, as usual I have been running around crazy these last few weeks... That however, has changed a little this week. Although things have still been hectic, they are slower. This is how they got that way...

Saturday July 31, began with me and nine of my close friends setting out to float the Lower Illinois River. Things were awesome, sitting in the country-side of Talequah, Oklahoma, about to relax and just bask in the sun for a few hours.

We started our float trip slightly before ten that morning. At about ten after ten, I was about to begin telling everyone to watch out for all the unseen debris in the water (as I was wearing polarized sunglasses and could see the bottom quite well). 'About', because I never started voicing this warning. See at the same time I thought "I ought address this.", I also spotted a very nice sized channel cat in a deep pool.
Upon seeing this catfish, I imagined a picture with me broad-smiling and holding this beast! So, of course I dove in after him.
A split-second after my feet left the raft, my left hair line met the sharp edge of a thrown away tinhorn. :(

While still beneath the surface, I lifted my hand to feel the cut. My immediate thought and those that followed went like this, "That's four inches...I am going to the ER...well maybe not...maybe it's just a scrape." So I open my eyes, and as I see the clear water in the far corners of my vision growing steadily dark red, I realize my initial analysis was spot on.

So, I rose at the bank of the water and begin to relay my new found reality to the others; who scammer and squirm to help me back in the raft. Then, they quickly throw shirts to me...which even though I never placed them on my wound still became soaked in my vital liquid.

Once situated squarely in the raft...perched on the bow, I ask for the gauze and first aid kit. Then, I proceeded to bandage the two lacerations (which I am proud only took about ninety seconds, and stood not only the test of stopping the faucet, but also received complements from the Talequah ER staff).

So, after all this excitement we continued to float down till we were able to see vehicles. Where, I exited our vessel and allowed the others to continue on the adventure of our remaining five and half miles of float trip.

Upon walking toward a group, I found, a gentleman willing to drive me to my vehicle downstream!!! Thank you, Chris Raines!
Then we drove to town and to the ER, where greater treatment was administered.

All in all. The trip was good! The injury was eye opening. The story is a good one to tell...
God was looking after me!

19 stitches total...at least the swelling is now reducing.
(If you want photos of the original doctoring or the covered t-shirts, let me know...but for the sake of the others, I am refraining from placing those photos up.)

Readers: Do you have any stories of injury, whether to your body, pride, or both? If so please share!

I Believe...

2010-07-28T16:27:00.001-05:00

I do not mean for this to be some choring read. Nor do I mean it specifically for pleasure either. Rather, I recently realized that I have never expressed to you my beliefs, or where I stand on this topic; that is of top importance to me. So in short I believe:

there is only one God, who exists as three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe that He is fully perfect. I believe that He created the earth, universe, and all other matter (for that matter :). Including us.
man was made in His image and likeness, and that we choose to disobey, incurring death. Therefore, now since man's first sin, all people are born sinful.
the only way to be saved from our incurred (spiritual) death is through the work of Jesus Christ (God the Son) by His death upon the cross.
that by His (Christ's) perfect life and sacrificial death, salvation has been provided for all people; and those who repent of their sinful/imperfect life and believe that He died for them, receive eternal life!
that the will of God is for all people to come to know Him in a personal/interactive way.
that once one comes to know Him that they might become evermore of His character, and that this coupled with a growing heart for others, will be a way for others to know Him personally.
that God the Son, will return in future days. This is our (believer's) blessed hope!
that those who know Christ will live for eternity in heaven, and those who do not know Him and believe in His work on the cross, will experience death for all time.

I have only written quick, short bullets...If you have any questions at all, please ask. I would love nothing more than to talk with you about this subject!

On Paths.

2010-07-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

A stream. A river. A trickle.

Water, will travel where it traveled yesterday. As will you. People, like water, will travel the path which is found simplest. This path, this is the path you are on.

Please, look around. What was your yesterday, what was your today?

My path is one of sin. As is yours. That is what we have throughout our lives. Because of Adam's first sin, we too walk this way. My gravest error it at times seems is not my sinful state in of itself, but rather, my acceptance of that state.

To break free of this acceptance, is only to be able through choosing. Choosing is only able through a low and contrite heart. A low and contrite heart, can only be given by the Holy Spirt through Christ's death on the cross. No amount of effort or talk by me, changes my heart.

So the choice is not, to change, but to give all my will to Him. So that, He makes me more like Him!

'Lord, constantly guide my life. Take me from paths not of Your will.'
'Lord, that my life might be fully given to You. Please, take it, all of it. i fall, daily, and in all i do. Please forgive me, and continue this work that You have begun in me until i am found complete by You. Thank You for Your abounding grace, and Your precious Gift.'

Running 2011, The Year Ahead!

2010-07-21T18:15:00.004-05:00

So...2010 is almost over.

OK, not really, rather only a little over halfway over. However, my running goals for the 2010 year are almost finished. The only remaining major goal is to run the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, in Georgia, on November 13th; with a negative split.

As for smaller racing goals this year.
Run the 'Spirt of Survival' Superhero 5k' in Lawton, OK, on October 10. This race is to replace my beloved Mount Scott 5k, but should still be a blast as many racers (yours truly included) will be racing while being dressed as superheros! Bring on the SPANDEX! not really a good thing.

Run Weatherford YMCA's annual 'Chili Run', although I don't know the date, I am sure it will prove to be yet another great race!
Run Arnett Chamber's inaugural 5k! This is monumental for me, my passion of running meeting my hometown!!! Couldn't get better than this!
And lastly enjoy training for all these wonderful events, beside all the amazing people I have come to know and grow closer to due to this sport.

Back to the Chickamauga race, this race will serve several purposes;
One, I will be using this race as a 'training' run for my 2011 season!
Two, I will knock Georgia off my 'states to do' list and end the year with only forty-five remaining!!! Third, it will be yet another opportunity to spend some time encouraging and running with my good friend Kelsey (who ran New Orleans with in February and who also just yesterday morning had breakfast with myself and Jamie in the great town of Weatherford, OK!)
And fourth, but certainly not last (drumroll please) I will be (hopefully) running the first portion of this race with the 'Great' Jamie Leigh Rice!
AWESOME HUH?

SO...on to 2011.
This is my tentative schedule and respective personal goals:

January 16 - P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon; Scottsdale, AZ

April 30 - Country Music Marathon; Nashville, TN

June 25 (Happy Birthday Dad) - Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon; Seattle WA

September 5 - Rock 'n' Roll Marathon; Virginia Beach, VA

(Not encouraging the beer in the shoes, but rather the sand around the shoes...and the relaxation of a small vacation and a great run!!!)

December 5 - Rock 'n' Roll Marathon; Las Vegas, NV

SO! A few notes in closing!!!

YOU are invited to each one of these... (just let me know in advance)
Feel free to ask how training/running/racing is going
If you are interested in running or racing please let me know, I would love to help get you started (just ask Brantley, Joshua, Jamie, Erin, Kyle, or Allen, they all know)
Why all the "Rock 'n' Roll" races...because if I do complete them all I get this on top!

Rock Star

Complete FIVE Rock ‘n’ Roll events (1/2 or full marathons) in a calendar year and earn the medal as proof of your ROCKSTAR status.

Long Time, No Post, Lots New!

2010-07-16T12:31:00.002-05:00

Sorry about the time since my last post, and for the shortness of this one too.

Just a couple quick updates:

I have just purchased and begun using my new computer! She is a MacBook Pro, and she is beaut!!! I am very excited about all the new tools and capabilities I have, on top of the shear excitement of removing myself from using the ole beast who often would not turn on, semi regularly had a fuzzy greenish screen, and who always was missing three buttons.
I am considering different names for the Mac...if you have any ideas, feel free to share!

Lastly,

Just finished my fourth marathon! Traveled twenty hours straight to Missoula, Montana, for a race I did not train for, but all went well! I did not die and I was able to travel through both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Forest on the return!!!

Here is a taste of the weekend:

(brantley = driver, me = lazy, sunset on the way up, Yellowstone Rainbow, Elk, Mad Elk, Bison, Ole Faithful at Sunset x 2, Kansas Sunflower, Kansas Windmill)

Solid Ground?

2010-05-24T14:29:00.001-05:00

Reputation and Character

"The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation; the truth you believe determines your character.

Reputation is what you are suppose to be; character is what you are.

Reputation is the photograph; character is the face.
Reputation comes over one from without; character grows from within.
Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; character is what you have when you go away.

Your reputation is learned in an hour; your character does not come to light for a year.

Reputation is made in a moment; character is built in a lifetime.

Reputation grows like a mushroom; character grows like the oak.

A single newspaper report gives you your reputation; a life of toil gives you your character.

Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; character makes you happy or makes you miserable.

Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; character is what angels say about you before God."

- William Hersey Davis

Wonder where you stand?
If so, worry about you reputation little, but constantly assess your character!

Grounded by Eyjafjallaokull

2010-05-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

As many of you know in April and early May, there were hundreds of travelers grounded because of volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

Those eruptions were from the volcano Eyjafallaajokull. They were small in size, by volcanic eruption standards...but yet they were monumental in the trouble they caused for air travel to, fro, and within Europe, creating the highest level of disruption since the Second World War.

Here is a shot of the Northern Lights seen above the ash plume of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano in the evening April 22, 2010.

Absolutly amazing huh!

Let this photo cause us to be grounded in the knowledge of how absolutly amazing out Lord and Creator is!

Thanks be to His Son!

Happy Wednesday to all!