Last Tuesday Jeff Frame and I went on what we like to call an Epic ride. Now Epic is defined as "noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style
2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.
4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.
As you can see it involves something long, heroic and great. For us it was a 6 hour 58 mile mountain bike ride through Brown County State park into Hoosier National Forest and back through Brown County State Park again. There were crashes, endo's, flat tires and lots of eating, sweating, pain and rehydrating. We even wore the lube off our chains had to borrow some WD40 from a park employee on our way back! Here's a little video or two for ya!
And can I just say that my desire for a great Epic ride stems from something deep within all of us. It comes from our original purpose of being united with our Creator in a deeply adventurous relationship.
Following The Way,
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Upside Down
Peter the disciple of Jesus and some others got worried when they heard Jesus tell a young rich man he couldn't enter the kingdom of the heavens unless he gave away all his riches. When Jesus said, "it's easier for a camel to go through a needle eye then a rich man to enter the kingdom" they asked "Who in the world can be saved then? We've left everything to follow you! What will we get for this?" And Jesus' reply? "No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or homes or land for me and for the good news will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this life and for life eternal. BUT many who are first will be last, and the last first."
From Divine Conspiracy Willard says, "Jesus knew that much of what Peter and the others thought to be important was not really so, and that what they thought to be of no importance was often of great significance before God. Their thinking would have to be rearranged before they could understand their "reward" for leaving all to follow him."
I wonder what things I think are important that God doesn't think are important at all. And what things God thinks are important that I don't give a thought about...What are rewards from God that I think are a burden.
Willard says again, "In general, many of those thought blessed or "first" in human terms are miserable or "last" in God's terms and visa-versa.
From Divine Conspiracy Willard says, "Jesus knew that much of what Peter and the others thought to be important was not really so, and that what they thought to be of no importance was often of great significance before God. Their thinking would have to be rearranged before they could understand their "reward" for leaving all to follow him."
I wonder what things I think are important that God doesn't think are important at all. And what things God thinks are important that I don't give a thought about...What are rewards from God that I think are a burden.
Willard says again, "In general, many of those thought blessed or "first" in human terms are miserable or "last" in God's terms and visa-versa.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Westwood Race
The team did well today. Lot's of Personal Records! For overall placements I got 3rd and Frame got 5th in Sport. Brackett got 5th in Beginner and Malaby got 2nd in Clydesdale.
I wrecked at some point in the race, can't remember if it was the first or second lap. But I was about a minute ahead of everyone in Sport after my first lap. Jen handed me a fresh cold bottle into my second lap and shortly thereafter it popped right out of my bottle holder and I didn't want to stop and get it so I rode on for my next 4 miles w/o water. A nice Expert rider obliged my request for a drink 3 miles before the finish. It was a beautiful day and the trail was in great shape! Hope to post some pics soon.
Shalom,
I wrecked at some point in the race, can't remember if it was the first or second lap. But I was about a minute ahead of everyone in Sport after my first lap. Jen handed me a fresh cold bottle into my second lap and shortly thereafter it popped right out of my bottle holder and I didn't want to stop and get it so I rode on for my next 4 miles w/o water. A nice Expert rider obliged my request for a drink 3 miles before the finish. It was a beautiful day and the trail was in great shape! Hope to post some pics soon.
Shalom,
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Shack and God's Nearness
I read The Shack recently and one thing I loved about it was that it really highlighted the joy filled temperament of God. The other thing that really has stuck with me is the picture of God's intimacy with humanity. As I was reflecting on this I was reminded of how Matthew uses over and over the phrase "kingdom of the heavens". When we pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven" don't we think "far off in Heaven"? I do. But the Jewish understanding of "the heavens" is way different. Remembering biblical examples such as Hagar in the desert (Gen 21:17-19) Moses on the Mountain (Exodus 20), Abraham at the alter with Isaac (Gen 22), Jacob seeing the ladder with angels going up and down (Gen 28) all mention God speaking from "heaven" or the "heavens" which was THE SPACE RIGTH AROUND THEM. And this is most clearly seen in the incarnation of Jesus of course who being the Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. The heavens is the space right around us and Our Father who art in Heaven art right around you right now.
Thanks be to God.
"And behold I am with you even to the end of the age"- Jesus
Thanks be to God.
"And behold I am with you even to the end of the age"- Jesus
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Deflated
Well, what can I say...you win some and you DNF some. I DNF today...that's Did Not Finish the race at Muscatatuck Park in North Vernon today. We arrived with time to run a practice lap to scout out the trail. We found it rocky on the descents and muddy by the creek crossings yet hard packed on the ridges. Basically, a little of everything. At start time my team mate Jeff and I were coasting along in 3rd and 4th place just waiting for our moment to strike when BANG! A sound I've never heard before that sounded like a rock ripping all the spokes off a bike wheel filled the air. I yelled out, "What was that?" and Jeff, right behind me, said, "That was you!". A rock had ripped a hole in the side of my tire and all my sealant and air had just rushed out! I was done. After two unsuccessful repairs I was deflated. I walked my bike back up to the tent after only 5 minutes of racing. You win some and you DNF some.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Freedom for freedom
Jen and I were talking about freedom since we just celebrated the freedom of America yesterday. In an attempt to define what we commonly call "freedom" we landed on this; "The ability to do what I want when I want". I can pretty much say with confidence that is, in general, what was celebrated by most in our country yesterday. I'm positive that this holiday holds much deeper meaning for many in the U.S. Nevertheless, God used this holiday to remind me of my Freedom in Jesus today.
John 8:31-36
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants[a] and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I love this passage. And I think we can easily insert "Americans" in verse 33 for the word "Abraham's descendants" Go ahead and read it out loud using "Americans". Come on, don't be embarrassed. Nobody's lookin'.
And look at the picture of Family you see. It's family language. It's like he's saying, "You're acting like a slave or servant that's picking through the trash for your dinner. Hoarding all you can because you don't know if you'll have enough for tomorrow, thinking of only your survival. But, I'm setting you free. I'm the True Way. You're in the Family. There is an abundance in the Family so come to dinner and eat. Follow me to the table, I'll show you the Way"
God reminded me that my freedom is not the ability to do what I want when I want but, in fact, my freedom is to Want and Do what is good and loving. The ability to become what I was always meant, created, and intended to be, a member of God's family and being about the business of the Family. He reminded me that I don't know what's best for me and therefore doing what I want when I want is many times harmful to me and others. But through the life of Jesus I have seen the kind of person I was created to be. And through the death of Jesus I was freed from the chain of my selfish desires. And through the resurrection of Jesus and his dwelling in me I was given a new heart that is being shaped with new desires and the power to live them out! That is the freedom I'm celebrating today! I'm so thankful that the Son has set us free!
C.S Lewis said it's not that we are too hard to satisfy but that we are far too easily satisfied. We're happy playing in a mud puddle when we could have a day at the beach with our Father. Freedom is to desire a weekend at the beach with the Father and strength to take his hand as he pulls us out of the puddle.
John 8:31-36
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants[a] and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I love this passage. And I think we can easily insert "Americans" in verse 33 for the word "Abraham's descendants" Go ahead and read it out loud using "Americans". Come on, don't be embarrassed. Nobody's lookin'.
And look at the picture of Family you see. It's family language. It's like he's saying, "You're acting like a slave or servant that's picking through the trash for your dinner. Hoarding all you can because you don't know if you'll have enough for tomorrow, thinking of only your survival. But, I'm setting you free. I'm the True Way. You're in the Family. There is an abundance in the Family so come to dinner and eat. Follow me to the table, I'll show you the Way"
God reminded me that my freedom is not the ability to do what I want when I want but, in fact, my freedom is to Want and Do what is good and loving. The ability to become what I was always meant, created, and intended to be, a member of God's family and being about the business of the Family. He reminded me that I don't know what's best for me and therefore doing what I want when I want is many times harmful to me and others. But through the life of Jesus I have seen the kind of person I was created to be. And through the death of Jesus I was freed from the chain of my selfish desires. And through the resurrection of Jesus and his dwelling in me I was given a new heart that is being shaped with new desires and the power to live them out! That is the freedom I'm celebrating today! I'm so thankful that the Son has set us free!
C.S Lewis said it's not that we are too hard to satisfy but that we are far too easily satisfied. We're happy playing in a mud puddle when we could have a day at the beach with our Father. Freedom is to desire a weekend at the beach with the Father and strength to take his hand as he pulls us out of the puddle.
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