The Rainbow is God’s Sign

“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:13-15 NKJV

Like most people across the Midwest this summer, I’ve been earnestly praying for rain—especially in the last few weeks as temperatures have consistently been in the high 90’s and 100’s, not counting humidity.

Not only has the heat made for some brutal running conditions but the soaring mercury has greatly exacerbated the drought we’ve been in for some time.

This was the very reason my heart leaped for joy on Wednesday afternoon as my coworkers and I were getting ready to leave the conference we were attending. It not only began to rain, but it rained so hard that we were left standing in the lobby of the resort in awe of the storm, knowing that trying to make it to our car would not be wise but not caring about the disruption in our plans. We were just so glad it was finally raining!

That gladness soon turned into absolute glee as we walked out after the rain stopped and looked up in the clouds. There was not only own rainbow in the sky but two!!!

“Oh Lord,” I said out loud as I fought back tears. “Thank you for grace and mercy.”

And, you know, I was able to thank God for the appearance of the rainbow because, unlike a growing majority of people in our world, I know what the rainbow signifies… God’s benevolence and forbearance to evildoers shown through His covenant promise to Noah (and every living creature of all flesh) that He would never again destroy the earth with water because of the sinful state of mankind (a state that is still sinful). 

And think about this. God, Himself, said “It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh;” Did you get that? When the rainbow is seen, God will remember His covenant with us. Which means, when we see the rainbow in the clouds, we should remember it as well!

Does that fill you with glee or what?

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

This is the very reason that you and I would do well to remind the world what the rainbow truly signifies (and it's not about a flag)—adding that the same mercy and grace God showed then is the same mercy and grace that God is showing now (2 Peter 3) by delaying the return of Jesus Christ. 

Not because He is slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, but because He is patient and wants to give people time, just as He did in the days of Noah, to turn away from their sin and turn to Him. 

So, if you have not made the decision to accept Jesus as your Savior, don’t put it off for another minute my friend. Jesus is coming back as He promised and you want to be found ready. And if you are a believer, take every opportunity to remind the world what the true meaning of the rainbow is so that they might be inspired to seek the One who created it.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy, grace, and compassion You have shown us since creation. Lord, help us to understand that a time is coming soon when Your patience will run out that we might repent and live for You and beckon others to do the same. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Do Everything Decently

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

In a controversial story titled “Competition co-founder apologizes after athlete allowed to continue despite defecating on herself,” it was reported that Professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was seen on video and in photographs running and using shared fitness equipment with feces running down her legs.

The international indoor sports competition Hyrox apologized after an incident in Beijing where a runner was allowed to continue a race after soiling herself during the event.

Professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk finished and won the competition on Saturday, which consists of running and high-intensity exercises. The athlete was seen on video and in photographs racing and using shared fitness equipment with feces running down her legs...

Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste issued a statement Sunday on social media apologizing “to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have.”

“HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race,” he wrote. “In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents — and I did not.”

And, you know, while there are a lot of mixed emotions on whether Joanna should have continued despite soiling herself, the general consensus is that she should have been pulled from the competition for her lack of decency—especially considering that human fecal matter is a biohazard as it contains dangerous pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause severe illness if ingested or introduced into the body.

But, still, there are many people who applauded Joanna’s determination to continue competing despite the chaos and shame that her indecency brought upon her and the event.

"'For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." Malachi 3:6

And while the world might define “decency” as behavior that is good, moral, and acceptable in society—a definition that can change overnight due to society's continued moral decline—the Bible defines “decency” as living in a way that shows moral integrity, respect, and order to honor God, which is a definition that never changes just as God never changes.

This means that believers are to do all things “decently and in order” so that their actions always bring honor to Christ. This includes forgoing our own goals when and if our pursuits have even the slightest potential of appearing indecent and bringing shame to the name of Jesus, regardless of what the world deems to be acceptable behavior.

And while the Apostle Paul wrote this command to the church in Corinth to address some chaos and confusion during public worship, the principle still applies today to daily Christian living, competing, organization, and leadership.

So, vow to honor God with your speech and with your actions my friend by behaving decently and in order at all times, whether you’re in the world or in a house of worship. This will ensure that you will always seek God’s glory rather than your own.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word that provides the instructions for behaving decently so that we honor You in all we do. Help us to live in such a way that others are inspired to seek You by the way we set ourselves apart and the goals that we set for ourselves. Lord, help us to immediately forgo any of our pursuits if they cause us to act indecently or bring chaos in any way. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Choose Something Challenging

Hello Runner Friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let’s get started by talking about what’s coming up… fall!!! This not only means that cooler temps are in store (yay! Right?), but it also means  that the Bass Pro Marathon, half marathon, and 5k are quickly approaching. As are the Dogwood Canyon Trail Runs. I don’t know about you but that makes me super happy!!

Speaking of runs, if you ran the Run the Rock race at Top of the Rock over the weekend, you probably don't need me to tell you that the heat and the hills were no joke.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to run the race so I asked my longtime friend, Jeannette Luttrell, (who has completed many of the BPFS events, including the Bass Pro Marathon) what she thought about it. And she loved it of course. Although she described it as a race with hills that were no joke!

But her race day story has a backstory worth sharing….

Jeannette began the year with a goal of completing another 10K. She had covered the distance years ago when she was running more consistently, but she wanted a goal that would motivate her to get moving again, become more consistent, and see what her body could still accomplish.

Then she chose Run the Rock.

She certainly could have picked an easier 6.2 mile race. Instead, she intentionally picked something that would challenge her.

Her training included hot summer runs on hilly gravel roads, sometimes with heat indexes around 100 degrees (this summer was brutal!). There were days she was tired. There were days she didn't want to run alone. There were plenty of runs that didn't feel easy.

But she kept showing up.

When race day arrived, Jeannette knew the hills would slow her down. She wasn't worried about running a certain pace or setting a PR. Her goal was to finish within the allotted time.

She surprised herself.

Jeannette finished the Run the Rock 10k course in about 1 hour and 9 minutes, and she estimates that she ran more than 56 minutes of it.

That's what training for challenging things can do. 

After all these years of running and coaching runners, I still believe one of the best ways to discover what you're capable of is to occasionally choose something that makes you a little nervous.

That's exactly what Jeannette did.

She didn't choose Run the Rock because she thought it would be easy. She chose it because she knew it would challenge her.

And then she trained for it. She showed up. She climbed the hills. She crossed the finish line. And she did better than she expected. And now she’s got her sights on the 15k at Dogwood Canyon!

So as you continue your training for the Bass Pro Fitness Series of events, don't automatically avoid challenging routes or races along the way. Look for them instead and use them to grow your miles, your mindset and your motivation. After all, every finish line that you cross gives you a renewed desire to cross another one and another one and another one. 

 Happy Running!

Don’t Ignore the Warnings

“and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;” 2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In a crazy story titled “Runners Crossed Waist-Deep Water At The Racefaster Half Marathon” published yesterday, it was reported that runners at Sunday’s Racefaster Half Marathon in New Jersey came through the bridges along the Saddle River holding the railings, in water several described as waist-deep, and plenty have spent the time since asking why it started at all.

At 8:53 a.m., an hour and seven minutes before the gun (because of the rain, the 8:00 am original start time was pushed back to 10:00 am) was set to go off, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning in the area. It put 2 to 3 inches of rain already on the ground, described the hazard as life threatening flash flooding, and ran until 11:30. Three more followed: one for the Saddle River itself, three minutes before the start, and two more while the field was still out on the course.

But, yet, the race went on.

One of the runners, Garrett Nathan, who had only signed up on Thursday and was chasing a half-marathon personal best, told NBC New York the move of the starting time seemed sensible at the time. “I’m like, I guess it’s gonna rain… it sounds like a good, logical decision. I keep checking my email from the race directors and get no notifications about a canceling...”

Nathan said this race was like nothing he’d ever seen before, as he counted five or six crossings out and back where the water was waist deep, and even chest deep at times, requiring the runners to hold onto the railings.

Racefaster has still not said publicly why the race went ahead, and did not answer NBC New York‘s request for comment. Daily Voice said it had approached them too.

And, you know, as this story shows, ignoring warnings of impending flooding can quickly lead to perilous conditions, even death. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the running (and wading) of the race, although the flood waters continued to rise after the last finishers were through, peaking at 6.8 feet, more than a foot over flood stage and well past the 5.7 feet forecast that morning.

While that story showed how quickly flooding can become dangerous, there’s probably no greater story of what can happen when a person ignores flood warnings than the story of Noah's building of the ark and the judgement that followed. 

"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God." Genesis 6:8-9

The Biblical record of the story provides only a glimpse of Noah's activities in the days leading up to the flood, and most of the narrative in Genesis 6 is focused on his work in building the ark. 

Nevertheless, we can make a reasonable assumption that Noah preached about the coming flood to his neighbors and community during the 100 years it took to complete the ark because Noah is referred to as “a preacher of righteousness” and called "a just man" who "walked with God."

And considering that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth” in Noah's day, you can be sure that there would be no lack of opportunity for him to call out the things God considered evil. But the warnings, we know, fell on deaf ears.

“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:39

You see, the fact that the world was caught off guard by the flood tells us that the world paid no attention to the warnings Noah issued, and therefore, suffered the consequences of being swept away by the fast rising waters due to their lack of repentance.

And by the state of our world today, we can see that the world is still paying no attention to the warnings (Matthew 24) laid out in the Bible and spoken of by the prophets—something that will have eternal consequences equally as bad as those experienced by the ungodly in Noah's day.

Which is the very reason that you and I must live as if “the coming of the Son of Man” could happen as quickly as the flood waters came in Noah’s day. This is something we do by refusing to blend in with the culture around us and pursuing righteous living in the same way Noah did. You can be sure this won't be easy but it will certainly be worth it.

So, in a world that's growing increasingly more wicked by the day, choose to heed the warnings laid out in the Bible my friend and to look for opportunities to warn others of what's to come. Choose to walk with God so you will be ready when Jesus returns.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible that guides us into righteousness so that we can live a life pleasing to You. Lord, help us to heed the warnings found in the Word that lay out the consequences for living a life of sin and the blessings for walking in the light with You. Help us to understand the times we are living in that we might choose to become ready and stay ready for the return of Jesus. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

The Maker of the Mountains is our Constant Help

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

In a story titled “Morocco’s El Houcine El Azzaoui Breaks World Record in Mountain Running” published Saturday, it was reported that Moroccan runner El Houcine El Azzaoui has set a new world record in the 53-kilometer mountain running race, marking another major achievement for Moroccan athletics.

El Azzaoui achieved the feat during the 2026 World Mountain Running Series, according to Medi1News.

The Moroccan athlete delivered a standout performance in the demanding race to break the previous world record over the distance.

The achievement further strengthens El Azzaoui’s position on the international mountain running scene. It also adds to Morocco’s growing presence in endurance and mountain running competitions.

Mountain running requires a combination of endurance, speed, strength, and the ability to handle challenging terrain. The 53-kilometer distance presents an additional physical challenge for athletes competing at the highest level.

And, you know, while mountain running is not for the faint of heart, it's comforting to know that the Maker of the mountains we cannot climb sees and knows the demands and challenges each one of us is facing—demands and challenges that are insurmountable to get over or around on our own. 

This is the reason the psalmist looked up toward the high hills surrounding Jerusalem and asked "Where does my help come from?" And then, by faith, answered his own question by saying, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Now we don't know what the psalmist was experiencing, but we do know that he was a real person, just like you and me, with real problems, real worries, and real concerns. 

And we also know that this psalm was part of the Songs of Ascents that were sung by ancient travelers journeying upward through dangerous mountain passes toward the Holy City, travelers that shared the same problems we have as believers today. 

But, by acknowledging God as the Maker of everything, the psalm reminds us that the power of the One who created the universe is personal, attentive, and fully able to sustain us through any trial.

Which means there’s no challenge or obstacle that can’t be overcome when we enlist the help of the Maker of Heaven and earth. 

So, the next time you look at a hill or a mountain, take a moment to consider the One who made it my friend. And let it remind you that the same God who helped the psalmist back then is the same God—because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—that can help you today, if you will simply lift up your eyes and seek Him. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the psalms to encourage us and teach us how to worship You. Help us to remember that You are an ever-present help in times of trouble and that there's no mountain too high that you can’t reach us and no hill too difficult that You can’t help us climb over it. Thank You for being a God who truly loves us and wants to guide us along our journey Lord. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

You Can Know for Certain

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13 NKJV

In a sad update to the story of trail runner Kalie McCrystal’s disappearance a few days ago, it was reported that Kalie was never found and the search for her was called off. The writer went on to say:

From corporate lawyer to world-class skyrunner, Kalie McCrystal moved through extreme terrain with precision and joy. Friends and fellow mountaineers detail the high-stakes search on the Matterhorn.

Elite trail runner Kalie McCrystal reached the Matterhorn summit, at an elevation of 14,682 feet, on September 1. McCrystal, 38, had finished the route many times before and was scouting it ahead of an attempt to become the fastest woman to run it, her friend and fellow trail runner, Hillary Gerardi, told Outside.

Witnesses say she was moving smoothly. Then on her descent, she vanished without a trace.

After a week of scouring the Alps, Italian authorities called off the search for the Canadian runner on September 8. But her disappearance has left those close to her bewildered. McCrystal was an accomplished, skilled mountaineer running in broad daylight on a clearly marked trail.

Where did she go?

And, you know, while Kalie’s family and friends might never know where her physical body went, if Kaylie was a believer in Jesus Christ, they can know for certain where her spiritual body went …straight to heaven. And while this this might not take away all of the pain they might be feeling, you can be sure it will give them the hope. 

You see, the Apostle John explicitly stated that his purpose for penning his letter (1 John) to the churches was so that believers would not have to live in doubt about their eternity. Is that awesome or what? 

By saying, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God,” he filled them with hope! Not only because it removed the uncertainty of where their fellow brothers and sisters had gone after their death, but assured them that it was by God’s grace that they, themselves, were saved and not by works. Which meant they knew they were heaven bound!

But get this… the verse uses the word "know" (eīdēte in Greek), which implies absolute certainty and confidence, rather than a mere hope or wish and points to Jesus Christ as the sole source of eternal life. Furthermore, in the original language, "have eternal life" is in the present tense which signifies that eternal life is a current reality for the believer, not just something that begins after physical death.

“and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” Mark 1:15 NKJV

So, if you want this confidence for yourself, “Repent, and believe in the gospel” if you haven’t already done so my friend. This decision will ensure that, upon your passing, no one has to wonder where you went, they will know that you are in heaven. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing only One way to heaven that we might not be confused that repenting and believing in the gospel is the only way to salvation. Lord, help us to understand that life is uncertain and to not choose You while we have breath in our lungs is to choose eternal damnation—because there are only two choices and two destinations after death, heaven or hell. Help us to be bold in sharing this message with the world. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

*As we take the time to honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, let the memory of what happened remind us that life is uncertain. 2,977 Americans lost their lives that day and not one of them knew it would be their last day alive. 

*But what we know is this…. All those who had placed their trust in Jesus Christ went immediately into His presence where they will live for the rest of eternity. As will you by making the same choice. 

Spending Time with Jesus Makes us Extraordinary

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 KNJV

In an amazing story of human achievement published by Canadian Running yesterday, it was reported that U.S. ultrarunner Megan Eckert made history at the EMU-GOMU 6-Day World Championships in Balatonfüred, Hungary. Eckert ran 636.482 miles (1,024.319 km) over 144 hours to better her own six-day world mark and set some other new records along the way (all pending ratification).

American Megan Eckert has reached the 1000 km mark shortly before 8 AM this morning and is the first woman ever to do so,” Multi-day running legend Trishul Cherns told Canadian Running. “Men dream of it, and only a handful have ever reached it.”

Eckert, 40, ran around a flat, paved 898.2-metre loop for six straight days. (Runners switch directions every few hours to avoid injuries.) Her new total is 33.327 miles (53.634 km) farther than the women’s record she set last year.

Eckert also surpassed the longstanding overall U.S. six-day best of 606.243 miles (975.653 km), set by Joe Fejes in 2015 at the same event, although on a different course. Her new time betters Fejes’s record by just over 30 miles (48.28 km)…

But get this. While you might think Megan is some super human, the writer described her as “a middle-school special education and math teacher in Santa Fe, N.M., who coaches high-school track and cross-country.” Which means, at the end of the day, Megan is an ordinary person with extraordinary talent—talent that we know comes from the God who created her. 

"Then He said to them, '"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Matthew 4:19 NKJV

And, you know, the Bible is full of ordinary people who were made extraordinary by God. Consider Peter and John. They were mere fishermen when Jesus said to them "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." But their transformation was so remarkable and uncommon that, roughly four years after their first encounter with Christ, they were described as bold!

Why? Because these men "had been with Jesus." 

Here's the scene... Peter and John are standing boldly before powerful religious leaders (Acts 4) after healing a lame beggar and preaching to the crowd about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. These leaders recognize that the men standing before them aren't formally trained scholars. They are ordinary men. Yet there is something undeniably different about them.

Scripture tells us: “They marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

There it is. Peter and John "were uneducated and untrained men." Yet they astonished the experts. The thing that made these ordinary men extraordinary wasn't their education. It wasn't their social status. It wasn't their wealth. It wasn't their occupation. It was the fact that they had been with Jesus—a fact no one could deny. 

Peter was still Peter. John was still John. But spending time with Jesus had transformed what these ordinary men were capable of doing. And God would use them to help carry the Gospel farther than they could possibly have imagined when they were standing beside their fishing nets.

So, don’t settle for being ordinary my friend. Life’s too short for that! Spend time with Jesus (through Bible study, prayer, meditation, and worship) so that you can be such a bold follower of Jesus that people marvel at your transformation and seek Him because of it. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that You don’t call the qualified but qualify the called, and that You can and will use ordinary people to do extraordinary things if they will only follow You. Lord, help us to be obedient to the calling to be fishers of men that we might carry the Gospel farther than we could ever possibly imagine. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!