Seek Truth

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11

In May, Superhero Events announced the creation of the USA Half Marathon, a qualifiers-only half marathon on November 21 in San Diego. But not everyone has been thrilled by the news. Organizers of the San Diego Half Marathon, held in mid March, feel the USA Half Marathon course is too similar to theirs. Interestingly enough, eight miles of the USA course are a direct copy of the San Diego race but will be run in the opposite direction with the other three miles run on parallel roads. Seems everyone is always trying to copy a good thing doesn't it? 

The devil is no different. He's been attempting to be like God since Genesis 3 when he told Eve, "You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (v. 4-5).  And he is still doing it today as 2 Corinthians 11:4 warns us, "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." He is the father of lies and wants nothing more than to lead God's people astray. Sadly, as he did with Eve, he will succeed in his mission unless we are careful to follow the example of the Bereans, "for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Simply said, the only way to spot a liar is to know the truth. And the only way to spot a copy cat is to know the original.  In a world with so many "truths" being taught, may we examine the scriptures every day to see for ourselves what is true and to seek the Truth and the Original at all times.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Word that we might study it, learn it and be able to distinguish the truth from lies. Your Word tells us that the devil is the father of all lies yet masquerades as an angel of light. May we always be examining the scriptures to discern the truth and be able to recognize an imposter and counterfeit teachings when we encounter them. Help us then to stand firm in our beliefs and teach others to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Truth - Toby Mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE7tRCY3g_E

http://www.runnersworld.com/races/a-half-marathon-spat-in-san-diego

Today I choose

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" Luke 12:20

A wise runner once said, "If you're waiting for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done." With all the rain and the heat this summer, there were very days with perfect running weather. Do you know what happens when you run in the rain? You get wet. That's it. Sadly, many runners are missing the joy of it by choosing to wait though. Dr. Billy Graham was once asked this question pertaining to waiting for the right conditions to follow God, "My friend says he isn’t worried about going to heaven because just before he dies, he plans to ask God to forgive him for the way he’s been living, and God will do it — or so he claims. Is he right?"

To which Dr. Graham responded, "I’m always saddened whenever I hear of someone like this, because they’re putting themselves in extreme spiritual danger, and they don’t even realize it. After all, your friend has no way of knowing when or how he’ll die; he may not have any opportunity to turn to God. I’m reminded of Jesus’ parable about a rich man who decided one day to spend the rest of his life taking it easy, selfishly enjoying his riches. He had spent years gaining his wealth, but had never given any thought to his soul or his relationship to God. In other words, he was rich in things but poor in soul, and suddenly it was too late. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you’." 

Perhaps you're waiting for the right conditions as well? Sadly for many, the perfect time will never come and they will spend an eternity apart from Christ. What are you waiting for? Regardless of the weather, today is the perfect day to make the decision to follow Jesus. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for promising us eternal life when we die if we will choose to follow you while we live. I pray that if there is someone waiting to make that decision that they would see that today is the perfect time and would say this prayer: Father, I confess that I am a sinner but I choose to follow you today. Please come into my heart and be my Savior. I confess and repent of my sins and choose to follow you all the days of my life. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Today I choose - Brian Doerksen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANAOg1rnTAo

The Life Preserver

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10

Last Tuesday, during an early morning run along Lake Michigan, John Corba spotted a man struggling in the water nearly 30 yards from shore. "This guy was about to go under," said Corba, 43, who lived nearby. He and two other runners quickly jumped into action while a woman called 911. Their combined efforts worked to rescue the man from the water and get him to the hospital. Godfred Hansen-Nord, the first runner to jump in, said he called out to see if the man needed help but got no response. "At the time when I jumped in, his head was about to go underwater, he was done, basically." 

It's no coincidence that these runners were there. God is in the business of saving lives every day and using his believers to help when necessary. And I love that the Darby Bible Translation describes God in this scripture as the "preserver of all men". Yes, you could definitely say that He is our life preserver! When we are about to go under or are drowning from our sin, regret, financial difficulties, family problems, worries or worldly pressures, he is there to save us by throwing out a lifeline and saying, "Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you." (Isaiah 43:1-2). 

Do you believe that today? If you're about to go underwater, put your "hope in the living God", our Savior and Preserver for He has promised to be with us through it all. Simply grab the lifeline.

Heavenly Father, thank you for throwing us the lifeline when we are drowning in our worries and troubles. Thank you putting those believers in our path that help us to shore when we can barely keep our heads above water. And Lord, thank you for promising to save us, for calling us by name, for promising to be with us through deep waters and for keeping our troubles from overwhelming us. You are indeed our Life Preserver. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Thank you God for saving me - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pssz5HH7Cp8

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-2-joggers-use-surfboard-to-rescue-man-in-th-001-photo.html

 

Pass the salt

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:5-6

Runners know how important salt is, especially on a hot day. "Sodium helps regulate the body's fluid levels," says Bob Seebohar, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Florida. The loss of salt is also connected to other running problems, including cramping and hyponatremia, a rare and potentially fatal condition in which overhydration leads to low blood-sodium levels." Obviously too little salt can be bad but too much salt has been linked to high blood pressure making it important to use the right amount.

The same can be said about our words. The bible tells us to let our speech, "always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt", so that we will know how we should respond to each person. Too much salt and the message can be bitter, too little and the hearer goes away unsatisfied. The point is to be gracious, neither timid nor overbearing-not only in what we say but how we say it, seasoning our speech just right as to be perfectly palatable to the listener. 

By treating each person with respect and courtesy, our words can become "tasty", effective and leaving them wanting seconds. That's how we make the most of every opportunity, wouldn't you agree? Are your words full of grace and seasoned well?

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving the lost so much that you would give us instructions on how to reach them. Help us to find your perfect grace to season our words correctly so that we might respond to each person with "tasty" speech. Help us to be believers that make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Words - Hawk Nelson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anVweXDcxhA

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-for-runners/pass-the-salt

Don't fall!

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!" 1 Corinthians 10:12

In the closest finish in the history of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree 10k Saturday, Scott Overall beat Ben Payne by 9/100ths of a second to win the men's open division. What makes the story more interesting is that Payne, confident that he had won the race, raised his index finger to signify his victory, oblivious that he was being passed. He said that he didn't see or hear Overall approaching as they neared the finish line. In addition to being embarrassed, his carelessness cost him a first place finish and $500 in prize money.

The bible has something to say about carelessness as well, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" Sin can sneak up on us at anytime, even when we are within seconds of the finish line. When it comes to sin and temptation though, 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 

No matter where you think you are in your walk with God, be careful that you don't fall! We should never become so confident in our faith that we feel it could never happen to us. Temptation will come to all of us and we need to be ever watchful for it and ready to run! Look to God who will show you the way out. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that serves as a guide for our lives. May we follow your ways at all times that we might stand firm and run the race with perseverance, sidestepping the sin and temptation that will (not if) come our way. Help us Lord to keep our eyes on you at all times. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Run - Lecrae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGDKM6XsfQ

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/05/peachtree-celebrate-too-early_n_7731108.html
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/overall-wins-ajc-peachtree-road-race-by-9100th-of-/nmrdY/

Independence Day

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

With Independence Day just around the corner, you might be noticing many flags on display. Come the Fourth of July morning, many runners will be participating in 5ks and other runs wearing red, white and blue and maybe even carrying the American Flag. You could say that most Americans are very proud of it. And with good reason - 'Old Glory' represents the day our country's founders declared independence from Great Britain. Did you know, though, that each part of the flag stands for something? The 50 stars stand for the 50 states and the 13 stripes stand for the 13 British colonies which declared their independence on July 4, 1776. The colors also stand for something. The white vertical stripes signify purity and innocence while the red vertical stripes represent hardiness and valour. And the blue signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice. 

There is another flag to be flown with pride too... the Christian Flag. It represents the day we were granted freedom from the power of sin. The shade of red on the cross symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary. The blue canton represents the waters of baptism as well as the faithfulness of Jesus and the white represents Jesus' purity. Regardless of their differences in appearance, these flags are both symbols of what we stand for, who we are and that we are connected to one another as Americans and Christians. 

John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, in a letter to his wife regarding this special day wrote, "It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” May we, as Americans, join together this holiday to commemorate the day of deliverance by God Almighty. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for setting us free from the yoke of slavery and the bonds of tyranny. My solemn prayer is that this country would raise the white flag of surrender and celebrate our freedom every day with solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. May we once again be known as"one nation, under God" as we wave our white flags in total surrender to Him. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

White Flag - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1jgD69WzMY

Washed by the Water

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11

When the sound of a heavy downpour awakens you from a dead sleep, you can be assured that your morning run will be messy unless you opt for the treadmill. Since the dreaded "mill" is always my last option, I chose to run in the rain. Anticipating mud and puddles, I also chose to wear my dirtiest and most worn out shoes. After all, they were beyond the point of saving anyway right? With their countless stains, they weren't worth keeping. That is, until they were "washed by the water." To my surprise, the countless puddles I encountered and the intense rain actually made them cleaner! So clean, in fact, I've decided to keep them a little longer.

It's sad to think that many people can feel dirty and beyond the point of saving too.  As if one person's sins are greater than another. Unrighteous? That's all of us. There is not one of us that can make it through even one day without sinning... not one. The great news is that we don't have to stay dirty and in our sin. We can be made clean! 1 John 1;9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Did you get that part? If we confess, He will forgive us our sins. He did not say some of them or even most of them. He forgives all of them.

We are all sinners but there's not one of us that can't be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Addiction? He can clean it. Guilt? He can clean it. Adultery? Cheating? Lying? He can clean that too. Will you allow Him to cleanse you today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the forgiveness of sins. I pray that if there is someone in need of forgiveness and restoration would turn to you, Lord. And, if they are willing to repent would ask you to wash them, sanctify and justify them by the Spirit of our God. We ask this in your precious name, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Happy Day - Fee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GirtIPZRZeg