Face Challenges by Faith

“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. “ 1 Peter 4:16 (ESV)

In a story titled “Jelly Roll Finishes His First 5K Race: “I Left Here Feeling Really Motivated’” published Saturday, it was reported that country singer Jelly Roll finished his first 3.1 mile run Tuesday at the 2 Bears 5K in Los Angeles. Since his announcement at the beginning of 2024 to begin training, Jelly Roll says he lost between another 50 and 70 pounds on top of the nearly 200 he had shed in the previous couple of years. Jelly Roll, real name Jason Bradley DeFord, spoke about his feelings as he neared the race’s finish line. “I couldn’t walk a mile when I started trying to do this back in January,” the singer told Entertainment Tonight. “So the fact that we got three-point-whatever it was done today, I feel really, really good about it. I left here feeling really motivated.” He also spoke about the challenges the 3.1-mile race presented him. “I feel great, man. I’m a little tired,” he said. “A little bit harder than I thought it was, but it’s awesome, man.” DeFord said one of the most fulfilling parts of the race day was seeing other people who had been motivated by his fitness journey finish the race. "I think the coolest thing is how many people stopped to tell us that they were motivated by us, other big guys," he said. "It was just really cool to see…” 

And you know, when it comes to overcoming challenges in such a way that people will be persuaded to do something that will better them, you and I would do well to remember that our struggles allow us to motivate others to seek God in a way nothing else can. You see, “as a Christian” I’m not immune from facing hardships, hurdles, and hiccups, and neither are you. But as believers we can face these trials in a way that’s different from the world — with calmness, confidence and hope since we have the blessed assurance that God has both a purpose and a plan behind each of our problems, and we are never at the hand of fate or chance. In this way, God is glorified and people are inspired to seek the One who allows us to be joyful in the midst of pain and adversity. 

So if you’re in the midst of suffering for any reason today, take heart my friend. The Bible is clear that there is coming a time when there will be no more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain. Until then, may we choose to “glorify God” in all that we do and say so that others will make the same choice. That would be really cool to see!

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we have no reason to view challenges as the world does. Help us to see them as seasons to grow closer to You and to bring You glory that we might smile and rejoice in the midst of our pain and problems, knowing that You are in total control. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

God Has Not and Will Not Change

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV

In a story titled “Denver Colfax Half Marathon runner has been defying the odds all her life,” Rich Razgaitis recalled the day, September 8, 2001, his wife found out she was pregnant with their daughter Royce. “We lived three blocks south of the World Trade Center,” he said. Three days later, tragedy struck the nation during the World Trade Center attacks “[Royce’s] mom got trampled in the park and was trying to run away and she was obviously newly pregnant with Royce, and then, you know, [she was] covered in all the debris, in the soot, in the ashes,” Rich Razgaitis said. Initially, doctors said Royce Razgaitis would have a zero percent chance of survival. She ended up being born at 26 weeks. And although she was tiny and in the NICU for eight weeks, Royce defied the odds and grew up to be a fighter. The writer went on to say, “This race comes at a special time, as Royce Razgaitis graduates from Colorado Christian University. She’s on her way to becoming a nurse, just like the ones who helped her in that moment when she was given that zero percent chance of life. “I wouldn't be here today without God from 22 years ago versus the same God now that's getting me through nursing school and through the run that we're about to embark on.” Royce Razgaitis said. Do you just love that story or what? 

And you know, as Royce clearly understood, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Which means the same God that can be trusted and counted on at the beginning of our lives is also the same God that can be trusted and counted on throughout our lives. And because of this truth, you and I can confidently run the race with endurance knowing that God’s promises are as unchanging as He is. He who began a good work in us will see it to completion and He will be with us forever, even to the end of the age. 

So no matter what odds are stacked against you today, take heart my friend. The Bible tells us that nothing is too hard for the Lord which means a zero percent chance of a situation working out for good should never fill us with despair. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for proving Yourself and your Word to be immutable from the beginning of time. Help us to grasp this truth so that we would have the peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of every situation. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Choose to be Like Jesus

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Luke 6:37-38 NLT

In an article published by Runner’s World yesterday, it was reported that on Tuesday, Eliud Kipchoge revealed in an interview with BBC Sport Africa that he experienced harassment in the weeks following the death of Kenyan marathoner Kelvin Kiptum on February 11, which caused him to become distrustful and affected his performance at the Tokyo Marathon in March. Kipchoge said that after 24-year-old Kiptum’s sudden death in a car crash in Kenya, social media users began accusing him of being intentionally involved in the incident… Kipchoge said the harassment affected his running, too, and that some of his training partners believed rumors that he was connected with Kiptum’s death. “It was really painful for me to learn even from my own people, my training mates, those who I have contact with, and the bad words are coming from them,” Kipchoge said in the interview. Kipchoge estimates that he lost around 90 percent of his friends during that time period. As you’d expect, the claims made against Eliud were not only hurtful but eventually proven to be false and unfounded. 

And you know, as painful as it is to be falsely slandered, threatened, accused, and harassed by strangers (something made all the easier because of social media), the mental and physical anguish of the situation is made all the worse when the treatment comes from ‘friends.’ But whether mistreatment and abuse comes to us at the hands of ‘friends’ or foes, the Bible is clear that as Christ followers, we are to not only love our enemies, but we are to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who hurt us. In other words, we are to show them the love of Jesus — that they might be inspired to seek Him because of our uncommon and unexpected reactions to their ill-treatment. 

So don’t be surprised when you’re treated unkindly and unfairly for no good reason my friend. As believers, this is something we must expect, especially as the end days draw closer. For this reason, when (not if) persecution comes, we must choose to be like Jesus who, while hanging on the cross to pay a debt He didn’t owe, said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing to love us so much that You would send your one and only Son to die on a cross to grant us forgiveness from our sins. In light of that mercy, help us to love others in the same way that we might lead them to the One who inspires the selfless love and behavior that Jesus showed. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Trust His Plans

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 ESV

In a story published by WNDU News Monday, it was reported that a runner who is 23 weeks pregnant took first place in a half marathon in Indianapolis over the weekend. Anna Rohrer, 27, successfully defended her title as the women’s champion in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday, organizers said in a news release. The 13.1-mile race started in downtown Indianapolis and includes a 2.5-mile lap around the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. According to race results, more than 8,000 women participated. Rohrer, a University of Notre Dame graduate, was the women’s champion after finishing the race with a time of 1:15:18. This comes one year after she won the race with a time of 1:11:31. Since she is pregnant, she told WTHR she wasn’t sure what to expect in this year’s race. “I didn’t think I’d run quite the same time last year, but you know, whatever God wills is gonna happen on the day,” she said. Do you just love her attitude or what? 

And you know, when it comes to displaying the way of thinking that Anna did, we would all do well to remember that “the heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” You see, at the end of the day, there are so many things that you and I have no control over. For instance, we can “plan” to win a race and do the training it takes to set that “plan” into place, but we can’t control the weather (which plays a huge factor), or any obstacles that we might encounter along the way. Which is the very reason we should pray, align our will with His, and then make our plans with an attitude that says, “Whatever happens on this day or that Lord, I will accept it as I know that Your ways are higher than mine, and that every change of plans has a greater purpose than mine.”  I don’t know about you but I’ve seen this play out in my own life time after time and have learned that God’s plans were always better than mine. It may have taken a while to see or to play out, but God has proven Himself to be faithful and wise over and over again.

So no matter what you’re going through today my friend, choose to trust God and to surrender your life to Him. You will not only have the peace that surpasses all understanding but a restfulness of the spirit that is thankful to be a child of the one true God who is in complete control and reigns over everything.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word that guides, teaches, and comforts us. Through the pages of the Bible, we can have complete trust in You and live peaceful lives. Help us to be so set apart in our attitudes Lord that the lost would see this tranquility we exude in the midst of conflict rather than in the absence of it so they would be inspired to seek the only One who can provide it. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running! 

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Run the Best Half

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about some great news that was announced last week by RaceRaves. The Cohick Half Marathon was named the BEST Half Marathon in Missouri for 2024! As someone who's run this race and loves this race, the news came as no surprise. And neither did what Race Raves had to say about this amazing 13.1 mile event... Situated in the heart of the Ozarks, Missouri’s third most populous city hosts a lovely “fall”ternative to crowded big-city half marathons. Starting and finishing (where else?) at the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters, this mostly flat tour of attractive neighborhoods includes a visit to local favorite Mother’s Brewing Company as well as a short stretch on historic Route 66. (Springfield is recognized as the birthplace of the Mother Road.) Along the way, expect motivational boosts courtesy of the season’s changing colors, plus energetic themed aid stations and designated spectator party zones. Enthuses one happy finisher, “It would be hard to surpass the professionalism” of the Bass Pro Shops Fitness Series.

Do you just love that or what??? 

So if a Half Marathon is on your bucket list, you know what you need to do right? Sign up and then commit yourself to the training of course. Official Cohick Half and Bass Pro Marathon training groups start in July but May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, is a great month to start building up your base mileage, something that most people know improves their physical health but may not have considered that it also benefits their mental health. Running can make you healthy and happy! It's true! 

But if you don't believe me, check out what the experts at Runner's World had this to say about mental health and the seven ways running goes beyond the physical advantages:

The advantages of running go well beyond your physical health; the sport works just as many wonders for your mental health and wellness. A 2020 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health associated running with improvements in a range of mental health outcomes and concluded that running has positive implications for various mental illnesses. In the U.S. alone, approximately 23 percent of adults experienced a mental illness in 2021, defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. Running can be used as a tool to help alleviate the symptoms of those disorders and contribute to an improved mental state.

Running Helps Improve Your Mood

You can feel this particular benefit of running for mental health while still on the move or as soon as you finish your miles. Running releases endorphins in the brain, and these endorphins act as a painkiller during physical discomfort. Thanks to the release of these feel-good hormones—which researchers explain our ancestors needed when running to catch prey or avoid predators—running can help your mind break out of a dark place and bring on positive thinking. All it takes to boost your endorphins is a run just long enough to push you out of your comfort zone.

Running Reduces Stress

One of the main culprits behind stress is a hormone called cortisol. When you feel stressed, your adrenal glands release cortisol into your bloodstream in an increased amount. Ironically, the act of running is an additional stressor, activating stress response in your body and the release of cortisol, but, as they describe in their recent series on stress in the body, it’s a short-term surge that serves a larger purpose: “Just like progressive training helps your body adapt to handle a higher load, increasing cortisol in your system helps your body adapt so it can better handle similar stressful situations in the future,” they wrote. In the end, physical exercise helps your body return to its equilibrium. A small 2021 study published in Scientific Reports concluded that just 10 minutes of moderate-intensity running can help your brain regulate stress.

Running Helps Build Mental Resilience

Running is a great mental sport as it helps develop your mental toughness and resilience. A small study at Northern Arizona University concluded when people improved their fitness and exercised consistently, they had a lower stress response. Not only does running help deal with stress at the moment, but it also supports quicker rebound during future stressful moments and builds greater resilience in the long term.

Running Improves Brain Function

There are close to 100 billion nerve cells in your brain, connected by neurotransmitters. Several studies suggest that exercise increases the function of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, best known for influencing happiness, sleep, memory, and more.
“By raising our neurotransmitters, exercise really makes a difference in the way we feel, and very importantly, we have control over the way we feel by moving our bodies,” said John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science on Exercise and the Brain. 

Running Leads to Better Sleep

Sleep is critical for your mental health, while the lack of it has the power to worsen your mental well-being. Sleep plays a role in supporting your brain, heart and, overall health—and according to a 2023 research Runner’s World covered, potentially even how long you live.While researchers don’t completely understand how precisely physical activity and sleep are linked, a 2023 systematic search confirmed that running can lead to improved sleep quality, making the miles you put in all the more worth it.

Running Supports Mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment, and research shows that practicing mindfulness can help manage mental health conditions. “One of the goals of mindfulness when it comes to mental health is this idea of being able to pause, notice unhelpful thinking, reframe the thought, and move from there,” said Dwayne Brown, licensed clinical social worker who uses mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in his private practice to help those with mental health conditions. Through mindfulness, a person is more in control of their thinking, instead of their thinking being in control of them, Brown added. Being present and mindful contributes to a better mental state. 

Running Is a Great Tool for Treating Mental Disorders

More than 50 million American adults experience mental illness, with half of them not receiving any treatment. As we mentioned, running can be part of your plan because it helps trigger the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. These feel-good chemicals are often depleted by mental disorders. “We lose nerve cells, and exercise helps repopulate them and make them tougher, make them stronger so they can withstand the stresses of everyday life,” said Ratey. Antidepressant drugs are based on helping fire neurotransmitters in your brain and increase their concentration as soon as you start taking them, Ratey said. But as explained above, the same can be achieved by incorporating running into your routine. In a 2023 study published by the Journal of Affective Disorders, more than 100 people with depression or anxiety were offered the option to take antidepressants or join a running program for 16 weeks. The study concluded that running worked just as well as the medication “Now, I would always encourage people to seek medical advice from a medical professional, it’s really important to make sure that you’re targeting your mental illness from all avenues,” said Lennie Waite, a certified mental performance consultant and Olympian. “But running is a great supplement to whatever else you’re doing to benefit your mental health.”

Running can support a range of mental disorders, including anxiety, the most common mental illness in the U.S., and depression, the leading disability in ages 15-44. But the benefits don’t stop there. Post-traumatic stress disorder is another one, which Runner’s World covered in detail in this article. And runners have been using the sport to manage other mental health conditions as well, including bipolar disorder, ADHD, the risk of dementia, or, for example, OCD.

So there you have it friends. There are so many benefits to committing to a running (or walking) program. But one of the greatest rewards  (not listed by Runner's World) is the friendships you'll make along the way. Runners are genuinely the nicest people you'll ever meet (must be all the endorphins), which means spending time with them will also be a boost for your mental health. Did I tell you that group runs often turn into counseling sessions as well? So lace up those shoes and get out there for the first of many training runs. There are lots of Bass Pro Fitness Series events coming up and you don't want to miss them! Your body and your mind will thank you. 

Happy Running!

We are not Disqualified

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV

In a story titled, "Runner disqualified as winner of OC Marathon" published yesterday, it was reported that a Fountain Valley man was disqualified Sunday as winner of the OC marathon. In a statement, event officials said the competitor was disqualified for receiving unauthorized assistance from someone on a bike. City News Service reported that the runner received fluids from a spectator in violation of a rule that participants can only get water at official hydration stations. "During yesterday’s Hoag OC Marathon, we were forced to disqualify a participant after it was confirmed they received unauthorized assistance from an individual on a bicycle, in violation of USA Track & Field rules and our race regulations," race director Gary Kutschar said. "We take these rules seriously to ensure fairness and the integrity of our event for all competitors.”

And you know, while the punishment for an offense that seems so minor might appear to be unusually harsh, the penalty for the transgression is fitting. After all, a violation is a violation no matter the size of the breach. Similarly, the punishment for all sin (big and small) is death, since all sin is a violation of God’s rules. Thankfully though, through the death of Jesus Christ, we don’t have to be disqualified from receiving the prize of “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through this “free gift of God,” you and I were given another chance — and by confessing and repenting of our sins can complete the race we were called to run. 

So don’t despair if sin has left you sidelined my friend. By turning from your trespasses, no matter how shameful, heinous, or shocking they might have been, you can be reinstated and qualified to get back in the race and receive the prize Jesus has promised to every faithful finisher. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for your mercy in not giving us the punishment that we deserve. Help us to truly understand that without Jesus’ death on the cross, we would all be disqualified and justly condemned to hell. May that knowledge cause us to be so thankful that we serve You will all we have until the day we reach that final finish line. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Be Prepared and Ready

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

In a story published by WSAW-TV last week, it was reported that Allen Stegner, who stopped to help a fellow runner after they collapsed while running the Illinois Marathon, and the Wausau Fire Department are encouraging everyone to get CPR certified because, they say, every minute that goes by decreases a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Alan Stenger is a cardiac device specialist, he was running the Illinois Marathon when he noticed a runner collapse. Stenger and several others went to check on the man. One minute he was speaking to them, the next minute he lost consciousness. That’s when Stenger and the others jumped into action. “Two of us were former paramedics, so we had a good number of people there who were trained and capable of CPR that we were able to get that started until ultimately you know we got 911 called and we were able to direct them where to go eventually,” said Stengner. Stenger also told me the part of the race route where this happened made it even more important to start CPR right away.

And you know, as this story clearly illustrates, the need to provide CPR to a person in need can come when we least expect it. Which is the very reason that every person, not just the experts, should be ’trained and capable’ to give it. In the same way, every believer of Jesus Christ should “be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not” to “preach the word of God.” You see, there are millions of people in our world that are in spiritual cardiac arrest, people that will die in their sin and spend eternity in hell if the life-saving Message of the Gospel is not shared with them. Which means we must ALL be ready to preach it at ALL times… both when it’s hard, and when it’s’ easy, when it falls on receptive ears, and when it doesn’t…  not leaving it up to the experts (aka pastors) to do the job. 

So in a world that’s growing increasingly hostile to the name of the only One who has the power to save the soul, let us be all the more determined to be trained in the Word and capable of sharing it and defending it so we will be ready to act when a person goes down. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there are spiritually collapsed people all over our world today that are oblivious to the fate that awaits them if their condition is not cured. Lord, fill our hearts so full of love for the lost that we are compelled to study the Word so that we will be ‘trained and capable’ of preaching it and teaching it wherever and whenever it is necessary. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!