What Do You Love?

     Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing". They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. Jn. 21:3
     He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to Him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said unto him, "Feed My sheep." Jn. 3:17

During one of my recent morning devotions I read John 21. What was odd is I never really had a scripture grab me like this one did. I have never thought about Peter deciding to re-start his fishing business. I have always looked at is as Peter was just wanted to pass the time and do a little fishing like you and I. I really do not know why I have thought that but I did. The fact that he boarded a boat with some of the Apostles and fished with nets all night makes me now believe he was re-starting the family business. As I went through the day the phrase kept running through my head, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" The phrase, "love Me more than these?" just rang in my head all day. As I thought about, the more I came to realize it wasn't Peter, Jesus was talking to this day. It was me!!! While in the Scripture He (Jesus) was in fact talking to Peter, today Jesus was talking to me.

Before you think I am some kind of nut job, let me explain. Last week I was feeling a little down and frustrated with all my injuries and illness. I have not really been training like I was before I sprained my ankle in November. I was just starting to get my training up to speed then my chronic Bronchitis came back real hard. I am still trying to recover. So while in a self imposed pity party it was Jesus saying to me,"Ric do you love Me more than racing/training?" I am not sure why He had put these verses in my mind and heart, but I do know He spoke and I have listened. I have been evaluating what I love. I ask myself if I love this more that Jesus.

I am finding myself Loving Jesus more and other things less. I still love and long to train but it doesn't seem to be my top priority anymore. I find myself wanting to read my Bible and pray first then what time is left then I train. Training and Racing are starting to be secondary to what I am doing for Him. So I pray that you will, pray for me while I follow the true line of Faith and life. So as I Stare at Lines I hope my journey will be one that Honors and Glorifies God.

Spring Training in Full Swing or What?

Well this was the week I was suppose to start training full swing. I was planning to bike outside and really start picking up my training. I wanted to Get focused on June and Tri-Shark. This is a race I have missed the last 2 years. I have a very competitive spirit but coming into this year my competitive vision has not been as strong. I have been seriously considering if I am gonna compete or participate. This has been a serious struggle for me. I have always had a competitive spirit it has been in my blood since I was a little boy. But now it just seems like I have been content to just go thorough the motions. I am not sure if it is the injury to my ankle or this case of bronchitis that has me down over the weekend. What ever the case I have kind of lost my focus for training right now. While I am trying to find my way for this Triathlon season it has left me thinking of how I will face this season. Will I compete or will I just participate is the question I will be asking myself for the next few days.

I think it is funny but there are times in my life I find myself asking the same thing about my Christian walk. Not so much anymore. When I first met my girlfriend Julie we  were not seeking God. But as our relationship started to grow we started to seek Him. We went to a church and we went through the motions. You know get up on Sunday's and go to church and feel good for the moment and then we lived our life until the next Sunday. I now think back to those days and wondered how I could live like that. Craig Groeschel wrote a book  about that very thing called,"The Christian Atheist".

A Christian Atheist is one who believes in God, but lives as if He does not exist. So as God continues to work in my life. I now look back and wondered how I could have lived my life in that way? While I must admit that from where I came (total disobedience) to where I was just a little over year ago was an improvement, but was still Christian Atheism. Ever since God really got a hold of my heart to now I find myself growing closer and closer to Him. Just about the only thing I really know for sure is, that while I am not perfect I believe I am on the right path in my walk for Him. As long as I keep His words in my heart and my mind on Him, He will direct my path. (Prov. 3:5-6)

So while I may not know where I am going on my Triathlon journey one thing is for sure I know my  bike course, and my running path and as long as I keep my sight right on the swim course of Life. He will guide me. As I Stare at Lines.

More Thoughts on Heart-Rate Running

Since the weather has been warming up and I am tired of running on the treadmill already. I thought I would start running outside. I love being outside but what I noticed is that the area I live in is quite hilly. Because of these two factors I quickly learned 2 facts about heart-rate running that I did not realize. First, I learned that my perceived running on a treadmill and my perceived running pace outside are not the same. While running at a comfortable pace outside I soon learned I was actually running faster then I had planned on running causing my heart-rate to shoot up. The other thing I learned is that when running up hills my heart-rate shot up but running down hill my heart-rate slowed down. These 3 elements, (perceived running pace, up hill and down hill) have caused me to look at thing a little different. When I run at a pace that averages what I run in zone 2 I find out that I can run farther at a slower pace then when I go all out. When I go all out I seem to get tired and I cannot hold the pace as long. What I must remember about running up hill is that I am going eventually go down hill and my heart-rate will slow down.

What I think is ironic is this is how my Christian life goes as well. If I go at my own pace and not at God's pace it seems like whatever it is I am doing dies out real fast. But if I go at God's pace and in God's time I seem to be able to just about do anything as long as He needs me to do it. I also have noticed that when I am going up hill in my walk with Him. It seems like the top of the hill is not in sight, but that is when I need Him the most to get me to the top. Then when my life is going down hill I find myself coasting and reminding myself to enjoy this because I have earned it and now know the lesson I have learned from the climb.

So I guess what I am learning is that while I am training I must stay focused on my proper heart-rate zones and I will eventually get faster in due time and the Hills will make me stronger. Also in my Christian walk I must always keep my eyes fixed on Him and go at life in His pace not mine. Maybe my line in my walk is not my will Lord but Yours be done. Additionally, I really need to appreciate the mountains in my life for when they are done I seem to enjoy the climb more than the decent. This line might be called, "count it all Joy when you fall into diverse trials". So until next time follow me as I keep Staring at Lines.

Not The Guy I Once Was

The other day I was looking at pictures and I ran across a photo of me on my bike. What makes the photo so unusual was that I was wearing glasses. In April of last year I had Lasik surgery. I wore glasses for over 30 year. Even though I have only been glasses less for only a short time 10 months now when I see a picture of myself, I find myself saying, "oh yeah I once wore glasses".



Me in April of 2010



Me in Sept 2010



In January of last year (2010) I started attending  Elevate Church. While attending there God started speaking to me  over the last 15 months God has really been working on me. Jesus has given my soul a Lasik surgery only he can give. When I look back at my life over the last year. I see a totally different man then I was a year ago. What is truly amazing is how it has spilled over in my personal life as well. I am finding myself becoming a leader in my family, in my Church and in my work. I strive to be the best person I can be to honor God. I am finding that while I am not perfect, He is still working on me. So while I continue to Stare at Lines (God's perfect Word). I hope that next year I will look back and say, "while I am not perfect I am a different person today then I was a year ago."