While at Elevate Church this past Easter Sunday. I has this thought. If I was back in Jesus time during the Crucifixion would I have Cheered with the crowd or would I have cried? I have thought allot about this over the last 24hrs. I would like to say that I would have cried. I wish I could have said, this is not right, and stood up and tried to do something. I would love to think that I would have stood up for Jesus. In my shame I think I would have to say I would probably be one of the Cheerers. I think I would have been duped into believing that this Man is Challenging our faith. This Man is trying to convince us He is God. That He is the Truth the Way and the Life. He spends more time with the street people, hookers and thieves, truly He could not be whom He says he is. He never takes the time to hang out with us religious types. I read, study, pray and tithe. Am I not good enough.
With that being said, Jesus was a trend setter. He question the status quo of Religion of the day. He saw the need to be with the down trodden (poor, sick, blind, lame and deaf) with the outcasts (street people, hookers, thieves and the homeless) He was more concerned with His Fathers business, than being popular. He then died for the sins of the world, but staying dead was not His fate. He would rise from the dead. Paying the debt that no one else could pay. While it is hard to believe, Jesus did not only die for those who were crying but for those who were cheering as well. I know it is really hard to believe that while I may have been one of those who would have been cheering, Jesus died for me.
I am so glad I do not have to deal with the thought of, did I made the right choice in cheering or crying. I know, I am His. I am a Child of God through His work on the cross (the shed blood of Jesus) and the fact that the grave could not hold Him and He forgives me. Makes me believe. He is the Son of God! He did heal the blind, deaf, lame, and the sick! He did raise the dead and Feed the 5000. I am so Glad that even though I would have been a cheerer, Jesus still forgives me. Still loves me and will still wants to use me. So even though I would have been a cheerer, because of Jesus Love for me I can now say in hind-sight of course. I AM NOW A CRIER!!!
While this is not my usual type of blog. I just think that sometimes it is good to just reflect on how and what we believe. I think we should ask ourselves how we would have acted if we were there when Jesus walked the earth. While we cannot be there physically we can through His word walk with Him. While we Stare at Lines.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Oh No!!! Not the Wind Again!
Today I finally got outside on the bike. That is right the bike trainer has no hold on me. It was time for me to hit the open road and let the wind flow through my hair under a bike helmet of course. Oh, wait did I say wind? No I didn't just mentioned that bad 4 letter word? Wind! Oh man. Thats right, this is what happened today. I got out on the open road and started pedaling. Up to the top of the hill down the other side and up another hill. when I finally got to flat ground, I thought wow my winter bike plan was working because I was cruising at 28mph. That was when I realized that I didn't have a winter bike plan. I was injured all winter. Then that is when it hit me this speed I am traveling at is all wind generated. That thought might not seem like allot but when I turn around I am gonna be heading right back into the wind. The same wind pushing me at break neck speeds is gonna be pushing me to a drastically slow pace.
So while doing my SUFFERFEST bike ride the thought came to mind. That while riding, the wind at my back was pushing me and when the wind was in my face it was holding me back so to speak. It was while I was suffering that I was reminded that in my Christian life if I walk in the Spirit it seems like my life is on cruise control, while not perfect or with out issues ( I have some, OK maybe allot) ,but things just seems to flow real good. Although when I am not in the Spirit but in my Flesh walking my own way. This is when I feel like I am riding against the wind in my Christian life. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit gives power (Acts1:8) gives comfort (John14:16-26) helper (John14:26) and convicts (John16:8-11). You see God has sent His Holy Spirit to work in our lives. He is here to help, lead and move us to grow closer to Him and serve others. He gives us POWER to do the will of God. While we are living in a Spirit Filled lives we will draw closer to Him. While we serve others we draw closer to Him.
So as we allow God to flow through us with His Holy Spirit. (I John 4:13) There is nothing we cannot do for Him. My desire right now is to be like a mirror. I people to see God's Glory reflecting off of me. So when the they see me they see Jesus. I believe this can happen if I let the Holy Spirit flow through me as I continue to Stare At Lines.
So while doing my SUFFERFEST bike ride the thought came to mind. That while riding, the wind at my back was pushing me and when the wind was in my face it was holding me back so to speak. It was while I was suffering that I was reminded that in my Christian life if I walk in the Spirit it seems like my life is on cruise control, while not perfect or with out issues ( I have some, OK maybe allot) ,but things just seems to flow real good. Although when I am not in the Spirit but in my Flesh walking my own way. This is when I feel like I am riding against the wind in my Christian life. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit gives power (Acts1:8) gives comfort (John14:16-26) helper (John14:26) and convicts (John16:8-11). You see God has sent His Holy Spirit to work in our lives. He is here to help, lead and move us to grow closer to Him and serve others. He gives us POWER to do the will of God. While we are living in a Spirit Filled lives we will draw closer to Him. While we serve others we draw closer to Him.
So as we allow God to flow through us with His Holy Spirit. (I John 4:13) There is nothing we cannot do for Him. My desire right now is to be like a mirror. I people to see God's Glory reflecting off of me. So when the they see me they see Jesus. I believe this can happen if I let the Holy Spirit flow through me as I continue to Stare At Lines.
Monday, April 4, 2011
It Is Not How You Start, But How You Finish!
Today is my first day back on the training cycle again. Yet once again it seems like I am asking my self the same old question. With 2 months left before Tri-Shark, the question that I find myself asking do I compete or participate? I know that I am very competitive but the real question is, will I be ready in time? 2 months is not a lot of time to become competitive. My goal will be to start training so that I will be ready for my last race the North Carolina TTT's in October.
As For my race goals for the Tri-Shark? I always wanted to compete in this race. so I guess I will try to get ready as best as I can. I must remember, it is not the beginning of the season that I am looking forward to it is the End. The North Carolina TTT's. so I guess I may have to wait til next year to compete in Tri-shark then again I just might be ready. June 4th will be the day for me to find out if I am ready or not.
While I was swimming today. I found myself thinking about a conversation I had with My pastor. He and I was talking about how I was saved at 19yrs old, but by the time I was 28 I was off doing my own thing. I then told him how coming to Elevate Church had changed my life. Then I then told him about how I have wasted more of my life on myself than serving Him. I told him how I really felt bad about what I have done. Then my Pastor said this, "Ric you are a Triathlete and you should know this, it is not how you start but how you finish."
This is so true, not only in my Triathlon life as well as my Christian life. It is never how you start but how you finish. As we go through life we see a progression of learning and growing. I hope you will see it is not how I start but how I finish. So while I continue to Stare at Lines, lets see how I finish not how I start.
As For my race goals for the Tri-Shark? I always wanted to compete in this race. so I guess I will try to get ready as best as I can. I must remember, it is not the beginning of the season that I am looking forward to it is the End. The North Carolina TTT's. so I guess I may have to wait til next year to compete in Tri-shark then again I just might be ready. June 4th will be the day for me to find out if I am ready or not.
While I was swimming today. I found myself thinking about a conversation I had with My pastor. He and I was talking about how I was saved at 19yrs old, but by the time I was 28 I was off doing my own thing. I then told him how coming to Elevate Church had changed my life. Then I then told him about how I have wasted more of my life on myself than serving Him. I told him how I really felt bad about what I have done. Then my Pastor said this, "Ric you are a Triathlete and you should know this, it is not how you start but how you finish."
This is so true, not only in my Triathlon life as well as my Christian life. It is never how you start but how you finish. As we go through life we see a progression of learning and growing. I hope you will see it is not how I start but how I finish. So while I continue to Stare at Lines, lets see how I finish not how I start.
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