New Newton's

You have to love the smell of new running shoes!!! Yes - I will admit, a bit of an off the wall post, but man these shoes smell good!!! Don't go around thinking that I smell my shoes once I run in them, but fresh out of the box, they are wonderful.

I started wearing Newton running shoes about a year ago. I was a hard sell in the beginning as the price of the shoes are outrageous. But a then client / friend of mine suggested I give them a try and he gave me an introductory price. The shoes promote a bio-mechanical fore-foot push off and also are know to reduce leg fatigue caused by heel-strike running. I found that the shoes really helped my running mechanics and also improved my recovery. I tried to switch back to my staple running shoes 'Asics', but my legs would not have it. Last winter, while I was training for a January marathon I experienced extreme frost bite while running in the Newton's, due to the very light mess upper out-sole of the shoe. This winter the shoe manufacturer came out with an all-terrain version and those are ones in the picture. I am preparing for a February marathon and I confident that I won't freeze off my dogs this winter!

Run Smart -

Kevin

How the Newton's work:

Cameron has the Moves

A couple of weeks ago the family and I went to a wedding. I have to tell you the best thing about weddings for me is the party afterwards. It has always been that way, at least for as long as I can remember! My son Cameron loves to dance, what kid doesn't? He has always been drawn to break-dancing. Here is a couple photos of him tearing it up!

Enjoy!

Warrior Challenge Adventure Race

Adventure what?

I suggested to Ironman legend Darin A and my Missional Community sister L. Asher (an accomplished kayaker that we form a team for an 8 hour Adventure Race that started and finished in Platte River State Park near Springfield Nebraska on October 18th 2009. They actually were excited about the challenge and demands of finding up to 30 check points that spanned 3 Nebraska State Parks, three cities and a river.

The event included lots of mountain biking both on single track trails (think technical) and roads, trail running, canoeing and lots and lots of navigation. The navigation is where the challenge for this type of even lies. No GPS equipment allowed, just a map, UTM coordinates and the technical know how to position a point on a map given both an eastern and norther set of coordinate. You locate the point in the wrong location, you are hunting for a check point that doesn't exist.

I did some of this kind of racing about 10 years ago, so I was exposed to the technical aspects that are required for this kind of event, but this was my first race where I was directing this effort. My hat off to Darin for picking up the skill and also reading the map way better than I could (contours and such).

I think the team agreed that the most challenging aspect next to the navigation was the canoe section on the Platte River. Lets just say we are all still great friends, but there was some flames coming out of Darin's ears as he has steering the boat!

We finished in 7:54 (yes 7 hours 54 mins) but were assessed a penalty for skipping a check point. We were not the fastest, and not the slowest, but the overall goal going into the event was a finish!

Success!!

Live for the Adventure - Kev

One God in Trinity

I came across some clarifying content in a book I was reading titled "The Doctrine of God". Some pretty heady stuff, but the particular info that helped me in one chapter was the background on Judaism or the Jewish religion. This was of particular interest as a new friend of mine is married to person that grew up in a Jewish home and claims to be a practicing Jew. As I grow in my relationship with Christ and process life in that lens, there has been a growing desire for me to understand the 'religious movements' in the world. So the following has helped me shape those thoughts!

"In Judaism God is one and personal, but although these characteristics are fundamental to his being, they are not the most important element in Jewish worship of him. Jews tend to be preoccupied with the holiness of God, and especially of the divine name, an attitude which is inculcated by the covenant law of Israel. The main purpose of this law is to keep Jews clean, pure and undefiled, so as to make them worthy of their calling as God's chosen people. But the restrictive legalism which this has entailed is not regarded by those who uphold it as a fetter on their spiritual liberty. On the contrary, it appears to them to be the main basis of their spiritual assurance and freedom, since only within the narrow confines of the law can Jews be assured that they are living according to God's will. The law, supplemented by the interpretations of later generations, is revered as the voice of God, through which the nation enters into a living experience of its covenant relationship with him."

"In principle, Christianity subscribes to the Jewish covenant, and the belief in a holy God which that entails. It accepts the law of Moses as a revelation of God's holiness, but argues that it cannot be used as a means of salvation. In Christian eyes, nobody can keep the law in every respect, because at the bottom the problem of human sin is that of a broken relationship with God. Only when that is put right can the spiritual character of the law begin to make sense, and become applicable to us. In putting that broken relationship right, Christians agree with traditional Jews that the atoning sacrifice provided for in the law is fundamental, but they insist that this sacrifice was made once for all by Jesus Christ."

"Jews may recognize God's existence and know his law, but without Christ, they cannot penetrate the mystery of that divine fellowship which Christians call the Holy Trinity."

Athlete Question "How to go 10 hours at Ironman Louisville KY?"

A question from my buddy Brian in Alabama:

So Kevin - so what do I do now to get to 10 hrs in Louisville?!?

This is a huge question Brian. At its core is your ability to recover. Given your performance in WI you are doing the right type of training. For a 10 hr time you will need to be able to increasingly recover from long and intense sessions on a frequent basis. This is the 'core' limiter for most endurance athletes. Most have a hard time recovering given the demanding schedules that we have (marriages, family, work, and rest / sleep). So one of the questions that I have been encouraging the athletes I coach, more and more frequently, is to take a realistic look at goals and count the cost. There are several costs in pursuing Ironman / endurance dreams and as athletes set higher and higher goals the demands for recovery become paramount.

Hope this helps as I know it is kind of vague. That is why I like my initial response of Beer and Tacos - way simplier! Remember if you go this route - enjoy in moderation :-)

Kevin

Who are the enemies of Christians now?

The following is an excerpt from a lecture that one of the professors of a class I am talking gave related to Psalms & Wisdom Literature - V. Philips Long & Covenant Theological Seminary

"We struggle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, spiritual forces
of darkness in high places. How are we to fight this battle? By praying for conversions and by actively
seeking to advance God’s kingdom here on earth. We do not want to spiritualize it entirely, because the
judgment day is really coming. There will come a day when the weeds and the wheat will be divided.
The weeds are still among the wheat and thus we cannot really go about uprooting the weeds without
danger of uprooting the wheat. From our perspective, how do we know which is which? We cannot. We
do not know until the end of the story is told at the end of each individual life. What if Christian
militants had killed Saul of Tarsus because he stood by while Christians were martyred? They would
have been attempting to destroy the wheat and not the weed. Right now we simply do not know about
people’s souls, and we are called upon to pray that God will draw to Himself those who at this point are
very far from Him. In 2 Peter 3:9, we read that important verse about God’s patience: “The Lord is not
slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone
to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” We live in a time of common grace in which the rain
falls on the just and unjust alike. But the Day of Judgment is coming, and we do our contemporaries no
favor if we obscure the fundamental truth that judgment is coming. Read Luke 13 and discover how
Jesus responded to natural disasters and public criminal acts. He pointed to them as reminders that
judgment was coming and a reason to repent. Therefore I think we do our contemporaries a favor to say,
when bad things happen, “Judgment is coming. As bad as this is, this is only a foretaste of what awaits
the world outside of Christ.” As we see with horror what is happening in this world, that should
encourage us to seek to be those instruments of God’s love who have an opportunity to see people come
to know Him."

“Judgment is coming. As bad as this is, this is only a foretaste of what awaits
the world outside of Christ.” - This is my favorite line in the whole piece! For those that live life outside of a unity with Christ, this life is as good as it will ever be. The brokenness and pain that those who do not have Christ, is just a foretaste of what waits them! Drives me in humility and prayer to those in my life that are living willfully against God and his son!

In Christ Alone - Kevin

Reading the Bible to Hear God Speak

The last paragraph in a book that I just read, really spoke to me as a man who desires to hear God's voice in the 'all' of life. Enjoy :-)

"It takes time to read the Bible to hear God speak. The bible is not a fast-food outlet. One has to pay attention to the written text, pore over it, learn the languages or consult several translations, deepened oneself into the original historical circumstances, piece out the literary features to catch the nuances, check a wide diversity of commentary readings on the particular text under scrutiny. Reading the Bible to hear God speak is not a one-person show -- it happens best in a believing communion of attuned reading saints often found in books. Once prepared -- led into a reading by those who know in faith better than yourself how to listen to the Bible -- a person waits on the Lord, wrestles with the God-speaking text, and finally hears the Holy Spirit's voice of the text which humbles you to your knees with an oracle of tough love and rough comfort, and a mission of redemptive service. One never need say, "My prayers are not answered; God never talks to me," if you learn to read the Bible to hear God speak. God speaks through the holy scriptures with mysterious clarity and empowering wisdom in a way that engenders faith-fullness, patience, joy, trust, love, and hope."

Taken from the book "How to Read the Bible to Hear God Speak, a study in Numbers 22-24", by Calvin Seerveld

Hearing better all the time :-)

Preparation Canyon State Park

Not only do I enjoy the human powered form of cycling!  I also enjoy the power-generation of my electronically fuel injected 800cc motorcycle.  This photo was taken by my buddy Chris during a stop at Preparation Canyon State Park in western Iowa a couple weeks ago!

Ride Strong -

Kevin

Objections to Christianity - Exclusivity

Was listening to Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian Church - NYC)  teach on an objection to Christianity "exclusivity" that was so convicting that I sent these notes a friend of mine. This is long but well worth the read.  Based on 1 John 4:1-10.  Enjoy :-)

Exclusivity: (1 John 4:1-10)
Problem that people have with all religions. How can you claim that you have the only truth. 40, 30, 20 years ago the barrier to peace was the cold war. But now it is religion. Agree that religion generally speaking has a strong tendency to divide people. Creates a slippery slope for people. Religion erodes peace between people. What do you do when you realize this. 2 ways that don't work as you address this divisiveness and one way that does work

Two Ways that Don't Work -
1) - People are hoping for or helping that religion would weaken and go away. Religion used to help us a adapt to our world, but now people think that it doesn't relate. But that is not what is happening in the world. Africa in the last 100 years has gone for 10% to 50% Christian, China over the next 100 years will be more Christian. Governments have taken control over religion, but Christianity continues to grow rapidly. Why is it that religion doesn't go away. It only gets stronger. 1 John 4 1 - John is talking about teachers. Commentaries - don't make the assumption that he is talking about religious views, there is a spiritual realm that people sense. People will worship something. That is not all good. You could worship something that can enslave you. Rather than free you. Worship is not a just an intellectual thing. Stamping religion out will not work.
2) - Confine religion to the private realm. People say - "We are not against religion - but keep it in the private realm". People say that we need to agree on 2 things 1) That all paths to God are equal and 2) Faith / religion gives you strength in private live, but never bring it into public life. Neither of these things hold water. 1 John 4:5 - they = critics of Christianity. They are coming from a religious faith view point, even as they are criticizing ours (1) all way are paths to God - why? Fact is that we all have truth and use an illustration = Group of blind men that come up to an elephant. All grab hold of it, and say what it is like - elephant is long, elephant is short and stiff, elephant is huge and flat. They begin to argue. Everyone of them is right and everyone is wrong. The are see part of reality, but not all. So they conclude that religion is the same. That is how we need to view religion. Book - "Gospel of a Pluralist Society" - only way you could know that the blind man didn't have the true reality, is if you could see the whole elephant. In religion - you say you are the one that knows the whole truth about religion. An arrogance that you know that all religion is equal. (only an appearance of humility) What is that absolute vantage point that you claim to relativize all scripture claims? When you say that no one has a spiritual take on reality, that is a spiritual take on reality. 2) Keep religion private - leave truth and reality at the door when you come to the public square. Simply look for strategies that work, not ones that are in line with religion and spirituality. We live in a society that tries to enforce this. Totally impracticable - what is religion? Not institutional! Religion is a set of answers to the big questions, Why are we here? What is right and wrong? What should we be spending our time doing? Those things can't be answered in a lab. It is a faith assumption. You cannot leave faith at the door when you go into public. Example - divorce. Lets just decide on divorce laws that work for people. Depend on your view / purpose of marriage. But impossible - individualist western societies - the needs of the individual more important than the group. You will make the divorce easy, but people in a traditional society - the family is more important than the individual. You are going to make divorce hard. You can't come to any conclusion of what will work in divorce with out deeply held belief about human flourishing. To say religions reasoning should be kept out-of the public square because it is faith based is on its own a faith based reasoning that should be thrown out.

So everybody has a set of exclusive beliefs, therefore what matters is which set of exclusive beliefs that can produce loving, exclusive reconciling peaceful behavior. Every body has exclusive beliefs! Even when you don;t think you do, you do.

One way that does work -
1) Strategy that deals with the divisiveness of religion - look at the things about the christian gospel that are unique to Christianity that are different from all other religions. Most people don't like that, the say "don't stress what is different, but what is in common." But those (similarities) are not the features that will lead you into the reconciliation and peace in the world. It is counter-intuitive, but turns you into an agent of peace. This text show us how unique Christianity is from other religions.
1) Origin of Jesus salvation - 1 John 4:2 Jesus Christ has 'come' means that he was somewhere before he came into the world. Every other religion in the world is that the leaders founder is a human being only, but God came into the world, in the flesh. Why is it like that? Because that is a reason why Christianity is different from other religions.
"GOD CAME INTO THE WORLD" = origin of Jesus Salvation
2) Purpose of Jesus salvation - Eastern religions = to liberate you from the flesh. That is the problem - the 'physical world'. Western religions = flesh is real but it is bad, and through an spiritual experience you can get out and go to heaven. All other religions the goal is to escape the world and go to heaven. But Christianity - God received a body in Jesus Christ, and at the resurrection of Jesus - the body experiences redemption. Not an escape from the world, but a redemption of the world. Getting rid of death, disease, poverty in the world. Christian salvation means a transformation of the world, not an escape. If some one says there is salvation in other faiths, "What kind of salvation are you talking about?" No other religion holds out the salvation of the world like Christianity. The resurrection - If religion says that the only thing that matters is heaven, the next life. Then what happens is that you are interested in converting people to your tribe and getting more people converted to it and the hell with the rest of the world. But if you believe the gospel you are working to make this a good world. Making the city a good city. Serve the city, make it a great place for all people. To make a new heaven and new earth.
"RESTORATION OF MATERIAL WORLD" = purpose of Jesus Salvation
3) Method of Grace - in all other religions, if you want to be saved you have to perform the truth, you have to love god, your neighbor, your family and if God sees you doing that he will save you. But that is not what the Gospel says at all. 1 John 4:10 - ...This is love not that we loved God.... God comes and sacrificially pours himself out for those that don't love him, others. Jesus is not mainly a teacher comes to die in our place, he dies for those that are not performing the truth that could be saved by his grace. The gospel says you are not saved by performance. If you are a performer you believe you have to be better than people - that creates a slippery slope - that you are saved by what you do, that is not what the Gospel says. The gospel is the only faith system that leads you to expect that people that don't believe as you believe are better than you (more disciplined, more self controlled, etc). Your not saved by performance - you cannot experience grace unless you admit you are not as good as those around you. If you believe the gospel you will see people that don't believe as you do, as better than you, the gospel humbles you. No other system does that! Jesus - he is not just a good person. He is God in the flesh. People say that leads to self righteousness. It didn't! When Christianity began to grow initially - it seemed to be inclusive. Christians proclaimed Jesus lord of all (seemed exclusive). Christianity created the most inclusive community in the history of the world up to that time. Greek and Romans didn't mix the rich and poor - Christians did. Jews didn't mix races - Christians did. Christianity ended up being the most inclusive community - because Jesus isn't just a great guy but God! Ultimate reality of a Christian is that you see a man on a cross loving people who don't love him. Forgiving people who abused him. Sacrificially serving people that oppose him.

Summary Statement -
Everybody has exclusive beliefs - Christianity is no different. Which set of exclusive beliefs leads you to the most inclusive behaviors? Take the Gospel into your life and you will live in the humility and see how people who don't believe what you believe are better than you are.


1 John 4 (NIV)

Test the Spirits

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
God's Love and Ours

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

What is Sin?

"Basing your identity on anything other than God!"

Some real simplicity to that!   Identity - it is what we find that defines us.  Family, education, fitness, marriage, kids, work, and on and on and on.  There are so many things that we identify with.  The world trains us in this way from the very begging of our understanding.  We are called to look out for #1, capitalize on our natural abilities and if you work hard, make the right decisions and with a little luck, you will be noticed, be successful, arrive!!  But what is the end in that?  Where is God in all of that?  None of those things above are bad in themselves, but when we find our identity in those things, when we leave God out of the picture and do those things independent of him.  We sin!   I think many people Christians alike, me included, try their hardest to manage there sin.  But it is impossible!    I think that is why I really was struck by the simplicity of this definition.  It has caused me to a deeper repentance that has and will continue to drive me to a deeper faith!

What do you find your identity in?

Doctrine of the Conviction of the Holy Spirit

Defined by John Calvin -

"The testimony of the Spirit is more excellent than all reason.  For as God alone is a fit witness of himself in his Word, so also the Word will not find acceptance in men's hearts before it is sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit.  The same Spirit, therefore, who has spoken through the mouths of the prophets must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaimed what had been divinely commanded."

"Even if it wins reverence for itself by its own majesty; it seriously affects us only when it is sealed upon our hears through the Spirit.  Therefore, illuminated by his power, we believe neither by our own nor by anyone else's judgment that Scripture is from God; but above human judgement we affirm with utter certainty. . . that it has flowed to us from the very mouth of God by the ministry of men."

I was reflecting on a discussion I had this morning about how our tongue's are an extension of our hearts.  How it reveals what we believe and how we strive to either put people in their place or come across as being better.    I pray that the Spirit penetrates my heart with the consistent reminder that my identity is in Christ alone, based on Scripture Alone.

"sola Scriptura"

The Omniscient Man?!?!?

Truth?  What is it?  How do you define it?  Who ultimately decides it?

I started reading "Let the Reader Understand" - A guide to interpreting and applying the Bible

by Dan McCartney and Charles Clayton.  In the introduction of this book I came across this profound statement, at least I think it is -

"If humans claim to be the ones who ultimately decide what is true, they are claiming to be able to make an absolute judgement.  But to make an absolute judgement, man will.....have to seek to make a system for himself that will relate all the facts of his environment to one another in such a a way as well enable him to see exhaustively all the relations that obtain between them.  In other words, the system that the non-Christian has to seek on his assumption is one in which he himself virtually occupies the place that God occupies in Christian theology.  Man must, in short, be virtually omniscient."

This is hugely relevant in the American culture and society.   I have had numerous conversations when the topic of truth comes up.  The society as a whole rests on the whole idea of truth being individualistic.  Each person is entitles to define his own truth.   But if that is the reality then what people are saying is that they are omniscient as God is.  Do people really believe that?  Or do they really know what they believe?

A Gem of Reality

OK - I get easily excited :-)

Doing some very heavy reading today in a chapter titled - 

"Philosophical Presuppositions of Biblical Errancy" and came across this phrase: 

"The Bible is a personal love letter from the personal God to persons He loves.  We are not confronted in Scripture with the choice between God's revelation and the God of that revelation.  All we know about God comes through His revelation.  There are indeed times when one revelational command of God conflicts with another (as obeying God over parents [Matt. 10:37],.....  There is no way to know that God is giving the command unless we have some revelational knowledge about who it is that is commanding us."

Revelational knowledge comes from a personal relationship with God!  Without that relationship we are leaves blowing in the wind!  The whole idea of the Bible being a personal love letter helps drive my dependency on it completely.

Kev

Scripture Memory

I have to be totally honest, scripture memory is one of the spiritual disciplines that I have been very convicted of not putting my heart and literally my mind into.  I am very bent towards structure.  Sometimes that can be a good thing, but in the past I have let the structure get in the way, and instead of it being a healthy thing, it becomes un-healthy.  Funny how, if we do not use it we lose it, and that is very clear in the usage of the brain.  I was never a great student, but by God's grace alone, he is allowing me to delight in the Lord and trust in him with all my heart! 

Here are a few verses that I have been focusing on in the last couple of weeks -

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord

And he will grant you the desires of your heart

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God

I will be exalted among the Nations

I will be exalted in the earth

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the lord with all your heart

and lead not on your own understanding

In all you ways acknowledge him

and he will make your path straight

Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the Lords discipline

and do not resent his rebuke

Because the lord disciplines those he loves

As the father, the son he delights in.

The Gospel Changes Everything - 

Kevin

Joy

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear. (NIV)

I met with a few men this morning and the question was asked "How do you define Joy?"  Some healthy discussion on what is Joy, but mainly where does it come from.  I think this passage from Isaiah relates really well to this topic.  A truth of the bible is that if we are separated from God we can never be happy or experience a deep sense of Joy in your lives.  How often do we approach God with your wants and needs, and never really come to him in deep repentance of our sin (iniquities).  Here is the punch line: Sin hides us from him, provides a barrier to him, so that we cannot really experience the joy that he offers.

Rock Solid from the OT - Kevin

What defines our identity?

Many athletes that I coach are very driven 'achievers'. But what happens if the goal is missed, or something doesn't go as planned? I am no different in that I fall into the temptation of finding my identity in the result or lack of.

I spent 4 years of my life in pursuit of qualifying for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship held each October.  Putting all my worth into qualifying.  In all of that, I sacrificed so much - relationships, time, money.  And during the journey I did not cherish the internal growth, the teaching and the impact it had on me as a person.  All the athletes I work with get a sense of my passion for the 'Journey' and it really came out of that experience.  It is not that we cannot have goals that push us.  But the real success is in the process not the destination.  There are so many parallels with this sport metaphor and with life. But also in answering the really big question ''What is the chief end in life?''   Is it to be the best athlete we can be?   That is not a bad end, and it could be a small part of a triathletes story, but I think there is a much bigger end to our personal story.

As a disciple of Jesus I pray for a deep desire of my heart and mind in the fulfilment the greater end - ''The chief end of man is to Glorify God and enjoy him for ever.''

One of my on-going prayers is that athletes & (people that I interact with) would be driven to a deep reality that their identity is in Christ and not in the outcome.   That by enjoying the sport of triathlon, work, family, hobbies - all of life, they would be glorifying God and not themselves.   Here is the reality - I struggle with this in a deep way.   I have to repent often of my selfish desire and how that drives me to a 'performance' based relationship with God.  When I feel that I am 'doing' good performing well not only in sport but in life, I have a sense that God is pleased with me.  But when I feel I am not 'doing' enough or performing poorly, I feel that I am letting God down.  But here is the truth - his love is not defined by how we feel about ourselves.   And he is not concerned about what we 'do', but 'who we are'.  This leads to a great question - "What kind of person are you becoming?" And is that person you are becoming defined by a true identity or a false one?

We all need to reminded of what our identity is really in, yes that includes me as well!

Kevin

The Meaning of 'Biblical' Inerrancy

Learning to appreciate 'heavy reading' in a significant way.  I never really grasped the need for reading that really challenges you.  I am getting my fill of that kind of reading now as I take a class titled "God and His Word".  The class lays out some foundations for further study of theology and doctrine.  Just spent a few hours reading a chapter in the book "Inerrancy" by Norman Geisler, a chapter titled 'The Meaning of Inerrancy' by Paul D. Feinberg.  I found this definition of inerrancy:

"Inerrancy means that when all facts are known, the Scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything that they affirm, whether that has to do with doctrine or morality or with the social, physical, or life sciences."

I agree a mouth full!  I am gaining a new found appreciation for the depth of scripture as the Word of God and how securely we can depend on it as ultimate truth.  Although the chapter was a challenging read - it listed at length observations, qualifications, and misunderstandings that can and are made on the topic of inerrancy.

One realization that came out of this reading was how much people are culturally affected by certain words.  We you see words like inerrancy or truth, many people already right off that there is none (of either) left in the world.  That 'truth' is what we each define it as.  And then when a christian says - no, the only truth is the bible.   How did we as a culture and society get to that point?  There is no truth?  As I come to grip with what the Bible says and who Jesus is, there is a confirmation that I experience, its the only thing that makes sense, the only system that one can truly rest upon.  Just one great example of how I experience God's grace :-)

Read Strong - Kevin

Why do I run?

I get asked this question often.   I wish there was just one answer or at least a 'simple' answer to this question.  Sometimes I find myself asking this question when the alarm goes off way before the sun comes up.   The answer can and does vary a bit, but the foundation is always based on "Because I can!"  It was not always that way.  Heck for the first few years of my running 'career' it was a deep love / hate relationship.  It is that way when you are carrying around 50 extra pounds on a pretty small frame.  But over time it began to change.  I actually started to enjoy the feeling, the transformation, the "pain" of it all.  God gave me this great gift or perseverance.  I didn't always think it was a gift.  More like the ever present reality that I was born at the shallow end of the gene pool.  Growing up with 3 brothers that were academic and sport all-stars.  I was the black sheep who was challenged in school and in sports.  So in the midst of that I had to work harder at things, even things that I enjoyed - nothing came easy.  During that time God was already at work shaping me for his mission, I just thought it was to discourage me :-)   But now as I reflect on this hard years, I realize that it prepared me for life as a husband, father, disciple, coach, friend, business owner, etc.   God gave me the ability to find the comfort in discomfort.  I experienced that in a physical way through sport, that allowed me to reflect on how I experience in a powerful way in life.  Running is all about perseverance, about a willingness to enjoy the ability to run.

I am in the midst of transformation that I can sense in a powerful way.  For a long time running was all about the destination, the race, the podium.  But even in that I was always driven to train and the 'event' was just part of how I was kept focused.   Now - I am driven increasingly by the journey not the hardware.  I am currently training for a 40 mile ultra-marathon that doesn't exist on paper.  I guess if it had a name it would be '40 miles - because I can'.   I run because I can and because it reminds me of how great life is :-)

Run for Life -

Kevin

What is Legalism?

I was sharing some dinner with a group of friends of mine a few days ago and we were circling around the subject of prayer. What we as Christ's disciples like or dislike about prayer. Some of the ways we practice this discipline or don't.  The fact is that the problem is not that we don't pray, it is that we are not consumed with God's mission on a day-to-day level in our lives. Being a part of God's mission will drive us to living a life of prayer.  But how do we engage in the practice of prayer and not become Legalists? There are plenty of those out there even in christian circles.   Following our discussion this week, as the group was processing the area of 'spiritual discipline' this question was asked "Where do you draw the line between a spiritual discipline and legalism? What I mean is I know I should be praying but if I do it only because I know I am supposed to does that make it legalistic?  As I processed this in a deeper way I came across this great article "What is Legalism?" It is a great reminder of the self-effort that we are prone to rely on for our salvation and requires our repentance and awareness.   My personal prayer is that my default mode would automatically be "Salvation is of the Lord" and not "I have to work harder, and do more!"  Through God's grace he is revealing this to me at an ever increasing frequency. Deep down I realize it is "What I am" that is most important, not what I do!

What is Legalism?

Legalism could be defined as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God. In Paul's Epistle to the Galatians he warned them sternly about such false understandings of the gospel when he asked the offenders: "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Gal.3:3). Legalism always seems to have one thing in common: it's theology denies that Christ is sufficient for salvation. That some additional element of self-effort, merit or faithfulness on our part is necessary. As an example, those who erroneously teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation are, in essence, denying the sufficiency of Christ to save to the utmost. They believe sin to be greater than Christ's grace. But Christ's righteousness which he counts toward us is not only efficient for our salvation, but sufficient. His once for all sacrifice put away sin for all time in those He has united to Himself. His salvation also means that he not only saves at the beginning but preserves us to the end, sealing us in His perfect righteousness whose blood "reminds the covenant God" not to treat us as our sins deserve. Any attempt to add our covenant faithfulness as part of the price of redemption after regeneration is an "attempt to attain our goal by human effort" and thus a complete misapprehension of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must, therefore, reject any and all attempts to maintain a judicial standing before God by any act on our part. Salvation is of the Lord.

Kevin

Proverbs

I am auditing a couple of classes this fall, one of the classes is on the Psalms and Wisdom books in the Bible.  Auditing = you do all the work, reading, and assignments without actually be registered for the class.  Yes - mind boggling, but richly rewarding :-)

I was reading some lecture notes (yes - doing this all from a distance - online) and came across these comments of the class instructor (Dr. V. Philips Long) on practical wisdom of proverbs.  My prayer is that I allow the Proverbs and Wisdom books of the Old Testament to really permeate who I am that that I would live by them!!

Kevin

Coach Kevin Athlete Chad Holderbaum - Web Article

Here's to Chad for an outstanding Ironman Triathlon PR!  Like he says, it was a bittersweet day setting a 18 min personal record, but not earning a coveted spot to compete in the 2008 Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii!!

Chin up Chad!  Motivation comes in some strange forms :-)

You Rock -

Kevin

Chad's Web Article

Current Reading List

Never thought that I would ever have a reading list, but one of my favorite past times is reading.  I am definitely a slow reader and I take a more academic approach of under-lining, highlighting and making notes in the margin, but to each his own right?  Here is a current list of active reads:

In no particular Order -

"The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller

"Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll & Gary Breshears

"Ephesians - Inductive Bible Study"

"The Heidelberg Catechism"

Xterra Spearfish South Dakota and my face plant!

Xterra Spearfish SD – 7/12/08

How much fun can you have in the Black Hills of South Dakota? I found out on Saturday July 12th. As a veteran multisport athlete and coach, I had yet to experience competition of the off-road Xterra kind. I did one mountain bike race back in 2000 down in Lawrence Kansas, but focused my time and resources in recent years on getting faster on the road. For years I have enjoyed the break from road riding on my TT bike, doing one ride a week on my mountain bike. Alright – eastern Nebraska is not known for their technical off road riding, but there are some short trains that will challenge you. One of the things that kept me away from going off road was the likelihoods of crashing and injury that can and does happen off road. But, finally I wanted to experience the thrill that many athletes are talking about, thus me signing up for the Spearfish Xterra. I will be honest, I was a wee bit under prepared for this event. The summer is a very cherished time that I have with my 2 children Megan and Cameron. They and their activities keep me hopping and I try hard at keeping them in the correct priority. The summer of 2008 will be a memorable one for my children and I. The Xterra fell at the end of a 10 day road trip that took us to the Seattle WA in the Northwest. During our trip, I was really on cruise mode. We did some activities, but got real used to driving for long hours and chilling with my children.

We arrived at the race site on Friday afternoon around 4pm, enough time to set up our camp site and tents and for me to get in a short pre-ride of a portion of the course. Kind of wish I would have punted on the pre-ride as the I found out that the course was very technical in spots. The technical sections included some gnarly rocky downhill sections. I made it back to the camp site, got my gear ready, had dinner and slept great on a un-seasonably cool evening/night (got down to the low 50's). I woke up around 5:45am, had I soft food breakfast of ensure (I have learned to love that stuff) and oatmeal and went back to bed. I made it down to the transition area, about a 2 min walk from my tent, readied my gear and headed to the lake.

The swim was a 2 lap (exit on land after the first lap) course. The race started at 9am sharp with ~100 athletes. I had decent swim, my swimming times in the last few races I have done, had been solid, given my lack of consistent time in the pool.

I headed out on the bike for the real fun. The ride included 14 miles of technical single, and double track. About 15 mins into the ride and had an 'EPIC' over the handle bars face plant crash. Let me explain.... at the end of a fire road there was a wash out area about 12 feet across, that included a 1.5 foot drop or edge on both edges. The surface of the wash out was thick mud and some standing water in places. On my pre-ride, I knew that this obstacle was there, but knew that if I hit the edge at a solid speed, I could ride across the mud water. So as I headed to this obstacle during the race, I was cruising at t pretty solid speed. My error ..... I did not get my center of gravity far enough back on my bike and as I approached the far edge of the washout, my front tire sank into the mud and I preceded over the handle bars at a pretty good velocity that did not allow me to get my hands out in front of me. So I stopped myself with my face / head :-) Luckily, the mud was soft!!!! A few cyclists behind we applauded the fall and made sure I was OK. I mounted my ride and was taking off when I realized that one of the lens from my glasses had popped out. So I went back to retrieve the lens. I finished the rest of the race with only one lens in my glasses!!! I got some great remarks during the duration of the race, due to the mud caked on my face and left side of my body!!! About 9 miles into the ride, on an up-hill climb I thought I dropped my chain, but when I dis-mounted I found out that my chain had broke. I hiked my bike to the top of the hill and turned my bike upside down to do the maintenance required. I found out that the multi-tool that I had brought, did not have a chain break. One of the first riders that saw me asked me if he could help “Roy from Corpus Christi Texas” had a chain break tool. Thanks Roy not only for the tool, but also for your assistance in fixing my chain! It would had been a long hike without your assistance. Once I had the chain fixed the ride was pretty uneventful! Other than a serious technical decent,with rocks and major roots! It was a very challenging ride and I loved every bit of it. Oh – did I mention the climbing! I think the course included a 20 min climb!!!!

The 4 mile (2 loop) run started with a long climb on a fire road, that looped around the lake that we swam in. The run was pretty uneventful, other than a serious climbing up a steep rock / scree trail. There were many opportunities for a twisted ankle and fall, but some how I made it without either. I finished unofficially in 2:56, 5th place 40-44 AG. Makes me think how much time I lost on the chain issue?!?

Overall I feel good about the day given all the hurdles that I had to overcome. I have to be honest here, just being out there was a ton of fun. The competition part of the day was really minor in my mind. I was pushing hard and having fun and in all that I was praising God. He is the only reason that I or anybody can go out there in do stuff like this. And to be in his creation in the backwoods of the Black Hills. He gets all the glory! It is so easy to lose track of that! To make it all about me and my abilities. I continually pray that he would get the glory for my efforts in sport and in life. I know that my sinful flesh wants to be noticed by others, to get the lime light, be the one that gets noticed. It takes intention and discipline to be aware of this. I am finding after 17 years of multisport racing that “THE JOURNEY” was instituted by God, not by me. I like to think that I came up with the idea to start doing triathlon back in 1991. That I was the one that was disciplined enough, focused enough, had the work ethic required. But it was God's plan for me!! I am so thankful for the many opportunities that this journey had provided for me. From traveling coast to coast and even Canada doing what I love. But in hind sight, it was not about me at all, it was about God developing me as a man, husband, father, and more importantly as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The many relationships that I have with athletes through coaching and sport has allowed me to share my faith in Christ in ways that are very contextual. As Matthew 28:18-20 indicates : 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go an make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' NIV Live life as it is your last day - Kevin

I am back!!!

To my many supporters - my deepest apologies for my neglect of this blog. Yes, I am still alive, yes, I am still kicking, and yes I am experiencing growth in some significant ways. I am not going to lay out a bunch of lame excuses. But over the next days and weeks, you may learn some things about change, growth, endurance, perserverence of the deepest kind. I leave it at that!

I am back!!

Kevin