Five things friday (on the friday)

And here it is Friday. Good day, my friend...

1. I have decided I no longer like the name "Good Friday" for this day. I'd much prefer "Holy Friday." I mean, I must admit, it somewhat irks me when attending "Good Friday" services and everyone is all decked out in bright colors and so happy-clappy thinking it's all about flowers and fashion and funsies. What in the actual hell! Do you know what happened on THIS Friday that we are commemorating!!! Good grief! So, from now on, I'ma call it "Holy Friday" (as long as I can remember to anyway).
2. Speaking of... I had the pleasure of attending the FW YMCA "Good Friday" breakfast this morning. They do it every year. There is a nice spread of food, usually a good speaker, and it's a chance for me to get out of the house and mingle among 400 or so other folks. This year the speaker was Dr. Jerome Adams, who was the 20th surgeon general of the United States from 2017-2021 (trump's 1st term). If I understand correctly, it was Mike Pence actually who nominated him for surgeon general. Which may help explain why Dr. Adams didn't sound much like a MAGA person. Anyhew, I took this line of his with me: "Behind every skeptic is a story of pain." That's a good thing to remember. As well as, "Civility is not a nicety -- it's a necessity." Although... and since his talk was largely on civility... I'd like to know how we're supposed to be civil with people who want nothing to do with it??
3. And similar to that thought... I finished the Old Testament (of the Christian Protestant Bible) this week. I started reading it chronologically on January 1st, and Jane is still doing the daily readings. However, at some point I started reading larger swaths each day. I decided I may never have this opportunity again to read through big chunks of Scripture each day - and it's a different sort of perspective (not necessarily better or worse, but different). I gotta say, though... That OT is wacked out! There is so much craziness, and even GOD seems crazy at times (or is depicted that way)! I mean, reading through the prophets is a near-constant roller coaster of God getting pissed at people and threatening to wipe them out, to God forgiving them and promising never again to wipe them out - over and over and over again! So much for him "never changing." Whew. Just like with Easter following Holy Friday, I am glad the NT follows the OT. ;)
4. To finish up here... I did my last "long run" before the marathon today. Although it's been about 4 months since I've done a "long run" that was this short (8 miles). Now I just have a couple days of short 2-3 mile jogs next week, and next weekend is it! I hope to write a little more about where I'm at in my training sometime next week (hopefully). For now, today's 8 miles was good. I wanted to try to keep right at a 10 min./mile pace the entire time, not walk, and concentrate on my stride and form. I pretty much did.
5.  "We forget that "the worst day in history was not a Tuesday in New York, but a Friday in Jerusalem when a consortium of clergy and politicians colluded to run the world on our own terms by crucifying God’s own Son.” We forget that when we see Christ dead upon the cross, we discover a God who would rather die than kill his enemies. We forget all of this because the disturbing truth is this — it’s hard to believe in Jesus..." - Brian Zahnd (A Farewell To Mars)

 Well, that was a little longer than I wanted it to be today - and I shortened the quote on #5 maybe more than I should have (what comes after that is equally powerful). But... this day is a weird sort of day. This WEEK is a weird sort of week. And, you know, let's all admit it, it's a really weird time to be alive, isn't it? ... ... I'm tempted to say we need to "hang in there"... but maybe that's not the right way to look at it. I dunno.

Peace.

Five things friday (running on)

Hey there! Since I wasn't invited to the insider trading spectacular that occurred this week, and I have no part in any Easter festivities for next week... I'ma gonna talk about what I do do: running. 

1. My Wednesday run went okay, or so I thought, but afterward and all day yesterday (my day off) my right hip/IT band was sore, sore, sore. I'm not sure what that was about. I spent a good deal of time trying to stretch it out yesterday, but I was a little worried about running the 12 miles today. Welp, whatever, I felt great today! I concentrated on shorter strides and running easy/smooth. My HR never got over 140 and I cruised along about a 10 min./mile clip. Sometimes you just have to go with it and not ask too many questions.
2. Speaking of 12 miles... I think after this upcoming marathon I'm going to stop with just one for this year, and also rather than try the 4x4x48 thing (4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours straight), maybe I'll try to do a half marathon a month for the rest of the year. Halfs are still significant undertakings, but they're a whole lot funner than a full! Plus, two hours of running is probably maybe better for me than 4-5 hours. I've yet to nail down a weekly running routine, but something along the lines of one or two 10-milers, and a couple 5-milers... or thereabouts.
3. I don't know if you know this about me, but I am not really a fan of podcasts. At any rate, I was informed of one I do want to check out. I love, love, love the weekly Grand Rapids Marathon newsletter - both Marathon Don's escapades and encouragement, as well as the articles by Dr. Ed Kornoelje, DO of Sports Medicine at University of Michigan Health-West. This week Dr. Ed highlighted the Inside Running Podcast January 17, 2025 interview with Dr. Andre La Gerche. Dr. La Gerche is a sports cardiologist who discusses several topics— such as atrial fibrillation, other effects regular exercising has on the heart, and how safe endurance training really is.  A few highlights: 1) There is a transient increased risk of cardiovascular events while we exercise, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the risks.  The risk of a sudden cardiac event during a marathon is about 1 in 150,000—you are more likely to die of a cardiac event outside of a race then during it. 2) There appears to be a maximal amount of exercise per week that is beneficial, but it is very high—likely well over 10 hours or more per week (well more than 60 miles of running per week at 10 min per mile).  Higher than this amount there may be an increased risk of a-fib, but even this has not been clearly demonstrated. 3) As you age do NOT dial back intensity, maybe just dial back how often or long you are doing it.  Our bodies need to be pushed as we age in order to slow the rate of decline in things like VO2 max. 4) Strength train. 
4. Lastly, I have finally decided on a marathon for the end of this month: The Fort Wayne Half and Full Marathon. Originally I was leaning towards the one in Toledo, Ohio but... I really want there to be a marathon in Fort Wayne, so I feel compelled to support the only one that currently exists. Plus, it is more cost-effective to stay home for one rather than travel. I'd rather spend that money on a trip to Minnesota to see the new grandson. Not to mention the Toledo Marathon starts at 6:30am vs. 8am for the one here in town! Geesh... No-brainer!
5. "If you really want something, then the soul must make demands of the body." - Simon Sarris (on the value of effort).

 I hope you weren't disappointed in the lack of political petulance today - considering all that's going on. Man... I just ... I just don't know. It ain't good. I mean, remember when djt said he could shoot somebody in the street and get away with it? Yeah... He could! He is!!

Anyhew... I gotta run! Keep the faith; and keep on truckin'.

New shoes (glycerin 20 v3)

 Meet my newest pair of running shoes! They’re a lot like my last two pairs. 

Yes, this is my third pair of Brooks Glycerin 20s. Unfortunately they’re not the same color as the other two, but at least they’re not hideous. 

I’d given up finding another pair of 20s because they are actually from two years ago (this years version are the 22s). I’d quit seeing them, until lo and behold one day another pair in my size turned up on the interwebs. Obviously someone was clearing out old inventory. Yay!

I wore them for 6 miles this morning, and may wear them for another short run next week and possibly my 8-mile run a week from Friday, then I will save them for the marathon on 4/27. 

I hope they turn out to be as good as the previous ones because they’ve been the best shoes I’ve ever had. I’ve even been able to quit wearing toe socks and haven’t had a blister for a couple years. 

After the marathon I will likely put them away and go back to alternating between the old pairs until one of them gives out or becomes too unbearable. They’re both way over on mileage, but still feel soft and springy. I’m not very hard on shoes, but they’ve lasted longer than any others I’ve had by far. 

So, we'll see!

Five things friday

Let's get right to it (before I tire and slide off the chair)...

1. I completed my 20-mile run today. This is the longest run I do when training for a marathon. It was actually like 20.59 miles because 1) math, and 2) a couple detours due to flooding. I managed to stretch it to almost exactly 4 hours by walking that .59 miles at the end. How did it go? Well, they're all "good, bad, AND ugly" at this point. The good is that it's done and I am still upright. The bad and ugly happen along the way and I try not to think about it once it's done. At any rate, I am looking forward to a drastically reduced mileage these next three weeks before the actual running of the marathon. My body can use a break. Although, at some point I do need to decide which marathon I'm going to run yet (Fort Wayne or Toledo). Details.
2. And, I actually tried to buy a new pair of running shoes yesterday, and went to an actual running store and everything. But they didn't have any of the options I want in my size. Geez. I realize 8 1/2 is on the smaller side, but it's not like it's that unusual a size. So I got online and found a pair of Brooks Glycerin 20s, which is what I'm wearing now and are two years removed from the current model. I ordered them, and am hoping they arrive next week, and that there's not something crazy wrong with them. I have two pair of that shoe I'm alternating between right now, and both are still functional, but they've got a way lotta miles on them and I can feel it. A new pair would be nice for this next marathon.
3. One thing I was thinking about while running today is: AI. My son (the professor) says it's nothing but a plagiarism machine. I tend to agree, and can't believe anyone in education would think it anything but. However, I was surprised to read there are universities moving in the opposite direction: actually demanding that some projects be at least 20% AI augmented! Their thinking is that we are less likely to lose our jobs to AI than to a person using AI. I guess they're assuming people are going to cheat anyway, so why not make better cheaters(?). What in the hell is this world coming to?
4. Well, another thing jossling around my brain was a few people I've seen lately complaining about all the politics they see on social media. They just want to see pictures of your kids, food, and stuff you're doing to have funsies. I get it, but... as I thought about it... I think that's a pretty selfish and privileged take. I mean, yeah, I don't really want to hear about political discourse that I believe to be dumb... but I'd probably rather see/hear it because someone actually GIVES A SHIT ABOUT THE WORLD, than hearing someone whine that they just don't want to be bothered by other people's problems. 
5. “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a"person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." - MLK Jr. (who was killed on this date in 1968 at the Lorraine Motel while advocating for sanitation workers in Memphis, TN. - h/t Shane Claiborne)

 Okay, for those who keep track, yes, I did forget to insert the link in the NYT bonus article last week. I meant to fix that all week and obviously never did. You know, if they were any kind of newspaper they would have noticed that and fixed it themselves. Plus I figure you're smart enough to look it up all by yourself (or you weren't all that interested anyway). So... carry on!

Trip to buda

We took a quick trip to see my mom and a couple of Jane's brothers this past Sunday through Tuesday.

Our church took the 5th Sunday of the month off from meeting, so we decided to head west and burn a couple of Jane's vacation days (we had concerts to work Friday and Saturday or we'd have left then). 

The travel was fairly easy both ways with not much traffic. We took some food and Jane made home cooking for her one brother and for me and my mom. I did a few odd jobs at mom's and got a run in both Monday and Tuesday. And... we watched college basketball Sunday (men's) and Monday nights (women's). 

Not much else to report. Today life is back to normal... other than some major thunderstorm activity last night and this morning. I'm hoping it at least fizzles to drizzles at some point today so I can get in a 5-mile run.

Carry on...

Five things friday

I've been waiting all morning to get out and get my 12-mile run in. I should have done it hours ago, but thought I'd avoid the rain if I could. Ugh. I'll spit this post out and then go... (Really makes you want to read it, no?). :) 

1. I know some of you are wondering why I don't talk more about the trump administration (especially all their foibles). You know, on one hand, I feel like the fruit just hangs too low. Like, how can people look at what's happening and NOT know how evil and/or stupid they are? And if they can't, then I don't really know what more to say. It is what it is.
2. This morning (while waiting to run) I read the book of Jonah. It got me to thinking what would happen if people did start to wake up to the maga-lie and repent... And then, would some of us be like Jonah if they did? Grace is a great thing for the right people... right? What about the wrong people? Hmm...
3. Speaking of which: Is heaven really the ultimate destination (or should it be)? Not according to Chad Bird. He says 'I Can't Wait to Get Out of Heaven.' Something about a new heaven and new earth. Innaresting take that I'd not thought of before...
4. Matt Tebbe has been writing spot on for awhile now... and this piece How To Be Angry and Not Sin is fire. "1. Anger is normal, necessary, and totally human. To feel or be angry is not a problem." (or *the* problem).
5. "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegut
   

• *Bonus: I was thinking about my book this morning (yes, I know, "what book?" you ask... Well, it's in my head. Anyway, I think I may have stumbled onto the title: "Don't Forget to Smile."
• **Double Bonus: I don't know if you can access this NYT article by David Brooks, but it is grand: "How To Have A Passionate Life"

 

Okay, I think I see the sun peaking through. Time to run. Literally. Concert (work) tonight and tomorrow night. Lots of stuffs. I mean, relatively speaking...

Peace

I've got questions (and now so do you) - pt. 2

Yesterday I wrote a post on how I'm always on the lookout for questions or prompts for use in journaling or discussion groups. In fact, it's probably the most talked-about topic between me and a friend I've met with almost every week since 1999.

Today I want to share what I recently used in a 40-day journal exercise at our church. I honestly don't know who came up with these (it wasn't me), but here they are:

• How do you come today? How is your heart?
• What is your desire for God?
• (random Bible text) What sticks out to you here? (this was actually a different question each day)
• 10 minutes of silent centering prayer
• How have you experienced God in this time?
• How might you embody and share the love of God today?

These questions seem more aligned to personal study or journaling, but, again, whether you're just reading a verse-a-day or a section of the Bible per day, the questions are equally beneficial.

You could also add to or omit some. For instance, maybe 10 minutes of silence doesn't fit your schedule at the moment... no problem (though I found it especially helpful). 

Actually, I've been thinking of adapting this for my personal daily journal which doesn't necessarily include Bible reading beforehand. Maybe just use:

• How do you come today? How is your heart?
• What do you sense God might want you to know or do today?
• How might you embody and share the love of God today?

 And, I should note, answering "I don't know" is perfectly fine. Always. Sometimes the answer isn't even the point, but merely the moment of contemplation is. Perhaps you need more time, or it generates a spark for later, or... you may simply ...not know!

Anyway, if you haven't caught on by now, I find a written journal vital to my spiritual growth. Having a small group of people to wrestle and discuss things like this with is something I also long for.

One other suggestion: Keep it as simple as possible. Expanding on your writing or discussion can always happen (and usually does). Don't get muddled in details. The point is to be open to the Spirit's leading. It's more likely to happen if we expect it.  

So, what are you going to do...? 

I've got questions (and now so do you) - pt. 1

I am always on the lookout for questions or prompts for use in journaling or discussion groups. In fact, it's probably the most talked-about topic between me and a friend I've met with almost every week since 1999.

He recently brought to my attention these three questions highlighted by Ben Sternke in his March 20, 2025 Substack on "How God Does (and Doesn't) Speak To Us Through the Bible." I'm not exactly sure if this comes from Ben, or from Rowan Williams' book 'Being Christian' (which he's using as a resource). At any rate, these are the questions:

As we read the Bible, we must always come back to these questions:

• What does God want to tell us?
• Where are we in this story?
• How can we respond to what we sense God is saying?

  

Imho, these are perfect whether you're doing personal study and want a prompt for journaling, or in a group study like The Discovery Bible Study (which I/we have used in several various forms). 

I do also appreciate what Ben/Rowan say just prior to the above quoted piece:

"...the Bible is not just a story, it's our story. It's not purely imaginary, like a fable or a parable, but real stories of a people that began with Noah and Abraham and Moses. And now we as Gentiles have been grafted into that story.

Now, does that mean everything recorded in the Bible is 100% 'accurate' history? No. And it's actually the wrong question. The Book of Daniel, for example, wasn't written to give us an exact, detailed accounting of ancient Babylonian history. It was written to 'show us how people in circumstances of acute displacement, living with the fear and the anxiety of a persecuted minority, responded to a hostile state and a pagan power.' ... '...the Bible is not a chronicle of past events, but a living communication from God...'"  

So, again, say you want to read the Bible devotionally... whether you read a chapter a day, or however much, if it's just you, substitute "me/I" in the above questions for "us/we"... and you've got some great prompts to use in a journal, or merely just to ponder (though I really, really, really recommend using a written paper journal).

Or, say you want to start, or are already involved in a small group study... Again, have someone read a section of the Bible, and then use these questions to generate discussion. The DBS is a great resource for this for a number of reasons (which you can find on their site).

 

 

Sinus with pacs (not afib)

"Here we go again," I thought. I'd gone over two months with no Afib issues. I was really hoping since discovering cold things set my heart-rate wacky, just maybe I wouldn't have any more problems. 

Then I woke up yesterday and... dang. I could feel my chest fluttering. I got out the Kardia Mobile device and sure enough it spit out a "Possible Atrial Fibrillation" reading.

I knew I was feeling pretty worn down. I hadn't gotten a good nights sleep since the middle of last week. I had the soreness, the infection, another pill to take, ncaa basketball tourney, a concert, the baptisms... I'd been on somewhat of a roller coaster emotionally too. I didn't even hear Jane leave for work yesterday, and even after waking up, I never really "woke up." So, here we were.

The episode lasted about two hours, and I waited until it was over to text my Kardia reading to the cardiologist (he's actually a cardiac electrophysiologist). He texted back in about an hour:

"Sinus with PACs. Not afib! Extra beats from the top"

I wasn't real sure what that meant, but I am pretty sure "sinus" is good and assumed the "Not afib!" (with exclamation point!) might mean 'Sinus with PACs' is somehow ... not as bad as afib(?).

So I asked Dr. Google (who I don't really trust anymore), and discovered PAC stands for "Premature Atrial Contractions" or "Premature Atrial Complexes." 

This piece from the Cleveland Clinic summarizes with this statement:

A premature atrial contraction is an extra heartbeat that starts in one of your heart’s upper chambers (atria). It may feel like your heart skips a beat. Premature atrial contractions usually don’t need treatment. But you should contact a healthcare provider if your premature atrial contractions start happening more often.

This piece from Very Well Health notes that "An estimated 50% of all people with or without heart disease have PACs," and kinda sounds like it's not that big of a deal.

I do have to say, this is what most (not all) of what I normally call my "afib episodes" feel and act like (since the ablation). My resting heart rate never goes much over 80-90, and it's almost in rhythm, but just not quite. It's like it's trying, but, yeah, it's either missing a beat, or there's an extra. And they do feel different from some of the episodes where the heart beat is just all-over-the-place-total-random and I'm completely worn out. 

So, I guess there's that. After it was over I went for my normal 5-mile Monday run and carried on as usual and felt fine. 

Boy, isn't it great getting old? Though, honestly, if I can just not get myself freaked out, it really isn't that bad. Such is life, I suppose...

 

*That is not my actual ekg pictured above

Baptising the grands

Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of being able to baptize 3 of our 4 grandchildren. Words do no justice here... but alas... I will record some thoughts nonetheless.

I was pretty excited when I first heard they wanted to be baptized. That excitement cranked to ELEVEN when one of them texted me and asked if I would do it! 

We actually got together a couple times to discuss what it meant and how it would/should go, plus our pastor sent some resources for them to read. I was more than satisfied even with what they had already learned about it at the Lutheran school they attend. They knew more than I did when I took the plunge.  

There were a number of people getting baptized on this day and the pastor sent some basic instructions. The church is open to allowing for different beliefs about baptism, and encouraging for people to have someone special do the honors, so I sort of planned out how I intended to do things.

I was going to share a few words about each of the grandkids, then offer a prayer for the three of them together - which would kind of sum up their feelings as well as my own beliefs that baptism is much more than just us taking a step of faith, but also God working his grace within and through us. Then I would baptize each of them one at a time using the vows supplied by the pastor.

Well, as is per usual at our church, when we arrived Sunday morning, and they realized there were going to be 18 people baptized, they changed the plan slightly. It wasn't a big deal, but they asked everyone to be brief (a couple minutes): say something about the candidate, ask them for a few words about why they wanted to be baptized, then do the dunking. So we changed on the fly and it worked out fine. Mostly I just didn't do the prayer, which was probably longer than it should have been anyway.

As for how the morning went:

The kids did fine, other than the boys were somewhat picking at each other while standing up front. I'm sure they were nervous, as we were in the main sanctuary and there was probably at least double the number of people who are usually in attendance. Personally, I have no recollection of what I even said. I kind of "winged it." It was about them, after all, so I doubt anyone was even paying attention to me.

I did find it interesting the number of people whose parents did the baptizing, and the number of mothers who did it (as opposed to fathers or both).

I believe there were only 3 adults baptized; the majority were middle school-ish age.  

We did manage to get everyone baptized, sing several songs as usual, and the pastor did some teaching on baptism beforehand - all in just over an hour. 

All told, it was a pretty emotional day for me. However, because everything changed sort of last minute, I was much more emotional before it happened, and even now, as opposed to at the moment. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of much during the actual ceremony. Such is life. 

For what it's worth, here are the vows I asked of each child:

QUESTION 1 - "Do you desire to love and follow Jesus with all you are and all you will become?" (yes or I do)

QUESTION 2 - "Do you commit to belonging and being known in the church for your own growth and the good of the world?" (yes or I do)

BAPTISMAL STATEMENT: "Based upon your desire to love and follow Jesus and to belong to His family, and the many ways we see God's Spirit alive and at work in your life, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

 

Five things friday

Yeah yeah... I know. Anyway...

1. After a rough 16-mile run last Friday, a week of feeling like crap again, visit to a new doctor, and getting some antibiotics for a bacterial infection... My 19 miles today wasn't half bad! Oh, sure, I'm plenty worn down and a little sore right now, but considering I could barely walk this past Wednesday, I was pretty happy with it. I managed to stretch it to 3 1/2 hours, plus another 3/4-mile walk afterward. That's still a little faster than I wanted to go. I was averaging just under 10:30 miles for the most part, and started walking a piece of every few miles towards the end. Again, it's not how fast I do these long runs, but how much time I spend on my feet. I'd have liked it to be closer to 4 hours today, but it never is. Whatever.
2. Speaking of the new doctor... Jane had to find a new doctor and she discovered this place called Premise Health. Apparently it's specifically for people who have PHP insurance (which we do). She really likes the doctor, and visits are only $35 - which usually includes your prescription and any lab work! Plus, it appears you can generally get a same-day appointment! So I tried it out. I made my appointment in the morning, and walked right in when I got there. The doctor is super mellow, I was in and out and had my antibiotic in 30 minutes! Btw, apparently it was an infection in my groin area (which I've dealt with most of my life every5-10 years or so). Personally, I think it was from pushing too hard the week after having the flu. I probably shouldn't have done that 16-miler last week. The infection attacked my weak areas (groin issue and my right knee) - at least that's my non-medical-degree hypothesis. Regardless of all that, it's feeling much better.
3. This morning I listened to Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) on the Youversion App. I recommend reading/listening to it in its entirety. There are just eight short chapters, and having the New International Version (Anglicised), Audio Edition guy read it to you is another plus! 
4. Lots of things going on, and I really do feel heel-ish for not blogging more than I do, but it's just how it is right now. And it's MARCH MADNESS! As much as money and greed is ruining everything, for some reason I'm still a sucker for men's college basketball. And, yes, I know women's sports are popular too... give me a break. You can watch it if you want; why can't I watch what I want to?? Anyway, I wish we had a better TV plan, and that I maybe cared just a little more, because I really like watching college basketball. I don't do it as much as I used to, nor get as into it as I used to, but it's a fun time of year. At least until I start to think about how it's all going to hell because of money and greed and whatnot...
5. "Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest." -Hermann Hesse

 Well, I'm a little impressed with myself that I did this much today. I did not expect I'd get this far. Yay. How 'bout we all find something to laugh at today? Or at least smile. You can thank me later. ;)

Five things friday

Wow, it is 76°F with sunshine!!! What in the actual world... It's like summer time.

1.  This morning I ran ~16 miles, which included probably 2 miles of walking interspersed. I was scheduled to do 13, but I was also supposed to do 18 last Friday and did a big fat zero! So I wasn't sure what to do exactly. It was not one of my better runs, but I survived. It was hot! Next Friday calls for 19 miles. Ugh.
2. I'm thinking of doing a 4x4x48 run challenge later this year. Apparently it was popularized by a guy named David Goggins. The idea is: every 4 hours you run or walk 4 miles over a 48-hour period (for a total of 48 miles). I may do that instead of a fall marathon, but I'd like to read up on it a little more before making any kind of commitment.
3. We are babysitting the 3 grandkids who live nearest us (and their dog) overnight tonight. The one boy has basketball practice tonight, and the girl has a basketball tournament (in Warsaw) tomorrow, so we'll be hopping about - plus feeding their chickens on the farm. Should be fun!
4. And, speaking of the grandkids, I was asked if I would baptize the 3 of them at our church a week from Sunday. It sort of melted my heart, if you know what I mean. So I need to brush up on all that! :)
5. "There is too much bad news to justify complacency. There is too much good news to justify despair." - Donella Meadows (scientist)

Alrighty then... have a safe and smart St. Patty's day, friends (as I sip on a Guinness myself). ;)

Monday meander

Hey there,

It's Monday and I'm happy to report that I am still alive! Yes, we survived the stomach bug from last week. She had it much worse than I did - which sounds not un-similar to our marriage, I suppose. At any rate, we're both on the mend.

I thought I'd just jot down a few different things while I was on here (just got done with my Monday online meeting)...

• I don't know if I've mentioned on here that we've been watching The Chosen. Yes, we're a bit late to the game, but, honestly, we really like it. No, it's not where we get our theology lessons... but why would we do that anyway? One thing, though, I really REALLY like the music, so I looked it up and, lo and behold, Dan Haseltine is involved. You might recall him from Jars of Clay (one of my fave bands of that era).
• We have not been to our church's worship gathering 3 of the last 4 Sundays (due to other commitments). It just so happened to coincide with when we were experimenting with a different space to meet in. I didn't really mind, because I AM NOT a fan of the new space they're looking at. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's very "church-y" to a specific era, and not one of my fonder eras at that. In the grand scheme I suppose it's a big "whatever," but I just don't know if I can handle PEW CHAIRS! And it has nothing to do with comfort (though I don't find them all that comfortable). It's more the look, and the VIBE. I'd personally rather sit in a mud puddle than subject myself to such trauma! (Ok, so maybe I'm over-reacting a little... but I don't like em).
• I missed my 18-mile run this past week, which actually makes two years in a row I missed that run in the Spring. Last year I actually took the entire week off from running after having the ablation procedure on my heart. The marathon happened nonetheless. I got back at it today with a slow and easy 5 miles. No worries. Well, no more than usual.
• I shared this on FB a few days ago... I have really been getting into listening to the Bible. We are both reading through chronologically this year, and I've been reading ahead. We've been using an actual paper-paged Bible, but one day I was out and about so I read from my phone. I've always used the Youversion App. Later it dawned on me to have the app read it for me. I have trouble with just listening, but I like how it also notes on the text where it's at - so you can follow along. I was using the NIV, and switched narrator's to the New International Version (Anglicised), Audio Edition, and... man, I really like listening to that guy. Not just his voice, but his inflection as well. Lately he's been reading the Psalms to me, and it is so, so calming.

 Okey doke, that's probably more than anyone wanted to read today from me. Why don't you take the rest of the day off and relax....

Peace

Five things friday (or less)

1. We have been sick puppies. M’Lady got sick with the stomach flu Wednesday night. I thought I might somehow escape it and was getting ready to work a concert yesterday afternoon when it hit me. Oh man. I haven’t had it near as bad as her, but it ain’t fun. So we’ll see how long I can type.
2. Speaking of which, I am writing this on the new iPad. I haven’t messed with it much but it’s allowed me to do this from the recliner.
3. I will say, I’m not a fan of how the keyboard is setup. Are all Mac’s like this? Why is a keyboard not just universal? It’s stupid. 
4. I do hope that someday I can get back to sharing some actual information on Fridays again. Man, it seems like one thing after another. And I missed my 18-mile run today! Not sure I’ve even taken 18 steps. 
5. “When I say, ‘Start young,’ I’m thinking that means now. You’re as young as you’re ever going to be!” -Don Kern

Have been

I'ma gonna try to start writing a little more often again. Maybe. At least for today...

One day in my daily journal (2/24/25) I read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. The prompt was: "In Christ, you are a new creation. In what ways do you desire to live more fully aligned with this reality?" 

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I've read this text a number of times, but as I meditated on it that day (and again today), verse 18 really stood out. "...God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ..."

I haven't done a detailed study of the passage, but what really struck me was "reconciled" is in the past tense. Perhaps I've always thought about this along the lines of sanctification - which is a process - and considered it as "we are BEING reconciled." But that's not how the text reads. Whether it us you and me as a follower of Jesus, or even just the author of this text, it is a done deal!

There is no working out being reconciled, like working out our salvation. The work was done by God, in Christ. I/we HAVE BEEN reconciled to God!

So, the only question is: how then will I live knowing this? There's nothing to earn, nothing to achieve, nothing to wait for... Reconciliation with God, oneness with God, peace with God (however you want to say it), has happened.

There should be more joy. That's how I think this applies to me.

What about you?