Why are You a Christian?

I was reading the beginning of "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell. He poses a question to challenge all believers: "why am I a Christian?"

Is this something you think about daily? Do you have a ready response? Is your response a canned "church" answer or from the heart? Is is thoughtful, defensive, or simple?

I have been seriously challenged by this question. I mean, I know why I am a Christian...because...well, I know but I just can't seem to articulate it. Maybe I can start with a list

I am a Christian because...

- I believe in God and that the Bible is true

- I think I need redemption and that it only comes from faith in Christ

- I believe God has spoken to me throughout my life by signs, by my conscience, and through His creation

- I've seen miracles in the midst of disaster

- When times get tough, I have a sense of security that does not come from within me

- There's a whole boat load of legal-historical evidence to support the Biblically recorded life of Jesus as well as the resurrection. We, as a society, take much less supported ideas as true.

Well, those are pretty churchy answers. Maybe I'll come up with something more from the heart later. To be continued...

MOX 12 Hour Run Race Report

Now I understand why ultra-run race reports are often so reflective and philosophical. You get a lot of time to think about life during an ultra.

I ran what I would consider my first "real" ultra on October 5th - the Ohio River Road Runner's Club 12-hour endurance race here in Dayton at the Midwest Outdoor Experience. I "ran" (i.e. moved forward) just over 50 miles in 12 hours. This was the icing on the proverbial cake of my own little 3-weekend trifecta (AF Marathon 21 Sep, Philly Spartan 28 Sep, and this race 5 Oct).

First, the race organization was superb. RD Jeff McPherson put a lot of effort into this race and it showed. I won't even guess how many hours he put into this production. At one point he even moved the cars of racers who had been directed to the wrong parking area before the start only to be told they were illegally parked while the race was in session! Thanks again, Jeff.

The handful of volunteers were outstanding. Most were there from before the race started until well after we finished. They filled water bottles, made sandwiches, counted laps, moved our gear when it rained, and most importantly provided encouragement and humor on every lap.

Now for the nuts and bolts. The race took place from 6AM to 6PM - go as far as you can in 12 hours...simple. It was warm and muggy. Mid 60's at the start warming into the 70s or 80s in the afternoon with a brief rain shower mid-afternoon. There were about 40 runners on a 2.6 mile loop course which wound around the festival area of the Midwest Outdoor Experience. There were lots of people in this area (about a half mile of the course). The rest of the course ran through the woods along Mad River then back through the trails of Eastwood Metropark to the start/finish line in the festival area - mostly pancake-flat. I set a pace of 1 lap every 30 minutes early on, and stuck to it for 9 or 10 laps. This being my first run longer than 6 hours, I was then getting close to uncharted territory, so I slowed down by about 5-10 minutes per lap. After lap 11 or so, I realized the "fast" pace I set in the first 5 hours was going to hurt...and it did. I walked significant portions of the remaining laps (walking a bit more with each passing lap, eventually walking an entire lap). It wasn't that I was feeling horrible, but I didn't know what to expect with several hours to go. At this point, I wanted to keep moving until the finish. I did not want to end up sitting for more than a couple of minutes at the aid station - I wanted to be moving forward. I was able to do this. Finally, I was able to run the last 1.5 miles or so...a rewarding way to finish.

Ok, so if your still reading, this is where the "reflective" stuff starts...so feel free to bail with no further obligation.

I thought most about why I had signed up for the race..."why did I think this was a good idea?" inner dialogue stuff. So that led me to think about advice I could give to anyone preparing for an ultra. Prepare. I didn't really train for a 12 hour race. Personally, I like to race not knowing what will come next, but goal-wise, physical preparation would have helped me to set a pace and perform. Also, have a nutrition and hydration strategy. I think nutrition/hydration was ok. I had 20 oz. of water or electrolyte drink every lap (plus about 8 oz. of coke in the afternoon) and I peed almost every other lap. I made sure to keep careful track of my fluid intake and my bathroom breaks to avoid dehydration. I also took an electrolyte capsule (S-cap) every other lap. I never cramped. I wasn't so careful about calorie intake (I thought I could recover from stomach problems easier than dehydration). I ate the food supplied at the aid station (PB&J, Nutella, subway, trail mix, bananas) plus an order of McDonald's hotcakes and syrup plus some grapes and strawberries. I ate regularly throughout the day, although I did not keep track of my exact food intake. I never bonked or puked, so I guess it was ok.

Mentally, just prepare yourself for a wide range of emotions, strange thoughts, and mental battles over whether to slow down, speed up, eat more, take a break, walk, run, change shoes, etc. Your body will most likely be in revolt for a majority of the race, so be prepared to put down this uprising with your mind.

Next, be humble about your efforts. No doubt, running an ultra is a great accomplishment, but before you start thinking of yourself as some sort of superhero, consider the everyday struggles of others. They say an ultra is like life, with all its ups and downs compressed into a day's time. It may be analogous, but the pain of forcing yourself to run past exhaustion and physical discomfort is still a choice. Many people don't have the luxury of choosing their method of suffering (Think POWs, widows/widowers, wounded warriors, parents who give up their dreams to see their children succeed, you get the point). These are the real heroes. An ultra is just a shadow of real-life at best...learn from it and allow it to strengthen and change you. Use it as a lens for feeling empathy, but don't think you understand all pain and suffering because of it, and certainly don't trick yourself into thinking it is the ultimate feat of endurance - there is no such thing other than life itself.

Finally, I just thought a lot about how thankful I am to be able to run. I thought about my friends, family, neighbors, and brothers in arms who are not able to run. I realized my ability to run, even 1 step, is a gift from God not to be taken for granted. I love it, but it is not guaranteed. So I ran thankfully to my creator who has allowed me this small pleasure. God willing, I have many miles to go.

A few words from Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon:

"What a conqueror!--a conqueror who controls humanity at will, and wins to himself not only one nation, but the whole human race. What a marvel! He attaches to himself the human soul with all its energies. And how? By a miracle which surpasses all others. He claims the love of men--that is to say, the most difficult thing in the world to obtain; that which the wisest of men cannot force from his truest friend, that which no father can compel from his children, no wife from her husband, no brother from his brother--the heart. He claims it ; he requires it absolutely and undividedly, and he obtains it instantly.

Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Louis XIV strove in vain to secure this. They conquered the world, yet they had not a single friend, or at all events, they have none any more. Christ speaks, however, and from that moment all generations belong to him; and they are joined to him much more closely than by any ties of blood and by a much more intimate, sacred and powerful communion. He kindles the flame of love which causes one's self-love to die, and triumphs over every other love. Why should we not recognize in this miracle of love the eternal Word which created the world? The other founders of religions had not the least conception of this mystic love which forms the essence of Christianity.

I have filled multitudes with such passionate devotion that they went to death for me. But God forbid that I should compare the enthusiasm of my soldiers with Christian love. They are as unlike as their causes. In my case, my presence was always necessary, the electric effect of my glance, my voice, my words, to kindle fire in their hearts. And I certainly posses personally the secret of that magic power of taking by storm the sentiments of men; but I was not able to communicate that power to anyone. None of my generals ever learned it from me or found it out. Moreover, I myself do not possess the secret of perpetuating my name and a love for me in their hearts for ever, and to work miracles in them without material means.

Now that I languish here at St Helena, chained upon this rock, who fights, who conquers empires for me? Who still even thinks of me? Who interests himself for me in Europe? Who has remained true to me? That is the fate of all great men. It was the fate of Alexander and Caesar, as it is my own. We are forgotten, and the names of the mightiest conquerors and most illustrious emperors are soon only the subject of a schoolboy's task. Our exploits come under the rod of a pedantic schoolmaster, who praises or condemns us as he likes.

What an abyss exists between my profound misery and the eternal reign of Christ, who is preached, loved, and worshiped and live on throughout the entire world. Is this to die? Is it not rather to live eternally? The death of Christ! It is the death of a God."

(Quoted in Hilarin Felder, Christ and the Critics, vol. 2, pp. 216-17)

Why this Christian is voting for a Mormon

It’s the biggest dilemma I've faced in a long time, maybe the biggest one ever.  I'm supposed to choose the "leader of the free world" from a short list of two people.  One promised hope and change - a social healthcare system, government provision, higher taxation, and redistribution of wealth.  The other promises a return to a government that won't unilaterally decide which American businesses should succeed, and an America that won't apologize for the fact we area  strong nation built on hard work, determination, and most of all - protected by the blood of generations of my brothers in arms.

I am no Republican.  Nor am I a Democrat.  I'm an American.  I'm a Christian.  I am an officer.  I have a family that will grow and prosper according to God's plan, regardless of who sits in our nation's highest office.  I will continue to serve my country and protect the constitution against its enemies.  I will continue to respect and pray for my commander in chief, whether I agree with him or not.  As long as my orders are not illegal, immoral, or in opposition to God's word, I will carry them out while I hold my current commission.  I also agree with the direction the current Republican candidate wants to take our nation.  But he's a Mormon.  I don't know everything about the LDS church, but I know enough to say their teachings are not in accordance with God's Word.  For a comparison of Christian and Mormon doctrine, see this link.  On the other hand, I could vote for the incumbent.  But I don't know exactly what his beliefs are.  Is he Christian?  Muslim?  I can't tell, but based on his actions and words, I get the feeling he thinks no belief has to be mutually exclusive.  My God is exclusive.  What!? The God of the Bible who loved us so much that "while we were sinners, Christ died for us" - exclusive?  Yes - exclusive of all untruth.  Exclusive of all evil.  Exclusive of all unrighteousness.  All the things I am or have been - untruthful, evil, and unrighteous - the same things we all are.  I accept that.  I also accept that my exclusive God who demands justice be done, has provided the means for both justice and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
          - Romans 3:23-26

I don't trust the Mormon.  I don't trust the other one either.   They are career politicians whom I believe will say whatever they think it takes to get elected.  So let me boil it down to the issues that have decided my vote, along with a brief explanation of why.

1.       Abortion:  We, as a nation, have chosen to water down this issue to a point where being pro-life is considered the radical right.  Life begins at conception.  I value life.  Being "pro-choice" exists under the guise of protecting a person's right to choose whether or not to carry a child to term.  First, "pro-choice" is a misnomer.  We should call it what it really is, regardless of how unpalatable it sounds - "pro-abortion".  The "choice" being made is the choice to end a life for the sake of our own health, welfare, or in most cases - convenience.  In the best of circumstances, we are taking the life of someone incapable of defending themselves in order to preserve our own life.  In the worst of cases, we are doing it for our own comfort or convenience.  Either way, it shows a love for ourselves that is greater than our love and respect for the life of another - even our own child.  Anyone who uses terms like "reproductive freedom" when referring to the right to have an abortion, clearly does not respect life.  And, yes, I'm going to bring up the slippery slope argument...if we can take the life of an unborn child who cannot speak for themselves, what's to say we can't take the life of a mentally or physically disabled person who can't speak for themselves?  Wouldn't it make it easier on our society and healthcare system - not to mention more convenient for those burdened with the care of those who cannot care for themselves?  Like it or not, that's the pro-choice mentality.  Read Brave New World - it’s a classic.  I will not willfully choose a leader who lives under the veil of our culture's misguided perception of what it means to be "pro-choice".

2.       Government involvement in business:  Although not a stark moral issue like abortion, this also has to do with our freedom.  Capitalism depends on competition.  Competition means there is a reward for working hard and doing well in our business endeavors.  When the government takes away this purely competitive element by redistributing the earnings of those businesses who have triumphed in competition to those who have not, it has just created an incentive to be mediocre.  Those who are already mediocre know they have a safety net.  Those who are excellent may find it more rewarding to become mediocre.  Because of ambiguous terms like "too big to fail", struggling businesses [or industries] have been given the go ahead to continue in the mediocrity and complacency that took them to the point of failure in the first place.  So what happens?  The most appealing location on the topography of business performance becomes mediocrity.  All move in this direction.  Our national competitive landscape begins to fall under the control of the few in government who make the decisions of which businesses receive government assistance.  In essence, business survival is taken out of the hands of the consumer and put under the control of the state.  Hmmm...sounds familiar...something I read about in history, maybe?

Two issues?  That's it?  Narrow?  Maybe.  Look deeper.  These two issues embody freedom and life.   No matter where I live or who rules this nation,  I have freedom because Christ has given it to me.  I have life because of God's grace and love...but if I have the power to choose to live in a nation which is guided by policies which take our nation as a whole closer to freedom and respect of life, that's where my vote will be.

So, I'm not voting for the Mormon or the Christian or the - fill in the blank.  I'm voting on ideals which are manifested in the policies, past actions, and future plans of the candidates.  I'm voting on the hope that my kids will grow up in a country where freedom and respect for life are part of our national identity...and if they are not, I will continue to instill these values in my family.

Dilemma solved?  Not really.  But it’s the best I can do with the evidence at hand.  Do your duty - vote.

Ultimately, I can rest in this…

"...the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.

          -  Daniel 4:25

Joplin II, day 2

We ended up working today at Mission Joplin distribution center at Forest Park Baptist Church. There were lines of people all day waiting to "shop" for various items.  I'm not sure how many I got to personally help by the end of the day, but it was around 10.  So many stories and so many different needs. Men, Women, and of course the kids. Spent some time with one 8 year old boy who will be attending Irving Elementary (the school we worked at yesterday). He had lost his things in the storm and was able to find some replacement toys at the distribution center. I was able to tell him and his mom about his "new" school and some of what to expect (see yesterday's post).

We also took some school supplies from Jeanna McCurry and friends to the school admin building. That place was bustling with folks getting ready for school to start on Wednesday.  They are doing a phenomenal job.

Another amazing day seeing God's hand in this amazing place.

Picture of Kristen...in charge of disaster relief for schools

Joplin II, Day 1

We arrived in Joplin, MO yesterday evening. Me, Monica, Joshua, Joseph, and Ray. About two weeks earlier we were here with a church group and had some amazing experiences and heard some amazing stories. As soon as we were headed home last time we knew we needed to come back. So here we are.

Today we went to church at Emmanuel Baptist in Webb City, said hi to some friends from our last trip here, ate lunch, and then went to check in with Americorps to see what work they had for us tomorrow. They had received a request for some help at a local school with hanging blinds this afternoon so we decided to go ahead and start working today. School starts in a week and there is still much work to be dome to make sure all the students who attended schools damaged or destroyed in the tornado have a place to attend class.

We arrived at the new site of Irving Elementary at about 2:30 PM and began walking around looking for the principal for a work assignment. The blinds were not ready yet, but Ms. Fort, the principal put us to work organizing a room full of books to be given to students during an open house on Tuesday. There is also a room full of clothing and shoes for students to pick up during the open house.

Irving elementary was destroyed in the tornado. The "new" Irving is housed in a 1927 building that hasn't been used for a school in 20+ years, as well as a large modular building constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The principal, staff, USACE, and many volunteers have been hard at work over the past few weeks to turn this old building and grounds (formerly Washington School) into a usable elementary to be opened in just a week. Amazingly, it seems like things are going to work out just fine. Teachers are preparing classrooms, USACE is putting the finishing touches on the modular building, and volunteers are busy doing whatever else is needed to make school happen for the students here. Amazing. I can't put it all into words right now, but I can say that God is working in such visible ways here that it blows my mind.

I think the pictures say it much better than I ever could. Enjoy.

Click Here for Pictures

Thank You

Tomorrow is the much-anticipated race day. Please pray for health for Monica and I as we recover from the flu, and for good weather. This has been a challenging week and to top it off the weather tomorrow is forecast as thunderstorms with a 50% chance of rain.

No one ever said running a marathon was supposed to be easy…His power is made perfect in my weakness.

Just want to dedicate the race first to God and to my family for life, salvation, partnership, and encouragement. Second to the men and women who have served and are serving our country…you make the commitment to freedom that nobody else does. Although it is God that gives us true freedom, you provide the means by which our American way of life is made possible, so THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated to Living Water International (LWI) - fundraising total stands at $690 - that is 132% of the goal! Please keep giving through run for a reason up to 1 month after the race, and know that your contribution is literally saving lives. You can also give directly to LWI anytime throughout the year.

I'll be carrying a small US Flag during the entire race, and my bib reads: "MOJOJOJO"

In memory of:

Platoon Sergeant Louis B. Strakos, USMC, WWII

In Honor of:

My Family (MOJOJOJO - MOnica, JOsh, JOshua, JOseph)

MSG Pete Martinez, USA, Currently Serving in Afghanistan

SPC Josue Hinojosa, USA, Currently Serving in Afghanistan

We pray for your safe return along with all our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and other serving in harm's way.

God Bless, and Thank You.

Josh

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up!"
- Dean Karnazes

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
His love endures forever.
- Psalm 118:1