Anchor for your soul

While peering out my airplane window at just over 7 miles above the earth’s surface, I’m reflecting on the new day God has given me. Sometimes I take for granted each new day God has given me. How about you? I assume that's true for most of us. That’s until some illness or tragedy strikes close to home.

On this morning’s flight, I was thinking about the obituary I read last night for the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Professor, Dr. Randy Pausch, who died last Friday after an almost year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Pausch, as you may have read, decided to courageously face the cancer head on and shared his experience with his students through a lecture titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. You can view this on youtube or read the book published earlier this year.

I strongly encourage you to read the book. It’s a quick read, but more importantly, it’s a powerful reminder of how our attitudes determine our responses to life’s adversity, trials and tribulations. The reality is someday we are all going to face death. That’s a fact. So, my question is how now shall we live in light of this fact?

I don’t listen to country music all that much, but many of the country songs do tell a good story. And for today’s illustration, I’ll use Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying”. Take a look at the lyrics written below, sung during the bridge portion of this song:

Like tomorrow was the end
And ya got eternity to think about what to do with it
What should you do with it
What can I do with it
What would I do with it

My dear friend, this life is a gift from God. Every minute we have been given us is from God. This isn’t a dress rehearsal. What we choose today counts for all eternity. Please don’t tune me out. I’m pleading for you to listen because I care for you. Your life is more than your physical body or the “stuff” you’ve accumulated thus far. Your soul will live forever in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. Whether you believe this or not doesn’t change truth. To reject this truth would be like a person that rejects the law of gravity and decides to leap from a 10-story building. We all know the results of the decision to reject truth are disastrous.

I know, some of you might be petrified by the topic of death and dying, perhaps even avoid talking about it. Maybe you’ve tried to pour yourself into your job, a relationship, or a hobby. Listen to what Jesus says about this topic, as recorded in the Bible;

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” - Matthew 16:26

I’m sure some of you have your own opinions about what happens after death. Please remember my first blog posting where I mentioned that “My basis for truth is God’s word. I believe that the Holy Scriptures are inspired, inerrant, and infallible propositional truths of our Lord.” Again, God speaks this truth, not me. I am just the messenger pointing to the One from whom all truth is given. I also described that I would share my walk with Christ, who is the anchor of my soul.Let me show you a few reasons why I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ.

Someday, when I die, I’ll stand before God, the righteous judge. (And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrews 9:27). Since I am a BIG sinner and have rebelled against God, my own sinful actions have separated me from God, and the results of my disobedience demand justice - my Death. (The soul who sins shall die. - Ezekiel 18:20; Also, For the wages of sin is death. - Romans 6:23A)

My separation from God is my own fault, but out of God’s great love and mercy He provides a righteous substitute to pay for the wages of my sin and deserved punishment (but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8, emphasis mine)

God’s payment for my sin (and yours) is accomplished through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross at Calvary. (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16; Also, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus died on the Cross, was buried, and then was raised from the dead three days later. God promises eternal life to all that come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. ("I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” –John 11:25-26)

I hope you ponder these truths. Don’t let another second go by without thinking about your life and how you will live. Life is too short and you never know when your time will be up.

I like reading the account of Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead, as detailed in John chapter 11. Only God can do the impossible. After all, Lazarus had been dead four days! How do you think Lazarus lived after he was raised from the dead? Fearful? Scared? No way. I am guessing he lived with a radical freedom only known to those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus has conquered death once and for all and He freely gives eternal life to all that turn from their sins and run to Him.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

God is the One, by his Holy Spirit, who calls us unto Himself. He doesn’t need me to do his work for Him, that’s for sure. But I am so grateful that He does allow me to share His message of hope and love and redemption with you. I am truly just a beggar showing other beggars where to find the bread. It's my hope and prayer that you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace. Amen.

A new day has come

This morning I had the chance to do something I truly enjoy – an early morning run on the beach. Actually, I was able to run on the beach twice. This past evening I watched the evening’s dim light give way to dusk, and then darkness. And then this morning, I welcomed the beginning of a new day as the sun crept over the horizon, shooting its rays through a layer of grayish-blue, broken clouds. The only noticeable sounds were those of the waves crashing along the seashore, the rhythmic pounding & crunching of my shoes against the sand / shell combination (not many shells on this stretch of Fernandina Beach, FL), and the occasional calls of the seagulls flying overhead. It was fantastic.

Maybe there’s something symbolic about the beginning of a new day. It’s a fresh start, a clean slate. It reminds me of the redemption God provides for each one of us through the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

That’s amazing! The God who spoke all creation into existence, humiliated Himself by taking on human flesh, lived the perfect life that I could never have lived, and then died the death I deserve to die. In doing so, He reconciled a sinner like me, like you, to a Holy God through the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible tells us, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)

So remember, if you know Jesus as your Savior, when God looks at you He sees the righteousness of Christ. You’re a new creation. And someday, when Christ returns, a new day will be ushered in for all eternity.

I have heard the following poem multiple times by Bible teacher Ravi Zacharias. I believe it was written by an elementary school teacher. I could not find the author’s name, so my apologies. It is most appropriate in closing.

He came to my desk with a quivering lip,
the lesson was done.
"Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?
I've spoiled this one."
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted
and gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried,
"Do better now, my child."

I went to the throne with a trembling heart;
the day was done.
"Have you a new day for me, dear Master?
I've spoiled this one."
He took my day, all soiled and blotted
and gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart he cried,
"Do better now, my child."

Author unknown

Dude…where’s my brain!

I’m sorry – yesterday I mistakenly informed you all that my rental car had been stolen. Well, the reality is, if I had kept walking another 2 blocks, I would have found my vehicle - right where I had parked it! Oh, to have had a picture of my facial expression as I drove passed the car this morning, rubber-necking, if you will, to see if my eyes were deceiving me. Could that be the Chrysler Pacifica I had driven only yesterday? The license plate number looked familiar, but I was off to a meeting a did not have time to verify that the car was indeed my former rental car.

After parking in the garage today (LOL), I had my meeting and then made the trek back to where I had seen the Pacifica. Low and behold, as I looked in the back windows, sure enough my gear was laying there, still in the vehicle. I made the necessary calls to the police, insurance agent, my boss, and the rental car company. Now I'm just waiting for the tow truck to arrive. In fact, here he comes. Ace towing!

You gotta love wireless network cards! I am sitting here, drenched in sweat, logged into my AT&T account, sitting under a shade tree in front of someone's apartment complex, writing this blog, checking my emails, and surfing the web. The neighbors, I guess, are staring to look at me a little suspiciously. Maybe they are thinking I locked my keys in the car. I suspect it sounds something like, "Who's the moron sitting in my front lawn, wearing a suit in this this 90 degree heat, and working on his laptop?"

All is well though. Nothing hurt but my pride. Actually, I have a more humiliating experience to share with you, but I'll have to save it for another day. Perhaps my dad will tell you his side of that story, from long ago. It's funnier than this story. Although this one is pretty hard to beat.

Wow! This is a great illustration as to what NOT to do when visiting a hospital on a sales call.

That’s ok, you can laugh – I did. And I think I heard Him laugh too.

Dude…where’s my car!

I know most of the road warriors reading this blog have interesting stories to share themselves, but my travel stories always seem to have unique twists.

Today, for instance, I arrived for my early morning appointment at a Jacksonville-area (FL) hospital and quickly found a parking spot on one of the many nearby residential streets, about 250 yards from the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) entrance. (SIDE BAR: I visit many different hospitals every year, so I have this routine I go through; from where I am going to park, to my building entry / exit points, making notes of the landscape, architecture, neighborhood, etc… essentially formulating a mental map of the area.) I grabbed my briefcase on wheels, closed the door, made a security sweep of the area, and then locked the doors by pressing the lock symbol twice on the keyset (verified “locked” by the audible honk /chirp of the rental car’s horn).

After I finished my meeting (it carried over a little longer than anticipated) I decided to grab a quick bite and a coffee. So, I said goodbye to the staff and headed for the exit. As I stepped through the ED’s doors, I was immediately blasted by the 90+ degree temps and high humidity of Florida. I walked briskly to my car, sweat pooling on my forehead, while I though about where I was going to eat for lunch. “I’ll have to punch something into my GPS and see what I find. Maybe Panera”, I thought.

I looked down the street to see if I could spot the silver Chrysler Pacifica. Nothing. “That’s strange. I thought I had parked the car right there.” Now I have to tell you. For just a microsecond, the thought crossed my mind that maybe I was mistaken about where I had parked that morning. After all, I’m human. I make mistakes. Right? So I lifted my right arm way up in the air and start pressing that handy lock button on the keyset, multiple times, in hopes of hearing the audible honk of the vehicle’s horn. Nope. The only sounds heard was the roar of passing cars and now, my elevated heartbeat. As the sweat saturated my dress shirt, I thought to myself, “Maybe the car was towed! That’s it. The car was towed because I parked in a 2-hour spot and I was about 20 minutes late leaving the meeting. So, someone must have towed the car!”

I did an abrupt about face and marched back towards the hospital. As I approached the hospital, I stopped and asked a lady (she was on her smoke break) if she had seen any tow trucks today (or ever, for that matter). She replied, “I’ve never seen anyone towed on this street before.”

“OK, thanks”, I uttered and kept strolling to the hospital, my mind racing through various what-if scenarios.

I stopped at the hospital security shack and inquired the security guard if he had ever seen anyone towed in the vicinity before.

“No, sir”, he replied. “I’ve never seen any car towed from here. Only if a car is disabled, would they tow it.”

There was a long pause. “You missing your car, sir?”

Another long pause.

“I think someone stole my rental car!” I blurted. I said it once more, just to hear my own voice. “Someone has stolen my rental car.”

“There’s a police officer right over there,” he pointed 20 yards from us. Sure enough, there was a deputy sheriff seated in his patrol car, enjoying the cool air conditioning of his police cruiser.

The security guard and I walked over to the police cruiser. The officer rolled down his window and asked what the problem was. I explained the situation to him and he said he was going to run the license plate, just to verify that the vehicle had not been towed. The officer was very professional and friendly.

The report came back quickly. No tow companies had the 2008 Pacifica. The vehicle was stolen.

The next few hours were filled with phone calls, reports being filed, and many asked questions. I had a late lunch (in the hospital cafeteria) and then finished my afternoon meetings at the hospital. Fortunately, one of the staff members offered me a lift to the airport to pick up another rental car.

So I now have another set of wheels (Dodge Magnum). Truth be told, the situation could have been a lot worse. Some of the hospital staff said that the crime in Jacksonville is really high; including four murders this past weekend and multiple car-jackings.

As of this posting they still haven’t recovered the vehicle. Someone is now a proud owner of my Garmin C340 GPS unit and our company’s pull-up display banner.

Am I angry or upset? Nope. Actually, throughout the entire experience I was pretty relaxed and calm. Maybe I was just a little agitated about having to file all the paperwork, but not too bad. Why? The reality is we live in a crazy, messed-up world. Things aren’t the way they should be. I don’t control much of anything, except my attitude. God is sovereign. He reigns supreme. And because of that, I gave the entire situation to Him. And you know what is really cool? He placed a few gracious, loving people in my path today and they made all the difference in the world. Thanks again Tom and Suzi! Your graciousness and kindness was appreciated.

God is good. And although He allows things to happen in our lives that we may not understand or seem to be "good" for us, He's got a plan. He's working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). He’s good all the time. He truly has the whole world in His hands.

Hey, I’d like to hear some of your stories. Please share them.

Signing off for now, but still running on faith.

Contentment

Do you ever find yourself having a difficult time slowing down in today’s fast-pace world? I often find myself getting caught up in the craziness of warp-speed living; business trips, honey-do lists, shuttling kids to sporting activities, and the everyday hustle-n-bustle of family living.

Lately, I have been trying to simply pull back the throttles and enjoy whatever the day brings. It seems strange to me how much work is involved in resting. That sounds weird, doesn’t it? I am not talking about the kind of rest where you plop down in a comfy chair, kick up your heels, turn off your brain, and chill out (although that’s nice too). I am talking about being content with whatever you have or wherever you are in life’s journey. I’m talking about an effort to stop striving, to be still, to rest and be silent before God. (Psalm 46:10)

My morning routine normally consists of spending about an hour with the Lord; feasting on His word, praying, and meditating upon Him. I don’t mention this to be a Holier-than-thou type, rather this routine has helped me slow the pace of living and focus on all of the good things God has blessed me with. In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul, speaking to young Timothy, reminds us of the wisdom of being content;

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

1 Timothy 6:6-7, ESV

There is something wonderful about being content. Maybe it’s acknowledging God’s providential care in our lives. He really does have the whole world in His hands. That’s so reassuring because it helps remind me to keep an eternal perspective when life starts to shift into high-gear. As a salesman, I am constantly looking to land that next big deal or to hit my monthly, quarterly, or yearly sales targets. It’s exhausting and the stress can wipe me out quickly if it is not met head-on. So, I remind myself that this life is passing by with blazing speed. Someday I will close my eyes for the last time and I’ll open them in heaven. I won’t be taking any of this “stuff” with me. Neither will you.

I was thinking about all of this when the song “You’re Gonna Miss This”, by Trace Adkins, played on my MP3 player. As I listened to the chorus lines, I thought about being content in where I am today. If you have never heard the song, you can click on the link above and watch the video. Here are the chorus lines:

But you're gonna miss this

Your gonna want this back

Your gonna wish these days

Hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re gonna miss this

There is something really powerful about enjoying the now. It sounds simple, but in reality it's so hard not to rush headlong into the next phase in life. Or maybe it's about trying to acquire that next gadget or "thing" we want so badly. Today, I am going to be content - wherever I am and whatever I am doing. I hope that's true for you too.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Best Friends

My 20th High School Reunion will be held next month. Wow! I can’t believe 20 years have passed already. It seems like only yesterday that I walked across that high school auditorium to grab that diploma. (Madison High School Class of 1988)

My wife will tell you that I’ve been giddy with excitement lately, anticipating the connection with some old friends. She, however, does not share my enthusiasm for this event. I can’t say that I blame her. She mentioned something about not getting a second chance to make a first impression. As soon as she mentioned that, it struck a chord in my own heart because there was a time when I tried to please all people, all the time. In fact, I still struggle with trying to please others most of the time (have a hard time saying NO). I guess we all have a deep-down desire to be affirmed, liked, and recognized. I love my wife – unconditionally. I accept her just as she is. She’s an amazing woman who’s taught me so much about love and life.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing such a wonderful woman into my life. And thank you, Laurie, you’re my best friend!

P.S. You can read the “rest of the story” at It All Started at Kent State University

Early morning run

Early morning runs are my favorite. Actually, early morning runs on the beach are my favs, but this morning I had the privilege of running a quick four-miler with one of my buddies. In fact, Paul and I’ve lost track of the number of trails and miles we’ve trodden over the past six years. We’ve conquered a few marathons and a 30+ mile trail race - the Buckeye Trail 50k.

You might be thinking we’re nuts for running such long distances, but it’s all relative to how far you have ever run. Believe me, I used to think marathoners were crazy; that is until I completed my first marathon (The New Las Vegas Marathon) in December 2005. Now, (and this is going to sound like I’m boasting, but I’m not) I am looking to the next challenge of running an ultra-marathon, perhaps a 50-miler. I don’t know yet, but have been kicking around the idea. So, if any of you have completed a 50 or 100-miler (Western States 100 anyone?), please drop me a line.

I hope you have a hobby or activity that you really enjoy. I know running is one of many activities that brings me joy and where I can feel God's pleasure. I’ve been running for over twenty years and I pray God continues to bless me with good health so I can continue to run well into my old age – or until He takes me home.

Good running with you this morning, Paul. See you out on the trails - soon.

Finally, a post to publish

Welcome to my Blog. I’m glad you decided to stop in. My hope is that the words contained herein will be inspirational, encouraging, and thought provoking. We’ll cover a variety of topics, but primarily my focus will be on glorifying the Lord through the sharing of my life’s experiences and the impact they’ve had upon me.

What’s with the name, anyway? Well, it’s really a pun. Running - I am a big runner and have been for the past twenty years. On Faith – this is the gasoline that fuels the Blog. Although we all place our faith in someone or something, I’ll be sharing the journey of my faith through my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And before you discount me as another “Bible thumper”, I encourage you to stick around, regardless of your world view. In fact, if you are skeptical about God, have questions about Christianity, or other beliefs and philosophies, then this might be just the place for you. After all, our lives are built on relationships, whether with family or friends, and what is more important than a personal relationship with God?

Oh, and to set the record straight. I don’t profess to know everything. You won’t find glib answers to difficult questions here. I am not going to preach to you, but I am going to show and share events in my life. I’ll be earthy, transparent, and authentic in all of my discussions. My basis for truth is God’s word. I believe that the Holy Scriptures are inspired, inerrant, and infallible propositional truths of our Lord.

So wherever you are in life’s journey, I hope this site encourages you. Remember, we all have a story to tell, regardless of our fortune or fame, title or background, race, creed, religion, or nationality.

Peace,
Jeff