RUSH Concert
I have never considered myself a fan of RUSH before but I have enjoyed and appreciated their music in the past. This concert was incredible. It is hard to believe that three people could put out that level of sound. Their musicianship, stage presence, and visuals were outstanding. Perhaps my favorite part of the night was when the South Park kids (as “Lil’ Rush”) introduced the song “Tom Sawyer” on the video screen. Hilarious!!! I got the VIP hook up from a friend at church and was able to enjoy the second half of the concert from the VIP box. It was a great concert and and great night. Except…

Race for the Cure
I shouldn’t have stood for three hours at the concert because I had the Race for the Cure bright and early on Saturday morning. This was my very first 5k and although the main goal was to just finish I was able to finish just under my target time. I lost a few minutes of time waiting on the portajohn and i wasted some time maneuvering around moms and their strollers but all in all I finished strong. I can’t wait for my next race!

501
Today I added my 501st friend on Facebook. This is kind of a big deal for me as I have personally met every one of the people listed as my friends (even Dave Ramsey). This is a pretty big milestone and I appreciate everyone of you who have added me as your friend. If you haven’t added me as your friend please drop me a message on Facebook. I was going to offer a prize for my 500th friend but the number snuck up on me and I wasn’t prepared. Maybe I’ll have something planned for the 550th.

Hope you have a great week!

On Monday a cleaning crew arrived and set up a plethora of fans and vacuums to tackle the moisture problem. Due to all this I haven’t been working at the office but from home or the coffee shop or a restaurant. Yesterday I grabbed some lunch while I studied and then I hit up one of my “thinking places.”

I have a handful of places where I walk and think and dream and ponder. My creative juices start flowing and my brain gets a little exercise and fresh air. Yesterday I went to one of the larger Christian bookstores in our area.

While there I overheard (read: eavesdropped) a woman discussing their church’s Bible reading group with her friend. This woman lamented how boring it was.

“I don’t like to read books over a second time. That’s my problem. I’ve read the Bible before. I just don’t see the point in reading it again. We’ve gone through the whole thing. Let’s just move on.”

I probably stared at the same section of Biblical maps for 10 minutes while I pondered this woman’s statement. I don’t know what was going on in the woman’s heart but I couldn’t help but take her words at face value. Was she really bored with reading the Bible with her brothers and sisters? What was she suggesting they move on too?

In The Divine Conspiracy, author Dallas Willard opens the introduction by writing,

My hope is to gain a fresh hearing for Jesus, especially among those who believe they already understand him. In his case, quite frankly, presumed familiarity has led to unfamiliarity, unfamiliarity has led to contempt, and contempt has led to ignorance.

I wonder what that woman would have done with Willard’s assessment.

Of course, the next logical question is, “What will I do with Willard’s assessment?”

Do I assume an overfamiliarity of God’s word or his Son or his ways? Will I allow a haughty sense of presumed knowledge harden my heart with contempt for the Almighty Creator of the Universe?

Or will I always look to read His words with a heart that is open to the things that I see or that are revealed as I read and listen? Can I truly ponder anew all the things that I’ve “learned” or have been taught?

Isaiah 43:10-12 proclaims,

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.”

And Isaiah 45:5-8 says,

“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it.”

How can you move on from this? How can you feel like you’ve learned all you can about the one who proclaims these words?

May you never tire of reading the words of the Almighty.
May you never assume that you’ve reached the end of your pursuit of Jesus Christ.
May you never hold the leading and teaching of the Spirit in contempt.

For my money Texas nights in the spring time are the best.

Out of everywhere I’ve lived- TX, AR, AL- I enjoy the cool, windy Texas nights the most.

It’s good to be home.

However, without a goal I have started to feel like I am merely running aimlessly.

“No more,” I said. I found a small but significant race coming up this June that looked fun and challenging. This race is only a 5k so I am not satisfied with merely “wogging.” In the words of my favorite Irish theologian, “I want to run!”

So, I am training for the The Best Dam Race in Texas, a 5k across the Lake Waco Dam. Waco is fairly close and the race is on a Saturday so I think it is a go!!! Plus, because it will only be June 2nd the temperature should be below 8,000 F which is always a good thing.

Anyone in the DFW area interested in joining me?

1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
2. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
3. Ultra Violet (Light My Way) by U2
4. When You Were Young by the Killers
5. Come Together by Third Day
6. Show Me How to Live by Audioslave
7. Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
8. Breathe by Michele Branch
9. God Gave Me Everything by Mick Jagger
10. It’s My Life by No Doubt
11. Who’ll Stop the Rain by Credence Clearwater Revival
12. Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis

tracks 1 and 2: Warm Up
3-10: The Workout
11 and 12: Cool Down

Enjoy

iTunes

Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
Crazy in Love by Beyonce
I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Electrical Storm by U2
C’mon C’mon The Von Bondies
The World Has Turned and Left Me Here by Weezer
Fighter by Christina Aguilera
Working Man by RUSH
Walk On (UK Single) by U2
You Are My Joy by David Crowder*Band
Breathless by The Corrs
Save Me by Remy Zero
Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
Like a Stone by Audioslave
Baba O’Reily by The Who
Let It Rain by Eric Clapton
Time of Your Song by Matisyahu
Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis

Workout Mix 2

Jesus Walks by Kanye West
Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera
Touch the Sky by Kanye West
Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams
Dirt off Your Shoulders by Jay-Z
Lose Yorself Emeniem
What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani
Where the Streets Have No Name by U2
King Without a Crown by Matisyahu
Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
Yellow by Coldplay
Beautiful Day by U2
I Don’t Want To Be by Gavin DeGraw
Good is Good by Sheryl Crow
With or Without You by U2
Broken by Jack Johnson

iTunes users can see my Workout Mix here.

This is the first mix I threw together. I’ll post #2 in the coming days. Enjoy.

I still haven’t decided if I’ll run the half marathon (13.1 miles) or the 10K (6 or so miles) but to be honest, right now that doesn’t matter. I just need to get started.

Any Guy Nicknamed the Penguin Is Alright By Me
Over the weekend I immersed myself in all things running. When I initially got this wild hair to begin running I hopped online to find someone I could relate to who could help me take the first step to get off the couch and run. I found John “The Penguin” Bingham.

John writes a column for Runner’s World entitled No Need For Speed. Ahhh… just what I was looking for. When John decided to begin running he was in his 40s, 80 pounds overweight, drank more than he should, and smoked. Bingo!!! I’m in my 20s, not quite 80 pounds overweight, I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke. Suddenly my laziness and my XBox360 seemed like puny obstacles. “The Penguin” philosophy of running is to just get out there and do it. Run, walk, or waddle: It doesn’t matter as long as you keep moving forward. Boom! I’m all over it.

I headed to the local bookstore for some motivational/training materials and settled on Bingham’s No Need for Speed: A Beginner’s Guide to the Joy of Running. After reading the tips on starting right I realized that I needed a good pair of running shoes. I was off to the shoe store.

Digital Trainer
In one of my recent posts I revealed that I was mesmerized by the new partnership between Nike and Apple. Their new product, Nike+iPod, is aimed directly at the athletic world. A tiny sensor is placed in the left shoe and wirelessly communicates with a small receiver attached to your iPod nano. The sensor tracks your time, mileage, and calories and a coaching voice alerts you to the different waypoints in your workout. Pure genius and I bought in hook, line, and sinker. For a complete guide to the Nike+iPod system check out this review at iLounge.com.

Since I was purchasing new shoes anyway I decided on a pair of Nike+ Shox Turbo. They were not anymore expensive than the other shoes I tried and they felt great. I then purchased a Nike+iPod kit for $30 at my local Apple store along with an armband for my nano.

With my running schedule in hand and my digital coach in my ear I took off for my inaugural “wog” (walk/jog) Sunday afternoon. When I walked a half mile, the sensor said that I had indeed traveled a half mile. The female voice was pleasant and encouraging as she relayed to me how fast I was traveling and how much time had elapsed in my workout. Since it is July in Texas it was slightly warmer than the surface of the sun so I decided to call it quits after a mile and a half. I returned home to synch my workout to nikeplus.com homepage.

Everything worked together seamlessly and really motivated me to set a few goals and gear up for my biggest challenge yet.

Getting Off The Couch
As the Texas sun was setting this evening I took my place at the starting line of the track. There were a billion reasons for me not to workout today with 999,999,999 of them being degrees heat but I got out there anyway. I set my workout for a 30 minute wog and set off down the track. I chose a great playlist and I stashed a bottle of Gatorade where I could easily grab it as I went by. After five minutes my coach, I’ve named her Brianne, alerted me that I had passed the five minute mark and that I had 25 minutes to go. At 15 minutes, Brianne told me that I had reached the halfway point. When I had five minutes left on my workout I was alerted every minute until I had reached my completed time of 30 minutes. It had started to cool down so I continued for another 10 minutes and finished my workout with a slight jog across the finish line. When I ended my workout Brianne had a surprise for me. Lance Armstong himself congratulated me for completing my longest workout yet.

So, I got up off the couch, worked up a good sweat, felt good about what I had accomplished and was even congratulated by a real athelete. Yep, I was feeling pretty good indeed.

The Road Ahead
Well I’ve completed about 4.5 miles in my quest to become a runner. Day 1 is in the bag. Tomorrow, it’s day 2.