Thursday, June 12, 2008
God at Work on the Racetrack
I am so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to serve in the ESL ministry at Harvest Bible Chapel! Today, God took his soldiers and equipped them with the skills they needed to face his people on the Arlington Heights Racetrack. We arrived on a hot and humid evening at the heels of jagged rain clouds forming above our heads ready to serve the people God was going to bring us. Hoping to see swarms of interested ESL students, we only interviewed 8 with in the first hour. Ernesto, the racetrack chaplain, had made a couple announcements on the loud speaker to help us out and also mentioned that we may not see a lot because it was a race day. That's when the Lord prompted me to give one of our tutors, Julio, a special job:) I asked if Julio could begin walking around the dorm area and start mentioning the classes to whoever he would run into. The rest of us were doing the same thing, just a little more timidly since many of us could not speak Spanish. A couple walked past us and I asked while they were walking if they wanted to take ESL classes. They kept walking...but about 2 minutes later, they turned around and signed up for the classes!!! PRAISE GOD:) With in a half hour, we had 10 more interviews! We still didn't see as many sign up for the classes as we would have liked to see, but God certainly encouraged us by sending very enthusiastic students of which some were returning from a previous year! God has begun a great work at the racetrack and this summer is going to be simply awesome to see how God is going to challenge, use, and stretch us in our walk with Him. To Him alone be the glory!!!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Hot, Humid, Hilly, Highland Park Half
Before I begin writing this blog, I need to give mega props to the big man upstairs, my Lord, my Savior, my Healer, my Comforter, my Redeemer, the Tres en Uno, Padre, Dios, el Unico, the Alpha and Omega, Creator, etc. Thanks be to God! If it wasn't for the Sovereign King who reigns on high and his grace and mercy and love, I wouldn't be able to type this right now!
At 8am this morning, SoHee, Marc, Nancy, and I started off on a journey through the lush, luxury surroundings of Highland Park as we paced ourselves through the North Shore 1/2 Marathon. Was it 13.1 miles of torture? Some miles were definitely harder than others:) For your reading pleasure, a recap of the 3 hours of cardio is to follow...
Marc, SoHee, and I managed to start together and kept up with each other for about 7 blocks. Then speedy Marc decided to continue his pace and Slow-Hee and Slow-Ro (new nicknames for me and SoHee) decided to remain at our slow but steady pace. At about mile 1.5 we encountered the first hill. Not bad. It was a gradual increase so all we had to do was push forward, keeping the same pace.
At about mile 3, we hit our first water station and then headed onto a nice non-asphalt, heavily shaded trail (parallel to the train tracks) until we reached mile 4. During our time on the trail, SoHee and I managed to speak out a couple of worship tunes to keep our minds off of the humidity and heat. The Lord provided several moments of relief as he directed some gusts of wind over our perspiring bodies.
During miles 4-8 we must have picked up 2 water bottles from every water station which was placed almost at every mile from 4 until the end. One bottle was used to shower and stay cool where as the other was carried and used as a thirst quencher. After drinking at least a gallon of water during the race, I was surprised that I didn't need to pee like a banshee! I guess that only means I was sweating like a banshee instead:) So far we had kept running with a quick stretch at mile 4. Then when we arrived at mile 8, we walked about a block before heading towards "the hill."
Since we are from the Midwest, we usually don't see many hills. And probably what we consider a "hill" is what someone in San Franciso would call "nothing." As we got to mile 8.6, a lady sitting on a lawn chair began cheering us on and telling us to enjoy the way down the hill. She chuckled when I asked her if the hill that we were going to be jogging down would be just as steep of a climb going up. She confirmed that it was going to be a doosey:) On the ground at the start of the decent was a spray painted happy face. The best part of the decent was the fact that we were staring at Lake Michigan the whole way down. Reaching the bottom of the hill with no problems, we saw the road curve to the left and then right when we turned, saw the smiley face with a big frown. For the next block, we were on a steep climb. Good thing it didn't last for too long:)
Several times during our run, we were called to pray for our fellow runners like Nancy and Marc. It felt really good to know that we were being prayed for as well and helped us keep strong. We were so happy to reach mile 10 and it only took one foot step past that mile marker to have gone as far as SoHee and I have ever ran in our lives. Our adventure was hardly over. We did manage to see something very typical of "front running" marathon athletes.
After passing mile 10, a volunteer on a bike who had been encouraging us for most of the race came by to tell us to keep our pace or the old man was going to pass us. We really didn't care who was going to pass us. I had some blisters developing, a weak right ankle, and SoHee was cramping up! I was running a little ahead of SoHee just past mile 11 when I noticed over my right shoulder that SoHee wasn't the one huffing and puffing near me. It was the old man! And as he passed me up, I looked at him and noticed he did not make a pit stop at the port-o-potty:( And being down-wind from him at this point in time wasn't a great strategy. Needless to say, SoHee and I dramatically decreased our pace and increased the distance between us and him.
At mile 12, we ran into an issue with the directional cones disappearing. At one point we had to choose whether to turn right or left down a street. I figured we would go left and for about 500ft, ran in the wrong direction until a car passed by and told us to turn around. My lungs immediately shut down, my face turned pale, and my rhythm was beginning to fall apart. I immediately called upon the mighty, mighty most high for an intervention. Greatly, he delivered and got me through the last mile. I couldn't believe that I even took the 50 yard dash at then end like a 50 yard dash.
Praise God for his presence during this race! It was definitely bearable, knowing that God's strength was sustaining us and fueling us to endure it to the very end:)
At 8am this morning, SoHee, Marc, Nancy, and I started off on a journey through the lush, luxury surroundings of Highland Park as we paced ourselves through the North Shore 1/2 Marathon. Was it 13.1 miles of torture? Some miles were definitely harder than others:) For your reading pleasure, a recap of the 3 hours of cardio is to follow...
Marc, SoHee, and I managed to start together and kept up with each other for about 7 blocks. Then speedy Marc decided to continue his pace and Slow-Hee and Slow-Ro (new nicknames for me and SoHee) decided to remain at our slow but steady pace. At about mile 1.5 we encountered the first hill. Not bad. It was a gradual increase so all we had to do was push forward, keeping the same pace.
At about mile 3, we hit our first water station and then headed onto a nice non-asphalt, heavily shaded trail (parallel to the train tracks) until we reached mile 4. During our time on the trail, SoHee and I managed to speak out a couple of worship tunes to keep our minds off of the humidity and heat. The Lord provided several moments of relief as he directed some gusts of wind over our perspiring bodies.
During miles 4-8 we must have picked up 2 water bottles from every water station which was placed almost at every mile from 4 until the end. One bottle was used to shower and stay cool where as the other was carried and used as a thirst quencher. After drinking at least a gallon of water during the race, I was surprised that I didn't need to pee like a banshee! I guess that only means I was sweating like a banshee instead:) So far we had kept running with a quick stretch at mile 4. Then when we arrived at mile 8, we walked about a block before heading towards "the hill."
Since we are from the Midwest, we usually don't see many hills. And probably what we consider a "hill" is what someone in San Franciso would call "nothing." As we got to mile 8.6, a lady sitting on a lawn chair began cheering us on and telling us to enjoy the way down the hill. She chuckled when I asked her if the hill that we were going to be jogging down would be just as steep of a climb going up. She confirmed that it was going to be a doosey:) On the ground at the start of the decent was a spray painted happy face. The best part of the decent was the fact that we were staring at Lake Michigan the whole way down. Reaching the bottom of the hill with no problems, we saw the road curve to the left and then right when we turned, saw the smiley face with a big frown. For the next block, we were on a steep climb. Good thing it didn't last for too long:)
Several times during our run, we were called to pray for our fellow runners like Nancy and Marc. It felt really good to know that we were being prayed for as well and helped us keep strong. We were so happy to reach mile 10 and it only took one foot step past that mile marker to have gone as far as SoHee and I have ever ran in our lives. Our adventure was hardly over. We did manage to see something very typical of "front running" marathon athletes.
After passing mile 10, a volunteer on a bike who had been encouraging us for most of the race came by to tell us to keep our pace or the old man was going to pass us. We really didn't care who was going to pass us. I had some blisters developing, a weak right ankle, and SoHee was cramping up! I was running a little ahead of SoHee just past mile 11 when I noticed over my right shoulder that SoHee wasn't the one huffing and puffing near me. It was the old man! And as he passed me up, I looked at him and noticed he did not make a pit stop at the port-o-potty:( And being down-wind from him at this point in time wasn't a great strategy. Needless to say, SoHee and I dramatically decreased our pace and increased the distance between us and him.
At mile 12, we ran into an issue with the directional cones disappearing. At one point we had to choose whether to turn right or left down a street. I figured we would go left and for about 500ft, ran in the wrong direction until a car passed by and told us to turn around. My lungs immediately shut down, my face turned pale, and my rhythm was beginning to fall apart. I immediately called upon the mighty, mighty most high for an intervention. Greatly, he delivered and got me through the last mile. I couldn't believe that I even took the 50 yard dash at then end like a 50 yard dash.
Praise God for his presence during this race! It was definitely bearable, knowing that God's strength was sustaining us and fueling us to endure it to the very end:)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Halfway There!
Lord willing, this Sunday, June 8th at 8am...SoHee and I will be running our first 1/2 Marathon! It feels like only yesterday when I could only run 2 miles! Shoot, I still can't "run" this thing really:) My "run" is like a "walk" for most people:) I'm hoping that we can put in an even pace of 12min splits. This would be a HUGE improvement over my 2008 Soldier Field 10 mile time...which I completely botched this year. I finished under 2 hours in 2007 and this year I went a little over. A blister snuck up on me at mile 5 on my left pinky toe which really started to bother me. Instead of sucking it up like a big girl, I gave in and walked more than one time. I didn't get a PR but, God definitely taught me a few lessons on that day. Lessons about pride, lessons about trust, lessons about faith...it's amazing what God will reveal to you in a couple hours of running:) To Him alone be the glory for giving me the ability, the health, and the time, to do this! Who needs an iPod when you're tuning into God's strength:)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Hello Honolulu!
The spirit of a first time marathon is born with in the young hearts of SoHee Kim and I. As we look ahead to the future, our eyes have locked on the goal of running the landscape of an island known for its paradise-like surroundings. We begin our discipline tomorrow in hopes that our training and efforts will not be in vain.
Honolulu December 14, 2008
This time its for real. We are serious. And our athletic abilities will be put to the test like never before. We will finish the race we begin, even if we have to crawl to the finish line!
Honolulu December 14, 2008
This time its for real. We are serious. And our athletic abilities will be put to the test like never before. We will finish the race we begin, even if we have to crawl to the finish line!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Reflections on '07
What is the most common comment anyone will hear at any New Year's Eve celebration? HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! This is true, but there is another phrase that gets tossed around before gladly and eagerly welcoming the start of a brand new-squeaky clean year. How many times have you heard someone say "man, thank God this year is over" or "2007 sucked" or "2008 will be better." So 2007 wasn't all you hoped and dreamed it to be. You didn't get the job, you didn't get asked out by the one guy, you got rejected by a really nice girl, you gained 5 pounds, you had to see the chiropractor, your car got hit...etc.
Well let me start off by congratulating you first because if you are reading this blog, you must have at least survived 2007 in someway and have at least one eyeball in tact and your mind still able to process words! As much as 2007 may have not been your favorite year in hindsight, maybe it wasn't meant to be a great year. But maybe it was? What do we consider as "great?" How do we measure "great?" Is it by the income we receive? The dating relationship we're in? The car we drive? How do we measure a great year?
When I looked back at 2007, I tried to remember where I was in 2006 and where God has taken me at the end of 2007. Let me tell you boldly that it was definitely a GREAT year! And what made it great? I won't lie and say that seeing Cirque Du Solei and a Cubs game didn't help at all... But that really didn't make it a great year. The trials and lessons that brought my relationship with God to a new level is what made it an AWESOME year! So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I challenge you to take an honest look back at 2007 and examine the trials you experienced. It is important for us to ask God why He has us go through trials when He does while we are going through them. It is such a great thing to have our Almighty Creator reveal those things to you.... How convicting! How humbling!
Let's take a look at God's word in conjunction with our trials...
1Peter1:6-7 "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
I like the phrase "if necessary." God doesn't want to put us through anything if it's not necessary. And why is it necessary? How better can we share a faith that is so genuine to others both Christian and non if it is not tested by fire? Fire is very revealing as it eats away what is perishable, melting it to expose what is truly in our hearts.
1Peter4:12-13 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
The phrase "do not be surprised" leads me to believe that if I experienced some rough stuff in 2007, why should I expect 2008 to usher anything differently? I shouldn't be surprised that God is using a circumstance to teach me some priceless lesson which will help equip me for his plans for me. It's hard to rejoice when you are going through tough stuff. I don't think God expects us to be doing cartwheels and partying. Rejoicing in the one most important thing that God has given us during those times will help change our attitude to be hopeful. It will shift the focus for us to seek His wisdom and strength in those situations as we keep our eyes set upon rejoicing that Christ has died in our place so we can truly live.
James1:2-3 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
There's that "joy" word again. But look at the goodies that a trial will produce! It tests our faith and produces steadfastness:) It produces devotion and dedication! I'm all for things that are going to bring me closer to the Lord!
So 2007 was a great year because God taught me so many things! And they were revealed by going through a trial! We'll have to save the details on what I learned for in-person conversations or another blog:) Praise God for His steadfast love which endures forever! Praise God for 2007, can't wait to learn more in 2008!
Well let me start off by congratulating you first because if you are reading this blog, you must have at least survived 2007 in someway and have at least one eyeball in tact and your mind still able to process words! As much as 2007 may have not been your favorite year in hindsight, maybe it wasn't meant to be a great year. But maybe it was? What do we consider as "great?" How do we measure "great?" Is it by the income we receive? The dating relationship we're in? The car we drive? How do we measure a great year?
When I looked back at 2007, I tried to remember where I was in 2006 and where God has taken me at the end of 2007. Let me tell you boldly that it was definitely a GREAT year! And what made it great? I won't lie and say that seeing Cirque Du Solei and a Cubs game didn't help at all... But that really didn't make it a great year. The trials and lessons that brought my relationship with God to a new level is what made it an AWESOME year! So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I challenge you to take an honest look back at 2007 and examine the trials you experienced. It is important for us to ask God why He has us go through trials when He does while we are going through them. It is such a great thing to have our Almighty Creator reveal those things to you.... How convicting! How humbling!
Let's take a look at God's word in conjunction with our trials...
1Peter1:6-7 "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
I like the phrase "if necessary." God doesn't want to put us through anything if it's not necessary. And why is it necessary? How better can we share a faith that is so genuine to others both Christian and non if it is not tested by fire? Fire is very revealing as it eats away what is perishable, melting it to expose what is truly in our hearts.
1Peter4:12-13 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
The phrase "do not be surprised" leads me to believe that if I experienced some rough stuff in 2007, why should I expect 2008 to usher anything differently? I shouldn't be surprised that God is using a circumstance to teach me some priceless lesson which will help equip me for his plans for me. It's hard to rejoice when you are going through tough stuff. I don't think God expects us to be doing cartwheels and partying. Rejoicing in the one most important thing that God has given us during those times will help change our attitude to be hopeful. It will shift the focus for us to seek His wisdom and strength in those situations as we keep our eyes set upon rejoicing that Christ has died in our place so we can truly live.
James1:2-3 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
There's that "joy" word again. But look at the goodies that a trial will produce! It tests our faith and produces steadfastness:) It produces devotion and dedication! I'm all for things that are going to bring me closer to the Lord!
So 2007 was a great year because God taught me so many things! And they were revealed by going through a trial! We'll have to save the details on what I learned for in-person conversations or another blog:) Praise God for His steadfast love which endures forever! Praise God for 2007, can't wait to learn more in 2008!
Monday, November 5, 2007
2 Date or Not 2 Date...is that the real question?
A while ago, I was having dinner with a couple of my good friends/small group leader colleagues at the Olive Garden. Apon this meeting, I inquired of one of the leaders, how their small group was going. He concluded that this evening would be their first official fall meeting after the summer schedule. After revealing this information, I continued to inquire, “How did the Joshua Harris study go? Did you guys finish the book?” It was great to hear that his small group had such great evenings of discussion based upon the book, “Boy Meets Girl.” I think the book is not bad at all really from what I remember of it. And I’m sure JH’s first book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” wasn’t extremely horrible either. Maybe it was the title that really concerned people and brought some very interesting thought patterns to the Christian dating world.
I think the main thing that Harris is trying to get across in his writing is that Christ needs to be the foundation for any relationship you have with anyone. And actually, I think it goes further than that. Is Christ at the center of your own life? If He isn’t, then how do you think you would be able to go off and start dating? Is that fair to the person you could potentially down the line consider for marriage? Are you being fair to yourself or even wise if our Sovereign God is not the one steering your ship and leading you in your decision making? I think when it comes to dating the only thing we need to think about is God. Let’s not spend the focus of our days on worrying about being single all of our lives. We should be delighting in God and what He has for us now, rejoicing in what He has for our futures to come. If He is our firm foundation, our focus will be on Him.
When we are trusting in Him and relying on Him to make wise decisions, dating will be the most natural step to take with someone who is of the appropriate character. So I urge you to take God into consideration when it comes to dating and ask yourself these questions before you jump on the “single’s pity-party” bandwagon or the “gunshot” romance cruise ship. How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you constantly seeking after Him? Are you delighting in His word and meditating on it? Have you been asking the Lord to reveal any areas of your life currently that would cause strife if involved in a dating relationship or marriage? Have you been seeking God’s word to meditate on and develop your biblical role as a man or woman?
If you are having problems concentrating on God vs. concentrating on a someone you like, BOLDLY ask the Lord to take that person away from you in a way that would not cause you to stumble or distract you from something that you are creating in your mind.
I think we can only truly be content in our singleness if we are content with the Lord. If we can’t be content with the Lord, won’t it be equally hard to be content in dating, in marriage, in anything?
I think the main thing that Harris is trying to get across in his writing is that Christ needs to be the foundation for any relationship you have with anyone. And actually, I think it goes further than that. Is Christ at the center of your own life? If He isn’t, then how do you think you would be able to go off and start dating? Is that fair to the person you could potentially down the line consider for marriage? Are you being fair to yourself or even wise if our Sovereign God is not the one steering your ship and leading you in your decision making? I think when it comes to dating the only thing we need to think about is God. Let’s not spend the focus of our days on worrying about being single all of our lives. We should be delighting in God and what He has for us now, rejoicing in what He has for our futures to come. If He is our firm foundation, our focus will be on Him.
When we are trusting in Him and relying on Him to make wise decisions, dating will be the most natural step to take with someone who is of the appropriate character. So I urge you to take God into consideration when it comes to dating and ask yourself these questions before you jump on the “single’s pity-party” bandwagon or the “gunshot” romance cruise ship. How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you constantly seeking after Him? Are you delighting in His word and meditating on it? Have you been asking the Lord to reveal any areas of your life currently that would cause strife if involved in a dating relationship or marriage? Have you been seeking God’s word to meditate on and develop your biblical role as a man or woman?
If you are having problems concentrating on God vs. concentrating on a someone you like, BOLDLY ask the Lord to take that person away from you in a way that would not cause you to stumble or distract you from something that you are creating in your mind.
I think we can only truly be content in our singleness if we are content with the Lord. If we can’t be content with the Lord, won’t it be equally hard to be content in dating, in marriage, in anything?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Mending Mobile
My co-worker and longtime friend, Kim McCoy, and I are heading for a trip down South to work with Habitat for Humanity on a housing project. I will be blogging temoporarily on a special blog dedicated to this trip. Please visit it at www.mendingmobile.blogspot.com
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