To the Class of 2013

Some interesting advice... to the class of 2013:





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Tornado Relief - Moore, OK

As I sat and watched the coverage coming from Moore, OK, yesterday, I felt what most of you likely felt:
   -sadness
   -shock
   -an overwhelming desire to help.

But what could I do to help?

I was thrilled and excited when the topic of discussion came up this morning in staff meeting... what could North Terrace do to help?  As we kicked ideas around, it was suggested that we encourage folks from North Terrace (or anyone really) to purchase $25 gift cards for Walmart and then we would donate them to a church in the area.

We picked Walmart for a couple of reasons.

1. They are easy to pick up (three locations in Zanesville counting Sam's Club).  
2. You can use them at any Walmart... and let's face it, Walmart is everywhere.  
3. You can purchase anything at Walmart.  Physical needs, toiletries, food, clothing, bottled water, construction supplies... just about anything.  

So, I phoned a small church of about 50 people in Moore, OK... Community Christian Church to see if we could help them out.  I was surprised that the pastor, Bill, answered the phone.  Bill was overwhelmed with phone calls this morning from around the country today wanting to help out but answered my call because the caller i.d. said "Jim Clark."  They have a "Jim Clark" that attends their church and he assumed it was him.  He was excited that we had a tangible, simple plan to help them out.

Their church, Community Christian Church, is about 1/2 a mile from the path of the tornado.  Luckily, the church received no damage from the tornado and none of their members were impacted directly.  But there are many in their community and circle of influence who need help.

So North Terrace is mobilizing a 2-week drive (concluding on June 2nd) to collect Walmart cards for CCC in Moore, OK.  If you would like to help out, there is more information on our church's Facebook page.  I'm excited to be a part of something simple and effective to help those in need!

JC


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Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day:




JC

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I know...

I've been a bad blogger...



I'm sorry...
I'll admit it.



But I'm not sure it's going to change in the near future... I've just been busy...

Sorry...

Here are a couple of quick hits:

• I'm still running... no current race on the calendar... just running... 
• Myles is amazing!  I love spending time with them and watching him learn and grow and discover things (like his hands).  My wife is such an amazing mom! 
• North Terrace is starting into a lead minister transition.  This is awesome and will lead to some great things for our church!
• I'm coaching track again this year... today is the next to last practice (tomorrow is last).
• Youth Ministry is beginning it's shift to summer programming... 
• I'm busy... and running on pure Starbucks some days... 
• Iron Man 3 was awesome!  

Have a good day!

JC

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Boston Marathon

I have made no secret of the fact that as a runner, I want to run the Boston Marathon.

In light of Monday's tragedy, that has not changed.

I was sitting on my couch, waiting to go for a run with my wife, when the headlines began to come across my iPad as to what was unfolding in Boston.  Immediately, I began looking for report of what was occurring.  I had watched the majority of women's race and about half of the men's race and actively followed the races on Twitter until the conclusion of the elites.

The point at which the bombs went off is my favorite part of the marathon experience... watching the average runners finishing.  The TV crews don't care about that part... but watching the weekend warriors finish is a humbling part of being a runner.  Watching the weekend warriors, who have jobs, families, responsibilities, hobbies and still have time to devote to running, thrills me!

As I sat and watched the news coverage... a range of emotions welled up in me...

• shock
• disbelief
• horror
• anger
• concern
• passion
• rage
• sadness
• questioning

I went out for my 6 mile run on Monday with these thoughts in my head (and ran the fastest 10k that I have run in a while).  As I ran, I thought: "I will run the Boston Marathon."  

And I will.  

Some runners never resolve to do that.  Someday, I will.  The events of Monday haven't shaken my resolve or determination to have a Boston Marathon jacket of my own.  

As I have watched the running community over the past few days... a variety of thoughts have crossed my mind...

• pride
• determination
• strength
• support
• resolve
• encouragement
• will

The running community is an extremely supportive community... more supportive than any other sport's community that I'm aware of.  Groups have popped up on Facebook and Daily Mile... Banners have shown up on Garmin's website and others.  Folks are "running miles for Boston" and dedicating their upcoming marathons, half-marathons, 10k's, 5k's and trips around the block to those who suffered on Monday in Boston.  They have changed their Facebook profile pictures and Twitter pics.  That is determination and support!  

I'm glad to be a part of the running community!  I'm praying for those affected in Boston!  

JC

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The Story - Chapter 12 - Bored...

I stood in the kitchen... Gazing into the refrigerator with the door hanging wide open.

I really wasn't hungry...
I was bored.

Ever been there?

Most of the trouble I got into as a kid I got into because I was bored.  We got bored playing in the field beside Grandma and Grandpa's house... and the creek was just right there... We got bored going around the block on our bikes... so we crossed the street...  We got bored with merely throwing the ball back and forth... what fun it would be to kick it...

Bored.

So I settled on a cheese stick (that I didn't need) and closed the refrigerator door and walked away... 80 calories to fill a hole in my mind that calories from a cheese stick couldn't fill.

I have often thought that was what led David into one of his biggest blunders in the Bible.  "In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 11:1 NLT. 

In our day and age of instant communication, it would be odd for the President of the United States to be in the battlefield with the troops.  But in David's day, that was where David should have been... "when kings normally go off to war..."  But where was David...?  "staying behind in Jerusalem..."

Bored.  

And what is waiting for David in his boredom?  Sin.  "Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath." 2 Samuel 11:2 NLT. 

Bored. 

Ever been there? 

• Done checking my email, Facebook, Twitter... Just a couple of taps to that one website...
• Kissing and handing hands just isn't enough anymore... what if we...
• My relationship with my wife doesn't have the same fire... but this lady at work... 
• We've run out of things to talk about from our day... so we begin to gossip about that one girl... 
• Nothing is on TV... flipping through the channels... oh, this looks interesting... 

Bored.  

If only David would have remembered God's words to Cain in Genesis 4:7... "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."


Be careful of the open refrigerator door.  That cheese stick won't help.  Boredom has a way of increasing your waistline and capturing you in something you never intended to be in in the first place. 

JC 

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He is Risen! - Happy Easter!

Matthew 28:5-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you."

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