Thursday, June 30, 2011

SITS #3














Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Friday, June 24, 2011

Daily Read June 24, 2011

The Greatest Commandment
 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Daily Read June 23, 2011

25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Working the training... Air Force Full Marathon



I'm in my 5th week of training for my first full marathon... the Air Force Marathon on September 17th in Dayton, Ohio. 

So far... training is going well (knock on wood). Just after starting this cycle, I decided to switch plans.  Up until a few weeks ago, I used Runner's World's Smart Coach as my guide for my training.  For my Flying Pig training, I was training four days a week, which I really liked.  As I started this cycle, they pushed me back to three days a week.  I wanted more.  


So I began to ask around.  Almost unanimously most marathoners that I talked with recommended Hal Higdon's plans.  I browsed around and after a little tweaking, I landed on Intermediate I.  And I like it.  I'm running five days a week (not on Sundays or Wednesdays due to church obligations) and feeling pretty good.  


I'm in my 2nd slow down week currently... prepping for my first longer than 13 mile run... next weekend at 14 miles.  And I feel good.  I know that every day... except big church days... is a run day.  It's part of my thinking for the day.  Tomorrow morning, I'll run.  Friday morning, I'll run.  Yesterday morning, I ran.  It's part of my day... I don't have to think about it.


Lesson for runners: Listen to your body.  I've had a few aches and pains, which are normal.  I've had a few bad runs, again normal.  But overall, I feel ready to run every time I lace up my running shoes.  And I'm feeling like I'm building a solid base (at the height of training, I'll have two 43 mile weeks).  I think and hope that I will be ready for my race 86 days from now.  


I would invite you to participate... but as you'll see from their website, the marathon and half marathon are both sold out! 


Jim



Adorable Kitten for Adoption!



Jackie and I rescued this little guy the other night.

A storm came through Caldwell about 5:30 pm, just as we were getting ready to head out for a run.  We prepped dinner and after the storm went through, we headed out for a run.  Jackie went one way... I went a different.  When she came home, she was talking about hearing a kitten crying loudly. 

So... we went... took some ham and found the little guy.  He (we're assuming) was cold... wet... hungry... thirsty... and very lonely.

He acts like he used to belong to someone.  He is very friendly... purrs very loudly.  Wants to play and be petted.  He is also litter trained.  We've put up some posters, hoping that if he used to belong to someone they will come forward.  At this point, nothing. 

So, we are working to find him a "forever home."  If you are local to Zanesville, Caldwell or Cambridge and would like to consider adopting him into your life and home, contact me either via phone (which you'll have to know because I'm not going to post it here) or Facebook

We're trying to find a home for this little guy.  Help us... if you are interested.  If you know of someone who is looking for an awesome little kitten, pass this along to them. 

Jim

Monday, June 20, 2011

Daily Read June 20, 2011

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.  14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Daily Read June 19, 2011

   12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.


Saturday, June 18, 2011

Daily Read June 18, 2011

9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
   Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
   Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”


Friday, June 17, 2011

Daily Read June 17, 2011

 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Daily Read June 16, 2011

 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
   28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Daily Read June 15, 2011


 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
   15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Daily Read June 14, 2011


   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”



Monday, June 13, 2011

Daily Read June 13, 2011

  35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”



Sunday, June 12, 2011

Daily Read June 12, 2011

The Calling of Matthew
 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.“Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”



Saturday, June 11, 2011

Daily Read June 11, 2011

 1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’


Friday, June 10, 2011

Daily Read June 10, 2011

David Builds an Altar
 18 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. 20 When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
 21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
   “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”
 22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
 24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
   So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.



Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Daily Read June 8, 2011

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

   13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
   14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Wave At the Bus

I heard about THIS this morning on the radio...

The short story:
A creative dad (pictured in the wedding dress) realized that after the bus picked up his (then 15 year old) son, it made a loop and circled back past the house.  So he decided to wait and wave.  This, of course, embarrassed his son... which only encouraged his dad. 

Every day for the rest of the year, his dad found a creative costume to dress up in and wave... Seriously, some of these are really creative... pirates, wedding dresses, Michael Jackson, a giant chicken, Ariel the mermaid, a soccer goalie, batgirl, and even Terry Potter... just to name a few from the end of the stunt.

But for 170 days, his dad dressed up in order to have some fun with his son.  That's pretty cool. 

Sometimes it's difficult for parents to connect with their kids... especially their teenage kids.  This dad found a way and made a memory.  I will guarantee, his son will never forget. 

What creative ways are you using to connect with your teenager(s)?

Jim

Daily Read June 7, 2011

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.  21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


Monday, June 06, 2011

Daily Read June 6, 2011

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”