Well in my last post I had some friends make the statement that if I tried five fingers it would change me. Well there is not a day I can’t wait to get off work and put on my five fingers. Even if I run in my other minimalist shoes I still put them on after the run. So like those shoes but better when you allow Christ control of your life it changes you. No you don’t get taller or a better stride but it changes you. Your mindset changes, what you once maybe read or watched on tv doesn’t seem right because it is against Christ and your mindset is changing through allowing Christ control and bible study to that of Christ. You are also changed by the fact that after allowing Christ control you will have eternal life with Him in heaven and not be sentenced to death in Hell. That’s a biggie you are changed. Wearing five fingers everybody looks and question in some way. It opens many opportunities to talk to others you get to a point where you know it’s coming. You kind of can’t wait until it does so you wear them
in the strangest places. I wore mine to a wedding once with a black suit . As. Christians you have to be looking for the chances to share your faith, and we should be excited to at anytime. So they change you yea both do , but if you are going to pick just one pick Christ the change is better and more exciting.
Five Finger shoes and Christianity part II
Five Fingers Shoes and Christianity part 1
Five Finger shoes what is that you may be asking. Well they are a minimalist shoe designed for a more natural feel. In other words you feel like you are walking around barefoot. I will never forget the 1st time I saw some friends of mine wearing them. I think I made the statement to my wife that those were the most ridiculous shoes(if you can call them that) I have ever seen. Why would someone to that to there feet (those who know me are more than likely laughing).
Well for some reason I could not get those shoes out of my mind. My friends swore
about them and how comfortable they were, and if i ever tried them I would be changed forever. So I looked into them and did some research on them. I found out that those who went to a more natural way of running we’re less likely to get hurt. So that sold the shoe to me due to the fact that every time I got into high mileage I would get hurt. So I bought a pair, since I have ran a 5k, 8 mile and numerous training miles in my five fingers. I just completed my 1st half marathon not in my five fingers but in another minimalist shoe. So I am sold.
I know you are thinking what does that have to do with Christianity. Well i am getting there. Those shoes felt so good that I started wearing them everywhere I could. Every where I went people would turn and stare and then question my shoes. I will never forget the 1st time I wore them to church and the looks and commits I got which were all taking in good humor. People just couldn’t believe they were shoes because they looked so different. I also started running with a local club and they just couldn’t believe someone would run in them. Man did they question me about those shoes because they were different. So I decided I needed to be able to explain my craziness. To this day people will stop me and ask about my shoes some smile and look at me like no I don’t think so, but some consider the change.
As Christians we are called to be different, to have a different mindset. Is that who you are in Christ are you different from the world due to your relationship with Christ or are you like the normal running shoe and no different just a little more cushion or comfort. As Christians people are suppose to see something different in us due to Jesus. Is it there in you. Some may just look at you and smile and say to themselves he/she is crazy. Well if I am going to be crazy why. Of be crazy for Christ!!! Some will look at you and question you about it. Are you ready and willing to share?? Think about it.
Safety
Today Noah and I took our dog to a dog park today. Let me tell you it was an adventure. We were there for about 5min and she broke out. My dog is the only dog I know that would escape from a safe fenced in place with all the toys you could play with. It took us 10 min to catch her which with our dog is not an easy task.
You know we as Christians should have some of that crazy dog mentality. We can get to comfortable in our church bubbles if we are not careful. Christ did not call us to be bubble people he called us to go out and to share the gospel with all nations. It is time that we as Christian stop doing thing as the past would call normal and get out of the bubble and safety of our church where or needs are met and start crazily sharing the gospel no matter the cost. Join the journey!
Things to think about
Well let me start by saying merry Christmas. You know we all should stop and remember what the holiday is all about. I am one of the crazy people that do last min shopping on the couple of days before Christmas, as I was our the other day I was amazed at how many people seem to have forgot or has never heard the true meaning of Christmas. This is a time to be happy about the birth of Christ. You know there are more people worried about what there going to get or get someone it seems than showing the true meaning of Christmas. We as Christ followers/ Christians should be the first to show Christ. I had a teen ask me why did so many people turn from the church since sept 11. This what I told her there was a big increase of people looking for truth after sept 11 and some church’s saw an increase of people looking for God but after al while as we know the church saw a decline. Why because the people got the same thing at church that caused most of them to leave in the frost place. What is that you might say well how about that legalistic christianity that is no
Way biblical, how about those people who clam to be Christians being so judgmental and hypocritical of them, how about that you fit into our mold because we have always been this way and we are not going to change mentality that most church I have been around have. Maybe they saw and realized they did need another club they wanted something bigger and because we as Christians were not prepared we missed it. So the question I am going to leave you with is do the people you come across daily the people you talk to and interact with do they see Christ in you or do they see you.
Super heros
Right know in our house if you were to come visit you would be greeted by spider man. Yea spidie is at our house all the time. It’s kind of funny that the people in the neighborhood know us as the parents of spiderman. I got to thinking how when I was a child my favorite hero was superman. Yea I had the cape and wore a lot. It’s funny how we as little kids look to superheroes, we just want to have the ability to help others. When do we lose that? You and I know that thousands of people went out shopping today to get the best sales ever and I would say most was bought for ourselves not others. How many stopped today and help someone instead of being so self absorbed to care? Well you and I who claim to be Christians are suppose to a represent Christ. We should look at this like a child wanting to be like there favorite super hero. We should want to be as much like Christ as possible. After all he is the greatest superhero ever, there is not another that holds a candle to Him. So go out and be as much like Christ as possible.
The light
Ever since the time change I have had to run in the dark two times a week. This is kind of cool because I have been running trails and roads with a headlamp and flashlight. This also makes Sat long run look really good because I get to do those during the day time:)
Tonight as I was running I got to thinking how our Christian walk is like my running in the dark. We are surrounded by darkness so dark you can not see 4 ft away from the light. However as long as we stay in the light we can keep on the right trail, path or road. As Christians we are surrounded by darkness, but as long as we are focused on the light of Christ we can keep going with out getting lost in the night. Some times our light gets dim and we have a hard time seeing were we are to go just like running on trails in the dark with just a head lamp. It is so easy to lose the trail because you are so focused on the path right in front of you you dont look for the trail signs. We get that way in our walks with Christ we get so focused on where we are and how things are going on right around us that we forget sometimes to look for the obvious directions from God.
We all need to remember that its the narrow path that leads to Christ and that we need to stay in the light to follow that path.
Paddle Boarding
I had the opportunity to go paddle boarding while on vacation. I had never done this before and I got to do it twice. The first time was on the river and the second in the ocean. The 1st time I went with Three Brothers boards, while we were paddling RJ said look a manatee so I paddle over to see and as I got close He paddled off and said it is not a manatee. I looked and it looked like Shark. That day the wind got pretty bad so it made the 1st time more difficult. Well that day I did not fall and had a blast.
You know we should look at Sin the same way RJ looked at the shark. We Should paddle/ RUN away from it not play around it.
The second time like stated earlier was in the ocean and I went on this trip with the hotel we were staying in. This group was not as professional as Three Brothers. He taught us for what seemed 10 min. about how to paddle and how to stand on the board ( totally different from what I was taught earlier that week). So he tell us to all grab a board and go into the water. I reached and picked up the board and turned it over and it was PINK really PINK. So we got out in the ocean and our guide started to SHOW us how to do it. Well his 1st stroke and he fell right off his board. It was all I could do to not laugh. Well after an hour I got tired and went back in. While I was out there it was so much different from the river due to the waves and wind but it was still amazing.
We have to be careful as Christians to got get big-headed like the guide I had on the second trip and think we know it all. We will never totally understand everything about God, and I think that is wonderful. What good would God be if I could understand Him completely. Let me just say He would not be very big, and my God is BIG. Think about it
Random Thoughts
Well it has been a while since my last post. This last week My family went on vacation at Ormond Beach Fl. While we were there we went to church at Beach side church. The pastor was teaching threw the book of ACTS. He made a statement to not let your past dictate your future. That God could use you no matter what if you allow him.
Also while we were there I got to watch our little guy try new things. He went boogie boarding for the 1st time. He was so nervous and uncomfortable but he tried it any way and loved it. You know we are that way sometimes with God. He wants us to try or do something new/different but we say man that make me very uneasy I am not doing it maybe He will ask someone else and we leave it there. Image what would happen if we would have just tried it. It may have been the greatness most enjoyable thing we have ever done. Don’t be hesitant with what God wants you to do no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.
What we as Christians can learn form Children
Over the past couple of months I have been watching my son and how he interacts with other children. It does not matter if we take him to Micky D’s or the christian chicken he does not meet a stranger. He will play with anyone close to his age and talk to them as he as know them forever. He is so funny because when you tell him it is time to go he does not want to leave his BEST friends. Man does he bond quick. He was a workout class this week and a little girl was upset because her mom went outside and he sat next to her and held her hand and told her it was OK her mom would be back. If there is a baby crying in any store we are in he wants to know what happened and how he can help. Man can we learn from this we as Christians should have the same mindset. I have hear so many Christians say they cant and wont share the gospel because they just feel uncomfortable talking to people. We should have the mindset of a child and look at it as not meeting a stranger but being able to make a life long friend and tell them about Christ. So we can share eternity with them. We should be concerned about others just like my little guy. We should be happy when people are happy, and sad when people are sad. Thing about how often do you share the gospel or how often are you concerned about a stranger.
Christian strides
I have been running with some people in our church after meetings on Wed and Sun nights. This last sun our group grew by 1 &1/2. As we were running I got to thinking. Dangerous I know. We had two out front , then me pushing my little guy in a stroller, and then another and I got to thinking how our running and the Christian walk is kinda a like. The two up front trudging on to reach their goal one working a little harder than the other it seemed, but both helping each other to the end. Me and my little one being like the Christian who helps guide and push the younger newer Christian in the right path. The the last one is like the Christian who is struggling to hold on who is going through tough times, but still holding on. Having to walk a little because it is so hard , but they keep on going toward the goal. They still put in as much effort as the others. Were are you right now because we all go through all the stages. Think about it. If you would like to come run with us come ahead.
