Pittsburgh Marathon - May 3rd '09 - Are you in?

Do you have a goal in your life to run a marathon? Maybe a half?

I am making it a goal to run the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon on May 3rd.

I know in talking to a lot of you - some are at least interested in making the journey. The actual marathon training would start 20 weeks out from the marathon - so starting December 12th.

I'm looking (along with Pastor Moore) to get a group of people together who'd be interested in training together (mostly the long runs which usually happen on Saturday mornings.)

Even if you wanted to run the half - you could still train with us.

If this is something that interests you please let me know as soon as possible and I can start coordinating some things.

Remember - Anyone can run a marathon... if you have a desire to run one - don't miss out on this opportunity!

If you'd like to do some reading on running - I enjoy www.runnersworld.com

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Chicago Marathon: Looking Back (Part 3)

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's supper, shared their meals with great generosity-all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:44-47

I love huge events and I love being around a ton of people... it's just my personality. It energizes me and fires me up when I'm in the midst of thousands of people.I think of events like the marathon which brought 45,000 people in just to race not to mention the thousands that came to cheer on their friends and family members. I went to the Great Race this year which had 6,000 people there and the Race for the Cure which had 15,000+. I've gone to a few country concerts this summer where 40,000+ people came just to hear somebody sing a few songs.

Usually when I am at these events I'll get really quiet (even to the point where people think I'm being a jerk or thinking I'm depressed). But in fact, it's quite the opposite, in those times I just look around and watch the sea of people... knowing they came to run for a great cause, see a great show, or to be entertained. It's usually a time of dreaming for me. Dreaming of what'd it'd be like if a crowd like that gathered to worship God and to hear the Word of God. Knowing that the majority of the people I am looking at feel a void in their lives that they try to fill through so many different means. Knowing that their greatest voids and regrets in life could be spared if they'd only develop a relationship with God.

That is what pumps me up about Joel Osteens church... every week 35,000+ people come to worship God and hear the Word and get their lives changed (and their are churches like that raising up all over the US already!) I truly believe if the church will learn how to effectively reach people then it won't be long before we see stadiums all over the world filled with people worshiping God. I think we can learn a lot from the events that draw in large crowds like the Chicago Marathon:

What the church could learn from the Chicago Marathon:

VISION - The Bible says that without a vision people perish. Sadly so many churches and ministries in America just simply exist to have church every week. People will go to great lengths (run 26.2 miles and spend a ton of money!) to see a great vision fulfilled. Could the people in your church or ministry tell you why you exist and what your vision is?

EXCELLENCE - When I start to think about running this event I get stressed! Imagine closing down a city, organizing 10,000+ volunteers, and making 33,000+ runners feel like they had an experience that they'll never forget. This was the best run event I've ever seen! The runners never had to worry about anything but running the race. They were organized and efficient. If someone came to your church or ministry for the first time, would they have an experience they'd never forget?

COMMUNITY - There was a book I wanted to buy about how Nike made the running culture into what it is today. It was incredible! From the expo to leaving Chicago on Monday I felt like was in a family. Everyone was wearing their Chicago marathon gear, encouraging each other, asking where each other was from, etc.. All because they had a common purpose. It sounds a lot like the community in Acts 2:44-47 doesn't it? If we'll realize that God has called all of us to reach a generation of people ... then we need to realize that our churches need to make people feel long they belong to a family-because they do-the family of God.

LOVE - We're commanded to love people! What does that mean? When people weep, we weep with them and when they're celebrating, we celebrate with them. Basically, we walk through the journey of life with each other through the good times and bad times. Throughout the marathon, people cried together, laughed together, encouraged together, and after crossing the finish line they celebrated together. Are we doing this for the people in our lives, in our churches, and in our communities?

I know this was long... but I am sick of going to places that get thousands of people to come just to hear a song, get entertained, and leave the same way they came. I long for the day where people come together for the purpose of worshiping God, growing spiritually, and having their lives transformed.

That day will come, but only when the church will provide a compelling vision, excellence in everything they do, a sense of community, and when everything is done in love. I can't wait until I can to any city in the US and see stadiums packed with people eagerly awaiting to hear the Word of God! That fires me up!

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Chicago Marathon: Looking Back (Part 2)

Encouragement Changes Everything

“You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.”

-Jim Stovall

From 6:30 a.m. on Pastor Larry and I waited with 31,000 other people for the start of the race. The entire environment was unbelievable...31,000+ people all with one goal and one mission: to finish the 26.2 mile course. Some people were veterans trying to set personal records while others were running their first marathon determined to cross the finish line. What was amazing was when you had everyone united with the goal of finishing, suddenly you went from 31,000+ people with individual goals to a 31,000+ person team focused on encouraging one another to finish.

From before the starting line, along the whole 26.2 miles , and beyond the finish line there were thousands of fans cheering you on! In the beginning of the race I saw thousands of people with their names written in marker on their calves and arms.... I had no idea why until the race started. It was so other people can encourage them! It was amazing to me to hear the fans cheer for everyone (not just the people they came to see).

Throughout the whole race I saw churches, businesses, and families all cheering on the 31,000+ racers. It was incredible and it's amazing what just hearing things like: "YOU CAN DO IT!, "Keep going!", and "You're almost there!" can do for you when you're struggling.

This is a sign that a woman named Thanh made for Pastor Larry. She attended a summer camp PL spoke at over the summer where he put on his Nacho Libre mask. She liked it so much she made a poster for him and held it up toward the end of the race to encourage him to keep going.

Again, my favorite sign that encouraged me was around mile 22 in which a woman from a local church was holding up a sign that said, "YOU'RE ANOINTED TO FINISH". That just fired me up and really help push me those last extra miles.

So what is the lesson?

• Everyone needs encouragement!

• Encouragement can come from anybody! (You can encourage anyone!!)
  

• You never know where someone is on their journey (they may be on mile 22 ready to call it quits!) and your encouragement may be what gets them through.
  

• Encouragement is the most powerful when we're genuinely interested in someone else's dreams, goals, and desires.
  

• As Christians, we're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses throughout our entire journey....cheering us on and encouraging us to not give up because what God has for us is unbelievable if we'll just keep going!
  

Are you encouraging people? I want to challenge you to go out and encourage 5 people a day on purpose! If you'll make it a daily habit... you'll become a constant source of encouragement to everyone around you in no time.

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Chicago Marathon: Looking Back (Part 1)

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors - Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.

-Winston Churchill

Chicago Marathon: 45,000 Registered, 33,000+ started, 31,401 Finished
My Stats:

• Finished in 4:25:11
  
• Place: 11, 386
• Average Pace: 10:06
  

Well, we did it! Pastor Larry and I both crossed the finish line! The entire marathon was such an amazing event so I want to take a few days to talk to you about what the race was like, some things I leaned during the race, and what ministries can learn from the Chicago Marathon!

Today I just want to focus on one word: Victory. I love that quote by Winston Churchill! In fact, it really helped push me through in the tough times of the marathon. I had to keep telling myself Victory at all costs...at all costs...at all costs. I was absolutely fine while running for the first 18 miles, but shortly after that the temperature rose, I hit a wall, and to began thinking things like "this is so stupid, why am I doing this?" "I'll never do this again". Those last 8 miles were brutal! I remember around mile 22 there was a Christian group and one woman was holding up a sign that really pushed me through to the end. It said "You're anointed to finish!"

I think thats a huge lesson in our lives... we're anointed to finish what God has called us to do. Yes, there will be tough times, tough decisions, and we will need to keep fighting the good fight of faith. However, we need to realized that what God has called us to do, He has equipped us to do and we are anointed to finish and complete the mission that He has for us.

I remember the marker that said I have 1 mile to go. It's funny how 1 mile can seem like 5,000 miles at the end of a marathon. That last mile was a huge battle for me... I had to give it everything I had. I'll never forget when I came around the last corner and saw the finish line .2 of a mile away. I ran as hard as I could to cross that finish line. As I crossed... I almost starting weeping (there were too many people around to cry). However, the feeling that I had when I finished and they put that medal around my neck was indescribably. I had given it everything, I had conquered my goal, and came out victorious. I think Vince Lombardi said it well:

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious."

-Vince Lombardi

So my question to you is what has God called you to do that you're anointed to finish? I promise you that if you'll be faithful to that call and give it your all regardless of the circumstances that come your way... one day you'll cross the finish line and receive a reward for what you've done, and when you hear "Well done, thy good and faithful servant" . . . you'll experience a joy that can't put into words.

YOU'RE ANOINTED TO FINISH!

If you would like to see official pictures of me in the marathon click here. (They will not be completely done uploading pictures until Wednesday or Thursday.)

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Pictures from Chicago... Post Coming Soon!

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Chicago Marathon: Here we come!

I leave in the morning for Chicago and I'll be there until Monday afternoon! I am so pumped up to get away, spend the weekend in a city I've never been to, hang out with PL, and run the marathon!

If you would like to get live updates of our progress via text during the race click here.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!! Have a great weekend and I'll see you when I get back.

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The Road to Chicago (Part 4)

The Power of a Partner

"A genuine friend encourages and challenges us to live out our best thoughts, honor our purest motives, and achieve our most significant dreams."

-Dan Reiland

Another one of the big lessons I learned throughout the whole marathon training process was the power of a partner. Pastor Larry has been my mentor since I graduated high school in 2003. Since then we've done so much together and now not only is he still one of my mentors, but he is also a great friend. We decided to run this marathon together in January and we've taken the journey together over the past 10 months. I've had so many great talks with PL over our 3-4 hour long runs on Saturday mornings and I could not have done everything we've done if he had not been by my side.

If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in Heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

-Matthew 18:19,20

Is there anything more important than who we take the journey of our lives with? From family, to friends, to who we marry. You will go no further in life than the people you surround yourself with. That is an absolute fact.

So ask yourself... do you have friends, family members, and a possible significant other that encourages and challenges you to live out your best thoughts, honor your purest motives, and to achieve your most significant dreams?

If not I suggest taking the advice of one professional speaker, "My friends told me I could never be a professional communicator. So I did something about it. I went out and got some new friends."

Who are you partnering with?

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The Road to Chicago (Part 3)

The Power of a Goal

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them."

-Denis Watley

On our last run on Saturday Pastor Larry looked at me and said, "Wow man... think about the power of a goal." It really made me think...our goal of running a marathon caused us to run over 450 miles, 2 1/2 days, and spend a descent amount of money. All of that with the goal in mind to run 26.2 miles and cross the finish line.


I love the quote above by Dennis... it's an absolute fact. The larger percent of people never live their life on purpose. Sure they may plan to go to college, get a good job, and support their family (which are are awesome goals). However, it stops there with most people... they refuse to set goals and things to aim at in life only to come to the end of their lives and realize they didn't come close to reaching their potential in life or doing half the things they desired to do.

I'll probably do a whole blog series on goals, but here are how I organize/evaluate my goals in my life. I would encourage you to create a similar system in your life!

Bucket List - These are outrageous goals (like dining with the President of the Unites States, giving away $1 million in my lifetime, visit every presidential library in the world, running a marathon, flying in an air force jet etc.). I constantly am adding to this list and looking for ways to accomplish the things that I want to do.


My Life Plan - I actually just started this one and I am pumped about it! You can read about making your own Life Plan here. I got this principle from Michael Hyatt (CEO and Founder of Thomas Nelson Publishing) and it got me fired up about doing this for my life!

Quarterly Goals - I set goals one quarter at a time. I have 7 areas in which I'll set goals: Family/Marriage(one day), financial, personal growth, physical, professional, social, and spiritual. At the end of a quarter I'll take a half day out of the week and get by myself...evaluate how I measured up in those areas and then set my goals for the following quarter.

End of the Year Review - This is one of my favorite things to do each year! I'll take a ton of time in the last two weeks of the year and go through my journal, calendar, goals, etc. and evaluate my whole year. How I spent my time, what goals I accomplished, etc. and then based off that I'll figure out how I need to spend my time in the next year, who I want to spend it with, what I want to accomplish, what I need to work on, etc..

Again, I'll do a whole weeks worth of posts explaining what I do during these times, but I thought it might help you.

If I learned anything through marathon training it is the power of having a goal (something to shoot for) and the importance of setting them constantly in my life so I can live everyday on purpose and I'll constantly be achieving and setting new things to shoot at in my life.

If you have goals in your life.... the discipline to see them through will come with it!

"Discipline is remembering what you want(your goals!)." -David Campbell

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The Road to Chicago (Part 2)

"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret."

-Jim Rohn

One of the greatest lessons I learned while training for the marathon was the power of discipline. Hearing that alarm go off at 6 a.m. and throwing on your running shoes to go out and run x number of miles, to keep running when you'd rather be in bed or at Starbucks, to not take shortcuts, and the discipline it takes to finish strong.

"Discipline is the Bridge between Goals and Accomplishments." -Jim Rohn

I used to be the most undisciplined and lazy person you could of laid eyes on. I wouldn't even take my dishes from the table to the dishwasher after dinner! Then I got out of high school and had my first novel thought, "In order to get something, I have to do something". I'm serious...it was a huge revelation. I remember visiting my friend James apartment and I saw his wardrobe and I wanted it... he told me...man I worked very hard to buy all of those clothes. At this point, I realized that if I wanted in something in life that I'd have to pay a price! John Maxwell changed my life when he said you have two options in life:

"You can either pay now and play later or you can play now and pay later. Either way you'll Pay!" -John Maxwell

Up until that point in my life I had always played... never knowing life demands a payment. From that moment on I decided that I would write out all of my goals, dreams, and ambitions in life and then discover the price it costs to pay to see them come to pass. I've been paying the price ever since so I can accomplish everything God put in my heart to do.

So how do I live a life of discipline? By discovering the price of my dream (whether it's a marathon, personal growth, financial, in ministry, etc.) and going after it with everything in me. Knowing that if I'll have the self discipline to do what I need to day in and day out, that I'll see all of my dreams come to pass. Remember, "The secret of your success will always be found in your daily agenda." Dave Campbell was right when he said:

"Discipline is remembering what you want." -David Campbell

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The Road to Chicago (Part 1)

A Marathon...26.2 Miles???....You're Insane!

On Friday, I'll be leaving for Chicago and on Sunday I'll be running my first marathon! I am really excited! If you would have told me 5 years ago that I'd be running a marathon (in my lifetime let alone 5 years from then) I would have laughed in your face.

However, over the last 5 years my life has changed dramatically (You can check out my posts on 5 years changes everything). Over the years I've developed my own "Bucket List" of things I want to do before I die. One of them is to run a marathon! I began running when I got out of high school to lose weight. I got up to running 5 miles consistently never breaking that barrier. This year, Pastor Larry ran the Disney marathon and I decided I wanted to run one this year! PL said, "Yea baby... let's do it!" We started looking for marathons and decided on Chicago!

That was in January of this year. We laid out a 20-week training plan together that we would start in May 2008. We started running in March.... since then we've:

• Run over 481 miles

• Put in over 2 1/2 days worth of running

• Spent a few hundred dollars on shoes, gels, hotel rooms, flights, etc.
  

When I think about that... all that for one race that will last less than a few hours. All of that to run a 26.2 mile race and cross the finish line. All of that with nobody patting you on the back, cheering you on, or anything of that nature.

Over the course of this week I want to talk about lessons that I've learned in training for a marathon. It's been a long, but exciting journey. I hope the lessons I've learned through this experience will add value to your life.

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Putting in the Miles (Part 4)

Be Still and Know

So I am exactly 28 days out from the Chicago Marathon and I just finished my first 20 mile run and finished in 3:14:24 which is roughly a 9:45 mile. As I said before, I'll post updates about things I'm learning throughout the whole experience that I hope can help you.

Pastor Moore, who has been giving me tons of practical advice when it comes to running a marathon told me that toward the end the most important things will be what I eat and how much rest I get. To say it simply, I've found that to be a fact. I don't have a problem on the eating side, for me, it's taking time to rest.

I've really realized in my walk with God that so much of my relationship with him depends on:

• What I eat
• How much time I spend resting in His presence
  

Again, for me . . . I have no problem getting in the word, reading books, listening to sermons, etc..(Eating). For me, it's taking time to wait on Him. In the Word, God says, Be still and know that I am God. He tells Moses on top of the mountain to just be. I constantly have to ask myself, am I too busy to spend time resting in Him? I know if I am, that in the end, I won't have the outcomes I am hoping for.

So Ask Yourself:

Are you eating right? (Getting in the word, reading books, listening to sermons)

Are you taking time to rest? (Spending time just waiting on God, praying, just ... being)

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Putting in the Miles (Part 3)

Both Life and Ministry are a Marathon, Not a Sprint

In a few hours I am going to be running my first 18 mile run with Pastor Larry. When I actually think about that...it's insane!

As you know I'm training for the Chicago Marathon on October 12th, 2008. As of today that is 49 days away! We've been training since March, so it has been quite the journey and I am pumped about it!

This is going to be my third installment of lessons I'm learning while training for the Marathon. I just want to focus on one thing I've been learning in life and ministry and that is: Life and Ministry are a Marathon, not a Sprint. Here are just a few thoughts concerning this:

• So many times we want to be in a season we're not ready for or equipped for yet

• The best thing about the future is that it happens one day at a time, so if I can just handle today right, my tomorrow's will turn out how I want them to.

• Tomorrow is the scorecard on how you handled today

• The Secret of my success is always found in my daily agenda

I guess what I'm learning is that I can only do so much in a single day. There will always be more I could do, there will always be more work, and if I don't see the big picture I'll get buried and miss out on so much of what life is really has to offer. However, if I do the best I can each day with the time I have, when the day I've been waiting for comes, I'll be ready.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "I will prepare, and one day my chance will come."

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Putting in the Miles (Part 2)

As most of you know I'm training for the Chicago Marathon in October with Pastor Larry. It's been an amazing experience so far. I've run nearly 300 miles since March! Insane! Anyway... I said I'd keep you posted with some lessons I'm learning along the way.

• Both life and success are both a marathon as well as a journey, not a sprint or a destination.
  

• Motivation to do anything in life will never strike you like lightning... just do it and the motivation will come.
  

• In training for a marathon, I've realized that the 6-7 months you spend training, no one is there patting you on the back for all your hard work or pushing you to run harder. It is often the same in life and ministry... they can both be "thankless" jobs, but that is why we find our worth and affirmation in God!

Just some thoughts.... learning so much... I'll have a volume of sermons after October!!

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Putting in the Miles

One of my life goals is to run a marathon. In January of this year, one of my mentors (Larry Bettencourt) finished his first marathon and this inspired me to make the decision to run my first this year. Pastor Larry and I decided that we'd run the Chicago Marathon together in October.

I started running in March and started our actual marathon training in May. Today I just finished my first 12 mile run. 12 miles...I've put in over 200 this year! Considering in high school I couldn't finish nor was I at all interested in finishing one mile...I'm even impressed!

Pastor Moore, who is training for his 3rd marathon told me that through my marathon train I would get a lot of sermon illustrations and life lessons. I'm sure I'll have a lot more... but here is one that's been building up in me.

Saturdays are our big runs... this is the day we generally increase in mileage each week... I've gone from 4 to 6 to 8 to 10 to 12. These days are what people call "putting in the mile days". You don't pay attention to your pace... you just run nice and slow and the whole point is to just break through physical barriers so your body can adjust.

I think where most people miss it in life is that they don't "put in the miles' they're supposed to put in. I've had several youth pastors (with experience) ask me how I got on staff at Victory. Honestly... I put in the miles. I often think that if I were a student out of Bible School and applied to work there... I wouldn't have a prayer, but I've been serving in this ministry for going on 6 years, I went to every service I could, helped out as often and anywhere I could, always went the extra mile, and went out of my way to look for ways to learn, serve, get mentored, etc.

When I suggest people pick up a second job and go to a larger church and just spend time serving there and learning the culture of a big church . . . I find that few people are willing to put in those miles... and that is why few people will ever accomplish what God has put in there hearts... they're not willing to stick it out and constantly day in and day out put in the mileage.

I could go on... but I don't like long blogs... I need to get better at this... more on the marathon and more lessons to come!

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