Running away...we need some rejuvenation

Thank you Frankie Beverly and Maze for today's title.

…let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

I went down to watch the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I have 2 friends racing, for each of them it was their first time. One was running; one was walking; both finished with big smiles. 13.1 miles is a long way and it was an encouragement to me to watch all of the runners of all shapes, sizes colors, push themselves to run 13.1 miles. From the fast to the slow, they are all to be commended.

Training and preparing mentally for a race translates into what we must do to grow closer to God. You can’t ramp up too fast or you get injured; if you have no discipline, no base by training, the race will be hard, a suffer fest. Perhaps this is why Paul chose this analogy.

This is day 6 of my Daniel Fast. I don’t miss meat as much as I thought I would. I do really miss coffee. I thank God that I was in trial all week; it distracted me. I must say, that I am actually eating better than I normally eat. I have to plan and cook in order to make this work. I have opened my mind to new recipes and new ways of thinking about food. I thought I would never, ever, live without meat. But now I think I could go meatless 5 days out of 7. Eating all these vegetables, fruits and nuts also has a cleansing affect, on Wednesday I had some gastro distress. I didn’t even want to be in the room with me. But, there was a situation every single day that made me want to slap the taste out of someone's mouth...I had to pray for God to take my hand, still my tongue. But I lost it a couple times on cross examination of 2 separate witnesses...Do you understand the words that are coming from my mouth??? For the love of God and of time, please just answer the questions!

I have dedicated this fast to the praying for our young people. But as I was planning out my year, God spoke to me about my finances and about discipline. The same discipline that I use to train and to fast, I need it in my finances. The borrower is a slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7 )It was one of my goals to become debt free, but it is becoming increasing clear that the country is in a recession, prices are going through the rough, and a little discipline in the money area is not a bad thing. Saving money and living simply, is a reachable goal. So I cut out all but basic cable. The shows are in reruns because of the strike, most of the shows I like are available on line. I discontinued my subscriptions to Blockbuster and Net Flix. The library has a decent collection of DVDs to rent for free. I am committed to taking the bus 3 days a week. I already take my lunch and now make my dinners. Instead of endless shopping, I take a walk. I feel with these measures I'm making progress toward my goal.

Part of the fast is refraining from secular T.V. So I got a couple of DVDs from the library on the history of Christianity and on Jesus. I have always wanted to study religion, and this is the lazy person's way, watching a DVD, Christianity, the First 1000 Years and I check out the Second 1000 Years today.