"Lessons Learned from the Challenge Family 70.3 Race"

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2)."

   In life, there are a few basic questions that men, at one time or another will ask themselves. Who am I? How did I get here? Where am I going? How do I get there? These are questions, if we’re honest, all have contemplated. I know for myself, I began thinking about these very questions early in life. However, I was told only to "believe" or "you’re not supposed to ask those type of questions." God's Word has the answers to these questions that man seeks for his life. By the way, the truth is never afraid of questions! (Thanks Chris via Frank for this quote. I like it a lot.).

Therefore, the past three years, I have been on a journey in seeking to live out the answers to those questions, which God has revealed to me through His Word by taking better care of my temple (1 Cor.6:19-20). This journey started out with walking once or twice a week three years ago. Now, it has ALMOST come full circle with me completing my first ever 70.3 mile Challenge Family race in Knoxville, TN. If you would have told me three years ago I would be competing in a 70.3 endurance race, I would have told you that you had lost your mind! But, that's exactly what took place yesterday. 

Me at 290 and Me at 190

     My family, including my mother, arrived in Knoxville late Friday evening to get checked in to our hotel and pick up my race packet. While trying to find transition, Dylan, my youngest son, wanted to sign up for the one-mile Glow Run. So, we hung around the festivities and cheered him on in his race. Afterwards, we went back to the room where we hunkered down for the night and slept like a champ.    

Dylan getting ready for the Glow Run

     Saturday morning after breakfast, I met Brian Sarapin to pick up my new Borden Dental race kit. He jumped in with me and we headed to the University of Tennessee Row Boat House where we were able to practice our swim in the Tennessee River. It was a perfect time to get instructed on the wet suit, since I have never wore one, nor swam in one. Big kudos to Brian! He was a huge help, not only in letting me use the wet suit, but in instructing me how to put it on and making sure it fit properly. The water temperature was perfect at a cozy 72 degrees. We did a warm up swim to the first buoy, then to the second one, then back to the pier. After the practice swim, I went for a 10 minute run with a few strides to loosen up the legs. Then afterwards, I took the QR out for a 10 minute stroll, making sure all my gears changed properly and placed it into transition. At 4:00, there was a mandatory athlete meeting discussing the rules, road hazards, and penalties.

    After the meeting, we headed back to the hotel to rest, while my wife and mother took my boys to watch the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State play baseball. This was a perfect set up that allowed me to get about a 45 minute nap before dinner. When they arrived back from the game, we got ready and headed to Market Square. This was a very interesting venue in downtown Knoxville that was made up of all types of people and restaurants. We ended up having dinner at the Blue Coast Bar and Grill where I ate an all natural steak and chicken burrito. Perfect fuel for a 70.3 race. Right?

Family at UT & Miss.St. game

Family at pre-race meal

Saturday night, I was told I would probably not sleep very well. However, I slept like a baby, to the point that I woke up about 30 minutes later than I wanted to for the race. Once awake, I scurried around eating my 2 bananas, 2 tablespoons of all natural Jiff peanut butter, and a cup of coffee for breakfast.  I was ready to race. I took my sidekick (and future triathlete), Dylan, who wanted to go with me to transition. He is a great help in keeping my head straight. I made it to transition at 6:30 with my wave set to leave at 7:10. After I got all my things laid out for the race, I borrowed a bike pump, gave my tires a quick pump or two, put on the wet suit, and off to the water I went. Where we started our swim was about a half-mile walk from transition.

Headed to the swim

    After arriving to the dock where we were to jump in to begin our swim, I saw a lot of orange swim caps. As 7:10 began to approach, I felt my nervous energy starting to take over. I started asking myself, "Can I swim this far?" "What if I drown?" "The water is choppy!" We were to swim approximately a half a mile up the river, make our turn, and swim the remainder of the course down with the current. But, the announcer called for my age group with only 2 minutes before we were to start (they said we would have 5 minutes, but we didn't). The next thing I know, 10,9,8,7,6...3,2,1 and the horn sounded and off I went. I was surprised I didn't get kicked or hit anymore than I did. For the first 200-300 yards, it was a mess trying to figure out what I was doing. I also figured out that swimming in the open water is totally different than the pool. My normal stroke to breath pace in the pool was breathe every 3 strokes, but I found myself breathing to my right side every two strokes and sighting every 10 strokes. After getting into the groove with my breathing and stroke pattern, things seem to settle down and I just began to swim. I thought to myself around three quarters of a mile that I really enjoyed swimming, even in the Tennessee River in the rain. (I was actually having the time of my life). OK. Back to the race. One major mistake I made was swimming too wide once around the turn buoys. At this point, my googles were fogging up and it began to rain pretty steadily. At this point, I started turning toward the sight buoys for a straighter line and a better shot at getting out of the water faster. After reaching the pier and coming out of the water, I got to catch a glimpse of my wife, Dylan, and mother cheering for me coming through the boat house to transition. 

T1

         Once into T1, I grabbed my gear for the ride while asking myself, “Should I carry the sunglasses since it is raining?” I went with the sunglasses, even though the sun was not out. After crossing the mounting line and getting clipped-in, I went to peddle, but my chain had come off. So, I had to play mechanic and was able to get it back on quickly. As I started the ride, it was sprinkling and roads were wet and slippery, but I wanted to concentrate on my race while riding cautiously.

Representing Borden Dental Racing

 Beginning the ride, I felt good reminding myself of riding 30 minutes aero before turning up the notches. The bike course was very sporty with a lot of rain, turns, hills, roller—and did I mention slippery roads? Around mile 10, I saw the aftermath of a serious wreck with an athlete holding a bloody and cut up right arm in a lot of pain. Not much later, I was passed by a speeding ambulance in pursuit to care for the athlete. During this time, I missed the first water station, as it was right after a right hand turn, which made it hard for this rookie to grab while turning. However, I had around 900 calories of Infinit in the bottle on the aero bars, which helped fuel me through my ride. Around mile 25, the bottom fell out and it was a pretty torrential downpour. At this point, I was glad I brought my sunglasses. The glasses helped block the pouring rain from getting in my eyes. Through the rain, I was doing my thing, riding my race and keeping it at an easy pace. Mile 45-55 proved to be a challenge, as there was quite a bit of climbing. Not long after the climb the championship, race riders intersected back with the halfers. I caught myself pushing on the pedals a little harder when there began to be more traffic (for some reason?). Climbing the last hill, I tried to keep my heart rate down by climbing the hill not easily, but not roughly, trying to preserve my legs for the run. Finally, I made it back to T2 safely without any accidents.

Finishing up the 56 mile ride

        This is what I had been waiting on—the run. If you were to ask me, I would say the run is my best of all three disciplines. Once inside T2, I put on the Zoots Ultra 7.0 (no socks), sun visor, race belt, grabbed my nutrition bottle, and out I went. My plan was to run a 8:30 pace for the first 5k, progress to 8:00 the next 10K, then finish the race at a close to tempo pace. The first mile I tried to run as slow as possible, trying to get the legs right. The first 5K was good and felt as though I was on top of my race. However, it was only a few minutes that the cramps set in. All of a sudden the cramps came right before the big hill. I cramped on the inside of both thighs.  Thankfully, I would have to walk up the hill. After getting to the top, I began to run at a slower pace and not cramping as badly. Around mile 6, my calves begin to cramp as well as my things. I was almost completely locked up. I was in pain and hurting when a lady came by and gave me two salt tablets. Not knowing what to do, I took them. It was around the time of these cramps that there was more hills to be walked, so I walked. Once again, I reached the top and began to run again at a much slower pace. At this point of the run, I was merely telling myself that I just need to finish. I made it past the turn around and back up the hills I had just ran down.  As I passed mile 8, I thought to myself, “Five more miles.” I walked a little more along the route, telling myself I will run until the water stations and walk through them. At mile 10.5, I had a cramp so severe in my thighs I had to completely stop. Finally, at mile 12, I noticed the bottom of my right foot began to hurt from the blisters on it, but this was not going to stop me now. Passing transition and up the greenway, I heard the crowds cheering and the music playing, which gave me that little push that I needed. After crossing the railroad tracks off the greenway, the pain was almost unbearable, but I was too close to start walking (only 50 yards from the finish line). The highlight of the whole race was turning to the right toward the finish line and seeing my three sons waiting on me.  My pain seemed to subside as we made our way to cross the finish line in a sprint all together, except Dylan. He outran us. He had fresh legs!

Crossing the finish line with my boys. Awesome!

Here we come...Dylan out ran us:)

Lesson I Learned from the Challenge Family 70.3 Knoxville, TN.

What did I do wrong? Swim: I believe I lost time on the swim by not focusing on the sight buoys enough. Therefore, swimming too wide instead of staying close to the buoys cost me some time. Having to deal with foggy googles doesn’t help matters when trying to sight the buoys as well.

Bike: I began to push a little harder and faster when I got with more riders from the championship course. Pushing a little harder and faster probably got the best of my muscles on the inside of my thighs, therefore affecting my run. A power meter would probably help quiet a bit in training and racing.

Run: I really didn't have time or the legs to do anything wrong. They were shot coming off the bike! 

What did I do right? Swim: Breathing every two strokes and being conscience of my swim form. Stretching, reaching, rotating, keeping my face in the water as I swam. Ultimately, enjoying the open water swim.

Bike:  I rode my pace at the beginning, easing into upper aero, lower tempo pace, taking on the hills not really easily, but not too hard. I felt as though my ride was right where it needed to be for the most part; although, my legs didn't seem to think so.

Run: I didn't start out like a mad man. I was conscience of keeping my pace low and running at an aero pace of 8:30. However, when the cramps kicked in everything feel apart. But, the positive part of it was that even though my legs were wanting to quit, I knew I had to do whatever it took to push through to the finish line.

What did I learn? 

Lesson #1:  I learned that although I train in all three disciplines, most days twice a day and sometimes three times a day, when it comes to putting all three disciplines together in a race things can be different. There has to be much respect to all three disciplines being raced on the same day, back-to-back-to-back.

Lesson #2:  I learned the importance of not setting too high of an expectation for yourself when you are new to an event. I had figured (I thought) if all went well, I could finish around 5:00-5:15 (perfect race), 5:15-5:30 (great race), and 5:30-5:45 (good race). I had set goals, which is not a bad thing, but honestly, I was disappointed by not reaching the perfect race. However, I find that completing the race under the circumstances was a great accomplishment in itself. 

Lesson #3: I learned to remember the "why." Why was I doing what I was doing? Swimming, cycling, and running is a great way to be a good steward of my body, but there are much easier ways to be a good steward of one's body. However, the competitive side of me comes out when it comes to racing. Thinking about all the training for the last 8 months, I wanted to do my best. Even though there are several other athletes competing, the real competition is myself. I am competing against myself to be healthier, faster, and fitter, so I may have many more productive years in serving the Lord, caring for my family, and enjoy life to its fullest. Keeping my why in front of me helped me push through the mental aspect of the pain and cramps.

Lesson #4:  I learned that no one can do well at this sport on their own. Even though you must compete and complete the race on your own, it takes support. There must be support from one's family. My wife and boys have sacrificially supported me through the last several months of training. From waking up at 4:30 in the morning for me to go run to going swimming with me late at night, it has really been a beautiful thing in integrating my family in with my training. One must also have a great support from other athletes. Borden Dental racing team offers just that. They’re a great group of athletes who are there for support, answer questions, and give encouragement when doubts arise.

Lesson #5: Good coaching is priceless. Coach Chris Borden dialed up the notches at just the right time. He helped me understand how my body would respond to the amount of training it was going to endure. The heads up on how my body would respond to the training was much needed. As I learned, stress on the body will often bring out the not so nice side of you. Therefore, I was able to keep things in check by not letting things get out of hand with my attitude around my family, friends, and others. My training schedules were always spot on for getting me faster and fitter, which I really enjoy! One thing I absolutely value about the sport of triathlon is there is so much to learn—not only about the sport, but also about yourself. I am thankful I have a great coach and team to learn from.

Lesson #6: (I say this as humbly as I know how). I never knew the people that God has touched or encouraged by me simply starting to exercise and now to compete as a triathlete. There has been so many people who has reached out sharing with me how they have been greatly encouraged. My prayer and plea is God would use this sport by opening doors for me to share His work in my life both physically and spiritually with others for as long as He would allow and all for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31)! 

A little sugar for the cramps

Mom made the trip from Alabama to watch her boy race

Encouragment for Pastors and Their Members

If you are like me you often find yourself seasons of spiritual droughts or discouragements. When I find myself in these times I can trace them back to a couple of things. First, I find myself lacking in my own personal devotional life through the reading, praying, and meditating on the Word of God. Secondly, I find myself being inward focus on myself, rather than Christ and His Bride. The remedy for a spiritual drought and discouragement begins with being renewed in the Word and placing my eyes upon Him, rather than self.

However, there are times during these spiritual droughts and discouragements that God uses other men's writings to encourage my soul. Therefore, I have taken the liberty to add some links to articles that have been very beneficial to me as a pastor, but also just as a Christian. So, these articles address pastors, but can be a guide for church members to know how to pray for their pastor, as well.
 I pray you find these articles as encouraging to you, as they were to me.

Click here for the articles:

"What to do when people leave your church" by Brian Howard

"The Long View of Pastoral Ministry" pt.1 by Dr. John MacArthur

"The Legacy of Long Term Ministry" pt.2 by Dr. John MacArthur

"Stay As Long As You Can" by Stacy Lamey

Have a blessed weekend!

"The Lord Has Fought For You"

Deut. 1:30-32 "The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ 32 Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the Lord your God, 33 who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go."

I remember growing up being told the story of "The little boy who cried wolf." The story of a little boy who told lies in order to draw attention to himself and then when the wolf came no one cared to listen. In today's reading we find Moses receiving instructions and promises from the Lord to speak to Israel. And of the promises Moses received was "The Lord you God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes." What a great promise and reminder for the children of God.

As the child of God we are not alone, God fights for us. We may often feel or think we are alone in our battles in this fallen world, but take courage it is God who fights for us. Notice also, he says, "...just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ He wants them to remember God's faithfulness to them in the past. One of the greatest blessings of being God's child is being able to look to our past and see how God has fought and delivered us. He has delivered us in two ways:
1) "from Egypt" This is metaphorically speaking of our captivity and bondage of our sin. God delivered us from our sin through the atoning work of His Son Jesus Christ. Thereby, setting us free from the penalty our our sin, which is death.

2) "and in the wilderness" God has fought and delivered His people out of spiritual wondering. God has made Himself known to His people by the fire by night and cloud by day. However, He has revealed Himself to us today by HIs Word, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

But, Notice verses 32-33. The people of God although they had known and heard the promises of God failed to believe Him. What a tragedy. The people of God whom He had set His affections upon and delivered and provided for them time and time again failed to believe the word of the Lord.

Are we any different today? We have God's revealed Word in sixty-six books of the Bible, but to believe what He says? Do we remember how God has delivered us and fights for us? Do we trust in His promises? Most Christians would say, "yes." However, their lives say, "well, I am not sure." We may not say it audibly, but we don't have to. We say it with our lives. I had lunch yesterday with another brother in Christ and we were sharing our struggles, as it pertains to being Christians. I told him the hardest thing about being a pastor or a Christian is living what we preach and believe.

God told Israel he would fight for them, but they failed to believe Him. Today, God has not only fought the battle with our enemy, but the battle has been won. The victory was sealed when God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take on flesh, live a perfect life fulfilling the law of God, being betrayed, mocked, ridiculed, insulted, beating, crucified, hung on a tree, buried, and by rising the third day. Your victory today will not be won by you, but the victory has already been won by the finished work of Jesus Christ. Do you believe this today? Are you living this today? May you take encouragement that the Lord has fought and won the battle for you today.

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Delight Yourself in His Word

 This morning I began reading in the book of Numbers (Click here for BibleGateway daily reading:  https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/chronological/today). Honestly, when in the last time you read through the book of Numbers? I know it's not really the book we chose for our devotional reading. However, it is God's inspired word given to us to read, meditate, apply, and delight ourselves in. So, I challenge you subscribe to this helpful website, which once subscribed you can receive e-mail reminders of your reading, or you can get their free app on your smartphone, which will send you a reminder as well. I want to encourage you to read your Bible and ask God the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you in His truth. Ask Him to show you how to apply it in your daily life, as your seek to submit to Him. Beware, this may may require some hard work and diligence to do, but it worth it.

Let me suggest a few helpful reading tips for reading the Bible (especially the Old Testament):
1) Ask for God's help to understand what you are about to read. If He does not reveal to you the truth of the text you nor I will ever know the truth. He must reveal it to us.
2) Consider who originally wrote the text and the original audience whom it was written to. In other words, it is helpful to know the historical context of the book you are reading. Many Bibles now offer a summarized introduction to each book.
3)) When I read I want to make sure I am following the narrative (story) closely by observing each scene change, or a change in the conversation between characters. This will help you follow along in the narrative as you seek to find the main point.
4)) As I read I am looking for repetition that the author uses, which often "jumps off" the page that will solidify the main point of the passage.
5) After I have read the passage, I am asking myself these questions so what did God intend for the original audience to receive out of this text? Which in return will tell me what God intends for me to receive from the text.
6) As I am reading the text I am reading through gospel lenses. In other words, one can not make sense of the Old Testament separated from the gospel, which we have through the New Testament. All the types, shadows, and prophecies found in the Old Testament were fulfilled by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
7) After seeking to know the original authors intent in writing the text, following the narrative closely, looking for repetition, seeking to find the main point or message in the passage, seeing how it relates to the gospel, then and only then do I ask, "so what?" How does this passage apply to me? What does God want me to do now? I found found the meaning to the text in its original context, how it relates to the gospel, and now I pray asking God the Holy Spirit how and to help me apply what He has revealed to me through His Word.
8) After I am finished reading my passage, and pray for God's help to apply what He has revealed to me, I sit and write a half- full page in my journal. This my apply to the passage I just read, maybe a prayer concern, or just a thought of what God is doing in my life.

So, this is the way I read devotionally in my quiet time each day. I am not saying you have to do it "MY" way, but just do it some way. I cannot stress enough the importance of daily bible intake. I know for pastors we are constantly studying, reading, and preparing sermons. However, we need to take off our "work boots" and put on our "house slippers" by delighting and enjoying God in reading His Word devotionally. I want to encourage Christians to set aside 30 minutes a day, preferably at the beginning of your day, to seek the Lord through reading His Word devotionally. I have often heard Christians who talked about their devotional life and was jealous because I lacked the discipline to do it on a consistent basis. Let me encourage to start today, by spending time with the Lord in His Word. You won't regret it!

Let me know how it goes or if I can assist you in anyway. Blessings!

"No Big "I's" or Little "You's"

Leviticus 24:1-4 "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly."

It has been said, "that 20 percent of the people in the church do 80% of the work in the church." I am not sure if I whole-heartedly agree, but I do find a trend within the church of a small portion of individuals who give themselves fully to the Lord's work. God in His divine wisdom has not called a small group of people to take on all the work of ministry as it relates to the kingdom of God. How do we know this? 1 Corinthians 12:14 reminds us, "For the body does not consist of one member but of man."

In our text this morning, the Lord commanded the people of Israel to gather the oil for the lamps. This was to ensure the priest in the temple were able to minister non-stop. However, the Lord gave Aaron a task, as well. He was to make sure this lamp was arrange from evening to morning.

Many believers today would say, "oh, well it is just olive oil," or "Aaron has got it covered. Let him take care of it." That was not God's intended purpose. God desired all of His people to be actively involved in ministering unto Him. The sad reality is this; many Christians miss a tremendous blessing by not serving in the body of Christ, known as the Local church.

So, where do you serve in your local church? Do you consider it a blessing and a privilege to serve the living God of the universe in being apart of His work and plan? **I would love to hear how God is using you.

If you are not actively serving in your local church, I encourage you to repent, pray, and seek out church leadership asking how you can be apart of serving in your local church.

Humility and Substitution

Genesis 50:17-21, "‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

Through out the narrative of Genesis one finds Joseph's life pointing the reader to the coming of Christ.The final verses of the book of reminds us of the humility and substitution of Joseph on the behalf of his family. This reminds the reader of Christ's humility in Philippians 2:5-11, "where Christ humbled himself to the point of death, death on the cross." Christ being fully God and fully man was unconcerned about keeping his God-given attributes, but desired to fully keep the Father's will by coming to a sin cursed world, keeping the law fully, and bearing the wrath of the Father by humbling himself under His heavy hand.

Not only did Joseph's life point us to the humility of Christ, but also to the substitution of Christ. "He who knew no sin, became sin for us..." (2 Cor.5:21). The substitutionary death of Christ can be seen in the life of Joseph, as he substituted himself for his brothers. He was willing to stand in the gap for his brothers as they were desperate and hopeless in their situation. This is where poor sinners find ourselves. We are hopeless and helpless in our sin. And unless Christ stands in the gap for us we are doomed. We find ourselves in the place of Joseph's brothers who were evil and in need of forgiveness.

Do you find yourself in the place of Joseph's brothers? Evil. Transgressor of God's holy law? Think about how evil men killed God's Son and you could place yourself there at the crime. For had you and I been there we would have yelled, "crucify him, crucify him," unless God had opened our eyes to see him as the substituted Savior. Have you repented and believed upon the only One who can save? Have you asked him to forgive you this day of your evil and transgressions? "Call upon the name of the Lord and thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:13)."