Happy Halloween!!!

one week from today...

We, the people of the United States of America will select a new president seven days from now, but this verse is resonating in my heart...

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

-Daniel 2:21

running to obtain the prize

A random event happened almost two weeks ago at a Tuesday night track workout that I haven't yet been able to let escape my memory. There is a precious British couple, Ted and Margaret, that run consistently with my running group. I love running with sweet Margaret, she runs at a pace that is just a bit faster than I, just enough to be a good challenge. While her husband Ted is just as great, he is FAST, a lot faster than I. At the end of our speed workout (yes, it is brutal to put this part at the end) we are to do three 300's around the track as fast as you can. I was not particularly excited about this portion of the workout but knowing that it is easier to run it with a faster partner, accepted Ted's offer to run the 300's with him.

Now Ted already had one 300 in the bag by the time we started therefore, we decided to run the two 300's together and I would have to run the last 300 solo. Immediately after taking off with Ted I started to reconsider... Ted was running insanely fast, much faster than I am accustomed to. Each time Ted felt me backing off the pace he would look over his shoulder and verbally pull me along. He would say, "See the girl in the white shirt ahead? Just run to her." and when we zoomed past her he'd say, "See the man in the black shorts ahead? Just catch up with him." And though I felt like I was going to throw up, I did make it to the end, in record speed, two times! Though Ted was setting the bar high for me with quite a challenging pace, he was there, running the "race" with me the entire way.

However, I felt an even more challenging test arose as I realized that though I was ready to quit (after all, Ted had now finished his workout) I still had one 300 left to run. The following thoughts crossed my mind, "Ted's done. I can run the last one by myself and slow the pace down. There will be no one beside me to challenge my pace! Nice! I can ease up a bit, not have to run quite as hard." That was the furthest thing from the truth. Not while Ted was still on the track! Ted sent me off for my third 300, admonishing me to break it up into manageable pieces by just trying to catch (and beat) the girl in the white shirt front of me until I got to the end. Through that entire last 300, I could hear Ted from the other side of the track yelling with his British accent, "Catch her! You can do it! You've almost got her! Keep going!" Every time I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep that same pace until the end and I would back off ever so slightly I'd hear Ted's British yell come from across the track.In the end, I did catch the girl in the white shirt in front of me just as I was crossing the 'finish line.'

So, why has this random event been seared into my memory over the last couple of weeks? For two reasons: (1) I am grateful for those in my life who have run along side me, setting the pace just a bit quicker than what is comfortable for me, challenging me to live outside the comfort area. I'm thankful for specific men and women in my life that are running towards Christ as hard and as fast as they can. I'm thankful that they encourage me to mirror their pace in pursuit of Christ as well. (2) I'm grateful for those that, though our course might be different for the moment, they yell their challenges for me to keep running towards Christ from the other side of the track. I'm thankful for those that when I start to back off the pace ever so slightly, yell their admonitions from the other side of the track to keep running as hard as I can and not to stop until I've reached the finish line and obtained the prize.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. -1 Corinthians 9:24

'tis the season for.... butternut squash!

Last night I tried my hand at a new ingredient, or at least one that I've never prepared... butternut squash! The recipe I made was so simple it hardly warrants the term "recipe." At any rate, I cut the squash up into "fries," lightly misted them with non-stick cooking spray, salted them and then baked at 425 degrees until crispy. I have to say these "fries" tasted a lot like sweet potato fries (which I love) but better! It was so hard to believe, while I was eating them, that this was actually a veggie! So tasty....

house update...

I haven't done a ton of new things to the house lately but I did finally get around to painting the guest room and putting a bed up. Now, the room is FAR from complete however, I suppose I could officially have a guest now!

The next home addition is this chair my mom purchased at a rummage sale for $5.00 some time ago. Of course it didn't look quite like this when my mom purchased it; it was rather ugly but she saw great potential and I must say, I now LOVE this chair. Thanks to the hard work of my mom and dad in refurbishing the chair (inside and out!), I now have another [comfy] seat in my living room. So please feel free to stop by for a visit anytime!

clearly defined.

so·cial·ism: –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Socialism is wrong. There I said it... and it is true. Those who would argue that this is not an issue in this election are wrong as well. It is an issue and a rather big one at that. I know some are tired of hearing about 'Joe the plumber', who was elevated overnight to a central figure in the McCain campaign, and will likely tune out this story. However, Senator Obama's response to 'Joe the plumber' (below, emphasis mine) is not worth missing. Any individual who clearly asserts the following, as Senator Obama did, is clearly supporting a socialist ideology, redistribution of wealth.

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

It is not the government's responsibility to unilaterally take from the one (presumably one with more wealth) and give to those less fortunate. Quite the contrary! It is the job of the people, esp. responsible believers to aid those who are less fortunate and to establish God-glorifying businesses. So with that said, this election is of extreme importance. This election represents an unprecedented crossroad for the future of our nation. It is a election to choose either the path of socialism or to preserve the democracy of America. Preserve the democracy people!! Vote against socialism in America!!

wishing Reagan were here now...

I will apologize in advance for the lengthiness of this post but I feel it is of utmost importance... O that President Ronald Reagan were here now to be a herald of truth as he was during his time here on earth. Reagan got it! He understood and clearly articulated the issues that were and still are facing this great nation. What follows are selections from Reagan's 1964 speech (1964 people!!! Reagan said what follows in 1964!!!!), which he gave while campaigning for Barry Goldwater's presidential ticket. The amazing thing about this speech is that it could have been given yesterday and it still would be relevant. Reagan got it! He got it and he wasn't afraid to speak out, for he understood that the future of these United States rests upon the decisions we make now. And Reagan feared this country was headed down a dangerous path then... what would he say now?

[I must give props to Ben Ferguson for playing this speech in it's entirety on his morning radio show for the past two mornings and calling attention to its current relevance.]

"This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."

"You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course."

"They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy."

"Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation of government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment. Our Democratic opponents seem unwilling to debate these issues. They want to make you and I believe that this is a contest between two men...that we are to choose just between two personalities."

"If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based upon what we know in our hearts is morally right. We cannot buy our security, our freedom from the threat of the bomb by committing an immorality so great as saying to a billion now in slavery behind the Iron Curtain, "Give up your dreams of freedom because to save our own skin, we are willing to make a deal with your slave masters." Alexander Hamilton said, "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one." Let's set the record straight. There is no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there is only one guaranteed way you can have peace--and you can have it in the next second--surrender."

"Admittedly there is a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face--that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight and surrender… You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin--just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer after all."

What are your thoughts?

Want to read more.... check out Reagan's entire speech here.

business as a reflection of God's character?

Mostly due to my own internal assessment, I have always felt “inferior” to others in occupations where clear and apparent opportunities to display the glory of God exist. For example, in my original estimation it always seemed more apparent for one to see how the glory of God can be displayed in the life of a teacher with opportunities to mold young hearts and lives (even if in just small ways) with a bent for the glory of God. Medical professionals have a clear and simple platform for going overseas to do missions and while attempting to heal individuals physical bodies from disease and sickness, offering the solution for how Christ can heal their soul from the disease of sin. To some degree I’ve always felt that “business” carries a negative connotation and outside of using business to build a simple relationship to share the gospel I’ve never seen how “secular” business could be a direct representation of God’s character and, when done right, it is a good thing ordained by the Father for everyone’s good.

I’ve spent the better part of the last ten years learning about all things business related. I have an undergraduate degree in finance, a master’s in business administration and have spent countless hours learning things from management techniques to corporate finance and fundamentals of our economic system to individual financial planning and wealth management. And I will whole heartedly admit that I thoroughly enjoy learning about business and economics!! I can’t begin to imagine myself in any other field. [I am SO thankful for medical professionals but I would hate to be one myself; I stand in awe of teachers but would be absolutely miserable if I was one myself.] However, until I read Wayne Grudem’s Business for the Glory of God, I never realized the direct correlation between business and the glory of God. I don’t suppose, from a spiritual perspective, I’ve been happy to tout my love of business and simultaneously really feel as if my field was one completely ordained and straight from the heart of God.

Grudem does a phenomenal job of explaining how, as believers, we should thank God for business related concepts such as money and profit, inequality of possessions (election season was a great time to read this chapter! BOO for socialism!!! :), employment, ownership, competition, and borrowing and lending. Grudem admonishes the reader not to allow the distortions of good concepts to warp our thinking about the concept itself in an evil way. The overall theme that Grudem consistently makes through the entire books is that good, God-glorifying business is right and necessary for it fully displays God’s character and provides a practical outlet for his people to display and advance the gospel. Grudem even remembers the poor in his discussions regarding money, possessions, and business and asserts that, though providing the poor with food and clothing is good and certainly right, it is at best only a short-term solution to the problem of poverty. Grudem continues by stating that the only real long-term solution to world poverty is through business.

In conclusion, I am thankful to be able to reconcile my desire to display God’s glory in every aspect of my life with the love of my career and general business. Grudem’s book has set me on a course to discover new ways to do missions by examining existing agencies like Opportunity International, who provides microloans (less than $500) to individuals to start business in poor areas of the world. The estimated impact of these loans has been hundreds of thousands which has then in turn impacted millions of lives. This has set me on a trajectory to see how the Father will use the love of business that he has gifted me with to more fully display his glory and advance his gospel throughout the world.

10/4 SNL debate spoof

hilarious!

back on the track

So, last night was my first night back to my running group's weekly track workout since April (yes, I have been a slacker when it comes to speed work but I HATE speed work when it is HOT!). At any rate, now that it has cooled off here in Memphis, I am back on track (literally) when it comes to working on speed. This morning my legs are definitely feeling the effect of being away from speed work for such an extended period of time.... Not optimal with the Tour d' Espirit coming up this Friday night where I plan to run a mere 25 miles. :)

I also feel compelled to share with you that my absolute favorite speed work album is Lecrae's "After the Music Stops." If you haven't checked out Lecrae you might want to give him a listen and I found out last week, he's from Memphis!!! Nice...