From "This I Believe"

Amazing but true, but I've been "published." Ok, so it's on the web and probably a full five people have seen it since it was first published in 2007. At first, I thought it was an original idea. It came to me as I was talking with my daughter about making the most of what we have in our lives and talents. It was at that time, I was in a class that featured the radio program by NPR called "This I Believe" in an assignment. We were to write an essay as if we were going to submit it. So, after a few readings, a lot of editing, more readings, and coaxing from friends, I posted it to NPR. Surprisingly, they accepted and "published" it. Just for fun, I did a search for the title later and came up with dozens of other writings. And here I thought I was a bright student. Oh well, it was a fun exercise. Enjoy. If you have any opinions, please feel free to post them. Here is the link and below is the text.

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"Life is Like a Pencil" I believe life is like a pencil. Not just any pencil, but a wonderfully tactile “no batteries required” pencil. Sometime it is a familiar yellow number two type. Other times it is a rainbow of hues. Regardless of the type, life is like a pencil. Inside our pencil is the life we share. With it we create songs, inspiring symphonies, or catchy jingles. We write about those we meet, love, and others not so much. We fill pages with anecdotes and cautions. We disguise names and write descriptive fiction to make our point. Our life story flows as a river onto the page calmly and rhythmically like a lullaby or crashes against the rocks and sharp drops. We draw vivid, colorful scenes transformed from our mind's eye to public exhibition. At times, we display our hate to purge our hurts. We discharge our sarcasm hoping to find sympathizers; some will concur, others condemn. Or, we create intimate personal sketches for an audience of one. Sometimes, we simply doodle. Easy flirtatious ideas for a quick mental vacation. If we pay attention, our meanderings become catalysts for greater events in our lives. Despite our variety, there is one commonality. We must be sharpened. The hard wooden shell must be removed to expose the expressive part inside. It is unpleasant being sharpened removing that which cannot be replaced. We can give a little at a time or a lot. Sometimes we break and try to tape our pieces together. Eventually, we must revisit the break so that we can let go of the brokenness. Thankfully, we have erasers to forgive our mistakes. The vague smudge may remain, but we make the correction and continue. In time, our eraser is no more. Forgiveness is not within us. We continue to write cautiously guarding against the inevitable mistakes. Sometimes, we hastily scribble over them or simply let others point them out again and again. What a relief when we place a new eraser over our spent one. We use another's capacity to remove our mistakes. We can again take a chance knowing we can start over. Then, we are used up. No more can be written. Our great legacy has become that final piece we leave for others. What do we leave? Grand tomes of education, realistic artwork, or caricatures? Recipes to be handed down through the generations? Words of hope, healing, or hate? Whatever we choose, how sad if our lives at the end are nothing more than a one-line paraphrase on our headstone. Sadder still are those that spend their lives in a dark drawer. Fearing what others might say; fear being ignored; fear being sharpened; fearing mistakes; fearing the end. They fear allowing another to hold them as all pencils are meant to be. In the end, they are tossed out with the other miscellaneous, lost things in the drawer. No matter our end; I believe life is like a pencil. Patrick

Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."

 

Dear Pastor,

Hope all is well with you.

Just following up on our discussion from Sunday School about Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."  You had mentioned that you had thought about this verse over time and the meaning behind it.  I enjoyed our brief discussion after class and promised to write to you some additional thoughts.  While I am nowhere near even a beginner seminary student, I did want to jot down a few notes for your consideration.

We had talked about when (or why) would God ever hide Himself from His people and the meaning of "while He may be found"?  We briefly discussed that it is possible that at the end of our life, we do not have the opportunity to reconcile with God.  At that point, according to scripture, once man dies then comes judgment.  The same argument can be made when referring to Christ's final return and all of mankind appearing at judgment throne.  Matthew Henry commented on verse 6, "Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now His word is calling to us, and His Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when He will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut."

However, I have been thinking about other times when we might not see God's face.  Meaning, what other times might we not be able to see God's face or even His hand in our lives?  Job first comes to mind in that respect.  Even though he was considered righteous, God still allowed severe trials to enter his life while remaining silent until the end of the book.  Job even stated to God that he had been transparent with Him.  He asked how many and what sins and transgressions he had committed to deserve his current state.  Job specifically asks, "Why do you hide your face, and hold me for your enemy?" (Job 13:23-24)  Here I believe God has the right to hide His face out of His sovereign will.  We might not agree with His logic or decision making, however, He reminds us that His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

Why else might God hide His face?  He cannot tolerate our sins and transgressions.  It is interesting here that scripture refers many times to our "sins and transgressions".  You assuredly already understand the distinction.  The Hebrew word "pesha" (transgression) comes through clearly when it refers to those who know better but still willingly rebel or revolt.  Be it our sins or transgressions, He is a holy God.  There are numerous scriptures where God clearly states that He will hide His face from His people because of their rebelliousness.  (Deuteronomy 31:17-18; Deuteronomy 32:20; Ezekiel 39:21-24).  The Psalms ask God not to hide His face but to show favor (Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 51:9; Psalms 88:14; Psalms 143:7).

So, God can and does hide His face from us and therefore cannot be found.

Yet, and thankfully, God continues to shower us with His mercies.  Despite Israel's (and our) continual "pesha", He still reaches out and says, "Here I am."  He promised Israel that He would restore them back to Himself.  He stated that even though He had hidden His face, He will restore (Ezekiel 39:21-24; Jeremiah 33:2-9).  One interesting interpretation of Isaiah 55:6 is by Rabbi David Kimhi and brings further clarity to the original language: "Seek ye the Lord, because He may be found: call upon Him, because He is near. Repent before ye die, for after death there is no conversion of the soul."

Why should we seek Him?  Because, He can be found.  Why should we call on Him?  Because, He is near.

In this way, God says to us, "While you have breath, I can be found today, right now.  Now is the acceptable time." (Isaiah 58:9-10).  He gently says to us that He has been open and transparent with us all this time.  He says we should turn to Him today (Isaiah 45:19-22).  He even has the answer to the intolerable sin and transgressions we have in our lives.  Especially those that we believe are hidden.  It is ironic that many times we ask God why He has hidden Himself while we try to hide ourselves from Him.  The Psalms echo our own hearts when it says, "I confessed my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this let every godly one pray to You, in a time when You may be found." (Psalms 32:5-7).  It is good to know that "now" is the favorable time because He is near to us today.  He says, "in a favorable time I replied to You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You; and I will preserve You" (Isaiah 49:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10).

On a deeper level: despite all our failings, Jesus chose not to hide His face when it came time to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Isaiah 50:6 records, "I gave My back to the strikers, and My cheeks to pluckers; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting."  The One that could tolerate our sins and transgressions faced them directly, closely, intimately, and painfully so that we could one day see Him face to face.

I hope these few thoughts are found interesting to you.  Thanks again for the brief discussion, and may God bless.

Patrick Kincaid

Winter Training

It’s that time of year again.  Time to get the trainers and rollers out and spend hours riding in one place.  Not a fun way to spend time in the saddle, but it’s better than spending it sitting on the couch watching reruns of some old TV show from the 80s.  I’ve tried watching Tour de France videos, but it doesn’t work for me.  When I see head-on video shots of the riders, I keep thinking that I’m going the wrong way.

I’m better off listing to my iPod or watching a movie.  My brother has played video games while training; I’m not that coordinated.  I would probably fall off playing Need for Speed.

Here are some ideas to battle boredom on the trainer/rollers:

• Watch a movie
• Listen to up-tempo music
• Watch a marathon of your favorite TV episodes
• Check out Spinervals free workouts
• Change up your training sessions with intervals, time-trials, easy spins, simulated hill work, etc.
• Play video games (no brainer here:  not recommended while on the rollers)
• Invite some friends over to set up their trainers and have a group “ride”
• Purchase some “point-of-view” training videos (see Cycling Videos or Chavez Cycling for an example)
• Create your own DVD by video recording your warm weather routes
• Create your own online videos with YouTube.  Create an account and then gather up some other people’s videos into a “play list” to play them in sequence.  Put on your own music as background.

There is an ad running lately that says something like, “Races are won in the off season.”  How true.  Although I believe it’s important to take a breather, it’s also important to get back on in order to maintain and (hopefully) increase your fitness.  Some years back, Jan Ullrich was teased about his off-season diet.  It was alleged that we would take it easy and plump up during the winter months.  This made it tougher to get back in top shape for the next season.  Lance Armstrong, in the meantime, spent time training in the mountains of the tour and elsewhere getting ready for the race.  (Despite all of the latest allegations of doping, I believe that these cyclists are truly strong riders.)

It reminds me of the days when I don’t “feel” like reading the bible.  I may be reading a chapter for what seems to be the 100th time.  But, I know that memorization is not my strength.  I can remember concepts and ideas, but word-for-word memorization is a challenge.

Pro racers may not feel like training, but they also know that their competitor is training as well.  It could be that the one day or week that they take it easy may be the difference in a win later on.

Paul wrote to his friend Timothy and encouraged him to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”  (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV).  We should be ready because, whether you believe it or not, there are forces out there that are working against followers of Jesus.

We may not be able to memorize the entire bible word-for-word.  At least, I don’t believe it to mean that at all.  The point here is to be ready to have an answer when we are asked.  It also means that we are found walking our talk at all times.  People around us are watching carefully.  They want to know if what we say matches what we do.  When tough times come, are we quick to remember promises in the bible that would apply to us?

Agreed – we aren’t perfect.  But, we’re also in training.  And, we should train seriously.

New movie to be released

One of the things I like about the net is the availability of short independent films. Tonight I happened to come across this trailer. Looks like one that will be on my watch list:

The subculture of cyclists

When I was growing up, nearly every kid I knew had a bike.  There were banana seat Schwinns, BMX bikes, three-speeds, five-speeds, and the occasional ten-speeds, and even rarer the balloon tire oldie.

One of my favorite rides was a bike with a banana seat and sissy bar.  It looked a lot like this bike:

We all rode across the small Army base where we lived in relative safety.  The MPs all knew us, and they knew our parents.  Which meant that we couldn't get in trouble without having to hear about it when we got home.

We rode because it gave us freedom.  We rode because it was faster than walking and easier than asking our parents to drive us.  We rode because, at the time, it was what friends did together.

A lifetime later my friends and I ride for slightly different reasons:  for health, to raise money in charity rides, competition.  But, still the same: hanging out with friends and freedom.

That also means that there is a bit of a sub-culture going on.  Back then when riding with friends, no one ever thought of riding with a helmet.  If you did, you might as well had been riding in a clown outfit with an active case of cooties.  Helmets were not part of the picture, although it would have saved you from head injuries from your friends throwing things at you.

Today, helmets are required (at least with the group I ride).  There are specialized clothes, shoes, bikes, and even some odd food.  We talk about the ride, work, wives, kids, races, football, baseball -- you name it.  A lot of guys have their place to talk about life.  We ride.

When I first started doing this seriously about twelve years ago, I was in for a shock.  Cyclists have their own "code".  That meant not just buying a bike at the department store and riding in a pair of gym shorts and t-shirt.  I live in an area where there are a lot of "serious" cyclists, amateur and pro racers, and even some that have gone to the Olympics.  And yes, some of them, although very few, are Christians.  So, to get to know these guys means you need to be approachable and comfortable.

The guys I ride with come from all walks of life.  Except for two or three of them, we don't have a history of being athletes.  Two of the guys I ride with have a lot of triathlons under their belt.  One is just a bit older than me, and the other is a little over 70.  Both can leave me in the dust.  (By the way, in my defense, that 70+ guy:  it's like riding with a retired Lance Armstrong.)

So -- about that bit of sub-culture --

Early on, I started checking out cycling jerseys.  They're a special fabric to wick away sweat and have pockets in the back to carry your cell phone, food, money, etc.  Then there are the shorts.  If you're going to sit on that little seat for a long ride, you need to bring your own padding, and that's what's in these.  (By the way, you get major points off for wearing anything else under those shorts.  It's commando or stick to riding the boardwalk looking for fries and lemonade.)

Shoes are specialized here, too.  They have cleats that clip in to the pedals.  Believe me, it's much more efficient than just stomping down on the pedal all day.  Of course, everyone falls at least once in the beginning.  Most often it's coming to a stop and forgetting to "un-clip".  Ninety percent of the time, you slowly fall to your side still stuck to your bike.  If you're lucky, you'll be by yourself and no one will see you lying there with a bike stuck to your feet.

Lastly, if you're going to commute to work, then you might as well look for a courier bag.  The real ones are near bullet proof and can shed water like a duck.

Here's the one part it took me some time to get the nerve to do:  shaved legs.  Unless you're an Olympic athlete, shaving won't make you faster.  But, you won't have to pull hair out of a wound if you fall (read "nasty infection") and when you get a massage it's much nicer for you and the masseuse.  Oddly, this rite of passage is usually skipped by mountain bikers and cyclocross riders.

Ok -- with that all said -- Here is when I knew something had gone a bit odd for me.  I was at home minding my own business having a bowl of cereal for breakfast and looking at a popular catalog for cyclists.  I was looking at the shorts because I only had one pair.  Then I looked at the shoes because mine were a used pair that I bought at a flea market at the local track.  When I was looking at the courier bags, I was suddenly hit with an eye-opening and shocking thought:  Here I am looking at spandex, shoes, purses, and I'm shaving my legs.  What's wrong with this picture???  I'm still not over it completely.

Getting back to the group ride:  When the issue of the day comes up, I don't get flack for taking my position with the teachings and principles of Jesus.  It's easy to use cycling as analogies with these guys, because they get it.  When it's coming from "one of them", they get it.

"Posers" are an issue for some cyclists.  Some guys like to talk about how fast or long they ride.  They even have the $2,000 carbon/titanium bike and latest {insert company sponsor name here} jersey to prove it.  They tell a good story, but their riding tells another one.  By the time the group is warmed up, these guys are ready to stop for their latte and call it a day.

Now, I will be the first to admit I'm not the fastest or have the most endurance.  I have a nice bike because my very generous brother surprised me with a birthday gift.  I've got the clothes and the equipment, but that's about it.

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, he covered this as well.  He said that even though he is "free", he belongs to no one.  Take a look at 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.  Does this mean we have the "freedom" to act any way we like?  I don't believe so.  In loose translation, I may have the freedom to do what I want, but not everything is beneficial.  (1 Corinthians 6:12)  There is a very distinct line between preferences and principles.

Posers aren't usually tolerated.  Not in cycling and not in our walk of faith.  We're either serious about what we do, or we're just posers.  We may have the "look" and the "talk" but our ride and our life tells the true story.  Are we ready to turn it in when the going gets tough?  How about when we're confronted by someone that is vehemently opposed to anything to do with Jesus' teachings?

The pros train all winter.  Some even travel to Australia or South Africa to train in their summer while we're all inside complaining about six inches of snow.  How about us?  Are we training in the off-season?  When we get into a situation, you better believe that others are watching.  When illness hits our family.  When we get laid off from work.  When a moment of weakness is at its weakest.  Are we strong enough?  And, if we do blow it (and we will), are we strong enough to admit it?  Are we reading the bible even when we don't "feel like it" ?

We all know when we blow it, whether we're a Christian or not.  When another cyclist rides along side and offers up encouragement and guidance it carries weight.  He can say, "He's been there.  He understands."

Jesus had been there.  He understands.  Compared to what he had been used to, Jesus wore some funny clothes and maybe ate what might have been some odd food.  He did it because he wanted to restore a long term relationship with us.

That's my message to my fellow riders that share the faith.  Wearing those funny clothes and coughing up a lung as we climb hills together allows that message to be heard.

Life is just full of new beginnings

After twelve extraordinary years, Team Tania is retiring.  This past weekend's ride was nothing short of amazing as the weather held out for us.  Just a bit warm on Saturday and overcast on Sunday.  If you want to see the team, please visit Team Tania where you will see our mission, our accomplishments, and, of course, Tania.


That said, it's time now to take what we on the team have learned and start again.  Being the nation's largest Friends and Family team, there will no doubt be several spin-offs.  After all, isn't that the way we grow as a family?

For me, its been quite a ride with the team.  We started with six people and grew to over 400+ members.  Overall, we raised nearly $1.6 million, and we're quite proud of that accomplishment.  We won all sorts of awards and national recognition.  So, why is the team "retiring"?

Because, it's not about the team.  The charity ride we do is for people like Tania and for those that care for them.  It's about giving hope, encouragement, and some joy.  It's time for the team to move on to the next step -- move on and grow some more.

But, how does that relate to you, the reader?  "Sure," you say.  "Your team did a great job, but now what?"

Here's my challenge to you:  No matter where you are in life, you're at some point where you can say that you've accomplished something.  Even if you say that you're a failure, you've at least accomplished that much.  Now, move on and grow.

Yes, it's been nearly two years since my last posting here.  Probably no one in the world even noticed.  However, since then a lot has happened to make me reconsider why I started doing this small bit on the net.  I finished college and am now working on my MBA.  I have a wonderful daughter now in her second year of college.  My wife is healthy, which is to say a lot.  And most importantly, God is working on me and my stubborn, self centered personality.

There is going to be a lot of change in the near future.  Not just for me, but for a lot of people in the United States and around the world.  The pace at which it has been happening has been increasing each year.  Where will we fit in as Christians?  Or should we?  Jesus taught some pretty hard lessons.  He was able to succeed with this mission.  So can we.

Are we perfect all the time?  Obviously not -- just take a look at the news.  I would love to be able to ride like Lance Armstrong.  I can study the videos, read his books, read his commentators.  But, when I get on the bike, I'm stuck with my legs and not his.  On the other hand, everything I've learned makes me a better cyclist.  It's the same when following Jesus' teachings.  Although I'm stuck with this body and mind, when I study his, mine gets better.  Not absolutely perfect, but better.

So, again, here is my challenge to you:  Are you going to move on and grow?  Life is full of restarts and new beginnings.  Take a chance and do it.  I'll bet you have desires and dreams.  Until you put some steps into them, you're just daydreaming.

For me, yes, I'm restarting here again.  No one may ever see these writings, however, I believe that I should start up again and keep to it.  If you are one of the few followers here, perhaps you'll keep me to task as well.  Along the way, perhaps we can learn from and encourage each other.

Benefits of Drafting

During the weekend of the MS150 City-to-Shore tour, my wife and I met two other couples on tandems. What a treat to finally be able to draft not just one, but *two* tandems! (Now I know why we find so many riders sneaking up on us!) Dave & Darcy and Bud & Renee were great riders, and we hope to see them again next year.

I'm sure you all know the benefits of drafting behind another rider. The pros do it - and yes, even in NASCAR. The biggest reason: you can save up to 40% less energy while drafting in a group. Believe me, I quickly noticed it when we were riding at a good clip and found that at times we just coasted. We were actually being sucked in behind them. We would switch off, each taking a turn at the front. It was easy; after our turn we pulled to the left and slowly let the other two pass. When it was safe, we pulled back in behind them. We did this for miles, each taking our turn in the circular pattern.

Then came the pine barrens on Sunday. That road has always been a mental chasm for me. I was simply not strong enough to keep up and found myself struggling to beat that road. The gentle, but ever present uphill slope was bearable. But because I couldn't take advantage of anyone's draft, the headwinds were my downfall. I found myself struggling to the next rest stop where we found our new tandem friends.

My poor wife! She couldn't even pass me to say, "See you at the next stop." She was stuck there behind me as I blew up. By the way, if you ever want to see how good your relationship is; ride a tandem. She was the perfect partner. She was encouraging and kind. And of course, quick to remind me if I was doing something that I shouldn't.

Why do I mention this? Because I think it's a good analogy of working together as a team. Sure, we could have done the ride on our own. But, by working together, we each take some of the burden making the entire effort easier. When one gets tired, another steps up and helps.

Sure, we probably would still make it on our own, but it would be a tougher ride. When riding in a group, learning to take advantage of draft can make the ride more enjoyable.

It's the same in life. Sure, we could be social hermits, isolating ourselves from all those "bad people" out there. But, in the long run, we usually find ourselves becoming isolated from everyone. Riding solo can be beneficial, but we were meant to be part of a group.

There will be times when you're the one blocking the wind and setting the pace. Which means there will be times when you need to learn to step to the back of the line and let others do the work so that you can be refreshed. The strength of the leader becomes the strength of the group. That also means that if you wish to lead effectively, it is required that you take time to step back and let another set the pace for awhile. We all need to rely on each other's strength.

And what if you feel like you're all alone out there? You might be thinking that you're on the steepest hill with the fiercest headwind you've ever experienced. There will be times in our lives that we feel this way. It could be hours, months, or even years. Take it by faith that Jesus has already been there, and he can set the pace. His strength will be your strength. How do I know? Because, I've been there, too.

Follow these steps: First, read the promises in the scriptures. They will remind you of His ever present love and guidance. Second, continually pray. You may not feel up to it, or even think that He's not listening. Go for it anyway. Third, keep in mind that the past is done and your future starts now.

Here are a few scriptures to start you on your way:
Psalm 9:9
II Corinthians 4:8,9
John 14:13,14
Romans 5:9,10
Hebrews 2:17
Matthew 7:7,8,11
Revelation 3:20
John 14:16,17
Romans 8:15, 26, 27
Hebrews 11:16
Titus 1:2

Trust me, you can make it. The hill isn't always a hill, and the winds aren't always a headwind. And if you're in a group already, remember to step back and let others take their turn. In the end it makes everyone strong.

Climbing the Hawk - Be Careful What You Wish For

Saturday's ride turned out to to be a bit more than I imagined. I was hoping that one of these Saturday's the guys would want to take a long ride and include some hills. We've been doing brief stretch of short rides in order to get back in time for other weekend tasks.

But this Saturday, my wish came true. The four of us decided to climb Hawk Mtn.

It started out ok leaving from Trexlertown just across from the velodrome. The usual Saturday morning groups assembling and milling about. The weather was overcast and slightly on the balmy side of the lower 80's.

It turns out that one of our favorite roads was recently tarred and cindered. For those of you that don't have this wonderful technology of roadwork, it consists of laying down a layer of hot tar across the road surface and then dumping tons of small stone across the entire road. Yes, both lanes. So, riding for a few miles on small sharp stones makes one hope that all of the claims the tiremaker spouted were true. I use Gatorskins on the advice of my brother who knows a ton more about equipment that I can dream of. So far so good.

By the time we reach the base of the Hawk, there's a mist at the top of the mountain. Peeking above the trees, you get more of a sense of what you're about to encounter. So we climb. The eldest of our group today, Bruce, is the strongest. Even though he's 69 (yes - you read it right) he's got enough in his legs even a young 20-something would be amazed. He tells me that as we get closer to the top, it will get steeper.

Scott's another one that's got power hidden away. He's a tad bit older than I and a cancer survivor. He and Bruce take off and disappear up the road. Glen, who's older than me and Scott, takes a needed break behind a tree from all the water he's been taking in. So, he's way behind me.

Don't take me wrong, I love a good climb. I even go looking for them. But, I'm not that fast. Just keep turning them cranks, that's all I hear.

After awhile, the road definitely gets steeper. Bruce and Scott are gone out of sight, and Glen is somewhere behind me. I look ahead and all I see is more climbing (it must be two miles already!) and more trees. At this point, I think my lungs are going to jump out of my chest and quit. So, I do what I hate -- I unclip, stop, and put my foot down to get a breather. Yep, the Hawk beat me today.

Glen meanwhile spins by me (I need to get a triple crank!) and says, "almost there!" Really? I get back on the bike and slowly start climbing again. The speed picks up more since I believe Glen must be right. Sure enough, just around the bend is the top. Why did I stop!??! I was almost there! Glen teases me at the top.

"We must be pretty sad. A 69 yr old and a cancer survivor beat us up here!" he says. Thanks. Just what I need to remember since we're only half way home now.

It's the same way in life, isn't it? We think we're beat and we quit. Only to find out that we were so close the goal. They say that the best things in life are free. I say maybe, but sometimes those things taste sweeter when they're mixed in with some sweat and tears.

Your mountain may be your job, school, a test coming up, girl-friend, boy-friend, spouse, whatever. If you quit, you may be really disappointed to find out how close you really were. Sometimes I think that I if I were God, I may have given up on some things long ago. I'm glad He doesn't.

Psalm 138:8 reads, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands." (NIV)

God doesn't abandon His work. He isn't even intimidated by what many would think are unsurmountable odds. I think sometimes He even looks for them. You may think you're one of them. A time was when I thought I was impossible.

The next time we ride up the Hawk, I'm not getting off. If the guys I ride with can do it, then so can I.

============================================
No hill so steep, no wind so cruel, as a mind set against itself.

Just a few links...

While I was thinking about it, here are a few links:

My brother's blog: Geronimo K
Team Tania and their great mission on a bike
Wacky stuff for sale at Oojie's Attic

Talkin' 'Bout Time

So, it's been more than a year since I've posted here. My how time flies when it gets busy!

Summer? To me it's almost fall. July is coming to a close and August is around the corner. School starts back up again for the kids and then there's winter just waiting to arrive. All the while, we keep thinking we have all the time in the world. Just keep busy. Yep.

When we're young, time isn't the biggest thing on our minds. Funny how it is as we get closer to the point in out lives where we finally wake up and see the clock ticking. The problem is, we don't know when it will stop.

This will be the first time our wife and I will be without our daughter for most of the summer. Between this camp and that, she's on her way to independence. I remember when I was getting close to 16. Things weren't all that pleasant at home, so I looked forward to being out and finally getting my driver's license. Thankfully, home life is better for our daughter (she tells us so) compared to mine at her age. Still, it's that passage of time that brings her to the point of testing out her wings.

Of course, since she's our only child it makes it all the more difficult to prepare. But then again, we knew it was coming.

Just like our own lives. We know the end is coming, but we don't know when. We can put it off, deny it, or accept it with one attitude or another. Still, it's inevitable. I'm finding that the best way is to just enjoy each moment I have my family and friends. I find myself calling home from work more often just to say, "hello." Calling friends just to see how their business trip or vacation went. Finding time to just have "fun" and laugh some more. Sounds normal to most folks. But to me, it's always been a hard thing to do. Maybe I'll get to that some other time.

So, here I am at 11:48 PM on a Saturday night. I'm the only one not asleep, and I'm here typing. Why? Because I hope that as I seemingly write this in some aimless fashion that it helps me come to grips that winter is just waiting to arrive. For me, I'll get my snow-suit ready and make sure the sled is ready to run.

Starting Over...

Well, it's definitely spring out there. There are actually buds on the trees again. And it's time to get my sorry bottom back on the saddle again. I know I should have spent time on the trainer and rollers, but I was just plain lazy. No excuses.

I have to admit that I did attempt it a few times. Oh, there were the few Saturday's when I was feeling exceptionally guilty and set up the bike inside. But there were so few and far between that I wonder if they really count. Now it's actually getting warmer and I have nothing to show for the winter except for extra pounds. That'll sure come in handy when I climb the hills around here. There's one hill in particular that I know I'm going to suffer. It's a mile long with some nasty twists and sudden increases in grade.

Isn't it the same sometimes with our spiritual life? We get so caught up with other things that we postpone it. Then the season comes that we really wished we had prepared in the off-season. In 2 Timothy 4:2 we're reminded to be "ready in season and out of season" (NAS). Also, in 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." (NAS)

Then when we're up against a tough decision or that even tougher conversation, we wish we'd prepared more.

Yes, we sometimes get side-tracked by the extra pie, the extra few minutes of sleep, the favorite TV show, or some other reason. But, God gives us the chance to get back on the saddle and start over. Yeah, it can be hard, but just think how strong you'll be when it's time to climb that long hill.

So get off your bum and get started with me. I'll be up early tomorrow on the rollers and studying passages of scripture over breakfast.

Introduction

Blogging, church, and a bike? What in the world was I thinking?
or "How this thing really started"

During the summer of 1999 I was asked if I wanted to start a cycling team for my wife to raise money for a charity. "Sure. Let's do it," I said without thinking.

I rode bikes as a kid and later as a teen, but this is many years later now. What was I getting into? Riding 175 miles in one weekend?

Well, I and five others did it and there's been no turning back since. The idea came to me while I was out riding one early Saturday morning that God can take any interest you have in life and teach you lessons. My idea was to create a devotional for Christians that also enjoyed cycling. (I knew that there must be more than just a few of us out there.)

After receiving a few ideas from other cyclists, the idea grew into one that I thought was more rounded and could be read by anyone. Although the concept is still the same, I wanted the reader to understand that I wasn't a "Christian Cyclist" but rather a Christian that happened to enjoy cycling. There are many things we can enjoy - cycling is just one of them.

So here starts my journey of writing (hopefully) on a regular basis of the lessons that I've learned from rides by myself, with other "amateurs" like me, and pros that I know. Yes, there are even pro cyclists out there that are Christians. There aren't many, but they do exist. I've been fortunate enough to know roadies, trackies, and even those maniacal downhillers. So, I'm hoping that I can offer a little something for everyone. (Sorry, I don't know anyone that rides a recumbent - yet)

So, what will the reader see here? Thoughts, lessons, riding tips, fitness tips, etc. Anything that I come across from talking to others and from personal lessons.

For now, I'll leave my posts open to comments. I'd appreciate your thoughts as well.