FaithEngineer

The title of this post sounds more like the punchline to a joke instead of a reference to two of the greatest athletes of our generation. They each seemed to have it all, fame, fortune, family, and everything money could buy. But something more important was missing.

They didn’t end up where they are overnight. They each made a series of decisions that exposed a flaw in their character.  Both athletes will pay a high price. Millions of kids no longer look to them as role models, millions of dollars will be lost in endorsements, and most importantly their families will never be the same because of their mistakes. We can look back and ask the question what if?  What if they would have had a close friend that was willing to confront them about their choices.  What if they were involved with a local church that could have discipled them and taught them how to live for God. What if they realized the temptation that was forming and their heart and corrected it before it destroyed their life.  Things could have turned out much differently.

I have enjoyed seeing Michael Vick playing football again this year.  He has lost several years of his life, and now he is back on the road to reclaim what was lost. I am glad that Tony Dungy has been able to speak truth and compassion into his life, and I hope and pray that he is indeed a changed man. Personally, I am glad he is playing. He has paid the price for his mistakes and he deserves a second chance. But he will never attain the fame and fortune that he once had. A moral failure does has life-long consequences.

It has been sad to see the headlines each day as more of Tiger’s story has come to light, and no one knows how the story will end.  My prayer is that Tiger will have someone close to him that can share the love, forgiveness, and redemption that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I also pray that his family can stay together through this time and that he will emerge from this as a changed man. As Christians, we should pray for him and not look down on him. The greatest need in his life right now is to restore his family. Tiger has said that he wants to emerge from this as a better husband, father, and person. That all starts with the forgiveness that is found through Christ.

Nineteen years ago I was running in the state cross-country finals.  We had a great team and I was a scrawny 135 lb senior running 18 minute times in 5K’s. Since that time, I really haven’t continued running and the years and pounds have added on.  Over the last couple of years I have tried to start running, but I have lacked consistency.  This summer I have managed to rack up about 25 miles, but I am still far from being in shape.  But I am playing basketball regularly, biking, and jogging.  I am definitely making an effort to be more disciplined in all areas of my life.

This morning I ran the Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race For the Cure near Charleston, South Carolina with over 5000 other people.  It was a fun race, but the real reason I ran was to honor my mother-in-law (you can see the details of her previous battle with cancer here) .  My wife Jennifer had planned to run, but her knee has been locking up and will probably require surgery in the next few weeks, so she was unable to run.  But I ran with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law for Team Bambu.  Our kids all ran the 1 mile fun run as well.

I wasn’t real pleased with my time of 32 minutes, but with my lack of training and current weight, it is all that I really could expect.  I started developing shin splints several weeks back and they really bothered me during the race.  I wasn’t used to running on pavement and the impact took it’s toll on me. I still need to drop about 25 pounds to get to a decent running weight.  It was still a fun race and I’m glad that I ran it.  Check out some pictures below.

If you want to learn from my mistakes, here is what I recommend:

• Don’t compare yourself to others.  Even if you get passed by 70 year olds, women pushing strollers, your sister-in-law , and a man in a fat suit (which all happened to me today) don’t give up.  It takes discipline and hard work to get in shape.  And some people are just natural runners.
• Forget your past.  It doesn’t really matter what you used to do.  All that matters is where you are now and where you need to go.
• Music is a great motivator.  Be sure to pick music that keeps you running at a good tempo. Nike has some great running mixes and the free podrunner podcast is a great place to pick up some good techno running music.
• Have a plan! Start gradually and work your into shape – the couch to 5k plan is a great way to get in shape for a 5k in two months. They also have a podcast and a couch to 5k application for the iphone and ipod touch.
• Mix things up, don’t feel bad changing your workout routine. Weight training is important as well
• And finally, train on the same surfaces that you will be racing on. I’ve been running on the trail at home and the road really bothered my knees and shins during the race.

Just wanted to share a cool football video for everyone. Crazy Stuff

In the spirit of the olympics, here are some thoughts about different types of track athletes and church members.  Back in the old days, I used to run hurdles and the 400 meter, so I really love track.  I have noticed some common traits and characteristics from the different track events.

Sprinters
In Track:  These are the prima donna’s of the sport.   Have you seen how cocky and arrogant they have been in these Olympics?  Although they talk big, they constantly struggle with injuries and with living up to the expectations.   They are able to go incredibly fast for very short periods of time, and then they love to talk about what they did to anybody and everybody.  Forgot about them working as part of a team.  Just look to the relays as an example this year.  They’re in it for themselves.

In Church:  These are the members who constantly remind you how valuable they are to your church.  They talk big, but when it comes down to actually helping, they often have an excuse for why they can’t be there.  When they do help, they show that they have the ablity to really make a difference, but then they spend the next month reminding everyone of what they just did.  These people typically won’t help unless they are the one in charge.  Forget working as a team, other people just slow them down.

Hurdlers:  
In Track:  Hurdlers are analytical.  They constantly watch their technique looking for little things to improve.  They’re fast, but they are also precise.  They are also not afraid to practice and do things over and over again.  They are typically quiet as well.  They let their actions speak louder than words.

In Church:  These are the people who are constantly looking for ways to improve.  They notice when the floors need sweeping.  They notice when the words aren’t syncronized between the screen and what you are singing.  They even notice when you start a minute late.  But they want to do things with excellence and they aren’t afraid to improve.  When mistakes happen, they believe that practice and meetings should be scheduled to keep the mistakes from happening in the future.  They don’t boast about what they do, but they love to plan and lead.

Milers
In Track:  These middle distance runners have a great balance of speed and endurance.  They have to run a smart race and not get caught up in the pack, and they have to finish with a strong kick.  They work together to get in the right position and they are great teammates.   Because of their intense training, they have the ability to run almost any race from sprints to marathons.

In Church:  These are your dependable, fill in the gap volunteers.  They love serving and aren’t afraid to jump in wherever they are needed.  They are the backbone of the local church.  Whenever a church has a large number of people who work well together and aren’t afraid to dedicate time to training and preparation, you will see a church that does amazing things for God. 

Marathon
In Track:  The long distance runners are methodical.  They are able to run and run and run and never get tired.  They run every day until running becomes second nature.  They keep an incredible pace for an incredible distance.   They also compete because of their love for the sport, nothing else could motivate them for the pain that they endure.

In Church:  These are the people that you have to constantly ask to slow down. They keep an amazing pace, but they do it because of their love for God.  You do have to make sure that their family is not neglected because of the time spent serving, but they would do anything you ask. 

I am getting a little sleep deprived this week watching the olympics.  I just can’t stop watching each night.  The competition and passion just draws me in.   I have always loved sports, but there is something special about the olympics.  Watching both the excitement and the heartbreak brings out your national pride.    I’ve enjoyed the swimming and I’m amazed at Michael Phelps, but my favorite part is getting ready to start.  Track was my favorite sport in high school.  I ran hurdles and did some of the longer sprints, so I really get into watching the track and field events.

My blog has been pretty quiet this week.  With our trip out of town and the olympics on each night, my computer time for blogging has been pretty low.  I’m also reading through Mark Batterson’s new book, Wild Goose Chase.  Look for the review in the next few days and also the details on how to get a copy.  I’ve got one to give away, and I can tell you already that it is great and inspiring.   Now I’ve got to get back to watching the olympics.  

I just started a new challenge today. Can you do 100 continuous pushups? If not, then check out this six-week program to get you there. I only managed 25 in my first test, so I have a long ways to go. I’m on week 1 and I’m hurting already. It is so important for us as Christians to take care of our bodies, and this is just another way that we get in shape and gain strength. Check it out here.

This machine kicked my butt today. I am seriously sore. If you haven’t tried a treadclimber yet, you need to find one. It’s a cross between a stepper and a treadmill. It has a separate treadmill for each side and it moves up and down as you are walking. It really feels like you are walking uphill in sand. I had been on some of the early prototypes at fitness shows in Chicago and San Francisco when these things were released, but I had forgotten just how good they work. The Wellness Center in Galax has one, and it stays in use all the time. If you want a new challenge, you’ll have to check this beast out.

Another hard game to watch. The Hokies just didn’t get it done last night in the Orange Bowl. I attribute it to poor offensive coaching and poor execution. Tech definitely had the bigger, stronger, and faster athletes, but they gave up too many big plays and had too many mistakes. The sad part is that even after 3 turnovers, they still had a chance. I haven’t watched as much Hokie football this year as I normally do, and that’s probably a good thing. I get too frustrated and mad watching them make stupid mistakes. They had the talent this year to be a great team.

But it takes more than talent. It takes heart, preparation, effort, execution, and teamwork. Those are all characteristics that apply in church leadership as well. The foundation of success in any church is obedience to the Holy Spirit, but there is effort required on our part. And if you don’t have passion or excitement about what God is calling you to do and be, then have you really heard from God?

ACC Champs. Congratulations to the guys at Tech who will be headed to the Orange Bowl. They’ve come a long ways since the days when I was there. This will be their 15th straight bowl game. Everybody, all together. LET’S GO! HOKIES!

For all the football fans out there, this is an incredible play. I just spoke on teamwork at church, and this is a great real life example of that.

ht to Chad

After reading this article in the Roanoke Times, I had to post my thoughts. Virginia Tech switched quarterbacks and has chosen a true freshman, Tyrod Taylor to start. Below are the comments from Sean Glennon, who started all last year and was just pulled as the starter. Now I don’t know Sean and I don’t know Tyrod. But I do know that the coaches have publically stated that they made the decision based on what was best for the team, not based on individual strengths or weaknesses. I couldn’t help but notice that Glennon’s comments had absolutely nothing to do with the team. Notice how much he used the pronoun I below.

In ministry we must be careful to not start thinking it is all about us. We need to do what is best for the church, not what is best for us as individuals. Sometimes that means stepping back from something we enjoy doing, so that someone that is a better fit can start serving. I hope that I will always be gracious and willing to let others take over responsibilities that I now hold if it will enable the church to reach more people for Christ.

“This morning was definitely a shock,” he said after practice Monday. “I never thought I’d get the reins taken from me this early on.”

“Five quarters seems too quick to just give up on someone after a year starting,” he said. “I get the MVP in the spring, do well in scrimmages and camp. I felt like it was very rushed. Maybe they had a plan to play Tyrod the whole time because it just didn’t feel like the season played out long enough for them to say, ‘All right, Sean’s not our guy.’ “

“I hope the coaches realize that I need to be on the field this year,” he said. “But if they don’t, and at the beginning of next season I know [that], … I think a lot of programs would be willing to take me.”

But I feel like I’m good enough to play on any team in this country.

“Not to say I’ll make it, but I feel like I have a shot at the next level. And obviously I’m not going to not do everything I can to get there. I’d love to stay here, but if they only plan on letting me call signals, obviously I’m going to have to re-evaluate things.”

“I just really felt like this year, with me being so much improved, that they were going to really stick with me through thick and thin.”

“A lot of people disagree, I know, but I think I’m pretty good,” Glennon said. “I really think under ideal circumstances, my arm can match up with any defense in the country.

Dang, the Hokies got thumped 48-7 by LSU. I’m glad I didn’t drive down to Baton Rouge to see the game (like Matt, Zach, and Joey), but at least the Hokie Nation got to see Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. Everyone has been wanting to see him play and he didn’t disappoint. I can’t imagine playing your first game in Death Valley at LSU when their defense is amped up. But he played well. Now, who will play next week. I think we have seen the last of Sean Glennon starting for the season. My vote’s on Tyrod.

btw, we finally got the internet working at our condo. I had to reset the router, but at least I can check email and post some updates while we’re at the beach

Emma’s basketball season is officially over. I had an absolute blast coaching her team. There were only 5 girls on her team, so they all had to play constantly. The girls listened, they helped each other out, they had fun, they showed sportsmanship, and they played as a team. I think they won about half their games, but we didn’t keep track of wins & losses and neither does the Upward league that we played in.

One example of the team spirit is one game that sticks in my mind. We were up by 10 points going into the last quarter, but the other team started making a comeback. Our girls were still out there having fun. The other team got within 2 points and there was less than a minute left. Our girls weren’t worried, and they were even trying to get two of the younger girls the ball so they could score. The other team stole the ball and scored at the buzzer to tie the game. Our girls weren’t upset, they were happy that everyone got to score. That’s teamwork and that is sportsmanship.

The awards ceremony for the league was held last week. They only give out one award for the coaches, one for the boys, and one for the girls. It is the “Christlikeness” Award. The boys and girls awards both went to kids from our church, and I was humbled and honored with the coach award. It really was easy coaching the girls that I had, they were great. But the awards show the kind of people we have at our church. Isn’t that what “Missional Living” is all about. When people see Christ living in us and working in us throughout the week, they are drawn to what God is doing.

We just finished up the Upward basketball season for Luke and Emma. I have really enjoyed coaching and being with the kids. Upward is a good program and it was sponsored locally by Cliffview Church here in Galax. It was a great way to introduce people to a church and teach the kids some basic beliefs about following Christ. Coaching is my one chance to act completely crazy and silly (I was coaching 1st-3rd grade) and share about my faith at the same time. I also enjoy the emphasis on teamwork, basic skills, and sportsmanship. I like the fact that we can take the emphasis off of competition and put it on being Christ-like.

And while I’m talking about basketball, I have to mention that us guys at church had our first basketball practice yesterday. We will be playing in a local church rec league. I’m just a little sore. Well actually, a whole lot sore. I have always enjoyed playing basketball and it feels great to get out and run. My lungs were burning and my legs were feeling like jelly, but it felt great. I did realize how out of shape I am. I can really relate to the chapter in Mark Driscoll’s book titled “Why am I getting meaner and fatter?” I tend to do good in the summer when I can get outside and bike and run, but I struggle keeping in shape during the winter months. That’s pretty lame considering there is a full gym right outside my office.

And one more basketball surprise. I get to coach Luke in the local rec league starting tomorrow night. It’s a league for K-2nd grade. That should be interesting. A bunch of wild and crazy boys with an attention span less than their age. It will be a good chance to model sportsmanship and character to these young men. I can’t wait.