On the 21st of this month I completed my first half marathon — heck it was my first half anything-to-do-with-running. I started training in July from a pretty sedentary lifestyle (what – I’m a graphic designing musical missionary — what did you expect?). Needless to say, I ran my first half marathon in 2 hours and 59 minutes.

Here are some things that I learned during training, as well as during the race itself:

Running is good for your body, mind, and emotions.

Exercise is good for you in so many ways. When I was young, I thought exercise was for those who simply wanted to look better or were just plain weird. I was wrong. Exercise helps your mind be more alert and work through problems more accurately; it strengthens your ability to process emotions, and stabilizes the tumultuous aspects of your inner-life. 

We all have the potential to be courageous, stand boldly, and push ourselves past what we thought we could do.

I used to think that people who did great things were destined to do those great things, and only those ‘born that way’ could do great things. This isn’t true. Anyone can do great things, it only takes the courage to move forward in the face of challenge. It’s okay to be afraid – that’s what courage means: doing something you’re afraid to do.

Setting small goals in the midst of big goals is vital for confidence and morale.

Mental fortitude is more important than physical ability. What carries one through tough goals is primarily the mental fortitude to not give up and to celebrate small accomplishments. When I was running, I set small goals along the course to achieve. “Make it to that palm tree and then you can walk for 1 minute,” I told myself. This is important because it builds confidence that one really can accomplish the large goal set before them.

Doing hard things in life is important.

It sounds cliche, but overcoming adversity is actually an important aspect to living a good life. While running 13.1 miles might not seem like adversity, it most definitely is. A lot of anxiety can come up when you’re faced with something you’ve never done before. But learning how to press through that anxiety teaches you how to handle all kinds of problems in life. 

I would recommend everyone who is able to pick up running and do a race! 5k, 10k, half or full marathon, it doesn’t matter, they’re all tough! Get out there and learn how to do something you never thought you could do. You’ll thank yourself that you did!

Disclaimer: I would also talk with your doctor before going from a sedentary to an active lifestyle quickly. There can be adverse physical affects that you aren’t aware of. I just about passed out after my race due to the physical energy drain (though I drank and ate plenty before and during the race). 

Psalm 91 shows us that when we set our love upon God, He will bless us with eight spiritual and natural promises. These promises affect our hearts, minds, bodies, and emotions. God will give us these promises as a response and a gift for our love.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; 
I will set him on high, because he has known My name, 
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; 
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 
With long life I will satisfy him, 
and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14–16

What is our part? Setting love upon Him and knowing His name

What is God’s part? Eight actions backed up by eight “I will” promises:

• I will deliver him (x2)
• Deliver from danger, set in safety
• 2nd time used: “to remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip (for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued”
• I will set him on high
• “to be (too) high (for capture), to be exalted (of God), Exalted”
• I will be with him in trouble
• Trouble: “trouble, distress, affliction, adversity, anguish, tribulation, adversary”
• I will honor him
• I will satisfy him with long life
• I will show him my salvation

God doesn’t just promise to deliver us by setting us in safety, but He promises to take us out of danger and equip us to fight. He rescues us and gives us the power and strength to stand.

This post is a bit of an expository teaching on the humanity of Jesus in His emotions that is displayed in the account of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

I think one of the most powerful verses in the Bible is the succinct, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Its brevity doesn’t limit its impact or meaning. Jesus understood — even prophesied — that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, so why would He ‘groan in the spirit and [be] troubled,’ even weep when He heard about Lazarus’ death?

Lazarus has just died and his family and friends are devastated. We find Jesus responding differently to the grieving of Lazarus’ two sisters, Martha and Mary. 

We know Martha and Mary from another popular scripture in John 10 where Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet and anoint Him while Martha is busy preparing food. I think it’s a common misconception to perceive Mary as ‘good’ and Martha as ‘bad.’ But in John it says that Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. I think this was a special friendship.

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About a month ago our city was hit by a tropical storm that dumped tons of rain on us, causing flooding in many areas. My house is at the end of a hill and is prone to flooding, so my friends and I went to fill sandbags provided by the city. 

We were close to being done when a group of young adults showed up to fill up their own sandbags. Being young adults, they were a bit underprepared. We gave them ties and shovels to help them. They were so grateful that they decided to help us by hauling our bags in their flatbed truck. And though it added extra time to both parties, we mutually benefited from each other’s helpfulness. 

Jesus talks an awful lot about helpfulness, servanthood, and generosity. He taught that helpfulness is personified as loving your neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). He goes as far as to say that greatness is found in the deepest level of servanthood.

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I guest authored this blog two weeks ago for a pro-life prayer movement for the ending of abortion: Bound4LIFE.com.

A little over a week ago, Sunshine State News reported that the abortion rate in Florida has dropped a staggering 19% from 2008 to 2011, and that downward trend is continuing this year. Though there are many dynamics attributed to this outcome, we believe this is an answer to an orchestrated effort of focused, unyielding intercession from thousands of believers in this state.

While this massive answer to prayer is God’s response to many believers who have not relented in their appeals to the courts of heaven, this post is a brief prophetic history of our efforts in praying and laboring for the ending of abortion in Florida capital city, Tallahassee.

In 2007, we started a Bound4LIFE chapter and began praying at the Florida Supreme Court. Around 7 months later in 2008, we participated in Bound4LIFE’s nation-wide prayer meeting called The Mercy Seat, where 6,200 gathered to pray at every Supreme Court in the nation simultaneously. Nearly 600 residents joined us throughout the 7 hour solemn assembly outside of the Florida Supreme Court, pleading Jesus’ blood and praying for God’s mercy to turn to our state.

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Israel is a small nation about the size of New Jersey, yet it’s global importance is nearly unequaled. It’s bizarre how much Israel is talked about in the news. The natural mind has to wonder “Why is Israel important?”

Israel is important because God has made Biblical promises to her that drastically affects every people group on Earth.

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On Wednesday, President Obama made an unprecedented stance as a sitting president on homosexual marriage. The national discussion on the issue is verbose. President Obama’s comments have infuriated and alienated believers and conservatives, while rejoicing others. 

As the discussion intensifies, believers are forced to make a choice: come into agreement with what God says about homosexual marriage, or agree with man. But what does God say about homosexual marriage, and why is it against His Word?

In order to understand the perversion that homosexual marriage is, we must understand the original intent of marriage. God designed heterosexual marriage for many blessings. Personal benefits aside, marriage acts as a testimony to the Earth of His marriage covenant with mankind. 

Marriage is a testimony to the Earth of God’s marriage covenant with mankind.

Ephesians 5 says that heterosexual marriage is a reflection of Christ’s relationship to the Church. I believe it also mirrors how God has made a marriage covenant with mankind through Christ becoming a Man and dying on our behalf. When God became a Man through Jesus Christ, He forever intwined Himself with humanity. Christ has literally become one flesh with mankind.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Eph 5:31

Homosexual marriage is an attempt to attack the very character of God and His relationship with mankind. It is attempting to redefine that which is to reflect God’s character. This is the most important reason why homosexual marriage should not be a standard in America. When a nation attacks God’s character, He will respond. 

Marriage is the foundation for godly families. 

When we compromise on our definition of heterosexual marriage as the Bible states it, the building blocks of society, which is family, are destroyed. For instance, the greek word for economy (oikonomia) is deeply rooted in family. It literally means “household (or home) management.” When our families are destroyed, so also is our economy, morals, vision, and purpose.

As believers, we must understand that homosexual marriage is more than a bad redefinition of what love is. It is an attack on the very character and nature of God. He doesn’t give arbitrary commandments to us, but His commandments are to protect us from going against His character and nature.