2nd Try - Don't be Fooled - Half Marathon is November 4th

Hey everyone,


It has been a long time since I have written anything on here. It has been a hectic time in life. The Lord has abundant life for us that is for sure. Speaking of that, I am working through some stuff on that promise of our Great God and Savior. But, anyway, the Lord has blessed me so much recent weeks but the weeks have been full. Monday, I have had the privilege of sitting under a teaching ministry an amazing woman named Martha. The wealth of knowledge is incredible! We are studying Hebrews. Jesus brought this most amazing book to me in 2002 from a sermon series that John Piper did. It is just amazing that I have a whole group to learn more from!!! Tuesdays are usually made for the gym after work. Wednesdays are amazing because that is church night and it is always great to gather with the body. And so it goes. I didn’t want to write this about the weeks so won't go on!What I did want to do is to tell everyone about the half marathon that I, Lord willing, am about to do on Sunday. Looking back, this woman, Sonya McCoy is the single most important reason, under God, for me to have experienced the times I have in this season of time. This is her and I after finishing the first 5k I did in June. Jesus used her challenge me to step out of the box! Thank you, Sonya!!! Now, asking myself, how in the world am I going do 13.1 miles. The presence of God!!! Have been anxious all day but am reminded that Moses was anxious. He pleaded with the Lord not to send him if the Lord didn't go with them. Asking the Lord to so fill my eyes with the glory of His self that I would have no anxiety over this. He is always with me! He never lets go! Nothing can, or will separate us from the love of God that is in (IN) Christ Jesus...Asking you to pray this for me this week...

A Picture from My First 5k and Gearing up for the Biggest Race Yet

Hey everyone,

It has been a long time since I have written anything on here. It has been a hectic time in life. The Lord has abundant life for us that is for sure. Speaking of that, I am working through some stuff on that promise of our Great God and Savior. But, anyway, the Lord has blessed me so much recent weeks but the weeks have been full. Monday, I have had the privilege of sitting under a teaching ministry an amazing woman named Martha. The wealth of knowledge is incredible! We are studying Hebrews. Jesus brought this most amazing book to me in 2002 from a sermon series that John Piper did. It is just amazing that I have a whole group to learn more from!!! Tuesdays are usually made for the gym after work. Wednesdays are amazing because that is church night and it is always great to gather with the body. And so it goes. I didn’t want to write this about the weeks so won't go on!
What I did want to do is to tell everyone about the half marathon that I, Lord willing, am about to do on Sunday. Looking back, this woman, Sonya McCoy is the single most important reason, under God, for me to have experienced the times I have in this season of time. This is her and I after finishing the first 5k I did in June. Jesus used her challenge me to step out of the box! Thank you, Sonya!!! Now, asking myself, how in the world am I going do 13.1 miles. The presence of God!!! Have been anxious all day but am reminded that Moses was anxious. He pleaded with the Lord not to send him if the Lord didn't go with them. Asking the Lord to so fill my eyes with the glory of His self that I would have no anxiety over this. He is always with me! He never lets go! Nothing can, or will separate us from the love of God that is in (IN) Christ Jesus...Asking you to pray this for me this week...

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash Rocks!!!!! Was never called a hypocrite. What an awesome saying at the end of life. Let it be said of me....

20 Miles in Two Saturdays

Last Saturday was a great day in my life. Got up early and went to Bikeline in Newark. The guys at Bikeline are great. They really helped me out a lot. Anyway, I was having problems with my wheels and one of the assistant managers at work, named Eric, said the wheels might need to be torked. The spokes in my tires had been loosened over the years and it was causing my wheels to wobble. I also got an odometer too… Tim and Christy Connors, two of the funniest people in the world, said they could pick me up because Tim had to get their car windows fixed. It was right by Bikeline. Well, his appointment was at 10 am. He didn’t leave there till five o’clock. He said I could just take the bus home. I got to thinking. It would have taken a couple hours to get home by bus. I hadn’t worked out yet. I decided to ride home. It was so fun! Just the time alone with Jesus and His creation was so amazing! Was celebrating all the way to the tune of “The Glory of It All!” And the 10.5 Miles wasn’t even that bad. Felt pretty good.

Yesterday morning was a real humid day here in Delaware. I can’t even believe how much I sweated yesterday. 9.65 Miles yesterday at Glasgow park and coming home. 3 times around the course.

Back in Time... My First Email After Doing a 5k

Hi Everyone,

it has been a long time since i have written anything and I am sorry. have been distracted from what really matters...

This week was a very eventful time... Basically every week is eventful when thinking about it... Was coming out of the gym on Monday night and my phone rang. my friend, Brent, from work was calling me to tell me that a man I used to know was dead, named Chris Benoit. The nightmare started. Was grieving the whole week even as the horrible details of the story came to light. I am horrified at the depravity of our human hearts that one human being could do this. This serves as a wake up warning screaming at my deaf ears. I am sometimes so slow to listen and repent. I am reminded of when the Lord of Eternity, Jesus was asked about a horrible tragedy that had happen, He said, unless we all repent, we shall likewise perish. This whole thing has effected me in such a way I don't even realize yet. But, this I know... Every decision we make is sooo important. With far reaching implications. Let us be viligant in our lives...

That really doesn't doesn't go along with the name of this email now does it. Sorry but here is the AMAZING part that the Lord has done. Yesterday, I was blessed enough to take part in a 5k Run/Walk race on the Waterfront. Wow, what a challenge, even on wheels. But the amazing part was the comradity among the runners. When we passed one another we said "good job" "keep it up." it was incredible. Of course, you would imagine the best part of the race was the end. Mom had bought me an mp3 player and all the runners had them to get through the race. It certainly got me through but the real blessing came at the end. 3 mile mark came and this song came on that was a real reminder. It was "You Are My Joy" by the David Crowder Band and it was an incredible ending to an incredible race. Jesus is the source of all real joy and happiness. Run to Him and be happy in Him alone. I am sorry Sonya, for not saying hey to you when I finished but I just wanted a couple seconds in saying thank you to the Source of Real Joy!!!


love you all,

jonathan

Conviction of the Spirit

Conviction of the Spirit
Hi Everyone,I guess this post will be kind of weird for a lot of you to understand just bare with me as I vent a little about this passage that the Lord has shown me...
English Standard Version

Hebrews 12:1Therefore, 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,

Who are these witnesses? Well, all the "heroes" of the faith of Jesus. Obviously, the writer mean the people in the previous chapter... We have 2,000 years of people who have kept the faith. What, then are we doing with that? What am I doing with that? Everytime I choose to not obey the voice of the Lord, do I know what it is costing me? Thank God He loves us!!!
Hebrews 12:2looking 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.
How do we look to Jesus? He is invisible. Looking for Him in the Scriptures is the main way to see the Great King of Heaven and His glories. I believe that Jesus graces believers with glimpses of Himself in other ways; in worship and prayer times. Training is one way He has revealed Himself to me. I feel His pleasure as I give my all. Jesus be praised with my whole life devoted to Him.

Hbr 12:3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Wow! He endured such hostility from sinners so that was may not grow weary. This is the whole reason for the book of Hebrews. It is so amazing to me. He knew that we would grow weary. Weary to the point of wanting to quit. Jesus, thank you so much for knowing us in our frailty… I do get weary of myself and others. Please help me not to look at others and only look to You! It is sooo easy to get depressed when we see how our world does not seek after it’s Creator. What is wrong with us? You glory is what we were made for. You Name is being misused and abused because we are so into our own lives. We were made to forget ourselves. Jesus, grant this miracle!!!

Hbr 12:4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
How’s the struggle going for you? Have you shed any blood yet? He has already taken care of the sin, decisively. That is why we don’t fight to overcome our sin. We fight because we know our sin is already overcome therefore we fight at victors! He has shed His perfect blood!
Hbr 12:5-10 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
A loving Father addressing us as sons and daughters is amazing. Our Sovereign Father puts everything in our lives to make conform to His holiness. That means everything. Even the unpleasant times. We need to trust this to be true.