Extremely Tired

It all started at 7:00 pm thursday night. I had softball practice before our game at 8:30 pm. We won 25 + something to zero in 3 innings.

Then I had 4 races this weekend.

To give you a better understanding how I feel now I will run you through the play by play.

You know the feeling when you start exercising for the first time in 7 years or more. Your body is not used to it at all. Well Friday after work for half a day and traveling 3 and a half hrs my body was already feeling tired, Extremely Tired. My chest hurt from softball and my legs felt sore in certain spots. I could tell by the loading and unloading the car at my brothers house before the race that it would be a long night plus my right arm still hurts since Jan. something, old age.

The race was supposed to start at 7:00 pm, It started at 7:20 something. Before we started they told us we would have 3 laps instead of 4. Made sense, the sun goes down in 1 hr and 40 min. The race started and I was going with every move off the front, everything! I didn't want to work with any of them till Mr. Martin came up to join us. That gave us all the power we needed since we had almost every big team up the road and then I messed up. As soon as I saw Paul I attacked, wrong move. That broke apart the whole break and now we have 2 roadhouse and 2 A&F riders with one GodSpeed rider, which would be me. I made the wrong choice and I payed for it all weekend. That Friday night I was in a break or the last break a total of 46 miles which was longer than any other rider that night, that's because they added a lap during the race. When our break got caught by the field before the finish I could barely hang on to the back of the field.

Next day my legs hurt already and after I warmed up they felt a little better. Today was 65 miles with a couple of rolling hills, and they looked like they were big enough to drop me all day. Well I sat in for most of the day and I attacked a couple of times but nothing big. Then after one of the Roadhouse riders were up the road they let me and Paul roll off the front. I went hard for several miles trading turns with Paul, giving it everything I had. Then we caught his teammate and I still went as hard as I could. I thought the harder I could go the more time ahead I will be at the end. Then I noticed Paul is doing all the work and I felt like I couldn't even stay on his wheel. I wanted to help them as much as I could cause after yesterday this wasn't going to come back. So I would just pull through and try not to let them know I was hurting. We got to the feed zone and that was it if I could have stayed on them up that little grade I think I would have recouped enough to just hang on in front of the rest. Thanks to my Dad and Jane for all the feeds that day especially that last lap. I was able to hang on to the field and even make a go at the finish. I almost saw riders go down twice and with 250 meters left I gave it everything I had, for only another 100 meters. I should have never taken that chance to sprint cause when you don't have anything left your going to get passed by some better riders. I got passed by them all and I finished with the field again.

I felt so much better today mentally, I didn't care what was going to happen after that race. It's a good thing I decided to do the time trial cause that went real good. Matter of fact it was a miracle I got 4th overall in the time trial. It was my 4th TT ever and I avg. 27.5 mph 4hrs after I did a 65 mile Road Race. The first 2 miles of the TT went fast I was spinning at 95 + rpm's in my 53 - 11 after the first turnand I could tell I was gaining on my opponent that started 1 min before me. I knew I beat him in the end cause I was only 10 sec behind him at the end of our TT. My legs couldn't have felt any worse than they did during the whole TT. Even though I was close to my min man I said lets go home I am done for the weekend. The rider behind me was a 19 year old Canadian on a decked out TT bike and we knew he beat me by 27 seconds. What we were going to know Sunday was he got 2nd overall. I said what we were going to know which means Dad and family with me all weekend. They told me I should at least go and find out how I did and sit in all day and see if I could get some money in the end.

I showed up and Dad came running out and said you are in 4th overall I couldn't believe it! The times were all 1 min faster so like I said before I finished a 15 : 17 they had me down as 14 : 18. So I checked every one else and they were the same way. Thank you Lord! Man the Lord has blessed me so much. So far the first 2 days I gave it more than I had both days and still came up good. The Lord has blessed me so much. Today I was still going to sit in and just go when Paul did. Well that worked till Brandon Gavic pulled the field for what seemed like eternity and I was on the front, thank goodness. The next whole lap I was on the back which was a big mistake and I knew it was going to be but I needed to rest up. I thought there are still enough strong guys here so I will stay back. Big mistake in the 72 mile race today. Nine riders made it clear that they didn't want to be caught and I came within 5 sec of doing it. We had a group of 7 and 6 of us worked it and were down 1 min 40 sec so it wasn't to bad. I felt really exhausted going into the last 2 laps and I still tried to help the others out but couldn't do much. I took the sprint for 10 place and felt like I was going to have a asthma attack. I haven't felt that way since I was 12 and don't want to feel that way again. The Lord blessed me with just enough money to cover every expense, thanks to Dad, Mom, Chris and Amanda. 4th overall and trying to make breaks happen the first 2 days and missing the winning break the last day is more than enough for me to handle. Thank you Lord for a Safe and Exhausting weekend. I pray that others will see the miracle you gave to me this past weekend.

Last couple of weeks

I have been playing softball now and enjoy it more than I thought I would. I haven't hit a home run yet but have been trying to just hit the ball. I felt bad one time when I hit it to 3rd base my 2nd time up for the year. It was one of those rocket shots one bounce and off the 3rd basemans thigh and to the outfield fence out of play. I told the guy sorry and he was ok with it. So far I am 3-5 with two doubles and no pulled muscles yet. Thank you Lord. I have now moved to 3rd base. I remember my senior year of baseball I was 5-5 with 2 hrs and 2 doubles my first 2 games, boy a lot has changed since then.

My cousins daughters came to stay with my mom for 10 days, so much fun! I even hit Carlie with a ball in our backyard ball game. I hit her right in the chin, ouch! I told her I was sorry and every time I would mention playing ball with someone else and she over heard us talking she would say " Don't let him hit you in the chin". Great girls hope to see them all soon, they grow so fast.

Caylin and family have a pool pass. Yep we have been going to the pool now and Caylin loves it. I will let you know when she puts her head in the water, if she is like mommy it may not happen.

Becky is applying for a teaching job at Kingsway Christian School. I pray Becky will get the job if it is the Lords will. I am so blessed to have her in my life she has done everything for us and it is a big job keeping me in line.

Cycling, I have been riding back and forth to work every day and have done 1 race at St. Albans. Last year at St. Albans I did any and everything I wanted and couldn't go wrong. This year I did the same for the first 5 laps collecting 2 primes. After that I was done. I couldn't hang with the big boys at all. So 5 guys lapped the field then came around to lap 3 of us who worked together the whole race. Then the 5 guys started attacking each other and I went with every attack and then took off at the end of the race caught before one lap to go and went to the back on the hill and went around all but 4 guys at the end.

Tyler asked if I had that chilli dog before the race, I said nope. Tyler said your in trouble now joking, I laughed and agreed. Last year before the race I helped with everyone setting up and had myself a chilli dog before the race. Donations can be made to the JDRF and can be found with results and photos at : www.grassrootsriding.com

Suffering Will Come

Here are somethings to ask yourself today? Am I suffering for Jesus Christ in my life? Am I bearing in my body the marks of serving the Lord Jesus? Is my flesh winning the war in the struggle against sin in my life and am I experiencing daily victory over it in my walk with Him? Suffering for Christ is going to happen, not maybe, but it will happen. The Christian should learn to rejoice and rely on God in times of suffering.

Look up and enjoy these encouraging words from Thomas Brooks.

You have afflicted me(Brooks, "A Word in Season to Suffering Saints")"I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word." Psalm 119:67 God's corrections are our instructions, His lashes are our lessons, His scourges are our schoolmasters, His chastisements are our admonishments.By afflictions, troubles, distresses and dangers--the Lord teaches His people to look upon sin as the most loathsome thing in the world; and to look upon holinessas the most lovely thing in the world. Sin is never so bitter, and holiness is never so sweet--as when our troubles are greatest and our dangers highest.

By affliction, the Lord teaches His people to sit loose from this world, and to be prepared for eternity. By affliction, God shows His people the vanity, vexation, emptiness, weakness, and nothingness of all createdthings; and the choiceness, preciousness and sweetness of communion with Himself.It has been the lot and portion of God's dearest children, to be exercised with very great and grievous afflictions; in order . . . to the discovery of sin, to the embittering of sin, to the preventing of sin, to the purging away of sin; and to the discovery of grace, to the trial of grace, to the exercise of grace, to the increase of grace; and to the weaning of them from this world; and to the ripening of them for heaven; and to the completing of their conformity to Christ, the captain of their salvation, "who was madeperfect through sufferings," Hebrews 2:10; andto work in them more pity and compassion to those who are in misery, and who sigh and groan under their Egyptian taskmasters.

Brecksville Race's

The pavement was wet as I started warming up on the course watching Mike Gorman crush all of his opponets. Great job Mike! I had talked about doing the same thing with Dan Quinlan(sp) before our race. One person can't do it alone from the beginning in the cat 1-3 race. I think I told Dan I will have to see who shows up and if it would be the right time to attack. I was talking to S. Kadar as we got started and then within 2 seconds from our start I rolled off the front, but not hard. Then before the first turn I looked back and I saw only one rider. I smiled and took off.

Three hills later on the first lap I saw Tris Hopkens(sp). coming and two others way back. I eased off the pedals and Tris got my wheel and we were off. From what I remember (which could be wrong) He took a short pull in the flat section before the down hill and then I charged down the hill as fast as I thought I could. Then before the big climb on the first lap Tris led up the hill. The Hill is now called a bump in the road by my Dad and I am sure Don Cernanic(sp). would say the same. The Hill used to be bigger back in the days Dad's State Road races were 21 laps for a total of 85+ miles. Don was telling me they cut off the top of the Hill. Don told me this in my first year I raced in the cat 1-3 field in 2003.

As Tris led me up the hill I tried hard to help Tris out the rest of the race and it worked. Tris was so much stronger than me for sure. Tris dropped me on the Hill on the 3rd lap and I felt like that all day, just hanging on. Once we had 2:45 sec on the field I knew it would be a great ending for me. The time gaps were closing fast 2:15, 1:45, 1:15, then I looked back and told Tris I see them. We eased up so we could hold there wheels as they would fly by. Paul, Dan, Brian, Nate... hey where is Kirk. Well I saw the field when they were coming too. So that was not good to see also. So there was six of us just tooling around with Kirk Albers(sp) in the field smiling at us.

Then we come to the Hill again, I told myself I have too hang on to these guys. Well...I got dropped. Sometimes things just aren't meant to be. I didn't give up I kept going then I remembered the field should be close. Sure enough I could see them and if I could see them they could see me.
I thought I saw someone coming so I took a better look. Sure enough it was Kirk. I didn't look good enough the first time or I would have saw him 50 feet away. So when I looked the 2nd time he was 10 feet away and going 10 mph faster than me, which is like 100 when a car passes by real fast. I sprinted to blow myself up and it worked I grabbed Kirk's wheel. He pulled me for 30 sec and I said just get me to the downhill and I will pull the rest of the way. Kirk looked like he nodded his head and pulled hard. It was like the pace of Tris and I's first couple of laps, which was great for me cause now I'm not going to get caught by the field. I reasured Kirk that he could do it and that I will pull the hole flat section before the downhill.

After the last knoll before the turn to the flat section before the down hill I came around Kirk and said "here we go". I started out slow and ramped it up slowly and once I saw them I had to choose to fly by them or just be happy with what I did today. The two motorcycles made my decision easy as I passed the one motorcycle across the double yellow line. I knew Charles was on the next motorcycle so I just went behind everyone else. Kirk must have stayed behind me a little bit so he would have made the gap between the riders and the motorcycles. Kirk blew by them with fresh legs thanks to me towing him. But Thanks to Kirk for helping me out cause I would have been ate up by the field. It would have been awesome to see if Kirk could have caught them by hiself cause that would have been awesome to see and I would have had fresh legs up the hill which would have been even better. I am so glad I did get 7th cause Tris deserved 6th place, even if he did have a mechanical.

OCC Ride

Wednesday night with some rain. Pavement was wet and I am not making excuses, but my rear tire was worn to the threads. Yes I hit the pavement at 20 + mph on a training ride with OCC. On a straight road coming to a one lane bridge. I stood up to put some pressure on the pedals and quickly found myself trying to catch the rear wheel as it was side ways. Just about the time I had my foot out on the ground I slammed to the pavement. With my Team GodSpeed kit on of course. I am banged up a little but feel blessed I didn't hit the bridge or a car or another rider. Bike shifts better after a little persuasion. Hope I feel better for Sunday. Why am I going you ask? I have done this race every year since I started racing. Plus I used to go there when I was younger watching Dad race it. I was 6-12 back then. I have bad luck at this race almost all the time. The first year I broke a spoke in the cat 4 race and Zak waited for me up the hill every time, I got 2nd Zak won it, and he earned it big time. The 2nd year cat 1-3 I think I got 11th, the third year 9th, which was great I'll take those placings. Then I was sick in 05 and tried to race for 2 laps, not smart, then last year I broke my chain the first time up the hill. So I hope to better 9th place, but as always I hope to just be safe. It's fun when you get beat up in some races, well this is one of them. It will be really tuff to even finish this race with the field. I always seem to get dropped by the field on the hill so maybe I can hold on this year.

Off to work I go

Well off to work I went, 5:40 am. This time it was in the car. I rode my bike to work 14 working days in a row, that is my record so far. That has saved me 80 bucks in the last 3 weeks. If I get on the bike tonight for the club ride it will make 21 days in a row. With the Brecksville race coming up this Sunday my legs will either be real tired or really fit.

As long as I don't have a mechanical or wreck it will be fun. I will miss not going to church this Sunday but will be with our bible study group sat for some time of fellowship. We will be flying in a small plane over our houses so that will be a first for our family. Hope Caylin does good, I am sure she will.

Mondays I have been with my associate minister going over the book of James. This book is packed with detailed info. James wrote this book to urge his people to make needed changes in their lives and in their corporate relationships.

James 1st lesson: Trials and Temptations
2nd lesson: Listening and Doing
3rd lesson: Mercy and Judgement
4th lesson: Faith and Works
5th lesson: Taming The Tongue
6th lesson: Friendship With God
7th lesson: Investing in Your Future
8th lesson: Suffering and Prayer

On http://www.truthpatrol.blogspot.com/ look at the Christians vs Atheists. It takes some time to watch all of it but it is very good. I think maybe 45 mins total.
Also our church website is up and running. Take a look www.orrvillechristian.org

Hope to post something else soon...

I Love My Mom

Mothers day and my mom was in Kansas with her mom. Love Ya Mom. She was out there for Grandpa's surgery. His surgery went very well and he is at home doing good. The day my mom was going to fly back we all got word that her aunt, my great aunt died(aunt Judy). So many great memories of aunt Judy, and I pray for many more with uncle Eldon. We Love them so much they were even with us on our honeymoon. Actually we all went to the same place but didn't think we would see them for the day we were there. It was a fun day with family.

Mom's are wonderful my list can go on about how much my mom went through with me. I think there is a movie about me(Problem Child). Well my Mom has been a very great blessing in my life and I Love Her dearly.

I have learned to have a greater appreciation for mom since Caylin was born. Parenting changes your life! I am so greatful that God has blessed me to become a Father. Becky is such a great Mother to Caylin and we are so blessed.

Pray for our family during this time. We Thank you Lord for the times we shared with Aunt Judy.

2007 Cycling

Well I started racing again. I knew I would eventually. Since the last week in Feb I have in 113 more hours. The total now is 135. 96% of my riding is to work and back home, taking Caylin for a ride to the park and/or the Orrville Club rides/races. 4 percent has been in racing. I have done 4 races this year and so far no crashes.

Memories: My first Orrville Club ride(OCC) I came off of a 21 hour week and I got destroyed. We only rode for an hour and my legs hurt for 3 days after that night. Someone will get a kick out of this next story. I took Caylin to the park and we were there a long time. I had to go to the bathroom bad, real bad. So I said Caylin let's go home. She said "No Daddy, No." I said to myself ok there are only a couple of people here they don't know who I am, I'll just go. So I went, no big deal, gotta go ya gotta go. Riding to work is always great sometimes at 5 am.

Races: My first race was RATL, great to see everyone that was there. I raced real aggressive and finished 9th, very hard race. My second race was Race around the chase. Great to see everyone there as well, thanks to Dave Tingler for the video, and Shawn Adams for the help. 3rd place finish was more than great, I was just hoping to finish with the pack. Ratl was next and during warm up I broke my wipperman chain at the rivet of the connector link, what else is new. Right by my side was the winner of the cat 4 race that same day Josh Halvax, better get used to that name boys. He rides at OCC on wednesday nights. Josh gave me his chain for me to use, that saved me 20 bucks, thank you Josh. I ended up winning 20 bucks for 7th place. The 1st Ohio Cup race was at Wilkesville. I went because I thought there would be 80 guys in our race in support of the OCA, not much there. Also I went for a great meal, yes it's still all about the food. Anyway the race started and 3 rolled off the front and we all looked at each other like a deer looking into headlights. We heard they were 4mins ahead so what did we do? Nothing they wouldn't let anyone else go away from the field but it was ok for the front 3 to be out there as if they earned it. Well they did! That front 3 took 1st 2nd and 4th. Shawn Adams took 3rd with a flat tire, great job Shawn! Shawn helped Nate and I out and as we were getting closer to the front of the race I got dropped and when I caught back on, miles later it seemed, I said to Shawn and Nate let me sit on for awhile I won't contest the sprint. At the end of the race Nate let me have 5th thank you so much Nate. We split 10 bucks since ther was no money for 6th place. I guess that's why I am going back to playing softball, to much money to do cycling.

Soldier Of Christ

"Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 2:3

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, Prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the Lord's coming or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in Sunday school to teach children, work with the youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, I am there. He can use me because I am there!

I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, prasing His name and building His kingdom. No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or handouts to keep me coming. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I WILL WIN. My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me! I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to a captain. I am a soldier, in the army, and I am marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching, heaven bound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me?

My God,His Child

One often forgets to praise God for the salvation that He has granted to them. Once again I am reminded this morning of how praise to God needs to be uttered from our lips as believers in Jesus Christ. To many times people forget to just praise God for saving and keeping them. I hope you will begin sensing that you need to praise God for electing you to salvation if you are in Christ.Here is a devotion this morning from CH Spurgeon. He clearly had the attitude that God elects and chooses whom He will save. It never became an issue for Spurgeon and the other great Calvinists of the past.Spurgeon's devotion for today:

"I will be their God, and they shall be my people."2 Corinthians 6:1.What a sweet title: "My people!" What a cheering revelation: "Their God!" How much of meaning is couched in those two words, "My people!" Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and He reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom He hath chosen, whom He hath purchased to Himself, He saith what He saith not of others--"My people" In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the "Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." All the nations upon earth are His; the whole world is in His power; yet are His people, His chosen, more especially His possession; for He has done more for them than others; He has bought them with His blood; He has brought them nigh to Himself; He has set His great heart upon them; He has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, "My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call Thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with Thee when Thou art pleased to manifest Thyself unto me as Thou dost not unto the world?" Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus' garments, and say, "My Christ"? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, "My people;" for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of His choice, accepted in His beloved Son.

The Three Nails

This is a story of long ago -- of a man who owned a little store.
He said, "I was proud to have my name up over the door."
It was some two thousand years ago, as I recall,
Located in Jerusalem, across the street from Pilate's hall.

I thought I had everything anyone would need,
And folks would come from miles around, regardless of their creed.
The only thing I had I didn't think I could ever sell,
Was in the corner on a self -- three old rusty spike nails.

And then one day a big Roman soldier came through the door.
As he walked up to me it seemed he shook the floor.
I said, "Can I help you Sir?", with a voice I guess seemed frail.
He looked at me with a sneering grin and said,
"I want to buy some big, big nails."

"Three old rusty spikes is all I have." He said to me, "That will do
For the job I have, three's enough -- now how much do I owe you?"
He put the money in my hand and I was glad to make the sale.
Then I wondered and asked him,
" Sir, what can you do with just three nails?"

He said, "Did you ever hear of a man called Jesus the Nazerene?"
"You mean the one who goes about doing good?" He said,
"Yes that's the man."
"Well, today I intend to show the world that I am boss,
For with these three old rusty spikes I am going to nail Jesus
To the cross."

I stood there almost numb -- you'll never know how I felt.
I said, " Please, Sir, don't do that!", as on my knees I knelt.
He just turned and walked away, and I got up and followed him.
I said, "Please, Sir, I'll buy them back", but he just looked at me
And grinned.

But in the distance I could see the howling mob through the tears
That filled my eyes.
"Away with him!" "Crucify him!" I could hear their angry cries.
Over the top of all the noise and groans of agony,
I could hear the sound of the hammer as that big Roman soldier
Nailed Jesus to a tree.

Iowa

Went to Iowa for Easter, Easter you said, yep Easter. I have been so busy and have so much I need to write down.

Anywho... Went to Iowa for Easter to be with family. It was my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. My mom had us share with them about all the great times we had. One memory that will be stuck in my head forever was the time we shot off fireworks over top my Grandpa Mari's Lake of the Ozarks.

Well we had a crowd of family and friends watching it was great!

My cousin Ryan, my Brother Chris and I started shooting bottle rockets.... without the bottle.... cause what fun is that! I started sticking them in the ground trying to make them skip across the lake. It looked awesome when they blew up on top of the water or right in the water, super cool.

The Last bottle rocket.... well this last one I did... yep I admit it.

I Did It.

I lit it as it stuck in the ground so perfect ready to skip across the water... then it ...uh oh.. no.. no.. wait.. no, no, no, no ....

As the rocket was still sticking in the ground trying to launch it shook back and forth up and down side to side...

then on a direct route to my Grandpa.

POP!

It singed the hairs right off my Grandpa's leg.

After I mentioned it at the 60th anniversary party Grandpa Mari (Marion) said he still has a scar from it.

Great times, our family shared these memories for hours that night.

My Grandma, we call her Grandma P, shared with us how important it is to have a Christian marriage. We sure have learned so much from them and hope to have so many more memories with them.

It is hard to write this now but my Grandpa needs prayer today. He is in surgery for a triple bypass. Please pray for him, the Doctors and our family.

Canyon Jumpers

Canyon Jumpers Romans 5:1, 10-11John Mulpas is our Minister at OCC. http://www.johnmulpas.com/ I still kept the listening guide because I felt it was important to share with you.
Canyon Jumpers
How Can I Bridge the Gap Between Me and God?
Option #1 I can __________(indulge) myself.
Option #2 I can __________(compare) myself.
Yes I have indulged myself to many times, haven't we all?
Yes I have compared myself to others or what I used to be able to do.
Isaiah 64:6 We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a filthy rags in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.
Matthew 5 : 13-16
Salt and Light
5:13 “You are the salt 13 of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, 14 how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 5:15 People 15 do not light a lamp and put it under a basket 16 but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
The Condemnation of the Unrighteous
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people 39 who suppress the truth by their 40 unrighteousness, 41 1:19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, 42 because God has made it plain to them. 1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people 43 are without excuse. 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts 44 were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed 45 to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings 46 or birds or four-footed animals 47 or reptiles.1:24 Therefore God gave them over 48 in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor 49 their bodies among themselves. 50 1:25 They 51 exchanged the truth of God for a lie 52 and worshiped and served the creation 53 rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, 54 1:27 and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women 55 and were inflamed in their passions 56 for one another. Men 57 committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, 58 God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 59 1:29 They are filled 60 with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with 61 envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, 1:31 senseless, covenant-breakers, 62 heartless, ruthless. 1:32 Although they fully know 63 God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, 64 they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. 65 Romans 1:18-32
The Condemnation of the Moralist
2:1 1 Therefore 2 you are without excuse, 3 whoever you are, 4 when you judge someone else. 5 For on whatever grounds 6 you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth 7 against those who practice such things. 2:3 And do you think, 8 whoever you are, when you judge 9 those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, 10 that you will escape God’s judgment? 2:4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know 11 that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 2:5 But because of your stubbornness 12 and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! 13 2:6 He 14 will reward 15 each one according to his works: 16 2:7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 2:8 but 17 wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition 18 and do not obey the truth but follow 19 unrighteousness. 2:9 There will be 20 affliction and distress on everyone 21 who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 22 2:10 but 23 glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 2:12 For all who have sinned apart from the law 24 will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 25 2:14 For whenever the Gentiles, 26 who do not have the law, do by nature 27 the things required by the law, 28 these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 2:15 They 29 show that the work of the law is written 30 in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend 31 them, 32 2:16 on the day when God will judge 33 the secrets of human hearts, 34 according to my gospel 35 through Christ Jesus. Romans2:1-16

Option#3 I can ________(Save) myself. Yep I can do it myself I don't need anyones help.
=> Religion is spelled (D)-(O) DO.
Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and 1 authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. 3:2 They must not slander 2 anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. 3:4 3 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure 4 through Jesus Christ our Savior. 3:7 And so, 5 since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” 6 Titus 3:1-7
The Illustration of Justification
4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, 1 has discovered regarding this matter? 2 4:2 For if Abraham was declared righteous 3 by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God. 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited 4 to him as righteousness.” 5 4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 6 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, 7 his faith is credited as righteousness.4:6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:4:7 “Blessed 8 are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;4:8 blessed is the one 9 against whom the Lord will never count 10 sin.” 114:9 Is this blessedness 12 then for 13 the circumcision 14 or also for 15 the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 16 4:10 How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised! 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, 17 so that he would become 18 the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, 19 that they too could have righteousness credited to them. 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised, 20 who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised. 214:13 For the promise 22 to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 4:14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 23 4:15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression 24 either. 4:16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, 25 with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, 26 who is the father of us all 4:17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). 27 He is our father 28 in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who 29 makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. 30 4:18 Against hope Abraham 31 believed 32 in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations 33 according to the pronouncement, 34 “so will your descendants be.” 35 4:19 Without being weak in faith, he considered 36 his own body as dead 37 (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 4:20 He 38 did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 4:21 He was 39 fully convinced that what God 40 promised he was also able to do. 4:22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham 41 as righteousness.4:23 But the statement it was credited to him 42 was not written only for Abraham’s 43 sake, 4:24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 4:25 He 44 was given over 45 because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of 46 our justification. 47 Romans 4:1-25
The Believer’s Freedom from Sin’s Domination
6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? 6:2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 6:3 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. 16:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection. 2 6:6 We know that 3 our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, 4 so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 6:7 (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.) 56:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 6:9 We know 6 that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die 7 again; death no longer has mastery over him. 6:10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. 6:11 So you too consider yourselves 8 dead to sin, but 9 alive to God in Christ Jesus.6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, 6:13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments 10 to be used for unrighteousness, 11 but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments 12 to be used for righteousness. 6:14 For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.The Believer’s Enslavement to God’s Righteousness6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves 13 as obedient slaves, 14 you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? 15 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed 16 from the heart that pattern 17 of teaching you were entrusted to, 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 6:19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) 18 For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.6:21 So what benefit 19 did you then reap 20 from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 6:22 But now, freed 21 from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit 22 leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. 6:23 For the payoff 23 of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:1-23
=> Christianity is spelled D-O-N-E (DONE).
The Expectation of Justification
5:1 1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have 2 peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice 3 in the hope of God’s glory. 5:3 Not 4 only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 5:4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5:5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God 5 has been poured out 6 in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 5:7 (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) 7 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9 Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous 8 by his blood, 9 we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. 10 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 5:11 Not 11 only this, but we also rejoice 12 in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11
Option#4______________(Surrender) myself.
I have experienced all of the above Options. I have indulged, compared, saved and surrenderd myself.

Sorry for all the much needed info. I felt like all of it needed to be shared.

Love the Lord God with all your Soul, Mind, and Body.

Top 10 Reasons People Leave a Church

Found this very interesting www.truthpatrol.blogspot.com

For a bigger picture of the chart click here.
Why they FleeThe latest findings from the LifeWay Research area of LifeWay Christian Resources give the top 10 reasons adults switch churches.This study builds on LifeWay Research’s 2006 study of the formerly churched, which explored the reasons adults stop going to church.

The current findings explain why people change churches and how these situations differ from those in which the individual does not resume church attendance at all.
Church switchers are defined as Protestant Americans who have attended more than one church regularly as an adult."There are two types of people who slip out through the back door of the church," said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. "One group is probably leaving church permanently, and the other group is going to find a new church."To understand why adults choose to change churches, 415 "non-mover" church switchers – who changed churches for reasons other than changes to their residential location – were surveyed in December 2006.

The study results indicate that overall, those who change churches for reasons other than moving are more likely fleeing their previous church rather than being drawn to another. Fifty-eight percent of study participants said the greatest impact on their decision to switch churches was "my need/desire to leave my previous church." The other 42 percent left because of the desire to join their current church.For full article click here.

Orrville Christian Church

This Past Sunday in Church really made me cry. Tears of joy, which is a great thing men. In our class before 2nd service we were told to go into the Sanctuary quietly and Pray. It was hard not knowing what service was going to be like. No Church bulletins or talking or laughing, just come in, sit down and pray.

Ok change is hard! When you do something for so long you get used to it or it becomes repetitive at least with me it has.

My Heart was not in it that day.

You want to give God your best every day! Think of the movie Facing the Giants. In that movie the coach is yelling incouragement to his football player "I want your Best, Give me Your Best, Your Absolute Best, Don't Give Up, Keep Going, Your Best, Your Very Best,....."

You need to watch that movie even if the actors weren't to great. But I own the Movie and it gets me everytime.

So anyway just like in Church I was feeling bad that I don't give God my very Best and I always fall short of my Goals or I sin so much.

Now we are half way through our service and I feel it has been very hard to give God my attention at Church. I felt like I couldn't stay focused on anything. You can clearly tell I was not thinking about God it was all for me. Me, me, me, me....

Then communion time comes... Our Minister John says something like " get out a piece of paper and write down your sins and lay them at the foot of the cross for Jesus." We had a big cross in church that day and it is never there. It was in the way of the big screen and It was hard to read while we were singing all day.

So as I am writing my sins on the paper he said we will take communion up here at the 2 tables instead of it being handed to us at our seat. Another change that we had. Again thinking of me, me, me, me, me...

I get up out of the pew and start to walk down the aisle, not first of course. Then waiting in line I am starting to ask God to forgive my sorry behind, feeling not worthy at all. Then I hear... A Loud Thump Thump Thump..... Thump Thump Thump.

Three men are at the cross nailing our sins on the cross. We had several people in Church that day maybe over 300 hundred so there was a lot of hammering.

After I took communion I stood at our pew I closed my eyes and asked God to really forgive me I told Him sorry for being such a pain. I told Him this time, and I hope to mean it the same next time. It hurt me to realize how bad I really can be. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can nail your sins to the cross and be forgiven. That's what life is about. You need Jesus in your life. You cannot live without Him. I can't breathe without Him and He is the reason why I live today.

If you have seen Passion of the Christ, you may have seen the part where Jesus gets nailed to the cross. Or you turned your head and listened to the Hammer Thumping the Nails through His Hands and feet.

I thought about that in Church when we nailed our sins to the cross.

I pray that I become more Christ like and that I change to be more like Him. I also Pray that others will come to know Him as well.

Sunday one of my friends decided to get baptized in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you Lord for such a great day!

Noahs Ark # 2

In the year 2006, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, You have 6 months to build the Ark before I start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard -but no Ark.

Noah! He roared, Im about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?

Forgive me, Lord, begged Noah, but things have changed.

I needed a building permit.

Ive been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.

My neighbors claim that Ive violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations.

We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.

Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark is move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem.

Theres a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go! When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the EPA ruled that I couldnt build the Ark until theyd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

Im still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities Im supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization is checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.

The trades unions say I cant use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming Im trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, You mean youre not going to destroy the world?

No, said the Lord.

The government beat me to it.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT DEATH

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! Make a personal reflection about this. Very interesting, read until the end.

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7): "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Here are some men and women who mocked God:

JOHN LENNON: Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: "Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him" (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

TANCREDO NEVES (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

CAZUZA (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show in Canecïo ( Rio de Janeiro ), whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you." He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

THE MAN WHO BUILT THE TITANIC: After the construction of the Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it" The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

MARILYN MONROE: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: "I don't need your Jesus". A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

BON SCOTT: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: "Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell". On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

CAMPINAS/SP IN 2005: In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter - holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: "MY DAUGHTER, GO WITH GOD AND MAY HE PROTECT YOU."

She responded: "ONLY IF HE(GOD) TRAVELS IN THE TRUNK, CAUSE INSIDE HERE IT'S ALREADY FULL". Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none were broken.

Christine Hewitt: A Jamaican Journalist and entertainer, said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written, in June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle. Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.

JESUS Predicts His Death!!!

Jesus turned and said to Peter, " Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:23-28).

AWANA

Well sorry it took me so long to tell everyone that I had a great time at AWANA! I was the speaker for there AWANA Grand Prix. They did a pine wood derby race and it was my first experience. It was so awesome to see how much time they put into the cars to get them ready. The kids thought about racing these cars for 4 months prior to this event. Sort of like racing in a National Racing Calendar event. So the kids were excited!

I did my best to get the kids interested in racing there cars and telling them how important it is to have Jesus in there life. Also giving God the glory for the great things he has done in our lives.
This was my first experience of being a guest speaker so I know I will do better in April when the next one comes.

I had a wonderful time at North Alliance Church on Sunday as well. They made me feel very welcome and I felt like I was at my Church. I really enjoyed talking to the kids in Sunday School
class and felt that the Lord helped me to share everything I needed to share with them. Bunch of great kids and Families at that Church. I hope to take my wife and Daughter up there someday. Thanks to Dave for introducing the muffins to me. After Church service we all had Fellowship time eating Muffins and drinking coffee. I enjoyed this the most and I encourage other Churches to have a fellowship time together before during or after Church. Our Church has this as well. I guess I enjoyed it so much because I was eating those great muffins and had more time to fellowship.

Thanks to Cheryl and Dave Young for getting me started, I was more nervous than any bike race I have done since I was 12. Thanks to AWANA and Larry for a great time and giving me the chance to speak. Also Thanks to the North Alliance Church and the Pastors and Pastors Wives for a great two days.

P.S. It was great to go out on the roads Saturday with Dave and show me how hard it is to ride up in Norwalk. The wind that day was at least 30 mph! Now wonder why he is so strong.

Is Global Warming True?

That is the question that many people are having these days, especially if one is in the Democrat Party in the state of Iowa. In all fairness, I should say that not all Democrats would hold to the theory of Global Warming. It is not uncommon to hear from the mouths of many church members around here "This Global Warming is something, really something." I had a man come up to me this past Sunday and those were his words. He really felt that if it wasn't for Global Warming we would be looking at minus 20 to 30 degree weather right now in Clinton, IA. And this is a man almost 90 years old believing this stuff! I beg to differ, it is a sign of the End Times. We are in the last days and the weather points to that fact. One just does not read of Global Warming in the Bible. Friends, the weather patterns are different everywhere right now and I don't care what part of the U.S.A a person lives in.

In my humble opinion, things are going to get worse and worse until Jesus comes again and that includes the weather. America in it entirety will never, never get any better. (Read Matt. 24). Come on now, why should the weather forecast and other things like that take our eyes off the good news of the gospel, the cross of Christ and the things of God in general? It shouldn't and nothing should! Don't be deceived into believing something that is not scriptural.

It appears that many Americans really have stooped to the point of worshiping aspects of creation over the creator of the universe; the God that made everything including the weather patterns. (Read Rom. 1:24,25). Do you think for a moment that the weather patterns are controlling themselves or that God is in control of them? I opt for the second choice. I think some people better stop and think what it means to say that God is sovereign. When sovereignty is spoken of in the Bible it means that God is in complete control of things in heaven and on earth and that clearly proves that He created the weather and is control of it. So much for the theory of Global Warming, that idea in thrown out the window with the baby's bathwater.

Jesus Christ is coming back a second time and the Bible says it will be like a thief in the night. He is coming when a person least expects it. Are you ready? Are your bags packed, life right? Begin placing your faith, trust in Him today and not the weather or anything of this world. Jesus Christ clearly died for the sins of the world, place your faith in Him today for the forgiveness of your sins if you have never done so. Begin living a life of victory in Him! Praise God for His Grace that Saves!

posted by Pastor R C

Thanks Ryan Hope to get out to Iowa this april.

It won't be long now

The weather is changing and it is getting warmer. I hope to be on the bike this week. Last year at this time I had 122 hrs. This year I have 22 hrs Total. I hope I can boost that number up soon. For the month of Jan I rode 18 hrs, feb 4hrs and 19 mins. I think it is great spending more time with the family right now. I am a procrastinator and weather permitting I still have time to get ready by the end of May.

On a sad note Caylin, Becky and I all went outside to play in the snow. That was so much Fun! Sad part is we are not moving up north any time soon. It was so much fun to see her hitting me with snowballs and sledding down the hill by herself.

Wednesday Orrville club rides are coming soon as well as races in april and Church softball in May. I haven't played softball in a long time. At least six years. Caylin will have a great time seeing Daddy hit the ball. Then she will tell me to run, don't forget to slide.

Speaking of sliding, I tried to go to work today. Sheet of ice so I went back into the driveway after almost falling twice.

Continued...

Bike is still downstairs! I have not rode inside yet. I know I said I would but I have been busy shoveling snow the past two days! we were reported to have anywhere from 12 to 15 inches of snow. It is so awesome! My upper body is getting a great work out.

I did ride in 12 degree weather on sat for 1hr and 34 min. I had a great time and hope to do that again Feb 24th unless the roads are clear than I could ride more.

The Lord has blessed our family so much. We are healthy and we have a house that is warm at night. Food on the table and water to drink. Thank you Lord!

The Bike is downstairs

Last night I put my Trek downstairs. Hey it's a start! Tonight I hope to get on the bike and ride it. I may even leave it downstairs for good, thanks to Tim Jackson.

My sponsored A&F bike was broke and I sent it back to Tim. He sent me another awesome Masi bike. I don't know who was more excited Caylin or me? With the bike came the important bubble wrap to protect the bike. I wonder where you buy that stuff? Caylin had a blast last night and so did we watching her or listening to her. I took a couple of pics cause she was having so much fun, it was a Kodak moment.

I met Tim Jackson at the A&F team training camp last year and he gave us those awesome bikes and his sincere opinions! The Masi bike handle perfectly last year, even at my Top speed ever. At the National Road Race Championships I hit over 68 mph. Yes I was the first one down the Mountain by far. The bike felt like I was going only 50 mph, I couldn't believe it! Tim is a great Man and I wish him and his family the best. I will put up a new post when I ride the new Masi Bike, but I don't think I will try to go as fast unless I don't realize it again which is a possibility.

GodSpeed

Shewwww...

Wow I am going to be busy till Easter! I may not get to race till the weekend after Easter. I think that is what I did the very first year I started racing. My first race was a cat 3/4 race at malabar farms. Tym Tyler put that race on. We had like 70 racers in our group and only 7 in the cat 1/2 field. Things sure have changed since then...Not! By the way that day it was snowing, I think it was March 31st or something like that. Any way I plan on getting on the bike again after taking off for 2 months, well I only have in 42 hours in the last 2 months. I have 3 hrs in the last 3 weeks all on one day that I mentioned on the other post.

So it's been 5 months since I was going to start losing weight. I have been doing good with my my family goal. I have been going to Church a lot more and almost every Sunday. Caylin Loves going to Church! Becky and I also do. I have read at least one book almost two books since then. Also I have had Bible study with families from the Church. We have a great time, but there is always food. Big problem for me, but that's ok. I just told one of my friends from Church I want to play softball again. He said our minister is thinking about it too. So I will have a very full year even without cycling.

God has become the priority in my life again and I am so much happier! I will have more time to ride when the weather gets nice, so then I can take Caylin with me. I still think there is a chance for me to be ready by the end of May but we will see. I have not rode my bike inside yet, but I plan on it real soon. I can't wait to race this year, it will be a miracle even if I finish!

Just got my awesome uniforms from Team GodSpeed! They are sweet!!! Yellow has and will always be my color! Thanks to Team GodSpeed, they are busy, busy, busy. They have a lot of things planned for 2007. I pray that God gives us the energy we need to get all the work done.

Almost forgot I saw on A&F's website Timmy won his first race! Great job Timmy! Also Harper and Hekman won as well! I can't wait to see them race this year!

Team GodSpeed

I had a great time yesterday with Team GodSpeed members. They(we) have so much going on for our youth. You can tell so much work goes into helping others. I am so blessed to be a part of something great and wonderful. Thanks for the welcome Team GodSpeed. Thanks to all that sent me in the direction I needed to be. Most of all thank you Lord for the people you have placed in my life!

"The Tea Cup"

There was a couple who used to go England to shop in a beautiful antique store. This trip was to celebrate their25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked,"May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."As the lady handed it to them, the tea cup spoke."You don't understand," it said, "I have not always been a tea cup.

There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Don't do that. I don't like it! Let me alone,' but he only smiled, and gently said,'Not yet!'"Then. WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy!I'm going to be sick!', I screamed But the master only nodded and said, quietly, 'Not yet.'"He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then....then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door.'Help! Get me out of here!'

I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet.'"When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute,the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'Oh,that felt so good! Ah, this is much better,' I thought.But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh,please; stop it, stop it!!' I cried. He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'"Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up."Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, What's he going to do to me next?

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did."I said, ' That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful I'm beautiful!'"Quietly he spoke: 'I want you to remember, then,'he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'dhave dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn'tdone that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you area finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'"

God knows what He's doing in each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we maybe made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will. So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this:Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down, and have a little talk withthe Potter.

God has a plan for each of our lives, and it may not be the plan we desire at the time. God will help us get through the ruff times you can count on it! Trials are meant to happen in our lives. Think about it if life was easy would you do what you wanted or what God wants you to do. God gives us choices and we have a choice to do the right or wrong thing. Hopefully your choices are pleasing to God!

Television Commercials

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results: scroll down.

God is like.. BAYER ASPIRIN He works miracles.
God is like... a FORD He's got a better idea.
God is like... COKE He's the real thing.
God is like... HALLMARK CARDS He cares enough to send His very best.
God is like... TIDE He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
God is like... GENERAL ELECTRIC He brings good things to life.
God is like... SEARS He has everything.
God is like... ALKA-SELTZERTry him, you'll like Him
God is like... SCOTCH TAPE You can't see him, but you know He's there.
God is like... DELTA He's ready when you are.
God is like... ALLSTATE You're in good hands with Him.
God is like... VO-5 Hair Spray He holds through all kinds of weather.
God is like... DIAL SOAP Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
God is like.... the U.S. POST OFFICE Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

I thought these were fun to read, but I sure wouldn't ask my class to watch TV!

Time Is Ticking Away

I have a bunch of stuff on my mind. The great thing is I forget a lot of it. Well that can be bad or good.

Not much to report for my so called diet. I will try a little harder now since races start in a couple of weeks. Last year I had 60 hrs riding time in, this year I have 21 hrs. I feel so much better about those numbers. Also I am at the same weight as last year, which is good. I have been doing better on my diet the last 2 weeks and I already feel better about it.

A really great friend of mine had a very serious surgery this past week. He will be in some major pain for two more weeks. I pray that the Lord heals him and that he will have great health the rest of his life.

This weekend I hope to become a Member of Team GodSpeed and I can't wait to meet all the members.

Caylin, Becky and I made frosty the snowman in our back yard, it was 19 outside with a wind chill of 4. We had so much fun! It took me awhile to make frosty but we used some water to compact the snow together instead of a magic hat.

I also rode my bike with some great guys Sat, 16 of us braved the weather. It was 37 that morning and we rode for 3 hrs. I ended up puking 2 hrs after the ride, and we rode slow the whole ride. My legs felt great the whole ride until the last 30 min. I am out of shape more than I ever have been this time of year. That ride was my only ride in 7 days so I will try to get some more hrs in starting in Feb. or March.

Father you are wonderful in every way. You have given me so much! Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for my Health, Family and Friends. Father I pray that you become the food and water I need to survive each day of my life. I pray that I focus constantly on You. AMEN.

You call yourself a Christian?

I don't watch TV that much, but the other night I watched a show of how the mothers switch. The one mother was a so called Christian and the other mother was a Satan worshiper or close enough.

This was a very sad show! Sick, but very sad. Any way they go to each others houses and try to teach them the way things could be better. Both ended up changing there ways and the Satan people went to church and the so called christian mother let her kids got outside the house unsupervised.

We all do things that are not right to others. No one is perfect! Jesus is a free gift. Why don't people take the gift of ever lasting life? I know some of the reasons why but not all. Is that why people turn to prayer when they are on there death bed? How about when people are really happy with the way they are living now. They may ask themselves why should I change now I have it all.

All these things are making me ill! My heart goes out to people who have No Clue. The best thing to do if you see, hear or make every day contact with these people, is to pray for them. It is always great to pray for others.

My struggle is the way I eat and the things I say to others. Sometimes sorry is to late so I ask for prayer to say the right things. The way I eat! I think that says it all. I would be 300 pounds if I didn't ride. I want to lose weight but I lose momentum. I do good for about 6 weeks and go back to eating bad for 4 months. It is something I have to work with everyday and sometimes I just eat not even thinking about what this will do in the long run.

God has put the right people in my life. I think I would be sitting on the couch at 350 pounds or even dead if it weren't for family and friends.

That's where I will finish up with this one. You need others to help you from being that so called Christian or the Satan worshiper. People are in ruts every day so help each other out!

Hours Spent on the Bike

Boy this year I rode more than ever, by far. Only thing I can say about that is, I sure am glad that year is over. If I didn't work 40 hrs a week or have a wife and kid, then I would spend my life on a bike. Just like Forrest Gump did, I kept on riding and riding and riding. People would ask me why you ride so much? I would say" I felt like riding".

Well my life is better than that. I have the Best Wife and Daughter. I have a good job, with more positives than negatives. So my life is great and we are Blessed by God everyday! If only I could put more hrs in than George Hincapie put in when he was 12 I may just get better at cycling.

So with that said back to cycling, my Dad has giving me too much in life and continues to do that to this day. He said something about getting me a light cause he is getting a new one. I could ride any time at night or morning. I would rather ride in the early morning with no traffic in the dark than ride with traffic. That is how I got a lot of hrs in this past year. I rode before Becky and Caylin woke up. Also I rode after they went to bed. So when I think of when I rode it really didn't take that much time away from family. But the traveling time did. I only spent 443.5 hrs on the bike last year. That is the most time by 22 hrs I have spent on the bike in the last 5 years. I actually spent less than that because I count by bank hrs. For example if I ride 2 hrs and 16 mins that would count as 2.5 hrs. So I bet my total hrs was something like 400 hrs for the year but at least I have a number in the area. This year I am counting mins each day just to see how much I ride.

So I hope to see higher numbers in the future than this past year but I am getting older and my life is changing. I still have major aches and pains since labor day weekend. I am pretty sure it is all due to arthritis.

I won't even think twice about racing this year, I just don't know when I will start. I am sure it will be to early just like every year.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!! Today has changed my life forever! I wish I would have taken pics of all the happy kids and parents today.

Before I say any more I will tell you what I am soooo Happy about.

Last night my Wife, Caylin and I helped load 400 or more bikes into 2 28 foot trailers. Well Caylin was there to test out the tricycles and I got some riding time in on a few BMX bikes. Becky helped bring the bikes to the dock doors with the others, while I got dirty stuffing bikes in the semi trailers. I had a great time helping Elves and More NEO, I hope they want my help next year? Most of the workers for Elves & More race bikes. So we had a great time talking about racing too. Stark Velo racers sure are awesome! Also 3 other guys came together to make Elves & More NEO what it is today. Thanks to Brian, Tim and Jim.

When I woke up today I knew it was going to be a great day! I know God looked at us and smiled today. I think God was happy with what we all did today. As we all prayed together before we headed out to surprise little kids. We all knew we were going to have a blessing at some point today.

This started out like a big Road race event. We had 5 or 6 cop cars stop traffic for us every where we went. Sort of like the Pres. has going to any event. We were in a bus and we had the semi trailor in front of us and Santa in a cop car behind us. The noise from the cop cars woke everyone up this morning. So much fun!!!

On the way to our stops we would share stories of what we witnessed and kids faces when they saw us. How some kids broke down and cried in front of us. It brings tears to my eyes seeing how happy it makes someone with a small gift. The gifts we all gave today will make a difference! It may not change the world but it sure has made A big difference in someones life today.

Mine!

Elves & More NEO

Please Check out Elves & More NEO. I spent all day Saturday with some great people putting together bikes for children that can't afford anything for Christmas. I had a great time working with others and I still have sore muscles.
I was very happy to be a part of something great!
Thanks to all that made Elves & More NEO possible.
Jeremy Grimm
www.elvesandmoreneo.org

I LOVE YA

A very close friend sent this to me and I LOVE THEM for sending it to me. I don't have any one that I know of that has personally came up to me and said they don't like me because..... such and such. I do know that I am not perfect but right now I can honestly say that I Love everyone that I have ever come in contact with. I had one friend that I had battles with in high school and we are still friends to this day. I have not seen him in a long time but I know that we are cool. Sometimes I joke around and things get turned around real quick but I am easy to get a long with and am here if you need to talk, until God decides it is my time.

I LOVE YA

One morning you will never wake up. Do all your friends know you love them?

I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.

And just in case GOD calls me home before I see you again.......

I LOVE YA!!!

My Prayer

Father you are so strong and miraculous. You are the Creator of everything. You can do all Things. Father you are a Mountain Mover!

Father forgive me for my sins Lord. I have sins that I am not proud of Lord... Just take all of my sins. Carry them for me Lord... Forgive me Now...

LORD I thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for all of us that accept your Son Jesus Christ into our lives. So that we may be forgiven through Jesus Christ as long as we take Him as our LORD and Savior. I thank you Lord that you are always with us even when we think you aren't. I thank you for listening to my prayer and forgiving me. Thank you for my life that I have. Thank you for the blessings of all I can do.

Lord please be with me, help me to focus more on you LORD. I pray that you help me to lose at least 17 more pounds in the next 3 months LORD if it be your will. Please Lord give me your strength at this time Lord. I pray Lord that others come to know you as I do, a Loving, Forgiving God that will always be with us. Even in times like these when I am struggling to do your will. I pray all these things in your name... Amen.

What I feel is the Right Choice

"Ok before you read this I have to say that I am not a Pro Racer. As a matter of my opinion I should be a cat 3 due to me being 200 pounds. The USCF should have a Crit and Road license. I however have been blessed by God to beat some of the best Pro racers. If it be The LORD'S will I hope to be ready by the end of May for my first NRC event in a Team GodSpeed uniform. I just Thank The LORD and Team GodSpeed for this chance in my life to do more than one thing I love to do. The next 3 sentences are from Team GodSpeed, this is on Team GodSpeed's website."

Team GodSpeed has come to an agreement with Jeremy Grimm to race for Team GodSpeed for the 2007 year.
Jeremy is a seasoned Cat 1 pro cyclist who most recently raced for Abercrombie and Fitch Cycling Team.
Jeremy describes his decision to race for Team GodSpeed :
"As I typed in http://www.teamgodspeed.org/ my heart was pounding and my eyes were open as big as they could be. It was the same feeling you get when you know you’re getting or going to do something great. You still have chills talking about it after it has happened. For example; when I got my first road bike at the age of six. Spending time with family you only get to see once a year. Getting baptized at the age of 12. Watching a DC Talk concert with thousands of other kids your age. Getting my first car, a green Dodge Omni with manual transmission, I wish I still had it today. The first time I saw Becky. Our Wedding Day, seeing her in the wedding dress and the feeling of no one else in the church but us. Any day without Lyme Disease. The day our daughter Caylin was born. Giving something to someone that you know they will like. Friends that do something for you that you could never do. I can now add Team GodSpeed to the list of things I am excited about.
Times like these are things we will never forget. I am excited to meet everyone on Team GodSpeed just as I was before and after I met Russ. My decision was made with ease just by reading what Team GodSpeed does for others on the website. I pray that the Lord will guide me in what He wants me to do for Team GodSpeed and I pray the same for you."
GodSpeed,
JC

New Start cont. # 1

Today has been a lazy day for me. I have done nothing all day but eat. I feel stuffed and most of it has been from eating to much of the cookies Becky made. Hope I can work hard tonight or this coming week. It will be very hard to ride the bike this week.

On the bright side Caylin has had a great day thus far. Daddy's home she said to me as I got her out of bed today. Then she said Church, I had to tell her she couldn't go cause she would get the other kids sick. She and my wife have had a cold for two weeks now. They both have gone through tissue boxes and I have been blessed not to get anything yet.

Looking foward to next year but don't want to rush it. I will be on a new Team come Jan 1st. Team Godspeed, www.teamgodspeed.org I hope to be introduced to the Team soon. I had a great year with A&F and am happy to see they are moving in a positive direction for a Pro Team. I will miss the guys but will see them next year at some point in time.

New Start update, I have lost some weight and have been reading books. Something I haven't done in years. Getting better at a lot of things but have a long way to go before I get to my goals.

Father... You are great... You are wonderful... You can do all things.

Father forgive me for my sins Lord... I am quick to fail, but with a true and faithful heart to you Lord. Sometimes I make mistakes and don't think about them at that time. Father forgive me for my sins.

I thank you Lord for all the blessings you have provided. I thank you for my health and ability to do what I enjoy doing.

Lord I pray that I get up and start using all the abilities you have given me and use them to glorify you Lord. Amen...

Prayer with Thanks

Lord you are my Rock! You are my everything. You move Mountains! You are totally Awesome!

I come to you and ask for forgiveness of my sins. You know my sins and you know that I need you to help lift those from my shoulders and out of my mind. Forgive me for I am a sinner! Father it is through your son Jesus that we have forgiveness of our sins.

I thank you Lord for listening to my cry for your help. Without you I am nothing. I feel your presence in my life now Lord, and I thank you. I thank you for my Wife. I thank you for Caylin. Thank you for my Family. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for my trials. Thank you for my Freedom. Thank you for my health. Thank you for the miracles you have created in my life. Thank you for my job. Thank you for all the materialistic things. Thank you for food. Thank you for water.

I pray for you to control my thoughts and actions. I pray that you will mold me to become a better Christian. I pray that you protect My family and friends. I pray that you will protect me. I pray that you will help those come to know you as I do. I pray in all these things unto your will Lord. Amen.

This is definitely a good demonstration to be able to see how Christ died for us.

DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him."How many push-ups can you do?"Steve said, "I do about 200 every night""200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time.""Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson."Well, I can try," said Steve."Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it?I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."Dr. Christianson said, "Good. I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.

"Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra! A fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,"Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"Cynthia said, "Yes."Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups! so that Cynthia can have a donut?""Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push ups for every person before they got their donut.Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push ups?"Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then.

"Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push ups.Scott said, "Hey, I said I didn't want one"Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it."And he put a donut on Scott's desk.Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down.

You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"Sternly, Jenny said, "No."Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room.

The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want."And Dr. Christianson went on.A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO, don't come in Stay out!"Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come.

"Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push ups for him?"Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said give me a donut.""Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten push ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity.

By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups.I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.""Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice! of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever.

Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, THE PRICE has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"