The Future

Many things are transpiring in the Sweet household, however only those having to do with running will be revealed today.

Part of why I have not been writting much as of late is because I've registered to run The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k trail race in Madison, WI on September 17th! I've been working and training like there's no tomorrow. It's been over a year since I've been this excited about a race. My trail miles have really ramped up as of late, and this past Saturday I got 17 miles in just under 3 hours. I was surprised at how strong I felt, and could have gone for longer.Living in East Central Illinois does present some challenges in regards to trails, as there are a select few to choose from. I've sort of pieced together a loop that I run regularly out at Kickapoo State Park in Danville, IL which ranges from 4.75-5.25 miles (depending on if I add a small section or not). There are other, longer trails but I've chosen this because it presents the most singletrack mileage, and in my opinion, the most scenic route in the area.

As amazing as the run was for me Saturday, what transpired after was even more memorable. I took 15 minutes to sit in the river that runs through the park, and happened to look to my right to see 2 adult deer and 1 baby deer cross the river, nose around a little, and then cross the river again.

This is what I love most about trail running, the opportunity to see the land as it was created to be (somewhat). I love interacting with nature this way (however, I hate the constant barrage of spiderwebs). There's very few actions that give me more pleasure (spending time with family and friends excluded), and help me to focus on God. I think many times it's simply because there is nothing to distract me. I do carry my cell phone with me, and many times my FLIP camcorder and iPod for photos. But rarely do I take them out because I just want to enjoy being in the moment, just me, myself, sometimes a good friend, nature, and God.

As I was following a huge ultramarathon this weekend called the Western States 100, I ready a tweet on some female runners encountering a bear on the trail. While nothing remotely dangerous compared to that is seen at Kickapoo, I do love seeing deer and the occasional fox. The deer usually just stare as I run by, not really sure what to think (either that or they are severely unimpressed by my running ability).

This has really lit a fire with my training. I've found that I can train relatively strong for awhile without any race in mind, but eventually I need some sort of goal to work towards. And I think I've found that to be true of my relationship with God. Things go just fine for awhile, but then I lose focus. I lack direction. And everything begins to fall apart. What I constantly need, is to have in mind how I want my relationship with God to grow. One year I spent time focused on reading/studying on prayer. Last year I was focused on missions and walking out my faith/trust in God. This year it seems to be learning to be content no matter my circumstance.

This race is going to be more than just a race for me. It was a wondeful Father's Day gift from my wife first and foremost. I'll have the chance to travel to Wisconsin with 2 very good friends of mine, and we will camp out overnight. It will be a chance to spend some much needed, extended time in nature, God's creation, with some awesome followers of Jesus. The scenery will be great, the fellowship one of a kind, and God's presence will take the cake.

Well, it's time to tend to the laundry. Got some running clothes that need to be prepared for my training run on the trails of Kickapoo tomorrow.....

CONTENTMENT

"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

As I was working Friday night, God brought this passage from Philippians 4:10-13 to mind, and I believe there lies some serious significance to this. Actually, I think God has been patiently working with me on this issue of contentment for years now. And thank God for his patience! He could have given up on me years ago, but He's been faithful. So much time has been wasted by me whining, complaining, and selfishly wanting things to be different.

It's just too easy to complain about what we don't have, to focus on the suffering we are going through. I think my problem is selfishness. I want, want, want. I crave, crave, crave. And when it really all comes down to it, it's a perspective issue. I can choose to focus on the "negative" or choose to praise God for the "positives". Sometimes I just get so wrapped up in my own little world, lose sight of Christ, and then it's all over. And I tend to blow things WAY out of proportion! It's easy to do that when we lose sight of Christ, isn't it?

So, back to the point. The point, for me, is to work on getting to where Paul was, learning to be content no matter the situation or circumstance. And, as is the case with so many things in life, the key is more of Jesus in my life. Really, how many "issues" would we really have if we were more tuned into Christ, were letting Him guide and direct our lives more often. With more of Christ in my life, there's less room for me to jack stuff up.

So, it's back to the basics for me. Basics=more time with Jesus.

Has It Really Been A Month?

Hard to imagine, but it really has been a month since my last post. Running has really picked up for me in anticipation of doing a longer race somewhere this fall. I will reveal my plans when they are finalized and the time is right!

In the meantime, I've found myself battling, fighting to give God the time He deserves in my life. It's been a struggle and a challenge to say the least. The honest answer is I've chosen to give my time to other things. There's really no other way to say it. I can make all the excuses I want, but at the end of the day, I've chosen idols over Jesus. Sobering to write that.

My Bible goes with me wherever I go, and yet lately I've hardly taken it out of my backpack. Even when I take it out, my eyes don't give it much time or attention. It just sits there, as if some part of me expects to glean insight from it by simply being in the same room. Tragic.

Yet, today, something was different. While any and everything was pulling for my attention, my thoughts kept wandering back to the Word of God. So, I kicked my legs up, opened my Bible, and drank from the goodness that has been captured for us in the Scriptures. I asked God what to read, and sensed "Philippians 3".

Beginning in verse 7 of The Message, I read "The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash--along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me in insignificant--dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ--God's righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself."

In some ways, some things that were very important to me are now gone from my life. Other things, I've picked back up out of the trash and embraced those again rather than my loving Lord Jesus. I once knew Christ personally, but now feel much like the prodigal son returning home. Sure, we all go through ups and downs like this. Recognizing that is one thing; accepting it as normal and ok is another. I don't want to embrace things of this world. I don't want to embrace anything other than Jesus! I want to get back to experience the "high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand"!

We go on to read in verse 12 "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong. By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us..........Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal......But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."

THIS VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED ME TO GET BACK ON TRACK, TO GIVE GOD HIS PROPER FOCUS AND DUE IN MY LIFE. I'VE FOUND IN RUNNING, WHEN I HAVE A GOAL I AM WORKING TOWARDS, IT HELPS ME TO STAY FOCUSED. WELL, OUR GOAL WITH JESUS IS TO BE FOREVER ALLOWING HIM TO MOLD AND DEVELOP US. MANY TIMES, THIS IS HARD, DIFFICULT WORK. IT HURTS. IT'S EXHAUSTING. BUT THE END RESULT, THE GROWTH WE EXPERIENCE ALONG THE WAY IS SO AMAZING! TO KNOW THAT WE WILL END UP MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST IS THE GREATEST GOAL OF ALL! I WANT HIM IN MY LIFE.

I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE! COME LORD JESUS, EMBRACE ME AS I EMBRACE YOU!

Friends, will you help me stay on track, as I strive to help you? Stick with it! Remember, we are citizens of high heaven! With our Savior, Jesus Christ, by our side!