Fitness Friday: week 8

I did it! I finished week eight. Only one more to go.

When you're in the midst of a tough situation, mustering up gratitude is one of the best ways to pull through. I've come to realize that no matter what the circumstance, you can always find reason to be grateful.

I've listed eight here:

1) Young girl in the gym below practicing her baton twirling didn't give up. At first, she more tosses than she caught. At the end of my half hour, she was catching more than she dropped. Perseverance.

2) Father on the other side of the gym teaching his young son to catch a football. He kept saying, "There you go!" and, "Nice one!" Encouragement.

3) My iPod didn't lose its juice. On the way to the rec center, I noticed it was low so I charged it during the ten minute drive. It lasted long enough to get me through my run. Providence.

4) Very little pain. Since I've been working with a chiropractor, it's diminished almost to nothing. Comfort.

5) Lady in the pink who smiled at me as she joined the circular motion on the track. I love pink, and smiles are bonus! Kindness.

6)Vitamin water zero—blood orange and mixed berry today. My favorite so far is acai-blueberry. Yummy-ness.

7) Tennis shoes—good ones!—some would consider a necessity, but I don't ever want to take them for granted now that I've found my faves. Fashion.

8) Twenty-eight and three quarters laps today! That's an improvement from Wednesday's 28 and a half, which is an improvement from Monday's 28. Three all-time personal bests in one week. Success!

Picture courtesy of Chaiwat at digitalphotos.net.

It Begins with Me!

I used to whine a lot about the state of the world. Politicians, hypocrites, mean people, bad drivers--you name it; I can grouse with the best of them. Sometimes I'd think, "What a wreck! Why bother?"

I still whine, but I'm catching myself more often and retraining my brain. Grumbling in my spirit only makes me grouchy, and doesn't do anything to solve the world's problems.

What can one person do, you ask?

Well, one person can do--what they can do!

Whatever my hands find to do, that's what I should be doing at any given moment. Even tasks that seem futile because they are endless (e.g, laundry and dishes) have eternal value (i.e., loving your family). Whether it's something "big" or trivial, as long as I'm doing my best with a willing spirit, I'm fulfilling my purpose.

As I mature, I see the value God places on life and especially human existence more and more. If the world is a wreck, I can't complain about it if I'm not doing what I'm called to do. And if I'm doing what I'm called to do, I don't have room in my heart for grumbling.

Well, I'm off to find my gloves and head back out to the rubble pile for more cleanup. Join me, if you're so inclined! And if you catch me complaining, do me a favor and ask: "What are you *doing* about it?"

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, NASV).

Why I Run

Wanna know a secret? There's a reason for my Couch to 5K madness. It's this lady, standing next to me. Well, this lady and about 6 billion other people on the planet. But Margaret is in this picture, so I'll just focus on her.

Margaret's family owns several acres around Holt, Alabama. They rented several trailers out to families, who have now had to relocate because of the tornado. Thankfully, no one died--that miracle is for another story! Most of the houses on the property sustained a lot of damage, and the trailers were completely destroyed. One man still lives on the property in a tent.

Margaret and her daughter Freddie were two of the people we got to help on our mission trip to tornado victims last month. We spent two days at her place, cutting and hauling away the trees that had fallen, plus repairing the roof on one of the houses. Let me tell you, Extra Strength Tylenol was my best friend!

But what does this have to do with running? Great question.

I believe everything is done for one of two reasons: either from selfishness, or out of love. Each task I undertake (or don't undertake) is motivated by one of those two options.

Because I want to love (and therefore serve) other people better, I'm taking better care of my body and getting into shape. Walking, as I had done for years, was just not cutting it for cardio anymore, so I decided to up the intensity. I figured I could call myself a real runner if I completed the couch to 5K program. So, every time I run around that track, I think of Margaret and all the other hurting/needy people out there who could benefit from my help. Love ultimately drives me around that track and further from selfishness. (Oh, and you don't need to remind me—I'm fully aware that I have such a long way to go!)

Obviously, I hope no other disasters occur, but if we're realistic we have to admit it's when and not if. I am expecting a call from God anytime, whether it's to my next door neighbor or a far-off land. I want to be as ready as I can be when it happens. That means being physically fit as well as spiritually and mentally. I'm thanking God for the strength and endurance.

And by the way, I ran exactly two miles today. That's 28 laps in 28 minutes! I know it doesn't exactly qualify one for the Olympics , but for me it's a huge victory. Not only is it a personal best, it's the longest I've ever run. Ever. In my life.

Upward and onward!

Fitness Friday (On a Tuesday, even)

I am now in week 7 of C25K. Three times this week, I'll run 25 minutes straight. Sounds hard, doesn't it?

Actually, only the first five minutes was hard. That last five minutes, when I knew I could wear myself out, I pushed harder than I have ever run before. (Not faster, because it takes some strength to pull a rhino around the track at the speed of a cheetah, but in terms of pure effort, I was on it!)

The first 25 min run was actually Saturday. I ran 22 laps (which is a mile and a half, plus one lap). Monday I ran 23 laps. Tomorrow, I shoot for 24!

Whatever Dr. Mark is doing must be helping my hip flexors (and a few other muscles I can't remember, but especially the hip flexors) stretch out. I have more range of motion and comfort now when I run. (Comfort is relative. Don't get me wrong; it still doesn't feel anywhere near good.) I'm guessing the shooting pains as I sleep are an indication that I still need more work.

Since giving up isn't an option, I've decided to take Dr. Mark's advice after the nine week challenge is done. I'll still run 5k once per week, and then alternate with other cardio like swimming and biking. Until then, bring on the chiro visits and extra strength Tylenol!

Pattern of Wounds

Another great summer read. I hope Mr. Bertrand is frantically typing the sequel to this one, because I need more Roland March!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Pattern of Wounds Bethany House (July 1, 2011) by J. Mark Bertrand

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Mark Bertrand lived in Houston, where the series is set, for fifteen years, earning an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. But after one hurricane too many he relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota. Mark has been arrested for a crime he didn't commit, was the foreman of one hung jury and served on another that acquitted Vinnie Jones of assault. In 1972, he won an honorable mention in a child modeling contest, but pursued writing instead.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's Christmas in Houston, and homicide detective Roland March is on the hunt for a killer. A young woman's brutal stabbing in an affluent neighborhood bears all the hallmarks of a serial murder. The only problem is that March sent the murderer to prison ten years ago. Is it a copycat -- or did March convict the wrong man?

Alienated from his colleagues and with a growing rift in his marriage, March receives messages from the killer. The bodies pile up, the pressure builds, and the violence reaches too close to home. Up against an unfathomable evil, March struggles against the clock to understand the hidden message in the pattern of wounds.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pattern of Wounds, go HERE.

Vigilante

How many of us haven't wanted to right all the injustices in the world, and save all the good people from those who would harm them? We can live vicariously through Nolan Gray, elite soldier with a passion for righting wrongs and a plan to rid the world of crime.

Vigilante is like Batman, only with more teeth-clenching action and gut-wrenching losses. Author Robin Parrish has invented several techno-gadgets that even Bruce Wayne would envy. And he's added a level of morality that Bob Kane never dreamed of.

This is a very well written, gripping story. I couldn't stop turning the pages and finished it in a day and a half. It's a must read if you're up for an adventure!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Vigilante Bethany House (July 1, 2011) by Robin Parrish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish wants to take you on a ride.

A wild ride -- which is exactly what you're in for when you pick up one of his books. And he's adamant that it will never be the same kind of experience twice.

Robin's stories mix, mingle, and meld various genres together to create thoroughly original suspense/thrillers. His Dominion Trilogy, for example, mashed up superhero action, secret societies, ancient myths, and an apocalyptic setting to create an entirely new take on the classic "hero's journey." Offworld mixed science fiction and an end-of-the-world scenario with high-octane action. Nightmare, his 2010 novel, is a spine-tingling examination of the world of the paranormal, paired with can't-put-it-down mystery. His 2011 novel, Vigilante, is an action-packed story about a soldier who sets out to change the world. Later this year, he's releasing his first ever Young Adult novel, titled Corridor.

Always pushing the envelope, ever on the edge of where modern storytelling is going, Robin Parrish will gladly and unapologetically tell you that he's an entertainer, a weaver of stories that ignite the mind and delight the heart. Defying labels and refusing pigeonholes, his imagination is fueled by the possibilities of asking "What if…?", and as anyone who's read his work knows, he has a very big imagination.

His influences as a novelist range from television and film storytellers like Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, to masters of the modern myth like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Akin to Philip K. Dick's search for the meaning of identity, most of what Robin writes about boils down to his own ponderings and examinations of just what this thing we call "existence" is.

Robin is a full time writer. He and his wife Karen and two children live in High Point, NC.

"Robin Parrish is a keen-eyed, passionate pop cultural savant,

whose writing is as incisive and insightful as it is entertaining."

- Allan Heinberg, Executive Producer, Grey's Anatomy

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nolan Gray is an elite soldier, skilled in all forms of combat. After years fighting on foreign battlefields, witnessing unspeakable evils and atrocities firsthand, a world-weary Nolan returns home to find it just as corrupt as the war zones. Everywhere he looks, there's pain and cruelty. Society is being destroyed by wicked men who don't care who they make suffer or destroy.

Nolan decides to do what no one else can, what no one has ever attempted. He will defend the helpless. He will tear down the wicked. He will wage a one-man war on the heart of man, and he won't stop until the world is the way it should be.

The wicked have had their day. Morality's time has come. In a culture starving for a hero, can one extraordinary man make things right?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Vigilante, go HERE.

Fitness Friday: Week 5

"There are a lot easier ways to get cardio, girl." This from my chiropractor, while I lay on his table. I was there because running causes a pain in a certain muscle (which I learned were hip flexors and mine are especially tight) and I wanted help figuring out what to do about it.

Well, it's true. There are easier ways. But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. I'm not everyone. I am a reformed couch potato. In a month, I'll be running 5K. I'm going to enter at least one race. Not for speed, but just to say I did it. As an additional bonus, I'll get to help a charity.

This is the end of week 5. Today I ran 20 consecutive minutes. I am now officially past the point we had to run in the Air Force to graduate basic training. (By five whole minutes and a half a mile!)

Twenty minutes straight is a long time. My earbud friend Laura had some great encouraging words, but those were few and far between today.

My mind wandered back to my chat last night with Sandy. She's one of my biggest fitness cheerleaders. I got through today thinking of all the fun we'd have running a half marathon together someday. (We will, we promise!) I just need to get fit first.

Look at her over there, though. Isn't she fun?

This memory of us getting pedicures together got me through at least five minutes. Maybe people thought I was nuts, smiling like a dork around the track, but I didn't care. I was in the zone.

No happy memory could have gotten me through the last five minutes, though. I wanted to quit. Every leg muscle burned and I started thinking that maybe just one little quick stop for a drink wouldn't hurt.

I slowed down, but then Sgt. Conway, my Basic T.I., showed up. At least in my head. "Give me a break, Olson! Are you gonna quit?" (A few choice words deleted to make this post rated G).

"No sir!" (Hopefully I didn't say it out loud at the gym.) I resumed my speed and thanked that loud man who-wore-the-oh-so-wonderful-cologne once more for all the times he yelled at me.

I didn't quit. I blazed through the last few minutes, knowing at the end I would have accomplished something new. And it feels good. At least, mentally. Physically, well...Dr. Mark has his work cut out for him.

Lion of Babylon

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Lion of Babylon Bethany House (July 1, 2011) by Davis Bunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.

Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.

Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt.

A sought-after speaker in the art of writing, Davis serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq--kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight--a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation.

Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Lion of Babylon, go HERE.

God and Stephen Hawking

Lennox's review of Hawking's assertion in The Grand Design that the laws of the universe created the universe are spot on. Basically, it comes down to, "Who created the laws of the universe?" He also points out that it is incorrect to assume that God is a created being.

Hawking's admission that something had to create the universe contradicts his opposition to intelligent design. Lennox's short book outlines the flaws in Hawking's book, and offers an alternate view of science vs. religion. Hawking and other atheists dogmatically assert that one must choose rationality or faith in God. Lennox does a great job of countering that with several examples of science progressing because of faith.

He says, "Indeed, the very reason that science flourished so vigorously in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, under men like Galileo, Kepler and Newton, had a great deal to do with their conviction that the laws of nature reflected the influence of a divine law-giver

Lennox's book explains in layman's terms the Christian (and Jewish and Muslim) position on the origin on the universe and the understanding of God's eternal existence. He also explains how perception of the origins comes from one religious point of view or another, whether humanist or deist.

Below is the official press release for the book:

Is God Really Dead?
Stephen Hawking's logic faces a mathematician's scrutiny in God and Stephen Hawking
SEATTLE - Eminent scientist Stephen Hawking's latest contribution to the so-called New Atheist debate The Grand Design claims that the laws of physics themselves brought the universe into being, rather than God. In this swift and forthright reply, John C. Lennox, Oxford mathematician and author of God's Undertaker, exposes the flaws in Hawking's logic in his latest book, God and Stephen Hawking (Kregel Publishers, September 2011,ISBN: 9780745955490, $5.99).

Science has immense cultural and intellectual authority in our sophisticated modern world. With this kind of cache, it must nevertheless be pointed out that not all statements by scientists are statements of science. Therefore such statements do not carry the authority of authentic science, even though it is often erroneously ascribed to them.

Commonly written off as the inevitable clash between science and religion, the God debate is actually one between theism and atheism, where there are scientists on both sides. With a remarkable surge of interest in God that defies the so-called secularization hypothesis, it could well be that it is precisely the perceived failure of secularization that is driving the God question ever higher on the agenda. Book after book is being published on the subject by prominent scientists, as Francis Collins, Richard Dawkins, Robert Winston, etc. But were Galileo, Kepler, Newton and Maxwell, to name a few, really all wrong on the God question?

With such a lot at stake we surely need to ask Hawking to produce evidence to establish his claim. Do his arguments really stand up to close scrutiny? Has the Grand Master of Physics checkmated the Grand Designer of the Universe?

In lively, layman's terms, Lennox guides us through the key points in Hawking's arguments-with clear explanations of the latest scientific and philosophical methods and theories-and demonstrates that, far from disproving a Creator God, they make His existence seem all the more probable. Lennox's book is a great resource for Christians, churches and those in ministry who seek to educate themselves and open authentic dialog with those who question.

Praise for God and Stephen Hawking:

"A brilliant response to Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design. Make sure you hear both sides of the argument."
-Alister McGrath, author of The Dawkins Delusion




Meet John:

John C. Lennox is Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at the University of Oxford, and author of the bestselling God's Undertaker. He lectures on faith and science at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He has lectured around the world, including in the United States for Ravi Zacharias; in Austria; and in the former Soviet Union. For more about John C. Lennox, please visit Lennox's web site.