October 11 - Battlefield Marathon

Yesterday I worked all day repairing some dog panels. This morning we had a work day at Bible Baptist Church. After finishing there, I went and looked at a gate repair job, then drove to the Chickamauga Battlefield.

The Chattanooga Track Club sponsors a marathon race (26.2 miles) each year through this memorial park. This will be the first year that they are offering a half marathon course (13.1 miles), which is just right for me.

I've looked up the times of previous winners in my age group (45-50), and I don't even come close to them. Nevertheless, I want to enter this race just for the experience of participating in this popular event. I drove the course in my truck to familiarize myself with it, then went home and changed into my sweats. I normally run 10 miles, but today I stepped it up to 13 in preparation for the race.

I don't expect to win, but I would like to make a decent showing and maybe finish in the middle of the pack somewhere. So, if you think of it, pray for me. The race will be at 7:30 am on Saturday, November 8th.

October 3 - Good Ol' Football

After working 9 hours a day on that fence Monday - Thursday, it was nice to have a "day off " on Friday. I did some stuff around the house, went for a 10-mile run in the afternoon, then took my daughter to see a local high school game in the evening. It was an awesome game between the Ridgeland Panthers against the Warriors of Lakeview/Ft. Oglethorpe (LFO). Ridgeland was the home team, winning 28-20.

Sept. 17 - Oct. 2

I spent the rest of September doing some fencework, which was my trade before becoming a missionary. A friend of mine owns this rental property in Chattanooga. The fence was 4 feet high, but I raised it to 6 feet and added this commercial double drive gate.

"Yo me habla poquito Espanol"

Living in San Diego for 20 years, I learned some Spanish in school. I never became fluent , but I knew the basic grammar and a lot of vocabulary, which enabled me to speak casually with my Mexican friends.

Since learning the Lingala dialect in Congo and preaching in it for 8 years, it is very difficult for my brain to conjure up Spanish words and make halfway intelligent conversation! The renters here are Guatemalan, and speak hardly any English at all. Needless to say, I had a hard time communicating with them. All I could think of was Lingala or French words when trying to put together a sentence.

The Lingala word for children is "bana." The Spanish word for children is "ninos" (neen-yos). When I went to ask this man how many children he had, my brain combined the 2 words and I said, "Cuantos BANOS tienes?" He looked at me funny, so I repeated the question. After another pause, I finally realized the Spanish word "bano" (ban-yo) means "bathroom!"

Another Job

Another friend saw my work and asked me to do some for him. This was a 4-day job, digging 27 holes by hand, setting the posts in concrete, then putting up 210 feet of 4 foot high fence, a 12 foot double drive gate and a 42" walk gate. Though I'm called to preach and ultimately to be a missionary, I'm always glad to do some manual labor in the way of fence work.

Dad's Little Helper

When my oldest son, Joshua, was little, he always used to like going with me on side jobs. Following in his brother's footsteps, Josiah spent a couple days with me on this job. Here he is tightening the bolts on a corner post. Below are some more pics of my little helper.

Hanging Chain Link

Stretching it Tight

Gate Hinges

Hanging The Gate

September 16 - Biggest Loser

This furlough my family and I became fans of the Biggest Loser program, which some of you may know started its new season tonight. Criticize or call me silly if you wish, but I enjoy following the progress of 300 lb.+ people "gutting it out" (pastor Fisher's famous quote) and losing 100 pounds or more. It is a worthy and admiral accomplishment.

I realize that the show (like all TV shows) is all about ratings and commercial sponsors. But regardless of this, they are also promoting the necessity of proper diet and exercise with believable facts and information. Not only do they teach you how to cut calories and reduce your fat intake from various food groups, but more importantly (and sobering), they show computer images of how the body struggles and deterriorates when overburdened by excess fat.

And yes, I understand that our spiritual condition takes priority, but I fear too many Christians neglect the importance of good physical health, proper diet & weight management. This might rub some of you the wrong way, but I must say it. It is WRONG for overweight preachers to stand in the pulpit and make prideful jokes about their huge "Baptist Bellies." The congregation might get a good laugh, but somehow I don't think God is laughing.

I also realize that some of the contestants on the Biggest Loser just want to lose weight so they can look good in swimwear and other immodest attire. However, the fact is, MOST of the people on this show NEED to lose weight BECAUSE THEIR LIVES DEPEND UPON IT! I fear too many folks in the body of Christ are in the same situation. It would behove many of our full-time leaders in the church to watch this "worldly" program and allow it to motivate them (and our congregations) to become better stewards of the earthen vessels they live in.

1 Corinthians 6:20 - "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Notice the scripture did say "body" first. It did not say "spirit" first, as if to imply that our spiritual lives are supposed to consume the majority of our waking hours, then if we happen to get around to it, we could throw in a little exercise and health consciousness as an afterthought.

Now I realize that "glorifying God with our bodies" doesn't just mean eating right and keeping fit. I believe the primary way to glorify God with our bodies is to walk in righteousness, be actively involved in the local church and doing our part to spread the gospel to a lost and dying world.

My point is, how can we effectively do all of this is we're unhealthy and sick all the time? Why is it that so many people in their 20's and 30's have no energy and are suffering from ailments that folks didn't use to have to deal with until they were in their 60's or 70's? Well, I'm no specialist and I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in on the importance of good health.

Lastly, if you have seen the show, one can safely conclude that most of the contestants are non-believers. So, if non-believers can commit themselves to better diet and exercise, whether for carnal or health reasons, then why can't (shouldn't) we?

The principle of Luke 16:8 does apply:

"And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their genereation wiser than the children of light."

September 1-15

The first week of September was a quiet one for me. I mostly rested after my 16-mile run the week before (Aug. 29), then picked it up again on Sept. 6 with a 10-mile run.

Tally and the kids went up to Carthage, TN on the 10th-12th for a dental appointment and to visit Nina. The girls also attended a bridal shower for Nina's sister-in-law, Miss Rachel Price, who will be getting married on the 24th of October.

Here is Nina at 6 months along, feeling very heavy now! As with most women during their first pregnancy (especially smaller ones), the extra weight tends to be quite a burden on their bodies. Other than this discomfort, Nina is doing well and looking forward to becoming a mother.