Well, tomorrow is the annual "Run the Ridge" at Rowella in the West Tamar. In previous years it has always been run on a Saturday but, like most things these days, it is now on a Sunday.
Even if I wasn't preaching I would not be there as, for me, being part of corporate worship is my first priority. In the light of eternity what does being involved in races count for at all? Absolutely nothing! I know that other Christians get involved in these things - some for evangelistic outreach and others just because they want to go in it - but I believe that I must view things differently. That doesn't stop me wishing that I could enter some of these races and have a go at them - especially next January's Cadbury Half Marathon when I will be on holidays!
So today I ran my version of the race using 5 laps of the course from home to the start of the bike track at Devonport Pool. It was close enough to 1k to get there (perhaps a few metres more - but that doesn't matter), so I tackled it. I started at a slower pace so I could manage the course I call "Heart Break Hill" because of the steep climb up from the pool to home.
I was doing quite well until I was almost at the 1k mark and then realised that I wouldn't make the whole course without an essential pit stop. At least, running from home, I could call in there. All in all, it took over 6 minutes extra time on the run (should make next year's run far faster, though). By this stage it had started raining and continued to do so for the rest of the run. It meant that I didn't get hot like I normally do, but also that I had to be careful I didn't slip on wet grass (especially as both turns were grassed areas) or those areas of bitumen that had water streaming down them. I was pleased with my time of 1.15.48 and how I handled that course.
I would like to train up for the half, but I know I don't have much time and I haven't done anything over 10k for a long time now - especially as I was trying to build up to 4 days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Oh, well!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Mole Creek and Beyond
Yesterday we left early after the Devonport service where I preached on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 so we could get to Mole Creek where I was preaching at their 2.00 pm communion service. I preached on Jesus' words about the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-29) and the danger of just being amazed at Jesus' sermon, for many (some might have even gone up to thank him for it) who heard it did not enter through the narrow gate because the entry price of obedience to Jesus' words was too high for them to pay.
After a scrumptious country-style afternoon tea I drove Dear Heart and Lovely Lady up to Lake Rowallan where we camped for the night. We wandered around the site gazing over the lake but also dismayed that the area had been spoilt by litter which many people were too lazy to take away with them to dispose of properly.
This morning the mist covered the lake, and by the time we were up to get some photos it was beginning to rise like steam from a hot road after the rain has passed through. Birds began their morning songs and a wild duck was diving in the water for its' breakfast as we were having ours.
At around 10.00 am we headed off, stopping at the bridge near the lake before going on. Beside the road there were the remains of what could have been an old shepherd's hut. I was most intrigued by it - especially the insulation paper that had been put on the frame work.
Our next stop was at the site used for wild water kayaking. We wandered down one track to the starting areas and on the way I stopped short of an echidna that was enjoying a leisurely stroll. On the way back Val yelled out for me to return, thinking that she might have been bitten by a snake. Examination of the area seemed to indicate that it had been a scratch or something similar. We then wandered up the other direction where wires were stretched across the river for the gates - some of which were still in place and others in piles on the river bank. We made our way to Union Bridge on the Mersey River for a beautifully cooked lunch.
After that it was straight home - well, not quite straight as we had to drive up Gog to go through "Promised Land" before we arrived at Sheffield where we bought a very rich home made ice cream each. At home there was a message from one of the local funeral directors for me to conduct a service on Friday afternoon - I will have had her husband's service 12 months ago on 11th November.
I then went for a 6k run from home along part of the Bike Track - my last for a few days as I will be donating blood tomorrow.
It was a lovely break away and we are planning to head out on Friday afternoon for a night at Baker's Beach.
After a scrumptious country-style afternoon tea I drove Dear Heart and Lovely Lady up to Lake Rowallan where we camped for the night. We wandered around the site gazing over the lake but also dismayed that the area had been spoilt by litter which many people were too lazy to take away with them to dispose of properly.
This morning the mist covered the lake, and by the time we were up to get some photos it was beginning to rise like steam from a hot road after the rain has passed through. Birds began their morning songs and a wild duck was diving in the water for its' breakfast as we were having ours.
At around 10.00 am we headed off, stopping at the bridge near the lake before going on. Beside the road there were the remains of what could have been an old shepherd's hut. I was most intrigued by it - especially the insulation paper that had been put on the frame work.
Our next stop was at the site used for wild water kayaking. We wandered down one track to the starting areas and on the way I stopped short of an echidna that was enjoying a leisurely stroll. On the way back Val yelled out for me to return, thinking that she might have been bitten by a snake. Examination of the area seemed to indicate that it had been a scratch or something similar. We then wandered up the other direction where wires were stretched across the river for the gates - some of which were still in place and others in piles on the river bank. We made our way to Union Bridge on the Mersey River for a beautifully cooked lunch.
After that it was straight home - well, not quite straight as we had to drive up Gog to go through "Promised Land" before we arrived at Sheffield where we bought a very rich home made ice cream each. At home there was a message from one of the local funeral directors for me to conduct a service on Friday afternoon - I will have had her husband's service 12 months ago on 11th November.
I then went for a 6k run from home along part of the Bike Track - my last for a few days as I will be donating blood tomorrow.
It was a lovely break away and we are planning to head out on Friday afternoon for a night at Baker's Beach.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Another Day, Another Run
I woke up feeling mentally tired and like a blob. However, I spent a lovely part of the day together with Dear Heart and Lovely Lady in the garden. We managed to get some things done, but there is still so much more to do to get our fruit and vegies growing and producing well.
Late in the day I forced myself to go for a run. It wasn't easy as I felt so mentally lethargic. I decided on the old Devonport Triathlon Course but after about 4k I knew I was struggling. I deliberately didn't look at my watch at the various stages but just kept plodding on. Even though the initial stages didn't seem fast they must have been faster than I had imagined. Anyway, I managed to complete the course in 59.05, which 5 secs faster than my previous best time. At least my legs seem quite good at the moment.
As John Armstrong has floated the idea of the two of us tagging each other from one end of the state to the other (John riding and me running) I am going to have to increase my distances and the frequency of my runs (currently only 2 or 3 times weekly). If I can bring it up to 4 times per week and build up to 10k runs or longer I should be able to get myself ready to do it - if we finally get around to it.
Late in the day I forced myself to go for a run. It wasn't easy as I felt so mentally lethargic. I decided on the old Devonport Triathlon Course but after about 4k I knew I was struggling. I deliberately didn't look at my watch at the various stages but just kept plodding on. Even though the initial stages didn't seem fast they must have been faster than I had imagined. Anyway, I managed to complete the course in 59.05, which 5 secs faster than my previous best time. At least my legs seem quite good at the moment.
As John Armstrong has floated the idea of the two of us tagging each other from one end of the state to the other (John riding and me running) I am going to have to increase my distances and the frequency of my runs (currently only 2 or 3 times weekly). If I can bring it up to 4 times per week and build up to 10k runs or longer I should be able to get myself ready to do it - if we finally get around to it.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Weariness of a Preacher
My weariness is to do with daily ministry. I just feel so tired that it is hard to keep pushing myself to keep ministering to people in their pain and suffering. People's pain hurts me - at times I feel like crying for no apparent reason, though, of course, there are the underlying reasons of people's physical health situations. But far deeper is people's spiritual health - or perhaps lack of it. I feel so weak and useless when it comes to ministering the gospel of God's amazing grace in Jesus Christ. I struggle and it gets me down as to why people can't see the truth and respond to it. Oh, I know all the answers of spiritual hardness of heart and spiritual blindness of seeing and spiritual deadness of hearing - but if only people would turn to Jesus Christ and believe. With all this - and, I suppose, after almost 40 years of physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually draining ministry - it is a struggle to keep going and all I can think of is retirement from the responsibilities of leadership. Then I wonder how I can keep on going just to get to retirement age.
I just don't know why God called me into ministry. He knows, but I don't, for my whole nature and personality seems totally wrong for my calling. And then I look over the last 40 years and wonder what good I have done for the Kingdom. Who has been saved from sin and transformed by the gospel of grace? What good am I doing even now? Preparing sermons has become much harder over the years. Unlike our time in both Maryborough and Geeveston the church here is not growing numerically - on the contrary there are less people attending than when we came and regularity is not as strong. Where am I going wrong?
Perhaps after I have completed some more of Sunday morning's sermon, edited Sunday afternoon's for Mole Creek and visited a few people I can go for a run. At least I can see improvement in my running.
Oh that our gracious God would grant the coming of his Spirit to bring spiritual renewal to the church of Jesus Christ! Oh that people would love the Word, as hard, as challenging and as confronting as it is! Oh that all of us would prefer conformity to Christ rather than conformity to the world!
I just don't know why God called me into ministry. He knows, but I don't, for my whole nature and personality seems totally wrong for my calling. And then I look over the last 40 years and wonder what good I have done for the Kingdom. Who has been saved from sin and transformed by the gospel of grace? What good am I doing even now? Preparing sermons has become much harder over the years. Unlike our time in both Maryborough and Geeveston the church here is not growing numerically - on the contrary there are less people attending than when we came and regularity is not as strong. Where am I going wrong?
Perhaps after I have completed some more of Sunday morning's sermon, edited Sunday afternoon's for Mole Creek and visited a few people I can go for a run. At least I can see improvement in my running.
Oh that our gracious God would grant the coming of his Spirit to bring spiritual renewal to the church of Jesus Christ! Oh that people would love the Word, as hard, as challenging and as confronting as it is! Oh that all of us would prefer conformity to Christ rather than conformity to the world!
Friday, October 15, 2010
My "Burnie Ten"
I am disappointed that the only race in which I can participate, the 10k "Run the Ridge", has been changed from the last Saturday in November to the last Sunday in November. Oh well! Today I ran next Sunday's "Burnie Ten". Even though I had most of last week down with gastro I wanted to have a go at it. I started off more slowly than I would have normally and still managed a time of 57.23.68, which was 3 mins and 10 secs faster than my previous best time. What I have to do now is maintain my desire to keep on plodding and hope that, one day, I'll be able to run the marathon distance - probably be hard when I have to do it solo.
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