5K Week Two

WEEK TWO

Day Three: April 27

So training continues. Running today was a little more difficult. I was motivated and ready, but my muscles weren't quite as happy when I was done. I ran out around Lake Valentine and for some reason I kept crossing paths with these two guys who were walking. Super ackward...ok not really, but I began to wonder if they thought I was trying to cross their path. It's the same way I run every time people!! I even took a little detour when the path split hoping to avoid them, but because of my "avoid" detour I ran into them two more times than I would have if I had just passed them on my normal path. Oh well.

Total Time: 27 minutes

Bethel has this thing called the Spring Sprint. It's a 5K from Fountain Terrace to North Village. You can run, walk, jog, rollerblade, skip, etc and it's to support a local charity or cause. I think I'm going to do it. Camille said she'd walk it with me. I think we'll run at least part of it. It'll give me a good idea of how long a 5K is so I'll be ready to finally run one. Getting excited!!

Day Four: April 29

Today I was a little short on time since I didn't get started until almost nine and I had a meeting at nine thirty. However, it was GREAT. I did a shorter warm up walk and did three long running stints with walking inbetween for a grand total of 20 minutes. I felt great. I didn't even realize I could run that far and I forgot how much I love running. The seminary path was enchanting and smelled fantastic thanks to all the lilac, cherry, and crab apple trees which are all in bloom right now. The temperature is perfect outside and I'm getting stoked about this 5k next weekend.

FreeSet

This past week I had the chance to hear Annie Hilton speak twice. Once at Bethel's chapel and once at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie. She and her husband Carrie started FreeSet, a company which free's women from prostitution in Kokuta, India. Then moved into a red-light districe called the Sonogocci neighbor hood and have now been teaching women to sew bag and t-shirts along with basic educational skills such as reading, writing, and business.

This is a fantastic company and I support their work 100%. Check out their website.

freesetglobal.com

A lady sang this song by Britt Nicole and it not only relates to what FreeSet is doing, but also who I want to be.

Set the World On Fire

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for you
It's everything that i desire
Can i be the one you use?

I am small but
You you are big enough
I am weak but
You you are strong enough to

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with you
There's nothing i cannot do
Nothing i cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the father's hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life my love
Lord use me

I wanna set the world on fire
Wanna set the world on fire yeah

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with you
There's nothing i cannot do no

5K Training

After a weekend retreat with my Elim Church Youth (ECY) group themed around "Happy and Healthy" I've decided to make a few lifestyle changes. I was very embarrased when I couldn't even run the whole obstacle course without almost dying. It's time I started working out more. I really need to get fit. I was talking to Susy Spencer yesterday and she would also like to get healthier so we're going to train for a 5K this summer. I found a training plan at http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml and have started it today. I feel about as fit as a potato so its a perfect plan for me. I started today, and will be blogging as the weeks progress.

WEEK ONE

5 min warm-up walk
Alternations of 60 seconds running and 90 seconds walking
TOTAL: 20 minutes

My plan is to work out Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with the 5K training regiment and do push-ups, crunches, and streteches several time as week too.

Day One: April 20th

Well I made it. Day one down. I couldn't believe I'd be breathing hard after only a few minutes of running. Can't wait to see where this goes.

Day Two: April 23

Running today went fantastically. I started out with a brisk 7 minute warm up walk then alternated jogging and walking every 60-90 seconds. About 12 minutes into it was getting a little tired and stiff so I took a quick stretch break and kept going. I ended up running up a few hills behind Lissner and taking an extra long route so I did a total of 30 minutes not just 20. I came back to my dorm feeling refreshed and invigorated, not tired out. It felt good. I could have kept going "forever" - or course not really, but I would have gone longer. Didn't want to push too hard on my second day.

I'm I Being Heard?

Just some thoughts:

"The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.

-Karl Rahner

As I was making breakfast this morning, this quote popped in my head. Not really sure what triggered it, but it's led me on a thought train which I wanted to share with you.

I was thinking about how we as Christians acknowledge God with our mouths, but deny him with our lives. What if it was the other way around? At first it seemed a little crazy, and perhaps "unchristian", but the more I thought about it I don't know that it's such a terrible idea. What if we did follow God is our actions, in our lives, but denyed him with our tounge. Not meaning we swore and took his name in vain, cut others down, or just did/said terrible things, but rather that we didn't claim to be followers of Christ. What if our lives spoke it so strongly that even our words couldn't convince others we weren't Christians.

This led to the old addage "actions speak louder than words". It's truth. I think God could have sent a prophet in the Old Testament to said those very words. It might have sounded something like:

"O listen people of Israel, live your life as a testimony to God, for actions speak louder than words, thus sayith the Lord."

Anyway about it I think we need to reflect on that idea. If actions speak the loudest, then are we whispering for the kingdom? Seriously, think about it. If we are called to declare the Glory of the Lord, are we nothing more than a whisper in the world of sinful actions by ourselves and non-believers. Even the heavens cry out, rocks and stones, the world he created, and it's not using words. Is is possible that inanimate objects could have a louder voice than we do? I guess it is? If each action were audible, perhaps a musical note or phrase, would the melody of Christ be heard in the symphony of our lifes, or would it be overpowered by a clanging gong and a crashing symbol. Is that all people can hear? I think of the Casting Crowns lyrics.

Empty hands held high...If not joined with my life, I sing in vain tonight.

May the words I say, And the things I do...Let my lifesong sing to You.

-Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Now what? I don't know. That's for you to figure out. I guess we might need to examine our lifes, and our hearts. From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

King Charles Cavalier

Today somebody brought some puppies to the chemistry department here at Bethel. They were absolutely adorable, and one of my favorite breeds. I've wanted one for many years, and playing with the puppies was a great stress reliever.

The Irony

When I created this blog several months ago I was very intentional about it's name. "Sweet Simplicity: celebrating the simple joys in faith, life, and love" How far from the truth that currently is. I wanted to cut back, life simply, love wholy, and NOT get stressed out. I tried to make that a pattern. Whoops what happened. My life is anything but. I've decided not to withdraw from Bethel, but I am going to drop a class. Maybe that will simplify things. I re-read my post "When Life Kicks You in the Face" and it could have been written just two short days ago. Man it stinks to be in that place. However, today I am optimistic, and once again determined to stick it out and persevere. The weather is beautiful, and spring is here. I can't say that I've been able to enjoy it. It's too hard to try to be happy and enjoy something when the world is crashing, but today in a small way I was. On my way back from church three deer were walking on the road between Lissner and Arden Village East as I arrived on campus. I was able to enjoy them, and have the windows down pumping a few tunes on my way. I'm also getting excited about being an RA next year. I can't wait to find out who the rest of my team is, and what room I'm living in. Well, I really need to get back to the books.

Solo (So Low)

Solo by Iyaz

And I don't wanna go, go
I don't wanna go, go
I don't wanna it no, no
I don't wanna it no, no
I don't want to walk this earthIf I gotta do it solo

Cuz I was so high
And now im so low
And I don't wanna walk around alone, solo
Said I don't want to walk this earth
If I gotta do it solo

This is just the chorus, and of coures he's talking about a girl here, but I'm talking about God and a life that isn't worth walking solo. I'm at the low, etc, etc, and it's not worth walking so low either.