Here it comes!

                  Something exciting and crushing at the same time when it comes to a new year.. We often think of the goals we never reached last year, and ponder, why set more for this year.    But we have to shoot for something. We can't just not do anything right?  Some of our goals will be something way to impossible for us to comprehend and that's fun to dream right?    Some of those goals are truly accomplished only by God intervening and they happen. What better way to experience him at work in out lives?  I think it's important to have some of those things woven into our hopes and our dreams.

                  Then there are goals that have to do with work... Can't really ignore those goals, you need them to make your work a better place for you and those who work along side of you...  Your work environments Impacts your life and you families life so much around you.. So don't be afraid to try to find some pride in the job that you do.  No matter how great it is, or how small it is in you mind.  Do the best you can to work unto the Lord. Because whether you like it or not, the job you have is a gift from God. Is it long term place, a short term place, that is between you and God, but none the less where you at right now is where he wants you.. When he wants you to move on to the next chapter of you life, which you could be preparing for right now, He will help lead you and guide you if you listen for his voice in His Word.  Don't be afraid to trust him where you are. Depend on God, reach out to him, call out his name until he answers you, fall deeply and madly in love with him to the point that people think you have went off the deep end for him. Because sometimes leaving is the easiest thing you could do, but staying where you are means you would have to force yourself to be peace to harder relationships that need for you to forgive or find forgiveness. Could mean you picking of the slack and doing a better job then you have been doing.  It could be going back to realize why you took the job and who depends on you to you your job.  Most Jobs impact the lives of others around you.  Have you become a blessing to those involved in your work?

             God had lead us on this wild adventure thought out our lives of following him. We have been in Texas, Washington state, and now down to the South Texas area.  God has gifted us with 4 fun crazy boys to love on, pray with, and influence to the best of our abilities.  It is not always easy, sometimes we have to push our selves out of our comfort zones to be able to do what's right in their life and ours.   I feel that is even more of a battle as they grow older... the Battle of comfort, the path of least resistance.   My focus, I believe for me this year, is to travel the path less traveled, to go against resistance and over come some of those things in my life and the life of my family.  To do that I have to go back, look at the failures of last year, the realistic-ness of some of those goals, and how they impact this year, do they need to stay the same, do I need to modify them, are there some I should let go, or are there some that aren't complete, what should it be for this year?   I don't know if i am for sure yet, but I do know that getting them out there is important...   Why I don't know... no promise on how or when they will be done, but starting with the fact that they need to be done is a great place to start in our lives even if some of the goals are from last year. That just means we will not give up!

not in specific order, nor is this all of them i am sure, but the start.

1. Memorize Phil 2:1-11.                                              

2. Attend to my health better, drop 100lbs if possible.

3. Having quality alone time with each of the boys.           

4. Soak up more Roman & world history of different countries.                                                                                        

5. Go back to India again and be a better help to friends there.    

6. Be a better friend.

7. Be inspirational.                                                      
  
8. Strengthen my heart knowledge of God's Word.

9. Become a stronger asset to my work community.                  

10. To be a stone that makes waves in a great way

11. Connect with Church Norris and ask if he would be willing to speak at and event.

12. To hear God speak to me, and actually obey Him for once instead of what I would do.

         So there is a couple of things some are vague, some are specific, some are dreams.....

 Where are you at today, fight the urge that you have not to write anything down....  I am not taking a oath that i will accomplish all of these things this year, but I am saying, "I need to focus, I  need to accomplish  and these are goals worthy of effort."

        So what are some of yours this year....

Go ahead and dream, hope, and focus on the things that will help you, your family, your friends, and your work place.

Go ahead and dream, hope, and focus on the things that will help you, your family, your friends, and your work place.

Christmas fun...

Reposting some of my Sister-n-laws handy work... she is a great writer...
Thank Jenna for taking time to share..

Sharing My Jennarocity: Christmas in San Antonio: We drove down to San Antonio this past weekend to celebrate Christmas with Jason's family. It's always an adventure being down ther...

Clear Physical Clutter may = Spiritual freedom

Don't want to totally Hi Jack an article I read today, but I did read one from a young lady who has associated peace and contentment with letting go. and in turn that has empowered her to embrace life in away that she has, spend more time with Friends, family, and be able to feel actually more free by being able to let go of clutter. Here is her Blog site below the picture.
      There is some Biblical truth about what she has to say about being able to let go the past so that you can embrace the future. Some time we hold on to that old shirt, pair of pants, the sweat shirt,  or piece of paper because we have associated a memory with  that object, and we just don'w want to let go.  I don't know about you but maybe it is really time to let some things go. No matter how much i think fix something, fit back into something, or hold on to the memory of something.  Letting me go actually allows me to free up the spiritual clutter in our life maybe so we can come to a point of healing and moving forward.     ........ i think it's time to start with my office maybe... ha ha Baby Steps.   let me know how cleaning out some of your physical clutter has impacted you spiritually.
http://theartinlife.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/room-to-breathe/

Whoooooooo

         It's soccer season.   There is a ton of stuff that is going on.  School has started for everyone.  Everyone is blowing and going and the schedule is packed.  Enjoy the time you spend with you frailly, even in the frantic times, enjoy it... I know you want to be frustrated, I know not everything worked out the way you wanted to, but hey yall are there, your together, and it will be ok.  

          I have had some friends going through some difficult times and one friend has gabbed a hold of God and just will not let go. This observation I have of them.  Calm, sad (of course it's a terrible situation), content, waiting, patient, compliant, & repenttive.  This persons demeanor  is just incredible despite the terrible situation they are going through.... 

       On the flip side, I have a friend who has decided God is not there, doesn't care, continues to make terrible choice that continues to tear the family more apart.  Anger, rage, unrepenttive, mean sprinted,  vengeful, and never satisfied at all.

Two people going through Hardship, two people with two different choice in their life. 

            I just want to encourage you, I don't know where you are in life or what is going. But I want to encourage you, turn towards our heavenly Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirt. Allow them to help you, the real anger should be turned towards the one who has attacked you; the fallen angles, their master Satan.  That is where the real battle is, that is the one who loves to invoke misery, that is the one who loves to trip you up, blind you, bring you to anger and call for you to stew in, to blind you from love, from compassion, to make forgiveness something you despise in stead of run to.   Fight back don't allow Satan to rule. Grasp for hope. Turn towards God and hold our for his help, his love, his forgiveness, His hope.

Even If you don't Believe "He still lives"

                                     

         It is summer, and we live in the city, and we live in south Texas, and we try hard to budget our selves we can't go and do everything that everyone would like to do. We still have college bills and Hospital Bills.  So my kids are stuck at home a lot, Legos and netflix have become there best friends except during the rare outings.. You just can't send kids our running around all day any more like you use to.. it's dangerous with some families having no limits on their kids, to the traffic of our city.  a kid would just get squished if you let them run wild and free.

         All that to say,  we just now let the boys watch rise of the Guardians this summer.  Like any fairy tale story, like the Never Ending Story, The Last Crystal, Shark Boy and Lava Girl,  ect....

 The Theme is "if you stop believing & or dreaming in or of them, then they die..."   every cartoon you let you kids watch is a great way to teach about God's charter, who He is, what he can do, and what is real, and what is not. don't miss those opportunities in their life.
    I shared this with my boys afterwards.  

          Even if you don't believe in God he will not die, Jesus is still very much real even if you choose to ignore him or try to forget him.. He knows you and he knows you by name, and you are his creation, and he will never forget you... He has wept over you, he has fought over you, he has shed his blood for you, ever last drop was to set you free so that you could connect with God... Not people.. But with God and God alone...  And even if you choose to not believe in him, he has never stopped believing in you. He is who He says He is and He will never disapear even if you choose not to believe in him & or shun him, which I believe would be a reckless mistake.

    Get to know God, fall Deeply and madly in love with His word, be moved by Him, cry out to Him till he answers you, and allow Him to speak to you heart and breath words of life into you where ever  you are.

Goliath!

         

                 Did you notice that before David took on Goliath, that God gave David confidence through experience? He killed a lion & a bear of course God will help him over come Goliath...... I might have wanted to fight Goliath first, Because i have been close to large Lion and big bears when they were mad and wild. that is pretty intimidating even for a big guy like me.. ha ha . So what is God preparing you for, maybe you being prepared for something that God wants to give you the confidence to over come.. just remember that as you fight the battle of where you are right now.. This is not the end of the story.... Live!

Freedom!!

    So if you are somewhat like me... you love moves that inspire you... leave you wanting more then where you are and what you do...  So as corny as it maybe saw the new Les Miserables last night.  Always like the old one... knew one was ok.. but the Song "Do You Hear the People Sing?"  Just absolutely wants me to go out and start a revolution... ha ha ha..
here a youtube clip of it...
         

          Just incredible...  Makes me think of our Gift of Freedom from God, how I truly don't Grasp the gift he has given us in it, how I totally unaware of how powerful it, and how often i don't fight for others to at least grasp it as much as i can if not least push them for more...
      May our God Start a revolution in you heart to day, May you be stirred to anger against Satan and the Fallen angles who wage war against in a way be can bearly comprehend..  Viva La Salvation!!!!!!!
May you experience the forgiveness & Grace from God in a way you never have before and may it stir you into a great passion in which you do Something about it!

action.. ha ha what's that

      So random thoughts out of the sky blue...

               some how make a difference.

       Some how get up and just do it (yeah been telling my self that for 4 months now)

         if you have the opportunity to vote... make time people! you might now always have that freedom

play jokes on friends that make them laugh

           hold you kids till they squirm out of your arms

make sure you spouse see how big your smile is while you are with them

meditate on God's word as often as you can, don't wrestle with it, just do it and let it give you the hope you want it to.. it's really not that complicated, just take His word for it.

go a head and text you friends that you really not friends with. it might just help them make a turn for the better.


don't give up... don't give up.... don't give up.... don't give up... don't give up....


lay out in the sun, sit in the shade, stand in the Rain, listen for the thunder, look for the lighting, listen for the bird, feel the mud between your toes, fill the wind in your hair, hear the waves crash on to the shore...  come on do something.....
               don't give up.......... don't give up.... don't give up....
just
................. one
......................................more
..........................................................Step

breath, sigh, heart beat, hug & kiss, holding of a hand, stoke of the hair, standing, talking...... looking way out there.........


the great red giant

fresh powder

 

                                          I help with our men's group put on some things... i would have to say some of the fun things we do has to do with shooting stuff..  www.cowboyfellowship.org/camo if you want to see some more information on this weekend's event...  

     we have some great things that have moved into this area long with the Oil.. one of those things are some guys that know their guns and they one everyone to know as much as they Do...

so here is a sample of our Men's CAMO hand gun event we will have tomorrow...

      hope you are able to come out and enjoy the fun.. 

  

  i am also wrangling Kadin the past two days, broke his are last week, and got a throat infection yesterday.. poor guy.. lots of high fever but.. got some med's he's getting some sleep, and on the road to healing...

    

         if you reading this at random.. Know that Christ cares about where you are, what is going on in your life, and he wants to walk along side of you if you will let him.  there is a comic i really love, that has some fun with the foot prints poem.. Jesus points to the guy ask him, "see the foot prints, that where i carried you', the guy ask, "whats that really long line in the sand" Jesus says, "oh that where i had to drag you" ha ha ha ha

           He has had to drag me a lot i think, and maybe he is having to drag you..  ethier  way... i Know God is eager to connect with  you.. take some time and connect with Him...

       Scotty

Disk Golf Addict

             So I used to love Golf and I loved to walk.. I mean the golf cart Is fun when the turf is wet.. But I liked to keep an eye on my ball and head for it.. It was way off in the boonies,  always... Ha ha so
When I was in my 20's and some of my students introduced me to Disk Golf, I thought "no way there's actually have their on frisbee a for this". I mean we played when I was a little kid, but it was a whamooo* frisbee and we would find a nice big tree, or flag pole, Side of a house, and maybe a car if none was looking.. Ha ha ha
      Back on track.. When I found out there are 100's of course all over the US and they were free.... Awesome no more green fees, my Taxes have payed for this! Whoooo.. So I have played on an off through out my life.. Now I have Four boys.. Trying to have quality Time with 4 boys and not go broke , regular Golf was not the answer for that.. Disk Golf is!!!
     I  gave all my boys 3 disk this year for the price of one good around of Golf. A Putter, a fairway, and a Driver.. And we have been having fun.. So pumped that I was able to find a Great cheap practice basket on E-bay that's moveable ($79.00 even comes with the more disk) , and a great guy called Frisbeerancher who has disk at incredible cost...
    My youngest is 4 then 6, then 8, then 10... We have a blast..
So you can look up to sites.. DG (disk Golf) & PDGA (pro disk golf Assocation)  both of those sites will tell you where nearly all the parks are in the USA and even out side the states..
So if your looking for a way to Let go of some stress, spend some times with your kids that might invoke some laughter and some Oooo's an ahhhhhh's
   Check out Disk Golf and let the fun times begin!!!

                     Shot of the night! Totally fun!

Not just the Wagon but the map!

  I didn't just fall off the wagon, but i feel off the map too.. ha ha..
        how far off the Map did i go... it's been since June 16th since i have not done anything.. A year ago today I had lost 40 lbs and ran my first triathlon...
    A lot can happen in a year. I gained back that plus some. a total of 70 extra lbs in a year.. I joked that I swallowed a super model... Yeah 321 now... I can't really believe it ether.

Don't even know what to say, except for some how I feel my body has given up on me, even though I am still in it.

I am the midst of a quest personally, looking for desire & discipline  listing for God's voice for his inspiration and praying through.... Can't even put that into words it's  the start of a thought that never finishes it seems..

I am not searching for a blanket answer, I want a specific to me answer, one that speaks to who i am, what I should do,  What strength of His to I use, and how much of mine do I mix into...
 Yes I know..... I'm on a fence.... Or in a whole....

Physically just diminished trying to find away to start a fire. We all come to the points in our life I know, this just happens to be mine at this point in time. An I know that God will speak, just pray I am listing and don't miss what he has to say when he does..  Like this blog... Started it months ago, and finally just came back to it today.. I know it will come just don't know when yet. But. A change is coming.
 
       I know something has to change, awaken, catch on fire, or something... Maybe next year I will get to write about the 70 lbs I lost..

I also changed my blog title from "fatman to ironman" to just "the great red giant" ...
     Will I ever do an ironman some day, had you asked last year, I wold have told you, "half way there bring it on" this year I don't even know what to say about it anymore.

Things are going well, Family is Good Job is Good, just my body is in revolt.. Ha ha
    Have a great day guys. Thanks for your friendships. And hope to catch up with all of you soon.

After 75 miles

I am just going to start writing today with nothing random in mind. Maybe a idea will come to me before then end. Yeah that's the kind of day it is.. Very lethargic (thank God for Auto correct) as of today.. I have my two youngest Jax 3 and Kadin 5 this week the older two boys are at grandpa &; ma Reeds having some fun swimming every day. Little Red Riding Hood has been off to a Book conference (my wife) I really insanely love a old song called "little red riding hood" so that's become my wife nick name, that or "foxy" had to think of something tasteful yet fun to call her while they boys are around.. They thank it's funny and call mama "Foxy" as well.. Glad to be able to tame the emotions a little bit for my boys as they grow older.. Know they will probably call there wives "Foxy" as well.. Prayerfully that's with class and not desubjefication (yeah I just made up that word) ha ha...
I have not been able to ride since Foxy went out of town. I did map out my next 100 mile trek.. Yep I did 75 miles Friday before last. My great friend Sam is going to to the HTH (Hotter Then Hell Ride) in Whichitata Falls, TX. 100 mile ride with 1000 foot climb in elevation at least once.. Back to my route prospecting......Yeah the first 30 miles is smooth riding then makes a transition to what seams to be semi smooth for 20 miles so 30 smooth, 40 smi-smooth then back to last 30 smooth. I will be great full for that... I am kind of excited about doing it after know I have accomplished the 75... It will have only 800 foot climb total so kind of number about that, but maybe if I can do that ride 3 times before the competition maybe I could do it with him.. I have move my daily ride to 40 miles I can clear that in 2hr.55min that's my base right now except I have not even been able to do that more then 3 days in a role yet do to family/work situations...

and that's the way the cookie crumbles.

An that's just apart of life. You work around what you can do.. No whining about it, just do what you can, do it when you can, and do it! Unless this is your living "racing to earn money" If that's the case you shouldn't be reading this you should be out on the road right now! Your only excuse is that this is a recovery day! Ha ha ha I have a lot of those ha ha ha.
But if your trying to work out, and your using this as a way to destress.... Don't become stress out about not being able to destress??? Right??? Let it Go.. Get up in the morning, or get ready this afternoon, and hit the road.. Every mile you put in is a mile you didn't put in before while your were reading this half deranged blog... Ha ha. If your walk then by all means....Get out and walk, that's another foot you put out in front of you that you didn't do before..
Last but not least plan well, maybe even over plan you never want to get to the last 10-20 miles and be out of water, nutrition, or battery life on your phone.. Which 2 out of three happen to me.. Even stopping to buy and extra Liter of water was under.. I used 3 liters of water and 1 liter of Gatorade (1 extra scoop) should of had 2 liter of Gatorade and maybe 4 liters of water, of course that is a lot but this is South Texas.. I didn't eat every 30 min, I ate every hour. I had half a BP & honey sandwich.. BP takes longer to digest I hope so I think it's a longer draw on the Energy you have take In. Gels I am not for sure but seems to me would burn out quicker so you would need a higher concentration in that gel??? Something makes me thank I am going to have to acquire a taste for that!!! Ha ha!
So that's my next thing to test out, I will buy some nutrition Gels and let you know how it goes.. I have read of triathletes go all liquids for there big races, and they compete well and finish.. I am sure that is way better then trying to pack 6 sandwiches into you back pack.. And time efficiency... well I probably loose 1 min every hour for getting a half a sandwich out and when I average 4 mi. Miles, that puts me behind 1 mile in 4 hours to others that are more efficient in taking in substance than I am.. Gels sound better every Blog now.. Ha ha see how crazy this gets!! I don't race for a living but this is what goes through my head when I think about things.. Millions of details that overwhelem me to do something well, and if I can't do it right (millions of details that flash through my mind... Then I often just let it go) uuuuuggggg! Ha ha ha ok on to the next part...
India trip is now probably September 23-October-5/6 spending on flights.. Will be a ministry of the word trip...
That's right the old Battle Ox is not doing shovel work, swinging a hammer, well if I am asked to I will, but I am primarily just going to use the big mouth that God gave me to share His Word.. I will be in Hyderabad with Pastor David. So if you could take some time and join me in Praying that God would have me share things Out of His word that will help to impact those who don't know Him, His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy.. Please pray that God would speak through me and to be able to use me make a difference with his Word..

Ok my little warriors are about to pull the house apart and I know that my wife may want it not to be totally a mess when she comes back tonight and they keep vint for my time with a tunnel and small pop up indoor tent that's in our living room, one of them just told me he was "bandaid man". Everyone need to be healed.. While the other one is. Holding Lego guns that shoot into a cliff so you can climb, and the blanket box has become the treasure box.. Whoooo off, off, off, an awayyyyyyyy!

Hey remember. Get up, get out, and get going!Have a great weekend see you on the road some day. Scotty

first 75 miles

 
View Cycling Routes in a larger map

                   Here is the route I will be taking today.  By the time you read this I will be way into my route, prayerfully past the half way point and head back home.  Going out will be fun because we live about 150 miles form the coast and the winds are strong, but of course coming back will be the huge fight to come home.
I know the last part of it will be  wooded on the way back so that might cut back on the wind.
          Next to tack will be calorie intake & fluids.  going to use 1 two liter pack & a 1 liter pack.  2 liter camel will be water, the 1liter pack will be Gator Aid.    My calorie in take is going to be peanut butter with Honey on wheat bread.  2 table spoons of BP is 190 calories and 1 ts of honey is 90 cal..   Coach said intakes needs to be 250-300 cal every 30 min. so half a sandwich every hour for me.  I eat about 840 cal before i start of just pb & honey before i start and a 16 oz of water in 30 min on my prep time before i get on my bike. so we will see if that is enough. learning experience for sure.
             An i am still doing this with old faithful Avalanche GT 3.0 Mountain bike with Road slicks.  it took me 3 hours to do 40 miles, so 75 should land me around the 6hr mark. i usually on the road by 5am but i might to try sleep in, and hit the road and make it on the road at 4am  but so depending on when i start i should be done between 10 & 11am.   don't think my phone battery will last that long but i hope so.. i will have it set to mark every 5 miles instead on one mile, hopefully that will help save some battery, plus kill the programs except @mapmyfitness . my user name is greatredgiant if you want to look me up, the same with Twitter @greatredgiant .
              last but not least is my spiritual journey on a personal level through all of this, i can't help but always go back to "if he would find his life, he will truly loose it, but he who loose his life & die for my sake, will find life"  in part that is why i have really stayed away from really trying to race.  to buy at cycling bike, do you know the beginners bike is 900-1600.00.   When i know i have my own college debt, and i have friends that are doing hard core missions and need support. i just can seem to splurge on that kind of money on a bike. not matter how bad i really want to.
           but also in the midst of that struggle, i often wonder, why God would continually have anything to do with me.  I am half hatred, i have very little self discipline, not organized, very little self push to achieve anything great, and lazy.  i am not sharing this to gain any kind of concern or support, i just letting you know that you who ever you may be are not the only one that feels the way we do.   i just continue to pray, to listen to God's word (bible on CD's/mp3's not much of a reader) to keep pressing forward.. prayerfully accomplishing the task at hand........ i know.. i know... just don't give up right...  i should have that tattooed on me somewhere... don't give in, don't give up, fight harder!... Race as if to win the prize.. that takes alot of training time..
      Father come along side of my friends who have taken time to read this today, i pray that you would speak to their hearts, help us to hear you voice, give us direction, may we find a great hope in you that is infectious... and during the times we can't hear you, sustain us with the fighting power to keep heading in the directions you sent us until we reach the goals you have created us for, and receive you support, your encouragement, and affirmation... Father please come and meet us where are and help us to get to where you want us to be.. if were are blind please father heal our eyesight, if we are def please unclog our ears, if we become lifeless, please breath your breath of life into us.. Please father forgive us of where we have fallen short, forgive us for our complacency, please forgive us for our lack of spunk and determination, please Father help us to come and draw close to you in such a way that we couldn't stand anything else.. please Father do these things in the name of your son Jesus... Amen...
              have a great morning everyone, have a great day...  Get up, Get out, & Get going... hey if you see me along the road, honk, cheer, shout yeeeeehaaaa, please just don't run me over.. ha ha..  i hope i am past my half way mark be the time you read this..

Fell way off the Wagon

    Yeah did not expect to fall of the wagon and have it break all around me.. ha ha. i guess it really is not that bad right? ha ha.. nothing broke, all my equipment still works, just for one reason or another... didn't kick in...
    thankfully i have really good friends and a son who likes to just cry in the early morning hours help me out.. God does work in mysterious ways for sure... thankfully...   i pray i have not let anyone down buy not doing anything... but hey.. it's a new day.. i broke in my day with 23 mile ride this morning... 1hr 40 min... that comes with a new record to on the old avalanche 3.0 GT mountain bike.. 14mph average time.. could not believe that happen after being off for a whole month... felt good... i forgot my energy at the house thought.. got to the turn around and realize I left my honey & Peanut-butter sitting in the staging room... man was i starving by the time i got home.. ha ha...  then i had this crazy idea while i was out peddling and praying through things.. and that thought at random lead me to this post i found this morning online http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2012/04/church-and-crossfit-and-what-they-have-in-common/
          Great post by someone else working out... i encourage you to take 10 min to read it.. really hit home for me.. Thanks God for helping me find that..
           next is Thanks David.. one of our church members spotted me on the road this morning (i was wear my blue tooth head seat it's a double ear phone device by Plantronics) and called me, "hey you that crazy cycling guy on the road this morning..." as i remember a truck with horn blaring going by ha ha...., "why yes that is me David"...., "be careful don't get run over and keep it up"...   it was great to hear.  it's amazing the things that transpire when you push yourself. God seams to help take it to a next step you never could have taken it to.
          hey hang in there... don't give up... and keep up the good work... even if you have been down for a month maybe even a year. getting up to do what you started to do.... it makes a difference, not only in your life but the lives of the people God allows you to impact around you... So let do it, lets get going again.. we can do this..  Get up, Get out, & Get going!!
See you on the road!
Scotty

insperation

Stories from the Heart

Windcrest Freshman Triathlon 2012 (First Triathlon)

  I wanted to take a moment  for those of you who like to read and share three stories with you..

Two are an excerpt from a book called “Raising Peanuts In A Gold Field” by Paul W. Powell

      In 1976 a track and file event in Spokane, Washington, a group of nine contestants, all physically or mentally challenged assembled at the starting line to begin a race in their Special Olympics Program. The gun sounded and off they ran down the tract at their own pace. One of the contestants took a tumble and began to cry. The others slowed down and looked back. Then one after the other they all turned around and went back to help up the fallen friend. After they helped them up, they all linked arms and walked across the goal line together. The voluntarily tossed aside their own dreams for winning in favor of Helping a fallen friend. When they a walked across the goal line together the crowd didn’t know what to do. They had never seen anything like that before. Then, ever so slowly, someone began to clap until everyone in the stands was standing and cheering for them.
   Next John McCain’s Christmas message in 2007 was an account of his imprisonment as a P.O.W. in the Vietnam. His plane was shot down in Vietnam, and he was then held as a prisoner in Hanoi for five ½ years. When the Vietcong learned that his father was an Admiral in the US Navy, they decided to let him go free as a Public Relations ploy. But, he refused to be released fro prison unless all his fellow prisoners were released with him… So the Vietcong guards tied his head between his Ankles and his hands behind his back and left him in Solitary confinement. The torture was so severe that it busted his shoulders and to this day he cannot raise his arms above his head.
     One day after he had been treated brutally by his captors, A guard loosened the cords on his arms to give him some relief from pain, then the guard reached down with a stick and drew a cross in the dirt. “When you’re at your lowest there’s always someone who will lift you up.”  Is What McCain Quotes about the situation. There is a youtube clip about it but I didn’t want this to seem like a political add.
     Third Story As many of you know.. I have set this goal of someday running an ironman. Crazzy idea right. That’s what old college friends are good for.. ha ha..  With that being said this last weekend I rand my first Triathlon.  What happened that day is something I did not expect to happen.  As I rounded the 1 mile mark in the 2 mile run course I could see a guy walking back up the course in my direction and I knew he was some who had already finished the race. I just figure he was trying to stretch his muscles back out in cool down mode.. Well as I got closer to him, he started kind of cheering me on, “come on you can do this, don’t stop, don’t give up,, come on you can do this… hey did you know I was right where you were 5 years ago I was a big guy like you are.  Five years ago I was trying to do the exact same thing you were doing… come on you can do this..”  The guys name was Patrick, and even though he didn’t half to, he came back out, and help see me through the end of the race.. I didn’t know him, had never met him before.  He out of his over flow came back out to give more of what he had already been given.  God had help me finish what I started, he didn’t half to do that, but he sent someone anyway to run alongside me  to encourage me and help me every step of the way to the end.
    The Moral is I want to be like all those people I want to be like those mentally challenged people who go back and pick up a fallen friend and help them across the goal line rather than run off and leave them behind, I want to be  Like the guard who loosens the cords that bind people and lifts them up when the are down.(Raising Peanuts in a Field Of Gold) I want to be more like Patrick and help encourage people don’t give up, you can do this, the finish line is almost there.. Your family is there, right around the corner don’t give up you can do this….

It is through loving that we are most like God---not our doctrinal beliefs-----our orthodoxy.  You can be as straight as a gun barrel theologically and as cold as a gun Barrel spiritual. It is not our church attendance, our scripture memory, or our giving. The whole law is summed u pin these words, “we are to love God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as ourselves.”  Vincent Van Gough was quoted saying in his last days, “I wish not that my Legacy be written on a building, or in stone, I wish my legacy to be written on the heart of God.”

      So today I ask you, have you went back to help your friend up who has fallen down?

Have you loosen the cords on a captive to set them free?

Have you went back with you cup that overflows to share with someone, “don’t quit, you can do this, keep going your almost there”?

I pray that you have shown God the great love that you have for him, and shared that love with those who are around him.   Father be with those who have taken time to read this article, hear their hearts cry.. some of them need someone to come along side of them and cheer them on through the circumstance they are experiencing right now, So father please.. send people to do just that, help them to know through those people and through there word.. to keep going... not to quit... to endure the race they have begun... cheer them on Father and help them to know you are there with them.. Allow them to feel your presence and be inspired by you Father... 
          Father for some of them they need to go out out with the cup you have filled and allow it to spill on to the lives of others..Father help them to bless others, encourage them, strengthen them, and may the Love you have given them inspire others to continue on and not give up and bring honor to them and even great honor to you.. May that always know it you who has given them this great gift...  Father please come and speak to us, move us Father, help us to grab a hold of the life you have given us, and help us to thrive with a great zeal for what has been laid before of us, and help us father to be responsible with what you have given us and be able to bring honor to you with our lives.. Father please do all these things in the name of your son Jesus.. Amen..

  

(The italicized writing is quotes or lines of thought from the book, “Raising Peanuts In A Gold Field”)

Scotty Smith

The Race

It is a couple of hours before my first race.. I have been laid up sick for 2 weeks with one half of a practice in those two weeks.. This was suppose to be my crunch weeks that I really started pressing my speed., I can't help but wonder if God is saying "look Scotty this is not your cup of tea back off" or if I am under attack for trying to achieve some kind goal in my life that has been a positive impact on my spirtualy, emotionally, & physically. With that being said I am pushing forward in the morning to run my first of many, or to run my first of my last race.. Even if they have to pick me up off the road I will be running this race. Tommorrow I am 531 in the race and prayerfully I will run a good race and have more to refect upon tomorrow night.. Father thank you for allowing me to run this race, and allowing me to go on this journey with you.. Please continue to speak to my heart through this process and thank you for my friendships that have been encouraging me along the way. Please be with them and bless them for their kindness and encouragement & most of all father please except our ways in which we try to honor you through our efforts in various ways.. thank you for this gift and chance to race.. Father please give us a restful night and help us to rave our hearts out tommorrow.. Please father do these things in the name of your Son Jesus amen..... 6 hours.... Goodnight!

Week 17 & Aliens

          Had to start off with what happen in Roswell from week 16 ALIENS.... ha ha  ha haaa.  I was really excited about the thought of breaking 1000 miles there, doing at least a 50 mile ride for the first time an........  the main purpose of going to Roswell was to help family move.... Lets just say I pretty much stick to my purpose the best I can when I can.. Week 16 saw one 22 mile day, and a good 4 days of unloading a semi truck & uhaul trailier.. even though i didn't track my work during this.. (although i thought about it just to see how far i walked by the end of everyday) i move little over a ton of boxes. good upper body work out!.. 

  I had fun being with Family, and we Got to take a day to play some of my Favorite sport... Frisbeeeeeeeee Golfffffffff......
           Yep Roswell has 2 courses. I only Got to play at one.. back to the work out right!   Monday I got up early like normal and it was a crisp morning for sure...  I went up 285 North, then took 70 West then I hit 380 West...    if any one ever wants to Cycle in Roswell do it early in the morning and the route i just gave you is incredibly smooth road... it was nice.  I do wish the roads here in my south Texas area were that smooth.   I did not get to head west into the mountains on 380 like I wanted to... i barely got out of the city limits but hopefully the next time I go, I will be able to accomplish that bigger trek...
            So all though the 1000 mile mark still eludes me, that is OK i will get there.. the important thing was to take time help family & be an asset to my loved ones.. That  trumps any half crazed personal goals that I have for sure..    

              sooooo slow start to this week.. like so many of my friend here in Texas getting ready for races we had *******thankfuly****** bad thunderstorms blow through with some Tornado's and Hail... Hey if it rains here in Texas we need it.. so bring it on.. its another thing to sing praises about like being with family.. My agenda is so unimportant compared to the water our people need hear in Texas.. and Yes we do need rain that bad...
   also i tell you what the last thing i really want to do is be caught in a Hail storm here in Texas also..  Nor  do not have a stationary bike or want one... so today was my first day to get out again, yep i am a couple of days behind but oh well. it felt really good to get out.. i am going to try to start doing something new this next month and run during my lunch break. want to get used to running in the heat. since i bike early in the mornings and make an extra step to pushing my self a little bit more. i am getting ready for April 28 my first Race.. The Freshman Triathlon... whoooooo... i get nervously excited just thinking about it...   I love to compete and I really enjoy the idea of Racing for a change.. I know i will be a challenge for a whale of a man like me, but i look forward to making new friends and pushing myself to go faster in all three areas then i have before....
            and the only Aliens i saw in Roswell were on signs.. ha ha.. i meant to take a picture by one to post, but that didn't work out. you will just have to take my word at it.
            Last but for sure not least the spiritual aspect of things.  so many days i wake up and wonder, "what in the world am i doing not just in pushing my self to work out but also personally, emotional, & spiritually:"  Thankfully Morning times are a great place to focus and pray. I want to encourage you to have your priorities in line as well. Mine is God, family, me & then other family & friends.   i do the best i can to try to keep them that way but there are alot times when i get that order of things all messed up.  
       I wanted to take a moment and pray for those who are taking time to read through the blog.. with that being Said, have a great week, i will catch up with yall soon, now let me pray for you..
         Father I lift up the person who is taking time just to catch up on a friendship right now, or maybe the person i have not even met yet.. I ask that you would speak to their heart, that you would come along side of them and speak to the difficult circumstance that they are dealing with, walking through, or even in the midst of.  Give them wisdom and discernment in this area. Lead them to the right answer at the right time, and at the right place. Also Father i pray that as they take time to read you word that you speak life into them, give them a great hope in you, and fulfill that hope with your word, you life, and your great love that you have for them.. help them as they have tried to seek out your favor and hear your Voice Father. speak to them in such a way they can't help but know that it is you who is speaking to them... God help them as they press on towards their goals, their hopes, and their dreams. Father i pray that they are things that they have brought before you and you have placed them on their heart because you want to do something and reveal to them the great care & love that that you have for them.   Father please do these things in the name of your Son Jesus.. Amen....

ok guys don't give up, don't quit, maybe rest some.  Get back up, and keep pressing forward.  you set a goal that you have prayed about, and as long as God is still allowing you to press forward then do so... just because the going gets hard it doesn't mean you should quit!!!!
Get up, get out, & get Going...
          thanks for you friendship and support and most all you prayers.
   
Scotty
             

Ramping Up to 1000 miles

 Come some time this next week I will be breaking 1000 total miles between swimming, cycling, & jogging.  I still but can't help to think about it.. but now also I am drawing closer to entering my first race.  The Freshman Triathlon
Tri-Sition Area It is April 28th. The link is https://www.formstack.com/forms/RedemptionRP-windcrestTri2012

Windcrest Freshman Triathlon - Formstack

www.formstack.com

 

 200meter swim, 10 mile cycling, and 2 mile run...   it's crazy just to think of it....  I am waiting on some information back before I register but as i do i will explain my though process, me registering, and posting that i have finally actually registered for my first race.. my heart is kind of racing as i think about it now.. 

 

   But not as much as my heart races when i think about the things that God is doing in my life.. right now i have the things i do daily to help come along side of our people in prayer & support, our community of Law Enforcement officers God has opened the door for me to build a great friendships with, but also the possibly of Going to India in the Fall.  Possible will be preaching in villages, doing open street preaching & baptisms, and visiting orphanages. In talking with my Pastor friend David it is very exciting to hear the work that God is doing in India.  Even to the point he is calling men & women unto himself via dreams and vision without people having heard the word of God, heard and evangelist or even have been told by a Christian of who Jesus is.. God is calling them to come to follow him, and they are seeking out the church to follow Christ.  It is an amazing story of the work God is doing.. and like Pastor David had shared with me, if God is doing these things around us, how much more should we be willing to join God where he is working in the hearts of people.. Amen... 
         there was a young man who kept having a dream that a man would come and tap on the shoulder to wake him up and as he was waking up he would hear the man say, "Come & Follow me" the young man continued to have these dream for days. until he could stand it no longer. He went to his dad who was in the midst of his Hindu prayers. Afraid that his dad might shun him and disown him, he dared to bother him in the midst of his Prayer time because of this persistent awakening vision he was having.. He said, "dad.. dad... i have had this man coming to me in my dreams, and it is like he is real.. he taps me on the should to wake me up, but as he does, i wake up and find that he is gone, but i hear him saying, "come & follow me".. dad i do not know what to do.. i do not know who this man is.. can you help me dad, who is this man?"  He dad says, "son i know who this man is only because he has started to come to me, and ask me to follow him as well in my dreams to."  "ohhh dad please, you know who he is, tell me.... tell me... tell me who is this man that comes to us."  his dad answers, "son i think it is Jesus the Christ but i do not know him, we should go down to the open baptism down at the market close to the church and listen to what they have to say about him, maybe we can follow him from there."  Those to men came down to where David's church does the open presentation of the gospel and listen to who Jesus was, and immediately, they said, "we want to invite him into our lives, follow him, and be baptized..." wow... then they took the time to share this story with Pastor David what had happen...

          that just gives me chills every time i have the chance to share that with someone.. to Hear our God at work.  I continually pray along side of you, that our God will allow us to be continually apart of his work no matter where we are, no matter where he calls us to go, no matter what lot in life he gives us to have.  prayerfully we will be like those men, "Lord we seek you out to answer your call to follow you, where do we go."  
      have a great night see you at the 1000 mile post... whooooooo!

       triathlon

Week 15: 1000 Miles is coming!!!

Week 15: I Broke 900 miles today! 

Today I broke over 900 miles combined work out between cycling, jogging, & swimming. I never thought of even setting that as a goal, much less accomplish something like that. It's pretty novice to those who are in sports, but for a newbie just breaking in...  I am kind of excited about the thought of breaking 1000 some time this month.. looking forward to all that will come with it... still really have not lost anyway.. have toned up some... but just the energy i have times is refreshing.. but other times i am exhausted as well too.  

    Because this time has been such an energized time of prayer that I have been getting and and really just a lot trying to focus in on God, the New Heaven, & the New Jerusalem that is yet to come, which leads me to try to think about him even more.. The battle with my own sinful desires have increased even more so then ever.. just trying to fight in those thoughts, that way of life, takes a mental toll in itself..  keep up the reading & meditation of God's word... because if not, even in the midst of trying to do something Good. Evil can sneak up on you, and trust me it will, and it will lay a traps for you... The last thing that Satan and the fallen angels that are around us want to happen, is for us to succeed in what ever we try to put our hand to.

          Sometimes you meet goals in life you didn't know you had, and When God bring those blessing along, cherish the gifts he has set out before you. because it's in reflection of the work he has done, that empowers you to accomplish the work you are doing. 

Scotty

     the stats aren't much but there fun to look at.

I have been using www.mapmyfitnees.com to keep up with my workouts.. it's a cool tool to especially when it throws all these things together for you and you don't have to.  

 

Lifetime Totals

901.35

Total Miles

106.62

Total Hours

108

Workouts

83,961

Total Calories

Type	#	Maps	Distance	Duration	Calories
Bike Ride	56	50	794.68 mi	73.87 h	63,447 kCal
Indoor Swim	6	0	6.57 mi	5.64 h	3,722 kCal
Run / Jog	13	13	40.53 mi	8.83 h	6,492 kCal
Sport / Other Activity	1	0	0.0 mi	2.9 h	1,521 kCal
Swim	4	0	2.92 mi	4.39 h	2,789 kCal
Walk	28	22	56.65 mi	10.99 h	5,990 kCal
Totals	108	85	901.35 mi	106.62 h	83,961 kCal Burned