Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Slow, but Sure

I returned to the run on July 1 and have been pretty consistent at every other day.  Off days I have ben on the bike more often than not.  For once, the consistency is the good part.  The distances have not been overwhelmingly impressive.  The runs have varied from 3 to 6.5 miles, with most around 5 or 6.  It is hard to believe that 2 months ago that was the warmup for my workout.  I am sure I will be extending that into double digits this week (If I write it I have to do it, right?), as well as doing some interval work to increase the tempo of the runs.  I realize it is mind over matter, and I just have to learn not to mind so much.
I have been spending a fair amount of time in Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.  My dad had surgery to bypass part of his aorta and both femoral arteries.  The poor circulation is prevalent in his family and so I have to keep up the activity and make good diet choices to try and fend this off as much as possible.  The family lives into their 80's, but does not live actively, so motivation shouldn't be in short supply.
Pray for healing for my dad.  I ask this spiritually as well as physically.  I presented the Gospel to him yesterday and hope that he will see that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  It was much easier to talk once I got started, but the fear of talking about saving faith has stopped me many times.  My friend Dan used to ask if I was more afraid of letting someone go to Hell or of offending them here on earth.  It seems easy when you say it that way, but a lot more difficult when you are face to face with someone.  The big thing is everybody lives forever, it just depends on whether you live in Paradise with God, or in eternal misery with Satan.  Think about it.  If you have questions check out these sites
What is a Christian?
Becoming a Christian

Romans 5:6-8 . . .  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.